Chapter 20: Confiscation of Property

“You found evidence?!”

“Where is it?!”

Everyone turned their gaze toward Chen Ji, their eyes filled with scrutiny and doubt, all hitting him at once.

Yet he stood at the entrance of the main room, unyielding, repeating with absolute certainty: “I have found the evidence.”

Lin Chaoqing’s sharp gaze bypassed Jiao Tu and landed on the still-masked Chen Ji. “And this person is?”

Yun Yang took a step forward, shielding half of Chen Ji’s body. “This is a Falcon from my Secret Intelligence Division.”

“So, a Falcon. Not yet a full-fledged secret agent; I presume you require a mask due to some special identity,” Lin Chaoqing asked in a heavy voice. “But would this Falcon be so kind as to clear my doubts? What evidence is in the book? If you are lying, I am afraid you will be accompanying me to the Inner Prison for a visit.”

Chen Ji pulled his gray mask slightly higher and looked at Yun Yang. “Can I speak?”

“Speak.”

Chen Ji nodded and said, “Lord Yun Yang, please take those two books out and let Commander Lin have a look.”

Yun Yang pulled the two books from his robes and handed them to Lin Chaoqing.

Lin Chaoqing flipped through them briefly and said flatly, “Just ordinary books. Where is the intelligence?”

Chen Ji explained calmly, “If one is not intimately familiar with the *Annotated Explanations of the Four Books*, it would indeed be difficult to spot the issue. However, the method used to hide intelligence in this book is actually quite simple; one only needs to compare it against the original version.”

“The original?” Yun Yang snatched the two books back from Lin Chaoqing. He opened one, and Jiao Tu opened the other, the two of them reading by the moonlight.

Chen Ji said, “The original sentence is ‘*de yu xin er bu shi ye*’ (attained in the heart and not lost). The character for ‘lost’ is *shi*. But when Zhou Chengyi was transcribing it, he deliberately wrote ‘*de yu xin er bu shi ye*’ (attained in the heart and not serving), replacing the character for ‘lost’ (*shi*) with the character for ‘affairs/serving’ (*shi*).”

“Look further to the third page. Where the original text should have the character ‘*cheng*’ (sincerity), Zhou Chengyi changed it to ‘*cheng*’ (success).”

These characters were scattered in various corners of the book, separated by several pages. If someone were not checking word for word against an original, it would indeed be difficult to notice the difference.

Originally, Chen Ji thought Zhou Chengyi might have used methods like hidden characters, character verification, fanqie, or character analysis—all of which had been documented in historical records.

However, after his analysis, he discovered the man had used a much simpler method.

Lin Chaoqing took the two books to compare them. Just as Chen Ji had said, his brow smoothed slightly. “What is the complete message being transmitted through this book?”

Chen Ji said, “Because time was tight, I couldn't complete a full comparison of the entire book. So far, I have only obtained one message: ‘*Shi cheng, si zhu yu er xiang jian*’ (The matter is accomplished; the Division Master shall meet you).”

“The Division Master!” A sharp light erupted in Yun Yang’s eyes. “Are you certain the message says the Division Master? I thought the arrival of a Division Clerk would be significant enough, but I never expected the Division Master of the Military Intelligence Division to personally come to Luocheng!”

Jiao Tu said solemnly, “We must send this news back to the capital immediately. For the Division Master of Military Intelligence to personally head south, it must be a matter of monumental importance... Just what is this Liu family descendant doing to earn such trust from the Military Intelligence Division?!”

The murderous atmosphere within the residence suddenly relaxed; Chen Ji even felt as if everyone had let out a long sigh of relief.

Lin Chaoqing sheathed his blade, and Jiao Tu wiped his forehead with his thumb; the cut wound healed instantly, leaving no trace.

Lin Chaoqing looked at Chen Ji and said steadily, “Young man, you are merely a Falcon in the Secret Intelligence Division, without even a formal rank. How about coming to my Division of Criminal Affairs instead?”

Yun Yang: “Huh?”

Jiao Tu: “Huh?”

Lin Chaoqing continued, “I know that you were the one who uncovered these clues and evidence tonight; it would have been impossible for Yun Yang and Jiao Tu alone. With your ability, I guarantee you rapid promotion upon joining the Division of Criminal Affairs.”

“Lin Chaoqing, trying to poach my man right in front of me—do you have no sense of shame?” Yun Yang roared.

“In your Secret Intelligence Division, he is nothing more than a tool to earn you merit. In my Division of Criminal Affairs, he can serve the Emperor and the state,” Lin Chaoqing sneered.

“He is a man of the Secret Intelligence Division!”

“He is not yet a man of your division. If he accepts, I can write a memorial to the throne to request merit for him tonight,” Lin Chaoqing said. “Well? Can you two do that?”

Yun Yang and Jiao Tu exchanged glances, hesitating over whether to give up the credit they had just secured.

Lin Chaoqing sneered, “Better to let him choose for himself.”

Everyone looked at Chen Ji, seeing the youth standing amidst the gazes, his expression hidden beneath the gray cloth of his mask.

After a long silence, Chen Ji spoke: “Thank you for your kindness, Commander, but I would prefer to work under Lord Yun Yang and Lord Jiao Tu for now.”

Lin Chaoqing said, “Very well. To each his own ambition. But if you ever change your mind, you can come to the Luocheng Criminal Affairs Office to find me at any time. I should be here for the next two months.”

“Thank you, Commander Lin.”

As they spoke, a commotion erupted outside the residence. It was the hundreds of members of the Liu family swarming toward the estate, surrounding Liu Shiyu’s residence so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through!

Someone shouted loudly from outside, “Lord Yun Yang! The ‘Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell’ trick was clever, but my Liu family is not composed of useless fools! If you do not give me an explanation, I will surely avenge the Old Master today. After that, whether the Imperial Court wants to behead me or exile me to Lingnan, I, Liu Mingxian, will have no grievances!”

As the voice fell, they heard the sound of someone stacking firewood and splashing oil outside; the pungent scent of oil wafted toward them!

The people inside the residence looked at one another.

This time, it was Lin Chaoqing who took the initiative. “Li Dabing, Li Dapao, take men out to hold off the Liu family. No one is allowed to set fire to the house, or they will be killed on sight!”

Having said that, he looked at Chen Ji. “Where is the evidence to convict the Liu family descendant? How can we be certain that Zhou Chengyi’s message was intended for the Liu family?”

Tonight’s incident began with the death of the Liu descendant in the Inner Prison. Although the Secret Intelligence Division had found important intelligence, this book only proved that the Military Intelligence Division Master was coming south; it did not prove that Zhou Chengyi intended to pass this information to the Liu family.

If they could not prove it, the Liu family would not let this go.

Chen Ji held up the book and asked, “Everyone, how many chapters are there in total in the *Annotated Explanations of the Four Books*?”

Lin Chaoqing responded indifferently, “Thirty-nine chapters in total. Each chapter is printed separately, making thirty-nine volumes in total.”

Chen Ji asked again, “Then which chapter is ‘*Wei Zheng Di Er*’ (Governance, Part Two)?”

Lin Chaoqing answered, “The eighth chapter...”

Chen Ji nodded. “No one would start transcribing from the eighth chapter. They must have transcribed from the first, the second... in order, up to the eighth. I did not find hand-copied versions of the first seven chapters in Zhou Chengyi’s home, which means he must have already sent them out. In other words, Zhou Chengyi must have used the pretext of borrowing and transcribing books to pass intelligence at least seven times.”

Lin Chaoqing realized, “As long as we find where those seven hand-copied volumes in Zhou Chengyi’s handwriting are, we can prove who received the intelligence!”

“Exactly,” Chen Ji said, raising the book in his hand. “This is the seventh chapter, ‘*Wei Xue Di Yi*’ (Learning, Part One), which I just found in Liu Shiyu’s room. Based on the handwriting, it appears to be written by Zhou Chengyi. This will be enough to convict Liu Shiyu.”

His words were forceful, like a clap of thunder piercing through the layers of mist tonight, pointing the way to the truth for everyone.

As the others went into the rooms to search the bookshelves, Chen Ji searched other parts of the house. When he opened a cabinet in the inner room, he suddenly froze.

The moment he opened the cabinet, the long-dormant icy current within his body surged once again.

Inside the cabinet were several wooden boxes. Chen Ji opened them discreetly. The first box contained two white jade bracelets; the second contained some account books; the third box... contained a ginseng root!

He glanced behind him, took the box out, placed it on the table, and reached out to touch the ginseng.

Before he could touch it, Lin Chaoqing’s voice drifted over. “Young man, one must not touch any property in the home of a criminal official. The most important duty of my Division of Criminal Affairs in overseeing the Secret Intelligence Division is to prevent agents from lining their own pockets. Put those things back. The Imperial Secretariat will send people to seize and record the assets later.”

Chen Ji: “...”

He had thought that a division like the Secret Intelligence, which played the role of seizing property to silence people, could just pocket whatever they found... No wonder Yun Yang looked so pained when bargaining; it was because they were being watched by the Criminal Affairs Division every single day!

Chen Ji stood by the table, tapping his fingers on the box. After a moment of thought, he ultimately put the box back. He returned to the bookshelf, picked up a book to flip through casually, and then stuffed it back in as well.

By this time, the others had found all seven of the first chapters of the *Annotated Explanations of the Four Books*, and confirmed they were all in Zhou Chengyi’s handwriting!

Yun Yang let out a long breath. “We won! The Liu family matter is finally closed. Regardless of whether Old Master Liu died of anger or illness, my Secret Intelligence Division has handled the case with impartiality. A great achievement!”

Lin Chaoqing said nonchalantly, “I hope you don't win so luckily next time. This time was luck. If you encounter the Hu, Xu, or Chen families again... there might not be anyone to protect you.”

Yun Yang sneered, “Thank you for the reminder, Commander Lin.”

He smoothed his hair, straightened his wrinkled clothes, and finally picked up the stack of organized books. “Let’s go. Take the evidence and shut the Liu family up!”

“Wait,” Lin Chaoqing said coldly. “No one is allowed to leave here with any property. Check them.”

Yun Yang and Jiao Tu flipped open their sleeves and patted down their clothes from top to bottom, saying impatiently, “We only have a few copper coins. We aren't carrying anything. We know the rules!”

Lin Chaoqing looked at Chen Ji. Chen Ji helplessly opened his sleeves and patted his clothes just like the others. “I haven't carried anything either.”

“Very well.”

Everyone walked out together. As they reached the doorway, they saw a small, dark mass—a kitten—standing up from the rafters in the room they had just left, stretching its limbs.

Wuyun (Dark Cloud) leaped lightly down from the rafters, snatched the ginseng root that Chen Ji had just put back in the cabinet, and then, still carrying the ginseng, climbed onto the bookshelf, biting into the book Chen Ji had just been flipping through as well.

The dark, fluffy Wuyun surveyed its surroundings. Once certain no one was watching, it climbed back up to the rafters and slipped through a crack into the night.

(End of Chapter)