Chapter Eighteen: Take Action

Over the next three days, the two teams from the Intelligence Section, led by Song Yingge, conducted a rigorous investigation into the more than seventy individuals at the Yingchun Brothel.

The results were disappointing. Most of the people were locals of Jinling, whose lineages could be traced back three generations. Those who had moved there later also had verifiable backgrounds. Even Dujuan, whom Song Yingge suspected highly, had not stepped out of the brothel for several days.

For a time, the investigation reached a stalemate.

"There must be details we have overlooked."

With the promptings of his "golden finger," Song Yingge was certain that Liu Yuezhen was a Japanese spy. The Yingchun Brothel was not far from the Japanese Consulate, and it was impossible for them to use a radio frequently, as that would risk interception. If they could not use a radio but still needed to transmit information, there had to be a courier. However, even after turning the brothel upside down, they could not find this courier.

"Could it be that the Japanese spies haven't arranged a new courier for Liu Yuezhen yet?"

If Liu Yuezhen's status as a spy was established, her previous courier must have been Ma San. After Ma San was arrested, although Liu Yuezhen escaped unscathed, she was likely shaken. Perhaps the Japanese, out of caution, chose to keep her dormant and did not assign her a new courier.

But if Liu Yuezhen were truly dormant, why would she risk opening Chen Liangxin's briefcase?

After some deduction, Song Yingge still leaned toward the theory that there was a new courier. After much deliberation, he decided to use a clumsy method: fishing.

That evening, just as the Yingchun Brothel opened for business, Song Yingge put on his sunglasses and a suit, carried a briefcase, and swaggered in, posing as a playboy looking for a good time.

"Who is your top star here?" Song Yingge asked, grabbing a waiter at random.

"Answering the boss, our most popular girl is none other than Miss Liu Yuezhen," the waiter replied.

To think a woman of ill repute would dare to call herself a "Master," Song Yingge almost laughed out loud.

"Fine, then it's her. Lead the way," Song Yingge commanded.

The waiter trotted ahead to lead him to the backyard. Like other courtesans, Liu Yuezhen had her own rooms in the back, where she lived and entertained guests.

Liu Yuezhen’s residence consisted of three rooms and a parlor. The parlor was spacious, elegantly decorated, and featured a zither stand beside the wine table.

"Miss Liu, a distinguished guest has arrived," the waiter announced loudly.

"I know. You may go about your business," a voice as melodic as an oriole’s song drifted in before the person appeared.

After the waiter left, Liu Yuezhen pushed the door open. When Song Yingge saw her, his eyes lit up.

Liu Yuezhen was truly breathtaking. With her crescent-moon eyebrows and willow-slim waist, every step she took was graceful. The way she moved in her qipao, revealing glimpses of her figure, made it impossible to look away.

*A beauty indeed, but a pity she is a traitor,* he thought.

Song Yingge had seen his fair share of refined beauty and possessed strong self-control. After a few glances, he found it rather dull, though he kept a look of infatuation on his face.

"Yuezhen greets you, sir. May I ask your name?" she asked.

"Fate brought us together, and my wealth keeps us here. Since this is a chance meeting, there’s no need to ask for names," Song Yingge replied, feigning indifference. "Call for some food and stay here to pour my wine."

Liu Yuezhen was obedient, playing the part of a woman ready to be taken. During the meal, Song Yingge boasted loudly, and Liu Yuezhen managed to keep up with the conversation effortlessly.

"You have such an extraordinary air about you, sir. You must have studied abroad, right?" Liu Yuezhen asked.

"What’s so good about foreign countries? The longer I stayed, the more I felt that home is better," Song Yingge replied.

"If there were more talented people like you in our country, life would be easier for us all. With your talents, may I ask where you serve?" she asked.

"I just hold a minor post in the Ministry of Military and Political Affairs, nothing worth mentioning," Song Yingge said, finishing a glass of wine and wearing a look of deep frustration.

"An old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand miles. With your talent, you are bound to soar one day," Liu Yuezhen comforted him.

"I’ll take your word for it. Come, let’s finish this cup."

Song Yingge pretended to be overcome by the drink. In front of Liu Yuezhen, he opened his briefcase, deliberately exposing the documents inside while taking out money.

"Is this enough to stay the night?" Song Yingge slammed three hundred yuan onto the table and asked loudly.

Having said that, he slumped over the table with a thud and soon began to breathe steadily.

The bait was cast; now it was just a matter of whether the fish would bite.

"Sir, have another drink." Liu Yuezhen nudged him a few times. Seeing no reaction, she quickly grabbed the briefcase and began to flip through it.

Inside was a document concerning next year's defense budget. It was fake, of course, but it had been crafted by professionals—sixty percent true and forty percent false. Even another expert would find it hard to distinguish the truth, let alone Liu Yuezhen.

Once she saw the documents, she treated them like a treasure and retreated into the bedroom with the briefcase.

Song Yingge followed on tiptoe and peeked through the door crack. Liu Yuezhen was holding a miniature camera, snapping photos rapidly. Shortly after, she returned and placed the briefcase back where it belonged.

*I want to see how you plan to get that film out,* Song Yingge thought. This was his true objective.

Liu Yuezhen called someone to help carry Song Yingge to the bedroom, then washed him and helped him undress. The two then slept together, fully clothed.

Song Yingge did not dare to sleep all night, but Liu Yuezhen slept soundly. The film had not yet been passed on.

Just as Song Yingge was at a loss and feeling like his efforts had been in vain, the sound of birds chirping came from outside the window. Liu Yuezhen woke up as if she had heard an alarm clock.

It was not yet dawn, the time when people were in their deepest sleep, and it was impressive how easily she woke up.

Liu Yuezhen tiptoed to the window and handed the film to someone outside. Song Yingge, using the faint light, saw the person clearly—it was Dujuan, the madam of the brothel.

*Dujuan is the courier?* Song Yingge felt something was wrong. During the surveillance, Dujuan had been watched closely and rarely left the brothel, which made her ill-suited to be a courier.

*Is she just responsible for passing the intelligence to the actual courier?*

But wouldn't that be redundant? Wouldn't it be more direct and safer to give it to the courier directly? Adding another person meant adding more risk.

Liu Yuezhen closed the window and walked back to the bed, only to be startled by Song Yingge, who was sitting up silently.

"Sir, why are you awake?" she asked.

"You have the nerve to ask?" Song Yingge slapped her across the face. "I was finally having a good night's sleep, and you woke me up before dawn. You don't sleep in the middle of the night—what kind of insanity is this?"

Song Yingge’s shout was unrestrained, waking everyone staying in the brothel. Curses erupted from all directions.

Liu Yuezhen clutched her face, looking at him in disbelief. Although her status was low, every man who came here to seek pleasure would treat her like a gem, spending thousands just to see her smile. This was the first time someone had laid a hand on her.

Not the "hands-on" kind of physical touch, but a physical assault.

Song Yingge cursed and swore as he put on his clothes and left the Yingchun Brothel. Then, he climbed over the wall and circled back. He was going to see what exactly was going on with Dujuan.