CHAPTER 85: 69, LEAVE_2

Wu Hongbiao’s expression turned solemn as he said, "It is not the Jing Dynasty that betrayed me, but Si Cao. I’ve told you before that I will never let the political dirtiness of some waver my faith. I also believe that your uncles will rise again, rid the court of scoundrels. The people of the Jing Dynasty have suffered enough; I will not betray my motherland over a few villains."

Chen Ji was silent; this was the first time he had heard the word "faith" since arriving in this world.

He didn’t want to dwell on this issue, so he asked the question he most wanted to ask, "You say it was that Si Cao with an awe-inspiring green-faced and fanged mask, skilled with knives, who wants to kill us—why do you think so?"

Wu Hongbiao looked puzzled and said, "Si Cao is just Si Cao, why add so many adjectives? There is only one Si Cao."

Chen Ji shook his head, "Just answer my question."

Wu Hongbiao recalled, "The person who came to kill me initially deceived me, saying that Si Cao had an order, summoning me to the Cao Guild in the East Market to pick up a shipment. I am a Pigeon Level spy; throughout Luocheng City, aside from you, only Zhou Chengyi and Si Cao have the authority to know my information. Moreover, on the day the assassin came, I also asked them to show Si Cao’s token, and they did."

"What’s Si Cao’s token?"

"A ’Luocheng Chronicles’ with a special stamp from Rongbao Office; the stamp has one corner chipped off on the upper right, impossible to counterfeit."

Chen Ji finally understood that Wu Hongbiao didn’t know of any other Si Cao, nor did he know that a new Si Cao had arrived in Luocheng City to replace the former one.

Thus, according to his own deduction, it was Manager Yuan who wanted to kill them, not Coachman Si Cao.

But Chen Ji needed to make sure that Wu Hongbiao wasn’t lying.

After a long silence, he said, "I need you to do something."

"What is it?"

"Meet Si Cao."

Wu Hongbiao’s face showed shock.

...

...

Early in the morning, at the Luocheng City Prefect’s government office.

The government office displayed a gold-lacquered plaque reading "Luocheng City Prefecture," where the attending officials hurriedly came to check in, with a low voice muttered, "Hurry up, if we’re late we’ll get an earful from Lord Prefect again."

While talking, a carriage engraved with canary patterns slowly stopped at the entrance of the government office. The officials didn’t bother checking in anymore and halted their steps to bow respectfully.

The coachman lifted the curtain and hooked it on the carriage side, then took a stool and placed it beside the carriage before whispering, "Second Master, we have arrived."

Liu Mingxian slowly descended the carriage, dressed in a blue official robe, donning his official cap, with a jade belt loosely tied around his waist, and wearing black boots with white soles.

"Good day, Lord Associate Judge."

"Good day, Lord Associate Judge."

Liu Mingxian hummed through his nostrils, and only then did the officials dare to straighten their backs and hurry into the government office.

By regulations, Liu Mingxian, as a fifth-rank official, wasn’t entitled to ride in such a canary carriage, but with Official Liu of the Liu Family holding a high position and Henan Province being their fief, naturally, no one dared to say anything.

Once Liu Mingxian entered the government office, the coachman drove the carriage aside, put on a bamboo hat, and squatted at the entrance, chatting idly with the other coachmen and sedan-bearers.

A coachman asked with a smile, "Erniu, did your master go out and enjoy himself last night again?"

Erniu grinned and said, "Hey, when does my master not indulge? Last night he went to Baiyi Lane’s embroidery building and is said to have seen Liu Xingshou."

The coachman yipped in surprise: "Now, all the lords in Luocheng City want to see what Liu Xingshou looks like, what did your master say?"

Erniu naively replied, "My master said Liu Xingshou is indeed a rare beauty. It’s a pity that with the Xu Family protecting her, no one dares to mess with her."

The coachman paused for a breath, then asked again, "And you, Old Li, what did you do last night?"

"What else could I do," Old Li yawned, "last night the Craftsmanship Supervisor’s place was swarmed by spies from the Spy Department, saying they wanted to audit the workshop’s storage ledgers. My master had to stay inside all night, not stepping out for a moment. As a result, he was only released this morning and didn’t even go home, coming straight here."

The coachman said with a laugh, "You really had it rough then, let your wife give you a good back rub when you get back."

"My wife? She’ll rub me indeed, but as for my back, forget it!"

The coachmen and sedan-bearers burst into laughter.

At this moment, Liu Mingxian’s coachman glanced across the street and his face immediately darkened.

On the opposite side of the street, a young man with a pale face was standing still, staring directly back at him.

The coachman said to the people next to him, "I haven’t had anything to eat this morning, I’m going to have a bowl of tofu brain; you guys keep chatting."

"Sure thing, bring me back a couple of deep-fried dough sticks when you return!"

The Coachman quickly walked into the crowd. As he moved along, he suddenly darted beside the young man, grabbed his arm, and headed into a small alley.

By the time the two reached the alley, the Coachman hissed, "Wu Hongbiao, do you have a death wish? The Spy Department and the Military Intelligence Department are both searching for you, and you still dare to stay in Luocheng City?!"

Wu Hongbiao whispered, "I can’t leave."

The Coachman asked intently, "How did you know my identity, and how did you find me here?"

Wu Hongbiao hung his head low: "I’ve followed you before."

The Coachman scoffed, "You followed me? You think you have the skill to tail me? Have you already turned traitor and sworn loyalty to the Ning Dynasty’s Spy Department?"

Wu Hongbiao looked up to meet the Coachman’s gaze, "After all, I am one of Lord Lu’s elite operatives, specifically sent to the Southern Dynasty. Don’t underestimate me."

The Coachman was still unconvinced. Narrowing his eyes slightly and reaching into his sleeve to be ready to draw his short knife at any moment, he quickly surveyed the surroundings but found no one else approaching.

The last time the Spy Department tried to catch him on the banks of Qinhuai River with over a hundred men, they failed. If Wu Hongbiao had defected, the Spy Department would likely have already dispatched the Jiefan Guard from the Mengjin Camp to encircle him.

Thoughtful, the Coachman said, "If you aren’t laying low under a concealed identity, what are you looking for me for?"

Wu Hongbiao responded, "Someone used your token to lure and attempt to kill me. Naturally, I must come and ask you directly, Lord Si Cao, why do you want me dead?"

"It wasn’t me. Someone is trying to purge us," replied the Coachman gravely.

"How can you prove that?"

The Coachman sneered, "If I had been the one to kill you, do you think you would have survived up to today? Stop talking nonsense! Since you’re alive, go immediately to the Taiping Medical Hall and inform Chen Ji. Tell him to meet me tomorrow evening in this alley with you. I’ll arrange for your departure from Luocheng City then!"

"Where to?"

"You’ll be escorted back to the Jing Dynasty by merchants. Now go, find his uncle; you’ll only be temporarily safe by his side," said the Coachman.

Wu Hongbiao turned and left. Meanwhile, on the roof’s grey tiles, two Li Hua cats stopped their play, leaped from the rooftop, and disappeared into the vastness of Luocheng City.

...

...

At noon, Wu Yun jumped from the rooftop into the yard, lifting his paw gently to pat Chen Ji, but he couldn’t awaken him.

Wu Yun waited patiently until Chen Ji gasped sharply, waking from the nightmare of ancient battlefields. He touched his neck, right where Feng Huai had nearly struck him...

Chen Ji looked at Wu Yun, "Are you hurt again?"

With his head held high, Wu Yun declared, "Triumphant! From today onwards, I’m the boss of Anxi Street!"

Chen Ji stood respectfully, "Impressive!"

After Wu Yun recounted today’s surveillance over Wu Hongbiao, Chen Ji concluded: Wu Hongbiao hadn’t lied, and that Coachman hadn’t intended to kill him either. The latter’s visit yesterday was indeed to protect him.

The one who wanted him dead was Manager Yuan.

Suddenly, Wu Yun asked, "Are you thinking of leaving the Ning Dynasty?"

Chen Ji fell silent.

To leave or not to leave? Having left, at the very least, he could stop living a double life as a spy. The Jing Dynasty still had an uncle who had been a high official. Even if he had been dismissed, a camel thin from starvation is larger than a horse.

Even without power, he might be able to buy some more ginseng, right?

Although he would miss some newly-made friends at the Medical Hall, they wouldn’t be coming back anyway.

The one he found most difficult to part with was Old Yao... If he left, what would become of him? He could only entrust Old Yao to She Dengke and Liu Quxing.

No matter how he considered it, Chen Ji knew he should leave. It wasn’t the choice he most desired but remained the most prudent.

Chen Ji looked at Wu Yun, "Would you be willing to come with me?"

After some thought, Wu Yun replied, "Although it’s a shame to leave Anxi Street so soon after taking it over, wherever you go, I’ll follow."

Chen Ji took a deep breath, "Alright, we’ll set off tomorrow afternoon and leave this troubled place."

He stood up and slowly moved to the middle of the courtyard, looking at the large water jar in the southeast corner, the apricot tree in the center, the main house with its closed doors, and the main hall of the Medical Hall bustling with activity...

Although Chen Ji had not been in this world for long, even after just over ten days, the thought of leaving filled his eyes with reluctance.

At that moment, Liu Quxing returned to wash his hands in the back yard, surprised to see Chen Ji awake: "Oh, you’re finally up."

Chen Ji smiled and pulled out a piece of broken silver, "Brother, could you help me buy some meat and vegetables? I’d like to cook a meal for everyone."