The Azure Mountain

Chapter 129: Uprooted

In the small alley under the blanket of night, black-clad secret spies surrounded the front and back so tightly that not a drop of water could leak through.

Chen Ji leaned against the wall under the eaves, and through the gaps in the crowd, silently watched Shopkeeper Yuan inside the encirclement.

He suddenly realized that he might not have the opportunity to trap and kill the other party in the future. The Secret Spy Division's degree of importance attached to this Shopkeeper Yuan far exceeded his imagination.

This was the first Jing Dynasty Si Cao captured by the Secret Spy Division. Utilizing him well was enough to tear a massive wound into the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Division.

Jin Zhu didn't pay attention to Shopkeeper Yuan, but squeezed out of the crowd and pulled Chen Ji to the side.

He lowered his voice and said: "You kid, you're too gutsy. You haven't even stepped into the cultivation Pathway yet, and you dare to come chase him alone? What if he still had residual strength to resist? Even a cornered beast will fight for its last breath. If he truly hardened his heart and dragged you down as a cushion, where would you go to reason?"

Chen Ji explained: "Lord, this thief's identity is extraordinary, and we still have to rely on him to interrogate new things. How could we allow him to escape?"

Jin Zhu couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry: "It was also my mistake. I was afraid you wouldn't act like it was real, so I didn't tell you this plan. Everything tonight was an arranged play. We absolutely wouldn't have let him escape."

Chen Ji laughed: "As long as it didn't delay Lord's plan, it's fine."

Jin Zhu exhorted over and over again: "You absolutely must not be this reckless again."He turned and returned to the small alley, waved back all the secret spies, and squatted down in front of Shopkeeper Yuan himself, saying solemnly: "Shopkeeper Yuan, have you recovered? If Tian Ma hadn't fed you the 'Divine Bridge Pill' refined by the Yellow Mountain Daoist Leader just now, your life would have already been lost to the Yellow Springs."

"I know, I know. I recognize the 'Divine Bridge'."

Shopkeeper Yuan nodded hastily.

Jin Zhu smiled radiantly: "Then do you have anything you want to tell me right now? You also saw the Inner Chancellor's edict; as long as you are willing to cooperate, an excellent future awaits you."

Shopkeeper Yuan lowered his head and struggled for several seconds. When he raised his head again, he said: "I still have quite a few associates in Luo City who haven't been caught."

The corners of Jin Zhu's mouth slightly curled up, the smile in his eyes undisguisable: "Oh? Tell me about them."

Shopkeeper Yuan gritted his teeth and said: "The Mengjin County Registrar, Kang Bo, is our man."

Jin Zhu gave a meaningful glance to a secret spy; someone immediately left hurriedly, spurring a fast horse to rush to Mengjin County to arrest Kang Bo and bring him to justice.

Shopkeeper Yuan continued: "The waiters in Yingxian Restaurant, Zhang Tong and Zhao Guang, are both our men."

Jin Zhu praised: "This is indeed a place where four ounces can move a thousand catties. The guests in Yingxian Restaurant are all high officials and noble lords. Whatever they casually chat about during banquets could potentially be confidential secrets."

Shopkeeper Yuan shook his head: "After those lords drink wine, they have always liked to brag. The people we stationed there could hear heaven-shakingly huge Intelligence every day. But later on, it was frequently verified to be fake. Previously, there was a young literati who, after drinking wine, claimed he had a relative who was the Viceroy of Liangjiang, and even told many Liangjiang secrets. Our side approved funds to approach him, host banquets for him, and instigate his defection. Astonishingly, we later discovered that he had merely seen the Viceroy of Liangjiang once from afar."

Jin Zhu opened his mouth wide and couldn't speak for a long time.

Shopkeeper Yuan continued to say: "The grain and oil shop next to the prefectural office was also opened by us."

"The Mingquan Courtyard in White Clothe Lane, the Red Sleeve Brothel in Red Clothe Lane, were all opened by us."

As Shopkeeper Yuan spoke more and more, Jin Zhu became increasingly alarmed as he listened. He hadn't expected that so many Jing Dynasty thieves were actually hidden in Luo City, and once this Shopkeeper Yuan opened his mouth, he cleared out the entire Luo City Military Intelligence Division.

However, this wasn't the matter Jin Zhu most wanted to know. He asked in a cold voice: "These scrap materials, they can be arrested anytime. Right now, I only want to know, is that great figure in Prince Jing's Estate who colluded with you... Prince Jing?"

He heard Shopkeeper Yuan say: "Not Prince Jing, it was a princely consort."

Chen Ji's heart suspended again, his gaze tightly fixed on Shopkeeper Yuan.

If the other party confessed and named Consort Yun, what should he do?

Think of a way to kill Consort Yun, or take advantage of the time before Consort Yun was arrested to escape?

In front of Shopkeeper Yuan, Jin Zhu narrowed his eyes: "Which princely consort? Consort Yun or Consort Jing?"

Shopkeeper Yuan said: "I am not clear either!"

Jin Zhu was furious: "You are a Si Cao, and you say you are not clear?"

Chen Ji stepped forward from the side: "Lord, it must definitely be Consort Jing!"

Jin Zhu slowly turned his head: "Because she is Liu Mingxian's younger sister?"

"Exactly!"

Jin Zhu said: "But I have informants who say that Consort Jing and Liu Mingxian have been at odds for a long time. The brother and sister had a dispute in the Liu family ancestral hall at the beginning of the year. Consort Jing would categorically not cooperate with Liu Mingxian's plan."

Chen Ji pondered for a long time: "But what if the mastermind behind the scenes of the treasonous rebellion was Elder Liu Gun from the very beginning? Consort Jing could refuse Liu Mingxian's orders, but she might not necessarily be able to refuse her own father's orders. If the Liu family couldn't even trust their own people, how could they trust outsiders!"

Jin Zhu was deep in thought: "That's right, they are ultimately a family. Then let's investigate based on Consort Jing's suspicion. Deploy monitoring on everyone around Consort Jing; as long as they depart the princely estate, tail them all uniformly. See where they went, who they met, and what they said!"

Chen Ji let out a slight sigh of relief.

Jin Zhu turned his head, staring fixedly at Shopkeeper Yuan and said in a bad mood: "As a dignified Si Cao, how could you not even know who you were colluding with?"

Shopkeeper Yuan hurriedly explained: "I also just took office, I just became a Si Cao ah."

Jin Zhu raised his eyebrows: "What do you mean?"

Shopkeeper Yuan said: "Luo City was originally under the charge of Official Gui. He was originally a direct subordinate of the previous Military Strategy Commissioner, Lu Jin. After Lu Jin stepped down, the higher-ups transferred Official Xin to Luo City to replace him. Later, Official Xin was killed by someone at the Fireworks Lane using Firearms, and Official Gui disappeared without a trace. Only then did I have the opportunity to become the new Official Xin."

Jin Zhu said puzzledly: "So you are saying, you were just promoted from Gyrfalcon... But for such a significant matter, even if it's your first day as Si Cao, you should have been informed."

Shopkeeper Yuan explained: "Official Gui always held the princely estate's line tightly in his hands. Now that he has run away, I don't even know how to establish contact with the princely estate."

Jin Zhu said angrily: "Then why didn't you think of a way to reestablish contact with Prince Jing's Estate?"

Shopkeeper Yuan was helpless: "Lord, I hadn't thought of a way yet before I was captured by you. As long as you and the Inner Chancellor can grant me my freedom, I have a way to test out who exactly that great figure is."

Jin Zhu asked casually: "How does Shopkeeper Yuan plan to test it?"

Shopkeeper Yuan thought for a bit: "Now that the influence of the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Division in Luo City has been Uprooted, it is no longer possible for the Military Intelligence Division's people to contact that great figure in the princely estate. If you allocate a few people to me, I will train them well and teach them all the secret codes of the Military Intelligence Division. I will tell them to go test Consort Jing, and when the time comes, whether it is Consort Jing or not, one test will reveal all."

Jin Zhu smacked his lips; wasn't this the exact same routine Xi Feng had used to pretend to be the Department Head and deceive Liu Mingxian previously?

But this routine was indeed highly effective.

Shopkeeper Yuan asked: "Lord Jin Zhu, does the Secret Spy Division have any informants who interact closely with the princely estate? If there is, then that would be for the best. Train him, and we will definitely be able to deceive that great figure."

Jin Zhu slowly looked at Chen Ji beside him... wasn't this exactly the best candidate?

Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, but ultimately still took a step forward: "Lord, prioritizing the overall situation, I can shoulder this heavy responsibility."

However, Jin Zhu said in a bad mood: "Are you crazy kid? Why is it that wherever there is danger, you want to go there? You cannot go."

Having said that, he beckoned and called Xi Feng over: "Transfer that informant we planted in the princely estate to Shopkeeper Yuan. Within half a month, I want to know the result of the test."

Xi Feng cupped his fists: "Orders received!"

Chen Ji gave Shopkeeper Yuan a deep look and didn't speak anymore.

Shopkeeper Yuan asked: "Lord Jin Zhu, can we spread the news outside that I am already dead now? Additionally, I need dedicated personnel to protect me until my injuries have thoroughly recovered."

Jin Zhu smiled radiantly and comforted him: "Rest assured, someone will protect you. Even if an expert in the Path-Seeking Realm came, they wouldn't be able to harm you. Wait until this matter is over, the new identity and Official Position promised to you by the Inner Chancellor will also be completely given to you as a package."

Having said that, he affectionately supported Shopkeeper Yuan to stand up and get into a carriage.

Chen Ji was originally about to evacuate together with Xi Feng. But he saw Jin Zhu lift the carriage curtain and wave at him: "Chen Ji, get in the carriage."

He squeezed into the carriage, and before he could sit stably, he heard Shopkeeper Yuan suddenly say: "Ah, right. Two Lords, I also know a secret related to Lu Jin."

Jin Zhu became energized, his body leaning slightly forward, and asked like a barrage of rapid fire: "Lu Jin? Which ousted Military Strategy Commissioner? What secret?"

Shopkeeper Yuan deliberated over his wording and said: "There has always been a legend within the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Division that the Military Strategy Commissioner Lu Jin actually has a younger sister in the Ning Dynasty. Back then, when he was able to assassinate the Minister of Revenue, there were also contributions from this younger sister of his."

Jin Zhu raised his voice: "Lu Jin still has a younger sister? Why have I never heard people mention this?"

Chen Ji's heart suddenly leaped up again, as if grabbed tightly by a hand.

If this Shopkeeper Yuan wasn't removed, he would simply leave behind endless disasters.

That newly appointed Military Strategy Commissioner Lu Guanwu was also an idiot, actually sending a spineless coward to Luo City.

Inside the swaying carriage, Shopkeeper Yuan weakly leaned against the carriage wall and explained: "This is only a rumor. But this humble official believes it is not without foundation."

Jin Zhu became solemn: "Tell me about it."

Shopkeeper Yuan said: "Does Lord know how Lu Jin assassinated the Minister of Revenue?"

Jin Zhu reminisced: "I've seen that case file. That day was the Laba Festival. The Minister of Revenue, Chen Luyi, went together with the Chen clansmen to Yuanjue Temple to ring the bell and distribute porridge. On the way, Chen Luyi temporarily had a matter and secretly returned to the city. But on the road, he suffered Lu Jin's ambush."

He continued to speak: "Based on the battlefield inspection results, Lu Jin was alone by himself at the time. Speaking reasonably, wanting to kill a Minister of Revenue is as difficult as ascending the heavens. But on that day, Chen Luyi coincidentally left the majority of his retinue and guards beside the Chen clansmen. He only brought four guest warriors beside himself. Only this gave Lu Jin an opportunity to strike. Ultimately, Lu Jin killed the four Chen family guest warriors, severed Chen Luyi's head, and fled all the way back to the Jing Dynasty's Shengjing City."

Shopkeeper Yuan asked: "Doesn't Lord feel it's strange? If no one assisted him, how could he possibly know Chen Luyi's whereabouts? Lu Jin lurked in the Ning Dynasty, enduring silently for several years, and finally waited for this opportunity. Then during those years of silent endurance, what was he doing?"

Jin Zhu was puzzled: "That only shows Lu Jin had a helper, why are you so certain he has a younger sister? And that his younger sister is precisely in the Ning Dynasty?"

Shopkeeper Yuan said: "Lu Jin has always had a younger sister; it's just that he uniformly announced to outsiders that his younger sister died young from smallpox. However, just seven years ago, Lu Jin used military law to execute a young meritorious noble. After the other party's father learned of this matter, to vent personal anger, he went to dig up the Lu family's ancestral graves. Inside the ancestral grave, the tomb where Lu Jin's younger sister should have been buried was empty. After the incident broke out, Lu Jin used thunderous methods, ordering Military Intelligence Division assassins to exterminate this noble's entire family."

Shopkeeper Yuan sneered: "Outsiders only thought he was angry because his ancestral grave was dug up. But how could a person like Lu Jin be angry over this kind of matter? I feel he simply wanted to cover up the matter of the empty grave. Lord, follow the clues from back then and investigate again. Perhaps you can find that younger sister of his!"