Chapter 52: Betrayal

Jing Wang, Zhu Youxiao.

His mother, Consort Li, had passed away early in his life. The young Jing Wang was thus adopted by the current Empress Dowager, growing up alongside the Ning Emperor as if they were true siblings.

The Ning Emperor ascended the throne at the age of eleven, while Zhu Youxiao was fourteen. Court politics were then held firmly in the grasp of the Empress Dowager Liu clan.

For six years, Zhu Youxiao traversed the lands far and wide, drawing in northern civil officials and supervising censors for the Ning Emperor, effectively weakening the influence of external relatives.

The Ning Emperor finally took personal control of the government at seventeen and, at twenty-one, enfeoffed Zhu Youxiao as Jing Wang.

Initially, all was peaceful and calm. However, in recent years, Jing Wang had been rectifying officialdom outside the capital, repairing rivers, providing disaster relief, and preparing grain for the border armies. His reputation soared.

The Eunuch Directorate then began to scheme, employing every conceivable method to obstruct Jing Wang's residence. Many of Jing Wang's old subordinates found themselves imprisoned, and even Jing Wang's personal grand eunuch was replaced by someone newly appointed by the Eunuch Directorate.

Some whispered of a rift between the Ning Emperor and Jing Wang, while others claimed Jing Wang harbored a burgeoning disloyal heart.

Even during the Ning Emperor's forty-second birthday last year, Jing Wang was absent from the capital, detained by his efforts in river repair and disaster relief.

Former brothers had, in an instant, become strangers.

Just as the storytellers in the teahouses recounted, it seemed that all who ascended to the throne inevitably became estranged from their former companions.

Chen Ji recalled his master's extraordinary divination techniques, and a deep worry suddenly arose within his heart. If the master truly intended to borrow the dragon qi of Jing Wang's residence to cultivate disciples, then this calamity befalling Jing Wang's residence would likely be insurmountable.

The Military Intelligence Department of the Jing Dynasty, the Secret Spies Department of the Ning Dynasty, and the Liu family – they were like a colossal vortex, threatening to drag Jing Wang's residence to the depths of the sea.

As the saying goes, wealth and honor are sought in danger; where there are disasters, there are perilous currents. His master was not using divination to seek good fortune and avoid calamity; rather, he was clearly using it to precisely step into immense pitfalls!

Wu Yun and Chen Ji exchanged farewells, and Wu Yun agilely leaped over the wall, returning to Late Star Garden.

Chen Ji stood alone by the counter, quietly contemplating the current state of affairs.

As he mused, he heard sounds emanating from the backyard.

*Dong dong dong.*

Knocking sounds echoed from outside the door.

Chen Ji's brow furrowed. It was already the hour of Zi, with only two more hours until dawn. Why would someone still be at the door?

Was it Jin Zhu? What purpose would Jin Zhu have in coming to the medical hall at this hour?

He went to open the door.

However, the moment the front door of the medical hall was pulled open, Chen Ji's heart pounded violently, causing him to stumble back several steps!

Standing before him was none other than the steward of Bai Lu Pavilion, Ge Yuan, who had already perished!

Steward Yuan's face was pale and fair, his smile eerie, and his entire body exuded a chilling aura.

Chen Ji had personally witnessed Si Cao pinching Steward Yuan's jaw and inserting the blade inch by inch into the man's heart, twisting until it was utterly shattered.

But how could a person with a shattered heart return from the dead?!

*Hong long long,* a muffled autumn thunder rumbled in the sky. Black clouds had, unbeknownst to Chen Ji, gathered over Luo City, and a cold rain began to drift down.

This was the first rain since Chen Ji had arrived in Luo City. It was not the continuous, fine drizzle of autumn, but rather heavy and urgent.

Amidst the lightning and thunder, Chen Ji no longer retreated. He drew the short knife that had appeared in his sleeve at some point and lunged, aiming directly for Steward Yuan's neck.

But before the knife could reach its target, Steward Yuan lightly raised his hand. Two fingers pinched the tip of the blade, preventing Chen Ji from advancing an inch.

The knife tip remained frozen, as if time and space had solidified.

Steward Yuan chuckled. "No need to be so tense. It's not Steward Yuan's ghost seeking you out. It is I, Si Cao of the Military Intelligence Department."

Chen Ji was astonished. He scrutinized the man before him, who bore the countenance of Steward Yuan. His expression was natural, devoid of any strangeness. Who could have imagined this was merely a human skin mask?

A human skin mask?

He had only heard of such things in tales.

He had previously wondered who would succeed the steward of Bai Lu Pavilion after Ge Yuan's inexplicable death. He had never imagined it would be Si Cao himself, disguised as Steward Yuan.

Chen Ji slowly released the tension in his hand. "Lord Si Cao, I apologize. I did not know it was you."

Si Cao chuckled in reassurance. "Vigilance is commendable. How could I blame you?"

"Lord Si Cao's late arrival... for what matter?"

"To deliver ill tidings," Si Cao said, his voice solemn. "Earlier, while arranging for those spies aware of your existence to withdraw north, one pigeon-level spy defected. We have been searching for him for two days, but his whereabouts remain unknown. I suspect he will defect to the Ning Dynasty's Secret Spies Department... or perhaps has already done so."

Chen Ji's heart tightened.

A Jing Dynasty spy who knew of his existence had defected? This was a death sentence!

He asked, his voice low. "Which spy? Has the other seen me?"

Si Cao stepped inside the medical hall, turned and closed the front door, then slowly said, "He is a subordinate of Zhou Chengyi. He saw you in Zhou Chengyi's mansion."

Seen me?

Chen Ji's mind raced. If the other had seen him in Zhou Chengyi's mansion, then the other certainly knew his identity as a medical hall apprentice.

At this time, this spy should not have defected yet. If he truly had, Jin Zhu would likely have already led men to kill him.

But why would the other defect?

Chen Ji feigned confusion. "Arranging to withdraw back to the northern Jing Dynasty... what harm is there? No need to live in fear in the Ning Dynasty. Why would this lead to his defection?"

Si Cao explained. "This person is one of our Military Intelligence Department's most excellent spies. He has always been efficient and ruthless in his actions. I had people deliver a message for him to prepare to leave, but he believed I intended to silence him. Thus, he killed the messenger and disappeared."

No, no, no, it wouldn't be this simple.

Chen Ji furrowed his brow.

Given Si Cao's nature, he likely did intend to kill and silence the spy. However, the men he sent did not anticipate the spy's cunning, resulting in their being counter-killed.

"Lord Si Cao, does he know why you... arranged for his withdrawal?" Chen Ji asked.

"Naturally, this matter was not disclosed to him," Si Cao replied.

So, the defected spy still did not know why he was to be silenced.

But, once the other truly defected to the Secret Spies Department, he would surely divulge everything he knew. At that time... you would be in grave danger!

"Lord Si Cao, may I ask where he might be hiding... um?" Chen Ji noticed something amiss and swiftly retreated.

But his speed of retreat was no match for the other's speed of pursuit.

In just the span of a single breath, Chen Ji found himself seized by the throat with one hand, lifted into the air.

Lord Si Cao sighed. "Make no sound, or I will have to kill everyone in this courtyard as well."

Chen Ji struggled fiercely, his face turning red with suppressed effort.

However, before Si Cao, a seasoned official who had practiced for many years, Chen Ji, a novice who had just begun his path, had no room for resistance.

Chen Ji wanted to shout loudly, to rouse the sleeping Liang Gouer to action, but his throat was completely unable to produce sound.

He could only struggle to use his fingers to write on the back of Si Cao's hand: Why kill me?

Si Cao did not reply, merely gazing quietly into Chen Ji's pupils, as if examining a dead specimen.

Chen Ji's mind raced with thoughts. Si Cao's reason for killing him was that the other wished to thoroughly cleanse the information line that the defected spy might expose.

This was the habitual cleansing policy of all intelligence agencies. Intelligence work was no ordinary matter; once a flaw appeared, the entire group of personnel needed to be either withdrawn or eliminated.

If the defected spy exposed Chen Ji, Chen Ji might expose Bai Lu Pavilion.

Bai Lu Pavilion, as one of the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department's largest financial sources in Ning Dynasty territory, could not afford any loss!

Chen Ji's heart was filled with great anxiety. He quickly scanned his surroundings, assessing methods to save himself. But the gunpowder was not yet fully prepared, and even if it were, at this distance, it would at most result in a mutual destruction with Si Cao.

The two most significant words in this world were nothing more than power and strength.

Chen Ji had fantasized about living peacefully in the medical hall as an imperial physician, and also about wandering the martial world far from the Secret Spies Department and the Military Intelligence Department. But all these fantasies, without the support of strength and power, were mere delusions.

Cultivation!

Cultivation was the most important thing!

But what was to be done now?

Just at this moment, knocking sounds echoed from the medical hall again!

*Dong dong dong.*

The sound, muffled by the rain, was nevertheless exceptionally abrupt.

Si Cao's pupils suddenly contracted. He quickly lifted Chen Ji to the corner of the main hall, his eyes flashing with uncertainty, seemingly weighing whether to directly kill Chen Ji and then break out.

He looked at Chen Ji, and Chen Ji quickly used his fingers to write on his hand: I will handle it!

The medical hall inside fell silent, leaving only the sounds of the rain outside.

After a moment, Si Cao said in a low voice, "You know what to do. If you seek help, you will die first."

Chen Ji struggled to nod.

Si Cao released Chen Ji, slowly loosening his grip.

Chen Ji rubbed his neck and asked in a calm tone, "Who is it?"

The person outside the door said calmly, "Jin Zhu. Open the door, I have a matter to discuss with you. The agreement with Yun Yang and Jiao Tu remains: fifty taels of silver per action."

Si Cao and Chen Ji exchanged glances. Chen Ji quickly lowered his voice and said, "He certainly hasn't caught the defected spy yet, otherwise he wouldn't speak so politely."

"Then what is he here for?"

Chen Ji said urgently, "Your actions in searching for the defected spy must have alerted the Secret Spies Department. They probably want to find this person before you do. This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. I can borrow the Secret Spies Department's hand to go look for him and see what clues they have."

Si Cao's face was impassive, showing no emotion. Outside the door, the urging sounds came again. "Boy, open the door quickly."

Chen Ji said again, "Lord Si Cao, although Yun Yang and Jiao Tu are already in prison, I have already gained Jin Zhu's trust and can still approach the inner minister. I know you care about Bai Lu Pavilion, and I care just as much. This is my loyalty to the Jing Dynasty. Rest assured, I will certainly find this defected spy and find a way to eliminate him!"

Si Cao's eyes narrowed slightly. "Before acting, consider the consequences carefully. If you seek help from Jin Zhu, you will surely expose your identity as a Jing Dynasty spy. At that time, even if you surrender, Jin Zhu will certainly not let you go. You know how much they hate us."

"Understood!"

Si Cao slowly retreated and squatted down behind the counter, pricking up his ears to listen.

Chen Ji then tidied his collar to cover the pinch marks while walking to the door and pulling it open.

Outside the door, Jin Zhu, wearing a raincoat and a bamboo hat, stood in the pouring rain. "Why did you dawdle for so long?"

Behind Jin Zhu, more than ten spies in raincoats stood solemnly.

Chen Ji lowered his voice and said, "Someone just got up to urinate, so I was delayed... What brings Lord Jin Zhu here at this hour?"

Jin Zhu said, "Follow me. We caught a Military Intelligence Department spy in Red Clothes Alley. They seem to be capturing a defected spy. We must find this person first; he is very important!"

Saying this, Jin Zhu had someone throw Chen Ji a set of rain gear.

As Chen Ji put on the raincoat, he casually glanced at the medical hall counter.

He ultimately did not point out Si Cao. He simply put on the rain gear properly, turned, and walked into the heavy rain.