176. Identity
East City in Los Angeles is like spring throughout the year, and the city's thriving vitality always starts here.
While the people of Luocheng 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 gray cloth, walked the streets, stopping and starting, as if searching for something. He looked relaxed, as if today was no different from the past. Finally, he stopped in front of the Dingchang Pawn Shop, glanced up at the plaque, and then stepped over the threshold: "Boss, pawning something."
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 peeked out through the small window, his head lowered and his eyes narrowed. "Young man, what do you want to pawn?" Chen Ji pulled a large pearl from his sleeve and raised his hand to offer it: "Dongzhu."
The old shopkeeper took it casually, brought it close to his eyes and examined it carefully, saying, "Take note, a poor young man, pawning a few yuan."
At that time, pawnshops were full of jargon: robes were called "windbreaks," silver was called "soft goods dragons," gold was called "hard goods dragons," pearls were called "yuanzi," fox fur was called "da mao," and sheepskin was called "xiao mao." Whenever someone pawned something, the shopkeeper would first make a few derogatory remarks. If someone was pawning fur, he would say, "It's bare, with no fur at all. It's a piece of fur that's eaten by bugs and rats."
Chen Ji smiled and asked, "How much can it be pawned for?" The old shopkeeper thought for a moment and said, "Twenty taels of silver."
Chen Ji asked, "I heard that this item is worth four hundred taels."
The old shopkeeper held the pearl in his hand and squinted at Chen Ji. "Young man, this item must have come from an illicit source. How could an ordinary family have such a large pearl? With all your clothes... I'll only give you twenty taels. If you think that's too little, go ask someone else. But if I hand you over to the authorities, I'm afraid you'll be killed."
Chen Ji didn't argue, but pulled another object from his sleeve and handed it over: "Then please help me take a look at this thing." The old shopkeeper casually took the Secret Service badge and said subconsciously: "Dull... Ouch, ancestors!"
There was a clang from the counter, and the old shopkeeper fell from his high chair. He ignored 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. That oriental pearl is worth whatever you say it is worth!"
Chen Ji said calmly, "I don't mean to embarrass you. Just pawn this pearl for me at the market price."
The old shopkeeper hurriedly said, "Okay, okay, we'll get the money for you right away. Do you want to pawn your life or your whole life?"
"It's definitely a pawn," Chen Ji said. "Don't rush to change the silver yet. Does your Dingchang Pawn Shop have any old mountain ginseng that someone else is pawning? We don't want any that are younger."
"Yes, yes, yes. Since you've asked, how can we not have any?" the old shopkeeper said, "Handy, take out all the ginseng in our warehouse and let the official choose."
Chen Ji waited silently. This Oriental Pearl was left behind by Concubine Jing when she sent Chunhua to frame him. He hadn't held office for so long, fearing the consequences of being caught and deceived, and secondly, the danger of being without an official position. Now that Concubine Jing was gone, the Oriental Pearl was finally safe.
The old shopkeeper brought out eight exquisite wooden boxes. "Please take a look! These are all ginseng we collected from the pawnshop. If you want them, I'll give them to you at thirty taels... no, I'll give them to you at twenty taels per piece." Chen Ji suddenly asked, "How much did you pay for these? Bring me the account book."
The old shopkeeper suddenly looked miserable: "Fifteen taels a stick!"
Chen Ji thought for a moment and said, "Okay, throw away the wooden boxes and wrap the ginseng in cloth."
An incense stick later, he left the pawnshop carrying the money and the people. But just as he left, Yunyang came out from the alley beside the pawnshop and walked in.
In a moment, Yun Yang walked out of the pawn shop and came to a carriage across the street. He whispered, "Master Bailong, this guy went in and revealed his identity as a spy and pawned the Oriental Pearl that Concubine Jing lost for four hundred and sixty taels of silver. He then bought eight ginseng roots from the pawn shop for fifteen taels each."
A lazy voice came from the carriage: "Nothing else?" "Nothing."
Bai Long said slowly through the curtain: "This
The boy is quite cautious, holding onto an Eastern Pearl for so long before pawning it. He's just gained a cultivation path, so it's understandable that he'd want to trade it for cultivation resources... Yunyang, do you think this boy knows where Yun Fei is?" Yunyang pondered for a moment. "Master Bailong, you're overestimating this boy. He's just a junior apprentice at the clinic. How could he possibly know Yun Fei's whereabouts?"
Bai Long said lightly, "Yun Yang, it's not easy for you and Jiao Tu to become zodiac signs. You should cherish it. Although you were born as assassins, you can't be assassins forever." Yun Yang hesitated, "What do you mean, sir?"
Bai Long smiled and said, "I know you and Jiaotu are worried about this brat's revenge, but he has already caught the attention of the Lord Internal Minister. If you are not absolutely sure, it is best not to provoke him." Yun Yang understood: "Lord, you want me to find an opportunity to kill him with one strike."
Bai Long was silent in the car for a moment, then laughed and scolded, "Yun Yang, you are also a wonderful person. If you have time to spare, why not quickly find Yun Fei for me? Without her, many things can't be done. The deadline given by the Minister of Internal Affairs is only two weeks away. If we don't handle things properly and let her escape, be careful that you and I will both be punished."
"This woman is quite alert. She seemed to have noticed us beforehand and then she vanished without a trace." Yunyang grumbled softly, "Sir, Jiaotu and I aren't very good at finding people. Why don't we let Jinzhu and Mengji go?" Bailong thought for a moment and said, "That's right. Let's go back to the Liu family mansion."
Yunyang let out a sigh, then raised the whip while sitting in the driver's seat.
On the eaves of the Dingchang Pawn Shop, a tabby cat dozing with its paws tucked into its tummy opened its eyes, stood up, climbed over the roof, and disappeared.
...
A few blocks away, at the Ma Kee noodle stall, the owner was stirring the bone broth in a large pot with a long-handled wooden spoon when someone walked in and said, "Boss, one bowl of noodles with a side of mutton." Without even turning around, the owner casually asked, "Would you like wide or thin noodles?"
"Wide noodles."
The boss turned around and saw a thin, handsome young man sitting by the window. He said, "Please wait a moment, sir." As he was pulling the noodles, he heard the young man ask, "Boss, why is there no one in the shop at lunchtime?"
The boss smiled wryly and said, "With the war raging in the city, only the merchants who have settled here are willing to come out to buy food. They're unlucky too, wanting to go home but unable to. Their goods are piled up at the dock, and they have to pay the canal gang for storage." The young man asked casually, "Are there no ships leaving the dock?"
The boss threw the pulled noodles into the boiling pot and said, "I don't know why, but the boat won't leave."
Chen Ji gazed out the window at the sparse pedestrians. He surmised that the Secret Service's plan, based on the Liu family's close ties with Prince Jing, would eliminate Prince Jing as well after the Liu family's destruction, killing two birds with one stone. However, no one anticipated that his warning to Concubine Yun while Prince Jing was unconscious, "The Prince has discovered that Han Tong, the leader of the Luotian Sect, frequently visits the Princess," would prompt Concubine Yun to flee the palace and go into hiding. By some unintended consequence, the Secret Service lost a crucial witness.
Now, the Secret Service couldn't find Concubine Yun, so they couldn't use the evidence of "Prince Jing's Mansion colluding with the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Department" to implicate a powerful and prestigious prince. However, Concubine Yun was always 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'll give you one or two extra sides." Chen Ji took out the chopsticks from the wooden tube on the table and thanked him.
I'd barely taken two bites of noodles when a furry black cloud leaped from outside onto the windowsill and meowed, "No one's following us. The docks are under surveillance by the Secret Service. Only entry is allowed, no exit. Right now, a group of secret agents in plain clothes are combing the area. Anyone approaching the docks will be apprehended and questioned. The entire house of the dock thug has been turned upside down."
Chen Ji smiled and took the mutton from the bowl and handed it to Wuyun. "Thank you for your hard work these past few days." Wuyun took 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 Wuyun's mouth: "Where is she?" Wuyun ate it and meowed softly: "Here she is."
As he finished speaking, he saw a woman with a sallow complexion passing by the window, carrying a vegetable basket. Chen Ji immediately put down his chopsticks, dropped thirty-two copper coins on the table, and stood up to follow her.
Woman carrying
She carried the basket 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. Then she 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 calmly.
Chen Ji followed her slowly and spoke again, "You were just secretly observing the docks, right? The eunuchs have blocked the docks and are keeping all members of the Cao Gang under Luo Tianzong under close surveillance. You wanted to leave Luocheng, but you couldn't." 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.
Her appearance had also changed: her eyebrows were much thinner, her nose much higher, her lips much smaller. Even someone familiar with her wouldn't have recognized her if they had met her face to face. No wonder the Secret Service couldn't find her.
Concubine Yun no longer paid any 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, carrying her vegetable basket, and asked arrogantly, "How did you find me?"
In that instant, she straightened her shoulders and back, transforming into the dignified princess she once again was. Even her coarse headscarf and clothes couldn't conceal the noble demeanor that came from years of pampered luxury. Chen Ji said calmly, "Madam, you're anxious to leave Luocheng. Luo Tianzong can't help you, but I can."
Concubine Yun asked, "Hasn't your Military Intelligence Department's influence in Luocheng been completely eradicated by the eunuch party? Why are you sending me away?"
Chen Ji hadn't wanted to bring up his identity as a spy, but now he could only go along with the other person's words. "My Military Intelligence Department has been able to hide in the Ning Dynasty for so many years, so we must have our own strength. 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, then stared at Chen Ji and said, "No one in the world would do anything without profit. Why would your Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department help me?" Chen Ji explained, "My Military Intelligence Department wants to cooperate with the Luo Tian Sect, so naturally we have to protect Madam's life."
Concubine Yun suddenly smiled and said, "You're lying." Chen Ji calmly asked, "What do you mean, Madam?"
Yun Fei walked towards Chen Ji step by step with a basket of vegetables in her hand, and slowly stopped when she was two steps away: "You are here for Baili, 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 respond. "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: "Does the prince know my identity as a Jingchao spy?" Concubine Yun laughed: "So you are worried about this. Of course he knows it too." Chen Ji suddenly felt puzzled.
When Bai Long mentioned Concubine Yun's connection to the Jing Dynasty, Chen Ji realized that this was part of a conspiracy between the Secret Service and Prince Jing. Prince Jing must have known his identity as a spy, and Concubine Yun had no reason to hide it from him. But if Prince Jing knew, why did he not care about his identity as a spy, and even entrusted his son to the care of the emperor?
Furthermore, since the other party had entrusted their son to someone else, it was likely that Bai Long, Jin Zhu, and the others knew their identities, otherwise this entrustment would be meaningless. Why did Prince Jing conceal this from the Secret Service?
Chen Ji suddenly felt a headache. He felt as if he were stuck in a quagmire, but he didn't know how he got there, nor how to get out. He looked up at Concubine Yun and said, "Madam, no matter what you think, please come back here tomorrow evening. I will escort you out of Luocheng."
Concubine Yun asked gravely, "How can we leave the city without a Secret Service badge?" Chen Ji replied, "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 under the high wall of the alley and did not answer.
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