Under the cover of night, black-clad secret agents had completely surrounded the alley, leaving no escape.

Chen Ji leaned against the wall’s eaves, silently observing Shopkeeper Yuan through gaps in the throng of people.

He suddenly realized he might not get another chance to outmaneuver him. The Ministry of Military Intelligence’s focus on Shopkeeper Yuan far exceeded his imagination.

This was the first Section Chief from the Jing Dynasty that the Ministry of Military Intelligence had captured, and leveraging him could inflict a significant blow upon the Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Bureau.

Instead of addressing Shopkeeper Yuan, Jin Zhu emerged from the crowd and pulled Chen Ji aside.

He lowered his voice and said, “You impudent boy, you’re too reckless! You haven’t even begun your cultivation journey, yet you dared to pursue him alone? What if he still had the strength to resist? Even a cornered beast fights to its last breath. If he had been desperate enough to drag you down with him, what then?”

Chen Ji explained, “My lord, this villain’s identity is truly exceptional. We must use him to extract crucial new information. How could we possibly allow him to escape?”

Jin Zhu gave a wry smile. “It was my mistake; I worried your acting wouldn’t be convincing, so I didn’t tell you about this plan. Everything tonight was a pre-arranged scene. There was no way he would escape.”

Chen Ji smiled. “As long as I didn’t disrupt your plans, My Lord.”

Jin Zhu warned him repeatedly, “Never be so reckless again.”

He turned back into the alley, dismissed all the secret agents, and then knelt before Shopkeeper Yuan, stating gravely, “Shopkeeper Yuan, have you recovered? If Tianma hadn’t just given you the ‘Divine Bridge’ elixir, refined by the Yellow Mountain Daoist Master, you would have already perished.”

“I know, I know. I recognize ‘Divine Bridge.'” Shopkeeper Yuan nodded frantically.

Jin Zhu smiled. “Do you have anything you wish to tell me now? You’ve seen the Grand Chancellor’s directive; a promising future awaits you, provided you cooperate.”

Shopkeeper Yuan bowed his head, struggling for a few moments, then looked up and said, “I still have many accomplices in Luocheng who haven’t been apprehended.”

Jin Zhu’s lips curled into a slight smile, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Oh? Do tell.”

Shopkeeper Yuan gritted his teeth. “Kang Bo, the County Registrar of Mengjin County, is one of our people.”

Jin Zhu exchanged a glance with a secret agent, who immediately hurried off to apprehend Kang Bo in Mengjin County.

Shopkeeper Yuan continued, “The waiters at Yingxian Pavilion, Zhang Tong and Zhao Guang, are also our people.”

Jin Zhu exclaimed, “That’s a strategic location! Yingxian Pavilion is frequented by high-ranking officials and nobles, and anything casually discussed there could be confidential.”

Shopkeeper Yuan shook his head. “Those gentlemen always enjoy boasting after a few drinks. Our hidden agents there would hear astonishing intelligence daily, but it often proved false later on. Once, a young scholar, after drinking, claimed his relative was the Viceroy of the Two Rivers and shared many alleged secrets from that region. We even approved funds to approach, entertain, and try to turn him. It later turned out he had merely seen the Viceroy of the Two Rivers once from afar.”

Jin Zhu’s mouth hung open, speechless for a long moment.

Shopkeeper Yuan continued, “The grain and oil shop next to the prefectural yamen is also ours.”

“Mingquan Garden in White Robe Alley and Hongxiu Zhao in Red Robe Alley are both our establishments.”

As Shopkeeper Yuan divulged more, Jin Zhu grew increasingly alarmed. He hadn’t realized so many Jing Dynasty agents were concealed within Luocheng, and with one confession, Shopkeeper Yuan was effectively dismantling the entire Luocheng Military Intelligence Bureau.

However, this wasn’t what Jin Zhu was most eager to learn. He asked coldly, “These minor figures can be apprehended anytime. What I want to know now is, is the prominent individual from Prince Jing’s Residence who conspired with you, Prince Jing himself?”

But Shopkeeper Yuan replied, “Not Prince Jing, but a royal consort.”

Chen Ji’s heart clenched once more, his gaze fixed intently on Shopkeeper Yuan. If he implicates Consort Yun, what should I do? Should I find a way to kill Consort Yun, or flee before she’s apprehended?

Facing Shopkeeper Yuan, Jin Zhu narrowed his eyes. “Which consort? Consort Yun or Consort Jing?”

Shopkeeper Yuan said, “I don’t know!”

Jin Zhu was incensed. “You’re a Section Chief, and you claim not to know?”

Chen Ji stepped forward. “My Lord, it must be Consort Jing!”

Jin Zhu slowly turned his head. “Because she’s Liu Mingxian’s sister?”

“Precisely!”

Jin Zhu said, “But my informant told me that Consort Jing and Liu Mingxian have been at odds for a long time. The two siblings even had a quarrel in the Liu family ancestral hall earlier this year. Consort Jing would absolutely not cooperate with Liu Mingxian’s plan.”

Chen Ji pondered for a moment. “But what if Grand Secretary Liu Gun was the mastermind behind this rebellion all along? Consort Jing might refuse Liu Mingxian’s orders, but she may not be able to defy her father’s. If the Liu family doesn’t even trust its own kin, why would they trust outsiders?”

Jin Zhu mused, “You’re right, they are family after all. Then let’s investigate Consort Jing’s involvement. Monitor everyone around her; anyone who leaves the princely residence must be tailed. See where they go, whom they meet, and what they say!”

Chen Ji let out a subtle sigh of relief.

Jin Zhu turned, glaring at Shopkeeper Yuan impatiently. “As a Section Chief, how can you not even know whom you’re colluding with?”

Shopkeeper Yuan quickly explained, “I just took office; I’ve only just become a Section Chief.”

Jin Zhu raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Shopkeeper Yuan explained, “Luocheng was originally managed by Section Chief Gui, who was a direct subordinate of the previous Military Strategist, Lu Jin. After Lu Jin was dismissed, the authorities transferred Section Chief Xin to Luocheng to replace him. However, Section Chief Xin was later killed by firearms, and Section Chief Gui vanished without a trace, which is how I got the opportunity to become the new Section Chief Xin.”

Jin Zhu pondered, “So you were just promoted from Haidongqing… But for such a major matter, even if it was your first day as a Section Chief, you should have been informed.”

Shopkeeper Yuan explained, “Section Chief Gui always kept this connection with the princely residence tightly controlled. Now that he’s fled, I don’t even know how to establish contact with them.”

Jin Zhu snapped, “Then why didn’t you try to re-establish contact with Prince Jing’s Residence?”

Shopkeeper Yuan sighed helplessly, “My Lord, I hadn’t yet devised a method before you apprehended me. Provided you and the Grand Chancellor grant me my freedom, I have a way to ascertain the identity of that prominent individual.”

Jin Zhu asked casually, “How do you intend to proceed, Shopkeeper Yuan?”

Shopkeeper Yuan thought for a moment. “Now that the Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Bureau in Luocheng has been completely uprooted, it’s no longer possible for their agents to contact that individual in the princely residence. If you assign me a few people, I can thoroughly train them, teach them all the Military Intelligence Bureau’s secret codes, and have them go to test Consort Jing. We’ll know for certain whether it’s her after one attempt.”

Jin Zhu considered this, recognizing it as the same trick Xifeng had used to impersonate a Section Chief and deceive Liu Mingxian. However, the method was indeed effective.

Shopkeeper Yuan asked, “Lord Jin Zhu, does the Ministry of Military Intelligence have any informants who are intimately acquainted with the princely residence? If so, that would be ideal. Train him, and he will surely be able to deceive that prominent individual.”

Jin Zhu slowly looked at Chen Ji beside him… Wasn’t he the best candidate?

Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, but finally stepped forward. “My Lord, for the greater good, I can undertake this crucial mission.”

However, Jin Zhu snapped, “Are you out of your mind, boy? Why do you always rush into danger? You cannot go.”

With that, he beckoned Xifeng. “Assign our informant embedded within the princely residence to Shopkeeper Yuan. I want the results of the test within half a month.”

Xifeng cupped his fists. “As you command!”

Chen Ji cast a deep glance at Shopkeeper Yuan, then remained silent.

Shopkeeper Yuan asked, “Lord Jin Zhu, can news of my death be circulated publicly? Additionally, I require dedicated protection until my injuries are fully healed.”

Jin Zhu smiled reassuringly. “Rest assured, you will be protected. Even a Path-Seeking Realm master would be unable to harm you. Once this matter is concluded, the new identity and official position promised to you by the Grand Chancellor will also be bestowed upon you.”

With that, he cordially helped Shopkeeper Yuan to his feet and into a carriage.

Chen Ji was about to withdraw with Xifeng when he saw Jin Zhu lift the carriage curtain and beckon to him. “Chen Ji, get in.”

He entered the carriage, and before he could fully settle, he heard Shopkeeper Yuan suddenly say, “Oh, by the way, my lords, I also know a secret related to Lu Jin.”

Jin Zhu immediately perked up, leaning forward slightly and asking in a rapid-fire succession, “Lu Jin? The dismissed Military Strategist? What secret?”

Shopkeeper Yuan carefully chose his words. “There’s always been a rumor within the Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Bureau that Military Strategist Lu Jin actually has a sister in the Ning Dynasty. Her contribution was said to be essential to his assassination of the Minister of Revenue.”

Jin Zhu raised his voice. “Lu Jin has a sister? Why has no one ever mentioned this before?”

Chen Ji’s heart suddenly clenched again, as if gripped by a hand. If this Shopkeeper Yuan isn’t dealt with, he will truly be an unending source of trouble. And that newly appointed Military Strategist, Lu Guanwu, is also a fool, to send such a soft-bellied subordinate to Luocheng.

Inside the swaying carriage, Shopkeeper Yuan leaned weakly against the wall and explained, “This is just a rumor, but I believe it’s not baseless.”

Jin Zhu grew serious. “Tell me more.”

Shopkeeper Yuan asked, “My Lord, do you know how Lu Jin assassinated the Minister of Revenue?”

Jin Zhu recalled, “I’ve seen the dossier on that. It was the Laba Festival. Minister of Revenue Chen Luyi and members of the Chen clan had gone to Yuanjue Temple to ring the bell and distribute porridge. On the way back, Chen Luyi had an urgent matter and secretly returned to the city. That’s when he was ambushed by Lu Jin.”

He continued, “According to the battlefield investigation, Lu Jin was alone at the time. Normally, assassinating a Minister of Revenue is an incredibly difficult feat. However, on that particular day, Chen Luyi had coincidentally left the majority of his retinue and guards with his clan members, taking only four retainers with him. This provided Lu Jin with an opportune moment. Lu Jin ultimately killed the four Chen clan retainers, severed Chen Luyi’s head, and fled back to Shengjing City in the Jing Dynasty.”

Shopkeeper Yuan asked, “My Lord, don’t you find it strange? Without assistance, how could he have known Chen Luyi’s movements? Lu Jin lay dormant in the Ning Dynasty for several years, finally seizing this opportunity. What was he doing during those years of waiting?”

Jin Zhu mused, “That only suggests Lu Jin had an accomplice. How are you so certain he has a sister, and that she’s in the Ning Dynasty?”

Shopkeeper Yuan said, “Lu Jin has always had a sister, but he consistently told outsiders that his younger sister had died of smallpox in childhood. However, seven years ago, Lu Jin executed a young noble by military law. The noble’s father, seeking revenge, went to desecrate the Lu family’s ancestral grave. Inside the ancestral grave, the tomb that should have contained Lu Jin’s sister was empty. After this came to light, Lu Jin swiftly used military intelligence assassins to wipe out the noble’s entire family.”

Shopkeeper Yuan scoffed, “Outsiders merely assumed he was enraged because his ancestral grave had been desecrated. But how could a man like Lu Jin be truly angered by such a trivial matter? I believe he merely wanted to conceal the fact of the empty grave. My Lord, if you revisit those old clues and investigate further, you might uncover the truth about his sister!”