Qingshan

Chapter 81 : Chapter 81

Chapter 81: Child's Play

"Lord Jinzhu, what does the Jing Dynasty agent we're looking for look like?"

"Black all over. Nobody got a clear look at his face."

"His height?"

"Hard to say."

Then this would be easy...

Chen Ji had considered the possibility that some oversight might give him away. He'd also imagined Gui and Wu Hongbiao failing to escape and confessing his identity under interrogation in the Inner Prison.

After returning to the clinic last night, he'd remained in a state of high alert -- silver tucked in his clothes, ready at any moment to flee with Dark Cloud.

What he hadn't imagined was the Secret Spy Division asking him to catch himself.

He feigned puzzlement. "My lord, why me? Your own intelligence and judgment far exceed mine. Why bother delegating?"

In the main hall, Jinzhu stood in his peasant disguise, bamboo hat on the counter, its cord framing his double chin in a faintly comical way.

Jinzhu removed the hat and clasped Chen Ji's hands with earnest sincerity. "Don't sell yourself short. You helped Yunyang and Jiaotu uncover the Liu family's evidence -- you clearly have a gift. And I'll be frank with you: Luocheng's Secret Spy Division has been compromised. Last night's raid failed precisely because the information leaked. Among all the agents in Luocheng, you're the only one I can trust."

Old Man Yao gathered his ledger and silently retreated to the back courtyard. If he stayed a moment longer, he was going to laugh out loud.

Jinzhu was famous in the capital for three things: his gratitude toward Heavenly Horse for the early patronage, his discerning palate, and his shrewdness.

And now this supremely shrewd man was clasping the actual culprit's hands and talking about trust.

Chen Ji quietly withdrew his hands. "Why not pursue this agent yourself?"

Jinzhu explained with a smile. "My top priority right now is flushing out the mole. So you and I work separately -- you handle your end, I'll handle mine. I'll assign six agents to follow you and keep you safe."

He added, "You must capture this Jing Dynasty agent. If you succeed, the lion's share of the credit is yours. If you fail, don't blame me for turning cold. That's how the Secret Spy Division works -- even brothers don't get to jeopardize the mission."

After a moment's thought, Chen Ji said, "Lord Jinzhu, I'll try to track down this agent. But I have one condition: keep my identity secret. You know this is Liu family territory, and the people colluding with the Jing Dynasty aren't limited to Liu Shiyu. If I keep racking up merits, the Liu family will mark me."

Jinzhu grinned. "Relax. The whole reason I came dressed like this was to protect your identity. Tonight at late evening, Red Cloth Lane, the Welcome Tavern. Someone will be waiting for you there."

He put his hat back on and walked out the door.

Just then, a carriage pulled up outside the clinic. The curtain was lifted from within, and the driver hastily set out a stepping stool to help a middle-aged man with a handlebar mustache descend.

Chen Ji recognized him -- the Chen Mansion steward. He'd seen the man once before, when he'd gone home on a rest day carrying gifts.

The steward wore a corrugated tassel cap, thick black cloth boots, and a light green satin robe. He looked less like a household steward and more like a government official.

On his way out, Jinzhu brushed past the steward at the door, shot him a curious glance, and hurried away.

The steward stepped down from the carriage, clasped his hands behind his back, and strolled leisurely into the clinic, surveying the interior with casual interest. Spotting Chen Ji, he smiled. "Settling in well here?"

Chen Ji stood calmly by the counter. "What do you want?"

The steward smiled and beckoned to the driver outside, who handed over a string of copper coins. He held them out to Chen Ji. "Three hundred wen. Count them."

Chen Ji didn't reach for the money. His voice was flat. "No need. Set them on the counter."

The steward's outstretched hand hung frozen in midair. After a beat, he tossed the coins carelessly onto the counter and smoothed his handlebar mustache. "Three hundred wen not enough for you? Do you have any idea how many people died in this summer's floods across Yuzhou? Three hundred wen in western or southern Yuzhou can buy a maidservant's indenture contract. The family isn't spending lightly to support your apprenticeship. Don't forget where you came from."

At that moment, Baili walked out from the back. "Chen Ji, come help wrap dumplings! They taste better when everyone wraps them together... Oh, who's this?"

The steward's entire bearing shifted the instant he saw Baili. His posture turned deferential. "Princess Baili, I'm the steward of the Luocheng Deputy Prefect's household. Last year during the Lantern Festival, I accompanied the master to a banquet at the Prince's manor. I glimpsed you from a distance."

Baili looked puzzled. "Have we met? I don't remember."

The steward hesitated. "I was seated with the servants..."

"Oh... You're here to see Chen Ji? I'll let you two talk. Chen Ji, come wrap dumplings when you're done!" Baili headed back.

The steward watched her leave, then turned to Chen Ji with sharp suspicion. "Why is Princess Baili at the Taiping Clinic?"

Chen Ji answered casually. "She's close with my master, so she visits often."

The steward relaxed. For a moment he'd wondered whether Chen Ji's banishment to this clinic had somehow landed him in the Princess's good graces.

He shifted tone, his voice imperious. "Three days from now, Young Masters Wenzong and Wenxiao sit for the autumn examinations. The master instructed me last night to invite you home for dinner the evening before."

Chen Ji glanced at him. "Please tell the master I've been busy with my studies lately. I can't make it."

The steward's face darkened. "You won't even heed the master's summons? Have you forgotten the Chen family's kindness in raising you? Keep this up and you may lose even the three hundred wen monthly stipend."

Chen Ji smiled lightly. "Then so be it. And please stop coming to the Taiping Clinic."

The steward laughed with disbelief. "Those are your own words!"

Chen Ji nodded. "They are."

The steward swept out as quickly as he'd come, clearly unwilling to waste another moment here.

Baili poked her head out from the corridor. "Had a row with your family's steward?"

"Mm."

Baili said gently, "You're smart enough to see it. He doesn't actually want you to come home. Stewards in great households are never fools -- they don't antagonize people without reason. He was deliberately rude to provoke you into saying something rash, so he could go back and report your words to your father... You shouldn't have taken the bait."

Chen Ji turned to look at her and smiled. "Whether or not I go back to the Chen Mansion doesn't matter. I wasn't planning to return anyway."

Baili gave a soft "oh." "Then don't. Come on -- dumplings!"

"Coming." Chen Ji gazed out at Anxi Street through the doorway, listening to the rhythmic thud-thud-thud of dumpling filling being chopped in the back. His heart settled at once.

...

...

Night.

Red Cloth Lane, usually bustling at this hour, was suddenly desolate.

The crimson lanterns still hung high along the flagstone street, but no patrons walked beneath them. Singing girls and dancers leaned listlessly on the balcony railings.

When a lone figure finally turned in from the west end of the lane, the girls perked up -- only to spot his bamboo hat and shrink back into their rooms like startled birds.

The Welcome Tavern had closed for the night. The common room was pitch-dark, not a single oil lamp burning.

Six agents in black leaned against the wooden pillars, each cradling a long saber, as still as statues waiting for prey.

In the darkness, someone spoke. "West Wind, did the lord say who he's sending to help with the investigation? Whoever it is has quite the nerve -- keeping us waiting an entire day, wasting our chance to make a move."

"We were told late evening. It's nearly midnight, and still no sign."

The agent called West Wind looked up. Beneath his hat brim, sharp eyes swept the group. "The lord said to wait. So we wait."

Someone muttered, "West Wind, you're one step from Sea Goshawk. Don't let some outsider hold you back. If this case goes well, you could be posted to a field assignment. Get Lord Jinzhu to put in a word for the Huai River region, raid a few small salt merchants, and you'd build yourself quite the nest egg."

West Wind sneered. "You think raiding people is that simple? Salt merchants all have powerful backers, and the southern civilian officials collectively shut us out. It's not something you just decide to do."

"Heh, you don't know the half of it, West Wind. I've got a hometown connection among Treasure Monkey's agents. He told me that every time a new Sea Goshawk takes his post in the Huai River region, the salt merchants' guild pushes forward one or two small traders as sacrificial lambs. Raid their homes, take their heads -- everyone saves face. Three years in that post, and you'll never run out of women or silver."

West Wind scoffed. "You think the Chief Punishment Division is asleep? If you hand someone that kind of leverage, they'll own you for life. I'm with Lord Jinzhu to do something that matters. I won't trade the future for scraps."

One agent ventured cautiously, "I heard Lord Jinzhu has a grudge against the Xu family in Shanghai. Is that true?"

West Wind's voice went cold. "Are you all tired of living? Prying into the lord's private affairs? Should I send you to the Inner Prison to cool off?"

"No, no -- just making conversation... Anyway, where is this person?"

The words had barely faded when the Welcome Tavern's front door groaned open.

Everyone stiffened, faces turning stone-blank.

West Wind looked toward the entrance. The newcomer wore a bamboo hat and a grey cloth mask over his face.

He paused, glancing instinctively at the man's legs. The newcomer's stride was even -- no sign of injury.

Hm.

West Wind, privy to Jinzhu's assessment of Chen Ji's abilities and knowing Chen Ji was a Luocheng local, had assumed tonight's guest would be Chen Ji.

But this person didn't move like someone with a wounded leg.

West Wind spoke, his voice hard. "Why are you late? Don't you know that delays cost us our chance to catch Jing Dynasty agents?"

Chen Ji stood facing the six of them and did not answer. His voice was low. "You're Lord Jinzhu's agents?"

West Wind paused. "We are."

Chen Ji nodded. "Lord Jinzhu has ordered you under my command to assist in the capture of Jing Dynasty spies."

The six agents exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.

Jinzhu hadn't told them to take orders from anyone. They'd assumed West Wind was in charge, with the newcomer serving as an advisor.

West Wind weighed his options and chose not to argue. He gave the others a meaningful look, then cupped his fist to Chen Ji. "Sir, let me show you the scene of the fight first. Perhaps you'll see something useful."

His expression grave, he led Chen Ji to the back courtyard. Six agent corpses lay on the ground, the blood still unwashed.

West Wind looked at Chen Ji. "Sir, the killer struck here last night. These six agents were slain on this spot. The bodies and their belongings haven't been moved. Please examine them."

That said, West Wind fell silent. Not one more word.

All six agents stared at Chen Ji with burning intensity. They'd read West Wind's cue -- this was a test. If this newcomer lacked real skill, he had no business leading them.

Chen Ji glanced at the six men, then slowly circled the courtyard, head bowed in thought.

Beneath their hat brims, the agents' eyes darted back and forth, trading silent messages. They looked to West Wind as one: If he can't cut it, we back you.

West Wind was a single step from Sea Goshawk. If an outsider stole his credit, he'd be waiting another year.

It wasn't about loyalty. It was the instinct to close ranks against an outsider -- a reflex as old as human nature.

Minutes ticked by. Chen Ji remained silent, head down, deep in thought.

An agent signaled West Wind to seize the initiative, but West Wind held steady. If Chen Ji didn't speak, neither would he.

Then Chen Ji moved.

Every eye followed. He walked to the corner of the courtyard and touched the crossbow bolt embedded in the wall. His voice was calm. "The killer entered here. He ambushed one agent first -- short blade through the lung and kidney -- then used the wounded man as a shield against the crossbows."

He took two steps forward and stopped beside a face-down corpse. "The killer discarded the wounded agent here and charged into the group. He used the short blade to snap the agents' sabers one after another, then..."

The six agents looked at each other again, every pair of eyes widening.

West Wind couldn't contain himself. "Sir, how can you conclude there was only one killer? We never said that. There are two distinct wound types on the bodies -- it could easily be two attackers."

Chen Ji answered lightly. "The two wound types exist because he switched to an agent's saber midway through. Not because there were two people."

West Wind fell silent.

His team had been reconstructing the fight since last night. Several combat-hardened agents working alongside multiple coroners had needed a full four hours to piece together the killer's sequence of actions.

And this newcomer had glanced at the scene once and reproduced it in the time it took an incense stick to burn down.

If they'd known he was this good, why had they wasted the morning?

West Wind abandoned any further thought of testing him.

What he didn't know was that Chen Ji was thinking the same thing: So deduction can be this easy. All you have to do is describe what you did.

Child's play.

West Wind set aside his skepticism and asked earnestly, "Sir, the killer broke swords as casually as pouring water. None of us have ever heard of such a technique in the jianghu. Can you identify who he might be?"

Chen Ji didn't answer. He said only, "Let's not jump to conclusions. Tell me -- did the killer strike only here last night?"

West Wind explained, "There's a second scene. Tongji Street."

"Take me there."

They headed for the tavern's exit, Chen Ji and West Wind walking side by side through the common room.

But as they reached the door, West Wind paused without thinking, let Chen Ji step through first, and fell in behind him.