CHAPTER 51: 49, TOP THREE

Jin Zhu smiled at Chen Ji and said, "Lord Prime Minister is a master of strategy. Knowing Yun Yang and Jiao Tu are good at succeeding but prone to failure, he had me wait on the sidelines early on to take over the moment they capsized in the gutter. Right now, the Military Intelligence Department and the Liu Family probably haven’t realized that I’m already in Luocheng City. It’s the perfect time to launch a surprise attack... to capture them."

Chen Ji’s sense of crisis grew. The Prime Minister really had deep and meticulous thoughts.

So Yun Yang and Jiao Tu were just pawns used to distract the enemy. Once they capsized, the enemy would relax after their brief victory. That’s when Jin Zhu would silently enter the fray. The enemy is in the light, and we are in the shadows, bound to harvest some gains.

It seemed that promoting Yun Yang and Jiao Tu to the Twelve Signs half a year in advance was for this moment!

To think he’s such a ruthless strategist even towards his own people, no wonder they call him the "Poison Minister"!

Chen Ji clasped his hands together: "Lord Jin Zhu, I am not a member of the Spy Department. I hope you won’t divulge secrets to me."

Jin Zhu came over, affectionately grasping Chen Ji’s hand with a beaming smile, "Of course, I have to tell you. I’m hoping you’ll join the Spy Department and help me achieve great things! Oh, and I haven’t given you the good news yet. The Prime Minister has decreed that you be specially approved to join the Spy Department. From now on, we are colleagues. With your talents, you are sure to rise rapidly."

Chen Ji’s hand was held by Jin Zhu’s plump palm, and he felt goosebumps all over; he quickly modestly said, "Lord Jin Zhu flatters me. I’m not capable of that."

"Of course, you are!" Jin Zhu exclaimed. "I originally thought Yun Yang would capsize at Zhou Chengyi’s hand and leave Luocheng City in disgrace within a day. To my surprise, not only did they find the evidence, but they also nailed Liu Shenyu and even uncovered the matter of Old Master Liu’s feigned death. At that time, I was puzzled. These two are good at killing, but when did they acquire other skills? Later I realized it was because of you!"

"It wasn’t me," Chen Ji shook his head. "Lord Jin Zhu, I’m just an apothecary apprentice."

"Don’t be modest now. Lin Chaoqing has already reported the details to Lord Prime Minister, and Meng Ji has reported your dream interrogation to Lord Prime Minister. Putting the two together, the truth naturally comes to light."

Chen Ji suddenly understood. No wonder Jin Zhu came looking for him—the Prime Minister already knew of his existence.

Curious, he said, "I heard Lord Yun Yang say that the selection for spies is extremely rigorous."

Jin Zhu patted his shoulder with a laugh, "That’s true, but your performance in the Liu Shenyu case was outstanding, and it touched the heart of Lord Prime Minister, so naturally, exceptions had to be made."

"What are the benefits of joining the Spy Department? How much is the stipend?" Chen Ji asked.

"Stipend?" Jin Zhu laughed heartily. "At the Sparrow Rank, the annual salary is twenty-four taels of silver, at the Pheasant Level, it’s twenty-six taels. At the Pigeon Level, it’s twenty-eight taels a year, and at this point, you can be on par with a County Magistrate. Once you get to Hai Dongqing, it’s even more incredible. Even a common Magistrate has to treat you with the utmost respect when they see you. Do you know what a Hai Dongqing is? This fierce bird naturally preys aggressively, and if it’s hungry, it will attack anything in the sky."

"What about the Twelve Signs?" Chen Ji then asked.

"You’re thinking of becoming one of the Twelve Signs?" Jin Zhu looked at Chen Ji with interest, and without stopping said, "The Twelve Signs are naturally a bit more impressive than Hai Dongqing, wielding King’s Command Flags, they may act first and report later... but even among the Twelve Signs, there are differences."

"Ah?"

"The Twelve Signs are divided into ’Top Three’ and ’Lower Nine,’ where Ding San includes the Rat, the Rabbit, and the Sheep."

Chen Ji thought to himself, so Yun Yang and Jiao Tu had the lowest status among the Twelve Signs.

Jin Zhu continued, "Next up is Bing San, which is currently Jin Zhu, Treasure Monkey, and Meng Ji."

"What about Yisan?"

"Corpse Dog, Mountain Bull, Xuan Snake."

"And Jiasan?"

Jin Zhu smiled, "Jiasan is truly formidable, the iron-clad ’Top Three’ over the ever-changing ’Lower Nine.’ Over the years, the other zodiacs have changed people, but the Top Three have never botched an assignment, never changed personnel."

"The three are Bai Long, Heavenly Horse, and Binghu!"

"The authority of the Top Three Zodiacs is naturally different from ours. We still need to report to Lord Wu Xiu, who then conveys it. But the Top Three report directly to the Prime Minister. What they are doing and what they plan to do is not for us to inquire about. If there are any orders, the Lower Nine must unconditionally obey the Top Three."

The Medical Hall quieted down, and it wasn’t until this moment that Chen Ji fully grasped the concept of the Spy Department.

Jin Zhu stopped talking. He took off his hat and put it on the counter, allowing Chen Ji time to digest this information.

Chen Ji pondered rapidly in this tranquil environment. Why was the other party telling him so much? It couldn’t be because he lacked deep thoughts.

If the other party lacked depth, they wouldn’t have waited patiently to appear at this moment.

This wasn’t Jin Zhu; this was clearly someone in disguise.

Chen Ji asked, "May I ask... where have Lord Yun Yang and Lord Jiao Tu gone?"

Jin Zhu replied with a smile, "They were originally to be escorted to the Imperial Capital to await their fate, but the Prime Minister’s decree arrived, and there’s no need to return to the capital—they’ve been directly exiled to Lingnan."

Chen Ji shook his head, "Lord Jin Zhu, may I decline joining the Spy Department? Even such formidable figures as Lords Yun Yang and Jiao Tu ended up behind bars, and my fate would surely be no better..."

"Don’t worry, I’ll protect you."

Just then, a commotion suddenly came from the backyard.

Chen Ji glanced towards the backyard, and when he turned back, Jin Zhu had already disappeared!

Looking up, Chen Ji saw that Jin Zhu’s bulky figure had somehow leapt onto the roof beam, squatting above silently as if there had been no sound at all.

Chen Ji: "..."

This Jin Zhu, at the slightest rustle, truly was faster at hiding than anyone else!

Jin Zhu squinted his eyes on the roof beam, as if facing a great threat, and whispered, "Kid, go check it out."

...

...

Behind the walls of the backyard, Princess Bai Li’s head appeared from behind, carefully surveying the courtyard. When she saw Chen Ji, she suddenly felt discouraged.

She had thought that by coming out late, she could avoid paying a toll fee once Chen Ji had gone to sleep, but she didn’t expect that this apprentice from the Medical Hall seemed to never need sleep!

Princess Bai Li leaned against the wall, looking toward Chen Ji with curiosity, "Hey, what are you doing in the courtyard in the middle of the night?"

Chen Ji replied with conviction, "Collecting the toll fee."

Princess Bai Li grew even more incensed. She climbed over the courtyard wall, descended the ladder, and fiercely took out four silver peanuts from her purse, slapping them into Chen Ji’s hand, "From now on, don’t call yourself Chen Ji, you should be called Chen Heixin!"

"Eh, why are there four?" Chen Ji was puzzled.

At this moment, another head popped over the wall, a strange girl.

Princess Bai Li waved to her, "Lingyun, there’s a ladder inside, just come down."

However, the girl was dressed in dark cyan clothes with a green jade hairpin in her hair, disguised as a boy, and nimbly climbed into the courtyard.

The Princely Heir and the little monk followed closely behind.

The girl named Lingyun, seeing the four silver peanuts in Chen Ji’s palm, wondered, "What’s this about?"

Princess Bai Li explained, "This is the toll fee for him."

"Toll fee?" Zhu Lingyun paused, then instinctively said, "Isn’t the Imperial Hospital ours, from Prince Mansion? He’s just a Medical Hall apprentice we’re providing for. Why should we pay him a toll fee?"

Chen Ji looked towards Princess Bai Li, "And this is?"

"This is my sister, Zhu Lingyun," Princess Bai Li introduced with a smile, "She seldom goes out. I’m taking her out for some fun. Don’t mind what she says, okay? She has some notions about social standing."

But Zhu Lingyun exclaimed in astonishment, "Bai Li, why are you being so polite to a servant!"

Princess Bai Li’s face fell, "What servant or not a servant, Father always warned us not to act superior. How can you always act like Mother!"

Zhu Lingyun was also upset, "You’re getting mad at me over an outsider? What has Mother done to you!"

Princess Bai Li did not want to entangle in these issues, "Apologize—you’ve forgotten everything Father taught us!"

"Why should I apologize, isn’t he just a servant!" Zhu Lingyun was indignant.

The Princely Heir and little monk, watching the scene, hurriedly intervened, "Don’t argue, what’s there to argue about... Lingyun, you shouldn’t speak to Chen Ji like that."

Zhu Lingyun gazed at him with her large almond eyes, incredulously looking towards the Princely Heir, "Brother, you’re taking Bai Li’s side again!?"

The Princely Heir paused before speaking, "I’m not taking sides, I’m just being fair. In Donglin Academy, Heir of Prince Fu Zhu Yu always walked around so arrogantly, but wasn’t he still chased away by the masters? Don’t get too caught up with the literati at the academy and forget Father’s teachings."

Zhu Lingyun’s eyes filled with tears, and after a long silence, she turned and climbed the ladder back to Prince Mansion, "Go have fun, I won’t join you!"

Chen Ji remained silent from beginning to end...

The Princely Heir sighed, turning to Chen Ji, "I’m sorry you had to see that. Lingyun is actually quite nice, she just has a bit of a temper."

Chen Ji smiled back, "It’s all right."

He returned one of the silver peanuts to Princess Bai Li, who was astonished, "You can give back money that’s already in your hand?"

"I won’t take what I shouldn’t earn."

The Princely Heir gave a thumbs-up, "You’ve got principles!"

Chen Ji returned to the common sleeping area, gently waking up Liang Mao’er, "Call your brother and the Princely Heir for some drinks, remember to eat more when you’re at Hongyi Lane."

Suddenly, Liang Gou’er sat up, his eyes sparkling, "Drinks? Where are we going for drinks?"

Chen Ji: "..."

Liang Mao’er: "..."

Once everyone had left, the Medical Hall returned to tranquility.

Lord Jin Zhu lightly hopped down from the roof beam and inquired of Chen Ji, "You seem to have a good relationship with the Princely Heir and Commandery Princess Bai Li?"

"Not really," Chen Ji shook his head.

Lord Jin Zhu smiled, "I heard everything Commandery Princess Bai Li said in your defense."

With an unquestionable tone, he instructed, "Young man, joining our Spy Department has many benefits. You can never lose working for Lord Prime Minister. From today on, you’re a spy. I’m giving you a task: follow the Princely Heir. Report all his movements to me. Now go."

Chen Ji stood in the dim light of the Medical Hall, watching the departing figure of Lord Jin Zhu, and softly confirmed, "Understood, Lord Jin Zhu."

As the doors of the Medical Hall gently closed, he went back to the backyard to pick up a bamboo tube. In the cool autumn night, he rolled up his sleeves and earnestly began to scrape the frost from the wall.