Chapter 16: The Trade

Anxi Street lay in tranquil silence, moonlight cascading upon the verdant flagstones of the thoroughfare, like a flowing stream, serene and clear.

Chen Ji stood wordlessly within the doorway, while outside, Yun Yang offered no prompting. The two, separated by the door's threshold, remained in a quiet stillness.

After a long period of contemplation, Chen Ji finally drew a deep breath. With a creak, he slowly pulled open the door. "Lord Yun Yang, what business brings you here?"

Outside, Yun Yang was clad in a set of black garments, so perfectly fitted it seemed they had just been ironed. His hair was meticulously gathered atop his head with a hairpin, giving him the appearance of a young master from the theatrical stage.

Separated by the high threshold of the Taiping Medical Hall, Yun Yang inquired with a smile, "Won't you invite me in for a cup of tea?"

Chen Ji shook his head. "There's no place to drink tea within the medical hall. We might as well converse at the entrance."

"Huh?" Yun Yang scrutinized Chen Ji with interest. "You don't know I am from the Secret Spy Office? Could it be Imperial Physician Yao didn't inform you?"

"He did."

Yun Yang suppressed his smile and stated coolly, "Then do you know, when my Secret Spy Office wishes to visit someone's residence, no one has ever dared refuse? Are you not afraid of me?"

Having spoken, he stepped over the threshold, seemingly disregarding Chen Ji's presence as he strode into the medical hall.

"I am afraid," Chen Ji turned his body, his admission sincere. "But I suggested we speak at the entrance because I know you are in a hurry, and I wouldn't wish to delay your time."

"Oh?" Yun Yang, with his hands clasped behind his back, surveyed the medical hall while inquiring with curiosity, "Why do you say I am in a hurry?"

Chen Ji stood at the doorway, his gaze fixed on Yun Yang's back. "You apprehended the Liu family members, which led to the Liu family's venerable elder being overcome with rage and fainting. His days are numbered. The Liu family's elder in the court cabinet and the Minister of Personnel are rushing back to Luocheng. Surely, you must be in a great hurry."

Yun Yang laughed. "Based solely on the information that Imperial Physician Yao was summoned by the Liu family to diagnose an illness, you dare assert my current predicament? I came tonight under the orders of the Inner Minister. Regardless of the Liu family's status, I now suspect you are a spy of the Jing Dynasty. Come with me to the inner prison."

Chen Ji leaned against the doorframe. "Lord Yun Yang, let us be frank. If you truly intended to apprehend me and take me to the inner prison, why would you trouble yourself to come personally? Sending two individuals would suffice."

Yun Yang turned and stared directly at Chen Ji, observing the steadfastness in his expression. "Since you are so astute, you should also know that with Imperial Physician Yao not present tonight, I wouldn't even need a reason to kill you. How dare you confront me?"

Why did Chen Ji confront him? Just as Yun Yang had said to Zhou Chengyi: When you face the Secret Spy Office, you have no choice.

Either cooperate, or die.

However, he held another thought.

Seeing that Chen Ji remained silent, Yun Yang slowly reasoned, "Since you are an intelligent person, then venture a guess as to why I have come. If you guess correctly, it will prove you still possess value."

Chen Ji stated, "Everyone says the Secret Spy Office acts first and reports later, with special imperial authorization. But this power also has a prerequisite, and that is you must apprehend the correct individuals."

Yun Yang raised his eyebrows. "Continue."

Chen Ji frowned in analysis. "There are few matters that would cause Lord Yun Yang to come seeking me in the dead of night. It is nothing more than the fact that after apprehending the individuals, you have yet to find evidence to definitively incriminate them. Now, the Liu family's venerable elder's life hangs by a thread. If you cannot find evidence to prove that your apprehensions were correct, you will likely be pushed out as a scapegoat by the Inner Minister."

"Excellent!" Yun Yang applauded, speaking directly and openly. "Jiao Tu, following the clues you provided, searched twenty-two Xuan paper shops within Luocheng and finally found two types of Xuan paper identical to those in Zhou Chengyi's mansion. Both were traced back to businesses owned by the Liu family. However, we found no other evidence in the Xuan paper shops."

Chen Ji quickly asked, "Did you try brushing all the Xuan paper with vinegar?"

"We did, but no words appeared."

Chen Ji was doubtful. "Since there was no evidence, why did you dare apprehend them directly?"

Yun Yang brushed his sleeve, a cold laugh escaping him. "My Secret Spy Office always errs on the side of killing the wrong person rather than letting a spy go. Letting one spy escape could mean the death of a hundred soldiers on the front line, or even more. Three years ago, the autumn grain transported north via the Grand Canal was burned – two thousand four hundred piculs of my Ning Dynasty's grain – enough to sustain a thousand front-line soldiers and their horses for a month, all because there was a spy within the escorting army. Do you say this consequence is serious or not?"

"But you did not anticipate that the Liu elder would be angered to death. If not for this incident, apprehending a few young descendants would have been inconsequential, would it not?"

For the first time, an expression of helplessness appeared on Yun Yang's face. "Who could have imagined this old man's life was as fragile as paper? Jiao Tu is still wrangling with the Liu family. We must find the evidence."

Chen Ji inquired, "When do we depart?"

Yun Yang stepped over the threshold first, moving towards the outside. "Now!"

"Wait a moment."

"Hmm?"

Chen Ji remained still, asking with a serious demeanor, "What benefit is there for me?"

...

...

Yun Yang halted and turned his body. He stood beneath the moonlight on Anxi Street, a smile that seemed not a smile gracing his lips as he looked at Chen Ji inside the medical hall. "You dare negotiate with me?"

Chen Ji did not humble himself due to the power of the person before him. He merely stated sincerely, "Lord Yun Yang, you and Jiao Tu are now trapped in a predicament. This matter is originally unrelated to me, but if I act to help, there should be some reward. You may consider me like a worker at the canal wharf, accepting payment for work."

Yun Yang chuckled. He took a few steps forward and with a flick of his hand, a silver needle was embedded in Chen Ji's chest. The silver needle was as fine as a cow's hair, barely visible under the moonlight unless one scrutinized carefully.

Instantly, the veins on Chen Ji's neck throbbed, and an unbearable pain radiated from his chest, almost causing him to collapse from the shock.

Yun Yang's voice grew gradually cold. "My Secret Spy Office never bargains with people."

Chen Ji, supporting himself against the medical hall's doorframe, gasped, "There must always be exceptions."

Yun Yang retorted, "Upon what grounds? Do you believe this matter is indispensable to you?"

Chen Ji suddenly straightened his body, supporting himself against the doorframe. He looked directly into Yun Yang's eyes. "That's right, it is indispensable to me."

The world fell silent.

A tremendous pressure seemed to descend upon Anxi Street, suppressing all sound.

Chen Ji continued, "If it were not indispensable to me, Lord Yun Yang would not, during this time of turmoil, seek out an insignificant junior like myself."

Were there experts in capturing spies within the Secret Spy Office? Undoubtedly.

But Yun Yang had also mentioned they were temporarily transferred to Luocheng. And given the style of Yun Yang and Jiao Tu, they did not resemble individuals who specialized in capturing spies; they were more like... assassins.

On the day they apprehended Zhou Chengyi, neither Yun Yang nor Jiao Tu displayed anti-espionage capabilities. Instead, their methods of killing were extremely secretive and decisive.

Now, the two were temporarily entrusted with an important task, yet they had created a major problem.

They needed someone to help clean it up... they needed a smart person.

Yun Yang's eyes narrowed slightly. "Even if I require your assistance this time, are you not afraid that I will seek trouble with you afterward? I suggest you weigh every sentence carefully when speaking to me, otherwise the consequences will be more than you can bear."

Chen Ji stated, "Lord Yun Yang will presumably have to deal with many spies in the future. Where there are spies, there are merits to be gained. I will help you earn merit. Why would you then seek trouble with me?"

"Huh," Yun Yang's eyes brightened.

Of all the words Chen Ji had spoken, only this sentence truly captured his attention!

"You think you can help me earn merit?" Yun Yang countered.

Chen Ji said, "The alum in Zhou Chengyi's mansion was found by me."

"That merit is not significant," Yun Yang shook his head.

Chen Ji also shook his head. "No, the merit I speak of is not Zhou Chengyi, but rather... no, it is Lord Yun Yang's method of deciphering the secret messages written by the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Office. In the past, when the Secret Spy Office apprehended spies, searched residences, they leaked this method of secret correspondence and also leaked a great deal of information. Now, by reversing this method, one might find unexpected surprises within their homes."

The light in Yun Yang's eyes grew more intense. "That's right! This time I can let the Inner Minister know, I and Jiao Tu..."

He glanced at Chen Ji, and his words abruptly ceased.

Yun Yang pondered for a moment. "What kind of benefit do you desire?"

Chen Ji said, "Power. I want an official position within the Secret Spy Office."

Yun Yang, exasperated, said, "Do you think I am the Inner Minister? The Secret Spy Office is the most powerful yamen under the Eunuch Supervisor, and it handles the most secretive matters. To enter, you must be investigated for three generations by the main criminal office and reported to the Inner Minister. No one else can decide!"

Chen Ji said, "Then I want money."

He had not originally intended to truly seek power, but when a person reveals their intentions prematurely, it is never advantageous. First, make an exorbitant demand, then discuss further.

Seeing that Chen Ji did not desire an official position, Yun Yang breathed a sigh of relief. "How much money do you want?"

"Two thousand taels of silver."

"What?!"

Chen Ji asked, "Can you not provide it?"

Yun Yang scratched his scalp. "Do you know that my annual salary is only thirty-six taels of silver, and yet you open your mouth asking for two thousand taels?! If you are this ridiculous again, see if I don't just stab you!"

"Does the Secret Spy Office rely solely on salary to survive?" Chen Ji did not believe him.

Yun Yang thought for a moment, suppressing his mindset that was influenced by "merit," and stated without a hint of doubt, "Each time you help me earn merit, I will give you fifty taels of silver."

"A figure as grand as Lord Yun Yang, and your reward is only fifty taels?"

"Only fifty taels? Fifty taels is enough for you to go to the West Market and buy twenty maids! Time is urgent now. I don't know how long Jiao Tu can stall on his end. If you delay any further, I will have to kill you. I ask you one last time, fifty taels, do you want it or not?"

"I want it!"

Yun Yang turned and walked away. "There are still three hours until dawn. You also only have three hours."

"Where does Lord Yun Yang plan to go to find evidence now?"

"I'll take you to the Xuan paper shop. Perhaps you can find something there!"

Chen Ji shook his head in refusal. "Not the Xuan paper shop. We will go to Zhou Chengyi's mansion."

Yun Yang frowned. "Didn't you already find the alum there last time? What else is there?"

Chen Ji remained silent.

Yun Yang instantly reacted. "Wait, you must have discovered other clues in Zhou Chengyi's mansion last time, but you hid them and didn't tell me and Jiao Tu!"

"I also left some trump cards for self-preservation. Please forgive me, Lord Yun Yang," Chen Ji was never a person who would be passively captured. When killing someone, even if he was stabbed in the waist, he would still bite a piece of flesh from the enemy's neck.

"Hiss!" Yun Yang inhaled a cold breath. "The more I see you, the more I feel you are a Jing Dynasty spy. What should I do?"

"Would a Jing Dynasty spy help you, my lord, capture spies?"

Yun Yang pressed two fingers to his tongue and let out a clear whistle. From the corner of Anxi Street, a swift horse galloped out.

He leaped onto the horse and pulled Chen Ji up behind him. "Hold on tight!"

The hemp-wrapped hooves of the horse made muffled sounds on the green flagstones, galloping into the thin fog of early morning.

No one noticed that on the eaves of a street-side roof, a small black cat had remained hidden in the shadows.

When they departed, the cat lightly leaped onto the grey tiles of the roof and followed in pursuit.