Green Mountain
Chapter 372 - 306. Xuan Snake and Treasure Monkey 2

Chapter 372: 306. Xuan Snake and Treasure Monkey 2

From the Imperial Palace Gate to East Rongmi Lane, he and Li Xuan remained close to the sedan chair the entire time. They were certain that no one had approached it.

Chen Ji parted the clothes on the corpse, checking for any signs of a blow dart or similar marks.

There were none.

Chen Ji also felt through the clothes, but found nothing.

Li Xuan frowned and asked, "Can the murderer be found? The Spy Department is likely on its way."

Chen Ji did not answer, instead turning his gaze toward the Korean Crown Prince in the Huitong Hall: "Your Highness, when you entered the palace to face the Emperor, you mentioned that Jing Dynasty assassins had tried to kill you several times?"

The Korean Crown Prince stood inside the door and nodded: "Three times."

Chen Ji asked again, "Where are they? I need to interrogate them."

The Korean Crown Prince replied: "They took poison and committed suicide as soon as they were captured. Their deaths were identical to that of my body double."

Chen Ji contemplated for a moment and then called out loudly, "Where is the secretary of the Huitong Hall?"

A middle-aged subordinate rushed out from the Huitong Hall, "My lord, here I am."

Chen Ji said, "Bring the registry, I need to check all the items carried by the Korea Envoy Party. Every item should be recorded."

According to Ning’s laws, when envoys come to the capital, even a needle and thread must be registered and recorded without omission.

The secretary hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes."

He scurried back, and when he returned, he held a thin blue ledger: "All items have been duly recorded, with nothing illicit."

Chen Ji opened the ledger: "What was the name of the deceased?"

The secretary answered, "Jin Minhao."

Chen Ji flipped through the pages, his gaze settling on one page.

...

...

At that moment, someone outside East Rongmi Lane addressed the Yulin Army, with an indisputable certainty in their voice: "This is a Spy Department investigation, stand down."

The person’s words were overbearing, but their voice was as faint as a silken thread, as if it might break at any moment.

Chen Ji calmly tucked the ledger into his bosom and turned his head to see a pale-skinned, sinister-looking middle-aged man.

The man’s lips were ashen, as if he were severely poisoned and not long for this world.

Li Xuan whispered, "Not good, it’s Xuan Snake."

Chen Ji scrutinized him carefully and saw that Xuan Snake wore a black large cloak with a square flat-top hat, exuding an effeminate demeanor, neither quite a scholar nor a eunuch.

Behind Xuan Snake, there were dozens of spies in black, with their hands on their waist knives, glaring fiercely.

The Yulin Army blocked the way, but Xuan Snake, with an impassive face, tightened his cloak collar and walked leisurely into the alley as if no one else were there, forcing the Yulin Army to retreat repeatedly.

In the end, only Zhou Chong and Zhou Li, who had returned from Guyuan, angrily drew their swords, intending to strike.

"Stop!" Li Xuan heaved a sigh: "Let Lord Xuan She pass."

Xuan Snake glanced at Zhou Chong and Zhou Li: "Lord Li spared your lives, but since you drew your swords against me, you can’t escape punishment, though the death penalty is exempt."

As he spoke, he reached out with his hands from the seams of his cloak, gently touching both of them. Instantly, Zhou Chong and Zhou Li’s eyes clouded, their mouths seemingly glued shut.

Li Xuan exploded in anger: "What are you doing!"

Xuan Snake passed between them and said casually: "I am Xuan Snake of the Spy Department’s Twelve Signs, Imperial Escort, close attendant to the Emperor, executing traitors and wicked, not just anyone can draw a sword against me. This magic will dissolve after three days; to save them, pour water through their noses."

At this moment, mocking laughter came from the rooftop: "Lord Xuan She, such grandeur, but you’re not even one of the Top Three yet, and you’re starting to call yourself ’I’? Even Lord Heavenly Horse hasn’t called himself that yet!"

Xuan Snake replied icily: "Nonsense, Lord Heavenly Horse doesn’t even speak."

"Hahaha, your ominous petty official methods may scare these Yulin Army noble sons, but best not to wield them publicly and embarrass yourself going forward."

Chen Ji looked up and saw a thin, short man wearing a wooden monkey mask, his figure hunched. Qi Zhenzhuo, who had been on the roof ridge, was now limply held in the man’s hand.

Treasure Monkey?

Before Chen Ji could think further, a familiar voice came from the rooftop opposite Treasure Monkey: "Well, why are all the Spy Department big shots here?"

Chen Ji didn’t need to look to know it was Jiao Tu and Yun Yang.

A bustling scene.

Li Xuan whispered, "Why are so many from the Eunuch Party here?"

Chen Ji replied softly, "Binghu is gone."

Li Xuan, puzzled, asked, "Huh?"

Chen Ji explained: "Binghu has been imprisoned, sentenced to execution by the Emperor. Now the positions of the Top Three Zodiacs are vacant, naturally causing restlessness among the other zodiacs in the Spy Department. They will stop at nothing for meritorious deeds."

Amidst everyone’s attention, Xuan Snake strolled to the front of Huitong Hall, glanced silently at the corpse, and casually said: "Ma Qianzi."

Chen Ji’s heart pounded, quietly observing this unfamiliar zodiac of the Spy Department.

Jiao Tu, dressed in black, squatted on the eaves curiously: "Xuan Snake, how are you sure it’s Ma Qianzi and not something else?"

Treasure Monkey replied sarcastically: "Girl, once you’ve poisoned hundreds or thousands, you’ll naturally tell what poison it is at a glance. You and that boy beside you have lots of youthful time, don’t get close to Lord Xuan She; those who harm their virtue all die young."

Xuan Snake sneered: "Do people from Wunian Mountain even have virtue?"

He no longer paid attention to Treasure Monkey, turning instead to Li Xuan: "Commander Li, who approached the sedan chair during the escort?"

Li Xuan shook his head: "No one."

Xuan Snake said leisurely: "Is it no one, or does Lord Li intend to cover for the criminal?"

Li Xuan sheathed his sword: "Lord Xuan She doesn’t need to trick me, I, Li Xuan, conduct myself righteously, never indulging in lawless deeds."

Xuan Snake smiled slightly: "I wonder if Commander Li has heard of the red embroidered shoes and Pipa Hall in the Imperial Prison of the Spy Department?"

The so-called red embroidered shoes are the red-hot branding irons in the imperial prison. And the Pipa Hall is the place dedicated to interrogating prisoners.