novelraw Chapter 34 : Chapter 34
Chapter 34 : Chapter 34
Chapter 34: Fame and Fortune as a Blade
The storeroom reeked of blood. Whether intentional or not, the Division Officer, as he twisted the dagger in Yuanming’s heart with his right hand, used his left to grip the shopkeeper’s fat face, turning it toward me.
So when Yuanming died, I clearly saw his fear and resentment.
The Division Officer studied my expression, praising: “I recall you hadn’t taken a life before. Now, working with Yunyang and Jiaotu, I thought killing someone would ‘initiate’ you. Seems unnecessary.”
As he spoke, Yuanming drew his last breath.
I saw a gray-white icy current emerge from his brow, flowing into mine—less than Zhou Chengyi’s.
As expected!
I’d waited for this current to confirm: not just Ning Dynasty officials but Jing Dynasty ones produced icy currents too.
As it entered, my heart settled. I said: “Lord Division Officer, you shouldn’t have killed Yuanming.”
He said calmly: “In the Military Intelligence Division, shed your womanly mercy. Your task is critical. He feared you, a noble’s son, would take Zhou Chengyi’s Sea Goshawk role, scheming against you. Such selfishness can’t stay.”
I shook my head: “Not mercy. He didn’t tell you when or where to meet ‘Long Whale.’”
He paused long: “…No matter.”
Looking at me, he said: “While getting close to Yunyang and Jiaotu, don’t forget your original mission. Once the Prince’s Mansion and Liu family show enough sincerity, the Division Lord can meet their key figure to discuss next steps. Soon, approach that figure and ask when they’ll deliver.”
My heart tightened.
Key figure? Who?
Why not name them? I still don’t know who or how to contact them!
By attitude, I leaned toward Consort Yun.
First, at Evening Star Courtyard, Consort Yun was kinder, while Consort Jing and Chunrong genuinely meant to kill me.
Second, Consort Yun sent Xibing with White Prajna to the clinic, likely a pretext to exchange intelligence.
Recalling Xibing’s visit, I’d shared no intel and prescribed a fifty-year ginseng for the cat…
If Consort Yun’s the key figure, she must be baffled…
Seeing my silence, the Division Officer asked sternly: “Any issues?”
“None,” I bowed, taking leave. “Lord Division Officer, I’m here on Master’s orders to buy ginseng. Staying too long’s not good.”
He nodded, wiping blood with a cloth: “Ginseng’s in stock. Pay at the counter and take it.”
I asked: “Any discount?”
He frowned: “You’re buying with Taiping Clinic’s money—why a discount? Many Jing Dynasty spies rely on Hundred Deer Pavilion. Don’t profit outsiders at our expense.”
I: “…Fair point.”
Leaving Hundred Deer Pavilion, I exhaled.
Every hurdle passed, every step taken.
Jing or Secret Spy Division, I had no choice.
Blending into the crowd, the Division Officer stood silently at the second-floor window, asking someone: “Sure no one’s tailing him?”
A voice replied: “No. Maybe Yunyang and Jiaotu truly trust him.”
He mused long: “Let’s see if he can prove his loyalty…”
…
…
In the capital, the palace.
At the Ceremonial Directorate’s top floor, reserved for the Chief Eunuch, windows were shut despite daylight, candles lit inside.
A beardless middle-aged eunuch, lifting his robe, hurried through the palace.
He wore a plain single-python robe, exuding nobility.
Ning Dynasty python robes—single or seated—were emperor-granted, worn only by the highly favored.
Outside the Chief Eunuch’s tower, black-clad guards stood silent.
The python-robed man approached a guard: “I need to see the Inner Minister.”
The guard, long sword at his waist, sleeve embroidered with “Trouble-Solvers,” signed: What’s the matter?
These guards could hear but not speak.
The man said: “Three pigeon messages from Luocheng.”
A guard went upstairs to report, returning with a gesture to enter.
The man climbed the wooden stairs, knocking thrice at the top door: “Inner Minister, Wu Xiu has urgent news from Luocheng.”
A copper bell rang inside. Wu Xiu entered.
Inside, the Inner Minister was unseen, a desk hidden by a screen embroidered with a seated python, facing visitors.
First-timers might jump at the python.
Outside the screen, Wu Xiu bowed: “Sir, three messages from Luocheng: Chief Punishment Division’s Lin Chaoqing, Secret Spy Division’s Yunyang, and Dream Rooster. Which first?”
No answer came from behind the screen. The honored Wu Xiu didn’t dare lift his head.
After a long pause, the Inner Minister, writing, said leisurely: “Chief Punishment Division.”
Wu Xiu pulled three wax-sealed bamboo tubes from his sleeve, opening the first and unrolling a paper.
Reading the dense text, he said, surprised: “Sir, Yunyang and Jiaotu found Liu Shiyu’s evidence.”
A voice from the dark screen said: “Those two?”
Wu Xiu hurried: “I thought their recklessness unfit. Should we send Jinzhu?”
The Inner Minister didn’t reply. Wu Xiu lowered himself: “I spoke out of turn.”
From the dark, a voice: “Continue.”
Wu Xiu read on: “Not Yunyang and Jiaotu’s merit, per Lin Chaoqing. A masked man found the evidence. Things were urgent—any slower, and Lin would’ve dragged them back to the capital.”
“Who’s the masked man?”
“Lin doesn’t know. He says this man found the rice paper shop and Liu Shiyu’s evidence… That’s all. Next?”
“Yunyang.”
Wu Xiu rolled up his sleeve, opening another tube, hesitating: “Yunyang and Jiaotu boast wildly, not mentioning the masked man.”
The Inner Minister paused: “Those two brats dare steal another’s merit.”
Wu Xiu continued, raising an eyebrow: “Sir, they opened Old Master Liu’s coffin—it’s empty. He may not be dead. The Liu family’s bold, faking this.”
He glanced, trying to glimpse the Inner Minister through the screen, seeing only a vague figure.
The Inner Minister stopped writing, pen hovering: “What’s their plan?”
Wu Xiu said: “They request nearby Secret Spy Division ‘Trouble-Solver Guards’ to Luocheng for a public coffin-opening to expose the Liu family. Sir, the Liu family just petitioned the Emperor for Old Master Liu’s posthumous honor. If true, it’s deceiving the throne!”
The Inner Minister pondered silently.
Wu Xiu added: “Sir, a rare chance.”
The Inner Minister said: “Let Yunyang and Jiaotu coordinate the Trouble-Solver Guards. The Ceremonial Directorate knows nothing. Destroy the note.”
So, whatever Yunyang and Jiaotu did was on them.
Success was theirs; failure, their scapegoating.
Wu Xiu crumpled the note, swallowing it deftly before the Inner Minister.
After swallowing, he said: “Sir, Dream Rooster’s letter. Wasn’t he in Kaifeng? Why a Luocheng pigeon?”
Reading, he said: “Sir, Dream Rooster says Yunyang and Jiaotu paid heavily for him to test Yao’s apprentice, Chen Ji, in Luocheng with a Grade-C dream to check if he’s a Jing Dynasty spy. Why test an apprentice, needing Dream Rooster’s trip?”
No reply. Wu Xiu boldly looked up: “Sir?”
The Inner Minister said calmly: “Yao’s apprentice is the masked man catching spies. Tell Yunyang to send his info.”
“Yes,” Wu Xiu bowed. “Sir, Bailong reports Prince Jing’s heir is returning from Donglin Academy, gathering martial heroes, some registered Ceremonial Directorate Enforcers. Should we act to curb him?”
From the dark screen, the Inner Minister replied flatly: “No need. Just martial heroes. Fame and fortune as a blade can cut nine-tenths of their valor.”