Green Mountain
Chapter 227 - 177, Separated by a Single Door_2

Chapter 227: 177, Separated by a Single Door_2

Jiao Tu unexpectedly asked, "My carriage must be searched too? My Spy Department can enter and leave the Forbidden City with just a waist tag, so how is the South City Gate of Luocheng City even more important than the Forbidden City?"

The junior general hastily explained, "This isn’t a rule set by me, and I can’t decide on it. Our General has ordered that all carriages entering and leaving must be thoroughly inspected without fail. Those who disobey the order will have their families punished and executed, implicating three generations."

Jiao Tu raised his eyebrows, "What if I refuse to let you inspect?"

The junior general was initially taken aback, then slowly backed away.

He took a long spear from the hands of the soldiers and said with a firm voice, "Sir, please don’t make it difficult for me, I’m just following orders."

After speaking, dozens of soldiers slowly surrounded the area, and the coachman was so frightened that his calves trembled.

Jiao Tu smiled, "General, there’s no need to get worked up; I’ll let you search."

He stepped aside, allowing the soldiers to lift the carriage curtain, but inside it was completely empty, and one could see the end at a glance. The junior general then knelt down to check the underside of the carriage, and only after confirming there were no abnormalities did he breathe a sigh of relief.

The junior general bowed to Jiao Tu, "Sir, please excuse the offense."

Jiao Tu’s face was somber as he continued the act, "It’s the first time someone has searched a carriage from my Spy Department. General, we will meet again in the future."

The junior general said nothing and turned to wave his hand at the soldiers, "Let him pass!"

As Jiao Tu saw the soldiers move the wooden barriers to the side of the road, he lifted the carriage curtain and sat back inside, letting out a long sigh of relief.

He had hired this carriage just to test whether he could come and go freely with his waist tag. Now, entering and leaving the city was no trouble, but thinking he could send Consort Yun away with just a waist tag was undoubtedly the talk of a fool.

If that was the case, it might be better to hide Consort Yun in the city first and wait for a better opportunity.

Jiao Tu slowly sank into deep thought until the carriage stopped again and the coachman called from outside, "Sir, we’ve arrived."

"Wait for me at the gate; I’ll need you to take me back to the city afterward," he said, carrying snacks and a jug of wine from the carriage, and knocked on the Liu Family’s red-lacquered gate with the beast-head ring.

The red-lacquered gate slowly opened from the inside, and Jin Zhu’s eyes lit up, "Why have you come?"

As Jiao Tu walked in, he asked in confusion, "Lord Jin Zhu, why are you the one guarding the gate?"

Jin Zhu’s round and plump face was full of frustration, "Damn it, that son of a gun, Bai Long, is fixing to make life hard for me. I was sound asleep, and he insisted that Liu Mansion is of utmost importance and must be guarded by an expert, so he dragged me here."

Jiao Tu curiously asked, "Can’t you ask Heavenly Horse to speak on your behalf?"

Jin Zhu replied irritably, "Heavenly Horse has already left Luocheng City, the Prime Minister has other matters for him to handle. Now in Luocheng, Bai Long is the top official in our Spy Department. Forget it, once things here are settled, I’ll stay away from him! If I can’t provoke him, can’t I still avoid him?"

After saying this, he muttered quietly, "Strange, why is this guy always targeting me? Could it be that he overheard me talking behind his back?"

Jiao Tu’s expression was odd, "Lord, you better say less."

At this moment, Jin Zhu looked down at the snacks and jug of wine in his hands and asked curiously, "Is that for me?"

Jiao Tu smiled and handed him the jug of wine, "This is for you. The snacks are not."

Jin Zhu smacked his lips, "Alright, I knew you didn’t come specifically to see me."

He called over West Wind, "You keep watch at the gate; I’ll take Jiao Tu inside."

Jin Zhu led Chen Ji through a long alley paved with blue bricks. The white silk banners underneath the eaves had been torn down, and all the corpses on the ground had been disposed of, leaving only the blood mud dried in the cracks between the bricks, turning a deep purple-black.

At the entrance to a small courtyard, Jin Zhu waved his hand to the spies at the gate. "You guys go rest over there."

The spies guarding the gate bowed and retreated. Chen Ji was about to push the gate open when Jin Zhu grabbed his wrist and said with gravity, "I know you have close ties with Prince Jing Mansion, and also with the Princely Heir, the Commandery Princess... but the situation has now changed."

Chen Ji replied calmly, "How has it changed?"

Jin Zhu lowered his voice. "Do you know what Bai Long is doing now? He’s looking for evidence to nail down Prince Jing’s conspiracy! This must mean the Lord Prime Minister has already given his tacit approval, wanting to kill three birds with one stone."

"Three birds?" Chen Ji was puzzled. "Besides the Liu Family and Prince Jing, who else?"

Jin Zhu said, "Bai Long is going to capture Consort Yun and pin the crime of colluding with the enemy on Prince Jing Mansion. Consort Yun’s background is not simple; behind her, the Luotian Sect has been secretly controlling the transportation along Liangjiang River for many years, and has long been a thorn in the side of both Your Majesty and the Prime Minister. By capturing Consort Yun, Bai Long is not only looking to seal Prince Jing’s fate but also to use her as a pretext to eliminate the Luotian Sect."

Chen Ji fell silent.

This Prime Minister was indeed greedy enough to swallow so much at once.

Jin Zhu warned in a serious tone, "Whatever the Prime Minister wants to do, there’s nothing he can’t accomplish. Today, Prince Jing is still Prince Jing, the Commandery Princess is still the Commandery Princess, but who can guarantee they won’t become prisoners tomorrow? You must not have any further dealings with them, lest you waste your own future for nothing. I’ve made myself clear. Now think carefully—are you still going to see them?"

Chen Ji replied softly, "Thank you for your kind warning, Lord Jin Zhu, but since I’ve already bought the pastries, I should at least deliver them. Otherwise, it would be a waste."

Jin Zhu inspected Chen Ji’s expression carefully before finally sighing, "Youths are reckless! Today I’ll turn a blind eye and let you go in to have another talk with the Commandery Princess and the Princely Heir, but don’t come back to Liu Mansion after this; focus on cultivating at the Medical Hall. With your pace of cultivation, you will eventually become one of the zodiac."

Having said that, he pushed open the courtyard gate and stepped aside.

Chen Ji turned his head and saw Bai Li standing at the gate, staring intently at him.

When he attempted to walk in, Bai Li blocked his way, not budging an inch, and said coldly, "Go back."

Chen Ji smiled, brushed her arm aside, and tried to step inside. "Commandery Princess, I need to ask the Prince something. This is pastry from Zhengxin House, you and the Princely Heir..."

However, Bai Li snatched the pastries from his hand and threw them outside. The twine around the pastry bundle broke, and the pastries scattered all over the ground.

Bai Li said icily, "Chen Ji, you’re just a greedy apprentice. If it weren’t for your pitiable state, I wouldn’t have kindly paid your fare, let alone gotten to know you. What’s your status? What’s mine? Do I look like I need you to deliver pastries to me? Get out!"

As she spoke, Bai Li slammed the courtyard door shut and locked the bolt.

Inside, Bai Li leaned against the door, pursed her lips, and dropped her eyes. Outside, Chen Ji looked at the pastries on the ground, silent for a long time.

Separated by a door, as though by a thousand miles.

Just then, West Wind came running breathlessly with a piece of paper in hand. "Sir, Bai Long has sent a messenger with a command. He says they’ve captured Consort Yun’s personal nanny Xitang in Luocheng Eastern Market, uncovering the general whereabouts of Consort Yun. He’s ordering us to assemble our troops and search the city!"

Jin Zhu took the paper and strode outside. "Quick, quick, quick, let’s not let Yun Yang and Jiao Tu claim all the credit!"

Chen Ji followed him out, but as they reached the corner, he suddenly stopped. Looking back towards the end of the alley at the door that was now closed.

Jin Zhu looked back and urged, "What are you doing? Hurry up!"

"Coming."