Aoyama

Chapter 177 Identity
The East City of Los Angeles is like the spring of the year, and the prosperous vitality of the city always starts here.

While the people of Luo City were still trembling with fear, the merchants in the East Market had quietly removed the door panels and started doing business in a low-key manner.

Chen Ji, dressed in grey cloth, walked up and down the street, stopping and starting as if he was looking for something. He looked relaxed, as if today was no different from the past.

Finally, he stopped in front of the Dingchang Pawn Shop, looked up at the plaque, and then stepped over the threshold: "Boss, pawn your things."

The pawnshop counter is different from that of ordinary shops. The front counter is sealed with varnished wooden boards, leaving only a small window at the top.

Behind the window, an old shopkeeper with white hair and beard looked out of the small window with his head lowered and eyes narrowed: "What do you want to pawn, young man?"

Chen Ji took out a huge pearl from his sleeve and handed it over: "Dongzhu."

The old shopkeeper took it casually, put it close to his eyes and examined it carefully, saying: "Remember this, poor young man, you can only pawn it for a few dollars."

At that time, there were many pawnshop jargons, such as robes were called "windblocks", silver was called "soft goods dragon", gold was called "hard goods dragon", pearls were called "round seeds", fox skin was called "big hair", and sheepskin was called "small hair".

Whenever someone pawned something, the shopkeeper would first make a few derogatory remarks. For example, if someone was pawning fur, he would say, "It's just a bare board with no fur on it. The big fur will be eaten by bugs and rats."

Chen Ji smiled and asked, "How much silver can it be pawned for?"

The old shopkeeper thought for a moment and said, "Twenty taels of silver."

Chen Ji asked, "I heard someone say this thing is worth four hundred taels."

The old shopkeeper held the pearl in his hand and looked at Chen Ji with a squint: "Young man, this thing must have come from an illegal source. How can an ordinary family have such a big pearl? With your outfit... I will only give you 20 taels. If you think it's too little, go ask other families. But if I send you to the authorities for investigation, I'm afraid you will lose your life."

Chen Ji did not refute, but took out another object from his sleeve and handed it over: "Then please help me take a look at this thing."

The old shopkeeper took the Secret Service badge and said subconsciously, "Dull... Oh, my ancestor!"

There was a clang inside the counter, and the old shopkeeper fell off his high chair. He didn't care about the pain, and quickly opened the side door beside the counter and ran out in small steps: "What brings you here, sir? I was blind just now. The value of that oriental pearl is whatever you say it is!"

Chen Ji said calmly: "I don't mean to embarrass you, just give me the pearl at the market price."

The old shopkeeper said quickly, "Okay, okay, we'll get you some money right away. Do you want to pawn your life or your life?"

"It's definitely a pawn," Chen Ji said, "Don't rush to change the silver. Does Dingchang Pawn Shop have old mountain ginseng that others have pawned? We don't want those with a low age."

"Yes, yes, yes. Since you asked, how can we not have any?" The old shopkeeper said, "Brother, take out all the ginseng in our warehouse for the official to choose from."

Chen Ji waited silently. This oriental pearl was left behind by Concubine Jing when she sent Chunhua to frame him. He had not been an official for so long. Firstly, he was worried that someone would find fault with him and cause trouble. Secondly, he was worried that he would be easily deceived in this world without an official position.

Now that Concubine Jing has passed away, this Oriental Pearl is no longer a threat.

The old shopkeeper brought out eight exquisite wooden boxes and said, "Take a look. These are all ginsengs collected from our pawnshop. If you want them, I can give them to you at the price of thirty taels... no, twenty taels per ginseng."

Chen Ji suddenly asked, "How much money was collected? Bring me the account book."

The old shopkeeper immediately looked bitter: "Fifteen taels a stick!"

Chen Ji thought for a moment and said, "Okay, throw away all the wooden boxes and wrap the ginseng in cloth."

After an incense stick of time, he left the pawn shop with the money and the people. But just as he left, Yun Yang came out from the alley on the side of the pawn shop and walked in.

In just a moment, Yun Yang walked out of the pawn shop and came to a carriage across the street and whispered, "Lord Bailong, this guy went in and revealed his identity as a spy, and pawned the Dongzhu that Concubine Jing lost for 460 taels of silver, and then bought eight ginseng roots from the pawn shop at the price of 15 taels each."

A lazy voice came from the carriage: "Nothing else?"

"Gone."

Bai Long said slowly through the curtain: "This kid is very cautious. He kept an orchid for so long before pawning it. He just got the way to practice, so it is understandable that he wants to exchange it for practice resources... Yunyang, do you think this kid knows where Yunfei is?"

Yun Yang thought for a moment and said, "Master Bai Long, you think too highly of this boy. He is just a junior apprentice in the clinic. How could he know where Concubine Yun is?"

Bai Long said lightly, "Yun Yang, it's not easy for you and Jiao Rabbit to become zodiac signs, so you should cherish them. Although you were born as killers, you can't be a killer forever."

Yun Yang hesitated: "What do you mean, sir?"

Bai Long smiled and said, "I know you and Jiaotu are worried about this kid's revenge, but he has already caught the attention of the Minister of Internal Affairs. If you are not absolutely sure, it is better not to provoke him."

Yun Yang understood: "My Lord wants me to find an opportunity to kill with one strike."

Bai Long in the car was silent for a moment, then he scolded with a smile: "Yun Yang, you are also a wonderful person. If you have the time, why not find Yun Fei for me quickly? Now that she is missing, many things cannot be done. There is only half a month left before the deadline given by the Minister of Internal Affairs. If things are not done properly and she escapes, be careful that you and I will both be punished."

"This woman is really alert. She seemed to have noticed it in advance and ran away without a trace." Yunyang complained in a low voice: "My lord, Jiaotu and I are not good at finding people. Why don't we let Jinzhu and Mengji go?"

Bai Long thought about it and said, "That's right. Let's go back to the Liu family mansion."

Yunyang let out a sigh, sat in the driver's seat and raised the whip.

On the eaves of Dingchang Pawn Shop, a tabby cat that was dozing with its paws tucked into its tucked-in bag opened its eyes, stood up, climbed over the roof and disappeared.

……

……

A few blocks away, at the Ma Ji noodle stall, the boss was stirring the bone soup in the big pot with a long-handled wooden spoon, when he heard someone come in and say, "Boss, one bowl of noodles, and one serving of mutton."

The boss asked casually without even turning his head: "Would you like wide noodles or thin noodles, sir?"

"Wide noodles."

The boss turned around and saw a thin and handsome young man sitting near the window. He said, "Please wait a moment, sir."

While he was pulling noodles, he heard the young man ask, "Boss, why is there no one in the store at lunch time?"

The boss smiled bitterly and said, "There is war in the city, so only the merchants who have settled here are willing to come out to buy food. These merchants are also unlucky. They want to go home but can't. Their goods are stored at the dock and they have to pay the warehouse fees to the canal gang."

The young man asked casually, "Are there no boats leaving the dock?"

The boss threw the torn noodles into the boiling pot and said, "I don't know why, but the boat won't leave."

Chen Ji looked at the sparse pedestrians outside the window. He guessed that in the plan of the Secret Service, the Liu family and Prince Jing were closely related. After killing the Liu family, they would also get rid of Prince Jing, killing two birds with one stone.

But no one expected that when Prince Jing was in a coma, he reminded Concubine Yun that "the prince has discovered that Han Tong, the leader of Luotian Sect, often comes to visit the princess", causing Concubine Yun to flee the palace and hide. As a result of a series of mistakes, the Secret Service lost the key witness.

Now, since the Secret Service cannot find Concubine Yun, it cannot use the evidence of "Prince Jing's Mansion colluding with the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Department" to nail down a powerful vassal king with great reputation.

But Concubine Yun has always been a huge hidden danger in Luo City.

The boss placed a wooden tray in front of Chen Ji and said, "Enjoy your meal, sir. You are the first customer today, so I will give you one or two more sides."

Chen Ji pulled out chopsticks from the wooden tube on the table and said thank you.

I had just taken two bites of noodles when I saw a furry black cloud leap from outside to the windowsill and meowed, "No one is following us. The dock is under the surveillance of the Secret Service. People are only allowed to enter but not leave. Right now, a group of secret agents in plain clothes are searching everywhere. Anyone who approaches the dock will be caught and interrogated. The homes of the dock thugs have been turned upside down."

Chen Ji smiled and took the mutton from the bowl and handed it to its mouth: "Thank you for your hard work these days."

Wuyun held the mutton in his mouth, tilted his head back and swallowed it: "It's so hot!"

Chen Ji picked up another piece of mutton, blew on it, and then passed it to the dog's mouth: "Where is she?"

After eating it, Wuyun meowed softly: "Here it comes."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a woman with a sallow complexion passing by the window carrying a basket of vegetables.

Chen Ji immediately put down his chopsticks, threw thirty-two copper coins on the table, stood up and followed.

The woman carrying a basket looked like the aunt next door. She first went to the grain and oil store to buy two taels of corn flour, then went to the street corner to buy a few multi-grain cakes, and then turned into a small alley.

Between the white walls and gray tiles, Chen Ji whispered behind her, "Madam Yunfei."

The woman ignored him and continued walking forward leisurely.

Chen Ji followed her slowly and spoke again, "You just went to observe the dock quietly, right? The eunuch party blocked the dock and put all the Cao Gang members under Luo Tianzong under close surveillance. You wanted to leave Luocheng, but you couldn't get away at all."

The woman turned around and looked at Chen Ji in confusion: "Young man, are you talking to me? I think you have the wrong person."

At this time, Concubine Yun was no longer wearing any jewels, her gray cloth shirt was patched, and there was a small hole at the toe of her cloth shoes.

The other person's appearance had also changed. Her eyebrows were much thinner, her nose was much higher, and her lips were much smaller. Even if someone who was familiar with her met her face to face, they might not be able to recognize her.

No wonder the Secret Service couldn’t find it.

Concubine Yun no longer paid attention to Chen Ji and turned away.

But she heard Chen Ji behind her suddenly say: "Madam, I have a way to send you to Jing Dynasty."

Yun Fei suddenly turned around with her basket on her shoulder and asked arrogantly, "How did you find me?"

In just that instant, she straightened her shoulders and back and turned into the dignified princess again. Even her coarse headscarf and clothes could not hide her noble demeanor that came from years of luxury.

Chen Ji said calmly: "Madam is anxious to leave Luocheng now. Luo Tianzong can't help you, but I can."

Concubine Yun asked back: "Hasn't your military intelligence department's influence in Luocheng been eradicated by the eunuch party? Why are you sending me away?"

Chen Ji didn't want to bring up his identity as a spy, but at this moment he could only go along with what the other party said: "My Military Intelligence Department has been lurking in Ning Dynasty for so many years, so we must have our confidence. Otherwise, how would I have found you? You don't need to ask too much, just know that I can help you leave."

Concubine Yun pondered for a moment, stared at Chen Ji and said, "No one in the world would get up early without profit, why would your Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department help me?"

Chen Ji explained: "Our Military Intelligence Department wants to cooperate with Luo Tianzong, so naturally we have to protect Madam's life."

Yun Fei suddenly smiled and said, "You are lying."

Chen Ji calmly asked, "What do you mean, Madam?"

Yun Fei walked towards Chen Ji step by step, carrying a basket of vegetables. She stopped slowly when she was two steps away. "You are here for the white carp, right?"

Chen Ji remained silent.

The two men stood in the narrow alley, confronting each other, and the atmosphere was solemn.

After a moment, Chen Ji said, "Madam, can you answer a question for me?"

Concubine Yun did not comment: "Ask."

Chen Ji asked, "Did the prince instruct you to contact the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department?"

Concubine Yun sneered: "If he didn't instruct me, why would I contact you?"

Chen Ji took a deep breath and asked, "Does the prince know my identity as a spy of the Jing Dynasty?"

Yun Fei laughed: "So you are worried about this, he naturally knows about it."

Chen Ji was suddenly confused.

When Bai Long mentioned that Concubine Yun was in collusion with the Jing Dynasty, Chen Ji realized that this was part of the plan between the Secret Service and Prince Jing. Prince Jing must know his identity as a spy, and there was no reason for Concubine Yun to hide it from him.

But since Prince Jing knew this, why didn't he care about his identity as a spy and even entrusted his son to the care of others?
Moreover, since the other party has entrusted their son to the care of others, Bailong, Jinzhu and others must not know their identities, otherwise this entrustment of the son to others would be meaningless.

Why did Prince Jing hide this matter from the Secret Service?

Chen Ji suddenly felt a headache. He felt as if he was stuck in a quagmire, but he didn't know how he got there or how to get out.

He looked up at Concubine Yun and said, "Madam, no matter what you think, please come here again tomorrow evening and I will take you out of Luo City."

Concubine Yun asked in a deep voice, "How can we leave the city without the Secret Service badge?"

Chen Ji said: "I have my own way."

Concubine Yun turned and left: "I hope you didn't say such outrageous words."

Chen Ji watched Yun Fei disappear at the end of the alley. Dark clouds jumped from the roof to his shoulders and meowed curiously, "Are you really going to take the risk and send her away?"

Chen Ji stood in the shadow of the high wall in the alley and did not answer.

(End of this chapter)