Chapter 417

"Meow—" A cat's cry rose; Pan Yun and Xue Shao both looked up to see Pan Xiaohei gracefully walking along the wall, tilting its head to meow a few times at Pan Yun. "He's as confident as you are."

Pan Yun pretended not to hear and asked, "Did you get it?"

"Meow—More than enough."

Pan Yun was satisfied and opened her arms to it.

Pan Xiaohei leapt into her arms, lifting its head and "meowing" once.

Pan Yun walked off with Pan Xiaohei, turning to Xue Shao, who was still staring at the cat: "Then it's settled. If you can't find the right moment, tell me right away—I'll break the window paper."

Xue Shao snapped back to attention and nodded. "Alright."

The two parted ways at the crossroad; Pan Yun headed home clutching Pan Xiaohei, asking on the way, "How much did you take?"

Pan Xiaohei: "Cleaned out."

Pan Yun's eyes lit up; she hugged it tighter and quickened her pace.

Yin Song had been waiting at home; as soon as he saw her, he rushed forward. "How was it? Did the Emperor say he'd arrest or execute you?"

"No. I didn't reveal my identity, and I didn't insult him—why would he arrest or execute me?"

Pan Yun hurried into the house with Pan Xiaohei in her arms.

Yin Song followed behind her. "What are you doing?"

Pan Yun placed Pan Xiaohei on the table and grinned. "Bring out the stuff."

Pan Xiaohei gave her a silent look, then lifted its paw and moved slightly at the fur around its neck, nudging out the jade hidden beneath. With a thought, a box appeared on the table.

Pan Yun instantly recognized it—the same money box the Wang family retainer had brought earlier.

She stepped forward to open it; Yin Song stared with his mouth open, about to ask—when suddenly, inexplicable objects appeared on the table.

Gold, silver, jade—various items materialized out of thin air; the table couldn't hold them all and crashed to the floor with a thud.

Yin Song and Wang Cong, quick-handed, scrambled to catch them, terrified of dents or scratches.

When the objects stopped falling, everyone was clutching something; Miao He stroked the golden Buddha in his arms, his eyes gleaming. "Little Master Shu, Xiaohei—did you rob the Emperor's treasury?"

Pan Yun snapped her mouth shut, leapt back a step, putting three zhang between herself and Pan Xiaohei. "Pan Xiaohei, you're you, I'm me—we're two separate individuals."

Everyone turned to look outside: the sky, already dim, had turned utterly black; through the windows, it was impossible to tell if the heavens had changed.

Pan Yun immediately opened the money box, counted out three hundred taels in silver notes, then snapped it shut. She presented the box with both hands to Pan Xiaohei. "The rest is all yours."

Pan Xiaohei gave her a look of disdain. "Do you think that matters? Don't forget what your merit points are primarily for. You and I are one—keeping it with me is no different from keeping it with you."

Pan Yun immediately abandoned her侥幸心理 and asked Yin Song seriously, "Second Master, where is the country suffering right now? I need to donate."

Yin Song: …

He looked at Wang Cong.

Wang Cong asked Pan Yun, "Little Master Shu, where did this money come from?"

Pan Yun: "Wang Zhen."

Wang Cong's expression turned grave. "Ill-gotten gains must indeed be donated."

Yin Song then said, "There are too many places where the country is in distress. I'll go to the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow and find out."

"But silver notes can be donated directly—what about these?" Yin Song picked up a golden statue, expressionless. "This golden figure was cast in Wang Zhen's likeness. Can't say it's ten percent accurate, but at least six or seven. Take it out the front door, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard will be at the back door."

Pan Yun reached out, examined the golden figure, then gripped its face with five fingers and squeezed hard. When she pulled away, five finger-shaped depressions remained.

Yin Song: …

Pan Yun thought this useful. She gripped the statue with both hands, channeled her Yuan power into her palms, and began crushing and twisting it—until the once-perfect golden figure became a lumpy, pitted, finger-marked mass.

Pan Yun studied it, found the residual fingerprints particularly offensive, so she found a pair of gloves, put them on, and squeezed it again.

Yin Song: …

Pan Yun carried the grotesque lump of gold to Yin Song. "Second Master, do you think anyone can recognize it now?"

Yin Song: "Only two flaws remain. First: who would make gold look this ugly? Second: the weight. It's identical to the original statue's. A sharp, experienced Embroidered Uniform Guard who finds this lump will suspect."

Pan Yun turned to other gold ornaments, picked one up, and squeezed it—merging it with the rest. "This is easy too."

Pan Yun sighed. "Too bad we're not on the mountain—we could melt the gold into liquid and pour it into ingots. Then even the last flaw would vanish."

Pan Yun tilted her head. "Should I try to knead it into an ingot anyway?"

Yin Song: "Do as you please."

Yin Song pushed all the gold items toward her, piled the silver together, and gathered the remaining jade, wood, and paintings. "What about these?"

Pan Yun fell into thought.

Wang Cong raised his hand. "If Little Master Shu trusts me, let me handle disposal."

He added, "The price will be lower and take longer, but I guarantee no trace will lead back to us."

Pan Yun immediately said, "Take it, take it—all of it."

Pan Yun and Wang Cong packed the items away in batches.

Yin Song snapped out of his shock and began circling Pan Xiaohei.

He glanced at Pan Xiaohei, then at the faintly visible jade around its neck.

As he watched, something felt off. He leaned in for a closer look.

He glanced at Pan Xiaohei, then gently touched the jade. A flake of black fell off, revealing a sliver of white beneath.

Yin Song stared at the substance on his fingertip, silent for a long moment. "What is this?"

Pan Yun looked up. "Ink."

Yin Song stared at the jade around its neck, speechless. "Why smear a fine piece of lamb-fat white jade with ink?"

"Because it's not a white cat—it's a black cat?" Pan Yun said. "The white jade looks beautiful around its neck, but too many people stared. It got stolen three times on the way out. Luckily, it always ran back before anyone could cut the chain—otherwise the jade would've been gone long ago."

"So to eliminate the problem permanently, we painted the jade black."

Yin Song: "Who came up with this brilliant idea?"

Several people pointed at Tao Yanbai.

This surprised Yin Song: "Did Tao Yanbai come up with this idea?"

Tao Yanbai smiled sheepishly: "I'm experienced at hiding money—hiding jade is the same principle."

Yin Song nodded, finally asking the question he most wanted to know: "Where did this space jade pendant come from? Has Mount Sanqing become so wealthy that we can buy a space jade pendant for a cat?"

"Huh?" Pan Yun looked up. "Second brother, didn't I tell you I made this?"

Yin Song's face was cold: "No."

"Then didn't I give you the gift I prepared for you?"

Yin Song's expression remained blank: "No, either."

Pan Yun slapped her own forehead. "Look at me—I've been so busy I'm dizzy."

She turned to scold Wang Cong: "And you too—I don't remember you remembering either. He's your master. How could you forget the gift you prepared for him? Do you even think of your master at all?"

Wang Cong: …

He forced a smile. "Yes, I'm wrong. Master, I'm sorry. Little auntie, I'm sorry."

Pan Yun pulled a jade pendant from her sleeve and smiled sweetly at Yin Song. "Second brother, this is for you. Hehehe…"

Yin Song reached out and took it, examining the pendant carefully, then raised an eyebrow. "Little sister, if you have this ability, why worry about money?"

Pan Yun: "Ah, it's just an array. You can learn it too."

Yin Song: "Arrays aren't difficult for me, but my cultivation level isn't high enough."

Pan Yun: "If your cultivation level isn't high enough, you train harder!"

She pulled out a jade tablet and handed it to Yin Qingjun, who was squatting nearby packing things. "Second nephew, this is for you."

Yin Qingjun hadn't expected anything for himself—he was delighted, immediately stood up, and accepted it with both hands. "Thank you, Little Auntie."

Pan Yun waved her hand. "Let your master teach you how to use it. Once you can convert your inner strength into yuan energy, you can claim ownership of the space." She encouraged him: "I've noticed your Dao cultivation is far stronger than Wang Cong's—you draw talismans and arrays well. Practice more, and someday surpass your master by crafting your own space artifact."

Yin Song tapped her forehead. "Do you think everyone can be like you, where cultivation is as easy as drinking water?"

Yin Song turned and walked away, holding the pendant, waving his hand. "Thanks."

Pan Yun called after him: "Don't forget to ask about the donations for me, brother!"

Yin Song waved his hand.

The next morning, as soon as he entered the imperial city, he wandered into the Ministry of Revenue.

The Ministry's officials had been irritable lately; seeing him, they frowned. "Does the Imperial Astronomical Bureau have expenses this year? Wasn't your observatory's funding already allocated?"

Yin Song stopped. "I'm not here for money. I just passed by and noticed bad qi here, so I came in to take a look."

His gaze swept over their faces, and he shook his head slightly.

The officials tensed. "Innate Lord, is there something wrong with us?"

!. read

Yin Song began wandering around, then stopped before a potted pine. "Who put this pine here?"

"At the start of spring, earth qi rises and wood qi begins to flourish. At this time, if you harness earth and wood qi, you can calm your inner restlessness and greatly benefit your body and mind. But placing this pine here blocks the earth qi—its wood qi weakens, and less wood qi reaches you."

Yin Song asked: "Has your temper been especially high lately?"

"Extremely high! I've even developed mouth sores from stress. Innate Lord, you don't know—since spring began, every department has been begging us for funds, but the imperial treasury is limited. We have to prioritize!"

"We give priority to urgent requests, but others feel slighted and come to the Ministry of Revenue to argue every day…"

Yin Song said: "Tell me which departments are most urgent—who's been arguing with you? I'll adjust the feng shui in your courtyard."

These matters weren't secret. Except for a few classified allocations, all funding requests from departments to the Ministry of Revenue were public—anyone could inquire at other departments.

Otherwise, someone patient enough could just squat by the Ministry's walls for a few days and hear everything.

After all, to get money, the Ministry didn't argue daily—but at least every two or three days.

Yin Song wanted a more complete picture, so he asked the Ministry officials directly.

It was just morning; the anger they'd held overnight erupted instantly. Since they hadn't yet settled into work, they all gathered around Yin Song, speaking one after another.

Half an hour later, as Yin Song left the Ministry, his head still buzzed, filled with their voices.

Yin Song returned to his office with a blank stare. After filtering through his thoughts, he listed a series of names—places and people where Pan Yun could make charitable donations.

He'd just put down his brush when Yin Qingjun rushed over. "Master—"

He leaned close to Yin Song's ear. "I noticed this morning: a young eunuch hurried into the palace. Soon after, Wang Zhen led a group out of the palace."

Yin Song asked: "What about the Emperor?"

"The Emperor is in the Imperial Study, discussing affairs with ministers."

Yin Song pondered. "When the Emperor is in the Imperial Study, Wang Zhen never misses it. Clearly, the item Xiao Hei brought back has pained him—he chose to leave the palace now."

Yin Qingjun worried: "I noticed he brought many Embroidered Uniform Guards. Could he be investigating Little Auntie?"

Yin Song: "What's to fear? I asked carefully—yesterday, she appeared with the Emperor at the Wang family's side gate. If Wang Zhen investigates, he'll trace it to the Emperor first. I don't believe he'll dare continue after that… but…"

Yin Song fell silent.

Yin Qingjun: "But what?"

"But Wang Zhen might misunderstand the Emperor—but the Emperor won't misunderstand himself. Your Little Auntie can fool others, but she can't fool him. Does she even realize the Emperor will suspect her?"

Pan Yun was at home weighing gold and silver.

After a night's effort, she had kneaded all the gold and silver into two large lumps.

After recording the weights, she looked up as Miaohe finished counting the money boxes. "Little Auntie, the money's all counted."

Pan Yun glanced at the numbers Miaohe wrote down and raised an eyebrow. "No wonder everyone wants to be an official. Being a corrupt official is the most profitable job in the world."

"Wang Zhen sits in the palace, yet his home received this much money in a single day. How much has he collected over the years?"

The hotter her thoughts grew, the more she stared at Pan Xiaohei.

Pan Xiaohei was eating tiny fish.

It was early morning. These were small fish Wang Cong had bought back from the market, fried up by Pan Yun, and right now they were still warm—absolutely delicious.

Pan Xiaohei noticed her gaze, looked up, and meowed at her: "That room only had that one money box. I flipped through several rooftops and didn't see anything hidden."

Pan Yun regretfully withdrew her gaze. "Fine, next time I get the chance I'll go patronize the place again. Write down the list—when the good deed is done, I'll hand the list to the Emperor. Hmph, I didn't steal his money. Take from the people, use for the people—I'm a very, very good person."

Wang Cong and the others nodded together. "A very, very good person indeed."

At this moment, Wang Zhen had already rushed back to his residence. Looking at the empty shelves, the bare desk, and even the precious calligraphy and paintings that had originally hung on the walls—all gone—he could no longer suppress the fury on his face.

He turned, his gaze dark and阴沉 as he stared at the person kneeling on the ground. "A whole house full of things, gone—and you only noticed this morning?"

The servants trembled all over and hurriedly said, "Director, we really didn't hear a single sound."

Wang Zhen laughed in spite of his anger. "So many things going in and out, and not a single sound?"

His face suddenly went cold with a clang, and he said darkly, "Whether there was sound or not, for someone to steal this many things, there's only one possibility—a mole inside!"

"Wonderful. I slave away earning money, and it turns out my own home has rats. Excellent, simply excellent…"

Wang Zhen turned directly to the Embroidered Uniform Guard standing nearby and said, "Drag them all away. Find me the culprit!"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard acknowledged the order.

The servants all collapsed to the ground in terror, begging for mercy. "Director, it wasn't me, really wasn't me! When I put the money box and the things I'd received inside, everything was right here, perfectly fine. After delivering them I locked the door and left, went straight home. Several brothers came back to my place for drinks—they can all testify. I never left the house all night."

Wang Zhen couldn't be bothered to hear their辩解, and waved his hand. "Tell it to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Unless you can find me the thief this instant, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will sort out who's telling the truth."

The servants burst into tears, their small brains spinning at top speed. Just before someone was dragged out, he shouted: "I know! I know! It must have been those people from yesterday! I thought they were strange at the time…"

Just as Wang Zhen was suppressing his fury, the Emperor in the palace had also finished his morning meeting with the ministers.

The ministers filed out one after another, and he blinked his way over to the fish tank to watch the goldfish swim, giving his eyes a rest.

Cao Jixiang handed him a cup of tea.

The Emperor took it casually, noticed the tea wasn't at the usual comfortable temperature, and lifted an eyelid—only then realizing it was Cao Jixiang who had brewed it.

He glanced around and asked, "Mr. Wang hasn't returned yet?"

Cao Jixiang bowed and said softly, "Mr. Wang has left the palace."

The Emperor frowned slightly. "Wasn't it said there was business at the Directorate of Ceremonial? Why did he leave the palace?"

Cao Jixiang stepped forward two paces, leaned close to the Emperor's ear, and whispered, "Someone came to report this morning that Mr. Wang's residence outside the palace was robbed—things were stolen."

The Emperor held his tea, stunned. After quite a while he asked, in a drawn-out tone, "Were many valuables lost?"

Cao Jixiang carefully watched his expression, saw no joy or anger on his face, but his brows were slightly raised—he didn't look angry.

Cao Jixiang's voice softened another degree, and he said with a touch of lightness, "Quite a lot. I heard a whole house full of things was taken."

"Is that so~" The Emperor gently slid the tea lid, took a sip, then said unhurriedly, "Then Mr. Wang must be very angry."

Cao Jixiang said softly, "If this servant lost so much money and property, I would be angry too."

The Emperor said "Mm," and instructed, "Send someone to Yin Song's residence to check—see if the things are at his house."

After a pause, the Emperor added, "Call for people from the Northern Garrison. This matter must not reach Mr. Wang's ears."

Cao Jixiang acknowledged.

The Emperor's mood seemed to lift. Holding his teacup, he returned to his seat, thought of yesterday's Tian Daniu, and ordered, "Go to the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review—pull Tian Daniu's case file, and have the Embroidered Uniform Guard of the Northern Garrison look into whether there's really a problem."

"If the man was wronged, clear him of the charges and rehabilitate him."

Cao Jixiang acknowledged with a smile and flattered, "Your Majesty is wise. If Tian Daniu learns of this grace, he will surely be overflowing with gratitude."

The Emperor nodded, sat in the chair for a while, then couldn't help letting his mind drift again. He simply put down his writing brush and beckoned to Cao Jixiang, who was grinding ink. "Tell me—was the robbery at Mr. Wang's residence Pan Yun's doing?"

Two chapters merged into one

(End of this chapter)