Green Mountain

He leaned against a pillar and calmly said, "Landlord, there's no need to be troubled. Actually, Brother Pao under Chen Ji has already come to us. He said the salt permit can't be returned; it's like meat that won't be spit out once it's in your mouth, but..."

"But what?"

Third Master Hu continued, "But the salt permit from the borderline people can henceforth be consigned for sale at Meihua Ferry Crossing. No matter where the salt permit is transported to, it can fetch a price far higher than before. For example, a salt permit originally sold for one tael six money in Taiyuan Prefecture, but now at Meihua Ferry Crossing it can be sold for four taels two money."

This means the salt permits held by the borderline people have become valuable goods. From now on, they can transport more grain to the border town, and the Guyuan Border Army won't have to go hungry anymore.

Third Master Hu smiled and said, "Landlord, that Brother Pao was frank, saying that cooperation brings mutual benefit, while division brings harm. I don't think this salt permit can be reclaimed."

The woman slowly said, "It's an open strategy; he fears no trouble from the borderline people. Let's put the salt permit matter aside for now. How is the investigation in the South progressing?"

Third Master Hu became serious, "Our people followed the clues from the postal station documents and caught a Jing Dynasty spy. It took seven days of interrogation to make him talk. He speculated that the framing of General Wen Tao years ago was orchestrated by Si Caoding, because all the spies in the Imperial Capital's Military Intelligence Department were under his jurisdiction at that time."

The woman murmured to herself, "Si Caoding..."

Third Master Hu grunted in acknowledgment, "This person is an elder of the Military Intelligence Department. After General Wen Tao was framed, he disappeared from the Imperial Capital and reappeared three years later in Jinling. Since then, everything south of Jinling has been under his control."

"It's a pity that Si Caoding is extremely cautious. No one has seen his appearance, only knowing he has another nickname, Long Whale. This was his title before he became Si Cao, and only some of the old hands in the Military Intelligence Department call him that."

The woman said in a heavy tone, "Is there any other clue about Si Caoding? Is he still in Jinling?"

Third Master Hu shook his head, "No, the Military Intelligence Department spy said he originally reported to Si Caoding, but since last autumn he hasn't received any orders from Si Caoding in Jinling, and Si Caogeng took over Jinling thereafter. According to this, Si Caoding might either be suspected and kept silent or has already left Jinling."

The woman pondered aloud, "Where would he go after leaving Jinling?"

She closed her eyes in thought, "Recently, the Spy Department and Jiefan Guard blocked the Henan Province pass. Prince Jing and the Liu Family's charges are connected with the Jing Dynasty, and the timing matches. It seems Si Caoding may very well have gone to Luocheng City back then. The Spy Department declared externally that they've slain the Jing Dynasty traitor in Luocheng City; could Si Caoding have died in that incident?"

Third Master Hu solemnly said, "If Si Caoding is dead, then we're afraid there won't be any more leads."

Yet the woman refused to give up, "Investigate, keep investigating. We must find Si Caoding; if he's alive, we need to see him, if he's dead, we need to see his corpse."

"Don't worry, Landlord, we will continue to pursue this," Third Master Hu nodded, "…Are you really not going to see Chen Ji?"

The woman got up and walked outside, "Old Three, the fact that I'm alive mustn't leak out in the slightest. That person is vicious and meticulous; we mustn't let him notice any clues. The farther I stay from Chen Ji, the safer he will be."

Third Master Hu sighed, "I understand the logic. I initially wanted to avoid him too, but Landlord, back when he was just a sapling, turning sideways would let you bypass him. But now, you have to detour to avoid him. If one day he grows into a towering tree, even if we circumvent the trunk, when we look up, we're still under its shade. At that time, how can we avoid it?"

The woman replied without turning back, "A sapling needs a hundred years to become a towering tree; no need to worry. By the time he grows into a towering tree, you and I should be long buried."

Suddenly, Third Master Hu said, "Landlord, ever since I left Guyuan, I've investigated many things related to Chen Ji. Would you like to hear them? You have always been in Taiyuan Prefecture, perhaps you haven't heard yet..."

The woman stopped in front of Bianyifang Restaurant, turned and interrupted Third Master Hu, "Old Three."

"Hmm?"

Bianyifang's oil lamps weren't bright; the light cast far away only illuminated the hem of the woman's skirt and her shoes.

The woman said calmly, "Don't investigate his matters anymore."

"Alright," Third Master Hu hesitated for a moment, ultimately still vying a bit, "Landlord can visit the Imperial Music Bureau's Four Dreams of Bianliang; it has tales of him and Commandery Princess Zhu Baili."

The woman was puzzled, "Zhu Baili?"

...

...

"Zhu Baili."

"Present."

"Liu Pin Er."

"Present."

In front of the main hall of Jingyang Palace, the Divine Chief Eunuch, clad in a red robe, opened a register and called the roll one by one. Princess Bai Li and other nuns stood inside the main hall, answered in turn.

When he reached Zhu Lingyun, the Chief Eunuch read, "Xuan Yun."

Zhu Lingyun replied with a smile, "Present."

The Chief Eunuch closed the register, speaking in a soft tone, "On the first day of March, the Empress will conduct a sacrificial ceremony at the Ancestor Silkworm Altar. The Prime Minister has granted you permission to go together to perform the three offerings."

Upon hearing this, the nuns were incredulous, exchanging delighted glances with their heads bowed.

Jingyang Palace is the Cold Palace, where those practicing Daoism are said to cultivate but are essentially under soft detention.

Unless there's the Grand Puja Ceremony held every sixty years by the Dao Court, they have no chance to go out; they would die here and have their bodies carried out.

At this moment, Xuanzhen, clad in a blue Daoist robe with a horsetail whisk draped on her arm, slightly bowed to the Chief Eunuch, "Dare I ask Lord Admiral, why has Lord Prime Minister allowed us to leave the palace this time?"

The Chief Eunuch chuckled, "You dare ask me, yet I dare not ask the Prime Minister. It's good that you have this grace to go out, so don't question too much."

Xuanzhen bowed again, "Understood."

The Chief Eunuch reminded, "Watch over your people, remind them not to entertain any chaotic thoughts. Don't look around indiscriminately, don't speak indiscreetly once you're out of the palace; if anyone violates the rules, be careful I'll cut her tongue. Besides, let Princess Yongchun stay in Jingyang Palace; don't let her go out to cause trouble for everyone."

"Understood."

The Chief Eunuch continued to advise, "Also, starting from today, each of you must write a piece of green words, and offer prayers to Heaven using these green words during the Silkworm God sacrifice. Remember, not a single piece should be missing. I will personally inspect them the day before departure."

Xuanzhen nodded slightly, "Got it, I will supervise and inspect daily."

The Chief Eunuch grinned broadly, "Alright, I trust your work; I'm leaving."

Xuanzhen respectfully said, "Safe travels to the Admiral."

After the Chief Eunuch left, the palace nuns began chattering in front of the Three Pure Ones' statue. When Xuanzhen turned around to look, her gaze like a knife cut through each person's face.

Wherever her gaze reached, the nuns silenced themselves one by one, lowering their heads and not daring to speak.

Xuanzhen remarked indifferently, "I see your years of Dao practice have been spent on others; just a slight incident makes you lose composure. Xuan Yun, keep an eye on them, and let them recite the Taoist Scripture in front of the Taoist Ancestor statue until midnight before going to sleep."

Zhu Lingyun quickly agreed, "Yes, rest assured, Master. I will definitely watch over them."

Xuanzhen turned toward the side hall, and Zhu Lingyun pointed to the nuns, "Start reciting the Taoist Scripture."

The nuns obediently kneeled before the statue of the Three Pure Ones, reciting softly, "The Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao..."

As Bai Li was about to kneel, Zhu Lingyun held her arm to stop her, "What are you doing, sister? We just need to watch them recite the scriptures; you don't need to recite."

But Bai Li softly said, "Now that you're in charge, you must be fair, or else they will surely resent you behind your back."

Zhu Lingyun raised her eyebrows slightly, "They dare not."

Bai Li smiled gently, "It's alright; I will recite the scripture with them."

With that, she gently lifted the hem of her Daoist robe, kneeled on the prayer mat, and straightened her back, reciting the scriptures in an extremely soft voice, though it was not the Tao Te Ching.

"Forget emotion to achieve fairness, gain emotion to forget emotion. The Dao gives birth to all things, emotion is the root; emotion gives rise to all forms, detachment is truth..."