The interior of Jiefan Building was utterly quiet.

Smoky grey tendrils wove from the incense burner behind the screen, coiling up to the ceiling and entwining amidst the corbie beams.

Chen Ji had remained silent for a long time, painstakingly suppressing his impulses to reach this point, not daring to make a single misstep. He was unsure, once he spoke of his request, whether this Poison Minister would fulfill his wish in reward for his service or doom him to eternal perdition.

The figure behind the screen did not urge him, continuing instead to lower his head and write documents, as if Chen Ji were but a fixture in the dim room, no different from the screen, the incense burner, or anything else.

It was only when the incense burner's scent had burnt out that Chen Ji finally asked, "What does Lord Prime Minister wish for?"

The Prime Minister finished writing a document, set down his brush, and gently shook the Xuan paper in his hands, leisurely responding, "All the joys and sorrows of this world cannot withstand scrutiny, for they are but your own affairs. You shouldn't ask what I desire but rather clearly understand what you're willing to give."

Chen Ji whispered, "Is it the same for Jin Zhu?"

The Prime Minister calmly said, "It is the same for everyone."

Having said this, he rung the copper bell in his hand.

The door opened from the outside; the towering silhouette of the mountain bull entered the room, glancing not at Chen Ji but bypassed the screen to reach the table ahead: "Master."

The Prime Minister handed over the freshly written document to the mountain bull: "Send it to Wunian Mountain."

The mountain bull took the document and left, without knowing what it contained or where Wunian Mountain was located.

After the mountain bull had departed, the room fell silent once more.

Chen Ji assumed that Jiefan Building was filled with countless swordsmen, ready to rush forth should anyone harbor ill intentions towards the Prime Minister and cut them into pieces.

But there were none in Jiefan Building; Chen Ji could even hear the receding footsteps of the mountain bull, as if the Prime Minister wasn't worried about what might happen to him.

Silently, Chen Ji lifted his head, only to find the serpent on the screen staring at him, unable to see the expression of the Prime Minister behind it. He could only discern the vague shadow lifting the brush again, continuing to pen another document.

As if there were endless documents to write.

After the Prime Minister finished writing another document, he finally lifted his eyes to look across the screen, "Have you not thought it through? The so-called inevitability of death for the living, dispersal for gatherings, depletion for accumulation, collapse for the standing, and downfall for the lofty is the natural order. Because you've lost too much, you refuse to lose anything more, but such thinking is unwise. Go back, and return once you have thought it through."

Chen Ji's heart sank.

Just as he was about to take a desperate step, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Chen Ji turned his head toward the sound, Bai Long's voice came through the door: "Prime Minister, I have returned."

Bai Long?

Chen Ji was surprised, unaware that Bai Long had returned to the Imperial Capital. Yet, this Bai Long, who was usually arrogant outside the palace, seemed somewhat humble within Jiefan Building.

The Prime Minister picked up the copper bell beside him and shook it, Bai Long pushed open the door and entered, his white robe spotless.

He glanced at Chen Ji: "Please step out first, I have matters to report to the Prime Minister."

The Prime Minister, without lifting his head, said: "It is of no matter, he may listen."

Bai Long was momentarily stunned, and so was Chen Ji.

Bai Long bypassed the screen and bowed before the table: "Prime Minister, I went to Chongli Pass, Zhang Lanjin strictly adhered to military discipline and did not dispatch troops without authorization. I found no evidence against him. This man does not keep concubines nor embezzle military funds, residing mostly in the pavilion, rarely stepping out."

The Prime Minister did not respond, continuing to write documents in a lowered head.

Chen Ji suddenly harbored doubts, Bai Long had just returned to the Imperial Capital, why did he not mention anything about the Mo Blade Battalion, Yuan Heng Lizhen, or Jiang Liuxian? Many died in the Mo Blade Battalion at the hands of the Spy Department, whether Yuan Heng Lizhen was dead or alive, and did Jiang Liuxian intercept... isn't this the more crucial matter?

However, Bai Long continued his report: "This time, Night Patrol members Hong Zuer, Zhang Baishi, and others went to the Jing Dynasty along with Chen Ji, spent over twenty days, yet no information was leaked. Zhang Lanjin's precinct appears strict, the Military Intelligence Department spies seemed absent from Chongli Pass."

The Prime Minister casually remarked: "Good news."

Bai Long went on to say: "The personnel I arranged have followed the lamp's advice and went to the Western Capital Road of the Jing Dynasty. Within six months, they should establish a stronghold and monitor the movements of troops on the Western Capital Road. Within a year, they are sure to sway a batch of noble officials..."

The Prime Minister's expression remained unchanged, as though this was no major event.

Bai Long glanced at the Prime Minister: "The lamp's infiltration into the Jing Dynasty is far deeper than previously anticipated. They have been operating in the Jing Dynasty for years, perhaps even penetrating Shangjing."

"Shangjing?" The Prime Minister finally stopped writing and seemed to ponder: "Can we use their influence to plant Spies in Shangjing?"

"Not yet. Currently, the lamp is only willing to bring our Spy Department's personnel to Longyou Road and Western Capital Road," Bai Long thought for a moment: "To infiltrate Shangjing, we might need to use Qing Wentao's exoneration as an exchange. The key figure in this case is the Military Intelligence Department's Si Caoding, without exposing this person, we cannot obtain the evidence that the Jing Dynasty spy mission framed Qing Wentao."

The Prime Minister quietly sneered: "To have Lu Jin plant a nail at the throat of our Capital, yet unable to uncover it, truly embarrassing."

Bai Long remained silent.

The Prime Minister calmly asked: "Have you found out where the landlord of the lamp emerged from?"

Bai Long answered: "Not yet."

The Prime Minister placed his brush next to the inkstone, lifting his gaze to look at Bai Long with keen interest: "The lamp's roots have grown deep within our nation, but since they are unruly, uproot them before they grow too large to control."

Yet at this moment, Bai Long softly said: "Master, I find the lamp useful."

Chen Ji raised his head in astonishment, watching the silent gaze exchange between the two behind the screen, unsure whether it was confrontation or scrutiny.

He had thought that Prime Minister Xu Wenhe, as the Chief Eunuch of the Ritual Supervision, no matter how formidable Bai Long was, ultimately was still an underling of the Prime Minister.

But he did not expect Bai Long to be able to refuse the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister was not angry, seeming to have a certain tolerance for Bai Long: "Give me a reason."

Bai Long bowed with clasped hands: "Master has said, no matter how formidable a person is, as long as they harbor hatred in their heart, they are not to be feared. The lamp's hatred runs deep and could be used to our advantage."

Chen Ji suddenly recalled that Jin Zhu once told him, "The Prime Minister once said to me, there are only two things in the world that are the sharpest, name and profit. He also said that there are only two emotions in the world that are the easiest to use, one is hate, the other is love."

To the Prime Minister, those who desire fame and profit, those who harbor love and hate, are all not to be feared.

The Prime Minister chuckled softly, "Use it well, don't let the knife cut your hand."

Bai Long cupped his hands and said, "Yes."

The Prime Minister picked up the brush and lowered his head to write a document, "You may leave."

"Yes," Bai Long said as he walked out, instructing Chen Ji, "Come with me, there are things to tell you."

Chen Ji's expression changed slightly.

However, he heard the Prime Minister's indifferent voice from behind the screen, "Today, after saving the lamp, don't worry about others. My appreciation for you is only enough for you to save one."

Bai Long stood in place, "You misunderstand, sir, I wouldn't dare."

The Prime Minister said calmly, "In the past, you rarely came to Jiefan Building, yet today you came as soon as you returned to the Imperial Capital. Well, those who enter Jiefan Building are naturally troubled individuals, and their troubles are not yet resolved, they cannot leave."

Chen Ji suddenly realized that Bai Long's sudden visit to Jiefan Building was not to report anything to the Prime Minister but because he suddenly learned that he himself was summoned to Jiefan Building?

The Prime Minister said softly, "The things he wants to do, you cannot help."

Hearing these words, Chen Ji took a deep breath and finally cupped his hands, "Lord Prime Minister, I wish to save a life."

The Prime Minister placed the brush on the ink stone, "All previous merits were exchanged for your qualification to enter my Jiefan Building. Now, if you wish to save a life, you must exchange it with a life."

Chen Ji remained silent for a moment, "Can I use someone else's life?"

The Prime Minister looked over the screen with interest, "Whose life?"

After a moment of thought, Chen Ji firmly replied, "Si Caoding's life."

The Prime Minister said noncommittally, "Can you find Si Caoding?"

Chen Ji remained silent.

The Prime Minister sneered, "Are you trying to negotiate with me?"

Chen Ji bowed his head, "I wouldn't dare. Give me half a year, I will surely find Si Caoding."

The Prime Minister said calmly, "Half a year is too long."

Chen Ji changed his proposal, "Three months!"

The Prime Minister slowly stood up, walked to the window, and opened it slightly, looking at the sunset outside, "To exchange your own life, one is enough, but to use someone else's life, it will take two. A single Si Caoding is not enough."

A determined light flashed in Chen Ji's eyes, "And also Wu Xiu's life."

Bai Long suddenly turned his head to look at him.

The Prime Minister laughed heartily, closed the window, and looked at Chen Ji through the screen, "Bold as brass. But I have no use for Wu Xiu's life, so you owe me this. When the time comes and I decide whose life I want, you will do it for me. Don't worry, I won't send you to kill Lu Yang."

Chen Ji said firmly, "Alright!"

"Who do you want to save?"

"Princess Bai Li."

The Prime Minister pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Next April will be the grand celebration of the Sixty-Year cycle at the Huangshan Dao Court, where they will worship 3,600 deities. It is a rare event at the Dao Court, attended by tens of thousands. Although Jingyang Palace is a place of soft confinement, it is still a temple. During such an event, the nuns from the temple can go if they choose, and there could be an escort on the road, or not. Boy, I will only give you three months. Bring me the head of Si Caoding."

Chen Ji suddenly lifted his head. The implication was that if he managed to find Si Caoding, he would be given an opportunity to intercept Princess Bai Li!

He bowed and said, "Thank you, Lord Prime Minister!"

The Prime Minister waved his hand, "All of you, leave now."

Chen Ji followed Bai Long, opening the door, and as they left, they descended the stairs one after the other.

Amidst the scent of pine and ink, he watched Bai Long's back, pondering the true identity of this Bai Long. Since Mr. Feng's departure from the Imperial Capital, he had never seen Bai Long in action, nor could he gauge his official gateway or level of skill.

Once they were out of Jiefan Building, Chen Ji was about to bid farewell to Bai Long when he saw Bai Long standing outside with his hands enclosed in his sleeves, "No rush to leave, wait a bit longer."

Chen Ji was puzzled, unaware of what they were waiting for, but he didn't ask further.

It wasn't until the sky completely darkened and a little eunuch from the palace reported the time as 7 p.m. that Bai Long said, "Go."

With a head full of questions, Chen Ji left the courtyard of Dongliu Palace where Jiefan Building was located. As soon as he stepped onto the palace path, he saw two palace ladies carrying dim lanterns approaching.

They were coming from Kunning Palace and heading back to Jingyang Palace.

Following the female attendants was a nun dressed in a blue Daoist robe, fair as snow. The blue robe on her was as pure as a swan and as slender as a kite.

Bai Li.

Chen Ji glanced back at Bai Long.

Bai Long casually waved his hand, "Do not converse, do not commit a palace taboo."

Now he understood why Bai Long had him wait; it seemed Bai Li returned to Jingyang Palace at this time every day.

Chen Ji thanked Bai Long with a bow, turned, and stepped forward to meet Bai Li.

One person walked into the deep palace, while the other walked out, meeting face to face, then passing by, each restraining, neither speaking a word.