Chapter 101: Betting Life

Inside a small noodle stall in the midnight East Market, in front of a greasy, shiny wooden table, Chen Ji lowered his head to shovel hot, steaming beef noodles into his mouth, saving the only two pieces of beef in the noodle bowl for last.

Jin Zhu sat opposite him at the wooden table, sighed and said, "You and Tian Ma are truly two completely different personalities. He always eats the beef in the bowl first, regardless of whether the plain noodles after still have flavor. Your kind of personality isn't suitable for the *jianghu*, because you don't live freely enough."

Chen Ji oh-ed a sound. The noodles were already eaten. He put the last piece of beef into his mouth, then looked at the half-bowl of beef noodles remaining in front of Jin Zhu. "Lord Jin Zhu, didn't you say when you were young, you liked eating beef noodles the most?"

"But I'm no longer young," Jin Zhu smiled and squinted, saying, "After the matter succeeds, I'll also invite you to go to Ying Xian Lou to eat. You can eat whatever you want then."

"No need, simple fare is enough."

Jin Zhu gradually restrained his smile. "The noodles are finished, and your body is warmed up. Now tell me, what did you write on that piece of paper you gave to Liu Ming Xian?"

Chen Ji wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I arranged for him to meet me at dawn under the Peony Bridge."

Jin Zhu was doubtful. "Arrange for him to do what?"

Chen Ji calmly said, "Ask him if he has colluded with Jing Chao spies."

Jin Zhu: "......"

Chen Ji laughed heartily, stood up, and walked outside. "Just kidding. How could I directly ask someone their identity? Let's go, my lord. We still need to arrive at Peony Bridge before dawn."

Outside the noodle stall, they came face to face with an old man carrying a shoulder pole. On the shoulder pole, two wooden boxes hung one in front and one in back. On the wooden boxes were placed pairs of thin wooden masks, intricately carved with monkeys, pigs, rabbits, and sheep, all lifelike.

Around the shoulder pole, a group of small children surrounded him, pulling their parents' hands, wanting to buy a mask, but being stopped by their parents.

Chen Ji stepped forward and casually picked up two masks. "Old man, how do you sell the masks?"

The old man put down his shoulder pole and smiled in response. "Twenty *wen* a piece."

Chen Ji took two, one rabbit and one sheep, but Jin Zhu held his wrist.

Jin Zhu exchanged a cow mask for himself and a tiger mask for Chen Ji. "Wearing rabbit and sheep isn't auspicious. Wear a tiger for good luck. May you rise quickly and take over the position of Lord Bing Hu."

Chen Ji was doubtful. "Lord Jin Zhu, are you truly not afraid that I'll become one of the top three and then seek revenge on you? A few hours ago, you were still hanging me on the roof."

"Once you reach that position, you'll naturally understand that interests are eternal," Jin Zhu patted Chen Ji's shoulder teasingly and said, "Lord Chen Ji might spare my life then. I'm useful to you. Let's go."

Chen Ji turned to look at the distant, still brightly lit Ying Xian Lou, then turned and walked into the night.

It was the Yin hour, before dawn.

Beside Peony Bridge, in a courtyard, lights were on. A young servant holding a lantern hurried through the courtyard's moon gate, arrived at a bedroom door, and called out, "Second Master, Second Master, it's time."

A voice came from inside the room. "Understood."

In the inner residence, two beautiful concubines wearing silk pajamas, one on the left and one on the right, lifted the curtains of the canopy bed from the inside.

Liu Ming Xian got out of bed and spread his arms, letting the beautiful concubines help him with his clothes. He calmly asked from outside the door, "Have the three guests from Yan Shi arrived?"

"Reporting to Second Master, they have arrived. They are waiting by the carriage."

Liu Ming Xian dressed neatly and unhurriedly walked out.

Stepping over the threshold, he lightly said, "Reward them."

The young servant took out two gold ingots from his own pouch and threw them on the ground in the room. The two beautiful concubines hurriedly knelt at the door, watching Liu Ming Xian's back as he left.

Arriving at the front door, Liu Ming Xian bowed to the three Liu family retainers. "It's hard work for you three today. Tomorrow, someone will send the reward to each of your residences."

A thin old man gave a dry laugh, with a cinnabar-drawn mountain flower ghost coin hanging from his waist with a red string. "Lord, you're too polite. This is our duty. The Grand Councilor instructed that we must protect you completely."

Liu Ming Xian smilingly asked, "Is my father well recently?"

The old man replied, "The Grand Councilor has always been guarding the ancestral tomb in mourning and hasn't come out."

Since the Ning Dynasty was established, court officials who were in office whose parents passed away had to resign and return to their ancestral homes to observe mourning for twenty-seven months.

During this time, they had to eat, live, and sleep in front of their parents' graves, without drinking, bathing, shaving, or changing clothes.

Now, Liu Gun had resigned from the position of Minister of Personnel and was residing in a hut in the Liu family ancestral tomb.

Liu Ming Xian casually said, "Three, since you've come to work by my side, then settle down in the city. Mr. Feng is enough to guard my father's side alone."

Beside him, a sturdy man said in a low voice, "As ordered."

Liu Ming Xian sized up the man in front of him and smilingly asked, "Brother Xu Can, have you two missed the scenery of the border town since returning from the border army?"

The man named Xu Can cupped his hands and said, "The border town is very difficult. Every day is filled with wind and lodging, with weapons at the ready. Where is the freedom of Luo City? We still have to thank the Grand Councilor for valuing us brothers and rewarding us with a meal."

Liu Ming Xian smiled. "You will understand later that following my Liu family only brings benefits, no harm."

The old man hurriedly flattered, "We understand, we understand."

Liu Ming Xian nodded satisfactorily. "This courtyard will belong to you three to live in from now on. The people inside are also rewarded to you. Those over ten Yangzhou slim horses were all bought back with several hundred taels of silver."

"Thank you, Second Master!"

The coachman lifted the carriage curtain, and Liu Ming Xian bent down and got into the carriage.

The three retainers did not get on. The old man, like a small-footed old lady, followed beside the carriage with small steps. Although his steps were small, he could precisely keep up with the carriage's speed.

The Xu Can brothers strode ahead of the carriage the whole way, like two giant divine generals clearing the path.

They stopped abruptly when they arrived at Peony Bridge.

The old man stuck to the carriage window and said in a low voice, "Second Master, we've arrived at the place. The person isn't under the bridge, but on the bridge."

Liu Ming Xian sat in the carriage, his expression calm as he lifted a gap in the curtain to look. He saw only two people wearing masks in the middle of the bridge, coldly watching them at the bridgehead.

One wore a cow mask, and one wore a tiger mask.

The Peony stone arch bridge was about thirty *zhang* long, with a total of twenty-four arches, wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side.

Beside the carriage, the old man gave the Xu Can brothers a look. The next moment, Xu Can and Xu Chu respectively leaped onto the stone railings on the two sides of the arch bridge, approaching the middle of the bridge step by step.

The old man stroked the cinnabar mountain flower ghost coin at his waist and walked leisurely in the middle of the bridge. The three were as tacit as a sharp arrow until they were only ten steps away from the cow and tiger on the bridge, then slowly stopped.

Liu Ming Xian got out of the carriage and walked behind the old man, facing the masks from afar.

Jin Zhu, behind the cow mask, narrowed his eyes. He looked at the mountain flower ghost coin at the old man's waist, then turned his head to look at the strange tattoos on the necks of the two sturdy men. His whole body tensed.

Jin Zhu quietly glanced at Chen Ji. He didn't know what Chen Ji wrote on the paper that actually summoned these two killers who had disappeared from the border town for a long time.

Could it be that Chen Ji had sold himself, wanting to set up an ambush with the Liu family to kill him?

That's not right. Chen Ji's hand was very calm. The hand reflects the courage of the heart. A non-trembling hand means a peaceful heart.

Chen Ji was very composed.

But Jin Zhu still didn't know why Chen Ji was so composed.

Under the moonlight, neither side spoke. The air on the bridge became increasingly heavy.

Slowly, the fog of the autumn morning rose, and the distant sky gradually brightened.

Just as Jin Zhu was about to open his mouth to smooth things over, he heard Chen Ji calmly ask, "When your Liu family stole firearms from the Ministry of Works, you didn't handle the aftermath cleanly, leaked the news, and ruined our important matter. How do you account for this? The Director has already arrived in Kaifeng Prefecture. We originally planned to meet in Luo City today. How do we explain this to the Director now?"

Jin Zhu: Ah?!

Director?

Meet?

Jin Zhu's pupils behind the wooden cow mask suddenly contracted. He almost subconsciously wanted to abandon Chen Ji here and run alone.

At this moment, he finally understood that Chen Ji actually wanted to directly impersonate the Jing Chao Military Intelligence Department to contact the Liu family.

Is this handling a case?

This is clearly gambling with life!

Jin Zhu was not stupid. He had already understood that Chen Ji wanted to gamble that after Red Clothes Alley was surrounded, the Jing Chao Military Intelligence Department temporarily wouldn't dare to come out. Under the city-wide search, they also wouldn't dare to contact the Liu family.

Taking advantage of this gap, they could impersonate the Jing Chao Military Intelligence Department, leading the Liu family step by step into the trap, actively handing over the evidence!

But this matter was like walking on a tightrope. If the Jing Chao Military Intelligence Department still maintained contact with the Liu family, if the Jing Chao Military Intelligence Department and the Liu family still had some special agreement code... the slightest mistake, the two of them would have to meet their end here today.

This was a desperate move!

While contemplating, Liu Ming Xian heard Chen Ji's question and slightly narrowed his eyes. "Ministry of Works? I don't understand what you're saying."

Chen Ji calmly said, "Stop wasting time."

Liu Ming Xian coldly laughed. "My Liu family upholds the law and performs our duty. If your esteemed self arranged for me to come today just to say these inexplicable words, I might just capture you two as Jing Chao thieves and send you to the Secret Service."

Chen Ji calmly asked, "On the day Yun Yang and Jiao Tu opened the coffin, Lord Liu killed your own grandfather, plotting rebellion and patricide. How can you talk about upholding the law and performing your duty? If it weren't for our reminder that day, Lord Liu would probably already be a prisoner."

Jin Zhu was startled. He heard Chen Ji speak eloquently, not at all like he was acting. If Meng Ji hadn't personally tested Chen Ji, he almost thought that the person standing beside him was really a Jing Chao spy, at least at the level of a Department Officer.

He also had doubts in his heart.

Anyone who had read the files knew that when the coffins of Yun Yang and Jiao Tu were first opened, Old Master Liu was indeed not in the coffin. Those two zodiacs would not joke about this matter.

During the second opening, someone must have tipped them off in advance, which is why the Trouble-Removing Guards caught nothing.

But how could Chen Ji be so certain that it was the Jing Chao Military Intelligence Department that tipped off the Liu family? Was it a guess? Or was there really a Jing Chao spy beside him who knew the inside story?

Jin Zhu's suspicion in his heart grew heavier.

On the other side, Liu Ming Xian's face was ashen. This was his biggest secret. If the Jing Chao Military Intelligence Department hadn't reminded him that day, he would probably already be charged with the crime of plotting rebellion and deceiving the emperor.

Hearing this, he already believed Chen Ji's Jing Chao identity.

Liu Ming Xian said with a serious expression, "Red Clothes Alley being surrounded was not my intention. We drove away Yun Yang and Jiao Tu, yet a Jin Zhu who is ten times more cunning than them came. This person is extremely troublesome. He guessed early on that we would make a move on the Ministry of Works and followed the scent."

Chen Ji coldly laughed. "This matter is absolutely not something Lord Liu can explain away with one sentence, 'not my intention.' What are your plans now?"

Liu Ming Xian slowly said, "Mutual cooperation is definitely for achieving things. Since this delivery failed, then choose a new delivery date. But now the Secret Service is watching closely, so we need to wait a bit."

Chen Ji solemnly said, "The Director is now in Kaifeng Prefecture, risking exposing his identity at any time. Where does he have time to slowly wait for you? If the Liu family is not sincere, the Director will return to the north!"

Liu Ming Xian frowned. "Then when do you want to deliver?"

"Tomorrow, still at this Peony Bridge. I want to see the goods. Otherwise, the Director will immediately leave Kaifeng Prefecture, and our Military Intelligence Department's agreement with the Liu family will all be canceled."

The bridge quieted down. The morning fog became thicker and thicker, to the point that even ten steps apart, they were somewhat unable to see each other clearly.

After a long time, Liu Ming Xian calmly said, "Good, then set it for tomorrow."

"Farewell."

Chen Ji gently tugged on Jin Zhu's sleeve, and the two slowly retreated into the morning fog.

It was unclear how long passed. Jin Zhu said in a small alley, "Alright, no one is following."

Chen Ji took off his mask, but unexpectedly, Jin Zhu suddenly pinched his jaw, pressed him against the wall, and said with a half-smile, "Little Doctor Chen, you aren't really a Jing Chao spy, are you? How did you determine that the coffin opening matter was the Jing Chao Military Intelligence Department tipping off the Liu family? Couldn't it have been the Liu family themselves who planted an insider?"

"Naturally, I gambled," Chen Ji calmly countered. "Lord Jin Zhu, if I were a Jing Chao spy, why would I bother exposing this to you and inviting your suspicion?"

Jin Zhu was silent.

Chen Ji countered again, "If I were a Jing Chao spy, why would I help you find the Liu family's evidence?"

Jin Zhu was even more silent.

Chen Ji slowly pried open Jin Zhu's loosened fingers. "Lord Jin Zhu, employ without doubt, doubt without employ. Since you chose me, you should believe my judgment. If you suspect me, that's fine too. Feel free to investigate."

Jin Zhu secretly sighed in his heart. Every sentence Chen Ji said was reasonable. If Chen Ji were really on the Jing Chao side, there would have been no need to expose himself tonight.

He pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed and helped Chen Ji straighten his clothes. "It's all a misunderstanding. Don't take it to heart. I've been in the Secret Service for a long time, and I suspect everyone I see. By the way, why didn't you tell me the plan the whole night? You were clearly worried that after I knew the plan, I wouldn't dare to come!"

"Yes."

Jin Zhu smiled and squinted. "Who are you looking down on? Next time, remember to tell me the plan in advance to avoid catching me off guard."

"Okay."

Jin Zhu calculated for a while and asked, "What is your next plan?"

Chen Ji said, "The next plan doesn't require me. Liu Ming Xian wants to deliver tomorrow, so he will definitely choose to risk rushing into the Ministry of Works again today. Lord Jin Zhu only needs to arrange good control of the Ministry of Works and catch the thieves red-handed. As long as there is solid evidence to arrest Liu Ming Xian and put him in the inner prison, toppling the Liu family is only a matter of time."

Jin Zhu's eyes brightened. "This logic makes sense. The Liu family's eldest son, Liu Ming De, is single-minded in his pursuit of *dao*. All affairs in Yu State are managed by the second son, Liu Ming Xian. Capture him, and you capture the Liu family."

Chen Ji bowed to Jin Zhu. "My lord, can I go home now?"

"Yes, yes," Jin Zhu smiled and waved his hand. "Indeed, one must do successful things with successful people. Although this plan is risky, it can be called a brilliant move."

Chen Ji turned and left. Jin Zhu watched him walk into the thin fog, only feeling that the calm back was suppressing frightening madness.

From last night to this morning, Chen Ji calmly went to deliver a letter to Liu Ming Xian, calmly finished eating the beef noodles, and calmly acted as a Jing Chao spy.

Jin Zhu considered himself to have seen great storms and waves, but at this time, he still had lingering fears. In contrast, Chen Ji acted as if nothing had happened.

He secretly cursed in his heart, "Madman."

On the blue stone slab road.

Chen Ji walked leisurely on his way back to the medical hall. The close-fitting clothes behind him were already soaked with sweat.

Gambling with life was like walking on a tightrope. Every moment required twelve points of concentration.

But he wasn't completely gambling.

The Secret Service didn't know, but he knew that Si Cao Gui had already gone south to Yangzhou with Wu Hong Biao. Si Cao Xin was killed by his own hand. The Jing Chao Military Intelligence Department fundamentally had no one who could continue to contact the Liu family.

Moreover, the Jing Chao Military Intelligence Department in the past was always contacted by Zhou Cheng Yi and Liu Shi Yu. The big figures on both sides never met face to face.

Precisely because Chen Ji was indeed a Jing Chao spy and knew more inside information, he dared to gamble.

Would Jin Zhu therefore suspect him?

Yes, he definitely would.

But Chen Ji didn't care. Toppling the Liu family wasn't the end point. He would personally add the final link.

In front of Tai Ping Medical Hall, Chen Ji looked up at the plaque and suddenly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

Home.

It seemed that as long as he returned here, his restless, almost mad heart could stabilize again. But he still hadn't thought about how to explain his breaking the appointment.

Or perhaps there was no need to explain?

Chen Ji lifted his foot and stepped over the threshold, his back showing doubt.

The voice of the Prince of Jing's Heir came from the backyard. "Why isn't Chen Ji back yet? This boy not only doesn't treat patients, but he doesn't even come home?"

Liu Qu Xing said, "Master, Chen Ji didn't return last night. When he comes back, you must give him a good beating!"

Chen Ji walked to the backyard and looked in surprise at the Prince of Jing's Heir, Bai Li, Liu Qu Xing, She Deng Ke, and others. "Why are you all here?"

Bai Li put his hands on his hips, his tone indignant. "Of course, to question you about why you broke the appointment!"

Liu Qu Xing shouted, "Too stingy!"

Chen Ji was silent for a moment, then softly said, "Sorry, I did have an urgent matter yesterday."

"Hahaha." The Prince of Jing's Heir suddenly laughed. "Look, everyone. This is the first time I've seen Chen Ji with this expression."

Chen Ji looked at the crowd, his expression somewhat doubtful.

The Prince of Jing's Heir stepped forward and put his arm around his shoulder. "Of course, we know you have important things. Everyone is here waiting for you because we were worried. Bai Li said that if you weren't back by morning, he wanted me to go to the Qian Sui Army to mobilize soldiers to find you."

Bai Li asked curiously, "If you encounter any tricky matter, you must tell us. We can all think of ways to solve it together. Between friends, you can't hide things."

Chen Ji shook his head. "It's nothing."

Liang Mao Er smiled honestly. "It's good if it's nothing. Quickly eat a meal. I'll go heat up the rice."

Saying that, he carried two four-tiered red lacquer food boxes into the kitchen and lit a fire to heat the rice.

Liu Qu Xing's eyes were shining. "Finally, I can taste Ying Xian Lou's 'Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea.' I wanted to taste it last night, but Bai Li wouldn't let me."

Chen Ji was doubtful. "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea?"

Under the apricot tree, Old Man Yao said indifferently, "This group of little brats wanted to eat Ying Xian Lou's Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. They didn't have any money in their own pockets, so they deceived a young master from Jiangnan into treating them. After arriving at Ying Xian Lou, the Prince of Jing's Heir ordered a table of dishes, didn't touch a single chopstick, and then said he had an urgent matter at home and left first, taking a table of dishes back. In addition, he also took back two jars of Shaoxing flower wine. Then, he waited for you here all night."

Chen Ji: "Ah?"

Old Man Yao smacked his lips. "Dazed? I estimate that young master from Jiangnan is more dazed than you. Not to mention him, I, this old man, never thought that the dignified Prince of Jing's Heir would also deceive people for food and drink. Truly, as long as you live long enough, you can see anything."

Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, then said with a smile, "Thank you."

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