Upon hearing this, Hai Dongqing narrowed his eyes slightly. His right hand rested on the hilt of the long knife at his waist, and with his left hand, he made two secret gestures. Instantly, spies surrounded the courtyard, watching with fierce intent.
Chen Liqin stepped forward to explain, "Mr. Chen, please don’t misunderstand..."
With a smile that was neither friendly nor genuine, Hai Dongqing interrupted, "Mr. Chen, whether it’s a misunderstanding is not for you to decide, nor for . We won’t know until the door is opened."
Having said that, he drew his waist knife and used the tip to knock on the door: "The Spy Departnt is handling a case. Those inside, co out!"
The night fell silent, save for the whooshing of the torches in the cold wind, which made one restless and uneasy.
Seeing that the courtyard door remained closed, Hai Dongqing silently made hand signals, and several spies imdiately prepared to form a human ladder and scale the wall into the courtyard.
One spy blew a copper whistle, emitting a single magpie call.
The sound of the copper whistle traveled far and wide. Spies who were searching other parts of the Chen Mansion quickly converged, forming a formidable formation behind Hai Dongqing.
However, just as they were about to force their way in, the wooden door creaked open.
A spy brought a torch closer to reveal Chen Ji’s calm face, and Hai Dongqing of the Spy Departnt’s expression underwent several changes in an instant, leaving him speechless for a long while.
Chen Liqin went forward to introduce, "This is the Third Young Master of my Chen family, Chen Ji. He lived outside the mansion for the past two years and cultivated a certain wariness common among the commoners. Closing the door is his usual habit, not sothing he’s only done today."
After listening to Chen Liqin’s explanation, Hai Dongqing suddenly laughed and sheathed his knife, "Mr. Chen, you should have said so earlier. It seems to have been a misunderstanding. Let’s all put away our weapons and not frighten the Third Young Master of the Chen family."
The atmosphere in Mingquan Garden imdiately relaxed.
Hai Dongqing waved to the spies, "What are you all gathering here for? Have you finished searching the other places? Disperse!"
The spies scattered, and seeing them head towards Wenyun Hall, Chen Liqin imdiately followed, "There are antiques and hereditary paintings inside Wenyun Hall. Don’t damage them!"
As the crowd dispersed, Hai Dongqing spoke discreetly, "Mr. Chen."
With a smile, Chen Ji said, "Commander West Wind, long ti no see. I haven’t heard that you’ve been promoted to Hai Dongqing; otherwise, I would have certainly offered my congratulations."
West Wind replied with an embarrassed smile, "It was pure luck, luck. I owe it to you and Lord Jin Zhu. I managed to scrape together so rit during the Liu Family treason case, otherwise, I wouldn’t have been promoted. Now, Lord Jin Zhu has stationed in Luocheng City to oversee the business within the Spy Departnt."
Chen Ji spoke softly, "As fellow Hai Dongqings, there’s no need for such formalities between us."
Hastily, West Wind waved his hands, "It’s different, different. My promotion to Hai Dongqing is because I’ve put in the years, and Lord Jin Zhu saw that I labored without much rit. Your promotion to Hai Dongqing is because you’ve only just joined the Spy Departnt and couldn’t be promoted any higher."
Casually, Chen Ji inquired, "I heard that General Wang of the Thousand-year Army has died, and the assassin hasn’t been caught?"
West Wind grimaced, "Exactly. I thought Luocheng City had finally beco peaceful, and I was planning on retiring here, but then this incident occurred. That assassin, too, couldn’t they have killed Wang Chongli outside Luocheng City? Instead, they had to dump this ss on my head..."
As he spoke, West Wind’s eyes darted around, "Mr. Chen, why don’t you help investigate this case? With your skill, you’re sure to catch the main culprit."
Chen Ji smiled, "I will soon be heading to the Imperial Capital with the Chen family; I’m afraid I won’t have enough ti. However, you can tell about the clues you’ve gathered so far, and I can help you analyze them."
West Wind pondered for a mont and recounted, "The assassination involved a female assassin nad Su Zhou; that much is certain. The court has been issuing a bounty for her for many years. Eighteen years ago, she disguised herself as a servant and attempted to assassinate Prince Jing. It’s said that Prince Jing pitied her background, considering she was young, and let her live; seven years ago, she disguised herself as a peddler and attempted to assassinate the Chief Eunuch in charge of Ritual Supervision in Jinling..."
As he listed the incidents, the number of lives Su Zhou had taken was enough to make one’s scalp tingle.
Leaning in, West Wind whispered, "Mr. Chen, Su Zhou isn’t the main issue; if Lord Xuan She couldn’t catch the assassin, it’s understandable that I couldn’t either. But another assassin tonight is not ordinary and must be caught."
Chen Ji raised an eyebrow, "Oh? What’s the mystery here?"
West Wind revealed, "A soldier from the Thousand-year Army managed to survive and reported to the Military Departnt. According to him, before Su Zhou’s assassination attempt, there was an Executive Officer who used a spirit monster. Based on his description, that officer had practiced the Mandala Seal and was controlling a Taotie."
Unperturbed, Chen Ji asked, "The Mandala Seal? Could it be soone from the Esoteric Sect of Diannan?"
"No, no, no," West Wind shook his head, "It’s true that there are more monks in Diannan who practice the Mandala Seal, but the branch that controls the Taotie is a unique lineage. As long ago as two hundred years, this sect moved under the leadership of Master Bazba to propagate their teachings in the Jing Dynasty... This assassin cos from the Jing Dynasty!"
Once the clue was connected to the Jing Dynasty, the Spy Departnt had to pursue it relentlessly.
Chen Ji’s heart tightened. If the Executive Officer who commands the Taotie was indeed Xiao Man, then who had taught her these thods? His own birth mother?
West Wind asked, "So, Mr. Chen, do you have any leads?"
Chen Ji contemplated for a mont, "I’ve heard from the soldiers of the Military Departnt that the female assassin was seriously injured. Perhaps Lord West Wind could search the various dical Halls, and also investigate the dicinal herb sellers."
West Wind sighed, "That’s what I’ve been thinking as well, but so far there haven’t been any results..."
Chen Ji turned his body slightly and asked with a smile, "Would Lord West Wind care to search my yard?"
Quickly, West Wind laughed and waved his hands, "We’re all on the sa side, how could I search you? You should rest early, Mr. Chen, I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep tonight."
Chen Ji bid farewell with clasped hands, "Then I won’t keep you any longer, Lord West Wind."
West Wind returned the gesture, "I’ll be off then, have a good rest."
The gate of Mingquan Garden slowly closed, and West Wind, after taking a few steps, looked back suspiciously at the tightly shut wooden door.
Monts later, he shook his head with a smile and went to search elsewhere, hand on his waist knife.
...
...
After securing the gate, Chen Ji let out a sigh of relief.
He held the door latch with both hands, silently listening to the sound of West Wind’s departure, before turning back and entering the house.
Upon entering, he saw Su Zhou and Xiao Man standing by the window, as if they had been peering out for so ti.
Su Zhou asked calmly, "You’re just an apprentice in a dical hall, why are you familiar with the Eunuch Party? What did you talk about with him just now, and why was he so courteous to you?"
Chen Ji, feigning shock, replied, "What do you an by that? Are you suspecting ? My master once treated the Pri Minister’s leg ailnt; after arriving in Luocheng City, the Eunuch Party also visited the dical Hall to fetch dicine for the Pri Minister. Over ti, we beca acquainted. If I were to betray you, how could you still be standing here talking? I have helped you with good intentions, why would you doubt like this?"
Su Zhou pondered, indeed that made sense.
Yet, the deanor of Hai Dongqing from the Spy Departnt towards Chen Ji didn’t seem right; he was treating Chen Ji not like a re apprentice, but rather like a... superior.
Chen Ji said timidly, "This lady hero, I know not your relationship with Prince Jing nor how you plan to avenge him, but I’ve done all I could. Tomorrow, Chen Mansion will set off for the Imperial Capital; I only need to think of a way to get you out of the city, and then we’ll part ways."
Su Zhou calmly said, "No."
Chen Ji shrank back, "What do you intend to do? We’re just ordinary people; we can’t take this kind of fright. Thinking back to what just happened, my legs are still trembling."
Su Zhou softened her tone, speaking gently, "Thank you for saving . Su Zhou will surely repay this debt in the future. However, since you have a connection with the Prince Mansion, why not do one more good deed and take to the Imperial Capital? Prince instructed to find you, and now I have no one else to trust."
Beside them, Xiao Man hurriedly intervened, "Young master, don’t agree to this fiendish woman..."
But before she could finish, Su Zhou quietly pulled a Lamp Copper Coin from her hair and secretly slipped it into Xiao Man’s palm. Xiao Man’s eyes lit up, and she suddenly fell silent.
Chen Ji went to pour himself a cup of tea at the table, his back to the two, his expression gradually settling.
After a long ti, he finished the tea in his cup and made his decision.
Chen Ji turned around, grudgingly saying, "Then, for the sake of Prince Jing, I’ll help you once more and take you to the Imperial Capital."
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