Agreement

"You really won't run away using my identity?"

"Really, no. You know, disguise is a very troublesome thing, and people can easily see through it. It would be a waste for me to imitate you..."

"Swear it!"

"Why should I swear? Let me tell you, I would never use your identity to investigate the interior of the imperial tomb!"

In just two days, Jin Chang had changed into Ma Yuan's clothes and his appearance was extremely similar to Ma Yuan's.

As a clerk next to the city garrison commander, this was not an eye-catching position, and few people cared about Ma Yuan's appearance.

Jin Chang's disguise was quite casual, and when he imitated Ma Yuan's repeated coughing, even Xu Wuduo and others who usually interacted with him did not notice anything unusual.

At this moment, Jin Chang was pretending to cough while patrolling with Zhang Xuezhou, his eyes occasionally sweeping over Zhang Xuezhou's face.

Compared to Ma Yuan's consumptive condition, Zhang Xuezhou was indeed a more suitable replacement.

When Zhang Xuezhou was alive, he could be Ma Yuan, but after Zhang Xuezhou went into a deep sleep, he could change his identity and even wander around with his real identity, Ma Yuan.

Jin Chang was beaming with pride, feeling that it was wonderful to enter Yang Mausoleum openly and honestly, far better than groping around in the dark.

Jin Chang is skilled at stealth, but he doesn't have night vision; he still can't see clearly in the dark.

He certainly preferred direct observation during the day to the limited field of vision at night.

Wei Wan and Zhi Buyi are no longer a threat to him.

As long as he patrols openly and honestly, he can continuously conduct reconnaissance and sneak in when these people are not paying attention.

He had his own agenda, and Zhang Xuezhou saw through Jin Chang's scheme.

The two exchanged barbs.

"You should know that I am a gentleman, and I would never do such a thing!"

It was rare to see Zhang Xuezhou suffer a setback, and Jin Chang was still a little smug.

In the past, his collaborations with Zhang Xuezhou had repeatedly ended in failure, leaving him frustrated and unsure of who to vent his anger on. The current situation made Jin Chang very happy.

After his luck turned around, everything went smoothly for him.

Zhang Xuezhou has a physical defect, which will inevitably be exploited by him. Even if Zhang Xuezhou can't stop it, once this guy faints, he's really unconscious, and it will last for a long time.

"If you can't agree on three rules with me, then I'll have to ask for leave from the Office of the Commandant of the Guard," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"Taking leave? You've only been an official for Heaven Eight and you're already asking for leave? Are you kidding me?" Jin Chang complained.

"This is better than you causing me trouble," Zhang Xuezhou said.

Jin Chang had grasped Zhang Xuezhou's weakness, and Zhang Xuezhou had no choice but to respond to each move as it came.

He will be unable to regain consciousness for the next twelve days, but Zhang Xuezhou can request leave in advance.

Once the notification is delivered, Jin Chang will be unable to work in Yang Mausoleum despite his appearance and identity.

"I possess the qualities of a gentleman..."

I need to ask for leave!

"What are the three rules stipulated in this agreement?"

Zhang Xuezhou's counterattack was swift and extremely effective.

Jin Chang couldn't stop Zhang Xuezhou from going to the Office of the Commandant of the Guard to ask for leave.

Compared to him causing trouble in Yang Mausoleum under Zhang Xuezhou's guise, the other party's request for leave would indeed minimize the losses.

However, this is a lose-lose situation. Zhang Xuezhou will definitely be criticized, and Jin Chang will lose the opportunity to appear openly and legitimately in Yang Mausoleum.

The two parties must agree on three rules for cooperation.

"As long as you don't cause me trouble, you can do whatever you want," Zhang Xuezhou said. "That's the three-point agreement!"

"I can't do that... I will use your favors very carefully, you can rest assured," Jin Chang said.

"Swear it!"

"You're really something, always making people swear oaths, I'm scared of you!"

"I'm going to ask for leave if you don't swear!"

"If you ask for leave, I'll... but I can't just not do anything at all," Jin Chang finally Qi Ingestion. "You need to give me some space, otherwise there's no point in me patrolling Yang Mausoleum."

"Then we won't patrol!"

"If you put it that way, I'll let them in!"

"Release them... release them and I'll give you a little space!"

Both Zhang Xuezhou and Jin Chang had their own ways of controlling the situation.

Negotiations between the two, where they tested each other's limits, were also taking shape.

Jin Chang eventually agreed to conduct normal patrols under Zhang Xuezhou's identity. Zhang Xuezhou was also willing to allow Jin Chang to observe and inspect parts of Yang Mausoleum without attracting attention. However, Zhang Xuezhou strictly restricted Jin Chang from using his identity to approach or enter the imperial mausoleum.

That was all the terms agreed upon, and the two sides finally reached a consensus.

Unless Jin Chang can get everything done within twelve days, Jin Chang will still need Zhang Xuezhou.

Zhang Xuezhou knew Jin Chang's thoughts, Jin Chang was also well aware of them, but whether or not to take the gamble was something Jin Chang was currently unsure about.

He followed behind Zhang Xuezhou, coughing as he looked around.

"Lord Dongfang, we can't go any further this way!"

As the two continued on their way, Jin Chang saw a short man leading a horse approaching them from a distance and shouting loudly.

This prompted Zhang Xuezhou to wave his hand and then change direction.

"What's over there?" Jin Chang asked.

"You can go and investigate yourself in a couple of days," Zhang Xuezhou waved his hand and said, "I'm so polite, I didn't go just because he told me not to. How would I know what's over there!"

"You now have the right to patrol freely, how can you be stopped by a dwarf?" Jin Chang said incredulously, "More importantly, you don't even seem interested in understanding it!"

"What I promised to do was find the late emperor's coffin for you, not find the dwarfs' secrets," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"Then you didn't find the coffin palace either!"

"What's the rush? There are still two and a half months left!"

Zhang Xuezhou held the order that Ma Yuan had obtained from the Office of the Commandant of the Guard.

He usually led Song Dongjia, Xu Wuduo, and others to catch rabbits, wild deer, and wild boars every day. This was also the first time that they had crossed such a long distance from the East Sima Gate to get closer to the imperial mausoleum area.

Walking steadily through the imperial tomb is completely different from relying on Yang Corporeal Soul to explore Yang Mausoleum. In fact, it is daytime now, which is much clearer than Zhang Xuezhou's ability to see clearly at night through perception or in low light conditions.

As they drew closer, not only Kong Zhong and his group appeared, but also overseers, craftsmen, and powerful cultivators disguised as patrolling soldiers in cloth armor, among many others, continuously scanning Zhang Xuezhou and his companions.

To many, Zhang Xuezhou was clearly an unexpected person, and such a person should not have come near the imperial tomb.

However, the order in Zhang Xuezhou's hand clearly proved that the other party was on patrol under orders.

"Those five short horse grooms didn't overstep any rules, so it's fine. But how could the city gate commander have the authority to inspect the imperial tombs, and even come to our area?"

There's a problem!

"Something serious must have happened!"

Wei Wan and Zhi Buning were both wearing cloth armor, with helmets on their heads. Their eyes swept over Zhang Xuezhou and Jin Chang, focusing on the two patrolmen who had suddenly appeared.

The two exchanged a glance, sensing that something significant might have happened in Yang Mausoleum that they were unaware of, which had led to the personnel changes Yang Mausoleum.