Green Mountain-Chapter 661 - 518: Fishing for Clues

Early in the morning, Chen Ji exited the side door of the Chen Mansion, the air still heavy with the smell of ash from last night's fire, the wind sweeping up the ash to cast a white veil over the inner city.

Chen Ji did not go to Shijia Alley to investigate, but instead left Xuanwu Gate indifferently and headed toward Meihua Ferry Crossing.

Arriving at the base of Meirui Building, he instinctively looked up at the balcony, but did not see Zhang Xia's figure.

Chen Ji climbed the stairs step by step, reaching the top floor, where Zhang Xia was sitting behind a desk, simultaneously reciting the Cloud Covering Scripture while flipping through all the articles received by the Capital Morning News.

Minding two tasks at once.

The top floor was still occupied by Zhang Xia alone, she heard the sound of Chen Ji coming up the stairs, pointed silently at another desk without looking up.

Chen Ji turned his head to look, on the table unexpectedly lay a package wrapped in palm leaves, he touched it with his finger, it was still warm, inside were eight mutton buns wrapped.

He was silent for a moment, picked up a bun, eating while waiting. Only after Zhang Xia finished reciting this scripture did he ask, "What happened last night?"

Zhang Xia put down the articles in her hand, looked up at him: "Last night someone set fire in Shijia Alley, the fire spread over several alleys, burning seventeen houses."

Chen Ji swallowed the bun: "From whose house did the fire start?"

Zhang Xia answered: "The fire started from an old residence, the Zhang Family's death soldier inquired, it was where the Ministry of Personnel's doctor kept his concubines. But he wasn't in Shijia Alley last night, he was at a night banquet at the Yang Family, so he was unharmed."

Chen Ji pondered: "How many people died last night?"

Zhang Xia recalled: "Seven people died. Among them, six were actors and maids from the Imperial Music Bureau, and the other was the shopkeeper of a grain store under the Qi Family, who spent the night at the concubine's residence, dead drunk. When the fire broke out, the servant and actors fled but later remembered he was still inside, only to be burned to death. Could it be the Military Intelligence Department wanted to kill the shopkeeper? But no, had the servant been more loyal, he wouldn't have died."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Zhang Xia questioned: "By no means does the Military Intelligence Department's arson seem like it's intended for killing, or maybe Shijia Alley harbors other secrets."

Chen Ji shook his head: "No, Si Caoding is still testing."

Zhang Xia contemplated: "Quite a grand test indeed."

Chen Ji looked outside Meirui Building: "Si Caoding is meticulous and cautious, he suspects someone knows he's relaying messages yet remains inactive, thus uses harsh measures to tell those observing from the shadows, waiting has its costs."

Just at this moment, Er Dao came up holding a stack of papers to give to Chen Ji: "These were collected today."

Chen Ji flipped through them one by one, his gaze ultimately fixed on a piece of Xuan paper. Someone bought another advertisement this morning, written in code: "Tonight at midnight, kill Wang Xun."

Before he could ask, Zhang Xia had already begun answering: "Among the officials in the Imperial Capital, only one is called Wang Xun. He was a scholar in the 15th year of Jianing, initially grinding for six years in Hanlin Academy, then dispatched as County Magistrate of Fengtai, later became Prefect of Shuo State. While in Shuo State, a small troop of Jing Dynasty cavalry bypassed Chongli Pass and penetrated deep into Shuo State. Upon hearing the news, Shuo State's Magistrate fled overnight. He gathered a civilian militia overnight to defend the city, thereby preventing Jing Dynasty cavalry from entering and plundering."

"Once the Jing Dynasty cavalry retreated, the Magistrate quietly returned to Shuo State, Wang Xun then had the Magistrate bound and sent to the Imperial Capital. However, the Magistrate was from the direct line of the Yang Family, causing the Yang Family to harbor a grudge, eventually finding a pretext to demote Wang Xun to Datong. Wang Xun stayed at Datong for eight years, was later valued by Hu Junye, moved back to the Ministry of War, becoming Minister of the Ministry of War. Now, with Mr. Wang's promotion to Chief of Staff, he might fill the Assistant Minister vacancy."

Hu Junye?

Chen Ji recalled that Hu Junye was the legitimate eldest son of the Hu family, who last came to the Chen family hoping Official Chen would transfer him to Taiyuan. He was the elder brother of Gu Yuan General Hu Junxian.

And this Wang Xun was a pillar of Ning Dynasty society, Si Caoding was probing bit by bit, wanting to see if anyone would become restless. Burning Shijia Alley yesterday, killing the Minister of the Ministry of War today, if the Spy Department were truly waiting in the shadows, sooner or later patience would break.

But Chen Ji was indifferent to the lives of others, he only wanted to catch Si Caoding.

Zhang Xia looked at Chen Ji: "Still remaining inactive?"

Chen Ji was silent for a moment: "Inactive."

Zhang Xia pondered: "But if they truly act tonight, maybe we can follow the trail to catch Si Caoding."

Chen Ji replied confidently: "Wait a bit longer."

Zhang Xia hesitated: "Chen Ji, this person is someone my father values, yesterday he even came to the Xu Family, my father personally promised him a promotion to Assistant Minister in the Ministry of War within ten days."

Chen Ji was slightly startled: "Isn't he a Hu family member?"

Zhang Xia spoke softly: "My father does not care whose person he is, as long as he can serve the court wholeheartedly, my dynasty needs such talent in the Ministry of War, rather than being held by those who occupy positions without action. Chen Ji, he cannot die, upon a day being dispatched outside the capital, he might be a crucial official of a border town."

Chen Ji furrowed his brow.

If this person were not too important, Zhang Xia would never have mentioned him. Yet this was also Si Caoding's testing intent, he must probe until someone loses composure before stopping.

However, at this moment, Chen Ji again resolutely said: "Wait a bit longer."

Zhang Xia sighed lightly: "Alright."

Chen Ji shook the paper in his hand, suddenly spoke: "It's not that I don't care about Wang Xun's life, but rather I'm contemplating a question, Si Caoding and Military Intelligence spies have solitary connections, and are extremely cautious, he can freely convey true or false information, but how do the Military Intelligence spies determine whether this information is true or false?"

Indeed, the spy cannot verify with Si Caoding, and Si Caoding cannot possibly inform all the spies of the truthfulness of the information every day. If contact was made daily, it would certainly increase the risk of exposure.

So there must be some kind of pattern, allowing spies to immediately discern whether the news is true or false.

But what is the pattern?

On the first day, it's an ad, the second day it's political discourse, the third day it's an ad again...

Chen Ji tapped the Capital Morning News on the table: "I bet that anything posted on the seventh page in the political section is true information, while anything posted in the advertisement section is false. Axia, let's wait a bit longer. Right now, it's all about patience. If Si Caoding isn't eliminated, more high-ranking officials of the Ning Dynasty will fall into crisis. Only by removing this person can we solve the problem once and for all."

Zhang Xia hesitated and then agreed: "Alright."

...

...

That night, Chen Ji stayed awake all night, listening to the sounds outside. If the Military Intelligence Department really assassinated Wang Xun, there would definitely be the noises of the Five Cities Military Department sealing off the streets, along with the curfew drum sounds on the city walls.

Chen Ji was inevitably worried.

Although he discovered the pattern of Si Caoding's message delivery, nothing in this world is absolutely certain. He worried that if Wang Xun were truly killed, Zhang Zhuo's plot would be ruined.

Luckily, he waited all night, and nothing happened.

In the morning, Chen Ji went out again to find Zhang Xia to confirm whether Wang Xun was safe and sound.

But before he walked out of the inner city, he saw a familiar figure approaching, Jiao Tu.

Today, Jiao Tu was dressed in a black thin shirt matched with a black skirt embroidered with gold, her lips painted a deep red as if she had drunk blood.

She passed by Chen Ji, a fragrant breeze trailing behind her, and smiled as she said: "Mr. Chen, follow me. Lord Prime Minister has a message for you."

Chen Ji walked quietly for a dozen steps before slipping into a small alley and following Jiao Tu.

When they reached a secluded spot, Jiao Tu turned to Chen Ji, smiling and spreading her arms, she spun around in a circle: "Mr. Chen, do I look nice today?"

Chen Ji replied casually: "Lady Jiao Tu, Yun Yang is not here, let's talk business."

Jiao Tu chuckled: "Why bring up that dreary thing? Mr. Chen, you helped me return to my zodiac position, and I haven't properly repaid you. How about I invite you for a drink tonight? Just the two of us, find a quiet place."

Chen Ji looked at Jiao Tu calmly without saying a word.

After a long stalemate, Jiao Tu covered her mouth and laughed softly: "Alright, alright. Mr. Chen is a gentleman. Let's talk business, Lord Prime Minister sent me to ask you why there's no news on Si Caoding lately? The Military Intelligence Department has been causing many incidents, the Prime Minister has lost patience, and if you don't catch Si Caoding within seven days, he can't give you the person you want."

Checking the date, it's already early August, and the agreement with the Prime Minister had passed two months ago. If Si Caoding isn't caught within another month, previous promises will be null and void.

Chen Ji turned and left: "Please tell the Prime Minister, within seven days, I'll definitely find Si Caoding."

He marched to Meihua Ferry Crossing, where Zhang Xia was resting her eyes while murmuring the Cloud Covering Scripture.

Upon hearing footsteps, she stopped the scripture and opened her eyes to ask curiously: "Why are you late today? The buns I brought for you have gone cold."

Chen Ji picked up the palm-leaf-wrapped package on the table: "It's fine, they're still warm. How is Wang Xun?"

Zhang Xia stood: "As you predicted, the Military Intelligence Department feigned an attack and did not actually harm Wang Xun."

Chen Ji sighed in relief: "That's good."

Zhang Xia pointed at the table: "Today, there's been no political discourse or advertisement, Si Caoding seems to have quieted down, likely thinking there's no need to continue probing... but for when he'll appear next, it's unknown."

Chen Ji took a deep breath: "Then let's give him a reason to appear."

"Tomorrow, publish an advertisement," he said as he approached the desk, pen in hand, writing thoughtfully: "Wenchang Bookstore respectfully announces, this shop is reprinting the Analects with chapter notes, based on the rare edition from Four Sons Hall, including the treasured prints from Old Master Cun Library, and graciously gifted with three commented volumes by the former owner of Wei Xuan. Included are secret proofreading methods from Shu En Pavilion. Heed the teachings of sages, affirm with one's own heart, purchase quickly. Additionally, we're acquiring the rare edition of Four Books with Chapter Notes from Si Bing, generous rewards for anyone willing to part with it."

Zhang Xia examined the text written by Chen Ji: "Four Sons Hall, Old Master Cun Library, Wei Xuan, Shu En Pavilion? Never heard of these names, nor these books."

Chen Ji did not respond.

The names aren't important; what's crucial is Si Caoding certainly understanding the message hidden using the Reverse Cut Technique: Si Caogui's demise.

Reviewing the whole text, Chen Ji, under the guise of Si Caobing, sends out the advertisement, with the meeting code being to bring a volume of Four Books with Chapter Notes to Wenchang Bookstore.

Chen Ji is gambling, betting that Si Caoding is also unaware of the identities within the Division Head's lineage.