69. Leave
midnight……
Chen Ji woke up from his dream and slowly sat up.
In the simple apprentice dormitory, Liang Maoer, She Dengke and Liu Quxing were sleeping soundly. Liang Gouer was fooling around somewhere and had not returned at night.
The cat and dog, who are usually inseparable, did not go out together today.
Chen Ji moved off the bed with difficulty and walked into the yard carefully. He wanted to find out whether Wu Hongbiao was lying or not.
In the empty yard, only a crow was left standing on the branch of the apricot tree.
Chen Ji turned his head and looked at the courtyard wall where the ladder was set up.
No one stood on their brother's shoulders and leaned over the eaves anymore, and no one was holding their sister and staggering on the other side of the wall.
:
The Crown Prince and Princess Baili suddenly stopped going out to play, or stopped borrowing the road from the clinic, and Taiping Clinic returned to its former tranquility.
Chen Ji took some leftovers and water from the kitchen, turned around and was about to walk out of the clinic, but the crow blocked his way and pointed outside the clinic.
Uncle Crow, what do you want to say?
Chen Ji was puzzled.
“
The crow spread its wings and gestured, first pointing outside the clinic and then making a gesture as if drawing a knife from its waist.
Chen Ji was stunned: "Are you trying to say that Taiping Medical Clinic has been monitored?"
The crow nodded with satisfaction.
Chen Ji's heart trembled: "Uncle Crow, who is monitoring the clinic? If it's the Secret Service, just blink once. If it's the Military Intelligence Department, just blink twice."
The crow blinked three times...
Chen Ji: ...
The crow grinned, as if mocking Chen Ji's impending disaster.
Chen Ji frowned and wondered why these two parties were monitoring each other and what went wrong.
Moreover, with these two parties monitoring him at the same time, how could he go out to see Wu Hongbiao?
The crow stopped laughing at Chen Ji. It flapped its wings to signal Chen Ji to follow it, and then flew onto the roof of the main hall of the clinic.
Chen Ji brought a ladder and sneakily climbed up to the roof with the crow.
At midnight, a man and a crow poked half of their heads out from the roof and secretly looked at the shop opposite the main hall.
The two sides were separated by Anxi Street, and it was dim and unclear in the dark night.
Crow pointed to the second floor of the third shop on the right. The room was pitch dark, but the window was opened a crack, allowing a view of the main entrance of Taiping Medical Clinic.
Crow pointed to the second floor of the second shop on the left, where the window was also cracked open, facing the main entrance of Taiping Medical Clinic.
Both parties seemed to be observing what was coming in and out of the clinic.
Chen Ji muttered: "Fortunately, we didn't rent the same room."
The crow laughed silently.
Chen Ji retracted his head behind the roof and asked in a low voice: "Uncle Crow, how many people are there in the room on the right?
The crow blinked three times. Three.
"On the left?"
The crow blinked three times, also three.
Chen Ji felt a strong sense of crisis. If he only sent one person, it would be a normal surveillance behavior, but if he sent three people at the same time, it would be a preparation for arrest or killing.
Fortunately, Uncle Crow helped...
Chen Ji turned to Crow and smiled, "Thank you, Uncle Crow, for helping me again... Why are you willing to help me?"
The crow smiled silently and did not answer.
Chen Ji asked again: "How can I get to the cloth shop?
The crow flapped its wings and flew back.
Chen Ji followed the crow's guidance, walked along the shadows between the buildings on Anxi Street, and climbed into the backyard of the cloth shop.
Not only that, Uncle Crow was even responsible for the aftermath. After Chen Ji entered the yard, it stopped on the wall to be on guard.
Hearing the sound of someone climbing over the wall, Wu Hongbiao, who was lying on the ground, sat up and said, "I finally waited for you. Are the Military Intelligence Department and the Secret Service Department still trying to arrest me?"
Chen Ji said: "We are still catching them, but they have been led to the West Market.
I heard that the cloth shop is going to be sold soon. This is not a place to stay for long. Someone may come to see the shop at any time.
Wu Hongbiao thought for a moment and said, "Then I will clean up this place tomorrow. If anyone comes, I will first climb out of the yard and then climb back in after they leave.
It's never safe.
Wu Hongbiao thought for a moment and said, "Have you found Si Cao's true identity?
Chen Ji was silent for a moment: "First, you have to answer some questions for me and do something for me, then I can answer your questions.
Wu Hongbiao looked at Chen Ji carefully: "You have changed.
Chen Ji leaned against the door frame, letting the moonlight lengthen his shadow.
The former good brothers, one standing at the door, the other sitting on the ground, each one more miserable than the other, like brothers in trouble together, yet keeping a safe distance.
Wu Hongbiao said softly: "You didn't receive long-term hard training before, so your guard was very low.
Of course, this is also related to the environment you grew up in. We were sent to the north when we were twelve years old in Jing Dynasty.
In the most miserable military camp, he was raised in a bitter cold place since childhood.
Half of the year is winter.
There is only so much food in the military camp. If you are not good enough, you will go hungry. If you skip two meals, you will freeze to death.
There, you have to scheme against each other just to have a full meal.
Wu Hongbiao continued, "You grew up in the Southern Ning Dynasty, where birds sing and flowers bloom. Here are gorgeous dancers and singers, as well as suave scholars and scholars. The Qinhuai River is full of oars and lanterns. Living here, you are naturally... weaker.
Chen Ji asked calmly: "What about now?"
Wu Hongbiao answered seriously: "It's different now.
Although I don’t know what you have been through, you are now more like a qualified warrior.
Although it's a bit disappointing not being trusted, I'm happy for you from the bottom of my heart. Only someone like you can wait until the day when we meet again.
Chen Ji lowered his head and said: "Since you were betrayed by Jing Chao, have you ever considered joining the Secret Service?
Wu Hongbiao's face turned serious and he said, "It was not Jing Chao who betrayed me, but Si Cao.
I have told you before that I will never let the political dirty talk of some people waver in my faith.
I also believe that your uncle and his men will surely make a comeback and purge the government and the country of evildoers.
The people of Jing Dynasty have suffered enough, and I will not betray my country just for a few villains."
Chen Ji was silent. This was the first time he heard the word "faith" since he came into this world.
This vocabulary.
He didn't want to dwell on this question, so he asked the question he wanted to ask the most: "You said that it was Si Cao, the one with the green face and fangs mask who was good at using a knife, who wanted to kill us. Why do you say that?"
Wu Hongbiao was surprised and said, "Sicao is Sicao, why add so many adjectives, there is only one Sicao.
Chen Ji shook his head: "Answer my question first.
Wu Hongbiao recalled: "The people who came to kill me first lied to me and said that there was an order from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to transfer me to the Cao Gang in the East Market to pick up a batch of goods.
I am a pigeon-level spy. In the entire Los Angeles, apart from you, only Zhou Chengyi and Si Cao are qualified to know my information.
In addition, I also asked them to show the Si Cao token on the day the killer came, and they did show it."
"What is Si Cao's token?
"The Luocheng Chronicles stamped with Rongbaozhai's special seal has a corner chipped off at the top right, making it impossible to replicate.
Chen Ji finally understood that Wu Hongbiao didn't know that there were other Si Caos, nor did he know that a new Si Cao had arrived in Luocheng to replace the original Si Cao.
So, according to my own deduction, it was the shopkeeper Yuan who wanted to kill them, not the coachman Si Cao.
However, Chen Ji had to verify that Wu Hongbiao was not lying.
After a long silence, he said, “I need you to do something.
"What's up"
"See Si Cao."
Wu Hongbiao looked shocked.
Early in the morning, at the Luocheng prefectural government office.
The yamen hung a gold-painted plaque with the words "Luocheng Prefecture Office"
Officials hurried to the government office gate to report for duty. One of the watchmen lowered his voice and said, "Hurry up, hurry up. If you're late, you'll be punished by the Tongzhi again."
As he was speaking, a carriage engraved with canary patterns slowly stopped at the gate of the government office. The officials did not even bother to roll in but stopped and bowed to salute.
The driver lifted the curtain from the hook on the carriage, picked up a stool and placed it next to the carriage, then whispered, "Second Master, we're here."
Liu Mingxian, wearing a blue official robe, a black gauze hat, a jade leather belt around his waist, and black boots with white soles, slowly got off the carriage.
"Hello, Your Excellency.
"Hello, Your Excellency.
Liu Mingxian hummed a sound through his nose, and the officials dared to stand up and hurried to the government office.
According to the rules, Liu Mingxian, a fifth-rank official, was not qualified to ride in the canary carriage, but Liu Gelao held a high position in the Liu family and Yuzhou was the Liu family's private territory, so naturally no one dared to say anything.
When Liu Mingxian entered the yamen, the coachman drove the carriage aside, put on a bamboo hat, squatted at the door, and chatted with other coachmen and sedan chair bearers.
The driver asked with a smile: "Erniu, did your master go out again last night?"
Erniu laughed and said, "Hey, my master never goes out to have a drink. Last night he went to the Embroidery Tower in Baiyi Lane and it was said that he saw that Liu Xingshou.
The driver exclaimed: "Now all the gentlemen in Luocheng want to see what Chief Liu Xing looks like. What does your master say?
Erniu said honestly, "My master said that Liu Xingshou is truly a wonderful person. It's a pity that she is protected by the Xu family, so no one dares to do anything to her."
The driver paused for a breath, then asked: "Lao Li, what did you do last night?
"What else can I do?"
Old Li yawned and said, "Last night, a group of spies came to the Craftsmen's Bureau and said they wanted to check the accounts in the warehousing. My master stayed in there all night and couldn't leave.
No, he was just released this morning, and he didn't even go home.
Come here.
The driver laughed and said, "You are really miserable. Go back and ask your wife to give you a good back massage."
"My wife can beat me, but she won't beat my back.
The rickshaw and sedan chair bearers burst into laughter.
At this moment, Liu Mingming's driver accidentally glanced at the street and his face suddenly darkened.
Across the street, a pale-faced young man stood still, staring straight at him.
The driver said to the others: "I haven't eaten anything this morning. I'm going to have a bowl of tofu pudding first. You guys can chat.
"Okay, come back and bring me two fried dough sticks!"
But the coachman Si Cao walked quickly into the crowd. As he walked, he suddenly flashed to the side of the young man, pulled the other's arm and walked into the alley.
When the two of them arrived in the alley, the driver, Si Cao, shouted in a low voice: "Wu Hongbiao, you are courting death! The Conspiracy Department and the Military Intelligence Department are all looking for you, and you still dare to stay in Luocheng!
Wu Hongbiao whispered: "I can't leave.
The driver, Si Cao, asked in a serious tone: "How do you know my identity and how did you find me here?"
Wu Hongbiao lowered his head and said: "I have followed you before.
Si Cao sneered: "You can follow me, just because you can follow me. Have you surrendered to the Ning Dynasty Conspiracy Department?
Wu Hongbiao raised his head and looked at Si Cao: "After all, I am also an elite soldier under Lord Lu, specially sent to the Southern Dynasty. Don't underestimate me.
Si Cao still didn't believe it. He narrowed his eyes slightly and put his hand into his sleeve, ready to draw his dagger at any time. He quickly looked around, but found that no one was surrounding him.
The Secret Service had used over a hundred men on the banks of the Qinhuai River last time but failed to capture him. If Wu Hongbiao had defected, the Secret Service would probably have dispatched the Fanwei from the Mengjin camp to surround him.
Si Cao was thoughtful: "Why don't you hide yourself now? What are you looking for me for?"
Wu Hongbiao said, "Someone is using your token to lure me to death. I must come and question you face to face, Sir Cao."
Why are you killing me?
"It's not me, it's someone who wants to cleanse us,"
Si Cao replied in a deep voice.
How to prove it?
Si Cao sneered: "If I kill you, you are still alive today, so don't talk nonsense. Since you are alive, go to Taiping Medical Clinic immediately and tell Chen Ji what happened.
Tell him, tomorrow evening, the two of you come to this alley again, and I'll arrange for you to leave Los Angeles!
Where to go
"A merchant will take you back to Jing Dynasty. Go back and find his uncle. Only by staying with him can you be temporarily safe."
Si Cao said.
Wu Hongbiao turned and left. At the same time, two tabby cats stopped fighting and jumped down from the eaves.
Top, disappeared in this huge city of Los Angeles...
At noon, a dark cloud jumped from the roof into the yard. It raised its claws and gently patted Chen Ji, but failed to wake him up.
Wu Yun waited patiently until Chen Ji gasped and woke up from the nightmare of the ancient battlefield. He touched his neck and saw that Feng Huai had just chopped him here.
Chen Ji looked at Wu Yun and said, "You are injured again.
Wu Yun raised his head and said, "Triumphant! From now on, I have the final say on Anxi Street!"
Guo Chenji stood in awe: "So fierce!
Wu Yun recounted the events of monitoring Wu Hongbiao today, and Chen Ji concluded: Wu Hongbiao did not lie, and the coachman Si Cao had never intended to kill him. The other party had indeed come yesterday to protect him.
The one who wanted to kill him was Shopkeeper Yuan.
Wu Yun suddenly asked: "Are you going to leave Ning Dynasty?
Chen Ji was silent.
At least I can stop living the life of a double agent after I leave. Jing Chao also has an uncle who was a high-ranking official. Even if he steps down, a lean camel is bigger than a horse.
Even if you don't have the power, you can still buy more ginseng.
Although I won’t be able to see some of my new friends anymore, they won’t come to the clinic anymore anyway.
The only thing he couldn't let go of was old man Yao. Now that he was gone, what would happen to him? He could only ask She Dengke and Liu Quxing for help.
No matter from which perspective, Chen Ji should leave. This is not the choice he most wants to make, but it is the wisest one.
Chen Ji looked at Wu Yun and asked, "Would you like to go with me?"
Wu Yun thought for a moment and said, "Although it's a pity that we just took Anxi Street, I will go wherever you go."
Chen Ji took a deep breath and said, "Okay, let's leave tomorrow afternoon and leave this troubled place."
He stood up and slowly moved to the courtyard, looking at the large water tank in the southeast corner, the apricot tree in the middle of the courtyard, the closed main house, and the busy main hall of the clinic...
Chen Ji had not been in this world for long, but even though he had only lived here for more than ten days, there was reluctance in his eyes when he thought about leaving.
At this time, Liu Quxing returned to the backyard to wash his hands. He looked at Chen Ji in surprise: "Hey, you finally woke up.
Chen Ji smiled and took out a piece of silver and handed it over: "Brother, can you help me buy some meat and vegetables? I want to cook a meal for everyone.
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