Green Mountain
Chapter 228 - 178, Murder

Chapter 228: 178, Murder

(Sorry this Chapter took longer to revise, causing a delay.)

The carriage rushed toward East Market.

Chen Ji lifted the carriage curtain and silently observed the deserted street. As the curtain swayed, the light and shadow in his eyes flickered endlessly.

Jin Zhu sat across from him holding a copper hand warmer, speaking gently, "The Commandery Princess is not someone adept at lying. Those with pure hearts, who have not pondered human nature, cannot deceive others with their lies; they can only deceive themselves."

Without turning his head, Chen Ji asked, "What is Lord Jin Zhu trying to say?"

Jin Zhu paused for a moment, "The Commandery Princess is well aware of her situation. She said those things because she didn’t want to implicate you. You are smart, I can tell, and you must also see that. Having grown used to trickery in Wunian Mountain and the Spy Department, one can’t help but feel regretful upon seeing such a scene. However, I must remind you, the great tide cannot be defied."

Chen Ji inquired, "Lord Jin Zhu, what is the ’great tide’?"

Jin Zhu replied, "His Majesty wants Prince Jing to die, the Prime Minister also wants Prince Jing to die. When the most powerful figures in the Ning Dynasty want him dead, he will certainly die. That is the ’great tide’."

"Mmm."

Chen Ji suddenly remembered his master once talked about divination, that Prince Jing Mansion could not escape its fate, that it was the will of heaven.

Jin Zhu earnestly advised, "Listen to me, turn around and forget them, as if you have never met them."

He continued, "When I was first sent to Wunian Mountain, I had very good friends, and a girl I liked. Back then, I thought I’d never forget them in my lifetime, but looking back now, I can’t even remember what they looked like."

Chen Ji smiled, "Rest assured, my lord, I understand."

Jin Zhu scrutinized him with doubt, ultimately he could only sigh, "It’s good if you can understand."

Chen Ji looked out the window and changed the subject, "My lord, what plans do you have after capturing Consort Yun?"

Jin Zhu thought for a moment, "Next is Bai Long’s business, which has nothing to do with us. Bai Long should pin down the evidence against Prince Jing Mansion and the Luotian Sect as quickly as possible, and then..."

He glanced at Chen Ji’s expression, "then raid and question them."

Chen Ji fell silent.

Jin Zhu sitting opposite him lamented, "It’s also strange how Consort Yun was so vigilant, to have fled before the Liu Family took action. Surely someone must have tipped her off."

Chen Ji let down the carriage curtain without a change in expression, "My lord, we’ve arrived."

Saying this, he lifted the curtain and bent down to alight from the carriage.

The two alleys near Anle Street were sealed off by the Jiefan Guard, forbidding entry and exit. Spies were searching every alley, door to door; all residents were led out of their houses, forming a line in the alleyways, waiting to be questioned.

Inside each household, any place you could hide a person was turned upside down, even the floors were carefully tapped with the handle of a knife to detect any hollow spaces.

Chen Ji looked up to see Yun Yang, dressed in black, standing at the rooftop ridge of a tavern, his arms crossed, eyes sweeping over the street like a hawk.

Jiao Tu lay on the rooftop ridge next to Yun Yang, with his legs crossed, having plucked a conical hat from a Jiefan Guard to cover his face, his toes swinging leisurely.

Jin Zhu pursed his lips, "Putting on an act!"

He waved his hand toward West Wind and the others behind the carriage, "Go in and search, finding her would be a great achievement."

At this moment, Chen Ji’s mood gradually sank to the depths.

He had originally thought that Bai Long claiming to have found a lead on Consort Yun was just a ruse, either to lure out the master of the Luotian Sect, Han Tong, or to flush out a mole within the Spy Department.

But only he knew best that this place was indeed Consort Yun’s hiding spot. Given the thoroughness of the Spy Department’s search, it was only a matter of time until Consort Yun was found.

However, what puzzled Chen Ji was the sudden betrayal by Nanny Xitang; it was neither a day earlier nor later, but precisely today.

He took a deep breath and proceeded down the alley, "West Wind, you lead some men to search the left side, I’ll take others to search the right."

West Wind instinctively turned to look at Jin Zhu, as both were Pigeon-level Spies, and it wasn’t Chen Ji’s place to command him.

However, seeing West Wind’s glance, Jin Zhu subtly nodded imperceptibly, signaling him to follow orders.

Chen Ji led more than twenty spies through the alley, searching each house. His eyes occasionally cast toward a certain household deep in the alley, his brows tightly knit.

And Wu Yun?

Wu Yun should be responsible for guarding Consort Yun at this time, so why was there no trace of Wu Yun?

Wait, if Wu Yun was not here, it meant Consort Yun wasn’t here either.

Chen Ji glanced at the other spies and headed straight for the household deep in the alley; with just a light push on the door, it creaked open.

The door bolt was not lowered.

He entered and saw, right on the square table inside the house, the vegetable basket mentioned by Consort Yun the previous day, and in that basket, tilted, was a piece of paper.

Chen Ji strode forward to unfold the paper, his pupils suddenly constricting. The page clearly detailed the time and place Prince Jing had arranged for Consort Yun to collude with the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department, declaring Prince Jing as the sole instigator, while Consort Yun was merely following orders!

What was happening?

Was this letter intentionally left by Consort Yun, and if so, could Nanny Xitang’s sudden betrayal and the report to the Spy Department also be instigated by Consort Yun?

But why would Consort Yun do this? If this letter fell into the Spy Department’s hands, Prince Jing would lose everything, with no room to turn around.

Chen Ji stood in the room, like a statue, as the dust in the air slowly settled on his shoulders.

A moment of compassion, nearly cast into a grave error.

At this very moment, Yun Yang on the high rooftop suddenly said, "Hey, that kid Chen Ji suddenly went alone into a house for a long time, could there be a problem?"