Chapter 410

Pan Yun leaned her head out from beside him. "It's neither a birthday gift nor a funeral or wedding offering—he's taking bribes."

Zhu Qizhen's eyes widened instantly.

Pan Yun grinned, her voice lightening. "You think it's unbelievable too? When I first saw this, I looked just like you—but back then, there weren't so many people. I wonder why so many came today."

Xue Shao also leaned forward to look, paused a moment, then said: "Because the spring imperial examination is coming."

Zhu Qizhen's face darkened further. "What? Are people really buying exam papers?"

He had mentally reviewed all the examiners, but he knew nothing about the streets of Jingcheng or the addresses of his subordinates' families—he couldn't recall whose house this was.

Pan Yun whispered like a demon in his ear: "This is the home of Wang Zhen, the Emperor's father-in-law."

Zhu Qizhen froze, instinctively turning to look at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun smiled at him, softly and gently: "Don't worry—he's not buying or selling exam papers."

But Zhu Qizhen felt no better—he shoved Pan Yun aside and strode forward.

"Big brother…" Zhu Qiyu hurried after him.

Xue Shao glanced at Pan Yun; the two exchanged a silent look, then Xue Shao also followed out.

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow and immediately blocked Cao Jixiang and the Brocade Guard from following. She whispered to Cao Jixiang: "Don't let these Brocade Guards follow."

Even though they weren't wearing their fish-skin robes, Brocade Guards carried a distinct aura—especially those near the Emperor. Their build, their bearing—they were unmistakably officials.

Cao Jixiang's mind flashed with many thoughts, but in the end he turned back and stopped the guards, whispering: "Wait here."

The lead Brocade Guard scanned Pan Yun, then nodded to Cao Jixiang.

Cao Jixiang moved swiftly, three or four steps catching up to the Emperor and the other three.

Pan Yun watched from behind, raising an eyebrow. She'd underestimated him—this Eunuch was quite skilled.

Pan Yun nodded to the Brocade Guards and followed after them.

Zhu Qizhen and the others were surrounded.

"Who are you? Everyone's lining up properly—why are you cutting in?"

Zhu Qizhen: "You're all engaged in bribing officials—and now you want me to obey the petty rule of lining up?"

"What bribery? Your words are too harsh. I'm a relative of Mr. Wang—family exchanges are normal."

"Exactly. We're just exchanging courtesies. What about you? What are you here for? To cause trouble?"

Zhu Qizhen frowned, scanning the long line. "Are you all relatives too?"

"What's it to you? If you're bringing gifts, go to the back of the line. If not, get out."

Zhu Qiyu couldn't help saying: "You're so brazen—don't you fear the Censorate's impeachment?"

Someone sneered: "Impeachment? Who dares impeach Mr. Wang?"

"Mr. Wang has the Emperor's trust. Does the Emperor believe the man who walks beside him daily—or you, these outsiders, these cats and dogs?"

"Get out, get out—you're just here to cause trouble!"

Xue Shao quickly said: "Gentlemen, you misunderstand—we're here to deliver gifts too."

"Liar. You come empty-handed to deliver gifts?"

Xue Shao: "We're here to deliver silver…"

But everyone had already decided they were troublemakers and began waving their sleeves to shoo them away: "Leave quickly, or Wang family's men will come out with clubs."

Before the words were even finished, men with clubs rushed out.

Seeing Zhu Qizhen and the others, they said nothing—just swung their large clubs straight at them.

Cao Jixiang's eyes sharpened—he raised his foot to kick. Xue Shao sidestepped to shield the Zhu brothers, ready to act—when Pan Yun suddenly darted in, snatched the falling club, and pulled a stack of silver notes from her sleeve: "Wait, wait! We really are here to deliver gifts to Mr. Wang—we're just newcomers, didn't know the rules. Please forgive us, forgive us."

The men glared fiercely at Pan Yun and the silver notes, not relaxing. "What do you want?"

"A monk's license!" Pan Yun said. "I've come to request a monk's license."

The lead Retainer lifted his chin, pointing at Zhu Qizhen and the others: "What about them?"

He sneered: "Are they here for monk's licenses too?"

"No, they're just accompanying me," Pan Yun quickly assigned them roles. "This is my eldest brother, this is my second brother, this is my third brother, and this is our Retainer. I have nine brothers—only these three came with me to buy the license, so I'm in a hurry. Please forgive me, brothers."

The Retainers' expressions softened; they lowered their clubs.

Zhu Qizhen and Zhu Qiyu: …

Xue Shao silently withdrew his hand; Cao Jixiang quietly lowered his leg.

The Retainers sized up the group, still skeptical. "You want to become a nun? Where are you from?" Pan Yun said: "Jiang Xiren. I've been staying at Long Hushan. Oh, I've been sickly since childhood—yin-dominant—so I must leave the mortal world. My family is wealthy, and I have nine brothers, so my parents are willing to spend money to buy me a license."

The Retainers glanced at the silver notes in her hand, then stepped aside: "Alright, come in."

Seeing this, Zhu Qizhen pushed past Zhu Qiyu to follow.

A club instantly swung out, blocking his chest. "You're not allowed in!"

Pan Yun immediately turned, pushed the club down, and pulled Zhu Qizhen close with a grin: "This is my eldest brother. This matter should've been his to handle—I was naughty and took the silver notes. My parents told him not to let me go alone—he must watch over me. Brothers, please, just let him come in and see."

The girl's sweet, soft pleading made the club-wielding Retainer frown, shoot a displeased glance at Zhu Qizhen, then lift the club. He coldly said: "Fine. But only he goes in with you."

Pan Yun agreed, pulling Zhu Qizhen inside.

Cao Jixiang stepped forward involuntarily; when blocked, he stared anxiously at Zhu Qizhen.

Fortunately, the gift table was just inside the gate—they could see clearly from outside. If anything happened, he could react quickly.

Cao Jixiang reluctantly suppressed his anxiety, fixing his gaze on Zhu Qizhen.

Seeing Zhu Qizhen and Pan Yun walk in so easily, those waiting in line grew resentful and began to protest: "Why do they go first? We've been here for hours…"

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"What's all this noise?" The Retainer turned and shouted at them. "If you don't like lining up, leave. We, Master Wang Zhangyin, don't need your meager gifts."

Everyone instantly fell silent, lowering their heads and obediently lining up again.

Zhu Qiyu's face was grim; he muttered under his breath: "Wang Banban is so arrogant even outside the palace…"

Cao Jixiang fell silent.

Wang Zhen's overbearing ways were hardly news of a day or two.

But the Prince of Cheng was like the Emperor—both were masters—so he had simply never felt Wang Zhen's domineering side.

Pan Yun set all the silver notes in her hand on the table, leaned forward, and said softly, "Zhang Guanshi, please put in a few good words for me before Mr. Wang."

The Zhang Guanshi seated at the desk counted the silver notes, tossed them casually into an open box beside him, and asked lazily, "Speak, what good words am I to put in?"

Pan Yun said, "I have not yet come of age, and I still have parents and kin at home—I wish to obtain a monastic ordination certificate."

The Zhang Guanshi glanced at her, lifted his brush, and said, "Person of which locality? Do you have a Daoist temple or monastery where you are registered?"

"No, I cultivate at home, though I did learn a few days' worth of Daoist arts at Long Hushan."

The Zhang Guanshi: "Household registration."

Pan Yun casually made one up and reported it.

Zhu Qizhen had originally been dark-faced and very displeased, but Pan Yun's slick, seamless lying made him unable to help turning his head to look at her, and much of his anger dissipated.

Once the Zhang Guanshi finished writing, he waved the two of them off. "My master is not in. When he returns, I will report it up. Whether it can be done is not certain—come back in a few days to ask about the situation."

Zhu Qizhen: "That's it? So much silver, and all you give us is one sentence—not even a receipt?"

"Receipt?" The steward Zhang lifted his head to look at him, frowning. "Where did this reckless lout come from, daring to ask our master for a receipt. Hmph, this bit of money is the price of you knocking on our Wang family's door—I'd say it's not even enough for a door-knocking gift, and you want a receipt…"

He sneered coldly: "Get out. Come back in seven days. The monastic ordination certificate for monks and Daoists is a rule set down by the Founding Emperor; the Ministry of Rites has always kept a tight grip. Among the whole court, civil and military, only our master dares to look into this matter. Go ask around at any other residence—who would dare handle this for you?"

Pan Yun nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes. Who could compare to Mr. Wang, Your Majesty's number one favorite?"

The moment those words left her mouth, Zhu Qizhen's face went pitch black. Before he could speak, Pan Yun had already reached out and pulled him outside. "Elder brother, let's go back first, ask father and mother for more money, and come again in seven days."

The Zhang Guanshi was pleased with himself and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. This little lady is indeed a cultivator—sharp and clear-headed. Far better than this elder brother of yours, who grows in years but never in brains."

Pan Yun nodded again and again. "Yes, yes. I'll go back and certainly tell father and mother, so they can properly teach and guide him."

Pan Yun pulled Zhu Qizhen out, and to Zhu Qiyu and Xue Shao, who were waiting outside, said, "Two elder brothers, let's go. The gifts have been sent off, the matter has been arranged."

Pan Yun gripped Zhu Qizhen's hand tightly and pulled him back around the corner.

The moment they returned, the Embroidered Uniform Guard scattered across the various rooftops also quietly slipped back.

Pan Yun pretended not to notice, and only released his hand after pulling him a good distance away.

Zhu Qizhen also gave his sleeve a hard flick and asked, "You brought me here just to sow discord between me—the Emperor—and Wang Zhen, didn't you? Why wouldn't you let me lose my temper on the spot and catch them red-handed?"

"No, no," Pan Yun shook her head. "I'm not sowing discord. I only want Young Master Zhu Da to understand that every person in this world has selfish motives. Those who obey you, who are loyal to you, are not necessarily the ones who benefit you."

"You say your house is the first under heaven, but in places you cannot see, someone is bit by bit gnawing away at your house, destroying it—and this person may be someone very close to you, someone you love dearly. As the head of the house, do you choose the house first, or do you choose to preserve the person you love?"

Zhu Qizhen fell silent.

Pan Yun gazed steadily at him. Seeing he could give no answer, she said, "This is only the beginning. There are still several more people and matters I wish to show Young Master. Please, this way."

Zhu Qizhen looked at her for a moment, then still lifted his foot and followed her.

(End of chapter)