Aoyama

Chapter 217 West Wind
Chen Ji entered the main room, where the sweet and fishy smell of blood and alcohol hit him in the face.

There were a few pieces of blood-stained white cloth thrown beside the bed, and the water in the copper basin by the window had also turned into blood.

Su Zhou lay quietly on the bed unconscious, the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes looked even deeper under the flickering candlelight.

Xiaoman whispered, "Sir, she has seven wounds in total, all of which have been stitched up and doused with strong liquor."

Chen Ji wanted to take a look at the bed, but was stopped by Xiaoman.

He asked in confusion: "What's wrong?"

Xiaoman hurriedly explained: "Young Master, please don't get close to her. This vicious woman is very fierce. Don't let her hurt you. If you have anything to do, tell me and I will do it."

Chen Ji looked at Xiao Man and said, "You won't let me get close to you, so aren't you afraid of her?"

Xiao Man said indifferently: "A maid has her own fate. If she plots against me, please remember to burn more paper money for me every July 15th. Oh, it would be even better if you can burn four paper figures of boys and girls. One can make water for me to wash my feet, one can cook for me, one can wash my clothes, and one can massage my legs. I, Xiao Man, can also enjoy being served in the underworld!"

Chen Ji didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Okay, I'll make two more for you, one who is hardworking and can serve as your coachman, and one who is skillful and can make beautiful clothes for you."

Xiaoman actually showed longing in her eyes: "It sounds so comfortable."

Chen Ji knocked her head and said, "Do you really want to die?"

Xiaoman came back to her senses and whispered, "I'm just thinking about it... Sir, I'll go wake up that vicious woman."

"Hey!" Chen Ji was about to speak out to stop him, but he saw Xiaoman running to the bedside like a gust of wind, calling him softly while secretly pressing Su Zhou's wound.

Su Zhou gasped in shock in his sleep, his forehead breaking out in a cold sweat from the pain.

Xiaoman asked anxiously, "Oh, what happened? Did you have a nightmare?"

Su Zhou gave her a sidelong glance: "Wait until I get better, you'll be in trouble."

Xiao Man looked innocent: "I just saved you, why are you repaying kindness with hatred?"

She leaned closer to the pillow and said in a low voice, "You wanted to kill my young master, but I didn't take the opportunity to kill you. I warn you, don't do it again."

Su Zhou stared at Xiao Man for a long time: "As long as he has not betrayed the prince, I will naturally not touch him. Not only will I not touch him, I will also repay him."

Chen Ji asked from a distance: "What are you two whispering about?"

Xiaoman stood up and said with a smile: "Sir, she said she wanted to drink some water."

Chen Ji walked to a place five steps away from the bed and stood still, hesitantly asking: "The government officials are looking for you everywhere. I need to ask you seriously once, will they find the Chen Mansion based on your omission? You have shed so much blood, will it attract hunting dogs?"

Su Zhou shook his head: "No, I escaped from the roof, and the hounds could only smell the intermittent smell. I also sprinkled wormwood and calamus powder on it, which would confuse the smell..."

Before he could finish his words, there was a light from outside the window.

Xiaoman opened the window a crack, but saw the fire outside the courtyard wall getting closer and brighter, as if many people holding torches were approaching quickly.

Su Zhou and Chen Ji's expressions changed, and they said at the same time:

"It was you who informed the authorities of my whereabouts?"

"Didn't you say you covered up the smell?"

They both spoke at the same time, each saying something different, and then fell silent.

After a moment, Chen Ji said, "Don't worry, I haven't informed the authorities of your whereabouts. Just lie here and don't move. I'll go out and deal with them. If you see that the opportunity is not right, you can escape through the back window and don't worry about me."

……

……

Outside Mingquan Garden.

The spies of the Secret Service all changed into official robes. In the dark night, the light of the torches illuminated their black robes. A red embroidered python on their shoulders stretched to their chests, making them look majestic and murderous.

According to the ancestral system of the Ning Dynasty, men who reached the highest position in the government and women who received imperial decrees were allowed to wear dragon robes. This dragon robe was originally the highest ideal of a civil official throughout his life.

However, during the Jianing period, the great man in the Renshou Palace was granted the dragon robe. Overnight, tens of thousands of secret agents and guards could wear the dragon robe, which slightly surpassed the civil officials and ministers.

In the Chen Mansion, a secret agent was walking side by side with Chen Liqin. Chen Liqin looked unhappy: "This newly appointed Lord Hai Dongqing, is he going to search my Chen Mansion from top to bottom? You don't think that my Chen family is harboring bandits, do you?"

The Haidongqing explained with a smile, "Don't mind, Master Chen. I am not targeting you. I am helping you."

Chen Liqin threw his sleeves and said angrily, "What nonsense! How can this be considered helping me?"

Hai Dongqing joked, "If we avoid the Chen and Zhang mansions during the search and catch the female assassin later, it will be fine. But if we fail to catch her, people will gossip that the Chen and Zhang mansions are the only ones left in Luo City and the thief must be hiding there. Will the two adults be able to explain it clearly then... Don't you think that's the truth?"

Chen Liqin said calmly, "Search if you want to, don't talk nonsense."

Hai Dongqing laughed cheerfully and said, "Master Chen is very reasonable. Master Zhang just scolded me severely and spit all over my face... Search! Remember, don't touch the money and property of the Chen Mansion, or I can't protect you!"

The spies were dispersed to every courtyard. They drove Chen Wenzong, who had already fallen asleep, out of the courtyard. Even Chen Wenxiao, whose injuries had not yet healed, limped out with the help of a maid.

The spy searched extremely carefully, leaving no cabinets or under the bed untouched.

Seeing the spies searching the gate of Mingquanyuan, one of them pushed the gate but failed to open it.

He turned around and whispered to the Saker Falcon, "Sir, the doors of the other courtyards are all open, but this courtyard is bolted. I'm afraid there's something fishy going on!"

As soon as these words came out, Hai Dongqing narrowed his eyes slightly, he pressed his right hand on the hilt of the long sword at his waist, and made two gestures with his left hand. Immediately, secret spies surrounded the courtyard, watching with a fierce look.

Chen Liqin stepped forward to explain: "My Lord, please don't misunderstand..."

Hai Dongqing interrupted with a fake smile: "Master Chen, whether it is a misunderstanding or not, it is not up to you or me to decide. We will know after we open the door."

After that, he drew out his sword and knocked on the door with the tip of the sword: "The Secret Service is investigating a case, come out!"

The night fell into silence, and the only remaining sound was the flickering sound of the torches in the cold wind, which made people feel uneasy.

Seeing that the gate took a long time to open, Hai Dongqing immediately started to sign silently, and several secret agents pretended to use a human ladder to climb into the yard.

A secret agent blew the whistle, and the magpie heard a sound.

The sound of the copper whistle spread far away, and the spies who were searching other places in Chen's mansion gathered together and formed a huge battle array behind Hai Dongqing. However, just as they were about to force their way in, the wooden door creaked open.

A secret agent brought the torch closer and illuminated Chen Ji's calm face. Hai Dongqing from the Secret Service's facial expression changed several times in an instant and he was speechless for a long time.

Chen Liqin stepped forward and introduced, "This is my Chen family's third son, Chen Ji. He has lived outside the mansion for the past two years and has developed some street-smart precautions. Locking the door is his usual habit, and he did not just bolt it today."

After listening to Chen Liqin's explanation, Hai Dongqing suddenly smiled and put away his sword: "Master Chen, you should have said it earlier. It turned out to be a misunderstanding. Everyone, put away your weapons and don't scare the third young master of the Chen family."

In Mingquan Garden, the atmosphere suddenly relaxed.

Hai Dongqing waved to the spies and said, "Why are you all gathered here? Have you searched other places? Disperse!"

The spies scattered in a hurry. Chen Liqin saw the spies running towards Wenyun Hall and immediately followed them: "Wenyun Hall is full of antiques and handed-down calligraphy and paintings. Don't destroy them!"

Seeing the crowd disperse, the Haidongqing said calmly, "Master Chen."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "Lord Xifeng, long time no see. I didn't hear that you were promoted to Haidongqing, otherwise I would definitely congratulate you."

Xifeng smiled shyly and said, "It was a stroke of luck. Thanks to you and Lord Jinzhu, I was able to get some credit in the Liu family's treason case. Otherwise, I would definitely not be promoted. Now Lord Jinzhu has left me in Luocheng to look after the business of our Secret Service Department."

Chen Ji whispered, "You and I are both Saker Falcon, there is no need to address me in this tone."

Xifeng waved his hands hurriedly: "No, no, I was able to be promoted to Hai Dongqing because I have endured all these years. Lord Jinzhu saw that I have no merits but have worked hard. You were promoted to Hai Dongqing because you just joined the Secret Service and cannot be promoted to a higher position."

Chen Ji asked calmly, "I heard that General Wang of the Qiansui Army died, but the murderer hasn't been caught yet?"

Xifeng said angrily, "That's right. I thought Luocheng was peaceful and I was planning to retire here, but I didn't expect this to happen again. That assassin is really something. Couldn't he kill Wang Chongli outside of Luocheng? He had to put the blame on me..."

At this point, Xifeng rolled his eyes and said, "Master Chen, how about you help me investigate this case? With your ability, you will definitely be able to catch the culprit."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "I will be going to Beijing with the Chen family in the near future, so I am afraid I don't have enough time. But you can tell me the clues you have so far, and I will help you analyze them."

Xifeng thought for a moment and recalled: "One of the assassins in this assassination is a female assassin named Su Zhou. This is a foregone conclusion. The court has been looking for her for many years. Eighteen years ago, she disguised herself as a prostitute to assassinate Prince Jing. It is said that Prince Jing pitied her background and spared her life because of her young age. Seven years ago, she disguised herself as a peddler and assassinated the eunuch superintendent of our Silijian silver field in Jinling..."

When you talk about all the things, the number of lives Su Zhou has lost is so many that it makes your scalp tingle.

Xifeng leaned closer and whispered, "Master Chen, Su Zhou is not a big deal. It's understandable that I didn't catch the assassin that Master Xuanshe didn't catch. But the other assassin tonight is unusual, and we have to catch him."

Chen Ji raised his eyebrows: "Oh? What's the secret?"

Xifeng said: "A soldier from the Qiansui Army went to the Military Affairs Department to report the news and luckily survived. According to him, before Su Zhou's assassination, there was another officer who drove a monster. According to his description, the officer clearly practiced the Mandala Seal and drove a Taotie."

Chen Ji said calmly: "Mandala Seal? Could it be someone from the Southern Yunnan Esoteric Sect?"

“No, no, no,” Xifeng shook his head. “In southern Yunnan, there are indeed many monks who practice the Mandala Seal, but the branch that drives the Taotie is a single-line sect. As early as two hundred years ago, this sect, led by Master Bashiba, moved to Jing Dynasty to preach... This assassin came from Jing Dynasty!”

Once the clues involve Jing Dynasty, the Secret Service must fight to the death.

Chen Ji's heart tightened. If the official who drove the Taotie was really Xiaoman, then who taught her this skill? Was it his biological mother?

Xifeng asked, "How is it, Master Chen, do you have any clues?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment and said, "I heard from the soldiers of the Military Affairs Department that the female assassin was seriously injured. Why don't you search all the medical clinics and the herbal medicine dealers as well?"

Xifeng sighed: "I thought so too, but I haven't gained anything yet..."

Chen Ji turned sideways and asked with a smile, "Lord Xifeng, do you want to search my yard?"

Xifeng smiled and waved his hands: "We are all family, how can I search you? Lord Chen, please go to bed early. I am afraid I will not be able to sleep tonight."

Chen Ji bowed and said, "Then I won't waste Master Xifeng's time."

Xifeng bowed in return: "I'm leaving, you can sleep well."

The gate of Mingquan Garden slowly closed. Xifeng took a few steps and looked back at the tightly closed wooden door with suspicion.

After a few breaths, he smiled and shook his head, then held the knife at his waist and went to search somewhere else.

……

……

Chen Ji closed the gate and breathed a sigh of relief.

He grasped the door latch with both hands, listened quietly to the sound of the west wind fading away, then turned and went back into the house.

As soon as I entered the door, I saw Su Zhou and Xiaoman standing by the window, as if they had been peeking for a long time.

Su Zhou asked calmly, "You are an apprentice in a medical clinic, why are you so familiar with the eunuch party? What did you say to him just now, why is he so polite to you?"

Chen Ji looked frightened and said, "What do you mean? Are you doubting me? My master once treated the internal minister's leg disease. After coming to Luocheng, the eunuch party also came to the clinic to get medicine for the internal minister. We became familiar with each other. If I wanted to betray you, how could you still stand here and talk? I helped you with good intentions, why are you judging me with your own mean heart?"

Su Zhou thought that this was indeed the truth.

However, the expression of the secret agent Hai Dongqing when facing Chen Ji just now did not seem like he was facing an apprentice, but rather a...boss.

Chen Ji said timidly: "My lady, I don't know what your relationship with Prince Jing is, and how you plan to avenge him, but I have done what I should do. Tomorrow the Chen family will set off for the capital. I just need to find a way to send you out of the city, and then we will go our separate ways."

Su Zhou said calmly: "No."

Chen Ji shrank his neck and said, "What are you going to do? We are just ordinary people and cannot stand such a shock. Thinking back to what happened just now, my legs are still weak."

Su Zhou slowed down his tone and said softly: "Thank you for saving me. I will definitely reward you handsomely in the future. But since you have a relationship with the palace, how about being a good person and sending me to the capital? The prince once asked me to look for you, but now I have no one I can trust."

Xiaoman at the side hurriedly said: "Sir, don't agree to this vicious woman..."

But before she could finish her words, Su Zhou took out a copper coin from his hair and quietly put it into Xiaoman's hand. Xiaoman's eyes lit up and she suddenly closed her mouth.

Chen Ji walked to the table and poured himself a cup of tea. He turned his back to the two of them and his expression gradually calmed down.

After a long time, he drank the tea in the cup and made up his mind.

Chen Ji turned around and said reluctantly: "Then for the sake of Prince Jing, I will help you again and send you to the capital."

(End of this chapter)