Green Mountain
Chapter 140 - 101, Gambling Life_3

Chapter 140: 101, Gambling Life_3

Long after, Liu Mingxian calmly said, "Alright, it’s set for tomorrow."

"Take care."

Chen Ji gently tugged at Lord Jin Zhu’s sleeve, and both slowly retreated into the morning mist.

...

...

After an unknown period, Lord Jin Zhu spoke in a narrow alley, "Alright, no one is following us."

Chen Ji took off his mask, not anticipating that Lord Jin Zhu would suddenly grasp his jaw and pin him against the wall, his smile unconvincing as he asked, "Dr. Chen, you’re not really a Jing Dynasty spy, are you? How are you so sure that the news about the coffin opening came from the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department to the Liu Family? Could it not have been an undercover agent placed by the Liu Family itself?"

"It was a gamble," Chen Ji calmly counter-queried, "Lord Jin Zhu, if I were a Jing Dynasty spy, why would I expose this to you and invite your suspicion?"

Lord Jin Zhu fell silent.

Chen Ji again asked, "If I were a Jing Dynasty spy, why would I help you search for evidence against the Liu Family?"

Lord Jin Zhu was even more silent.

Chen Ji slowly pried open Lord Jin Zhu’s loosening fingers, "Lord Jin Zhu, one should not use men whom he mistrusts, and should not mistrust those he uses. Since you’ve chosen me, you should trust my judgment. If you doubt me, please feel free to investigate."

Lord Jin Zhu inwardly sighed, finding Chen Ji’s words logical. If Chen Ji truly were an agent from Jing Dynasty, he wouldn’t have needed to expose himself that night.

After thinking for a moment, he suddenly smiled, smoothing Chen Ji’s clothes, "It’s all a misunderstanding. Don’t take it to heart. Having been in the Spy Department too long, I suspect everyone. Right, you deliberately never mentioned the plan tonight because you were worried that knowing it would discourage me from coming!"

"Yes."

Lord Jin Zhu grinned, "Looking down on me? Next time, remember to inform me of the plan in advance to avoid catching me off guard."

"Alright."

Lord Jin Zhu pondered for a long time before asking, "What’s your next plan?"

Chen Ji responded, "The next plan doesn’t need me. Liu Mingxian wants to make a delivery tomorrow, so he will surely choose to take a risk and break into the Craftsmanship Supervisor today. Lord Jin Zhu, you only need to properly arrange the surveillance at the Craftsmanship Supervisor, capture the thief, and bring him to justice. Once we have solid evidence to arrest Liu Mingxian, toppling the Liu Family is just a matter of time."

Lord Jin Zhu’s eyes lit up, "That makes sense. Liu Mingde from the Liu Family is wholly devoted to his spiritual pursuits, leaving the younger Liu Mingxian in charge of all affairs. Once we have him, we have the Liu Family."

Chen Ji bowed to Lord Jin Zhu, "My lord, may I go home now?"

"Of course, of course," Lord Jin Zhu said with a laugh, waving his hand, "Indeed, to succeed, one must work with successful people. This plan, though risky, is truly a masterstroke."

Chen Ji turned and left, Lord Jin Zhu watching him disappear into the thin mist, sensing the suppressed insanity behind his calm exterior.

From the previous night until this morning, Chen Ji calmly delivered the message to Liu Mingxian, calmly finished his beef noodles, and calmly played the role of a Jing Dynasty spy.

Lord Jin Zhu, claiming to have weathered great storms, still felt a lingering fear at this moment, while Chen Ji seemed as if nothing had happened.

In his heart, he silently cursed, Madman.

...

...

On the cobblestone path.

Chen Ji leisurely walked on the road back to the Medical Hall, his clothes soaked with sweat.

Gambing with his life was like walking a tightrope, requiring constant vigilance every moment.

But he wasn’t completely gambling.

The Spy Department didn’t know, but he knew that Si Cai Gui had already gone south to Yangzhou with Wu Hongbiao, Si Cao Xin had been killed by his own hands, and the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department had no one left to continue dealings with the Liu Family.

Also, the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department had always been liaised with by Zhou Chengyi and Liu Shenyu, and the big shots from both sides had never met face-to-face.

It was precisely because Chen Ji was indeed a Jing Dynasty spy and knew more insider information that he dared to bet.

Would Lord Jin Zhu suspect him?

Yes, definitely.

But Chen Ji didn’t care; toppling the Liu Family wasn’t the end. He would personally complete the last link.

In front of the Taiping Medical Hall, Chen Ji looked up at the signboard, suddenly feeling relieved.

Home at last.

It seemed that just returning here could bring his restlessly crazed heart back to calm. However, he hadn’t figured out yet how to explain his absence.

Or perhaps no explanation was needed?

Chen Ji stepped over the threshold, then his face showed confusion.

From the back yard came the Princely Heir’s voice, "Why hasn’t Chen Ji returned? To avoid treating us, is he not even coming home?"

Liu Quxing said, "Master, Chen Ji didn’t return all night. You must give him a good beating when he does come back!"

Chen Ji walked to the back yard, stunned to see the Princely Heir, Bai Li, Liu Quxing, She Dengke, and others, "Why are you all here?"

Bai Li, hands on her hips, spoke angrily, "Of course, to inquire why you missed your promise!"

Liu Quxing exclaimed, "Too stingy!"

Chen Ji fell silent for a moment, then said softly, "I’m sorry, I really had an emergency yesterday."

"Ha ha ha ha ha," the Princely Heir suddenly laughed loudly, "Look, this is the first time I’ve seen such an expression on Chen Ji."

Chen Ji looked at everyone, his expression puzzled.

The Princely Heir stepped forward and put an arm around his shoulder, "Of course, we know you had important matters. Everyone is here waiting because they were worried about you. Bai Li said that if you hadn’t come back by morning, she would have asked me to mobilize troops from the Thousand-year Army to search for you."

Bai Li curiously asked, "If you encounter any tricky situations, you must tell us. We can think of a solution together. Friends shouldn’t hide things from each other."

Chen Ji shook his head, "I’m fine."

Liang Mao’er laughed heartily, "That’s good, hurry and eat something. I’ll go heat up the food."

Saying this, he carried two four-tiered red lacquered food boxes into the kitchen to warm up the food.

Liu Quxing’s eyes gleamed, "Finally, I get to taste ’Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea’ from Yingxian Building. I wanted to try it last night, but Bai Li wouldn’t let me."

Chen Ji was confused, "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea?"

Under the apricot tree, Old Yao blandly said, "This bunch of little rascals wanted to eat the ’Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea’ from Yingxian Building but had no money themselves. So they tricked a young master from Jiangnan into treating them. After arriving at Yingxian Building, the Princely Heir ordered a whole table of dishes, didn’t touch his chopsticks, then said he had to leave for a family emergency, taking the whole table of dishes with him, along with two jars of high-grade Shaoxing wine. Then, they waited here for you all night."

Chen Ji: "Ah?"

Old Yao smacked his lips, "Confused? I bet that young master from Jiangnan is even more confused than you are. Not to mention him, even I, an old man, never thought that the Princely Heir of Prince Jing Mansion would also stoop to deceiving for food and drink. Truly, live long enough, and you see everything."

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Ji said with a smile, "Thank you."