The young man from Luocheng walked along the stone-paved road at night, holding a small black cat in his arms.
His steps were heavy at first but gradually became lighter.
Life had to go on, didn’t it? He had found a new hope.
"Wu Yun, let’s talk about something cheerful," Chen Ji said with a smile.
"Can you tell me about the things in the Jing Prince’s mansion?"
Wu Yun, lazily curled up on Chen Ji’s arm, pulled out a dried fish from a small blue bundle and nibbled on it.
"What’s there to say about that place? The mansion is huge, and there’s a lot of dirty business among the maids and nannies. For example, Chunhua was bought by Lady Jing to seduce the prince, but the prince didn’t even glance at her. And then there’s Chunrong, that jealous woman who would secretly spit in Chunhua’s food because she envied her youth and beauty..."
Chen Ji chuckled and changed the subject.
"In the three months you’ve been at the Jing Prince’s mansion, has anything big happened?"
"Of course!" Wu Yun perked up.
"The mansion is about to get lively."
Chen Ji looked intrigued.
"Oh?"
Wu Yun continued excitedly, "The Double Ninth Festival is coming up. The prince’s eldest son, Zhu Yunxi, Lady Jing’s daughter Zhu Lingyun, and Lady Yun’s daughter Zhu Baili are all returning from Donglin Academy. And there’s also a little monk."
"A little monk?" Chen Ji asked, puzzled.
Wu Yun explained, "Lady Jing said he’s the reincarnated Buddha child from the Ge Ning sect in Yunzhou. Since the sect needs the court’s support and recognition, they’ve sent him as a hostage to the Central Plains."
"Is Donglin Academy famous?" Chen Ji asked curiously, remembering that his two older brothers had also returned from there.
Wu Yun explained, "Donglin Academy, along with Qingya Academy and Yuelu Academy, is one of the three great academies of the Ning Dynasty. It’s a place where scholars from all over the country aspire to study. I’ve heard the tuition is very expensive, and only children from noble families can attend. About thirty percent of the scholars who pass the imperial exams are from Donglin Academy."
"Returning home after three years away, it’s bound to be lively... Who is the main wife between Lady Jing and Lady Yun? And whose child is Zhu Yunxi?"
Wu Yun answered, "Neither of them is the main wife. The main wife was Zhu Yunxi’s mother, but she passed away many years ago... I’m heading back to Wanxing Garden now!"
As they approached the entrance of the Taiping Clinic, Wu Yun suddenly jumped out of Chen Ji’s arms and disappeared in a flash.
Chen Ji turned the corner and saw Old Yao standing at the door with a stern expression.
"Where have you been?"
Chen Ji thought for a moment.
If I say I was helping a little cat find its mother, he definitely won’t believe me...
"I forgot something at home during my day off, so I went back to get it," Chen Ji replied.
Old Yao frowned, the wrinkles on his forehead deepening.
"Actually, the tuition money today didn’t come from your family, did it?"
Chen Ji was stunned.
Old Yao sneered, "I knew something was off. Your stepmother is narrow-minded. Back then, she refused to pay the ten taels of silver for your monthly tuition at Donglin Academy and sent you here to be my apprentice. Now, she’s suddenly willing to pay your tuition and even bought me gifts? That doesn’t add up."
Chen Ji remained silent, unsure how to respond.
Old Yao continued, "Wait, if it’s not from your family, where did the money come from? Did you get involved with some woman..."
As he spoke, Old Yao’s face turned red with anger, his beard almost bristling.
"You’re an apprentice at my Taiping Clinic. If word gets out that you’ve done something like this, it’s no different than you taking a dump in my pocket!"
Chen Ji: "... What?"
"What do you mean 'what'?"
Chen Ji quickly explained, "You’ve misunderstood. I would never do something like that."
"Then where did the money come from?"
Chen Ji hesitated for a moment.
"Master, I can’t tell you. I don’t want to involve you."
Old Yao scrutinized him.
"The Secret Intelligence Bureau? Are you working for them?"
Chen Ji sighed.
No wonder people say old men are wise.
With just a little information, he’s already figured it out.
He could only explain, "Master, Yun Yang came to me. I didn’t have a choice."
Old Yao stared at him for a long time, then turned and walked into the clinic.
"Whether you had a choice or not, you’ve already made your decision. I won’t interfere or ask questions. Just make sure you pay your tuition every month. If you die out there someday, don’t let me know... Now go to bed!"
The clinic door closed.
At the corner of Anxi Street, three people emerged.
Yun Yang crossed his arms and muttered, "Old Yao doesn’t seem to like our Secret Intelligence Bureau much."
Jiao Tu shrugged.
"It’s normal for him not to like us."
Yun Yang turned to the third person.
"Meng Ji, that young apprentice is the one I want to interrogate. I need to confirm if he’s a spy from the Jing Dynasty."
The man named Meng Ji was dressed in a bright brown robe with a high collar, embroidered with dozens of colorful pheasants, making him look like he was wearing a costume.
Meng Ji stroked his neatly trimmed sideburns and said in a soft voice, "A young apprentice? Is he really worth you spending so much money and even inviting me all the way from Kaifeng?"
"I pay, you work. I’ve told you all the information you need. Don’t ask questions," Yun Yang said calmly.
"Fine, I’ll make sure you’re satisfied. In the dream, I’m in control," Meng Ji said with a sharp laugh, making Jiao Tu rub the goosebumps on his arms.
Yun Yang asked curiously, "I’ve always wondered, why do you openly reveal your cultivation path? Aren’t you afraid of getting into trouble?"
Meng Ji smiled.
"The Inner Minister said that I’m the only one in the world who cultivates this path. What trouble could I possibly get into?"
He then sat cross-legged on the ground, took out a yellow talisman from his pocket, bit his finger, and used his blood to draw symbols on the talisman.
He wrapped a strand of hair in the talisman and swallowed it!
In an instant, Meng Ji’s pupils rolled upward, leaving only the whites of his eyes visible.
…………
Chen Ji didn’t go back to his room to rest.
Instead, he quietly lit an oil lamp in the clinic’s main hall and silently flipped through the "Medical Compendium."
Just memorizing the 618 acupoints in the twelve main meridians of the human body was already a daunting task.
It felt like he was back in a sweltering summer classroom, surrounded by piles of papers and books, with the sound of students reciting lessons echoing in his ears.
Memories of studying were perhaps the most vivid for every student during their youth, accompanied by the rising and setting of the sun, creating a thunderous rhythm.
At this moment, Chen Ji wished he had a copy of "Five Years of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Three Years of Practice."
As he studied, he suddenly felt a wave of drowsiness, as if he were being gently enveloped by warm seawater, drifting deeper into the ocean.
Chen Ji became alert.
Ever since he had lit the four furnaces within his body, he had always been full of energy.
This sudden drowsiness made no sense.
But no matter how alert he was, his eyelids slowly closed.
After an unknown amount of time, Chen Ji opened his eyes in a dream.
He found himself standing in front of the vermilion gate of Zhou Chengyi’s residence.
Huh, what was I supposed to do here?
Chen Ji looked at the medicine package wrapped in yellow hemp paper with "Taiping Clinic" written on it, then glanced up at the plaque that read "Zhou Residence."
Ah, right.
I’m here to deliver tonic medicine to Lord Zhou.
Knock, knock, knock.
Chen Ji picked up the brass knocker and rapped on the door.
Everything felt natural, and he had forgotten he was in a dream.
The vermilion gate creaked open, and Steward Wang greeted him with a smile.
"Young Doctor Chen, you’re here? Please come in."
"Where’s Lord Zhou? I’ve brought the medicine he requested," Chen Ji said as he followed Steward Wang inside.
The gate slowly closed behind them.
Chen Ji looked around.
Maids were cleaning the redwood furniture in the main hall, and in the courtyard, a woman was smiling as she held a little girl, while a young boy kicked a feather shuttlecock nearby.
Steward Wang led him into the main hall.
Chen Ji felt that the place was strangely familiar, but he couldn’t remember where he had seen it before.
At that moment, Zhou Chengyi was sitting behind a desk, copying a book with a brush.
When he saw Chen Ji, he dismissed Steward Wang and the maids.
Chen Ji placed the medicine package on the table.
"Lord Zhou, here’s your medicine."
Zhou Chengyi looked up and suddenly asked, "Do you have any new information from the Jing Prince to pass on to me?"
Chen Ji was taken aback.
"Lord Zhou, what are you talking about?"
Zhou Chengyi’s voice grew darker.
"Have you forgotten? You and I are spies sent to the south by the Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Bureau. I’m responsible for liaising with the Liu family, and you’re responsible for liaising with the Jing Prince! I’ll ask you again, do you have any new information from the Jing Prince?"
Chen Ji frowned and didn’t answer, his mind racing.
Zhou Chengyi kept asking, "Have you forgotten your identity?"
"Have you forgotten how the Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Bureau trained you?"
Zhou Chengyi’s voice grew louder and more penetrating.
"Have you forgotten that you’re a spy?"
Each question felt like a demonic chant, making Chen Ji’s head spin.
He felt as if his consciousness was being controlled, and he couldn’t help but roll his eyes.
In the next moment, only the whites of Chen Ji’s eyes were visible as he answered, "Lord Zhou, you must be mistaken. I’m not a spy!"
Zhou Chengyi smiled with satisfaction.
He had gotten the answer he wanted and could now complete the deal with Yun Yang.
But then he became curious.
"How do you know Yun Yang?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Ji felt the four furnaces in his dantian ignite, burning away all the evil spirits and demons within him!
Zhou Chengyi stood up, oblivious, and leaned forward with his hands on the table.
"Why does Yun Yang suspect you’re a Jing Dynasty spy? What’s so special about you that he didn’t just kill you outright?"
This last sentence was no longer in Zhou Chengyi’s voice but in a sharp, high-pitched tone.
At that moment, Chen Ji’s pupils rolled back, and he turned to walk away!
"Zhou Chengyi" stared in shock as Chen Ji walked out of the vermilion gate and pulled it open with force.
"Zhou Chengyi" saw Yun Yang and Jiao Tu standing outside the gate with playful smiles.
He exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Yun Yang, Jiao Tu, how did you get into my dream?"
Wait!
Something’s wrong!
"Zhou Chengyi" clearly realized that Yun Yang and Jiao Tu couldn’t invade his dream, nor had he imagined them in this dream...
The Yun Yang and Jiao Tu before him were figments of Chen Ji’s imagination within the dream!
The dream was no longer entirely under his control!
Chen Ji thought for a moment, then pointed at "Zhou Chengyi" and said to Yun Yang and Jiao Tu, "Lord Yun Yang, Lord Jiao Tu, Zhou Chengyi is undoubtedly a Jing Dynasty spy!"
Yun Yang asked with interest, "Do you have proof?"
Chen Ji said firmly, "Does the Secret Intelligence Bureau need proof to capture a spy? Just stab him!"
"Zhou Chengyi" watched as Yun Yang and Jiao Tu pounced on him and roared, "Wait... Ah!"
(End of Chapter)