Green Mountain
Chapter 225 - 176, Identity_2

Chapter 225: 176, Identity_2

Bai Long thought for a moment, "That’s true. Let’s go, back to the Liu Mansion."

Yun Yang gave a sound of agreement and sat in the driver’s seat, snapping the whip.

Atop the Dingchang Pawnshop, a Li Hua cat, nestled in its paws napping, opened its eyes. It stood up, flipped over the roof ridge, and disappeared.

...

...

Several streets away at Ma Ji Noodle Shop, the owner was stirring a large pot of bone broth with a long-handled wooden spoon. Suddenly, someone entered and said, "Owner, a bowl of noodles, with an extra portion of lamb."

Without turning his head, the owner casually asked, "Would you like thick or thin noodles?"

"Thick noodles."

The owner turned to see a slender and handsome young man had already taken a seat by the window. He responded, "Please wait a moment."

As he pulled noodles, he heard the young man ask, "Owner, why is there no one here at lunch?"

The owner forced a smile, "The city is troubled by military disasters, only travelling merchants who are stopping by are willing to come out to eat. These merchants are unlucky too, wanting to go home but unable to, with their goods piled at the docks, they still have to pay storage fees to the Cao Guild."

The young man asked carelessly, "Aren’t the ships moving from the docks?"

The owner dumped the stretched noodles into the boiling pot, "For some reason, the ships aren’t sailing."

Chen Ji gazed at the sparse passersby outside the window. He speculated that in the plans of the Spy Department, the Liu Family was inseparably linked to Prince Jing. After executing the Liu family, they would subsequently eliminate Prince Jing in one smooth maneuver.

But no one expected that during Prince Jing’s unconscious state, he reminded Consort Yun, "Prince has noticed that Han Tong of the Luotian Sect frequently visits the Commandery Princess." This led Consort Yun to flee from the Prince Mansion and hide immediately.

Due to an unfortunate mistake, the Spy Department lost a key witness.

Now, unable to locate Consort Yun, the Spy Department was unable to pin down a highly influential vassal prince with the evidence of "collusion with the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department."

Nevertheless, Consort Yun in Luocheng City was always a significant hidden danger.

The owner placed the wooden tray in front of Chen Ji, "Please enjoy, you are the first customer today, I’ve added an extra tael of noodles."

Chen Ji pulled out chopsticks from the wooden tube on the table and expressed his thanks.

He had just taken a few bites when a furry Wu Yun leaped onto the windowsill and meowed, "No one is following anymore. The docks are guarded by the Spy Department, allowing entry but not exit. Right now, a group of spies in plain clothes are searching all around; anyone who approaches the docks is caught and interrogated, the homes of strong men at the docks have been turned upside down."

Chen Ji smiled and passed a piece of lamb to it, "Thanks, it’s been tough these past days."

Wu Yun grabbed the lamb, swallowing it with a gulch, "It’s hot!"

Chen Ji picked another piece of lamb, blew on it, and then offered it again, "Where is she?"

After swallowing, Wu Yun meowed softly, "She’s here."

As the voice faded, they saw a woman with a pale yellow complexion passing by with a basket on her arm.

Chen Ji immediately put down his chopsticks, left thirty-two Copper Coins on the table, and followed.

The basket-hanging woman looked like a typical housewife; she first went to a grain and oil shop to buy two taels of cornmeal, then to a street corner where she purchased a few mixed grain cakes before turning into a small alley.

Amid white walls and gray tiles, Chen Ji softly called after her, "Lady Consort Yun."

The woman continued walking forward as if she hadn’t heard anything at all.

Chen Ji followed her leisurely and spoke again, "You must have gone to secretly observe the docks, right? The Eunuch Party has sealed the docks, watching all the members of the Cao Guild under Luotian Sect intensely. You want to leave Luocheng, but you can’t get away at all."

The woman turned back, puzzled, and looked at Chen Ji, "Young man, are you speaking to me? You must be mistaken."

Now, Consort Yun no longer bore the glamorous splendor; her gray cloth gown was patched, and her cloth shoes had a small tear at the tip.

Her appearance had also changed; her eyebrows were much finer, her nose much higher, and her lips much smaller. Even those familiar with her wouldn’t necessarily recognize her if they met face to face.

No wonder the Spy Department couldn’t find her.

Lady Consort Yun paid no attention to Chen Ji and walked away.

But behind her, Chen Ji suddenly said, "Lady, I have a way to send you to the Jing Dynasty."

Lady Consort Yun, with her basket in hand, suddenly turned around, her expression haughtily asking, "How exactly did you find me?"

In that instant, the way she carried her shoulders straightened, and she became again the dignified Princess—neither the coarse headscarf nor her clothes could hide the noble demeanor cultivated over many years.

Chen Ji calmly said, "Lady, you’re in a hurry to leave Luocheng City, and the Luotian Sect can’t help you, but I can."

Lady Consort Yun countered, "Haven’t the forces of the Military Intelligence Department in Luocheng City been uprooted by the Eunuch Party? By what means can you send me away?"

Chen Ji didn’t want to bring up his spy identity again, but he could only follow her line of inquiry, "The Military Intelligence Department has been able to infiltrate the Ning Dynasty for so many years because we have our own strengths. Otherwise, how could I have found you? You don’t need to ask too much, just know that I can help you leave."

Lady Consort Yun thought for a moment, then stared at Chen Ji and said, "Everyone acts out of self-interest. Why does the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department want to help me?"

Chen Ji explained, "Our Military Intelligence Department wants to cooperate with the Luotian Sect, so naturally, we need to ensure your safety."

Suddenly, Lady Consort Yun broke into a smile, "You’re lying."

Without any change in his expression, Chen Ji counter-questioned, "What do you mean, Lady?"

Lady Consort Yun, carrying her basket, walked towards Chen Ji until she was just two steps away and then slowly stopped, "Is this because of Bai Li?"

Chen Ji remained silent.

The two stood in the narrow alley facing each other, the atmosphere heavy.

After a while, Chen Ji spoke, "Lady, may I ask you a question?"

Lady Consort Yun was non-committal, "Ask."

Chen Ji asked, "Concerning your contact with our Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department, was it at the Prince’s instigation?"

Lady Consort Yun sneered, "If it wasn’t his idea, why would I contact you?"

Chen Ji took a deep breath, "So, does the Prince know about my Jing Dynasty spy identity?"

Lady Consort Yun laughed, "So, you’re worried about this matter. He certainly knows."

Chen Ji was suddenly puzzled.

When Bai Long had mentioned Consort Yun’s collusion with the Jing Dynasty, Chen Ji realized that this was part of a plan by the Spy Department and Prince Jing; Prince Jing must have known about his spy identity. There was no reason for Consort Yun to conceal it from him.

Yet if Prince Jing knew, why was he indifferent about his spy identity, even going as far as giving such weighty responsibilities?

Moreover, if he indeed did place such trust, surely Bai Long, Jin Zhu, and the others must not know of his identity, otherwise, such trust would be meaningless.

Why would Prince Jing conceal this from the Spy Department?

Chen Ji suddenly felt a headache brewing. He always felt as if he had fallen into a quagmire, yet couldn’t fathom how he had gotten there or how to extricate himself.

He looked up at Lady Consort Yun, "Lady, regardless of what you think, please come here again tomorrow evening, and I will send you out of Luocheng City."

Lady Consort Yun asked sternly, "Without a Spy Department waist tag, how will we leave the city?"

Chen Ji stated, "I have my ways."

Lady Consort Yun turned and walked away, "I hope you’re not just talking big."

Chen Ji watched as Lady Consort Yun disappeared at the end of the alley. Wu Yun jumped onto his shoulder from the rooftop, curiously meowed, "Are you really planning to risk sending her away?"

Chen Ji stood in the shadow under the high wall of the alley, not answering.