Luocheng’s East Market was like spring all year round; the city’s vibrant life always began there.

While the people of Luocheng were still trembling in fear, the merchants in the East Market had quietly removed their door planks and discreetly started doing business.

Chen Ji, dressed in plain grey clothes, walked slowly along the street, pausing as if searching for something. His expression was relaxed, as if this day were no different from any other. Finally, he stopped in front of Dingchang Pawnshop, looked up at the plaque, and then stepped over the threshold. “Shopkeeper, I’m here to pawn something.”

Unlike ordinary shops, the pawnshop’s front counter was sealed with varnished wooden planks, leaving only a small window high up.

Behind the window, an old shopkeeper with white hair and beard peered out, squinting through the small opening. “Young man, what would you like to pawn?” Chen Ji pulled a large pearl from his sleeve and handed it over. “An East Pearl.”

The old shopkeeper casually took it, brought it closer to his eyes, and examined it. “Note this down: impoverished youth, pawning one drab, greyish ’round thing’.”

At that time, pawnshops used a lot of jargon. For example, a robe was called “windbreak,” silver was “soft dragon,” gold was “hard dragon,” pearls were “round things,” fox fur was “big fur,” and lambskin was “small fur.” Whenever someone pawned an item, the shopkeeper would first disparage it. If someone pawned fur, he might say, “A large fur, bare and hairless, worm-eaten and rat-bitten.”

Chen Ji asked with a smile, “How much silver can I get for it?” The old shopkeeper thought for a moment. “Twenty taels of silver.”

Chen Ji asked, “I heard this item is worth four hundred taels.”

Holding the pearl, the old shopkeeper squinted at Chen Ji. “Young man, this item’s origin is probably not legitimate, is it? How could an ordinary family possess such a large pearl? Given your current state… I’ll only give you twenty taels. If you think it’s too low, go ask other places. But if I report you to the authorities for investigation, I’m afraid it might cost you your life.”

Chen Ji did not refute him. Instead, he pulled another item from his sleeve and handed it over. “Then please take a look at this.” The old shopkeeper casually took the Secret Service waist token. Subconsciously, he muttered, “Dull and lusterless… Oh, my ancestor!”

There was a clang from behind the counter as the old shopkeeper fell from his high chair. Ignoring the pain, he quickly opened the side door next to the counter and scurried out. “What brings you here, Esteemed Sir? This humble one was blind just now; whatever value you say that East Pearl holds, that’s what it is!”

Chen Ji said calmly, “I have no intention of making things difficult for you. Just pawn this pearl for me at market price.”

The old shopkeeper hastily replied, “Yes, yes, yes, we’ll get your silver right away. Do you want to redeem it later, or is this a final pawn?”

“A final pawn,” Chen Ji said. “Don’t bother converting it to silver just yet. Does your Dingchang Pawnshop have any old wild ginseng pawned by others? I don’t want any with low vintage.”

“Yes, yes, yes, since you’ve asked, how could we not?” the old shopkeeper said. “Assistant, bring out all the ginseng from our storeroom for this official to choose from.”

Chen Ji waited silently. This East Pearl was one that Concubine Jing had left behind when she sent Chunhua to frame him. He hadn’t pawned it for so long, firstly, because he was worried it would become leverage against him later, and secondly, because without an official position in this world, it was easy to be deceived. Now that Concubine Jing was dead, the pearl finally carried no further risk.

The old shopkeeper brought out eight exquisite wooden boxes. “Please take a look. These are all ginseng roots we’ve acquired here at the pawnshop. If you’d like them, I can sell them to you for thirty taels… no, at the purchase price of twenty taels each.” Chen Ji suddenly asked, “How much were these originally purchased for? Bring the ledger for me to see.”

The old shopkeeper’s face immediately fell. “Fifteen taels each!”

Chen Ji thought for a moment. “Alright, throw away the wooden boxes. Wrap the ginseng in cloth.”

About a quarter of an hour later, he left the pawnshop carrying the ginseng and silver. No sooner had he left than Yun Yang emerged from the small alley beside the pawnshop and went inside.

In just a moment, Yun Yang came out of the pawnshop and went to a carriage across the street, speaking in a low voice. “Lord Bailong, that young man went in, revealed his Secret Service identity, and pawned the East Pearl that Concubine Jing lost for four hundred and sixty taels of silver. Then, he bought eight ginseng roots from the pawnshop at a price of fifteen taels each.”

A lazy voice came from inside the carriage. “Nothing else?” “Nothing else.”

Bailong slowly said from behind the carriage curtain, “This young man is quite cautious, keeping that East Pearl for so long before pawning it. It’s understandable that he’d want to acquire cultivation resources now that he’s just gained access to the cultivation path… Yun Yang, do you think this young man knows where Concubine Yun is?” Yun Yang thought for a moment. “Lord Bailong, are you overestimating him? He’s just a small apprentice at a medical hall. How would he know Concubine Yun’s whereabouts?”

Bailong said lightly, “Yun Yang, it wasn’t easy for you and Jiao Tu to become part of the Zodiac, so you should cherish it. Although you started as assassins, you can’t be assassins your whole lives, can you?” Yun Yang hesitated. “What does Lord Bailong mean?”

Bailong said with a smile, “I know you and Jiao Tu are worried about this young man retaliating, but he has now caught the eye of the Prime Minister. If you don’t have absolute certainty, it’s better not to provoke him.” Yun Yang understood. “Lord Bailong wants me to find an opportunity for a single, decisive strike.”

Bailong in the carriage was silent for a moment, then chuckled and chided, “Yun Yang, you’re quite something. Instead of wasting time, you’d better quickly find Concubine Yun for me. Without her, many things cannot be done. There’s only half a month left until the Prime Minister’s deadline. If things aren’t handled properly and she escapes, be careful we don’t both get punished.”

“That woman is also very sharp; she seemingly sensed something in advance and disappeared without a trace,” Yun Yang complained in a low voice. “Lord Bailong, Jiao Tu and I aren’t good at finding people. Why don’t we let Jin Zhu and Meng Ji go?” Bailong thought for a moment. “You’re right. Let’s go, back to the Liu Family Manor.”

Yun Yang acknowledged with a sound, then sat in the driver’s seat and cracked the whip.

On the eaves of Dingchang Pawnshop, a tabby cat that had been dozing with its paws tucked in opened its eyes, stood up, and leaped over the ridge, disappearing from sight.

A few streets away, at Ma Ji Noodle Stall, the owner was stirring the bone broth in a large pot with a long-handled wooden ladle when he heard someone enter and say, “Boss, one bowl of noodles, with extra mutton.” Without turning around, the owner casually asked, “Wide noodles or thin noodles, honored guest?”

“Wide noodles.”

The owner turned to look and saw a slender, handsome young man already seated by the window. He replied, “Please wait a moment, honored guest.” As he was pulling the noodles, he heard the young man ask, “Boss, it’s lunchtime, why is the shop empty?”

The owner gave a bitter laugh. “The city is in turmoil because of the military conflict. Only traveling merchants who are stranded are willing to come out to buy food. These merchants are unlucky too; they want to go home but can’t, and their goods are stockpiled at the docks, so they still have to pay storage fees to the River Transport Gang.” The young man casually asked, “Are the docks not operating anymore?”

The owner dropped the hand-pulled noodles into the boiling pot. “I don’t know why, but no ships are sailing.”

Chen Ji looked out at the sparse pedestrians. He speculated that, in the Secret Service’s plan, the Liu family and Prince Jing were interdependent, so after eliminating the Liu family, they would also dispose of Prince Jing as a bonus, a strategy of killing two birds with one stone. But no one expected that when Prince Jing was unconscious, Chen Ji would warn Concubine Yun, “The Prince has noticed that Luo Tian Sect Leader Han Tong frequently visits the Princess.” This led Concubine Yun to flee the Prince’s Manor immediately and hide. By a strange twist of fate, the Secret Service lost a key witness.

Now, with Concubine Yun nowhere to be found, the Secret Service couldn’t use the evidence of “Prince Jing’s Manor colluding with the Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Bureau” to condemn a powerful feudal prince with immense prestige. However, Concubine Yun remaining in Luocheng was always a massive hidden danger.

The owner placed a wooden tray in front of Chen Ji. “Please enjoy your meal, honored guest. You’re my first customer today, so I’ve given you an extra two liang of noodles.” Chen Ji took a pair of chopsticks from the wooden holder on the table and thanked him.

He had only eaten a few mouthfuls of noodles when a fluffy black cat, Wu Yun, leaped onto the windowsill from outside and meowed. “No one is following you anymore. The docks are being guarded by the Secret Service; entry is permitted, but no one is allowed out. Right now, a group of agents in plain clothes are searching everywhere. Anyone who approaches the docks will be apprehended and interrogated. The homes of all the dockworkers have been thoroughly searched.”

Chen Ji smiled, picked up a piece of mutton from his bowl with his chopsticks, and offered it to the cat. “Thanks, you’ve worked hard these past few days.” Wu Yun snatched the mutton and swallowed it, tilting its head back. “So hot!”

Chen Ji picked up another piece of mutton, blew on it, and then offered it to the cat again. “Where is she?” After eating it, Wu Yun lightly meowed, “She’s coming.”

Just as he finished speaking, a sallow-faced woman carrying a vegetable basket passed by the window. Chen Ji immediately put down his chopsticks, dropped thirty-two copper coins on the table, and stood up to follow her.

The woman paid no heed and continued walking unhurriedly.

Chen Ji followed her unhurriedly and spoke again. “You just went to discreetly observe the docks, didn’t you? The eunuch faction has blockaded the docks and is closely monitoring all members of the River Transport Gang under the Luo Tian Sect. You want to leave Luocheng, but you can’t.” The woman turned back, looking at Chen Ji with confusion. “Young man, are you talking to me? I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

Concubine Yun was now devoid of her usual jewels and finery. Her grey cloth tunic was patched, and there was a small hole at the toe of her cloth shoes.

Her appearance had also changed significantly: her eyebrows were much thinner, her nose bridge higher, and her lips smaller. Even someone familiar with her might not recognize her if they met face to face. No wonder the Secret Service couldn’t find her.

Concubine Yun ignored Chen Ji and turned to leave.

But then Chen Ji, still behind her, suddenly said, “Madam, I have a way to send you to the Jing Dynasty.”

Concubine Yun, still clutching her vegetable basket, whirled around and asked with an arrogant expression, “How exactly did you find me?”

In that instant, her back straightened, and she reverted to being the dignified Princess. Even the coarse cloth headscarf and clothes could not conceal the noble demeanor cultivated from years of pampered living. Chen Ji calmly stated, “Madam, you are now eager to leave Luocheng. The Luo Tian Sect cannot help you, but I can.”

Concubine Yun countered, “Hasn’t your Military Intelligence Bureau’s power in Luocheng already been uprooted by the eunuch faction? By what means do you intend to send me away?”

Chen Ji had not intended to bring up his spy identity again, but now he could only go along with her words. “My Military Intelligence Bureau has been able to operate covertly in the Ning Dynasty for so many years; naturally, we have our capabilities. Otherwise, how would I have found you? You don’t need to ask too many questions; just know that I can help you leave.”

Concubine Yun pondered for a moment, then gazed at Chen Ji and said, “People don’t rise early without a reason. Why would your Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Bureau help me?” Chen Ji explained, “My Military Intelligence Bureau wishes to cooperate with the Luo Tian Sect, so naturally, we must ensure your safety, Madam.”

Concubine Yun suddenly smiled. “You’re lying.” Chen Ji calmly countered, “What do you mean, Madam?”

Concubine Yun, carrying her vegetable basket, walked step by step toward Chen Ji, stopping slowly when she was about two paces away. “You’re doing this for Bai Li, aren’t you?” Chen Ji remained silent.

The two stood confronting each other in the narrow alley, the atmosphere heavy.

After a moment, Chen Ji spoke. “Madam, may I ask you a question?” Concubine Yun gave an noncommittal reply. “Ask.”

Chen Ji asked, “Was it the Prince’s instruction that you contacted my Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Bureau?” Concubine Yun sneered, “If not for his instruction, why would I contact you?”

Chen Ji took a deep breath. “Then does the Prince know my identity as a Jing Dynasty spy?” Concubine Yun laughed. “So that’s what you’re worried about. Of course, he knows.” Chen Ji was suddenly puzzled.

When Bailong mentioned Concubine Yun’s collusion with the Jing Dynasty, Chen Ji had realized this was one of the Secret Service’s and Prince Jing’s schemes. Prince Jing would undoubtedly know his identity as a spy, and Concubine Yun had no reason to hide it from him. But if Prince Jing knew, why was he completely unconcerned about his spy identity, even to the point of entrusting his child to Chen Ji?

Furthermore, since he had entrusted his child to Chen Ji, Bailong, Jin Zhu, and the others must surely not know his identity; otherwise, this entrustment would be meaningless. Why did Prince Jing hide this from the Secret Service?

Chen Ji suddenly felt a headache coming on. He felt as though he had fallen into a quagmire, yet he didn’t know how he had gotten stuck or how to break free. He looked up at Concubine Yun. “Madam, regardless of what you think, please return here tomorrow evening, and I will send you out of Luocheng.”

Concubine Yun asked in a low voice, “Without a Secret Service waist token, how can I leave the city?” Chen Ji replied, “I have my ways.”

Concubine Yun turned and walked away. “I hope you’re not speaking carelessly.”

Chen Ji watched Concubine Yun disappear at the end of the alley. Wu Yun leaped from the rooftop onto his shoulder and meowed curiously, “Are you really planning to risk sending her away?” Standing in the shadow of the alley’s high walls, Chen Ji did not reply.