That evening Ning Chen was at supper with the Ninth Princess and Yudie, the three women together, when Gu Yichun came in to report that Cui Yukang had arrived.

"Has Ning, dear, eaten his fill? Should we save you some food?"

Yudie saw Ning Chen rise to leave and asked without thinking.

Ning Chen waved a hand. "Don't save anything for me. You three eat!"

By the rules, women of Yudie and Zisu's standing had no place at the table.

But Ning Chen had never treated Yudie and Zisu as concubines.

The Ninth Princess got along with them very well too.

So Ning Chen had raised the matter once, and the Ninth Princess had agreed.

Ning Chen and Gu Yichun went out to the front hall.

Cui Yukang was there, and a sack lay on the floor.

"This officer presents himself to my lord prince!"

Ning Chen waved a hand and looked at the sack on the floor. "Li Gui is in there?"

"Yes!"

"Let him out!"

Cui Yukang opened the sack, and out came Li Gui, terror all over his face.

Li Gui was bound hand and foot, and his mouth was stopped up.

When he saw what Li Gui had been gagged with, the corner of Ning Chen's mouth twitched.

It was a wooden ball, and the cord on it ran around Li Gui's head and tied at the back.

He had seen this thing in certain island-nation action films.

Ning Chen signaled to Cui Yukang to take the ball out of Li Gui's mouth.

Once it was out, Ning Chen said flatly, "Li Gui. We meet again."

Li Gui looked at Ning Chen, terrified out of his wits.

"Spare me, my lord prince, spare me, my lord prince... It was money that blinded this small man. Spare me, my lord prince....."

The corner of Ning Chen's mouth lifted. He had not asked anything yet.

Li Gui came from a poor family and had suddenly come into money. He had certainly taken somebody's silver. That much was not hard to guess.

"Li Gui, that you were brought here…