In the early morning, the rooster crowed.

Chen Ji lay on the silken bed in the Ginkgo Courtyard and opened his eyes. It had been a long time since he had slept on such a soft mattress. Suddenly, returning to the Chen family in Fu You Street and sleeping on this silk and cotton-wrapped bed, he still felt a bit uncomfortable.

Outside, it was quiet, and even Xiao Man no longer stubbornly kept watch by his bedside.

Chen Ji got up and put on clean, dry clothes, rolled up his sleeves, and went out to the side room to pick up the carrying pole and walked towards the well.

For some reason, no matter how far he traveled or how many things he experienced, as long as he picked up the carrying pole again, his thoughts could calm down.

It seemed as if everything could return to its starting point at the moment he picked up the pole.

Outside the Imperial Capital, he was the Inspector General of the Imperial Camp with a secret mission, but upon returning to the capital, he became the Chen family's bastard son with no official post, feeling much more relaxed.

Unlocking the latch of the Ginkgo Courtyard, Chen Ji was slightly taken aback to see over ten maids and servants standing outside the door, holding basins, towels, and food boxes, silently waiting.

He hesitated and said, "You all..."

The maid Bai Lu, who had previously helped Chen Ji recall the clue about the "Phoenix Crown Blue Flower Head," took a half-step forward and gave a curtsy. "In response to Young Master, it was the First Lady who instructed us to come and serve in the Ginkgo Courtyard. She said you could move to the original Yuanxiang Hall in the Second Room or the Bamboo Garden where the Third Master lived, which are much more spacious than Ginkgo Courtyard... But if you're unwilling to move, you're free to do as you please."

The so-called First Lady was presumably the wife of Chen Lizun of the main branch.

Chen Ji pondered for a moment. "No need for someone to serve in the Ginkgo Courtyard. Don't come again in the future."

Bai Lu hurriedly said, "You may not want us, but we can't live without... If you really drive us away, we may have to be sold out of the mansion."

Chen Ji headed toward the well without turning back. "Leaving here might not be a bad thing, disperse."

The maids and servants exchanged glances, seemingly not expecting Chen Ji to be so heartless, rendering all the flattering tactics they had prepared useless.

When Chen Ji carried the water back to the Ginkgo Courtyard, the people at the door had already dispersed.

Xiao Man took the carrying pole from his shoulder and muttered, "I was worried just now that Young Master would be soft-hearted."

Chen Ji smiled, "I already have enough karma on me, can't carry others' fate, just take care of myself."

Xiao Man continued to mutter, "Just don't be a pushover like before, anyway, the servants in this Chen Mansion, those who can serve as first or second-class maids beside various masters are not easy to deal with. The truly honest ones are sent to do the hard work."

Chen Ji teasingly said, "Like you?"

The little monk muttered, "She wasn't very honest either..."

Xiao Man, carrying the bucket, walked towards the side room. Upon hearing this, he turned around and gave a fierce glare at the little monk. "No one asked you to speak; go recite the scriptures. Recite Ksitigarbha's Vows before breakfast, otherwise, you won't get to eat."

The little monk shrank his neck.

Xiao Man, while pouring water into the vat, rolled his eyes and tentatively asked, "Does Young Master have anything important today?"

Chen Ji was puzzled, "No important matters, why?"

Xiao Man hurriedly said, "We missed the Duanwu Festival on the fifth of May when we went to Chongli Pass. According to the rules, men should carry Ai Ye, and women should wear the Five Poison Talismans on their hairpins to ward off evil. We couldn't care about any of that then. Also, these days, the pine forest by the Heavenly Temple, the water gate west of Desheng Gate, and Manjing outside Anding Gate are bustling, with many tourists on spring outings and vendors selling bamboo-wrapped rice dumplings containing honey dates, walnuts, pine nuts, and red dates, along with farmers selling freshly picked mulberries, cherries, and pomegranates..."

Chen Ji was slightly amused and said, "Since there's nothing else to do, if you want to go, we can visit Manjing today."

Xiao Man beamed with joy, "Young Master is the best!"

However, at this moment, a servant came to the front of Ginkgo Courtyard and reported, "Young Master, Young Master Qi Zhenzhuo from the Qi family is visiting at the side door, saying he has urgent matters for you. Please quickly change into your official robe and go with him."

Xiao Man's face fell, "Why did he come? It's never good news!"

Chen Ji thought for a moment, "It must have something to do with Princess Liyang... Strange, today is the day Princess Liyang is entering the palace for an audience, what could go wrong?"

He changed into the official red robe with the Qilin Badge and walked out.

Just outside the side door, Qi Zhenzhuo, dressed in the silver armor of the Yulin Army, came up and grabbed Chen Ji's wrist. "Master, come quickly with me, there's no time."

Chen Ji let him hold his wrist and curiously asked, "What exactly happened?"

Qi Zhenzhuo cursed, "That Princess Liyang, who knows what's wrong with her, the palace maids have already helped her change into her clothes, yet she refuses to leave Huitong Hall, saying she must be escorted to the palace by you, otherwise she fears someone might assassinate her! The officials of Honglu Temple are about to die of anxiety outside the door, but we can't possibly tie her up and carry her into the palace."

Chen Ji raised an eyebrow, not knowing what kind of trouble Princess Liyang was causing. "Was there any disturbance at Huitong Hall last night?"

Qi Zhenzhuo complained, "What disturbance? Inside and outside Huitong Hall, there are Yulin Army personnel, the governor held the Feibai Sword and guarded the rooftop all night, and around the perimeter, there are spies from the Spy Department as hidden sentries. Who would have the guts to attempt her assassination? I think she's simply afraid of dying. Even the food sent to her, she insists on watching my Yulin Army eat for three hours before she's willing to eat a cold bite, she's extremely cautious."

When the two arrived at the Huitong Hall on East Suburb Rice Alley, Princess Liyang was standing by the window on the second floor, waving with a smile at Chen Ji.

She was still in that dignified Pheasant-Feather Robe, but her hair was styled again in a striking bun, her face powdered more white like a Jing woman, with a small plum blossom drawn with rouge at the center of her brow.

Qi Zhenzhuo muttered softly, "The makeup of the Jing women is too heavy, unlike our Ning Dynasty's elegant simplicity... Master, I'll go tie up your horse."

Qi Zhenzhuo stepped ahead, and just as Chen Ji was about to turn into East Suburb Rice Alley, he saw Jiao Tu and Yun Yang standing with their arms crossed at the corner of the wall.

As Chen Ji passed by them, Jiao Tu smiled brightly, almost inaudibly saying, "Greetings, Mr. Chen. Thank you for speaking well of us before the Lord Prime Minister. From now on, Yun Yang and I will be the most loyal Twelve Signs under your command."

Chen Ji ignored them, thinking that the two had resumed their roles as zodiac members.

Elsewhere, Xuan Snake, donning a black large cloak, sat leisurely sipping a bowl of millet porridge at a breakfast stall, with over a dozen spies standing guard outside.

Previously, more than two hundred Korea envoys died at the Huitong Hall. If something were to happen to Princess Liyang now, many would lose their heads.

Such strict security meant that even if Si Caogui led dozens of spies to attempt an assassination, it would be futile.

As Chen Ji reached the Huitong Hall entrance, Princess Liyang was already descending the stairs, lifting the hem of her Pheasant-Feather Robe.

Chen Ji frowned and asked, "What's the meaning of this, Your Highness?"

Princess Liyang replied frankly, "I fear for my life."

This left Chen Ji momentarily speechless.

The temple minister from Honglu Temple hurried to invite Princess Liyang to sit in the sedan chair, but she declined, saying, "I will walk. I request everyone not to come within five steps of me, except for the Marquis of Wuxiang."

The temple minister from Honglu Temple frowned and said, "This is against protocol."

Princess Liyang calmly replied, "This is your Southern Dynasty's protocol, not that of our Jing Dynasty. I am a Jing Dynasty princess; why should I follow your rules? If you do not agree, I will simply return to the Huitong Hall."

The temple minister from Honglu Temple's expression changed, and he reluctantly waved his hand.

The honor guard set off, the Yulin Army mounted their horses, escorting Princess Liyang towards the Forbidden City, leaving only Chen Ji by her side.

Chen Ji nonchalantly said, "Your Highness, your foot injury isn't healed yet. Why make things difficult for yourself? Moreover, with such a strict garrison, how could anyone get to you?"

Princess Liyang walked through Chessboard Street with her head held high and said, "It wasn't easy for me to come this far. Face is something for others, but life is one's own; it's never wrong to be cautious. Mr. Chen, don't underestimate Lu Jin. He has managed the Military Intelligence Department for over ten years; your Ning Dynasty has long been infiltrated. Who knows who belongs to him? It could be a clerk carrying the sedan chair or a Yulin Army soldier; anyone could be his."

Chen Ji's heart stirred. Indeed, Princess Liyang was not wrong; even he was a member of the Military Intelligence Department.

He casually said, "Your Highness, aren't you afraid I will turn against you?"

Princess Liyang smiled and replied, "Mr. Chen, you've already saved my life several times. In Ning Dynasty, anyone might want to kill me, except you—otherwise, why would you have gone to such lengths before? You are my greatest support in Ning Dynasty."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Princess Liyang glanced at him and said, "Mr. Chen, be very careful of Lu Jin. I've joined forces with the Jiang Family to force him out of power, and it took great effort to place Lu Guanwu in, yet he spent a year without uncovering the secrets of the Military Intelligence Department. Finally, we managed to turn two Si Cao, and one inexplicably died."

Chen Ji was taken aback. So Lu Guanwu was Princess Liyang's person?

The shopkeeper he killed earlier must have been the one she mentioned.

He pondered for a moment and tentatively asked, "Who is the other Si Cao?"

Princess Liyang covered her mouth and laughed, "Mr. Chen, do you take me for a fool? How could I easily tell you this? I'm still counting on him being useful one day."

Chen Ji whispered, "Your Highness once said you could be a spy for our Ning Dynasty."

Princess Liyang corrected him, "No, no, no, I meant to be your spy, Mr. Chen, not Ning Dynasty's spy."

Chen Ji frowned, "What's the difference?"

Princess Liyang smiled and said, "There's a big difference... Though I can't give up my own people, I can provide Mr. Chen some clues to search for other spies in the Military Intelligence Department. If you accomplish something, don't forget about me."

Chen Ji felt a shiver and lowered his voice to ask, "You know whose clues?"

Princess Liyang calmly responded, "Military Intelligence Department, Division Head."

Chen Ji also calmly replied, "Your Highness wishes to use me as a knife to cut down Lu Jin's wings? Such a clever calculation."

Even when her intent was revealed, Princess Liyang wasn't embarrassed. Instead, she turned and smiled at him, "Mr. Chen, would you be willing to be this knife? You seem willing enough."