Before dawn, Lena Sanders slipped through a hidden side gate of the Prince Rui residence. She spent the entire morning in a small room beside the gate, poring over the rosters and files. Emerging, she returned to the new mansion, and after lunch, she stepped out again, this time accompanied by Jack Golden.
It was not until nightfall that Gavin Shea returned to the Prince Rui residence.
William Chen met him at the second gate, walking inside with Gavin Shea as he furrowed his brow. "Miss Li spent the whole morning reviewing the files but took nothing with her. After lunch, she left with only Jack Golden, heading toward the East Water Gate Wharf.
By the time they reached the wharf, she had vanished. I sent for reinforcements and searched the wharf thoroughly, inside and out, but to no avail.
As dusk approached, I discreetly sent for Darren Chang. He said her leader had taken a position as a cook and had already departed."
"A cook?" Gavin Shea paused mid-step.
"Yes. I investigated the three vessels that departed this afternoon from the East Water Gate wharf, all able to afford a cook. All were heading south: one carried the mother of Minister Wang of the Ministry of Personnel returning home; the other two were official vessels—one for the newly appointed governor of Guangzhou, the other for the Ministry of War en route to Shuzhou for military inspection.
Shall we pursue this further? I await your orders first."
Gavin Shea halted, studying William Chen for a moment before asking, "She allowed us to tail her all along, deliberately?"
William Chen offered a wry smile. "I believe so."
"She is an exceptional cook; no matter which ship she boards, she handles herself effortlessly. There is no need for further pursuit.
If she could evade our surveillance in Castleton, then her journey through Riverford City should proceed smoothly."
Gavin Shea, looking in high spirits, quickened his pace as they entered the residence.
…
The cook on the ship carrying Governor Zhao to Guangzhou, Madame Jin, fell gravely ill upon reaching Shuzhou. The governor's wife, Madame Sun, spat in disgust, handed Jin two taels of silver, and disembarked her at the Shuzhou wharf.
Madame Jin took ten large coins and had an attendant escort her to the Ciji Hall outside the city.
At midnight, Lena Sanders, under the alias Jin, waited for Jack Golden and set off south.
It was near October; at the Riverford wharf in the early morning, the fishermen were already dressed in cotton jackets. A demure young woman descended from a distant cargo vessel, following a steady, middle-aged man toward the city.
Night fell.
At the residence of General Wu, commander of Riverford City, in a secluded courtyard within the expansive estate, Aunt Su entered through the flowering gate, closing it behind her. She sagged with exhaustion, yawning as she made her way to the main quarters.
Inside, she disrobed and washed, dragging her slippers, and called, "Juxiang, change the water for the peanuts. Hexiang, inspect the premises, then get some rest."
The maids complied, closing the door behind them. Aunt Su, still yawning, lifted the curtain to enter her room, only to spot Lena Sanders seated at the round table before the bed, unwrapping a lotus leaf bundle.
Aunt Su hastily retrieved a bottle of yellow wine from the bedside, poured two cups, and sat opposite Lena Sanders.
"You claim to be a spy for Northrealm?"
"A spy, my foot! The shopkeeper Zhao at Tongfu Mansion hired me with five thousand silver to escort someone out of the city—I took the job," Lena Sanders said, tearing a braised chicken leg from the lotus leaf bundle and offering the bundle to Aunt Su.
Aunt Su poured a cup for Lena Sanders and took a wing for herself.
"The person you were to escort… the Prince Heir of Northrealm? Did General Wu ever mention him to you?"
Lena Sanders chewed on the chicken leg, speaking around it, her voice slightly muffled.
"No. General Wu never discusses state matters with women of the inner quarters. What happened to the Prince Heir? Why hasn't he returned to his envoy?" Aunt Su replied bluntly.
"He was ambushed by spies and the envoy, grievously wounded, and dared not return. We were to escort him to Riverton and secure a vessel north. But upon arriving, I sensed something was wrong. I returned secretly and found that Darren Chang and I had become fugitives; our family property was seized by General Wu.
The Prince Heir offered one hundred thousand silver to have us deliver him to Castleton. I had no choice but to accept."
"Aqing said that on the night at Yexiang Hall, no one was captured. She suspected you were involved and used the spy story as a pretext. That same night, there was a theft of the city defense maps, conveniently pinned on you. Seems she was right.
But why return now? You can't stay in Riverford City."
Aunt Su tore another wing.
"I accepted a task from the Prince Heir to investigate who in Riverford City betrayed him. The city defense maps… truly lost?"
"Judging from General Wu's demeanor, he's in high spirits. The maps are surely intact. I overheard some talk once—General Wu had a minor illness and brought me along on an inspection. Even in the aft cabin, I could hear them discussing the city defense maps, where to place traps, and how to modify the ones in the study. Seems there were several decoy maps."
Lena Sanders nodded, tearing another piece of chicken.
"The Zhao shopkeeper's betrayal… Aquing said it was reported by his brother-in-law," Aunt Su spat.
"He received one hundred taels as a reward and seized the shop. Word is, he's quite pleased with himself. Don't let him off lightly."
"Understood."
"After this, you leave once your task is done? When will you return?"
Aunt Su wiped her hands with a cloth after finishing the wing, sipping her wine.
"I'll stay a night in the wood store next to your kitchen, no farewells when I leave. General Wu is shrewd; as long as he's in Riverford City, I'll avoid returning."
Lena Sanders drank deeply of her yellow wine.
"Be careful. Aquing said the General instructed him to tighten security internally until at least the Spring Festival. And, if you have time before leaving, come speak to me—I'll have no one else to talk to."
Lena Sanders nodded, tore a large piece of chicken breast, cleaned her hands with Aunt Su's cloth, and stood to depart.
"Take care," Aunt Su replied, watching Lena Sanders push open the window and leap out. She sat for a moment, wrapped the chicken bones from the lotus leaf bundle, summoned Juxiang to bury them beneath the flower trees, and washed her hands again.
…
The next day, the morning light flooded the bustling fish market near the wharf.
Lena Sanders, disguised as a fisherwoman, crouched beside a pile of stretched fishing nets, deftly mending them. Jack Golden, dressed as a fishery worker, knelt beside her, offering a meat pie.
"We stayed at Xiao Luzi's place overnight. The night after we left, the officials stormed our main headquarters within an hour. Xiao Luzi said Ding San'er betrayed us on the spot, led soldiers to ransack our three bases, even pointing out our portraits. Once the soldiers left, Ding San'er declared himself leader, took over the accounts, and installed his men in all profitable spots.
His arrogance, Xiao Luzi said, knew no bounds. He wanted to strike him when Ding San'er sat in your chair, but Tianji restrained him. Tianji said, 'These are the disciples you trained; act strategically, not recklessly.'
The next day, you returned, letting Tianji take charge of Yexiang Hall. They received word from Master Xia, giving them the confidence to wait for a chance. Eventually, Ding San'er was trapped in a dung cart and dragged outside the city. His formidable wife and men reported it to the authorities, claiming Tianji killed him.
The case fell to Su Caobao, who, Xiao Luzi said, refused it—he despises traitors like Ding San'er, saying if he were dead, it would be deserved."
Jack Golden laughed. "Never imagined your 'Su Caobao' would be so competent.
Also, Xiao Luzi heard we plan to stay long-term in Castleton and wishes to join us. I said I'd ask you first. Boss, what's our task on this trip?"
"To uncover who turned us into fugitives."
Finishing her meat pie, Lena Sanders rubbed her hands on the net and continued mending.
"Hmm? Not just that scoundrel Yang Xian? Anyone else?" Jack Golden asked, surprised.
"Yes. It begins with the ambush of the Prince Heir. Start with the stolen city defense maps—the originals are false. Perhaps even the theft itself is a ruse."
Lena Sanders finished a section of net and shifted to another. Jack Golden mirrored her movements in agreement.
"Exactly! If the Prince Heir hadn't been ambushed, we wouldn't have taken this escort. Without it, we wouldn't be fugitives. The maps' authenticity lies with General Wu, though—it's no easy matter to investigate him."
"First, have Mi the blind man gather intel—where did the disturbance start that night? Second, find out how Fan Ping'an, the foreman of the East City mule and horse business, died and where he was buried."
Lena Sanders instructed.
"Understood," Jack Golden replied briskly, his loyalty unwavering. In their boss's capable hands, no task seemed impossible—after all, their leader was nothing short of formidable.