By late May, the border region had entered the plum rain season. The rain fell intermittently for nearly half a month before the sky finally began to clear.
After the rain, temperatures rose swiftly, and with it, the number of people buying chilled dark plum soup increased.
In three days, the grain shipment boats would arrive at Xining City. Helan Xiao, disguised, appeared at the canal docks.
Shanlie pointed at the men sweating profusely under the weight of sacks along the riverbank. "In three days, we'll disguise ourselves as porters carrying cargo at the docks. That will give us a legitimate reason to enter the ship's hold."
To conceal his skin tone, Helan Xiao had applied a thick layer of white powder to his face, which now felt greasy under the sun's glare.
"What about the defenses?"
"Don't worry, sir. The entire Xining City magistrate's office doesn't have many constables. After the deed is done, we'll swim out of the city along the canal. A merchant caravan returning to Shuobei will be waiting for us outside the city walls."
Seeing Helan Xiao constantly sweating, Shanlie glanced around and noticed a table in front of Song Jinzhao with dark plum soup on it. There was a table and stools under a nearby awning offering some shade.
"The weather is too hot, sir. Let's go sit over there."
Helan Xiao followed his gaze. Seeing the vendor was a very young girl who posed no threat, he walked over.
Shanlie was completely unfamiliar with the liangpi noodles on the table; despite hiding in Xining City for years, he had never seen it before.
He took out some silver and handed it to Song Jinzhao. "Give me two portions of each of these."
Song Jinzhao looked up and asked, "How much chili do you want? And shallots?"
Shanlie stared at the condiments in the bamboo tube, nodded, and licked his lips. "Both."
Song Jinzhao then looked at Helan Xiao, who was wearing a bamboo hat. "And for this guest?"
Helan Xiao tilted his chin up slightly, sweeping a glance over the items on the table. "No shallots. Extra chili."
Song Jinzhao's hand, which was lifting the cloth covering her basket, paused slightly.
That voice sounded familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
"Please take a seat, gentlemen. The liangpi will be ready right away."
Song Jinzhao set down the plum soup, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over a scar on the back of Helan Xiao's neck.
It was a knife wound.
She turned back to her stall as if nothing was amiss, quickly prepared two bowls of liangpi, and brought them over.
She deliberately bent her knees, squatting lower than usual. As she stood up, her line of sight inadvertently swept across the man's face.
Unfortunately, his bamboo hat was pulled down too low. She could only see his chin, as white as plaster, and his dark red lips.
On such a hot day, with makeup and a bamboo hat, not even taking it off to eat—was he afraid of being recognized?
Just then, Constable Zhao walked over.
"Miss Song, the docks will be under strict security the day after tomorrow. No stalls are allowed. Remember not to come."
Song Jinzhao temporarily set aside her thoughts and turned to Constable Zhao.
"Why the sudden security? Has something happened?"
Constable Zhao shook his head with a smile. "Nothing's wrong. It's just that the county magistrate bought a batch of grain from the south. The ship docks the day after tomorrow, and they're worried too many stalls will get in the way of unloading."
Song Jinzhao raised a puzzled eyebrow.
"The rice in the fields will be ready for harvest in four months. Why buy grain now, and specially transport it from the south?"
Constable Zhao lowered his voice. "It's because of the Shuobei spies from the other day. Duke Qing suspects Shuobei might be preparing for war."
"That's why he ordered the stockpiling of grain, just in case."
Song Jinzhao's pupils constricted sharply. She remembered why that voice was so familiar.
It was the voice of that Shuobei agent she heard in the mountains that day, the one who shouted, 'Rendezvous at the abandoned temple outside Xining City in three days.'
Wasn't he dead?
How was he still alive?
Song Jinzhao cautiously stole a glance at Helan Xiao from the corner of her eye.
Seeing his back tense and his hand holding the chopsticks poised over the liangpi but not moving, she became even more certain he was the one who had escaped.
Who was the man sitting opposite him?
Just how many enemy spies were hidden in Xining City?
Pretending she had noticed nothing, she calmly watched Constable Zhao go notify the other vendors.
The two men on the stools, seeing Constable Zhao leave, immediately got up and departed.
Song Jinzhao silently covered her basket with cloth, then turned and followed the two men. She only left after seeing them enter an inn.
...
"What! You say you saw that escaped Shuobei spy?" Constable Zhao's eyes widened.
Song Jinzhao nodded emphatically. "He was just sitting behind my stall."
Constable Zhao's mouth hung open in confusion, unable to believe it.
"But that man's body was already cremated."
Song Jinzhao also found it strange and asked, "Did the found body match the portrait?"
Could they be twins?
Constable Zhao shook his head. "There was only one set of remains. The flesh had been completely gnawed away by wild animals; there was no face."
"Then how did you confirm that body was the Shuobei spy?"
Constable Zhao: "His clothes and a commandant's office token from Shuobei were found beside the body."
Song Jinzhao speculated, "Is it possible he deliberately took off his clothes and threw the token next to the body to mislead you?"
Constable Zhao blinked, then suddenly understood.
"Then why didn't you alert me just now? They've run off."
Song Jinzhao explained, "I haven't seen the other man before. I suspect there are other Shuobei spies hidden in Xining City. Acting rashly would only alert them."
"I quietly followed them and saw them enter the Changting Inn on South Street. That's very likely their hideout."
"Go back to the magistrate's office immediately and gather men to surround the inn. Let's catch them all in one net."
Constable Zhao's hand gripping his sword trembled with excitement. "You're right. I'll go back to the office now."
He turned and ran a few steps, then came back. "Miss Song, you've seen their faces. Come with me."
Inside the Changting Inn, Helan Xiao frowned deeply. "The docks are under strict security in three days. Can we still disguise ourselves as porters and sneak in?"
Shanlie thumped his chest in assurance. "Don't worry, sir. I haven't been idling in Xining City all these years."
"I have some connections with Chen Dayong, the foreman at the canal docks. Getting two men introduced as temporary laborers won't be a problem."
"However, that means this subordinate cannot accompany you, sir. I'll have Yunying go with you instead."
Helan Xiao nodded. "That's fine too. I'll feel more at ease with you staying behind."
"When the Second Prince attacks Xining City in the future, if we can coordinate from within, you will be credited with the foremost merit for your service."
Just as Shanlie was about to get excited, a loud crash came from downstairs.
The inn's main door was kicked open with a bang.
"Don't let a single one escape. Arrest them all!"
Zhang Yuanzong had not only brought fifty constables from the county office but also summoned one hundred Thunderbolt Army troops stationed in Xining City.
The entire South Street was now tightly surrounded; not even a fly could escape.
Inside the Heaven No. 1 room, Helan Xiao and Shanlie's faces changed dramatically.
The two rushed out of the room to escape but were immediately blocked by constables in the corridor.
Helan Xiao had already removed his disguise, revealing the face Song Jinzhao had personally seen in the mountains.
"It's him! He's the Shuobei spy who escaped!" Song Jinzhao shouted, pointing at Helan Xiao.
The others recognized him too—it was the exact same face from the portrait.
Instantly, the clashing of swords and blades rang out, sparks flying.
Realizing Song Jinzhao was the one who had brought the men, Helan Xiao, gripping his sword, charged towards her with gritted teeth.
Song Jinzhao blocked the blade with one hand, leapt into the air, kicked him in the face, and turned to fire a bolt from her wrist-mounted crossbow.
Helan Xiao was too slow to evade and was struck in the left shoulder by an arrow.
In the next instant, his legs were swept out from under him by Song Jinzhao, forcing him to his knees before he collapsed to the ground.
"My lord!" Shanlie cried out in alarm and immediately rushed forward to save him.
Constable Zhao blocked his path, sword held horizontally.
Helan Xiao grabbed the long sword that had fallen to the ground, intending to fight back, but Song Jinzhao's dagger was already pressed against his throat.
Zhang Yuanzong, who had just climbed up to the floor, shouted, "Miss Song, spare his life! We need him alive!"
Song Jinzhao swiftly sheathed her dagger, disarmed Helan Xiao's long sword with a twist of her hand, and pinned him to the ground with one knee, binding his hands behind his back.
