The servant suddenly felt a weight in his hand. Looking down, he saw that, as if by magic, a shiny silver ingot had appeared in his palm. He hefted it—it was a full ten taels. Instantly, his heart leapt with joy. He’d seen many wealthy people, but never anyone so generous. He hurriedly pocketed the silver, bowing and saluting repeatedly. “Sir, just tell me who you have your eye on, and I’ll arrange it for you.”

Jason Brooks bared his gold teeth and grinned slyly. “I heard your top courtesan, Lillian Clark, is quite something. I came here specifically to spend the night with her.”

The servant secretly despised his crude manner, but seeing that he’d named Lillian Clark, he knew he couldn’t make that decision himself. He could only try to persuade him tactfully. “Miss Yulian’s schedule is already full. How about I arrange another fine lady for you, just as good as Miss Yulian?”

“Bullshit! I came all the way from Qizhou just for this famous courtesan of the capital. If you keep making excuses, I’ll tell everyone you took a ten-tael bribe.”

His thick Qizhou accent and nouveau riche swagger were spot on. The servant’s face turned pale with fear. If the madam found out he’d pocketed a guest’s ten taels, she’d beat him to death. He pleaded, “Please, sir, calm down. I’ll arrange it for you. Let’s get you something to eat first!”

“Fine! Food. Gotta eat my fill before I have the energy for pleasure.”

Jason Brooks rolled up his sleeves and strutted into the brothel with a swaggering goose-step. Behind him, Henry Howard ground his teeth in fury—his own ten taels of silver were gone just like that. He’d said it was a loan, but would he ever get it back? He wished he could kick that bastard straight into the gutter. Heaven must be blind! How did he end up with such a good-for-nothing brother?

……

Perhaps because of the arrangement for Lillian Clark, Jason Brooks ended up sharing a table with Jade Harper. Seeing an empty seat beside him, Jason Brooks plopped down and slapped the table, shouting, “Bring me some wine, now!”

The servant, afraid he’d mention the ten taels, had no choice but to keep serving him and went to fetch the wine. Jade Harper shot him a sidelong glance, saw his ugly face, and didn’t want to look any longer. Still, he felt uneasy—could this scoundrel also be here for Miss Chu? She’s so delicate…

With a flourish, Jason Brooks snapped open a gold-painted folding fan, loosened his collar, and fanned himself, complaining loudly, “Hot! Damn, it’s hot as hell today!”

Everyone nearby frowned and edged away, but outside the pavilion, Henry Howard knew this was the signal to act. He quickly left and signaled to a few brothers waiting outside the door.

At the main gate, a sailor suddenly clutched his stomach and squatted down, rolling on the ground and shouting, “Help! Someone’s been poisoned!”

His cries threw the entrance into chaos. The sailors joined in the shouting, and the courtyard guards rushed out to investigate. Many of the drinkers in the pavilion put down their cups to watch the commotion. At this moment, Jason Brooks casually grabbed a wine jug, didn’t bother with a cup, yanked off the lid, and poured the wine straight into a big bowl. Jade Harper frowned deeply at this—how did he end up with such a brute? Jason Brooks picked up the bowl and gulped down a huge mouthful. Suddenly, with a loud “Puh!” he sprayed wine all over Jade Harper’s head and face.

“Damn it, what the hell is this swill? Tastes like horse piss.”

Jade Harper was sprayed so badly he could barely open his eyes. He finally managed to wipe his face with his sleeve, only to find himself reeking. How could he meet his beloved like this? Furious, he slammed the table, stood up, grabbed Jason Brooks by the collar, and cursed, “You bastard, how dare you spray me with wine?”

Jason Brooks shoved him away viciously and cursed back, “So what if I did? I’ve got plenty of money, and I’m about to spend the night with Lillian Clark. Who the hell are you? Get lost!”

Jade Harper was shocked and enraged. He was a spoiled young master, used to getting his way—when had he ever suffered such humiliation? Blazing with anger, he swung a punch at Jason Brooks’s face. But Jason Brooks dodged, and then, acting as if he’d been hit, staggered backward, crashing into the table and chairs, smashing dishes everywhere. The pavilion erupted with women’s screams and men’s curses.

“You dare hit me? I’ll fight you to the end!”

Jason Brooks lowered his head and charged like a street thug, ramming straight into Jade Harper’s stomach. Jade Harper felt the world spin, his stomach churned, and he crashed heavily to the ground. Jason Brooks grinned, twisted off a table leg, and stomped on Jade Harper’s calf. Jade Harper was scared out of his wits, bowing and begging for mercy, “Please, sir, spare me! Spare me!”

“You ruined my mood, so I won’t spare you.”

Jason Brooks raised the wooden club and, using all his strength, smashed it down hard on Jade Harper’s right thigh. There was a sickening crack as the bone broke. Jade Harper screamed in agony and passed out.

Jason Brooks tossed aside the club, clapped his hands, and pulled out a fake gold-plated brass badge engraved with seal script, bought for eight qian of silver. He flashed it at the guards rushing in at the door, glaring at them. “I never change my name or surname—son of Minister Li of the Ministry of Personnel, name’s Li Die, first-rank captain of the Inner Guard. You dogs dare try to arrest me?”

No one could see clearly what was written on his badge, but the eagle-head gold badge was known to belong to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Fear crept into everyone’s hearts, and they all stopped in their tracks.