The Azure Mountain

Chapter 102: Gambling with Life

Inside a small noodle stall in the Eastern Market at midnight. In front of the shiny greasy wooden table, Chen Ji lowered his head and shoveled the piping hot beef noodles into his mouth, leaving only the two pieces of beef in the noodle bowl for last.

Jin Zhu sat across the wooden table and sighed with emotion: "You and Tian Ma truly have two completely different personalities. He always eats the beef in the bowl first, not caring whether the plain noodles afterward have any flavor or not. Your kind of personality is not suitable for the Jianghu, because you don't live happily and straightforwardly enough."

Chen Ji gave an "oh," having already finished the noodles. He picked up the last piece of beef, put it into his mouth, and then looked at the remaining half bowl of beef noodles in front of Jin Zhu: "Didn't Lord Jin Zhu say that when you were young, you liked eating beef noodles the most?"

"But I am no longer young," Jin Zhu said with a beaming smile. "After the matter is accomplished, I will also invite you to Yingxian Restaurant to eat. You can eat whatever you want."

"No need, simple tea and plain rice is enough."

Jin Zhu gradually withdrew his smile: "The noodles have been eaten, and the body has warmed up. Now tell me, what did you write on that piece of paper you gave to Liu Mingxian?"

Chen Ji wiped his mouth with the back of his hand: "I arranged to meet him under Peony Bridge at dawn."

Jin Zhu was puzzled: "Arranged to meet him for what?"

Chen Ji said calmly: "To ask him if he has colluded with Jing Dynasty spies."

Jin Zhu: "..."Chen Ji laughed heartily, got up, and walked outwards: "Just joking, how could I possibly directly ask about his identity. Let's go, My Lord, we still have to rush to Peony Bridge before dawn."

Outside the noodle stall, an old man carrying a pole walked towards them. Two wooden boxes hung from the front and back of the pole. Thin wooden masks were displayed on the wooden boxes, carved with monkeys, pigs, rabbits, and sheep, vivid and lifelike.

A group of children surrounded the carrying pole, pulling their parents' hands wanting to buy a mask, but were stopped by their parents.

Chen Ji went forward and casually picked up two masks: "Old man, how do you sell the masks."

The old man put down the carrying pole and answered with a smile: "Twenty copper coins each."

Chen Ji took two, one rabbit and one sheep, but his wrist was pressed down by Jin Zhu.

Jin Zhu changed his mask to an ox mask, and gave Chen Ji a tiger mask: "Wearing a rabbit and a sheep isn't auspicious, wear a tiger, to seek a good omen. Wishing you quickly soar straight to the clear blue sky, and take over Lord Bing Hu's position."

Chen Ji asked in puzzlement: "Is Lord Jin Zhu truly not afraid that after I become one of the Top Three Ranks, I will seek you out for revenge? A few hours ago, you even hung me from the roof."

"Wait until you reach that position, you will naturally understand that only profits are eternal," Jin Zhu patted Chen Ji's shoulder and teased: "Lord Chen Ji must spare my life when the time comes, I'm still useful to you. Let's go."

Chen Ji turned to glance at the still brilliantly lit Yingxian Restaurant in the distance, then turned and walked into the dark night.

...

...

Hour of Yin (3-5 AM), the sky remained dark.

Lights lit up in a courtyard beside Peony Bridge. A young servant carrying a lantern hurriedly passed through the moon gate in the courtyard, arrived outside a bedroom door, and called out: "Second Master, Second Master, it's time."

A voice came from inside the room: "Understood."

Deep within the residence, two beautiful concubines wearing silk pajamas separately lifted the bed curtains of the canopy bed from the left and right inside.

Liu Mingxian got out of bed, opened his arms, and let the beautiful concubines drape clothes over his body. He asked calmly toward the outside of the door: "Have the three guests from Yanshi arrived?"

"Replying to Second Master, they have already arrived. They are waiting next to the carriage right now."

Dressed neatly, Liu Mingxian walked out the door unhurriedly.

As he stepped over the threshold, he said lightly: "Reward."

The young servant took out two gold ingots from his own money pouch and threw them on the floor of the room. The two beautiful concubines hurriedly knelt before the door, respectfully seeing off Liu Mingxian's departing figure.

Arriving at the front gate, Liu Mingxian cupped his hands to the three Liu Family Enshrinees: "You three have worked hard today. Tomorrow, someone will deliver the remuneration to everyone's residences."

A scrawny old man gave a dry, hollow laugh. A Mountain Flower Ghost Coin painted with cinnabar hung from a red string at his waist: "Your Lordship is too polite, it's originally a matter within our duty. Elder Liu instructed that we must ensure your safety."

Liu Mingxian asked with a smile: "Has my father been well recently?"

The old man answered: "Elder Liu has been observing mourning (Dingyou) in the ancestral cemetery all along and hasn't come out."

Since the founding of the Ning Dynasty, if an imperial court official's parents passed away while they were in office, they must resign from their official post and return to their ancestral home to observe mourning (Shouzhi) for their parents for twenty-seven months.

During this period, they must eat, live, and sleep in front of their parents' graves, and cannot drink wine, bathe, shave their heads, or change clothes.

Currently, Liu Gun had already resigned from the position of Minister of Personnel, and built a hut to live in the Liu Family Ancestral Tomb.

Liu Mingxian said absently: "You three, since you have already come to work by my side, just settle down in the city. Over by my father's side, having Mister Feng guarding him alone is enough."

On the side, a robust and sturdy man said in a low voice: "Understood."

Liu Mingxian sized up the man in front of him and asked with a smile: "Brother Xu Can, after the two of you returned from the Border Army, have you ever missed the scenery of the border towns?"

The man named Xu Can cupped his hands and said: "The border towns were extremely bitter. Every day facing the wind and sleeping in the dew, sleeping on our weapons waiting for dawn, how could it be as comfortable as Luo City. I still must thank Elder Liu for heavily valuing our two brothers, rewarding us a bite of food to eat."

Liu Mingxian smiled: "In the future you will understand, following my Liu family only has benefits, and no detriments."

The old man hurriedly smiled flatteringly: "Understood, understood."

Liu Mingxian nodded in satisfaction: "This courtyard will belong to you three to reside in from now on, and everyone inside is also rewarded to you. Those dozen Yangzhou Thin Horses were all bought with several hundred taels of silver each."

"Many thanks, Second Master!"

The cart driver lifted the carriage door curtain, and Liu Mingxian bent over and got on the cart.

The three Enshrinees didn't get on the cart. The old man took small rapid steps like an old lady with bound feet following beside the carriage. Although his strides were small, he was surprisingly able to keep up with the carriage's speed.

The two brothers Xu Can walked taking big strides in front of the cart the whole way, clearing the path for the carriage like two Giant Spirit Gods.

Only when they reached Peony Bridge did the three suddenly stop.

The old man pressed close to the carriage window and said in a low voice: "Second Master, we've arrived at the place. The people aren't under the bridge, they are on the bridge."

Liu Mingxian sitting inside the cart, calmly lifted a gap in the window curtain and looked out. He saw two people wearing masks standing in the middle of the bridge, staring coldly at them at the bridgehead.

One person wore an ox mask, the other wore a tiger mask.

Peony stone arch bridge was about 30 zhang (100 meters) long, with a total of twenty-four arches, enough for two carriages to travel side by side.

The old man beside the cart gave the two brothers Xu Can a look. The next moment, Xu Can and Xu Chu separately leaped onto the stone railings on the two sides of the arch bridge, and approached towards the middle of the bridge step by step.

The old man rubbed the vermilion Mountain Flower Ghost Coin at his waist, walking unhurriedly in the middle of the bridge. The three formed an arrow formation in tacit agreement, and slowly stopped only when they were ten paces away from the ox and tiger on the bridge.

Liu Mingxian got off the carriage and walked behind the old man, looking at the masks from a distance.

Behind the ox mask, Jin Zhu narrowed his eyes. He looked at the Mountain Flower Ghost Coin at the old man's waist, then turned to look at the bizarre tattoos on the necks of the two sturdy men, his whole body tense.

Jin Zhu secretly glanced at Chen Ji. He didn't know what Chen Ji had actually written on the note to actually summon the two long-disappeared slaughterers from the border towns.

Could it be that Chen Ji had already sold him out, wanting to set up an ambush to kill him together with the Liu family?

No, Chen Ji's hands were very calm. The hands are the heart and gall (courage). As long as the hands don't tremble, the heart is at peace.

Chen Ji was very calm and composed.

But Jin Zhu still didn't know why Chen Ji was so calm and composed.

Under the moonlight, neither side spoke, and the atmosphere on the bridge became increasingly grave.

Slowly, the autumn morning mist rose, and the sky in the distance gradually brightened.

Just as Jin Zhu wanted to speak and smooth things over, he heard Chen Ji calmly ask: "When your Liu family stole firearms from the Imperial Workshop, the loose ends weren't handled cleanly, leaking out the news and ruining our major plan. How should this matter be settled? The Department Head has already arrived at Kaifeng Prefecture and originally intended to come to Luo City today for a meeting. Now, how do you expect us to give the Department Head an explanation?"

Jin Zhu: Ah?!

Department Head?

Meeting?

Behind that wooden ox mask, Jin Zhu's pupils contracted abruptly. He almost subconsciously wanted to throw Chen Ji here and run away by himself.

Only at this very moment did he finally understand that Chen Ji was actually going to directly impersonate the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division to negotiate with the Liu family.

How was this handling a case?

This was clearly gambling with life!

Jin Zhu wasn't a fool either. He already understood that Chen Ji wanted to gamble that after Red Clothe Lane was surrounded, the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division temporarily wouldn't dare come out and move around, and under the city-wide search and arrest, they wouldn't dare contact the Liu family either.

Taking advantage of this gap, they could impersonate the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division, leading the Liu family to walk into the trap step by step, and proactively hand over the evidence of their crimes!

But this matter was like walking on a tightrope. What if the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division still maintained contact with the Liu family? What if the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division and the Liu family still had some special pre-arranged secret signals... With even the slightest error, the two of them would lose their lives here today.

A lunatic striking with a sword from a slant!

While thinking, Liu Mingxian heard Chen Ji's questioning and narrowed his eyes slightly: "Imperial Workshop? I don't understand what you are talking about."

Chen Ji said calmly: "Do not delay time any further."

Liu Mingxian sneered coldly: "My Liu family serves the public and abides by the law. If your respected selves arranged for me to come here today merely to say these baffling words, I'll have to capture the two of you as Jing Dynasty thieves and send you to the Secret Spy Division."

Chen Ji asked calmly and composedly: "On the day Yun Yang and Jiao Tu opened the coffin, Lord Liu killed his own grandfather. For someone who commits treason and murders his ancestor, how can you talk about serving the public and abiding by the law? If it weren't for our reminder that day, Lord Liu would probably already be a prisoner now."

Jin Zhu froze. Hearing Chen Ji talking eloquently with perfect assurance, it didn't look like acting at all. If Meng Ji hadn't personally tested Chen Ji, he would almost think there really was a Jing Dynasty spy standing beside him, at least at the rank of Si Cao.

He also had doubts in his heart.

Any clear-sighted person who had seen the dossier knew that when Yun Yang and Jiao Tu opened the coffin for the first time, Old Master Liu was indeed not in the outer coffin. Those two Zodiacs wouldn't joke about this matter.

When they opened the coffin the second time, someone definitely must have leaked the information in advance, causing the Trouble-Resolving Guard to completely miss their target.

But how did Chen Ji dare to be so certain that it was the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division who tipped off the Liu family? Was it a guess? Or was there truly a Jing Dynasty spy standing beside him, knowing the inside story.

The suspicion in Jin Zhu's heart grew heavier and heavier.

On the other side, Liu Mingxian's expression was heavy like water. This was his biggest secret. If the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division hadn't warned him that day, he would probably have long borne the crime of treason and deceiving the emperor.

Hearing this point, he had already believed Chen Ji's Jing Dynasty identity.

Liu Mingxian said with a grave expression: "Red Clothe Lane being surrounded wasn't what I desired. We drove away Yun Yang and Jiao Tu, but another Jin Zhu arrived who was ten times more cunning than them. This person is extremely difficult to deal with. He guessed early on that we would tamper with the Imperial Workshop, and followed the scent to bite over."

Chen Ji sneered coldly: "This matter absolutely cannot be explained away by Lord Liu merely saying 'wasn't what I desired.' What are you people planning to do now?"

Liu Mingxian said slowly: "Cooperating with each other is certainly to get things done. Since the delivery failed this time, then we should just pick another new delivery date. It's just that the Secret Spy Division is keeping a tight watch now, we need to delay a bit more."

Chen Ji said severely: "The Department Head is currently in Kaifeng Prefecture, with the danger of his identity being exposed at any time and any place. Where does he have the time to slowly wait for you people? If the Liu family isn't sincere, the Department Head will return to the North!"

Liu Mingxian frowned: "Then when do you want to deliver?"

"Tomorrow, still at this Peony Bridge, I want to see the goods. Otherwise, the Department Head will leave Kaifeng Prefecture immediately, and all agreements between my Military Intelligence Division and the Liu family will become void."

The bridge quieted down. The morning mist became increasingly dense, so much so that separated by ten paces, it was somewhat hard to clearly see the other party.

After a long time, Liu Mingxian said calmly: "Alright, then we will set it for tomorrow."

"Farewell."

Chen Ji gently pulled Jin Zhu's sleeve, and the two slowly retreated into the morning mist.

...

...

After an unknown amount of time passed, Jin Zhu said in a small alley: "Alright, no one is following."

Chen Ji took off his mask, but was caught off guard when Jin Zhu suddenly grabbed his jaw, pinned him against the wall, and smiled without mirth: "Little Doctor Chen, don't tell me you really are a Jing Dynasty spy? How are you certain that it was the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division who tipped off the Liu family regarding the coffin opening matter? Could it not be a mole planted by the Liu family themselves?"

"Naturally it was a gamble," Chen Ji asked calmly in response. "Lord Jin Zhu, if I were a Jing Dynasty spy, why would I expose this matter to you and attract your suspicion?"

Jin Zhu fell silent.

Chen Ji asked again: "If I were a Jing Dynasty spy, why would I help you find evidence of the Liu family's crimes?"

Jin Zhu fell even more silent.

Chen Ji slowly pried open Jin Zhu's loosening fingers: "Lord Jin Zhu, if you use someone don't doubt them; if you doubt someone don't use them. Since you chose me, you should trust my judgment. If you suspect me it's also fine, feel free to investigate."

Jin Zhu sighed inwardly. Every sentence Chen Ji said was reasonable. If Chen Ji was truly a person from the Jing Dynasty side, there was completely no need for him to expose himself tonight.

He pondered for a moment, suddenly laughed, and helped Chen Ji smooth out his clothes: "It's all a misunderstanding, don't take it to heart. Staying in the Secret Spy Division too long, everyone looks suspicious. Right, the reason you kid refused to reveal the plan the entire night tonight was clearly because you were worried that if I knew the plan, I wouldn't dare to come!"

"Yes."

Jin Zhu said with a beaming smile: "Who are you looking down on? Remember to tell me the plan in advance next time, so as to avoid catching me off guard."

"Alright."

Jin Zhu calculated for a long time, then opened his mouth and asked: "What is your next plan?"

Chen Ji said: "The next plan doesn't need me anymore. Since Liu Mingxian wants to deliver the goods tomorrow, he will definitely choose to risk breaking into the Imperial Workshop today. Lord Jin Zhu only needs to arrange the surveillance and defense at the Imperial Workshop and arrest the thieves. As long as there is solid evidence to arrest Liu Mingxian and throw him into the Inner Prison, bringing down the Liu family is only a matter of time."

Jin Zhu's eyes lit up: "That makes sense. The Liu family's eldest son, Liu Mingde, focuses wholeheartedly on seeking the Dao; all affairs in Yuzhou are managed by the second son, Liu Mingxian. Catching him is equivalent to catching the Liu family."

Chen Ji cupped his hands to Jin Zhu: "Lord, can I go home now?"

"You can, you can," Jin Zhu waved his hand with a smile: "Sure enough, doing successful things requires being with successful people. Although this scheme was risky, it can be called a brilliant move."

Chen Ji turned and left. Seeing him walk into the thin mist, Jin Zhu only felt that the calm back figure was suppressing terrifying madness.

From last night to this morning, Chen Ji calmly went to deliver the note to Liu Mingxian, calmly finished eating beef noodles, and calmly played the role of a Jing Dynasty spy.

Jin Zhu considered himself to have seen strong winds and great waves, yet right now he still had lingering fear in his heart. However, looking at Chen Ji, he acted as if nothing had happened.

He cursed inwardly, lunatic.

...

...

On the bluestone paved road.

Chen Ji walked unhurriedly on the way back to the clinic, the clothes pressing against his back already drenched with sweat.

Gambling with life was like walking a tightrope; one must be 120% focused every single moment.

But he wasn't completely gambling either.

The Secret Spy Division didn't know, but he knew that Si Cao Gui had already gone south to Yangzhou with Wu Hongbiao, and Si Cao Xin was killed by his own hands. The Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division simply had no one who could continue negotiating with the Liu family.

Moreover, the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division had always been represented by Zhou Chengyi and Liu Shiyu in the past; the major figures of both sides had never formally met.

It was precisely because Chen Ji was indeed a Jing Dynasty spy and knew more inside information that he dared to gamble.

Would Jin Zhu suspect him because of this?

He would, definitely would.

But Chen Ji didn't care. Bringing down the Liu family wasn't the end point, he would personally fill in the final link.

In front of the Taiping Medical Clinic, Chen Ji looked up at the horizontal inscribed board, and suddenly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

He was home.

It seemed that as long as he returned here, his restless heart tending towards madness could finally stabilize once again. It was just that he still hadn't figured out how to explain him breaking the appointment.

Or perhaps he didn't need to explain?

Chen Ji lifted his foot and crossed the threshold, and a puzzled expression appeared on his face.

The Prince Heir's voice came from the backyard: "Why hasn't Chen Ji come back yet? Did this kid not even return home just to avoid treating us?"

Liu Quxing said: "Master, Chen Ji stayed out all night. When he comes back, you have to give him a good beating!"

Chen Ji walked to the backyard and looked in astonishment at the Prince Heir, Bai Li, Liu Quxing, She Dengke, and the others: "Why are you all here?"

Bai Li rested her hands on her hips, her tone angry: "Of course we're here to question you why you broke your appointment!"

Liu Quxing hollered: "Too stingy, isn't it!"

Chen Ji fell silent for a moment, and said softly: "Apologies, I truly had an urgent matter yesterday."

"Hahahahaha." The Prince Heir suddenly laughed heartily: "Look, this is my first time seeing this expression on Chen Ji's face."

Chen Ji looked at everyone, his expression somewhat puzzled.

The Prince Heir stepped forward and draped his arm over his shoulders: "Of course we know you had important matters. Everyone is waiting here for you because we are worried. Bai Li said that if you still hadn't returned by morning, she would have me mobilize troops from the Thousand-Year Army to search for you."

Bai Li asked curiously: "If you encounter any difficult matters, you must tell us, and everyone will think of a solution to resolve it together. Among friends, don't hide and conceal things."

Chen Ji shook his head: "I'm fine."

Liang Mao'er smiled with honest sincerity: "It's good that you're fine. Hurry up and eat a bite of food, I'll go heat it up."

Saying that, he picked up two four-tiered red-lacquered food boxes and walked into the kitchen, lighting the fire to heat the food.

Liu Quxing's eyes shone: "I can finally taste Yingxian Restaurant's 'Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea'. I wanted to taste it last night, but Bai Li wouldn't let me."

Chen Ji was puzzled: "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea?"

Under the apricot tree, Old Yao said mildly: "These little brats wanted to eat Yingxian Restaurant's Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, but their own pockets had no money, so they tricked a young master from Jiangnan into treating them. After arriving at Yingxian Restaurant, the Prince Heir ordered a table full of dishes, and without moving a single chopstick, said he had matters at home and would leave first. He surprisingly brought the table full of dishes back, and additionally conned two jars of Shaoxing Huadiao wine. Then, they waited here for you the whole night."

Chen Ji: "Ah?"

Old Yao smacked his lips: "Stunned? I reckon that young master from Jiangnan is even more stunned than you. Leaving him aside, even I, an old man, never imagined that the grand and dignified Prince Heir of Prince Jing's Estate would actually scam food and drinks. Indeed, as long as you live long enough, you can see anything."

Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said: "Thank you."

(End of Chapter)