216. 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 blood-stained white cloths 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, and the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes appeared 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 go to the bed to take a look, but was stopped by Xiaoman.
He asked confusedly, "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 need anything, just 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?"
Xiaoman 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, and it would be even better if you could burn four paper figures of a boy and a girl. 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. Then I, Xiaoman, can enjoy being served even in the underworld!"
Chen Ji was at a loss for words: "Okay, I'll make you two more. One is hardworking and can be your coachman, and the other is skillful and can make you beautiful clothes."
Xiaoman's eyes showed longing: "That sounds so comfortable."
Chen Ji knocked her head and said, "Do you really want to die?"
Xiaoman came back to her senses and muttered softly, "I was just thinking about it... Master, 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 bed like a gust of wind, calling him softly while secretly pressing Su Zhou's wound.
Su Zhou gasped in his sleep and broke out in cold sweat due to the pain.
Xiaoman asked anxiously, "Oh, what's wrong? Are you having a nightmare?"
Su Zhou gave her a sidelong glance: "Wait until I get better, you'll be in trouble."
Xiaoman looked innocent: "I just saved you, why are you repaying kindness with hatred?"
She leaned closer to the pillow and lowered her voice, saying, "You wanted to kill my young master, and I'm lucky I didn't take the opportunity to kill you. I'm warning 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 stopped. He hesitated and asked, "The government officials are looking for you everywhere. I need to ask you seriously, will they find your mistake and come to the Chen Mansion? You have lost so much blood, will it attract hunting dogs?"
Su Zhou shook his head: "No, I escaped from the roof. The hounds could only smell the scent intermittently. I also sprinkled wormwood and calamus powder on it, which would have confused the smell..."
Before he could finish his words, there was a light from the fire outside the window.
Xiaoman opened the window a little, but saw the fire outside the courtyard wall getting closer and brighter, as if many people were approaching quickly with torches.
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 the opportunity arises, 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 could wear dragon robes. This dragon robe was originally the highest ideal of a civil official in his life.
However, during the Jianing period, the great man in the Renshou Palace was granted the python robe. Overnight, tens of thousands of secret agents and all the guards could wear the python robe, which subtly placed him above the civil officials and ministers.
Inside the Chen Mansion, a secret agent was walking side by side with Chen Liqin. Chen Liqin looked unhappy: "This newly appointed Lord Haidongqing, is he going to search my Chen Mansion from top to bottom? You don't think my Chen family is harboring bandits, do you?"
The Saker Falcon smiled and explained, "Don't mind, Master Chen. I'm not targeting you. I'm trying to help you."
Chen Liqin threw his sleeves and said angrily: "What nonsense! How can this be considered helping me?
? "
Hai Dongqing quipped, "If we avoid the Chen and Zhang residences during our search and then catch the female assassin, that's fine. But if we don't, gossip will spread that the Chen and Zhang residences are the only ones left in Luo City, and the thief must be hiding there. Will you two adults be able to explain it clearly then... Don't you agree?"
Chen Liqin said calmly, "Search if you want, and don't waste your time talking nonsense."
Hai Dongqing laughed cheerfully and said, "Master Chen is indeed reasonable. Master Zhang just scolded me severely, spitting all over my face... Search! Remember, don't touch the money or I won't be able to 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 at the gate of Mingquan Garden, 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 one is bolted. I'm afraid there's something fishy going on!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Haidongqing narrowed his eyes slightly, put his right hand on the hilt of the long sword at his waist, and made two gestures with his left hand. Immediately, spies surrounded the courtyard, watching closely.
Chen Liqin stepped forward to explain: "My Lord, please don't misunderstand..."
Hai Dongqing interrupted with a fake smile, "Master Chen, whether it's a misunderstanding or not, it's not up to you to decide, and it's not up to me to decide either. We'll know after we open the door."
After saying this, he drew 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 anxious and uneasy.
Seeing that the gate of the courtyard was not opening for a long time, Hai Dongqing immediately started to sign silently, and several secret agents pretended to use a human ladder to climb into the courtyard.
A secret agent blew the copper 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 formation 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 Chen Ji, the third son of my Chen family. He has lived outside the mansion for the past two years and has developed some street-savvy. He's been locking the door regularly, not just 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 Mansion."
In Mingquan Garden, the atmosphere suddenly relaxed.
Hai Dongqing waved to the spies: "What are you all gathering here for? Have you searched everywhere else? Disperse!"
The spies scattered. 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 Saker Falcon 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 say congratulations."
Xifeng smiled shyly and said, "It was a stroke of luck. Thanks to you and Lord Jinzhu, I was able to gain some merit in the Liu family treason case. Otherwise, I would definitely not have been promoted. Lord Jinzhu has now left me in Luocheng to look after the business of our Secret Service."
Chen Ji whispered, "You and I are both Saker Falcon, there's no need to address me in that tone."
Xifeng waved his hand 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 also hard work. 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 is dead, and the murderer hasn't been caught yet?"
Xifeng grumbled, "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? Why did he have to put the blame on me..."
At this point, Xifeng's eyes rolled. "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 soon, so I'm afraid I won't have enough time. But you can tell me the clues you have so far, and I'll 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.
Assassinating Prince Jing, it is said that Prince Jing took pity on her background and spared her life because of her young age; seven years ago, she disguised herself as a peddler and assassinated the eunuch in charge of the silver market in the Imperial Household Department in Jinling..."
When you talk about all the things, you will find that the number of lives Su Zhou has lost is so huge that it makes your scalp tingle.
Xifeng leaned closer and whispered, "Master Chen, Su Zhou is easy to deal with. Master Xuanshe couldn't catch the assassin, so it's understandable that I didn't catch him. But the other assassin tonight is unusual and must be caught."
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. He said that before Su Zhou's assassination attempt, another officer who controlled a spirit had attacked him. According to his description, the officer had clearly practiced the Mandala Seal and was controlling a Taotie."
Chen Ji said calmly, "Mandala Seal? Could it be someone from the Southern Yunnan Esoteric Buddhism?"
"No, no, no," Xifeng shook his head. "In southern Yunnan, there are indeed many Tantric monks who practice the Mandala Seal, but the branch that controls the Taotie is a single lineage. As early as two hundred years ago, this branch of the sect, led by Master Bashiba, moved to Jing Dynasty to spread the teachings... 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 driving the Taotie was really Xiaoman, then who taught her this skill? His own 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 vendors 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 quickly 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 won't 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 gripped the door latch with both hands, listened quietly to the sound of the west wind blowing away, and then turned 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're an apprentice at the clinic, so why are you so familiar with the eunuchs? What did you say to him just now? Why was he so polite to you?"
Chen Ji said with a look of shock, "What do you mean? Are you doubting me? My master once treated the Minister of Internal Affairs for his leg disease. After coming to Luocheng, the eunuchs also came to the clinic to get medicine for the Minister of Internal Affairs. We all became familiar with each other after a few visits. If I wanted to betray you, how could you still stand here and talk? I'm helping you out of good intentions, why are you judging me with your own mean mind?"
Su Zhou thought that this was indeed the truth.
However, the expression on the secret agent Hai Dongqing's face when he faced 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, or 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 get 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 bear 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 good relationship with the palace, how about you be a good person and send me to the capital? The prince once asked me to come find you, and now I have no one I can trust."
Xiaoman on 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 palm. Xiaoman's eyes lit up and he suddenly closed his 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 one more time and send you to the capital."
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