The two returned to the campfire, and Zhang Xia sat down next to Xiao Man.
Chen Ji sat nearby watching the fire flicker, silent.
He had earlier suspected Zhang Xia of using the opportunity to et with Yun Yang and Jiao Tu, but now it proved otherwise... yet doubts still swirled in his mind.
Sitting by the campfire, Chen Ji casually picked up a piece of lamb and asked Zhang Xia beside him, "Earlier, you ntioned you and a friend went to see the Four Dreams of Bianliang?"
Zhang Xia, eating lamb, replied, "Yes."
Chen Ji laughed and said, "I only found out later that this tale was actually written by Zhang Li, the first disciple of the Huangshan Dao Court. I didn't expect this Daoist Master to have talents in writing that surpass his cultivation... I rember there's a line in the Four Dreams of Bianliang by Li Changge: 'Yesterday's Lu Ming Banquet, tonight's Iron Chain chill', what cos next?"
Zhang Xia, smiling, recited, "Speaking of dragon and phoenix descendants, talking of grass roots being difficult. Reading the Four Dreams of Bianliang, I couldn't help but recall the ti at Lu Hun Manor on a snowy day. You were debating scripture in the yin and yang fish pattern at Wuzhai. You led the horse with the Commandery Princess through the line of heaven, and I thought the world should know about this scene. Unexpectedly, Daoist Master Zhang Li indeed wrote this part into the tales."
Chen Ji responded absent-mindedly, "Hmm."
He looked down at the edge of his clothes.
His hem had been torn when searched by the Common Households at Chongli Pass and had yet to be sewn.
He laughed and said, "Earlier you ntioned your mother kept you at the residence to learn needlework, how did it go?"
Zhang Xia chewed on a piece of lamb, "As easy as turning over a hand."
Chen Ji raised his hem, "Can you help sew it up? Otherwise, people might think I'm a beggar."
Zhang Xia laughed and waved to Xiao Man, "Bring your sewing kit."
Xiao Man responded with an "eh," put down the lamb leg, and stood up, "It's still in the Vermilion Bird Tent, I'll get it."
Xiao Man dashed off and returned, handing the sewing kit to Zhang Xia.
Zhang Xia, with head lowered, skillfully threaded the needle and spoke casually, "I used to always want to prove that I was stronger than n, so I went to the Imperial Academy to debate rhetoric and teach mathematics, unwilling to learn needlework or read the Won's Precepts. Later, I slowly felt it didn't matter. A woman's strength isn't proven through these; those who are self-reliant are truly strong."
Chen Ji looked at Zhang Xia's profile, a few strands of hair hanging down from his forehead.
Zhang Xia lifted Chen Ji's hem and stitched up the torn edge, the stitches fine and firm, like an experienced tailor.
This scene was incredibly peaceful amidst the bustling Military Market and crowd.
At this mont, Zhang Xia bit off the thread with her teeth and gently tied a knot, "Done."
Chen Ji ca back to his senses, examining the fine stitches closely. Earlier, Zhang Xia had disappeared for so ti due to learning needlework, and he had suspected it was just an excuse, but now he had to believe it.
"Thanks," Chen Ji said casually, "By the way, a few days ago, when the Empress was sacrificing to the Silkworm God, all the official won in the capital were there, why didn't I see you?"
Zhang Xia laughed and said, "Sacrificing to the Silkworm God isn't anything interesting, it's just won showing off their beauty. I don't like going and I've never been."
Suddenly, Chen Ji shifted the topic, "How do you know about the Five Mad Soldiers?"
Zhang Xia sat with his knees hugged, took a piece of lamb from Xiao Man's tray, and popped it into his mouth, "My uncle Xu Shu once ntioned it. He said he had dealings with the Five Mad Soldiers while in the Forty-nine Heavens. This group is quite strange, banished to the Five Muddied Evil World, neither dying nor ceasing, doing as they please."
Zhang Xia continued, "Actually, the Five Mad Soldiers are divided into two factions, one part was pacified by the Dao Court and settled in the Northern Continent... that is, the Thunder Departnt soldiers of the Dao Court."
Chen Ji's curiosity was piqued, the Northern Continent?
Zhang Xia's knowledge of the Five Mad Soldiers far surpassed his own, even exceeded Aunt Ping's records, not even found in the twelve-volu summary recorded by Corpse Dog.
Flawless.
Even after his questions, Chen Ji couldn't find any flaw in Zhang Xia's responses.
But he was unwilling to give up: "Earlier, the little black cat you gave to Xiao Man..."
Before he could finish, Zhang Xia explained with a smile, "Father ntioned when he returned to the residence that the black cat the Empress was holding looked exactly like Wu Yun. He didn't know how it got into the palace. I was worried so might get suspicious, so I bought a similar one to give to Xiao Man."
Chen Ji sighed inwardly, all his suspicions had been completely answered. As for why Zhang Xia lied that it was Xiao Man who wanted to co to Chongli Pass or why she used the excuse of Zhang Zhuo giving the black cat... it could be explained reasonably.
Chen Ji decided not to ask further, but Zhang Xia turned the conversation lightly, "So, all these things you're asking aren't what you truly wish to ask. What do you really want to ask?"
Chen Ji remained silent.
Actually, at this mont, the question he most wanted to ask was... are you Bai Long?
Before he could speak, the Military Market suddenly quieted a bit.
It felt as if a gust of cold wind ca from the south, instantly turning the spring night into a winter chill, the cold wind swept from south to north, freezing everyone in place.
The rchants and soldiers all stood up, silently looking southward.
Chen Ji and Zhang Xia also stood up to look, seeing a cavalry team coming slowly from the south, yet with an imposing air.
The leader was wearing that familiar white dragon pattern mask.
Chen Ji glanced at Bai Long, then at Zhang Xia beside him.
Turns out he was really mistaken.
In the flickering light of the bonfire, Bai Long rode his horse slowly forward, with Treasure Monkey and Xuan Snake trailing behind him, followed by more than ten Hai Dongqing embroidered with the Over the Shoulder Python, and several dozen spies.
The spectacle was grand.
In the military market, everyone stood silently along the dirt road, not daring to say a word.
Bai Long gazed around at the soldiers and rchants who were as silent as cicadas in winter: "I really didn't expect this remote place of Chongli Pass to be so lively. Please carry on, don't let my presence disturb your enjoynt."
He spurred his horse towards Chongli Pass, but the soldiers at Chongli Pass showed no intention of opening the barriers.
The next mont, two Hai Dongqing galloped out from the flanks, drew their waist knives, and approached the barrier, slicing it into pieces with a single motion, sending wood chips flying in all directions.
So soldiers guarding the city tried to stop them, but saw Xuan Snake stepping forward with the King's Command Flag: "Stand down!"
Bai Long passed through the middle without looking aside, followed closely by a group of spies, the cavalry gradually disappearing into the shadows of the city gate, leaving only the sound of hoofbeats echoing in the night.
The rchants and soldiers in the military market looked like frostbitten eggplants, once high-spirited, now utterly despondent.
Zhang Baishi lifted the curtain and bent out from the tent, spitting: "Eunuch Party, what a farce! We guard the city and fortify the borders at Chongli Pass with great effort, and they co here to show off their might?"
Hong Zuer waved his hand to Ah Sheng: "Go find Li Sanlang, I bought all the sheep he brought this ti, two taels for each soldier who's on break today."
Ah Sheng quickly stood up and brushed the dirt off his backside: "Okay."
Hong Zuer thought for a mont, and tossed a string of Buddhist Treasure to the shopkeeper: "I'll buy the wine too, let them drink as they please."
The shopkeeper bead as he held the Buddhist Treasure in his hands: "I understand Mr. Hong's customs!"
Ah Sheng shouted loudly: "Today, Mr. Hong treats everyone to wine and at, let's drink until we're satisfied!"
Xiao Man, standing aside, said worriedly: "How much silver will that cost? How can we live like this?"
Ah Sheng explained with a smile: "This is Mr. Hong's rule, to spend all the silver before leaving Chongli Pass. The Night Patrol cannot have any attachnts, otherwise, they won't return."
Chen Ji turned to look at Hong Zuer, who treated the entire military market to drinks but touched none himself.
At this mont, Zhang Xia beside him smiled and said: "Were you just about to ask if I was Bai Long?"
Chen Ji replied calmly: "Sorry."
Zhang Xia shook his head: "No need to apologize, but why did you suspect ?"
Chen Ji thought for a mont: "When in Guyuan, Mr. Feng once hoped I would recruit you into the Spy Departnt and gave a bag of oranges, but I helped you decline."
Zhang Xia asked curiously: "Why?"
Chen Ji said seriously: "It was too dangerous. I was already deep in it and didn't want you to live the sa life, always scheming and living as if licking blood off a blade."
Zhang Xia smiled, picked up a jar of wine from beside the bonfire and took a sip, wrinkling her brow from its spiciness.
She exhaled a breath of wine: "But that doesn't prove I joined the Spy Departnt either."
Chen Ji stated calmly: "I refused the oranges, but after leaving, I felt sothing was amiss. When I returned, I found the place deserted, yet Mr. Feng had left the bag of oranges there as if mocking . I know Mr. Feng wouldn't give up without achieving his goal, so I had concerns."
Zhang Xia exhaled a breath of wine toward the bonfire: "But Bai Long is the head of the Twelve Signs, how could the Pri Minister trust a woman in the Innate Realm to take the top seat?"
Chen Ji smiled broadly: "True. But even if you're not Bai Long, I worried you had secretly joined the Spy Departnt. Never get involved with the Spy Departnt; it's a place of intrigue and deceit."
Zhang Xia said aningfully: "So you were following , suspecting I might be a Pigeon Level Spy or a Hai Dongqing, wanting to see if I was eting with the Spy Departnt people?"
Chen Ji nodded slightly.
Zhang Xia added with deeper aning: "Why would I join the Spy Departnt?"
"Because you want..." Chen Ji started, then choked.
Zhang Xia took another gulp of wine: "To help you rescue the Commandery Princess, right? Don't worry; the Spy Departnt is as perilous as dragon lakes and tiger dens. Both my father and uncle cautioned not to get involved with those people. I won't put myself in danger because of others."
Chen Ji breathed a long sigh of relief: "That's good."
Zhang Xia tossed away the wine jar, got up and headed toward the Vermilion Bird Tent: "It's late, let's rest. We set off for Baidadan in the morning."
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