CHAPTER 427: 335, NEW TASK

At the hour of Mao, the sky was not completely bright.

At the crossroads of two alleys, Chen Ji leaned against the north corner, while Si Caogui was at the west corner. It seemed like they were talking back-to-back, neither could see the other.

Speaking like this was somewhat awkward, but if anyone entered from outside the alley, regardless of which alley they passed through, they would only see one person and not the other.

Chen Ji leaned against the blue brick wall, hesitated for a long time, and asked, "Did you encounter any danger on the escape route? Is Wu Hongbiao okay, has he returned?"

Si Caogui laughed and explained, "Back then, Biaozi and I fled south, encountering seven searches by the Spy Department along the way. We disguised ourselves as merchants, lay in coffins, and hid in Feet Tilting’s cart. Had we not been vigilant, we would have perished on the road."

He continued, "But after we left Henan Province, the Spy Department’s people became lax. We boarded a Cao Guild boat to head south to Yangzhou, then rushed to Qidong Port, and took a smuggling merchant ship to Lushun. During the escape, there were moments when I thought it might be easier to die in Luocheng City, but when we arrived in Lushun, it felt this journey was worth it. Don’t worry about Biaozi, he’s fine."

Chen Ji curiously asked, "Did his sister get saved?"

Si Caogui said with interest, "Why? You’re still thinking about his sister? Stop thinking about it; I saw his sister this time, and she looks just like Biaozi, ugly as can be."

Chen Ji laughed heartily, "I’m not concerned, just asking."

The two chatted about everyday matters like old friends reuniting, as if everyone had forgotten the days of living knife-edge lives, not trapped in dire circumstances.

Once they finished laughing, Chen Ji gradually put his smile away and probed, "It’s hard to leave, why come back?"

At this moment, someone passed by outside the alley, and Si Caogui pressed his bamboo hat and remained silent.

After the pedestrian went away, he explained in a low voice, "Your uncle has been reinstated. This time, not only did he exploit failed intelligence in Luocheng City and the Guyuan battles, he imprisoned the political enemies Jiang Tan of the Military Strategy Department and Lu Guanwu of the Military Intelligence Department, and gained the position of Vice Minister. Now the Military Strategy Department is under his jurisdiction, so I naturally had to return to serve the court."

Chen Ji looked up at the gray sky. Although he already knew from Guyuan that Lu Jin had signs of reinstatement, hearing the news still left his feelings mixed.

Si Caogui asked across the corner, "Why aren’t you speaking?"

Chen Ji replied with a smile, "Happy for Uncle... can I return to the Jing Dynasty now?"

Si Caogui instinctively said, "No."

Chen Ji frowned, "Why?"

Si Caogui advised, "Council Chief Executive Officer Yuan Cheng relies on the Emperor’s favor and your uncle can’t move against him yet. There’s much friction between your uncle and him now; just in the half month before I came to the Ning Dynasty, your uncle experienced twelve assassination attempts, so it’s less safe for you to return, hence he hopes you stay in the Ning Dynasty."

Si Caogui continued, "Moreover, previously the Military Intelligence Department stagnated due to partisan conflict, neglecting many essential tasks. Now, you and I must help your uncle sort things out; only if the Military Intelligence Department functions properly can we prove to the Emperor that reinstating your uncle was the right decision, leaving Yuan Cheng speechless."

Chen Ji cautiously probed, "Well... since my uncle is in control of the Military Intelligence Department, are you this time returning as the Military Intelligence Department Chief?"

Si Caogui calmly replied, "No, the position of Chief remains unchanged. Si Cao is still Si Cao, and Chief is still Chief."

Chen Ji pondered, Lu Guanwu is already imprisoned; why does Uncle Lu Jin still retain this Chief? Can’t remove him?

At this moment, Si Caogui suddenly asked, "I heard you’ve entered the palace twice to see the Emperor?"

Chen Ji’s heart tightened, old friends reuniting turned to smoke in a flash.

What Si Caogui spoke of wasn’t news that an ordinary person could know.

There are only two possibilities: one is if the other side has infiltrated a certain official, finding out from them; the second is if there are Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department members hidden in Ning Dynasty’s central authority.

Which one is it? It’s the second one.

Si Caogui previously fled back to the Jing Dynasty with Wu Hongbiao; even rushing back to the Ning Dynasty only half a month earlier would have him arriving just half a month earlier than Chen Ji in the Imperial Capital. In such a short time frame, it’s impossible for the other side to have gained trust of a certain official.

Chen Ji explained, "Going to see the Emperor is a chance coincidence, just happened to be someone else’s tool."

Si Caogui asked again, "Previously you connected with Yun Yang and Jiao Tu, why didn’t you join the Spy Department?"

Chen Ji considered, "Yun Yang and Jiao Tu burned bridges after crossing, took my credit. These two went to great lengths to prevent the matter from revealing, keeping me out of the Spy Department."

Si Caogui remained silent for a long while, his fingers rubbing the hilt of the short knife in his sleeve, asking in a concentrated voice, "Why kill so many Heavenly Strategy Army at Guyuan?"

Chen Ji’s emotions sank, the other’s killing intent was substantial, even across a wall corner it made one’s hair stand on end.

It finally came.

This is the question Si Caogui most wanted to ask, the Military Intelligence Department no longer trusts him.

Moreover, Chen Ji was more certain the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department member hidden in Ning Dynasty’s central authority must have access to Guyuan memos and reports... not a low status.

How to answer? A minor misstep invites certain death.

If answered incorrectly, forget saving the Commandery Princess, he’d be dead right now.

Kill Si Caogui? Only Si Caogui knew his identity here in Ning Dynasty; if killed, he could delay a little while longer.

But this Si Caogui is a Grand Official in the Seeking Dao Realm, with over a hundred spies unable to deal with him. How could I possibly kill him?

I can only brace myself to deceive him.

"I did not kill the Heavenly Strategy Army," Chen Ji slowly replied, "At that time, I was betrayed by Yun Yang and Jiao Tu after crossing the river, barely escaping with my life. I then went with the Chen family to Guyuan. Later in Guyuan, I took the opportunity to get close to the Crown Prince, which was a rare chance to approach the nexus of the Ning Dynasty, so I secretly investigated the case of false claims for honors by the Guyuan border army for him."

Chen Ji explained deeply, "When the Dragon Gate Inn was attacked, a Grand Official hidden beside the Crown Prince acted to kill the enemies. However, the Crown Prince didn’t want to expose this officer, so he attributed the credit to me. At the same time, the Crown Prince also wanted to use this opportunity to win over Chen Liqin from the third house of the Chen family, so he helped me get a position as a Right Guard in the Eastern Palace to win people’s hearts. But the Guyuan border army did not give the Crown Prince face, so in Hu Junxian’s victory report, there was no mention of me. Because in all the victory reports and memorials, only the Crown Prince’s report mentioned my achievements, the Emperor of the Ning Dynasty did not believe it and only made me an eighth-rank small flag officer in the Yulin Army... If I had really killed so many Heavenly Strategy Army soldiers, I should have been at least a sixth-rank officer."

These words were both true and false, with Hu Junxian’s victory report and the small flag officer’s identity becoming Chen Ji’s evidence.

Chen Ji was only relieved that in the Guyuan border army’s reports and memorials, only the Crown Prince mentioned this matter, otherwise, there wouldn’t have been even a sliver of room for maneuver.

But there were still many hidden dangers in Chen Ji’s words: Chen Liqin, Chen Wenzong, Mrs. Liang, Zhang Xia, Zhang Zheng, Xiao Man, the Crown Prince, and Qi Zhenzhuo were all witnesses. If any one of them spoke the truth, Si Caogui would know he was lying.

Chen Ji couldn’t care about so much; he could only bet that Si Caogui couldn’t seek confirmation from these people for a while, and even if he tried, he could brush it off with "the Crown Prince ordered silence."

Just need to delay for a while longer, just need to delay a while longer.

From the other side of the corner, Si Caogui said in a deep voice, "Are you telling the truth?"

Chen Ji took a deep breath and confidently said, "Lord Si Cao, you know my strength. Do you think I could have killed over a hundred Heavenly Strategy Army soldiers?"

Si Caogui also couldn’t help but feel suspicious. Over a hundred Heavenly Strategy Army soldiers charging in battle would make even a Seeking Dao Realm officer avoid their edge.

He didn’t know that Chen Ji had the advantage of the terrain that day, supported by the ceaseless stove of the Mountain Lord’s legacy, and with the help of Wu Yun and Xiao Man, he barely survived despite losing a streaked one.

The Crown Prince’s memorial didn’t mention Wu Yun or Xiao Man, only saying Chen Ji alone killed over a hundred Heavenly Strategy Army soldiers, a claim that was already incredible.

In Si Caogui’s impression, Chen Ji was not skilled in combat.

Si Caogui slowly said, "I believe you... Now there is something I need you to do."

Chen Ji became cautious, "What is it?"

Si Caogui said, "I have something that needs to be delivered to the secretary at Huitong Hall in East Rongmi Lane. Now the area outside the hall is full of Ning Dynasty spies, and any ordinary person coming within ten zhangs would attract their attention. But your identity might accomplish this task."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Si Caogui casually asked, "What, are you unwilling to do it?"

Chen Ji calmly said, "As long as there is an order, I would plunge into fire and water without hesitation. What does Lord Si Cao need me to deliver to that secretary?"

Si Caogui smiled, "I’ll leave it on the ground, count twenty breaths before coming to get it. Remember, do not look inside, do not attempt to open it."

Chen Ji silently counted twenty breaths before turning the corner. Si Caogui had already disappeared, leaving only a small palm-sized wooden box quietly placed on the ground, sealed with red wax, with no knowledge of what was inside.

He placed the wooden box into his sleeve and quickly turned to leave.

...

...

Amidst the ceaseless flow of Chang’an Street, Chen Ji maneuvered with a grave expression around the passing carriages and sedan chairs.

Did Si Caogui believe his story? Certainly not.

Chen Ji had dealt with Si Caogui before; he was inherently suspicious and would never believe something with no evidence. Even though he was Lu Jin’s nephew, the other had repeatedly doubted him back in Luocheng City.

And for a prominent figure returning to the Military Intelligence Department, what is the first thing to do when facing a spy subordinate who has long been out of contact?

A loyalty test.

Now, delivering that wooden box in his sleeve to the Huitong Hall secretary would be the Military Intelligence Department’s loyalty test for Chen Ji.

Chen Ji felt the wooden box in his sleeve, rubbing the wax seal on it.

Should he take the risk of giving the box to the Huitong Hall secretary? He should.

Should he think of a way to remove the wax seal to see what’s inside? No.

Arriving at the gate of the Yulin Army Commander’s Mansion, Chen Ji exhaled a long breath, relaxed his expression, and smilingly walked through the gate.

Upon stepping through the gate, a dull thunderclap suddenly sounded overhead.

Chen Ji instinctively looked up to see dense clouds over the Imperial Capital; it was about to rain.

This was the first spring rain in the Imperial Capital in the 32nd year of Jaining.