Volume One, Chapter 10: A Simple Task
“What is there to fear?”
“Afraid... afraid of those people...”
“Which people?” Zhu Youjian narrowed his eyes.
Just as the guard was about to speak, he suddenly clutched his throat, blood streaming from his orifices, and collapsed without a sound.
“Protect His Majesty!” Wei Zhiren shouted.
The eunuchs quickly surrounded Zhu Youjian, shielding him in the center.
“Search!” Zhu Youjian commanded sharply. “Turn the entire prison upside down!”
The eunuchs scattered, meticulously searching every corner.
Zhu Youjian approached the fallen guard’s body and examined it carefully. On his neck was a tiny red dot, as if pierced by something sharp.
“Your Majesty,” Wei Zhiren said, “this is...”
“A blowpipe dart,” Zhu Youjian said coldly. “It seems these people were well prepared in advance.”
At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed from afar.
“Sir!” a eunuch ran over. “News from the city gate—several suspicious individuals have been spotted!”
“What kind of people?”
“Dressed as merchants, but agile and skilled. When the guards tried to question them, they suddenly—”
“Suddenly what?”
“They suddenly... disappeared.”
A cold gleam flashed in Zhu Youjian’s eyes. “Continue.”
“The guards found this where they escaped.” The eunuch handed over a small cloth pouch.
Zhu Youjian opened it to find a note covered in strange symbols.
“What is this...” Wei Zhiren leaned in for a closer look. “It seems to be some sort of code.”
“Decrypt it for me.” Zhu Youjian tossed the note to him.
Wei Zhiren took it and studied it carefully. After a while, he shook his head. “I cannot understand it.”
“Take it to the secret agents of the Eastern Depot,” Zhu Youjian ordered.
“Yes.” Wei Zhiren turned and left.
Zhu Youjian continued to examine the guard’s body. In his boot, he discovered a small paper packet.
He opened it to find a pinch of white powder inside.
“Poison?” Wang Cheng’en asked.
Zhu Youjian sniffed it. “No. This is a kind of signaling powder.”
“Signaling powder?”
“Exactly.” Zhu Youjian sneered. “These people are clearly insiders.”
He stood up. “Issue orders: thoroughly investigate the backgrounds of all the guards.”
“Yes, your servant will obey.”
At that moment, a commotion arose outside.
“Your Majesty!” a eunuch rushed in, flustered. “Bad news!”
“What now?”
“The Wen family... a body was found in the Wen estate’s cellar!”
Zhu Youjian frowned. “Whose body?”
“Judging by the clothes, a merchant. But...”
“But what?”
“His face... has been burned beyond recognition.”
A sharp light flashed in Zhu Youjian’s eyes. “Any distinguishing marks?”
“There is a special tattoo on his hand.”
“What kind of tattoo?”
“A strange symbol, very similar to the one on this note.”
Zhu Youjian narrowed his eyes. “Interesting.”
He turned to Wei Zhiren. “Investigate the origins of these symbols.”
“Yes.” Wei Zhiren responded.
Suddenly, a dreadful scream echoed from deep within the prison.
“What is happening?” Zhu Youjian demanded sternly.
“Your Majesty,” a eunuch ran in, “another guard has died!”
“Poisoned as well?”
“No... his throat was slit.”
Zhu Youjian’s expression darkened. “Seal the prison. Not a single fly is to leave!”
“Yes!”
The eunuchs immediately took action, surrounding the prison completely.
Zhu Youjian approached the newly deceased guard. A slender wound ran across his throat, as if cut by something razor-sharp.
“This wound...” Wang Cheng’en examined it closely. “Seems to have been cut with a silk thread.”
“Silk thread?” Zhu Youjian sneered. “This must be the work of assassins from Jiangnan.”
“Your Majesty means...”
“Exactly.” Zhu Youjian nodded. “Wen Tiren has operated in Jiangnan for years. Surely he has connections with many desperados.”
He scanned the surroundings. “These people are hiding right here in the prison.”
“Should we...?” Wang Cheng’en hesitated.
“No need.” Zhu Youjian waved his hand. “Let them hide for now. I want to see what tricks they can still play.”
Just then, a eunuch came running. “Your Majesty, something’s been found!”
“What is it?”
“Another paper packet was found in the boots of the dead guard.”
Zhu Youjian took the packet and opened it. Inside were several black pills.
“What are these...” Wang Cheng’en leaned in to look.
“Poison antidotes,” Zhu Youjian sneered. “These guards are definitely compromised.”
He turned to Wei Zhiren. “Replace all the guards immediately.”
“Yes.” Wei Zhiren replied. “What about the current guards...?”
“Detain them for questioning first.” Zhu Youjian said coldly. “I want to see what secrets they’re hiding.”
The eunuchs acted at once, arresting all the remaining guards.
Zhu Youjian walked to the window, watching the flames raging in the distance. The fire at the Wen estate still burned fiercely, lighting up half the sky.
“Your Majesty,” Wang Cheng’en whispered, “shall we send men to extinguish the fire?”
“No need.” Zhu Youjian said calmly. “Let it burn.”
He turned and headed out. “Let’s return to the palace.”
“But what about those informants...?”
“No rush.” Zhu Youjian sneered. “They won’t get away.”
Just then, a cold wind blew through, snuffing out several torches.
Darkness fell over the prison.
“Protect His Majesty!” the eunuchs shouted.
In the darkness, something moved swiftly.
“Assassins!” Wang Cheng’en shouted.
But when the torches were relit, the shadow had vanished.
“Search!” Wei Zhiren barked.
The eunuchs scattered, searching every corner. But aside from the dead guards, nothing was found.
Zhu Youjian observed everything thoughtfully.
“Your Majesty,” Wang Cheng’en whispered, “should we...?”
“Return to the palace.” Zhu Youjian said calmly.
He turned and walked out, his footsteps echoing in the empty prison.
The eunuchs hurried after him.
After they left, in a dark corner of the prison, a shadow silently slipped into an underground tunnel.
At his feet lay a body, its face unrecognizable.
At dawn’s first light, Zhu Youjian opened his eyes. The prompt from the system sounded timely:
【Mission Complete!
. Collect 100 taels of silver (Completed: 990 taels)
. Recruit a trusted aide (Completed: Cao Huachun’s loyalty 99%)
. Establish an intelligence outpost (Completed: Shop operating normally)
Reward: System experience +10%
New Feature Unlocked: Intelligence Station Monitoring】
Zhu Youjian’s eyes lit up. “Intelligence Station Monitoring?”
【Yes, host can now check the status of intelligence stations at any time, including:
- Intelligence station level
- Number of agents
- Intelligence collected
- Credibility assessment】
“Check Cao Huachun’s shop.”
【Intelligence Station: Drunken Immortal, Chang’an Street
Level: LV1
Agents: 10
Intelligence gathered today: 5 items
Credibility: 90%】
Zhu Youjian flipped through the intelligence list:
【. The Donglin Party has been meeting frequently in the southern city, suspected of plotting
Credibility: 80%
. Merchants are stockpiling arms outside the city, considerable quantity
Credibility: 70%
. Commander Luo Yangxing of the Embroidered Uniform Guard has contacts with Manchu spies
Credibility: 79%】
“Cao Huachun is quite capable,” Zhu Youjian nodded with satisfaction.
At that moment, Wang Cheng’en approached quietly. “Your Majesty, breakfast is ready.”
“Hmm.” Zhu Youjian ate while continuing to study the system interface.
【Daily Tasks refreshed:
. Collect two taels of silver
. Expand intelligence network
. Develop new intelligence station】
“These tasks...” Zhu Youjian pondered for a moment, “are not difficult.”