Chapter 538: Re-entering the Trouble-Resolving Tower |
Chen Hour (7-9 AM).
Chen Ji walking east along Chang'an Avenue, only felt today's sunlight was exceptionally poisonous and spicy (scorching), dry and hot. The zhizhi crying sounds of cicadas on the tree branches rang out non-stop.
Along the entire road, each and every wine shop erected wooden boards before their doors, written upon them the types of mooncakes their own establishment sold. Inside the wine shops, bags upon bags of mooncakes were wrapped using oiled paper and stacked forming small mountains. Outside the oiled paper there was also a square of red paper, exceptionally festive and joyous.
But Chen Ji couldn't care about celebrating the Mid-Autumn festival anymore.
He arrived inside the breakfast shop outside East River Rice Alley. Ordering a bowl of millet porridge and two shepherd's purse vegetable steamed buns.
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Lowering his head he drank porridge on one hand, and on the other used the remnant light of his peripheral vision to evaluate the pedestrians shuffling back and forth outside the Huitong Hostel. Pondering and calculating in his heart the winning chances of assassinating the Annan Envoy.
In this world, among all the methods to resolve troubles, killing people is the simplest.
Assassination, on the other hand, is the simplest among all the methods of killing people.
This entire road has the whole journey escorted by over a hundred Feather Forest Army soldiers. There are also an unknown number of Secret Spies disguised and dressed up. There's no opportunity on the road.
Since there's no opportunity on the road, then he would strike from the Huitong Hostel.
Chen Ji was already very familiar with the Huitong Hostel, and also knew beneath the floorboards of the Huitong Hostel there was a massive Listening Jar. There would be Secret Spy Division troops hiding their bodies within it eavesdropping on the movements within the hostel.
At this time, he once again earnestly evaluated the Huitong Hostel. The two floors totaled sixty-four windows. Standing guard before the doors were ten Secret Spies. They would rotate shifts every day at the Wu hour (11 AM - 1 PM) and Zi hour (11 PM - 1 AM).
If there was a method to request a Practitioner of Lantern Fire to disguise his face for him, perhaps he could mix within it, and when the King of Annan steps in or out strike a single blade to end his life.
But the resultant consequence is that he would die, and Commandery Princess Baili also wouldn't obtain freedom.
This method cannot go through.
Chen Ji turned his thoughts pondering, what about inside the Huitong Hostel? Was there any possibility to disguise as a petty official delivering meals, and place poison inside the meals?
Precisely while pondering, a wooden cart escorted by twelve Secret Spies arrived before the Huitong Hostel. Upon the wooden cart were baskets upon baskets of fresh beef, mutton, and vegetables. Inserted into the baskets were silver-material labels. And upon the labels were precisely the names of the people tasting the meals to test for poison.
Chen Ji wrinkled his brows. Ever since the Huitong Hostel secretary official poisoning incident, this road had already been blocked to death. Aside from many people escorting the transport, there were also specially designated people for tasting poison and testing poison. They fundamentally wouldn't give the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division opportunities anymore.
This method also cannot go through.
— Then entrust the Feather Forest Army or Jin Zhu requesting their help to strike? Even more so it won't do.
Setting aside whether the other party is willing or unwilling. Even if someone was willing, if this matter was investigated outwards, I'm afraid it would be a massive capital crime executing nine familial generations. He was unwilling to implicate bystanders.
This method still cannot go through.
Then forcefully assassinate. Into the night at the third watch (midnight) take advantage of when the guards are most sleepy and fatigued to kill his way in, and afterwards borrow Firearms to flee and leave?
Merely having just thought to here, he suddenly discovered a small vendor carrying a carrying pole selling mooncakes outside the Huitong Hostel looked familiar. It clearly was a Secret Spy Qiu Shu had just recently brought back from Wunian Mountain.
There were also a few pedestrians, donning the appearance of acting as if nothing was the matter wandering back and forth outside East River Rice Alley. Lacking matters to do yet unwilling to depart. Universally they were all Wunian Mountain wolf cubs Chen Ji had seen.
Among them one person evaluated over into the breakfast shop. Chen Ji silently lowered his head drinking porridge. A moment later the other party only then shifted their gaze away.
In this single year the Huitong Hostel had too many matters occur. When the Annan Envoy entered the capital, the Secret Spy Division simply drew their bowstrings tight. Taking twenty-four Wunian Mountain wolf cubs arranging them universally to arrive at this place. Guaranteeing the Annan Envoy was Absolutely Foolproof.
This originally was for the sake of defending against the Military Intelligence Division, but now actually defended against Chen Ji.
But aside from assassinating the Annan Envoy, what other method could hinder and stop the peace marriage alliance?
Chen Ji pondered for a moment. Tossing down a piece of fragmented silver onto the table, rising his body exiting the door.
Chen Ji headed west along Chang'an Avenue. Traveling the whole road arriving at Taiye Pool. Along the riverbank he walked inward.
First passing via the Imperial Use Division. And afterwards was only then the Falconry Office. Here raised all the carrier pigeons of the Directorate of Ceremonial. Every single carrier pigeon had undergone careful selection and fine choosing, meticulously cultivated by designated personnel.
Purely raising a single carrier pigeon requires expending massive amounts reaching a thousand silver taels per year. The fastest carrier pigeon can travel a thousand and four hundred miles a day. It is even swifter and faster than the eight hundred mile expedited couriers.
Outside the Falconry Office there are Secret Spy Division guarding day and night. And Bai Long during ordinary days simply inside the small courtyard next to the Falconry Office makes Cinnabar Rescripts on Secret Spy Division documents. Closely neighboring the Forbidden City's Xihua Gate.
Waiting until Chen Ji drew near, from behind the artificial mountains standing like a forest beside Taiye Pool, simultaneously four Secret Spies holding Hand Crossbows appeared, saying in a cold voice: "Coming person who is it?"
Chen Ji opened the door seeing the mountain (went straight to the point): "This subordinate Baron of Wuxiang County Chen Ji, has important matters to mutually discuss with Lord Bai Long."
The Secret Spies slightly squinted their eyes: "Baron of Wuxiang County please return. Lord Bai Long has gone entering the palace. Waiting until Milord returns, we and our peers will naturally offer reports upward to him."
Chen Ji stood passing his original spot wrinkling up his brows. Turning his head looking toward the interior of the Forbidden City. Yet it was blocked closely by the grand red palace walls. Unable to see that mysterious Trouble-Resolving Tower.
He came to seek the Inner Chancellor. But he lacks a reason to enter the Forbidden City. Now wishing to entrust Bai Long to bring him entering the palace, yet Bai Long was also not present.
It should be the Annan Envoy entering the palace for an Imperial audience. Bai Long must act on duty beside Emperor Ning... Today is the Mid-Autumn festival. And the King of Annan also presented a vassal bandit leader refusing to pay tribute. The royal court will definitely establish banquets to hospitably entertain them. It's still unknown when Bai Long can only then depart the palace.
But Chen Ji didn't leave. He selected to wait outside the Falconry Office.
Today he must necessarily meet the Inner Chancellor.
The Secret Spies raised their Hand Crossbows. Chen Ji acting as if there was no one beside him found an artificial mountain leaning against it closing his eyes to nurture his spirit. The Secret Spies mutually looked for a glance, actually also entirely not going to manage him. Silently retreating back behind the artificial mountains.
At this time, fire-blunderbuss sounds rang out within the Forbidden City. Thinking on it the Annan Envoy had just entered Jianji Hall. The Elite Firearms Division was currently sounding blunderbusses to mutually welcome them. Using this to demonstrate martial might to the vassal states, shaking and deterring petty thieves.
King Annan would take all that he saw and heard within Capital City bringing it back southwards. Causing all vassal states to harbor reverence and awe within their hearts towards the Ning Dynasty.
Reaching the Wu hour (11 AM - 1 PM), horns rang out within the Forbidden City. Above Meridian Gate's Yanchi Tower drum sounds transmitted over. It should be the imperial audience had already concluded. The Feather Forest Army escorting the Annan envoy mission heading to the Huitong Hostel, making slight rest and grooming, waiting for the Shen hour (3 - 5 PM) Mid-Autumn night banquet.
According to logic speaking, Bai Long at this time should have exited the palace. Yet Chen Ji waited arriving at the Wei hour (1 - 3 PM), also never once seeing Bai Long.
Continuing until the setting sun sank westwards. Within Xihua Gate transmitted over the voice of a little eunuch: "Lord Bai Long ten thousand peaces."
Chen Ji opened both eyes. The sunlight reflected over from the grand red palace walls. So gorgeously beautiful it made him almost unable to open his eyes.
Within the red palace road, that set of white clothing slowly walked over. Looking up and down evaluating him: "Waited for very long?"
Chen Ji hummed an acknowledgement.
Bai Long again asked: "For Commandery Princess Baili?"
Chen Ji nodded his head: "This subordinate wishes to know... today's imperial audience, did the Annan Envoy truly whether or not bring up the matter of a peace marriage between two dynasties?"
Bai Long turned his body walking toward the Falconry Office: "Naturally it was brought up. King Annan presented seventeen people of Siam's royal family. Not wanting gold and silver seals of reward. Not wanting Official Robes and Jade Belts. Only begging for a peace marriage."
Chen Ji followed behind his body, asking in a low voice: "Why must he absolutely require a peace marriage?"
Bai Long explained without turning his head back: "After the peace marriage, Commandery Princess Baili simply must take our dynasty's craftsmen and medical officials heading to Annan. Taking our dynasty's techniques and bringing them over. Annan has accumulated weakness for a long time. This time lifting the entire strength of the kingdom to luckily assist Yang Xuan in capturing the Siam King alive... what it's for is precisely gambling upon their national destiny, to obtain our dynasty's mutual assistance... King Annan possesses魄力 decisive boldness and also possesses savage ambitions. He knows, this is precisely the best serendipitous opportunity of this lifetime of his."
Chen Ji asked again: "Must it absolutely be Commandery Princess Baili?"
Bai Long calmly said: "Does the royal family possibly still have other people able to be married off?"
Chen Ji remained silent for a long time: "But King Annan is already over fifty years old."
Bai Long smiled faintly: "Fifty-eight years old... what of it? The matters of a peace marriage between two dynasties, is not romantic attachments between sons and daughters. It has no connection with elder or younger."
Entering inside the Falconry Office, Chen Ji looked at walls full of pigeon cages. Nailed upon the cages were copper-manufactured labels: Jinling, Taiyuan Prefecture, Luo City,
Chongli Pass, Guyuan, Tongzhou, Lingnan, Shu Capital, Yellow Mountain, Mount Laojun—
There were also two pigeon cages completely and entirely empty. The pigeons inside seemed to have flown away sending letters not yet returning. But the pigeon cages lacked copper labels nailed on them, not knowing precisely flying heading to where.
Bai Long walked past before the pigeon cages. Walking before Yellow Mountain's pigeon cage. He saw bound upon the pigeon's leg a Bamboo Tube. He simply supported the pigeon in his hands untying the Bamboo Tube. After reading the slip of paper within he simply used his fingers to rub it into dust powder.
He continued saying: "You coming to seek this seat (I). Is wishing to beg this seat to help you rescue Commandery Princess Baili?"
Chen Ji looked at Bai Long's back figure: "I and the Inner Chancellor had a prior agreement."
Bai Long's voice was placid without waves: "If back then you could have grasped hold of Lin Chaoqing. Now setting aside King Annan... even if the Forty-Nine Heavens came, the Inner Chancellor could also help you take Commandery Princess Baili and send her out of the palace. But right now you still owe a single life. The Inner Chancellor does not need to help you complete your heart's desires. If you wish to see the Inner Chancellor, then there is no need to expend your heart's effort. Before grasping Lin Chaoqing, you do not possess the qualifications to enter the Trouble-Resolving Tower anew."
But Lin Chaoqing had already flown high and walked distant (fled far away).
Chen Ji cupped his hands behind Bai Long's back, respectfully saying: "Requesting Lord Bai Long to bring me entering the palace. Upon the matter of Lin Chaoqing this subordinate has already exhausted his strength acting. But chess lacking a single move (falling short at the final hurdle), Heaven Does Not Grant Human Wishes. Now I only hope the Inner Chancellor again gives a single person's name, this subordinate will definitely extract his life bringing it back. After the matter succeeds, this subordinate can precisely take the Firearms improvement recipe presenting it as a gift to milord."
Bai Long turned his head back evaluating him: "This seat heard tonight is the Qi Family's night banquet. You have already agreed with Elder Chen you must go mutually reconcile with Third Miss Qi. Looking at the shichen, the night banquet should almost be beginning. How come, you don't plan on going anymore?"
Chen Ji said with firm certainty: "Not going anymore."
Bai Long pondered for a moment: "Follow this seat coming."
(End of this chapter)