Chapter 49 : Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Upper Three

Golden Pig looked at me, smiling broadly: “Lord Inner Minister plans with mastery. He knew Yunyang and Jiaotu were prone to failure, so he had me wait nearby, ready to step in when they capsized. The Military Intelligence Division and Liu Family probably didn’t expect I was already in Luocheng—perfect timing to ambush… or arrest them.”

A surge of danger rose in my heart. What a deep and meticulous mind this Inner Minister had.

So, Yunyang and Jiaotu were just decoys to distract attention. Once they failed, their enemies would relax in brief victory, and Golden Pig could slip in quietly. With the enemy exposed and us in the shadows, success was assured.

Promoting Yunyang and Jiaotu to the Twelve Zodiacs half a year early was likely for this very moment!

To scheme so ruthlessly even against his own people—no wonder they called him the “Poison Minister” outside!

I bowed slightly: “Lord Golden Pig, I’m not with the Secret Spy Division. Please don’t share secrets with me.”

Golden Pig approached, warmly gripping my hand, beaming: “Of course I’ll tell you! I’m counting on you to join the Secret Spy Division and help me earn merits! Oh, good news—Lord Inner Minister has decreed you can join the Secret Spy Division. From now on, we’re colleagues. With your wit, you’ll rise swiftly.”

My hand was clasped in his chubby grip, giving me goosebumps. I hurriedly said humbly: “Lord Golden Pig, you flatter me. I don’t have such ability.”

“You absolutely do!” Golden Pig praised: “I thought Yunyang would fail at Zhou Chengyi’s, leaving Luocheng in disgrace within a day. But they not only found evidence, they pinned Liu Shiyu and even uncovered Old Master Liu’s fake death. I wondered how those two, skilled only at killing, managed it. Then I realized—it was you!”

“It wasn’t me,” I shook my head: “Lord Golden Pig, I’m just a clinic apprentice.”

“Don’t be modest! Lin Chaoqing reported the details to Lord Inner Minister, and Dream Rooster reported interrogating you in a dream. Put the two together, and the truth is clear.”

I understood. No wonder Golden Pig sought me out—Lord Inner Minister already knew of my existence.

I asked curiously: “I heard Yunyang say the Secret Spy Division’s selection is strict.”

Golden Pig smiled, patting my shoulder: “True, but your standout performance in the Liu Shiyu case caught Lord Inner Minister’s eye. For talent, exceptions are made.”

“What are the benefits of joining the Secret Spy Division? What’s the salary?” I asked.

“Salary?” Golden Pig laughed: “Sparrow rank gets twenty-four taels of silver a year, Pheasant twenty-six. At Pigeon rank, it’s twenty-eight taels, equal to a large county magistrate. Sea Goshawk is even greater—prefects treat you with respect. Know what a Sea Goshawk is? It’s fierce by nature; when hungry, it attacks anything in the sky.”

“What about the Twelve Zodiacs?” I asked.

“You want to be a Zodiac?” Golden Pig studied me with interest, continuing: “The Twelve Zodiacs are above Sea Goshawk, holding the King’s Command Tablet, with authority to act first and report later… But there are differences among them.”

“Huh?”

“The Twelve Zodiacs are divided into Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding. Ding Three are Rat, Rabbit, Sheep.”

I mused inwardly: so Yunyang and Jiaotu were the lowest among the Zodiacs.

Golden Pig continued: “Next are Bing Three: Golden Pig, Treasure Monkey, Dream Rooster.”

“Yi Three?”

“Corpse Dog, Mountain Ox, Mysterious Snake.”

“Jia Three?”

Golden Pig smiled: “Jia Three are formidable. They say, ‘Iron-clad Upper Three, fleeting Lower Nine.’ Over the years, other Zodiacs have changed, but the Upper Three are like untoppled tumblers—never erred, never replaced.”

“Those three are White Dragon, Heavenly Horse, Sick Tiger!”

“The Upper Three’s authority differs from ours. We report to Lord Wu Xiu, who relays to the Inner Minister. The Upper Three report directly to him. What they do or plan, we can’t inquire. If they give orders, the Lower Nine must obey unconditionally.”

The clinic grew quiet. Only now did I grasp the full structure of the Secret Spy Division.

Golden Pig fell silent, removing his bamboo hat and placing it on the counter, letting me digest this.

In the calm, I thought quickly: Why tell me so much? Was he not cunning? No way.

If he weren’t cunning, he wouldn’t have waited this long to appear.

This wasn’t a Golden Pig—he was a master playing the pig to eat the tiger.

I asked: “Dare I ask… where are Lords Yunyang and Jiaotu now?”

Golden Pig smiled: “They were to be escorted to the capital for trial, but Lord Inner Minister’s decree came: no need to return—straight to exile in Lingnan.”

I shook my head: “Lord Golden Pig, can I not join the Secret Spy Division? Even great figures like Yunyang and Jiaotu ended up in prison—my fate wouldn’t be any better…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”

At that moment, a noise came from the back courtyard.

I glanced back, and when I turned, Golden Pig was gone!

Looking up, I saw his bulky form crouched silently on the rafter!

Me: “…”

This Golden Pig—any hint of trouble, and he hid faster than anyone!

On the rafter, Golden Pig squinted, alert, whispering: “Kid, go check.”

…

…

At the courtyard wall, Princess Baili’s head poked over, cautiously scanning. Seeing me, she deflated.

She thought coming late, with me asleep, she’d save the toll, but this clinic apprentice seemed to never sleep!

Clinging to the wall, she looked at me curiously: “Hey, what’re you doing in the courtyard at this hour?”

I said boldly: “Collecting tolls.”

Princess Baili fumed, climbing over and down the ladder, pulling four silver peanuts from her purse and slamming them into my hand: “Don’t call yourself Chen Ji anymore—call yourself Chen Blackheart!”

“Huh, why four?” I asked, puzzled.

Another head appeared over the wall—a strange girl.

Princess Baili waved to her: “Lingyun, there’s a ladder. Come down.”

The girl, dressed in dark blue boy’s clothes with a green jade hairpin, nimbly climbed into the courtyard.

The Heir and Little Monk followed.

The girl, named Lingyun, looked at the four silver peanuts in my hand, puzzled: “What’s this for?”

Princess Baili explained: “It’s his toll fee.”

“Toll fee?” Zhu Lingyun paused, then said instinctively: “Isn’t the imperial clinic part of our prince’s mansion? He’s just a clinic apprentice we support—why pay him a toll?”

I looked at Princess Baili: “Who’s this?”

“This is my sister, Zhu Lingyun,” Princess Baili smiled: “She rarely goes out. I brought her to have fun. Don’t mind what she says; she’s got some class notions.”

Zhu Lingyun, shocked, said: “Baili, why so polite to a servant!”

Princess Baili’s face darkened: “What servant nonsense? Father always taught us not to act superior. Why do you keep copying your mother’s ways?”

Zhu Lingyun grew upset: “You’re arguing with me over an outsider? What’s wrong with my mother!”

Princess Baili didn’t dwell: “Apologize. You’ve forgotten Father’s teachings!”

“Why should I apologize? He’s just a servant!” Zhu Lingyun retorted.

The Heir and Little Monk, watching, tried to mediate: “Stop arguing, stop arguing. What’s there to fight about… Lingyun, you shouldn’t say that about Chen Ji.”

Zhu Lingyun’s large almond eyes glared in disbelief at the Heir: “Brother, you’re siding with Baili!?”

The Heir paused: “I’m not taking sides; I’m being fair. At Donglin Academy, Prince Fu’s heir Zhu Yu was arrogant and got expelled by the masters. Don’t let the scholars’ flattery at the academy make you forget Father’s teachings.”

Tears welled in Zhu Lingyun’s eyes. After a long silence, she climbed the ladder back to the mansion: “You go play. I’m not going!”

I stayed silent throughout…

The Heir sighed, turning to me: “Sorry, you saw a spectacle. Lingyun’s actually nice, just a bit temperamental.”

I smiled: “No worries.”

I returned one silver peanut to Princess Baili. She was stunned: “You’d give back money you’ve got?”

“I don’t take what I shouldn’t.”

The Heir gave a thumbs-up: “Principled!”

I returned to the shared bed, gently waking Liang Mao’er: “Get your brother to go drinking with the Heir. Make sure to eat plenty in Red Cloth Lane.”

Liang Gou’er sat up, eyes gleaming: “Drinking? Where to?”

Me: “…”

Liang Mao’er: “…”

After they left, the clinic returned to quiet.

Golden Pig floated down from the rafter, looking at me probingly: “You seem close with the Heir and Princess Baili?”

“Not really,” I shook my head.

Golden Pig smiled: “I heard Princess Baili defending you.”

He said firmly: “Young man, joining the Secret Spy Division has many benefits. Working for Lord Inner Minister, you’ll never lose. From today, you’re a spy. Your first task: follow the Heir and report all his movements to me. I’m off.”

I stood in the clinic’s dimness, watching Golden Pig’s retreating figure, softly replying: “Understood, Lord Golden Pig.”

As the clinic door gently closed, I returned to the courtyard, picked up the bamboo tube, rolled up my sleeves in the cool autumn night, and earnestly scraped wall frost.