Inside the Dragon Gate Inn, guests whispered among themselves, debating whether to purchase information. Waiters, trays in hand, flitted between the Eight Immortals tables like busy bees in a flower garden.

Chen Ji had sold seven pieces of information, netting three thousand five hundred taels of silver, far exceeding his expectations. He had initially planned to sell each piece for two hundred taels, considering a profit of over a thousand taels to be quite good.

Who would have thought that ‘Third Master,’ who appeared out of nowhere, would suddenly raise the price, allowing him to rake in a huge profit.

The guests who had bought information furrowed their brows and quickly exited, leading their respective retinues.

The man named Zhang, whom the madam had previously addressed, stopped outside the door, feeling increasingly uneasy. “Although this information is important, five hundred taels of silver is too expensive, isn’t it? What was the last piece of information sold for such a high price?”

His attendant beside him replied, “Master, that was eight years ago, when the innkeeper of Dragon Gate Inn sold information on behalf of their patron, asking six hundred taels.”

The man named Zhang asked, “What was the information about?”

The attendant whispered, “Our business was still small back then, so we couldn’t afford to buy it…”

The man named Zhang mused, “I can’t help but feel that Third Master is a shill. Tell me, when have you ever seen Third Master react with such surprise? Normally, he wouldn’t even flinch with a knife held to his throat, but today he suddenly stood up and left in a hurry after hearing a piece of news? It’s a bit too exaggerated.”

The attendant hesitated for a long time. “Master, who could possibly hire Third Master as a shill? If you were to ask him to be a shill, do you think he would agree?”

The man named Zhang thought for a moment. “He might just slap me across the face.”

The attendant spread his hands. “There you have it.”

The man named Zhang rubbed his face. “Let’s go. We need to make some preparations before the Jing Dynasty besieges the city.”

With that, the group tightened their collars, braved the wind, and hurried away with their heads bowed.

Inside the inn, the people around Chen Ji’s table finally dispersed. Zhang Xia seized the opportunity to remind him, “The Imperial Guards have left.”

Zhang Zheng raised an eyebrow. “The Imperial Guards were here too?”

Zhang Xia nodded. “Yes, they were wearing conical hats and hiding in the corner. They even secretly sent an unfamiliar face to buy information. But Li Xuan and Qi Zhenzhuo’s figures are very distinctive; I can recognize them without even seeing their faces.”

Zhang Zheng looked at Chen Ji worriedly. “What if they tell the Crown Prince that we’re selling information? Those in power most detest having leaks from their inner circle. If you’re selling information related to him for money, he’s bound to hold a grudge… Aren’t you trying to get close to him?”

Chen Ji remained silent.

Xiao Man, behind him, suddenly said, “Master, why don’t we silence them? They haven’t gone far; there’s still time.”

Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia slowly turned their heads, staring intently at Xiao Man, speechless for a long time.

Chen Ji smiled reassuringly. “It’s fine. The Crown Prince is in an awkward position right now: with the Jing Dynasty army attacking, investigating the ‘Killing the Virtuous for Merit’ case is untimely. If the border army successfully defends Guyuan, he certainly cannot investigate those who have rendered great service. Even if he wanted to investigate, he would have to wait some time, otherwise he would lose all public support.”

Zhang Xia chimed in, “But he can’t return to the capital empty-handed. If he can’t investigate the ‘Killing the Virtuous for Merit’ case, he must achieve other great merits, otherwise he won’t be able to explain himself to the Emperor.”

Chen Ji nodded. “If I can help him achieve merit, selling a bit of information is nothing.”

As they spoke, the madam from Hongxiu Brothel returned, bringing with her a fragrant breeze. She asked with a smile, “Young man, may I borrow a bowl of wine?”

Before Chen Ji could speak, Xiao Man had already clutched the wine jar tightly. “We bought this for three hundred coins a jar; you can’t have any.”

The madam rolled her eyes. “Even an old hen protecting her eggs isn’t as protective as you are! Can’t I even ask your young master a few questions?”

Xiao Man glared at her. “If you want to ask questions, then ask properly! Why are you batting your eyelashes? Sit up straight!”

The madam ignored Xiao Man and turned to Chen Ji, asking, “Young man, I can’t spend these five hundred taels without knowing what I’m getting. I need to confirm first: is this information absolutely true?”

Chen Ji nodded. “Absolutely true.”

The madam wanted to lean closer and ask more, but she glanced at Xiao Man behind Chen Ji and stopped herself. “As far as I know, last night Shache Street was occupied only by the border army and the Crown Prince’s men, and the entire street was sealed off. How did you know what happened inside? Were you on Shache Street at the time?”

Chen Ji calmly replied, “According to inn rules, information shared must be personally experienced by the teller. You needn’t worry.”

The madam continued, “And how did the Crown Prince know there were Jing Dynasty spies on Shache Street? I heard that yesterday someone led the way to buy information from a ‘Qing Jiaotou,’ which happened to be related to the Shache Street incident. That person wouldn’t happen to be you, young master, would it? Are you one of the Crown Prince’s people?”

Zhang Xia suddenly spoke up, asking sharply, “Why are you asking all this? Are you looking for the person who tipped off the Crown Prince yesterday, seeking revenge for the Jing Dynasty spies?”

The madam’s expression changed. “I was just asking casually. After all, one must ensure the reliability of the information. I have no connection to the Jing Dynasty.”

Chen Ji scrutinized the madam before him. “An ordinary person wouldn’t ask such questions.”

The madam held his gaze for a long time, then smiled faintly, rose, and walked towards the exit. “It seems I was too talkative.”

She reached the door and lifted the cotton curtain. Just then, a loud bell suddenly rang out from outside. The bell rang urgently, one peal after another, from within Guyuan city, sounding exactly twelve times!

Inside the Dragon Gate Inn, everyone’s expression changed. “Oh no, the border army’s alarm bell! The Jing Dynasty has arrived!”

As the bell reverberated, dark clouds suddenly pressed down from the sky, and the heavens darkened, devoid of sun or moon.

It was as if the Jing Dynasty’s Tiance Army was descending from the heavens, an utterly suffocating sight.

The Jing Dynasty had truly arrived!

The madam remained frozen in the pose of holding up the door curtain, as if the bell had stopped her in her tracks. The next moment, she quickened her steps and departed. The other guests in the inn also rose one after another, rushing out in a frantic hurry.

“Hurry, stock up on grain!”
“Quickly sell off your goods!”

In an instant, the bustling inn became deserted, with only scattered dishes on tables and sunflower seed shells on the floor, a complete mess.

Inside the establishment, only the innkeeper, Xiao Wu, Chen Ji, Zhang Zheng, Zhang Xia, and Xiao Man remained, as if the previous commotion had been an illusion.

Xiao Wu, holding a broom and dustpan, was sweeping the inn. He asked Chen Ji, “Sir, we’ll likely be closing early today. Would you like some main course? If so, I can ask the kitchen to make you a bowl of ‘Saozi’ noodles.”

Chen Ji, however, suddenly asked, “Let me ask you something. Is Third Master very famous in Guyuan?”

Xiao Wu was slightly taken aback and instinctively looked back at the innkeeper. The innkeeper stood behind the counter, not even lifting an eyelid, jotting down today’s accounts with a brush.

Xiao Wu looked at Chen Ji and smiled shyly, “Sir, here at Dragon Gate Inn, information isn’t given for free.”

Zhang Xia took out a ten-tael silver ingot and pushed it to the edge of the table. “Tell us.”

Xiao Wu shook his head. “Information concerning Third Master costs fifty taels.”

Zhang Xia thought for a moment, then took out four more silver ingots and placed them on the table.

Xiao Wu, beaming, tucked the silver ingots into his embrace. “You’re very generous, sir! No wonder you’re able to conduct big business and make a fortune!”

Zhang Zheng, cracking sunflower seeds, said, “Don’t dawdle. Just tell us.”

Xiao Wu leaned on his broom, reminiscing, “Third Master was originally a prominent figure in the border army, serving as an adjutant to General Wentao… Everyone, do you know what rank an adjutant holds?”

Zhang Xia calmly replied, “In the border army, the Commander-in-Chief is number one, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief is number two, and the Adjutant is number three. So Third Master was once the third-highest-ranking figure in the border army? I recall the previous border army adjutant was Hu Junyuan, the cousin of the current Commander-in-Chief Hu Junxian. Was it him?”

Xiao Wu’s mouth dropped open. “Where are you from, miss? You’re not from Guyuan, are you? How do you even know that?”

“My sister is very capable,” Zhang Zheng chuckled. “Continue.”

Xiao Wu continued, “Years ago, when he was still with the border army, he set all the rules in Guyuan—what could and couldn’t be done, he decided. All the young people in Guyuan city dreamed of becoming someone like him one day. At first, everyone called him ‘Brother Hu Third,’ and later it slowly became ‘Third Master Hu.’ However, he suddenly left the Guyuan border army eight years ago, and no one knows where he went. Some say he followed a powerful figure, while others say he was planning revenge for General Wentao. After he left, Guyuan gradually became a bit lawless.”

Zhang Xia suddenly asked, “What’s his relationship with your innkeeper?”

Xiao Wu feigned ignorance. “No relationship at all.”

Zhang Xia pulled the silver ingots on the table back towards herself. “You’re not telling the truth. We won’t buy this information from you.”

Xiao Wu looked at the silver and grew anxious. “Third Master and our innkeeper used to be…”

“Ahem!”

Xiao Wu turned around to see the innkeeper coldly staring at him from behind the counter. “Are you tired of living? Get out of here!”

Xiao Wu hunched his shoulders, quickly grabbed his broom, and hobbled away.

Chen Ji chuckled, cupping his hands to the innkeeper. “I had no intention of prying into your personal affairs. Please forgive my offense.”

The innkeeper gave a mirthless smile. “No harm done, no harm done.”

Chen Ji rose and went upstairs, but he couldn’t help but wonder. From what he knew of Hu Third Master’s past, there shouldn’t be any connection to him.

How strange.

After Chen Ji and the others went upstairs, the innkeeper was busy checking accounts when he saw someone push aside the cotton curtain and enter.

He looked up and saw that it was indeed the madam from Hongxiu Brothel, who had returned.

The innkeeper casually asked, “What are you doing back? I advise you not to cause trouble in my inn, or Guyuan won’t tolerate you.”

The madam covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief, giggling coquettishly, “Oh, Second Master, don’t say that. What trouble could I cause? I’ve arranged to meet that young man in his room tonight, but he didn’t mention which room. Could the innkeeper please tell me?”

The innkeeper’s expression was knowing. “Heavenly Character Room A.”

The madam pondered for a moment, then turned and walked upstairs.

“Sister Hong,” the innkeeper called out to her from behind the counter, “Have you thought this through? If you cause trouble in my Dragon Gate Inn, you’ll pay with your life.”

The madam was silent for a moment, then smiled. “I know.”

After the madam went upstairs, Xiao Wu leaned over and asked, “Innkeeper, you said before that Hongxiu Brothel is full of Jing Dynasty spies. Are you just letting her go upstairs like that? She’s probably going to kill someone.”

The innkeeper sneered, “She kills people, I take money. Isn’t that logical?”

Xiao Wu pleaded, “But if she kills someone in the inn, it might ruin our inn’s reputation.”

The innkeeper calmly stated, “Afterward, we’ll skin her, pull out her tendons, and hang her on the archway. Xiao Wu, we run a shady inn; don’t pretend to have a kind heart.”

“Oh…” Xiao Wu grumbled and went back to sweeping.

At that moment, the door curtain was pushed open again.

The newcomer removed his conical hat and straw cape, brushing dust from his clothes. “Innkeeper, I’m back.”

The innkeeper frowned, looking at Xiao Liu before him. “I sent you to inquire about someone’s identity, and it took you a day and a night? Don’t tell me you were fooling around with some woman!”

Xiao Liu complained bitterly, “How could that be? Innkeeper, you don’t know, the border army is currently preparing for war, so it’s hard to find anyone. I waited a whole day at the city gate tower before I finally saw my childhood friend.”

“I’d believe a ghost before I’d believe you,” the innkeeper sneered. “Someone said they saw you at Qingchun Pavilion last night.”

Xiao Liu snapped, “Whose damn mouth is so loose!”

The innkeeper also said angrily, “Quickly! I told you to find out that young man’s identity. Did you get it clear or not?”

Xiao Liu quickly moved closer, grinning apologetically. “I found out, I found out! That young man came to Guyuan with Chen Liqin, the new Vice Director of the Imperial Academy. He is Chen Liqin’s third son, named Chen Ji.”

The innkeeper froze on the spot. “Say that again?!”

Xiao Liu puzzled, “Chen Liqin’s third son, named Chen Ji… Did I say something wrong?”

The innkeeper murmured, looking out the window, “No wonder Third Brother is back…”

Xiao Liu hung his conical hat and straw cape on the wall and asked with a smile, “Innkeeper, I just saw the madam from Hongxiu Brothel enter a moment ago. Where is she?”

The innkeeper snapped back to attention and gasped, “Oh no!”

With that, he leaped out from behind the counter like a great eagle and sprang towards the stairs.