In the evening, Kucha Street was already lively. Dance girls, unafraid of the cold, had changed into light, thin gauze and leaned on the railings.

When guests arrived, they would throw down handkerchiefs from upstairs. The fragrant handkerchiefs would fall with a scented breeze, hitting pedestrians on the head without fail. Pedestrians would take the handkerchiefs off their heads, and looking up, they would see a dazzling display of bellies.

Chen Ji galloped out of Longmen Inn on his horse. The dance girls leaning on the railings of the buildings saw him and threw out handkerchiefs en masse.

But Zao Zao was too fast. Before the handkerchiefs could fall, it carried Chen Ji far away. The pieces of light gauze handkerchiefs fell empty, like flower petals scattered on the green stone slab road.

The old madam from inside the brothel walked out the door, bent down, and picked up the handkerchiefs one by one, scolding and blaming as she said: “Next time look accurately before you throw! If you see someone hurrying to reincarnate like that again, rein in your flirtatious energy!”

Chen Ji didn’t know what was happening behind him; his mind was focused on rushing forward, filled with urgent purpose.

But outside Kucha Street, the merchants who had set up stalls during the day still hadn’t packed up. The streets of Guyuan City were so narrow they only allowed one or two people to pass. No matter how divine Zao Zao was, it couldn’t run fast.

Chen Ji rode Zao Zao, squeezing through the crowd, from Kucha Street to Qiemo Street, from Gushi Street to Xumai Lane. As the blood-red sunset gradually fell behind the city wall, the sky was already dark by the time he reached the gates of the Governor’s Office.

Four large fires burned in front of the Governor’s Office, illuminating the three gold-stamped characters “Governor’s Office” shining brightly above the entrance.

Dozens of border army soldiers surrounded and patrolled the office. Seeing Chen Ji approach, they raised their long halberds from afar: “Dismount, newcomer!”

Chen Ji leaped off his horse, led the reins closer, and said to the border army soldiers guarding the gate: “Generals, I have an important matter to report to His Highness the Crown Prince!”

The border army soldiers didn’t move. One of them slowly lowered his long halberd, his face cold and stern as he said: “His Highness the Crown Prince is currently discussing important matters with the Imperial Guard generals. Idle people are not allowed.”

Chen Ji took a step forward. Several soldiers holding halberds crossed their long halberds in front of him, shouting in unison, “Avoid!”

He furrowed his eyebrows, wondering whether to force his way in.

The meaning of the Governor’s Office was extraordinary. This was originally the central command center of the Guyuan border army. Breaking into the Governor’s Office was considered colluding with the enemy and plotting rebellion. Moreover, with dozens of border army soldiers in formation, he feared he wouldn’t be able to break in anyway.

Chen Ji looked around, thinking about whether he could flip in from the side.

Just as he was thinking, he heard someone say: “Eh, why has the third young master of the Chen family come?”

Chen Ji looked in the direction of the voice, and his whole body tensed.

The approaching person was unexpectedly the border army soldier previously pointed out by Zhang Xia, suspected of poisoning and killing thirty-four members of the Chen family.

The scar on the right cheek of the person opposite extended from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe, exceptionally conspicuous.

The scar-faced border army soldier saw Chen Ji’s gaze, subconsciously touched his scar, and smiled as he explained: “This scar was left during the decisive battle at Quwu Mountain in the 24th year of Jialing against the Jing Dynasty’s Tian Ce army. At that time, General Commander Zhou led us to kill towards the central banner of the Jing Dynasty thieves. On the way, I was blocked by an officer holding a knife. He chopped at me with one strike. If General Commander Zhou hadn’t pulled me, half of my head would have been chopped off at that time.”

Chen Ji cupped his fist: “Border army soldiers sacrificing themselves, shedding hot blood, I admire you.”

The scar-faced soldier waved his hand: “No need to call me general. I’m just a small deputy general under General Commander Zhou. Just call me Old Wu. I don’t know what matter Third Young Master Chen has. His Highness the Crown Prince is indeed discussing important matters with the Imperial Guard. If it’s not an important matter, I can report on your behalf.”

Chen Ji shook his head: “Sorry, this matter must be reported directly to His Highness. I must see His Highness today.”

Old Wu was a bit hesitant: “But General Li Xuan specifically instructed that idle people are not allowed into the Governor’s Office. Now even our border army soldiers cannot go in; we can only guard outside.”

Chen Ji’s heart sank. Why didn’t they let him see the Crown Prince? Could it be that this Old Wu was really a Jing Dynasty spy who poisoned and killed thirty-four members of the Chen family, wanting to softly imprison the Crown Prince in the Governor’s Office and isolate him from the outside world?

He glanced at the color of the sky; there wasn’t much time left.

Chen Ji tentatively said: “Old Wu, you also know the deep connection between me and Vice General Commander Zhou. Please accommodate me a bit. I truly have an important matter to report to His Highness…”

Old Wu interrupted: “Is it truly very important?”

Chen Ji observed the face opposite him: “Very important, the matter concerns the safety of Guyuan!”

Old Wu thought for a moment, then waved his hand to the soldiers at the gate: “Let him pass.”

The border army soldiers received the order and neatly and uniformly raised their long halberds, no longer displaying the momentum of drawn swords and bent bows.

Chen Ji was startled. They were letting him pass just like that?

Old Wu signaled the border army soldiers to push open the large gates of the Governor’s Office and reluctantly said: “Since it’s an important matter, then I’ll break the rules for you this one time. Actually, it’s not that our border army wanted to block you… Young Master Chen, you’ll understand for yourself in a moment.”

Without waiting for the big doors to be fully opened, Chen Ji had already stepped over the threshold and was walking inside with large strides.

But he had just turned past the screen wall when he was blocked by an Imperial Guard.

The Imperial Guard frowned, looked at Old Wu behind Chen Ji, and reprimanded him: “Didn’t I instruct you all? This Governor’s Office is now His Highness the Crown Prince’s temporary residence. Without the permission of our Imperial Guard, no one is allowed to enter! How are you all on duty?”

Chen Ji subconsciously turned his head to look at Old Wu. It turned out it wasn’t the border army deliberately making things difficult for him, but the Imperial Guard controlling the entire Governor’s Office, not allowing outsiders to enter, and not giving the border army the authority to let people in.

At this time, Old Wu furrowed his eyebrows: “Third Young Master Chen is a relative of Lord Chen. What’s wrong with letting him in? This Governor’s Office originally belongs to our Guyuan border army. General Hu respectfully moved out of the Governor’s Office for the Crown Prince. You all really think this is your territory.”

Chen Ji stood between the two, amicably saying: “Both generals, please calm down. This matter arose because of me; if there’s blame, blame me. But I now have a matter of utmost urgency to report to His Highness the Crown Prince, which cannot be delayed.”

“What matter of utmost urgency could you possibly have?” The Imperial Guard squinted at Chen Ji: “Didn’t you all escape before? What are you coming back for now? How is it? Today you see the Jing Dynasty army hasn’t surrounded the city, so you’re not afraid of being implicated? His Highness the Crown Prince is currently discussing important matters and is not convenient to see you. Go back. The Governor’s Office is not a place you should be.”

Chen Ji ignored how the Imperial Guard was arranging things behind him and continued walking inside without stopping.

The Imperial Guard drew the long sword from his waist and blocked Chen Ji’s path: “Stop! Didn’t you hear me, your grandpa, talking to you?”

However, Chen Ji still didn’t stop. When the tip of the sword was about to reach his chest, he slightly sidestepped to avoid it, brushing past the Imperial Guard.

The Imperial Guard was suddenly enraged: “Grandson, your grandpa told you to stop!”

Saying that, he turned around and kicked towards Chen Ji’s right hip.

Chen Ji caught his ankle and casually flicked his wrist, and the Imperial Guard staggered out like a top.

By the time the Imperial Guard stabilized himself, he could no longer see Chen Ji’s figure in front of him. He suddenly turned around and saw Chen Ji rushing towards the depths of the Governor’s Office.

The Imperial Guard wanted to chase, but Old Wu grabbed his wrist and said to Chen Ji: “Go quickly!”

The Imperial Guard struggled several times but couldn’t break free from Old Wu’s iron grip. He immediately roared angrily: “Assassin! Catch the assassin!”

As soon as these words were spoken, they caused a great stir.

Dense footsteps and the sound of armor rubbing against each other rang out. Imperial Guards surrounded them from the rooms and corridors in all directions.

Seeing more and more Imperial Guards blocking the road, Chen Ji leaped onto the corridor the next moment, stepping on the gray tiles and madly running towards the White Tiger Main Hall.

Chen Ji ran on the eaves tiles, while the Imperial Guards below were parallel to him.

One of the Imperial Guards shouted angrily: “Send me up!”

In an instant, a colleague in front of him squatted down. When his soap boots stepped on his colleague’s shoulder, the colleague below suddenly stood up, sending him into the air.

The Imperial Guard drew his sword from its sheath in mid-air, his white cloak fluttering behind him: “Die!”

A bright sword light chopped down, crossing Chen Ji’s path.

Chen Ji suddenly stopped, his feet breaking five or six pieces of gray tile to stop his body. The sword light chopped down near the tip of his nose, missing by a hair’s breadth.

The Imperial Guard was shocked. He hadn’t expected Chen Ji to be able to avoid this sword.

At this time, Chen Ji took advantage of the moment when the Imperial Guard’s sword force was exhausted, grabbed the wrist of the person opposite, swung it in a full circle, and threw him back into the crowd below, causing the Imperial Guard to flip over onto the people.

By the time the Imperial Guards helped up their fallen colleague, Chen Ji was already approaching the White Tiger Main Hall of the Governor’s Office!

Chen Ji saw the Crown Prince from afar sitting at the head of the long table in the center of the hall. Li Xuan and Chen Liqin were sitting on the left and right, not knowing what they had just been discussing.

An Imperial Guard behind him roared angrily: “Assassin! Protect His Highness!”

The crowd in the hall was alarmed by the sound and looked towards the roof, but they couldn’t see clearly in the dark night.

Li Xuan immediately stood up, his hand on the long sword at his waist, and walked out of the White Tiger Main Hall: “Protect His Highness!”

Qi Jianzhe led over twenty Imperial Guards to form a formation in front of the hall, and they all drew their long swords: “Kill!”

Chen Ji leaped down from the roof, looking at the Imperial Guard formation but not daring to force his way in.

The well-trained formation made these twenty-plus Imperial Guards act in concert, covering each other’s flaws, making them flawless.

Chen Ji didn’t look at the forest of long swords. He walked forward step by step, parting the Imperial Guards, his gaze fixed on the White Tiger Main Hall: “Your Highness, commoner Chen Ji, has an important matter to report!”

When Chen Liqin heard these words, he suddenly stood up and looked outside. He lifted the hem of his official robe and walked quickly down several steps, standing on the stairs and angrily scolding: “Chen Ji, what nonsense are you speaking? What crime is it to disturb His Highness?”

Chen Ji didn’t look at him but continued to say loudly: “The commoner found a piece of news in the market: someone is quietly collecting ’tilting feet gold juice,’ amounting to over ten jars. The commoner suspects that Jing Dynasty spies want to pollute the city’s wells to act as an internal response for the Jing Dynasty Tian Ce army’s siege of the city!”

In this era, the first things cut off during a siege were water sources and supplies!

Some armies would bury the carcasses of cattle and sheep upstream of rivers, which could pollute the river water of a city in just seven days. Others would throw poisonous things into wells to destroy a city’s water source.

But the most convenient things to use for pollution were not poisons but feces.

Using arsenic naturally has a faster poisoning effect, but if you want to poison people, it wastes dosage. One well requires at least two to three jin of arsenic. And extracting arsenic, this kind of arsenic compound, is very expensive, has a large footprint, and is very difficult to cover the over one hundred wells in Guyuan City.

Using feces to cause bacterial pollution, however, not only saves time, effort, and money, but the E. coli inside feces can survive for five to ten minutes even in water temperatures of one hundred degrees Celsius. Even if briefly killed by high temperature, microorganisms will quickly reproduce after the water temperature drops, causing people to get sick.

Therefore, city defending armies would boil feces into “gold juice” and pour it down from the city walls. As long as attacking soldiers were scalded, their wounds would inevitably fester without a way to heal.

Extremely vicious.

Extremely disgusting.

An Imperial Guard looked at Chen Ji coldly and sternly: “What nonsense are you talking about? You heard some small road news from the market and dare to come and disturb His Highness? What crime is that! Moreover, do you think the Guyuan border army are fools? Every well in this city has two soldiers guarding it. How could the Jing Dynasty thieves pollute the wells?”

Chen Ji retorted: “Since the Jing Dynasty thieves are preparing this, there must be officials colluding. Can the border army still send several hundred officials to guard the wells?”

Qi Jianzhe laughed coldly: “This is the White Tiger Main Hall. It may not be a place for you, a young child, to boast!”

As they spoke, the Crown Prince slowly walked out from inside the White Tiger Main Hall. Li Xuan wanted to put a clean white fox fur coat on him, but he stopped him with a raised hand.

The moment the Crown Prince walked out of the White Tiger Main Hall, Chen Ji vaguely felt a throbbing between his eyebrows. It seemed there was a wisp of killing intent in the side room locking onto him, just waiting for an opportunity to strike.

He didn’t look at the side room, but his heart was shocked and doubtful. Could it be that an official guarding the Crown Prince was hidden in the side room? Who was it?

Eastern Palace dead soldiers?

At this time, the Crown Prince stood on the steps, looking at Chen Ji, who faced the Imperial Guard formation without fear of danger, and a strange color flashed in his eyes.

He gently comforted him: “I know the third young master of the Chen family is also well-intentioned and I also believe what you say. If the Jing Dynasty thieves truly have officials plotting this matter, the border army soldiers guarding the wells will probably have difficulty blocking them. But… this is originally the duty of the border army. I am not in a good position to overstep.”

Chen Ji responded calmly: “Your Highness came with an imperial edict to investigate the case of killing the good and pretending to have merit, but there has been no progress despite the delays. If the border army has already killed the officials who were to write memorials to silence them, this matter might become a cold case. At that time, if Your Highness doesn’t achieve extraordinary merit, how will you return to court? How will His Majesty view you? Now you have a clue about Jing Dynasty spies; why not try?”

A trace of panic flashed in Chen Liqin’s eyes: “Shut up! This is also something you can intervene in?”

Having said that, he quickly cupped his fist to the Crown Prince and said: “Your Highness, don’t listen to his nonsense. You can definitely investigate the case of killing the good and pretending to have merit clearly.”

However, the Crown Prince was silent, lost in thought.

The area in front of the White Tiger Main Hall quieted down. The Crown Prince stared at Chen Ji’s face below the stone steps, his appearance facing the Imperial Guard’s unmoving formation, and suddenly asked: “You have an old connection with Vice General Commander Zhou. Why not go and tell him?”

Chen Ji had his own reasons, but he couldn’t say them clearly… He cupped his fist towards the Crown Prince and said: “The Chen family are subordinate officials of the Eastern Palace. When matters arise, they should report to the Crown Prince, not others.”

The Crown Prince smiled slightly, turned his head, and instructed Li Xuan: “General Li, prepare the horses. We will go and see if the news this young brother is talking about is true.”

Li Xuan asked in a low voice: “Your Highness, you believe what he says?”

The Crown Prince hummed: “I believe eight parts. If it were just unfounded rumors, he wouldn’t risk this danger and unauthorizedly break into the White Tiger Main Hall. Moreover, didn’t you all, so many people, fail to block him and let him rush to my front? Doesn’t that prove his ability?”

Li Xuan’s face showed shame.

He turned his head and took a deep look at Chen Ji, then led the Imperial Guard outside: “Prepare the horses!”