The Fairy: From the Traveling Merchant

Chapter 748: Meeting Zhong Ying

After arranging tasks for his companions, Zhao Chen announced the end of the "meeting". He did not stay in the mansion to hang out with Ming Xueling, but went straight out to Suzaku Street in the south of the city.

This is the busiest street in the southern part of Kyoto. It is crowded with people, and the street is lined with various shops and hawkers, which is quite similar to the "snack street" that is a must-have in every tourist city in the past.

"It would be even more like it if a tour group holding small flags passed by..." Zhao Chen complained, and after confirming that they were not being followed, he entered an alley.

When he came out again, he was a completely different person.

This was a disguise he created using his newly acquired magic weapon, the "White Ape Tai Sui Helmet".

In fact, the magical powers related to "Dao Men" are more effective, but unfortunately he is not yet a cultivator of magical powers, and has not yet combined the great magical power of "Senluo Wanxiang".

His current face was casually created, without any special features, the kind that would be forgotten once you see it.

Then, Zhao Chen, with this ordinary face, entered an antique shop which also served as a pawnshop on the street.

There were many antique books, calligraphy and paintings, and porcelain on display in the store, but Zhao Chen knew at a glance that they were all fakes. Some of them were even crudely made and did not even meet the aging requirements.

But he didn't really come to buy antiques. He just walked straight to the counter and tapped the table with his fingers.

The shopkeeper, who had dozed off because there were no customers, woke up immediately and greeted them with a smile:

"Sir, what do you need?"

Zhao Chen recalled the code Zhong Ying had told him a few days ago, and said slowly, "I want a high-quality imitation of a Jingyao piece from the Qingli Dynasty, and an authentic piece by Master Wu Hua from the Tianshou Dynasty...I wonder if you have any?"

The shopkeeper, who was still a little confused, immediately perked up after hearing this. He looked at Zhao Chen for a few times and nodded slightly, "Indeed, we have the goods...but things like that will definitely not be displayed in the store. Please follow me to the living room at the back to talk."

After saying that, he took Zhao Chen over the counter and came to the living room at the back.

The living room is not big, but the walls are very thick and there is a formation arranged there. After closing the door, it almost blocks out any sound from the outside.

There wasn't much furnishing in the room, just a table, a few chairs, and a bronze mirror against the wall.

"May I ask you are?"

The shopkeeper looked at Zhao Chen again and confirmed that he did not know this person.

Zhao Chen said nothing, just threw out a token.

This is the token that Zhong Ying gave him last time, which can be used to prove his identity.

"So you are under the command of the Judge. I apologize for my rudeness."

The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, he bowed quickly, and then left the room.

Zhao Chen walked to the bronze mirror and injected his own magic power into it, causing it to remove its surface disguise and reveal its true face.

This is an ancient bronze mirror with complex patterns engraved on the surface. There is a faint sense of magical power flowing. It is obviously a magical weapon!
Zhao Chen stretched out his hand and stroked the mirror.

The surface of the bronze mirror was flowing like water waves, suddenly becoming hazy and emitting a faint light.

Soon, Zhong Ying's half-body image appeared in the picture. She looked at Zhao Chen's face and said with a smile, "Why did you contact me now? You should have arrived in Beijing yesterday afternoon, right?
"And I can't even see through your disguise... It shouldn't be a simulation of the spell in the Thief's Guide, but some kind of disguise, right?"

Zhong Ying, Fei Meng's "alias", comes from the killer organization "Yinsi" and is also an expert in disguise. It is not surprising that he can see through her own true identity.

Zhao Chen nodded slightly, stretched out his hand and wiped his face, returning to his original appearance while revealing the "White Ape Tai Sui Helmet" on his head.

"So you got another magical weapon." Zhong Ying said with a few clicks of his tongue, and then asked curiously, "Did you have any adventures last night?" Zhao Chen had no need to hide anything from Fei Meng, so he told her everything that happened after arriving in the capital, and finally asked, "What do you think?"

After listening to Zhao Chen's story, Zhong Ying thought for a while before speaking: "Princess Liang's judgment is correct. Since you have fallen into the trap set by His Majesty the Emperor, it will not be easy to escape.

"Even if you use emergency means to leave the Central Plains immediately, he will most likely find a way to force you back... After all, you are not alone now, and you have so many beautiful women to use as leverage."

Why does this sound a bit sour? Is Fei Meng acting so well again? Zhao Chen ignored her last sentence and said carefully: "So, you also agree that I should cooperate with His Majesty's arrangements first?
"But he didn't say anything, so do I have to guess everything?

"But what if I'm not satisfied with the result he arranged? Is he so confident that I can accept it?"

Zhong Ying was silent for a few seconds, then responded, “You should know that once some things are spoken out, they will leave traces in the world.

"Especially since he is probably planning to kill a True Lord, you have to be cautious... He chose you as a chess piece because he probably studied your past actions and knew that you are a thoughtful and smart person who can understand his intentions at key points.

"As for whether you are satisfied with the result or not, that is probably not within his consideration.

“After all, how could a man who dares to plot against even a True Lord care about the feelings of a Gangsha cultivator?

"Even if there is something special about you."

Zhao Chen could actually think of all these. He said them through Fei Meng's mouth not because he wanted to hear them.

As expected, Zhong Ying really understood Zhao Chen's thoughts, and said with a hidden smile: "However, our Majesty probably didn't expect that offending you would be his biggest miscalculation.

"He should pray that he has enough chips in his hand and not do things too drastically."

These words were said beautifully, and a smile immediately appeared on Zhao Chen's face.

After calming the man's pride, Zhong Ying said meaningfully, "In fact, His Majesty did not completely fail to give you any hints."

"Oh?" Zhao Chen recalled what happened last night and asked uncertainly, "Are you talking about what the eunuch said?"

Zhong Ying nodded: "Eunuch Cao is a master of the palace and a confidant of His Majesty the Emperor. He will not casually introduce you to the scandals and anecdotes in the palace. His true intentions must be hidden in those words.

"Of course, it is also possible that all the stories he mentioned are related to your majesty's plan."

Zhao Chen nodded thoughtfully and said, "It seems that I have to find someone to investigate the specific circumstances of the prince who was forced to commit suicide thousands of years ago, the palace where the concubines were imprisoned hundreds of years ago, and the queen who had an affair through a secret passage in a certain generation...

"Of course, the most suspicious thing is the 'Kai Ming Gate' that Eunuch Cao mentioned at the beginning."

After all, that sect was said to have suppressed the King of Liang who was corrupted by the "enlightened beast" more than 8,000 years ago.

And the emperor is deliberately indulging the current "King of Liang"... They are both "Liang", so could there be a connection?

"Regarding those palace scandals, I can ask someone to help you find relevant information, but as for the 'Kai Ming Men'..." Zhong Ying paused. He smiled and said, "Why don't you ask the Queen when you teach her the piano tonight.

“I guess the emperor deliberately let you contact Queen Zhong in order to tell you some information through her.

"After all, although she is not in good condition, her status is there. Even a True Lord would find it difficult to predict."

Zhao Chen was surprised when he heard this and asked, "Did you know the identity of the Queen?"

"After all, this 'incarnation' is surnamed Zhong, and is of the same clan as the identity used by the Queen. He might know some secrets." Zhong Ying did not answer directly, but smiled and said, "I didn't tell you before because I was worried that she would trace back to our relationship through your reaction."

(End of this chapter)