For some reason, when Aunt Ping's voice sounded, Chen Ji felt an inexplicable sense of intimacy and security.

Perhaps it was because she was always impeccable in Changping County, repeatedly helping him escape, or maybe it was something else.

Chen Ji circled around Aunt Ping, sizing her up under the lamplight streaming out from the Meirui Building's window, clicking his tongue in amazement: "Aunt Ping, your disguise skills are truly impressive, I couldn't recognize you at all."

Mrs. Lu straightened, no longer hunched over: "This isn't my skill. It's an Official Gateway called 'Colorful Face,' created by a genius of the Jing Dynasty."

Chen Ji asked curiously: "Are there many who have mastered this path?"

Mrs. Lu shook her head: "Not many. As far as I know, one lineage is in the Military Intelligence Department of the Jing Dynasty, and another in the Lamp. Every time a disguise is applied, it comes at a high cost, making it not very easy to execute."

Chen Ji was puzzled: "What cost?"

Mrs. Lu replied nonchalantly: "You have to kill someone who truly loves you and extract all their blood."

Chen Ji was shocked.

Mrs. Lu chuckled softly: "I'm just scaring you. That's the method of the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Department. With such a cost, even the voice can be changed seamlessly. My Lamp's method is less thorough, requiring personal effort to alter one's voice and form, but the cost is much smaller."

Chen Ji remained composed, feeling that Lamp was intricately connected to the Jing Dynasty. Otherwise, how could Lamp's caravans penetrate deep into Jing Dynasty territories and share an Official Gateway with the Military Intelligence Department?

Aunt Ping seemed very knowledgeable about the Military Intelligence Department's Official Gateway.

He tested the waters: "Aunt Ping seems to know a lot about the Military Intelligence Department?"

Mrs. Lu became serious, diverting the conversation: "Why have you come to see my Lamp today?"

Chen Ji confirmed there were no outsiders around and sincerely said: "Earlier, I was thankful for Aunt Ping's assistance in Changping. Now it's time to repay that favor. I'm willing to help Lamp find Si Caoding and clear General Wen Tao's name."

This time, it was Mrs. Lu's turn to assess Chen Ji: "You've been back from Changping to the capital for a while now, and I haven't seen you mention this to my Lamp. I thought you were going to default on your debt. Why bring it up all of a sudden today?"

Chen Ji sincerely replied: "Wasn't it because I went to Chongli Pass right after coming back from Changping, and I haven't had the time until now."

Mrs. Lu gave a knowing smile: "I understand now. I suppose you've encountered trouble, and it involves the Military Intelligence Department of the Jing Dynasty. What, are you worried they'll target Princess Liyang?"

Chen Ji remained sincere: "It's mainly about repaying Aunt Ping's favor."

Mrs. Lu turned to leave: "The less you're willing to share the truth, the more dangerous the truth likely is. If you can't be honest with my Lamp, my Lamp won't risk people's lives for you."

"Aunt Ping."

Mrs. Lu paused.

This time, Chen Ji spoke earnestly: "Repaying Lamp's favor isn't just empty words. Even if my own life isn't worth much, the fact that Lamp's Third Master Hu saved Zhang Xia and the little monk in Baidadan City is a debt that must be repaid sooner or later. I will certainly help Lamp find Si Caoding."

Mrs. Lu turned back to look at him: "Why is your life not worth anything?"

Chen Ji didn't answer that question and continued: "Now that Princess Liyang is coming to the Ning Dynasty, the Military Intelligence Department will never allow Yuan Cheng to return to the Jing Dynasty smoothly. We can use this situation. But before that, there's someone who must die. This person has to die."

Mrs. Lu frowned: "Who?"

Chen Ji didn't directly name Si Caogui and spoke cryptically: "We'll only know when they show up... But I have another request."

Mrs. Lu was noncommittal: "Let's hear it."

Chen Ji pointed to the Meirui Building nearby: "Meihua Ferry Crossing is currently run by Brother Pao, and Er Dao, who is a close friend of mine. Both are rootless mud-legged men. If something were to happen to me one day, involving them in the reckoning, please help them escape to the Jing Dynasty and join Princess Liyang. If Xiao Man is also reckoned with, send Xiao Man along as well."

Mrs. Lu instinctively turned to look at the Meirui Building: "It seems like you're preparing for your affairs. What requires you to arrange such matters in advance?"

Chen Ji smiled: "Just being prepared."

Mrs. Lu considered for a moment: "Alright, I promise you."

At this moment, there was a loud thud from the second floor of the Meirui Building, causing Chen Ji's heart to skip a beat.

The two of them were in the shadows behind the Meirui Building and had to go around to the front door to check.

Yet Mrs. Lu clasped her hands at her waist: "Up."

In tacit agreement, Chen Ji stepped on her palm, flipping up to the second floor window, where he squatted on the ledge and saw Princess Liyang lying unconscious on the wooden floor.

He hesitated: "This is..."

Brother Pao casually brushed nonexistent dust off his shoulder: "Mission accomplished."

Chen Ji: "..."

He shouted down to the floor: "Xiao Man!"

The sound of footsteps was heard as Xiao Man poked her head out at the stairwell: "What is it, young master?"

Chen Ji instructed: "Carry her to the carriage, back to Huitong Hall."

Xiao Man glanced at the table: "The hot dishes are barely touched."

Chen Ji snapped: "Why don't you sit here and eat?"

Xiao Man shrunk her head: "No need, no need."

She hoisted Princess Liyang onto her back and headed out, only to find Mrs. Lu, once again in her aged, stooped form, sitting in the driver's seat.

Mrs. Lu's voice was hoarse: "Get in the carriage."

Xiao Man turned back to Chen Ji, who nodded. Xiao Man climbed into the carriage with Princess Liyang on her back, while Chen Ji sat beside Mrs. Lu, who gently shook the reins, and the carriage moved slowly.

Mrs. Lu glanced at the plainclothes Yulin Army around them: "If the Military Intelligence Department truly wants to act, they can't protect you, better leave it to me."

Chen Ji suddenly felt at ease, smiling: "Thank you."

The carriage rattled through Zhengyang Gate, but before reaching Huitong Hall, a loud chorus rang from afar.

Li Xuan suddenly rode up front, blocking the carriage: "Be careful."

Out on the bluestone road outside East Rongmi Lane sat a crowd, looking closer, it was hundreds of scholars sitting on the ground, singing the Ning Dynasty army's triumphant song: "... The living pick up broken halberds, the dead entrust the cuckoo. Wishing to defend the Society again with this body!"

As the carriage approached, the scholars fell silent, blocking the path. Lin Chaojing, a new scholar and Hanlin scholar, stood at the forefront, declaring loudly: "Yuan Cheng, that scoundrel, bears a blood feud against our dynasty. Marquis of Wuxiang, Chen Ji, has taken bribes from the Jing Dynasty, aiming to release the tiger back to the mountain, his crimes are monstrous!"

As he finished speaking, the scholars behind Lin Chaojing clamored together: "Strip him of his title, banish him to Lingnan!"

Within Chen Ji, the once bright yellow stove fire began to fade, turning from bright yellow to bright red, and then pale red.

This wasn't something that happened all at once. It began the night he took the blame for Zhang Zhuo in Renshou Palace.

It was as if a great power was being slowly drawn from within him by the world, negating all the changes brought by the Four Dreams of Bianliang.

Li Xuan's brows were tightly knit as he looked back at Chen Ji: "Shall I chase them away?"

Chen Ji replied calmly: "Don't mind them, let them say what they will. These scholars are timid, know their place, and won't dare to rush the procession, let's continue forward."

The carriage continued slowly, but as it reached the scholars, they automatically split to allow the procession through.

The scholars shouted hoarse insults, some nearly pressing their faces against Chen Ji's side, cursing.

Mrs. Lu turned to look at Chen Ji, but his expression remained unchanged, as though none of what was happening in front of him existed, indifferent to the criticism of thousands.

Just then, a woman's voice cried from within the carriage: "Assassination! Someone's assassinating! Catch the assassin!"

"Ah!"

The piercing voice overshadowed the scholars' curses, as if an assassin had already invaded the carriage, about to spill Princess Liyang's blood at any moment.

The scholars looked at each other, inexplicably turning and fleeing, none willing to be caught up in the case of an assassination attempt on a Jing Dynasty envoy.

In the blink of an eye, East Rongmi Lane was empty.

Chen Ji frowned; where was the assassin? There was none.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Princess Liyang exhaled a breath of wine, giggling drunkenly: "See, these are your Southern Dynasty's scholars, timid and cowardly, just a little scare and they all run."

Mrs. Lu turned her head to scrutinize Princess Liyang, a flash of strange emotion passing through her eyes.

Chen Ji calmly said: "Your Highness, it's better not to joke about assassinations, or no one will take it seriously next time."

Princess Liyang giggled: "Mr. Chen, why not come to the Jing Dynasty with me? With your talents, you'll be a noble and minister in no time, what's so good about the Southern Dynasty, full of spineless weaklings..."

Chen Ji, worried she might talk about the Sword Seed Path, hurriedly pushed her forehead, shoving her back into the carriage: "Xiao Man, keep an eye on her, don't let her spout nonsense again."

Xiao Man quickly answered with an acknowledgment, tightly covering Princess Liyang's mouth.