Chapter 49: The Top Three

The Golden Pig, his eyes narrowed into slits, turned to face Chen Ji, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "The Imperial Censor, in his strategic wisdom, knew Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit would only serve to disrupt. Thus, he had me waiting in the wings, ready to step in the moment they stumbled. The Military Affairs Department and the Liu family likely have no inkling I'm already within Lu City's walls, plotting in the shadows... a golden opportunity to ensnare them."

A profound sense of crisis surged within Chen Ji's heart. This Imperial Censor's schemes were indeed deep and intricate.

Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit were merely pawns, pushed forward to divert attention. The moment they faltered, the enemy, lulled into a false sense of security by their perceived victory, would be vulnerable. It was then that the Golden Pig would make his move, striking from the darkness while the enemy remained exposed. A guaranteed success.

Perhaps Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit had been elevated to the ranks of the Twelve Zodiacs a full six months prior, all for this very moment!

To calculate even his own allies with such ruthless precision… it was no wonder the outside world dubbed him the 'Poison Minister'!

Chen Ji cupped his hands in a deferential salute. "Esteemed Golden Pig, I am not a member of the Secret Surveillance Bureau. I humbly request that you refrain from disclosing such confidential matters to me."

The Golden Pig, his eyes still gleaming with mirth, stepped closer and grasped Chen Ji's hand with unexpected familiarity. A broad smile stretched across his face. "Of course I must tell you! I rely on you to join the Secret Surveillance Bureau and help me secure great merit! Ah, I haven't shared the good news yet. The Imperial Censor has issued a decree, specially approving your entry into the Secret Surveillance Bureau. From today forth, we are colleagues. With your talent, you are sure to soar to the heavens."

Chen Ji's hand, enveloped by the Golden Pig's plump grasp, prickled with goosebumps. He quickly bowed his head in feigned humility. "Esteemed Golden Pig is too kind. I possess no such ability."

"You absolutely do!" the Golden Pig insisted. "I initially believed Cloud Ram would falter at Zhou Cheng Yi's side and leave Lu City in dejection within a single day. Yet, unexpectedly, they not only unearthed evidence of crimes but also decisively crippled Liu Shi Yu and even investigated the matter of the Liu family's old master faking his death. At the time, I was bewildered. These two fellows are indeed ferocious in battle, but when did they acquire such other skills? Only later did I understand... it was all because of you!"

"Not I," Chen Ji shook his head. "Esteemed Golden Pig, I am merely an apprentice at a medical hall."

"Cease your modesty! Lin Chao Qing has already reported the details of the matter to the Imperial Censor. Dream Chicken will also report the matter of the dream interrogation to the Imperial Censor. When these two accounts are compared, the truth becomes self-evident."

Chen Ji's mind cleared. It was no wonder the Golden Pig had sought him out. The Imperial Censor was already aware of his existence.

He asked, his curiosity piqued, "I heard Esteemed Cloud Ram say that the selection process for the Secret Surveillance Bureau is exceedingly rigorous."

The Golden Pig chuckled, patting his shoulder. "While that is true, your performance in the Liu Shi Yu case was truly remarkable, stirring a heart of appreciation for talent within the Imperial Censor. Naturally, a special exception was made."

"What are the benefits of joining the Secret Surveillance Bureau? And what is the remuneration like?" Chen Ji inquired.

"Remuneration?" The Golden Pig burst into laughter. "At the Sparrow level, the annual salary is twenty-four taels of silver. At the Pheasant level, twenty-six taels. Upon reaching the Pigeon level, the annual salary is twenty-eight taels of silver, comparable to that of a magistrate in a large county. As for the Sea Eagle... they are truly extraordinary. Even ordinary prefects treat them with courtesy. Do you know what a Sea Eagle is like? Its nature is fierce; when hungry, it will attack anything in the sky."

"And the Twelve Zodiacs?" Chen Ji pressed.

"You aspire to be a Twelve Zodiac?" The Golden Pig eyed Chen Ji with interest, his words flowing without pause. "Naturally, the Twelve Zodiacs are even more formidable than the Sea Eagles. They wield the King's Command Banner and can first execute, then report... but there are also distinctions among the Twelve Zodiacs."

"Oh?"

"The Twelve Zodiacs are divided into Ranks A, B, C, and D. Rank D comprises the Rat, Rabbit, and Sheep."

Chen Ji mused to himself. Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit were clearly at the lowest rung of the Twelve Zodiacs.

The Golden Pig continued, "Next are the three in Rank C. Currently, they are the Golden Pig, Treasure Monkey, and Dream Chicken."

"And the three in Rank B?"

"Corpse Dog, Mountain Ox, and Mysterious Snake."

"And the three in Rank A?"

The Golden Pig's laughter deepened. "The three in Rank A are truly formidable. As the saying goes, 'Iron Upper Three, flowing Lower Nine.' In recent years, the other Zodiacs have largely changed hands, but the positions of the Upper Three are like an unshakeable mountain. They have never made a single error, never been replaced."

"These three are White Dragon, Sky Horse, and Sick Tiger!"

"The authority of the Upper Three Zodiacs is naturally different from ours. We still report to Esteemed Wu Xiu, who then conveys our reports. The Upper Three report directly to the Imperial Censor. What they intend to do, what they are currently doing, is not something we can inquire about. If they issue a directive, the Lower Nine Zodiacs must obey unconditionally."

Silence descended upon the medical hall. Only now did Chen Ji gain a comprehensive understanding of the Secret Surveillance Bureau.

The Golden Pig fell silent, removing his hat and placing it on the counter, allowing Chen Ji to process this information.

In the tranquil setting, Chen Ji's mind raced. Why would the other party tell him so much? Was it due to a lack of guile? No.

If the other party lacked guile, they would not have patiently waited until this moment to reveal themselves.

This was no Golden Pig; this was clearly a master of feigning weakness to conceal strength.

Chen Ji inquired, "May I ask... where have Esteemed Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit gone?"

The Golden Pig chuckled. "Initially, they were to be escorted back to the capital to await judgment. However, a decree arrived from the Imperial Censor, rescinding the order to return to the capital. They have been directly exiled to Lingnan."

Chen Ji shook his head. "Esteemed Golden Pig, might I perhaps not join the Secret Surveillance Bureau? Even Esteemed Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit, such formidable figures, ended up imprisoned. My fate would surely not be good..."

"Rest assured, I will protect you."

Just at that moment, sounds emanated from the backyard.

Chen Ji glanced towards the backyard, then turned back, but the Golden Pig was gone!

He looked up and saw the Golden Pig's substantial figure, he knew not when, had leaped onto the roof beam, squatting there in perfect silence!

Chen Ji was speechless.

This Golden Pig, he truly hid faster than anyone at the slightest hint of trouble!

On the roof beam, the Golden Pig's eyes narrowed slightly, as if facing a formidable foe. He said in a low voice, "Boy, go take a look."

...

...

By the backyard wall, White Carp's head peeked out from behind, cautiously surveying the yard. When she spotted Chen Ji, her shoulders slumped.

She had thought she had left late today, hoping Chen Ji would be asleep so she could save the passage fee. She had not expected this medical hall apprentice to be sleepless!

White Carp, clinging to the wall, looked towards Chen Ji and asked, her voice full of curiosity, "Hey, what are you doing in the yard so late at night?"

Chen Ji replied matter-of-factly, "Collecting passage fees."

White Carp grew more irate. She flipped over the wall, climbed down the ladder, and, with an angry huff, took out four silver peanuts from her purse, slapping them fiercely into Chen Ji's palm. "From now on, don't call yourself Chen Ji, call yourself Chen Black-Heart!"

"Eh, why are there four pieces?" Chen Ji asked, puzzled.

At that moment, another head popped up over the wall, belonging to an unfamiliar girl.

White Carp waved to her. "Ling Yun, there's a ladder inside. Come down along the ladder."

The girl, dressed in dark blue clothes with a green jade hairpin in her hair, wore a boy's attire and lightly flipped into the yard.

The Crown Prince and the young monk followed closely behind.

The girl named Ling Yun, seeing the four silver peanuts in Chen Ji's palm, asked in surprise, "What is this for?"

White Carp explained, "This is his passage fee."

"Passage fee?" Zhu Ling Yun was taken aback, then subconsciously said, "Isn't the Imperial Hospital part of our prince's mansion? Even though he is an apprentice at a medical hall raised by our prince's mansion, why does he still need a passage fee?"

Chen Ji looked towards White Carp. "And this one is?"

"This is my sister, Zhu Ling Yun," White Carp introduced with a smile. "She hasn't been out much before. I brought her out to play this time. Don't mind anything she says; she has some notions about hierarchy."

Zhu Ling Yun, however, was surprised. "White Carp, why are you so polite to a servant!"

White Carp's small face darkened. "What 'servant' and 'not servant'? Father always admonishes us not to be arrogant. Why do you always learn your mother's ways?"

Zhu Ling Yun was also unhappy. "You're actually getting angry with me for an outsider? What is wrong with your mother!"

White Carp refused to get sidetracked. "Apologize! Did you forget everything Father taught us?"

"Why should I apologize? He's just a servant!" Zhu Ling Yun remained unconvinced.

Seeing this, the Crown Prince and the young monk quickly stepped in to mediate. "Don't argue, don't argue. What good is arguing... Ling Yun, you shouldn't speak to Chen Ji like that."

Zhu Ling Yun's large almond eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at the Crown Prince. "Brother, you're helping White Carp again!?"

The Crown Prince fell silent for a moment. "I'm not helping anyone; I'm just discussing the matter. When we were at East Forest Academy, the Crown Prince Zhu Yu was arrogant every day, and in the end, wasn't he chased away by the teachers? You might not have been praised by those scholars at East Forest Academy for long, so you've forgotten Father's teachings."

Tears welled up in Zhu Ling Yun's eyes. After a moment of silence, she actually turned and climbed the ladder back into the prince's mansion. "You go play; I'm not going!"

Chen Ji remained silent throughout the entire exchange...

The Crown Prince sighed and turned to look at Chen Ji. "I'm sorry, letting you witness such a spectacle. Ling Yun is actually a good person, just a little short-tempered."

Chen Ji smiled and replied, "No harm done."

He returned one of the silver peanuts to White Carp. White Carp was surprised. "Money in hand can be given back?"

"I don't earn what I shouldn't earn."

The Crown Prince gave a thumbs-up. "Princely!"

Chen Ji returned to his bunk and gently shook Liang Cat awake. "Tell your brother to go drink with the Crown Prince. Remember to eat more when you go to Red Clothes Alley."

Liang Dog suddenly sat up, his eyes glowing with excitement. "Drink? Where are we going to drink?"

Chen Ji was speechless.

Liang Cat was speechless.

Once they had left, silence returned to the medical hall.

The Golden Pig lightly floated down from the roof beam, looking at Chen Ji with an inquisitive gaze. "You seem to have a very good relationship with the Crown Prince and Princess White Carp?"

"Not particularly good," Chen Ji shook his head.

The Golden Pig's eyes narrowed into a smile. "I heard everything Princess White Carp said in your defense just now."

He said in an irrefutable tone, "Young man, there are many benefits to joining my Secret Surveillance Bureau. Follow the Imperial Censor and you will never suffer a loss. From today onwards, you are a Secret Surveillance agent. Your first task is to follow the Crown Prince. Report all his whereabouts to me. Off you go."

Chen Ji stood in the dim light of the medical hall, watching the Golden Pig's retreating figure. He lightly responded, "Understood, Esteemed Golden Pig."

As the medical hall door gently closed, he returned to the backyard, picked up a bamboo tube, rolled up his sleeves in the cool autumn night, and seriously began scraping frost from the wall.