Green Mountain
Chapter 224 - 176, Identity

Chapter 224: 176, Identity

Luocheng Eastern Market seemed like spring all year round, where the city’s thriving vitality always began.

At a time when the people of Luocheng were still fearful, the merchants in the East Market had already quietly taken down their shop panels to discreetly commence business.

Chen Ji, dressed in grey clothing, walked up and down the street as if he were searching for something. He appeared relaxed, as if today were no different from any other day.

Eventually, he stopped in front of Dingchang Pawnshop, looked up at the signboard, and stepped over the threshold, "Shopkeeper, I have items to pawn."

The counter at the pawnshop, unlike ordinary shops, was sealed with varnished wood panels, leaving only a small window at the top.

Behind the window, an old Shopkeeper with white hair and beard looked down and squinted through the small window, "Young fellow, what would you like to pawn?"

Chen Ji pulled out a large pearl from his sleeve and handed it over, "East pearl."

The old Shopkeeper casually took it, brought it close to his eyes for a closer look, and noted, "Write it down, poor youngster, pawning a dull and unremarkable round pearl."

At that time, pawnshop jargon was abundant. For instance, a coat was referred to as ’windshield’; silver as ’soft goods dragon’; gold as ’hard goods’; pearls as ’round’; fox fur as ’thick fur’; and sheepskin as ’Little Fur.’

Whenever someone came to pawn items, the Shopkeeper always had to belittle them first, for example, if someone pawned fur, he would say, "Smooth and hairless, eaten by bugs and gnawed at, thick fur item."

Chen Ji asked with a smile, "How much silver can it fetch?"

The old Shopkeeper thought for a moment, "Twenty silver taels."

Chen Ji queried, "I heard that this item is worth four hundred taels."

Holding the pearl, the old Shopkeeper eyed Chen Ji skeptically, "Young fellow, this item might have come by dubious means, huh? What ordinary household possesses such large pearls? With your appearance... I’ll give only twenty taels, if you find it too low, you can ask elsewhere. But if I were to turn you in for investigation, it might cost you your life."

Chen Ji did not argue but took another object from his sleeve and handed it over, "Then, please assess this for me."

The old Shopkeeper absentmindedly took the Spy Department waist tag, and instinctively said, "Dull and lusterless... oh my heavens!"

There was a clatter inside the counter as the old Shopkeeper fell from his high chair. Ignoring the pain, he quickly opened a small side door next to the counter and hurried out, "What wind has blown you here, my lord? I was blind earlier, that east pearl is worth whatever you say!"

Chen Ji calmly stated, "I have no intention of making things difficult for you, just pawn this pearl for the market price."

The old Shopkeeper quickly replied, "Alright then, I’ll get your silver right away. Do you want a redeemable pawn or a non-redeemable pawn?"

"Non-redeemable," Chen Ji said. "No rush on the silver conversion, does Dingchang Pawnshop have any old ginseng pawned by others? Do not bring out the ones with low years."

"Yes, yes, of course!" the old Shopkeeper replied, "Assistant, bring out all the ginseng from our storeroom for the gentleman to choose."

Chen Ji waited silently. This east pearl was left behind by Princess Consort Jing when Chunhua had trapped him. He hadn’t pawned it for so long due to worries about being blackmailed or deceived in these difficult times without an official status.

Now that Princess Consort Jing was dead, the east pearl no longer carried the risk of any consequences.

The old Shopkeeper brought out eight exquisite wooden boxes, "Please have a look, these are all the ginsengs collected in our pawnshop. If you wish, we can sell them to you for twenty taels each... no, for thirty taels each."

Chen Ji suddenly asked, "How much did you pay for these? Bring over the account books so I can see."

The old Shopkeeper’s face soured, "Fifteen taels each!"

Chen Ji pondered for a moment, "Alright, throw out the wooden boxes and wrap the ginseng in cloth."

Thirty minutes later, he left the pawnshop carrying the ginseng and the silver. No sooner had he stepped out than Yun Yang turned from a small alley next to the pawnshop and went inside.

Moments later, Yun Yang left the pawnshop and went to a carriage across the street, speaking softly, "Lord Bai Long, the lad just revealed his identity from the Spy Department and pawned the east pearl that Princess Consort Jing had lost for four hundred and sixty silver taels, then bought eight pieces of ginseng from the pawnshop at fifteen taels each."

A lazy voice came from the carriage, "Nothing else?"

"That’s all."

Bai Long spoke through the carriage curtain, "This kid is quite cautious, holding onto the east pearl for so long before pawning it. He just obtained the Cultivation Path and wishing to swap it for resources is understandable... Yun Yang, do you think this kid knows where Consort Yun is?"

Yun Yang thought for a moment, "Lord Bai Long, aren’t you perhaps overestimating this lad? He’s just a small apprentice in a Medical Hall, how would he know the whereabouts of Consort Yun?"

Bai Long spoke lightly, "Yun Yang, it’s not easy for you and Jiao Tu to become zodiacs, you should cherish it properly. Although you were born as assassins, you can’t remain assassins forever."

Yun Yang hesitated, "What do you mean, my lord?"

Bai Long chuckled, "I know you and Jiao Tu are worried this lad might seek revenge, but now that he has caught the eye of Lord Prime Minister, unless you are completely sure, it’s better not to provoke him."

Yun Yang understood, "You want me to look for a sure-kill opportunity."

After a brief silence in the carriage, Lord Bai Long cursed with a chuckle, "Yun Yang, you sure are clever. With this spare time, it’d be better to hurry and find Consort Yun for me; many things can’t be done without her. There’s only half a month left until the deadline given by Lord Prime Minister, and if we let her escape, you and I will both be punished."

"That woman is also very shrewd, almost as if she sensed something and vanished without a trace." Yun Yang whispered in complaint, "My lord, Jiao Tu and I aren’t good at finding people; wouldn’t it be better to let Jin Zhu and Meng Ji handle it?"