The Azure Mountain

Chapter 100: Fame and Profit, Love and Hate

In the quiet secret chamber of the Inner Prison, Jin Zhu crushed the wine cup in his hand, letting the blue and white glaze pierce into his palm and drip blood.

He slowly released his palm, letting the porcelain shards mixed with fresh blood fall onto the table: "Little Doctor Chen, my Secret Spy Division has never been a kind and benevolent place. When outsiders say we are arrogant, domineering, sinister, and vicious, I never defend myself, because that's exactly what we are. Whether it's me, or Yun Yang, or Jiao Tu, we must first step on the corpses of our colleagues to climb up, and only then can we step on the corpses of others to get our revenge."

Jin Zhu wiped the fresh blood on his hand with the white cloth on the Eight Immortals table and said slowly and methodically: "So whether you resent me or hate me, you'll have to wait until you climb to my position to say so. Rest assured, I won't hinder your promotion. As long as you can help me exterminate the entire Liu family clan, our promise will forever be valid."

Chen Ji said earnestly: "Lord Jin Zhu, I can understand you."

Jin Zhu said calmly: "You can't understand."

However, Chen Ji truly did understand.

He knew what it felt like taking revenge for one's parents. You first have to turn yourself into a madman, and then sink into a world of paranoia endlessly, unable to find release.

Chen Ji thought for a moment and said: "Lord Jin Zhu, I can assist you in getting your revenge."

The next second, Jin Zhu's expression changed, and he smiled kindly and benevolently: "That's good, that's good."

He stood on the chair, untied the iron chains for Chen Ji, then supported Chen Ji to sit down and handed him chopsticks and a wine cup: "As long as you are willing to assist me, then you are my real brother."Within the Secret Spy Division, everyone was like a madman, changing their expressions extremely fast. As long as there were mutual profits, whatever grievances existed in the past could temporarily be put down.

Chen Ji sat silently at the table.

Seeing him not moving his chopsticks, Jin Zhu proactively picked up a chopstick of red braised pork into his bowl: "I know you are also a person who holds grudges. It doesn't matter. As long as the entire Liu family clan is killed, you can seek me out for revenge however you want. You want to clear the suspicions of the Prince Heir and the Commandery Princess, right? Everyone just happens to take what they need. I only want the Liu family to die; I can turn a blind eye to everyone else."

Chen Ji still didn't reply.

Jin Zhu smiled: "You have already regarded the Prince Heir and Commandery Princess as friends, haven't you?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "No, just mutual utilization."

Jin Zhu laughed heartily: "No need to deny it, my heart is as clear as a bright mirror."

Chen Ji picked up the wine cup and drained the yellow wine in one gulp: "Then I don't need to say more either. I came to help the Prince Heir and Commandery Princess clear their suspicions, and I also wish Your Lordship a successful revenge."

Jin Zhu bloomed with a smile: "Good, good, good, this is the right way. We meet each other with complete sincerity and frankness; why the need to cover up and hide."

Chen Ji put down the wine cup, looked at Jin Zhu, and suddenly asked: "Lord Jin Zhu, how long after your sister passed away did Lord Inner Chancellor appear?"

Jin Zhu picked up a mouthful of food to eat: "Are you actually trying to ask if the Inner Chancellor knew from the very beginning the Liu family's intent to take by craft or force, yet ignored it, sat back and watched my whole family die tragically, and then took me under his command right when I hated the most?"

Chen Ji didn't reply.

Jin Zhu sneered mockingly: "Lord Inner Chancellor is exactly this kind of sinister and vicious person; otherwise, why would everyone call him 'Poison Chancellor'? In Lord Inner Chancellor's actions, he uses any means necessary to achieve his goals. He once told me that there are only two things most sharp in the world: fame and profit. He also once told me that there are only two emotions easiest to utilize in the world: the first one is hate."

"And the second one?"

"Love."

Chen Ji froze.

Jin Zhu poured a cup of wine for Chen Ji, then filled his own new wine cup, and raised it across the table: "Lord Inner Chancellor's methods are ruthless. He transferred me to Luo City, knowing I would inevitably fight the Liu family to the death until neither stops. Is this a conspiracy? No, this is an open scheme. Using love and hate as bait, even if you know he is utilizing you, you have no way to give it up."

He smiled: "The Secret Spy Division raises secret spies like raising Gu bugs. Everyone bears a grudge, just as everyone bears poison. Colleagues squeeze and crush each other. Taking in young secret spies who just joined is still fine, but there is absolutely no trust to speak of among secret spies of the Gyrfalcon rank and above. Do you think I don't want to escape such an exhausting life? But before my great revenge is exacted, how could I be willing to leave?"

Chen Ji was surprised: "Lord Jin Zhu doesn't care?"

Jin Zhu smiled: "It's not that I don't care, but rather Lord Inner Chancellor doesn't care 'whether I care or not'. This is his brilliant point. Even if I hate him along with it, I still have to act according to what he says."

Chen Ji suddenly felt that Jin Zhu admired the Inner Chancellor, revering him like a father. But the other party also hated the Inner Chancellor in his heart. Hate and reverence interlaced together, already transforming into a gray emotion that even he himself couldn't distinguish.

He put down his wine cup: "Lord Jin Zhu, I will assist you in finding evidence of the Liu family's crimes. Can I leave now?"

Jin Zhu also put down his wine cup, gradually withdrawing his smile: "Are you still anxious to go to the Yingxian Restaurant banquet? Don't be anxious. Before there's progress in the matter, you can't go back. If you truly want to help the Prince Heir and Commandery Princess clear their suspicions, then hurry up and think of a way to catch the true person committing treason. The clear are naturally clear. If there are no problems with them, they naturally aren't afraid of being investigated."

The Inner Prison secret chamber became quiet once again, Chen Ji and Jin Zhu locking eyes.

After a moment, Chen Ji asked slowly: "What clues does Your Lordship currently have? You can share them with me."

Jin Zhu sat back across the table, thought for a moment, and said: "Speaking of which, I am also ashamed. Following the clues from the Imperial Workshop, I rooted out a few inside thieves from the Canal Transport Guild. After interrogation, I learned there was a transaction at the Golden Workshop in Red Clothe Lane, but the news was leaked. I set up heavy ambushes at the Yuzhou border, wanting to catch that Jing Dynasty thief using firearms, yet he also managed to escape. Now I want to grab the Liu family's weak point, but the Liu family is like a turtle shrinking its head, no longer moving an inch, leaving me with nowhere to start."

Jin Zhu looked at Chen Ji: "To not hide it from you, repeated setbacks have already caused me to suffer full questioning in the Directorate of Ceremonial. Even I myself am a bit lacking in self-confidence now. I firmly believe in one point: doing successful things with successful people. Since you were able to grab the Liu family's weak point previously, you will definitely be able to do it this time too."

"Do you have all the case files for recent clues?"

"I do." Jin Zhu left the room, and when he returned, he brought a thick stack of case dossiers.

After rapidly flipping through them, Chen Ji looked up and asked: "Lord Jin Zhu only wants the Liu family?"

"Only the Liu family."

Chen Ji asked again: "What time is it now?"

"The hour of You (5-7 PM), the sky has just turned dark."

"Where is Luo City Assistant Prefect Liu Mingxian right now?"

"Yingxian Restaurant."

Chen Ji froze. Why was Liu Mingxian also at Yingxian Restaurant?

Jin Zhu explained: "Tonight, Liu Mingxian's old subordinate is being promoted to County Magistrate of Yanshi County. He set up a banquet at Yingxian Restaurant to thank Liu Mingxian for his grace in promoting him."

Chen Ji stood up and walked outside: "Prepare horses, we are going to Yingxian Restaurant to find him."

Jin Zhu followed him outside, slightly puzzled: "Going directly to find him? Are you trying to beat the grass to scare the snake (beat the bush to start the hare)? First push him into a corner until he's anxious, then see his movements. This is a good method to catch his weak points, but isn't it too radical?"

Chen Ji said: "No, I am a conservative person."

"You're conservative?"

Walking down the long and dark corridor of the Inner Prison, Chen Ji said softly: "I feel that beating the grass to scare the snake is still too conservative."

(End of Chapter)