novelraw Chapter 81: Easy as Turning a Palm
Chapter 81: Easy as Turning a Palm
"Honorable Jin Zhu, what does the Jing Dynasty operative we're after look like?"
"Covered in black from head to toe. Nobody got a clear look at his face."
"Height?"
"Hard to say."
'Well then, this should be easy...'
Chen Ji had imagined scenarios where some careless mistake might lead to his arrest. He'd even considered the possibility that Gui and Wu Hongbiao hadn't made it out, and might confess his identity under interrogation in the Inner Prison.
After returning to the clinic last night, he had remained in a state of constant vigilance — silver on his person, ready at any moment to flee with Wu Yun.
But what Chen Ji had never anticipated was that the Secret Spy Division would ask him to catch himself.
He probed cautiously: "Sir, why me? Your own wit and wisdom far surpass mine. Why have me do it?"
In the clinic's main hall, Jin Zhu was dressed like a tenant farmer, a bamboo hat perched on his head. The hat's hemp cord outlined his double chin in a slightly comical fashion.Jin Zhu removed the hat and set it on the counter, then clasped Chen Ji's hands with earnest sincerity: "Don't sell yourself short. You were the one who helped Yun Yang and Jiao Tu find evidence against the Liu family — you clearly have a gift. Let me be frank: the Luo City Secret Spy Division has been infiltrated. Last night's operation leaked precisely because of a mole, which is why we failed to catch the Jing operatives. Right now, you're the only person in the entire Luo City division I can trust."
Old Yao gathered up his account books and silently withdrew toward the back courtyard. He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he'd burst out laughing.
In the capital, Jin Zhu was famous for three things: first, his sponsorship of Tian Ma's rise; second, his sharp palate and love of fine food; third, his shrewdness.
Yet this same supremely shrewd man was now clutching the actual culprit's hands and talking about trust.
Chen Ji quietly withdrew his hands: "Why don't you personally catch this Jing operative?"
Jin Zhu explained with a smile: "My top priority right now is finding the mole. So the two of us will work separately — you handle your task, I handle mine. I'll assign six agents to follow you and keep you safe."
Jin Zhu added: "You must apprehend the Jing operative. If you succeed, you'll be credited with the primary merit. If you fail... don't blame me for turning on you. That's how the Secret Spy Division works. Even if you were my own brother, I wouldn't let it slide."
After thinking it over, Chen Ji said: "Honorable Jin Zhu, I can try to capture this rampaging Jing operative, but I have one condition — please keep my identity secret. You know this is Liu family territory. The people colluding with the Jing Dynasty certainly don't end with Liu Shiyu. If I keep racking up achievements, the Liu family will start bearing a grudge."
Jin Zhu was delighted: "Don't worry. The whole reason I came in this disguise was to protect your identity. Tonight, at the hour of Hai, be at Welcoming Guest Restaurant in Red Clothe Lane. Someone will be waiting for you there."
With that, he put his bamboo hat back on and turned to leave.
At that moment, a horse-drawn carriage pulled up in front of the clinic. The curtain was lifted from inside, and a coachman hurried to place a stepping stool by the carriage, then helped a middle-aged man with a wispy mustache step down.
Chen Ji recognized the man — the steward of the Chen Estate. He'd seen him before during a holiday visit home.
The steward wore a ridged tasseled cap, thick black official boots, and a robe of pale green satin. He looked less like a household butler and more like a government official.
Jin Zhu brushed past the steward on his way out, gave him a curious look, and hurried off.
The steward descended from the carriage, clasped his hands behind his back, and strolled leisurely into the clinic, examining the interior with thinly veiled curiosity. When he spotted Chen Ji, he smiled: "Comfortable here?"
Chen Ji stood calmly beside the counter: "What do you want?"
The steward smiled, beckoned to the coachman outside, and took a string of copper coins from him to hand to Chen Ji: "Three hundred wen. Count it."
Chen Ji didn't reach for it. His voice was perfectly flat: "No need to count. Put it on the counter."
The steward's outstretched hand froze in midair. After a moment, he tossed the coins carelessly onto the counter and slowly smoothed his mustache: "You think three hundred wen isn't enough? Do you have any idea how many people died in Yuzhou this summer during the floods? Right now, three hundred wen would buy you a maid's indenture contract in western or southern Yuzhou. The household isn't paying your tuition lightly. Don't forget where you came from."
As he finished, Baili came out from the back courtyard, calling as she walked: "Chen Ji, come help wrap dumplings! Dumplings taste best when everyone pitches in together... Oh — who's this?"
The steward's expression shifted the instant he saw Baili. His demeanor turned humble: "Commandery Princess Baili. I am the steward of the Vice Prefect's household here in Luo City. Last year, during the Lantern Festival, I accompanied my master to Prince Jing's Estate for the banquet. I saw Your Highness from a distance."
Baili looked puzzled: "We've met? I don't remember."
The steward hesitated: "I was seated... at the servants' table."
"Oh... You're here to see Chen Ji? I'll leave you to it then. Chen Ji — come make dumplings as soon as you're done!" Baili turned and headed back.
The steward watched her retreating figure, then shot Chen Ji a startled, probing look: "Why is Commandery Princess Baili at Taiping Medical Clinic?"
Chen Ji said offhandedly: "She's close with my master. She visits often."
The steward relaxed. For a moment, he'd been worried that Chen Ji might have somehow turned his exile to this clinic into a stroke of luck and won the princess's favor.
His tone shifted to something imperious: "Three days from now, young masters Wenzong and Wenxiao sit for the Autumn Examination. The master instructed me last night to tell you: come home the evening before for a family dinner."
Chen Ji glanced at him: "Please tell them I've been busy with my studies. I can't make it."
The steward's face darkened: "You won't even heed the master's summons? Have you forgotten the Chen Estate's kindness in raising you? If that's how it is, don't expect even these three hundred wen in monthly tuition going forward."
Chen Ji smiled faintly: "Then so be it. And don't bother coming to Taiping Medical Clinic anymore."
The steward laughed in disbelief: "You said it yourself!"
Chen Ji nodded: "Yes. I did."
The steward stormed out, sleeve swishing. He'd come quickly and left just as fast, clearly unwilling to waste another moment here.
Baili peeked out from the corridor behind him: "Had a fight with your family's steward?"
"Mm."
Baili spoke softly: "You're clever enough to see it — he never wanted you to come home for dinner. A steward in a great household is no fool. He wouldn't deliberately offend someone without reason. That steward put on his nastiest face on purpose — to goad you into saying something rash, so he could go back and report your words to your father... You shouldn't have fallen for it."
Chen Ji turned to look at Baili and smiled: "Going or not going to the Chen Estate doesn't matter. I wasn't planning on going back anyway."
Baili said "oh" and shrugged: "If you're not going, you're not going. Come on — dumplings!"
"Sure," Chen Ji said. He looked out the door at Anxi Street, listening to the thuk-thuk-thuk-thuk of dumpling filling being chopped in the back courtyard. His heart settled into calm.
......
......
Night.
Red Clothe Lane, normally bustling, had gone suddenly desolate.
Bright red lanterns still hung high along the cobblestone street, but there were no pedestrians, no patrons. Courtesans and dancers leaned against the railings, listless and bored.
When at last a customer turned into the lane from the west, the girls readied their red sleeves for a wave — then caught sight of the bamboo hat on his head and retreated silently indoors, as mute as winter cicadas.
Welcoming Guest Restaurant had closed for the night. The common room was pitch-black — not a single oil lamp lit.
Six agents in black each cradled a long saber, leaning against wooden pillars like assassins waiting for prey.
In the dark silence, one spoke up: "Xi Feng, did the boss say who he's bringing in to help with the case? This 'assistant' is making us wait all day — what a prima donna. We've wasted a whole day's head start on catching the culprit."
"He was supposed to be here at the hour of Hai. There's barely a stick of incense left before midnight. Where is he?"
The agent called Xi Feng raised his head. From beneath his bamboo hat, sharp eyes swept across the group: "The boss said to wait. So we wait."
Someone muttered: "Xi Feng, you're this close to being promoted to Gyrfalcon. Don't let some outsider steal the credit. If we crack this case cleanly, you'll be assigned as a Gyrfalcon and deployed to a region. If Jin Zhu pulls strings to get you posted to Huainan or Huaibei, you could confiscate a few minor salt merchants' properties and build yourself a tidy fortune."
Xi Feng snorted: "You think you can just confiscate at will? Every salt merchant has powerful backers. The southern civil officials collectively despise our Directorate of Ceremonial. You can't just push them around."
"Heh heh, Brother Xi Feng, you don't know the half of it. I'm from the same hometown as one of Bao Hou's agents. He told me that every time a new Gyrfalcon takes up post in the Lianghuai region, the Salt Merchant Guild pushes out one or two minor merchants as a welcome gift — for the new Gyrfalcon to bag and make a name for himself. Confiscate whatever you want, execute whoever you want. Afterwards, everybody's happy and saves face. Three years in that post, and you'll have more women and wealth than you'll ever need."
Xi Feng sneered: "You think the Chief Punishment Division sits idle? If that kind of leverage falls into someone's hands, you'll be a puppet on strings for life. I follow Honorable Jin Zhu because I intend to accomplish great things — not trade the whole forest for a single tree."
One agent tested the waters: "I heard Jin Zhu has a feud with the Xu family from the Hu Region. Is that true?"
Xi Feng's voice went cold: "Are you lot tired of living? Prying into the boss's private affairs? Want me to send you to the Inner Prison to cool off?"
"Fine, fine — we were just bored... So when is this person the boss mentioned going to show up?"
As if on cue, the front door of Welcoming Guest Restaurant creaked open.
Everyone stiffened, reverting to their stone-faced composure.
Xi Feng turned to look. The newcomer wore a bamboo hat and had his face wrapped in gray cloth.
He frowned, instinctively glancing at the person's legs — but the newcomer walked normally, showing no sign of injury.
'Hm.'
Xi Feng served at Jin Zhu's side and knew what Chen Ji was capable of. Moreover, Chen Ji was a Luo City native. He'd assumed tonight's arrival would be Chen Ji.
But looking now, the newcomer didn't seem to be Chen Ji at all.
Xi Feng asked sharply: "Why are you late? Don't you know delays could let the Jing operative escape?"
Chen Ji stopped across from the six agents. He didn't answer Xi Feng. Instead, his voice came low and steady: "You are agents under Honorable Jin Zhu's command?"
Xi Feng paused: "We are."
Chen Ji nodded: "Honorable Jin Zhu's orders: from now on, you take your commands from me. You'll assist me in apprehending the Jing Dynasty spy."
The six agents exchanged looks, their expressions unreadable.
Jin Zhu hadn't told them they'd be taking orders from this person. Everyone had assumed Xi Feng was in charge — and this newcomer was merely an assistant.
Xi Feng considered for a moment, then decided not to argue the point. He gave the others a subtle look, then cupped his fist to Chen Ji: "Sir, allow me to first show you the scene of the fighting. Perhaps you'll see something useful."
Expression grave, he led Chen Ji to the rear courtyard. Six corpses of Secret Spy Division agents lay on the ground, the bloodstains still unwashed.
Xi Feng looked at Chen Ji and said quietly: "Sir — the killer slew six agents right here last night. The bodies and everything else have been left untouched. Please examine the scene."
That said, he fell silent. Not a word more.
All six agents' gazes burned into Chen Ji. Everyone understood Xi Feng's silent signal: this was a test. If the newcomer had no real skills, he wouldn't be giving orders to any of them.
Chen Ji glanced at the six men, then slowly circled the courtyard, head bowed in thought.
Beneath their bamboo hats, the agents' eyes flickered, trading glances. They all looked to Xi Feng: 'If he can't cut it, we back you.'
Xi Feng was a single step away from Gyrfalcon rank. If an outsider stole the credit, he'd have to wait another year.
It wasn't a matter of loyalty to one another — it was simply that in the presence of an outsider, closing ranks was everyone's instinctive choice.
Time ticked by. Chen Ji remained with his head down, thinking. He hadn't uttered a word.
One agent's eyes urged Xi Feng to speak up and seize the initiative, but Xi Feng could match patience for patience. If Chen Ji stayed silent, so would he.
Then, suddenly, Chen Ji moved.
All eyes followed him as he walked to a corner of the courtyard and stopped. He touched a crossbow bolt embedded in the wall and said calmly: "The killer entered the courtyard from here. Once inside, he ambushed one agent first — a short blade through the lung and kidney. Then he used the wounded agent as a shield to dodge crossbow fire."
He took two steps forward, stopping by a face-down corpse: "Here's where the killer dropped the wounded agent and plunged into the group. He used the short blade to break the agents' sabers in succession, and then—"
All six agents' jaws dropped. Every pair of pupils contracted sharply.
Xi Feng couldn't help himself: "Sir — how do you deduce there was only one killer? We never said that. Six agents bear two distinct types of blade wounds. It could easily have been two assailants."
Chen Ji said lightly: "The two weapon signatures appear because he seized one of the agents' sabers midway through the fight. Not because there were two attackers."
Xi Feng fell silent.
They had been working on this since last night — multiple combat-experienced agents, backed by several coroners who pored over the scene — and it had taken them a full two hours to reconstruct the killer's entire sequence of movements.
Yet this temporary superior had taken a single look at the scene and, within the space of a single incense stick, recreated the fight?
If they'd known he was this capable, why had they wasted the whole morning?
Xi Feng immediately shelved any further thoughts of testing Chen Ji.
What he didn't know was that Chen Ji was equally impressed with himself: 'So deduction can be this easy. All you have to do is describe what you did.'
Easy as turning a palm.
Xi Feng set aside his probing and asked: "Sir — the killer snapped blades as casually as drinking water. None of us in the Jianghu have ever heard of such a technique. Can you identify who the attacker might be?"
Chen Ji didn't answer directly. He only said: "Let's not jump to conclusions yet. Tell me — did the killer fight in this one location only last night?"
Xi Feng explained: "There's a second site — on Tongji Street."
"Take me there."
The group headed for the restaurant's exit. Chen Ji and Xi Feng walked side by side through the common room.
But as they reached the doorway, Xi Feng instinctively paused — letting Chen Ji step through first. Then, silently, he fell in behind.