Chapter 414: Tian Daniu

"Wang Zhen, the Emperor's current favorite, Chief Eunuch of the Office of State Ceremonial," Tian Daniu perked up, speaking clearly and enthusiastically: "He understands classics, reads people's intentions well—he's the kind who brings tea the moment the Emperor is thirsty, serves food the moment he's hungry, and offers a pillow the moment he's sleepy. Such a soulmate—would you like him?"

The Emperor's smile slightly faded; he realized it was true.

No, Wang Zhen did even better than Tian Daniu described—sometimes, the Emperor didn't even realize he was thirsty or hungry, yet Wang Zhen would bring him just the right tea or meal; only when it reached his lips did he realize he'd been thirsty or hungry.

That was minor. The main thing was, Wang Zhen knew exactly what the Emperor thought in court.

The Luchuan Campaign had already been fought twice; from the start, officials in court had opposed it.

Yet the imperial court insisted on fighting both battles; the people and some officials assumed it was Wang Zhen's doing, so during both Luchuan Campaigns, Wang Zhen was constantly impeached and heavily criticized.

But only the Emperor knew: the Luchuan Campaign was his own idea—he wanted to fight this war to strengthen Great Ming's prestige and seize control of the court from the old ministers of the Three Yangs, to build his own authority.

Wang Zhen was merely a knife.

Whatever the Emperor thought, Wang Zhen knew; whatever the Emperor wished to do, Wang Zhen would serve as his vanguard.

So even though he had just seen Wang Zhen accepting bribes behind his back, though angry, he had no intention of dismissing him—a knife that's dull can be sharpened, hammered, and made useful again.

At this moment, Pan Yun had still brought him here to hear Wang Zhen's story; Zhu Qizhen's face showed nothing, but inside he sneered.

Still, listening wouldn't hurt—just treat it as a tale or a joke.

"Like him—"

"Yeah, I like him too," Tian Daniu grinned. "But few people in this world can be like Wang Zhen—first, they lack his perceptiveness; second, they lack his boldness."

"Speaking of which, Wang Zhen's family wasn't wealthy, but not poor either—he could read and study from childhood, married when he should have, had children when he should have, and even passed the Licentiate exam," Tian Daniu shook his head, swaying: "Too bad—he failed the autumn examinations several times, always failing."

"Then he thought: even if I passed the Provincial Exam, I'd still have to take the Metropolitan Exam, then start as a low-ranking county magistrate. Since I've failed so many exams, clearly my scholarship and literary talent are inferior. Even if I somehow managed to become an official, I'd likely remain a minor clerk for life. So he gritted his teeth, made up his mind, and castrated himself."

Tian Daniu stroked his beard and laughed heartily: "When he castrated himself back then, it was through me!"

Zhu Qizhen:!!!

Xue Shao:!!

Zhu Qiyu and Cao Jixiang both widened their eyes in unison; even Yun Yan turned his head.

Besides these five, everyone else had heard this story before, so though they laughed loudly, they weren't surprised at all.

Zhu Qizhen finally showed interest; his face wore an expression of curiosity mixed with hesitation: "Through you… what exactly?"

"So many things," Tian Daniu listed them one by one. "You need a skilled surgeon, right? Someone his age undergoing castration must be handled carefully—mistake it, and he dies."

"So I found him an old master from the palace—this man had castrated a thousand or more eunuchs; he did it to Wang Zhen."

"I also rented him a house, arranged for someone to care for him, and when his wounds healed, I connected him to the palace—basically, from the moment he arrived in Jingcheng until he entered the palace, I was the one helping him."

Xue Shao narrowed his eyes and asked: "So you must have been close. Now that he's powerful and high-ranking, how did you end up like this?"

"That's a good question!" Tian Daniu said. "We were indeed close. After he entered the palace, he rose rapidly. During the late Emperor's reign, I leveraged his influence to climb from a lowly, unranked clerk to an eighth-rank auditor in the Ministry of Revenue—just one step away."

Tian Daniu raised one finger, eyes glistening with tears as he gazed at Xue Shao and the others, grinning: "Just one step away—I could've been appointed county magistrate. Just one step."

Xue Shao fell silent, his gaze filled with pity.

Zhu Qizhen couldn't help asking: "What went wrong?"

Tian Daniu lowered his finger, turned to him, and smiled: "The late Emperor died. The young Emperor ascended. Wang Zhen became Chief Eunuch of the Office of State Ceremonial to him. And I was dismissed."

Zhu Qizhen fell silent.

"Then I was framed with false charges and arrested. The old eunuch who performed the surgery was long dead. Everyone I'd introduced to him had risen to power under his protection. Only me—I cared for him the most—was the only one he framed and crushed."

Tian Daniu tapped his leg, laughing through tears: "He ordered his men to break it. I still don't know why. Did I fail to care for him properly when he castrated himself?"

Pan Yun pulled out a water flask, unscrewed it, took a sip, then raised an eyebrow: "Tian Da, how long have you been here?"

Tian Daniu said: "Five years. Fortunately, an old friend rescued me—and since Wang Zhen nearly got killed by the Grand Empress Dowager back then, I barely escaped and came here."

"Five years, and you still don't know why?" Pan Yun shook her head in disappointment, speaking bluntly: "Because you were closest to him. You treated him best."

Tian Daniu froze.

Pan Yun smiled, swaying the flask: "During his most humiliated, most painful time, only you saw it."

Pan Yun leaned toward Zhu Qizhen, eyes fixed on him: "Young Master, if you ever rose to great power one day, could you tolerate someone who saw you at your lowest staying by your side?"

Zhu Qizhen: "I've always been powerful."

Pan Yun: "What about after falling from grace, then rising again?"

Zhu Qizhen affirmed: "I will never fall."

Pan Yun smiled, turned to Xue Shao: "What about you? If you ever rose to great power, how would you treat a friend who witnessed your humiliation?"

Xue Shao: "I would Treasure and hold dear."

Pan Yun: "You're a good person. That's what good people do."

She asked the dazed Tian Daniu: "Tian Da, do you think Wang Zhen is a good person?"

Tian Daniu shook his head blankly: "No, he's not. He craves power, uses his influence for private gain among friends—he has nothing to do with goodness." Pan Yun's lips curled slightly: "Exactly. So how could you expect him to tolerate your presence like a good person would?"

Pan Yun turned to Zhu Qizhen, speaking softly: "And how could you expect him to remain loyal like a good person would?"

Zhu Qizhen's face darkened, anger flashing in his eyes: "Pan Yun, you're not even hiding it—are you deliberately sowing discord?"

Pan Yun shook her head: "Not sowing discord. Merely stating facts."

"If you'd answered me that you prioritize yourself, I wouldn't have brought you here. But you said you prioritize your family's interests. As a Daoist Priest here to help you resolve your troubles, I must consider your goal."

Zhu Qizhen sneered: "Helping me means turning me against my loyal ministers?"

Pan Yun smiled, retorting: "Are these things not objectively true? Did I make Wang Zhen accept bribes? Did I make Tian Daniu suffer this fate, then blame it on Wang Zhen?"

Zhu Qizhen fell silent.

Tian Daniu stiffened as if struck by lightning, his body collapsing, and he sank to his knees.

Zhu Qizhen glared at him and whispered sharply: "Shut up!"

!. Read

Tian Daniu's cry of "Long live the Emperor!" was trapped in his throat.

Zhu Qizhen turned and walked away, whether out of shame or rage, no one knew.

Zhu Qiyu and Cao Jixiang hurried to follow.

Xue Shao pulled Tian Daniu up from the ground, took out a handful of copper coins and stuffed them into his hand. "Your story was told very well."

Tian Daniu opened his mouth, a bellyful of words he wanted to ask, but the moment he raised his head he saw that sword-bearing young man look back.

Tian Daniu's whole body trembled, and he didn't dare speak.

If that person really was who he guessed, then this sword-bearing one must be from the Brocade Guard.

Wang Zhen's relationship with the Brocade Guard was so close they could share a pair of trousers.

Tian Daniu's face went white.

Pan Yun placed a peace talisman into his hand and said, "You need not be afraid."

She looked at his features, smiled faintly, and said, "When bitterness ends, sweetness comes — you need only wait quietly."

Tian Daniu was stunned for a moment, gripped the peace talisman tightly with both hands, and bowed again and again. "Many thanks, Daoist, many thanks, Daoist!"

After two bows, his body swayed and he nearly pitched forward, but Xue Shao caught him.

He picked up the crutch that had fallen on the ground, stuffed it into his hand, and together with Pan Yun went to catch up with the four — Zhu Qizhen and the others — who had already walked far ahead.

Though they were going to catch up, the two of them clearly were in no hurry; seeing their backs from afar was enough.

Xue Shao, eyes fixed straight ahead, said, "You really have quite the nerve. Aren't you afraid he'll decide you're sowing discord, won't be provoked, and instead reports this matter to Wang Zhen?"

"If Wang Zhen were to step in, not to mention Tian Daniu's family, even you and I would die."

Pan Yun said, "Don't you think this Emperor is a man with a mind of his own?"

"I used to think he was a foolish ruler, controlled by the flattering ministers around him, so I thought — better that I hold the reins than someone else, and so I wanted to meet him."

"But after meeting him, I found he is not."

Xue Shao: "You think he's a wise ruler?"

Pan Yun snorted and said, "A wise ruler he can't be called, but he's not a foolish ruler with no mind of his own either. If I can't control him, then Wang Zhen certainly must not be allowed to."

"So at this moment, using an open scheme is better than a hidden one. Even if he thinks I'm sowing discord, so what? That Wang Zhen breaks the law is fact, that Wang Zhen is wildly ambitious is fact, that Wang Zhen is cold and unfeeling is also fact."

Xue Shao nodded slightly. "Playing with a muddled fool is one kind of game; playing with a clear-headed person who has a mind of his own is another."

Pan Yun's lips curved slightly. "Not bad."

Xue Shao: "You'd best leave a hook — just once. A wrongful case can't be brought up otherwise."

"Don't worry, I've long been prepared," Pan Yun said. "Before meeting him, I prepared quite a few good things for the muddled fool I imagined him to be."

Xue Shao was very curious what things, but Pan Yun wouldn't tell him.

The two quickened their steps and caught up just as the four were leaving the slums.

The Brocade Guard left outside immediately came forward, holding a bundle and saying, "Young Master, shall you change clothes?"

Zhu Qizhen pushed him away in annoyance. "No changing!"

He walked forward with his head down, and everyone hurried to follow.

Zhu Qiyu silently followed.

When Pan Yun caught up, she tilted her head and glanced at him.

Zhu Qiyu met her gaze in confusion, not understanding why she was looking at him.

(End of chapter)