The Eastern Market of Luo City was like spring across the four seasons of the year; the city's lush and thriving vitality always began from here first.
Right when the commoners of Luo City were still trembling with fear and trepidation, the merchants in the Eastern Market had already silently taken down their doorboards, keeping a low profile as they started doing business.
Dressed in grey cloth garments, Chen Ji walked and stopped along the street, seemingly searching for something. Looking completely relaxed, it was as if today was entirely no different from any past day.
Ultimately, he stopped in front of the Dingchang Pawnshop. Glancing up at the inscribed horizontal board above the door, he raised his foot and stepped over the threshold. "Shopkeeper, I'm here to pawn something."
A pawnshop's counter was different from that of an ordinary goods shop. The front of the counter was sealed tight with varnished wooden boards, leaving only a tiny window high up.
Behind the window, an old shopkeeper with stark white hair and beard lowered his head, squinting slightly as he peered out from the tiny window. "Young man, what are you looking to pawn?"
Pulling a massive pearl from his sleeve, Chen Ji raised his hand and passed it up. "An Eastern Pearl."
Accepting it casually, the old shopkeeper brought it close to his eyes and scrutinized it. "Take note: a penniless young junior is pawning one greyish and dull round piece."
In these times, pawnshops utilized a vast amount of underworld jargon. For instance, a robe was called 'wind-blocker', silver was called 'soft-goods dragon', gold was 'hard-goods dragon', pearls were 'round pieces', fox fur was 'large fur', and sheepskin was 'small fur'.
Whenever someone came to pawn an item, the shopkeeper would always disparage and belittle it with a few words first. If someone came to pawn fur goods, for example, he would say 'a bald hide with no fur, a piece of large fur eaten by worms and bitten by rats'.
Chen Ji asked with a smile, "How much silver can this be pawned for?"
The old shopkeeper thought for a moment. "Twenty taels of silver."
Chen Ji asked, "I've heard people say that this item is worth four hundred taels."
Holding that pearl between his fingers, the old shopkeeper cast a sidelong glance, sizing up Chen Ji. "Young man, the origin of this item is probably improper, isn't it? From where would an ordinary household get such a massive pearl? With your attire and appearance... I am only offering twenty taels. If you find it too low, then go ask at other shops. It's just that if I report you to the officials for investigation, I am afraid it might cost you your life."
Chen Ji did not refute him; he merely pulled another item from his sleeve and handed it over. "Then could you please help me take a look at this item?"
Accepting the Secret Spy Division Waist Plaque casually, the old shopkeeper subconsciously spoke out, "Dim and lackluste— Aiyou, Ancestor!"
With a loud crash from inside the counter, the old shopkeeper fell off his high chair. Dismissing the pain, he hurriedly opened the side door next to the counter and took small, quick steps out. "What wind blew Your Excellency here? Just now, this lowly one had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. Whatever price Your Excellency says that Eastern Pearl is worth, that is exactly what it is worth!"
Chen Ji said calmly, "I have no intention of making things difficult for you. You can simply pawn this pearl for me according to the market price."
The old shopkeeper hurriedly replied, "Good, good, good. We will fetch the silver for you immediately. Do you wish for a Redeemable Pawn or a dead pawn?"
"Dead pawn," Chen Ji said. "There is no rush to fetch the silver first; in your Dingchang Pawnshop, do you have any old mountain Ginseng pawned by others? I don't want any with low age."
"We have them, we have them. Since Your Excellency has spoken, how could we not have them?" The old shopkeeper turned his head. "Apprentice, bring out all the Ginseng in our storehouse so the official can take his pick."
Chen Ji waited silently. This Eastern Pearl was the one left behind previously when Consort Jing sent Chun Hua to frame him. He hadn't pawned it for so long due to two reasons: first, he was worried someone might use it against him, leaving hidden dangers; second, he was worried that in this world, without Official Status, it was easy to be deceived and bullied.
Now that Consort Jing was dead, this Eastern Pearl could finally be considered free of any hidden dangers.
The old shopkeeper brought out eight exquisite wooden boxes. "Please take a look, these are all the Ginseng our pawnshop has taken in. If you want them, we can convert the price for you at thirty taels... no, twenty taels a root."
Chen Ji suddenly asked, "How much did you actually take these in for? Bring the Account Ledger over for me to look at."
The old shopkeeper's face immediately contorted in distress. "Fifteen taels a root!"
Chen Ji thought for a moment. "Alright, throw away all the wooden boxes and wrap the Ginseng in cloth."
An incense stick's worth of time later, he left the pawnshop carrying the Ginseng and silver. But right after his front foot stepped out the exact moment he left, Yun Yang turned out from the small alleyway on the side of the pawnshop and walked up to it.
Only a moment later, Yun Yang emerged from the pawnshop. Approaching a horse carriage parked on the opposite side of the street, he whispered softly, "Lord Bai Long, that kid went inside, flashed his Secret Spy Division identity, and pawned that Eastern Pearl Consort Jing lost for four hundred and sixty taels of silver. Following that, he bought eight roots of Ginseng from the pawnshop at a price of fifteen taels each."
A lazy, languid voice drifted from inside the horse carriage. "Nothing else?"
"Nothing else."
Separated by the carriage curtain, Bai Long said slowly and methodically, "That kid is actually rather cautious, keeping a single Eastern Pearl for so long before pawning it. He just obtained a Cultivation Pathway, so wanting to exchange it for Cultivation Resources is also understandable... Yun Yang, do you think this kid knows where Consort Yun is or not?"
Yun Yang thought for a moment. "Lord Bai Long, aren't you thinking entirely too highly of this kid? He is merely a lowly apprentice at a medical clinic; how could he possibly know of Consort Yun's whereabouts?"
Bai Long said ethereally and lightly, "Yun Yang, it was not easy for you and Jiao Tu to become Zodiacs; you ought to cherish it well. Although the two of you originated as assassins, you can't be assassins for your entire lives, right?"
Yun Yang hesitated. "Lord's meaning is?"
Bai Long said with a smile, "I know you and Jiao Tu are worried this kid will seek revenge, but he has already entered the sights of the Lord Inner Chancellor. If you don't have absolute certainty, it's better not to provoke him."
Yun Yang understood. "Lord wants me to look for an opportunity to achieve a certain, one-strike kill."
Inside the carriage, Bai Long fell silent for a moment before cursing with a laugh. "Yun Yang, you are also quite the fascinating character. If you have this much free time, you'd be better off hurrying and finding Consort Yun for me. Now that we are missing her, many things cannot be accomplished. There is only half a month left until the deadline set by the Lord Inner Chancellor. If this matter isn't handled securely and she manages to escape, be careful, for both you and I will suffer severe punishment."
"That woman is also alert and vigilant, actually managing to vanish without a trace as if she noticed something in advance," Yun Yang grumbled in a low voice. "Lord, Jiao Tu and I are not skilled at finding people. Why not let Jin Zhu and Meng Ji go instead?"
Bai Long thought for a moment. "That is true. Let us go; return to the Liu Family's main residence."
Giving an affirmative 'Eh' sound, Yun Yang sat in the driver's seat and cracked the whip.
On the Eaves of the Dingchang Pawnshop, an orange tabby cat dozing with its paws tucked in opened its eyes, got up, vaulted over the roof ridge, and disappeared from sight.
...
Several streets away, at Maji's Noodle Stall, the boss was gripping a long-handled wooden spoon, stirring the bone broth in the massive pot, when he suddenly heard someone enter the doors and speak. "Boss, a bowl of noodles, and add a portion of mutton."
Without turning his head, the boss asked casually, "Would the esteemed guest like wide noodles or thin noodles?"
"Wide noodles."
Turning his head to look, the boss saw that a handsome, delicate, and thin young man had already found a seat by the window. He responded, "Esteemed guest, please wait a moment."
While he was pulling the noodles, he heard the young man ask, "Boss, it's the noon mealtime; why is there no one in the shop?"
The boss smiled bitterly. "The city is plagued by soldiers and warfare; only traveling merchants stopping by for a rest are willing to come out and buy food. These traveling merchants have also suffered disastrous luck. They want to go home but cannot return. Their goods are all stockpiled at the docks, and they even have to pay the Canal Transport Guild storehouse fees."
The young man asked casually, "Are the docks no longer running ships?"
Tossing the pulled noodle strips into the vigorously boiling pot, the boss replied, "For whatever reason, in any case, they are no longer running ships."
Chen Ji looked out at the sparse pedestrians outside the window. The Secret Spy Division wanted to capture Consort Yun to pin the crime of colluding with the enemy and betraying the state upon Prince Jing's Estate. Yet no one expected that when Prince Jing was unconscious, he had reminded Consort Yun that "the Prince has already discovered Han Tong, the Sect Master of the Luotian Sect, often comes to visit the Commandery Princess." This resulted in Consort Yun fleeing Prince Jing's Estate at the very first opportunity and hiding herself away.
Through a strange combination of circumstances, the Secret Spy Division had lost their crucial human witness.
Now, unable to locate Consort Yun, the Secret Spy Division had no way to use the evidence of "Prince Jing's Estate colluding with the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division" to permanently nail down an extremely prestigious, regional prince with actual authority.
Yet, as long as Consort Yun remained in Luo City, she would constantly be an absolutely massive hidden danger.
Carrying a wooden tray, the boss placed it in front of Chen Ji. "Esteemed guest, please enjoy your meal. Since you are the very first customer today, I added an extra tael of noodles for you."
Pulling chopsticks from the wooden cylinder on the table, Chen Ji voiced his thanks.
He had only just eaten two bites of noodles when the furry Wu Yun leaped onto the windowsill from outside and meowed. "No one is following you anymore. The docks are being guarded by people from the Secret Spy Division; entry is allowed, but exiting is forbidden. Right now, a group of secret spies dressed in plain clothes are searching everywhere. The moment anyone approaches the docks, they are apprehended and interrogated. The homes of all the porters and laborers at the docks have been completely turned upside down."
Chen Ji smiled, grabbed a piece of mutton from his bowl, and offered it to its mouth. "Thanks, you've worked hard these past few days."
Catching the mutton in its mouth, Wu Yun tilted its head back and swallowed it into its stomach. "So hot!"
Chen Ji grabbed another piece of mutton, blowing on it before offering it to its mouth again. "Where is she?"
After eating it, Wu Yun let out a soft meow. "She's coming."
The moment its voice fell, a woman with a sallow, yellowish complexion, carrying a vegetable basket, walked past outside the window.
Chen Ji immediately set down his chopsticks, tossed thirty-two copper coins onto the table, stood up, and followed.
Carrying the basket, the woman looked like an ordinary auntie from the neighborhood. She first went to the grain and oil store to buy two taels of cornmeal, then went to the street corner to buy several coarse grain flatbreads, before finally turning into a tiny alleyway.
Amidst the white walls and grey roof tiles, Chen Ji spoke softly behind her. "Madam Consort Yun."
Turning a deaf ear, the woman continued walking forward unhurriedly.
Following neither too fast nor too slow behind her, Chen Ji opened his mouth to speak once more. "You went to secretly observe the docks just now, didn't you? With the Eunuch Faction blockading the docks and placing all the Canal Transport Guild members under the Luotian Sect under strict surveillance, you want to leave Luo City, yet you completely lack any means to escape."
Turning her head, the woman looked at Chen Ji with bewilderment. "Young man, were you speaking to me? I'm afraid you must be looking for the wrong person."
At this moment, Consort Yun possessed no glittering jewels or precious aura upon her body. Her grey cloth garments were patched, and there was a tiny hole at the toe of her cloth shoes.
The other party's appearance had also changed: her eyebrows were much thinner, the bridge of her nose was much higher, and her lips were much smaller. Even if someone familiar with her encountered her face-to-face, they wouldn't necessarily be able to recognize her.
No wonder the Secret Spy Division couldn't locate her.
Ignoring Chen Ji, Consort Yun turned around and walked away.
Yet Chen Ji behind her suddenly spoke, "Madam, I have a way to send you to the Jing Dynasty."
Carrying her vegetable basket, Consort Yun abruptly spun around, an arrogant expression on her face. "Exactly how did you find me?"
In this single instant, the other party straightened her shoulders and back, transforming once more into that dignified and elegant Princess Consort. Even the coarse cloth headscarf and garments could not conceal an aura of nobility born from years of pampered living.
Chen Ji said calmly, "Madam is anxious to leave Luo City right now. The Luotian Sect cannot help you, but I can."
Consort Yun fired back a question: "Hasn't your Military Intelligence Division's power in Luo City already been completely uprooted by the Eunuch Faction? On what basis can you send me away?"
Chen Ji hadn't originally intended to bring up the identity of an espionage agent again, but at this point, he could only follow along with the other party's words. "For our Military Intelligence Division to lurk within the Ning Dynasty for so many years, we naturally possess our own foundation and hidden reserves; otherwise, how would I have been able to find you? You don't need to involve yourself with too many questions; you only need to know that I can help you leave."
Pondering for a moment, Consort Yun stared fixedly at Chen Ji and said, "Everyone in this world refuses to wake up early without profit; for what reason would your Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division help me?"
Chen Ji explained, "My Military Intelligence Division desires to cooperate with the Luotian Sect, so naturally, we must ensure Madam's life is preserved."
Consort Yun abruptly broke into a radiant smile. "You are lying."
Chen Ji remained completely composed, asking in return, "What does Madam mean by this?"
Carrying her vegetable basket, Consort Yun approached Chen Ji step by step, stopping slowly only when she was a mere two paces away. "You are doing this for Bai Li's sake, aren't you?"
Chen Ji remained silent and didn't speak.
The two of them stood in the narrow alleyway, matching each other blow for blow in a standoff, the atmosphere heavy and tense.
A moment later, Chen Ji opened his mouth to speak. "Madam, could you answer a question of mine?"
Declining to commit, Consort Yun simply said, "Ask."
Chen Ji asked, "Your matter of contacting my Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division—was it instructed by His Highness Prince Jing?"
Consort Yun sneered coldly, "If I lacked his instruction, for what reason would I contact you folks?"
Chen Ji took a deep breath. "Then did His Highness Prince Jing know of my identity as a Jing Dynasty espionage agent?"
Consort Yun began to laugh. "So you were worried about this matter. Naturally, he knew as well."
Chen Ji suddenly felt utterly perplexed and bewildered.
Since Prince Jing knew, why did he completely not care about his identity as an espionage agent, even going so far as to perform an act of entrusting an orphan to him?
Prince Jing knew his identity, but did the Secret Spy Division—who colluded with Prince Jing—know his identity as an espionage agent? Most likely, Bai Long and the others did not know, otherwise this act of entrusting an orphan would be completely meaningless.
Chen Ji suddenly felt a bit of a headache. He constantly felt as if he had sunk into a quagmire, yet he didn't know how he had sunk into it in the first place, nor how to struggle free of it.
He looked up at Consort Yun. "Madam, no matter what you think, please come to this location again tomorrow evening. I will send you out of Luo City."
Consort Yun asked in a heavy voice, "Without a Secret Spy Division Waist Plaque, how will I exit the city?"
Chen Ji said, "I naturally have my own methods."
Consort Yun turned and walked away. "I hope you are not making arrogant, empty boasts."
Chen Ji watched Consort Yun vanish at the end of the small alleyway. Leaping from the roof onto his shoulder, Wu Yun meowed curiously. "Do you truly plan on risking your life to send her away?"
Standing within the shadows beneath the small alleyway's towering walls, Chen Ji did not answer.
(End of this chapter)