Chapter 418

Cao Jixiang also harbored this suspicion, yet said, "Master Pan is young; he probably doesn't have the nerve. There are many retainers at Mr. Wang's residence—how could so much wealth be stolen so easily?"

Cao Jixiang had only spoken offhand, but upon saying it, he realized it made sense, so he continued, "It must be some powerful thief who colluded with someone inside the residence."

Zhu Qizhen, however, remembered the experiment he had performed on the Empress last night.

The talisman Pan Yun had given him, he held in his hand; another he placed on Empress Qian's body. Reciting the incantation she taught him three times, he felt nothing during the first two, but on the third, the talisman in his hand grew warm, and his heart warmed too. When he opened his eyes to look at Empress Qian, he saw that her entire heart was filled with him.

He could feel that even her father and brother occupied only a tiny portion of her heart—the rest was entirely his.

Pan Yun's talismans were real.

There truly existed such miraculous things in this world.

Thus, although Zhu Qizhen found Cao Jixiang's deduction plausible, he trusted his own intuition more.

If Pan Yun possessed such supernatural abilities, she must have others—perhaps even the power to steal Mr. Wang's wealth without anyone noticing.

Zhu Qizhen decided to wait for the Brocade Guard's report.

Zhu Qizhen entrusted the Southern Town Command to Ma Shun, and since Ma Shun and Wang Zhen were close allies, he specifically assigned the Northern Town Command's Brocade Guards to investigate Yin Zhai.

Although the Northern Town Command also had good relations with Wang Zhen, they answered directly to the Emperor and knew better than anyone who their true master was.

Zhu Qizhen believed that with the Brocade Guards' capabilities and a clear direction, finding the stolen goods should not be difficult.

Yet by evening, both teams—one investigating Yin Zhai and the other Wang's residence—returned simultaneously to report: "Yin Zhai is unchanged; we found no extra items in the Yin household, but we did discover a person in the side chamber."

Zhu Qizhen asked, "Who?"

"Hu Jing, the bounty hunter currently wanted by the Southern Town Command."

Zhu Qizhen frowned slightly. "What crime did he commit?"

The Brocade Guard paused before replying, "Rumors say he possesses a map to the Japanese pirates' hidden treasure; the pirates have even infiltrated ashore to hunt him."

"Does Yin Song know who he is?"

The Brocade Guard said, "Hu Jing's wanted poster has been posted everywhere; the entire martial world knows he holds the treasure map, and every sect is searching for him. As a court official and a man of the Jianghu, Yin Daoren could not possibly be unaware."

Zhu Qizhen's voice turned low. "Yin Song dares to be so bold—knowing full well that Hu Jing is a wanted criminal, he still hides him at home."

The Emperor's confidants all bowed their heads, sensing His Majesty's displeasure.

Zhu Qizhen paused before asking, "Are you certain? You found absolutely no stolen goods?"

"None. I verified meticulously—Yin's household has no extra items."

Zhu Qizhen turned to the other Brocade Guard.

The man immediately bowed and replied, "Your servant investigated: after His Majesty departed yesterday, Prince Cheng invited them to eat two bowls of dumplings and one bowl of pork bone stew near the Court of Judicial Review."

"They parted around Shen Zheng Er Ke. Pan Yun and Xue Shao headed east together; they separated near Top Graduate Tower, around You Shi Er Ke. People selling calligraphy and paintings near the tower confirmed they saw them then—the sun had set, the light was dim, the time was certain. Afterward, Xue Shao returned to the inn, while Pan Yun went back to Yin Zhai."

Zhu Qizhen: "Does it take half an hour to walk from the Court of Judicial Review to Top Graduate Tower?"

"No. Normally, it takes two and a half ke. Even walking slowly, three ke is sufficient."

Cao Jixiang quickly added, "What if they walked slowly, stopping to browse?"

The Brocade Guard: "Then three ke wouldn't be enough—even three hours wouldn't be surprising. But we questioned everyone along the route—no one saw them during that time."

Cao Jixiang: "Perhaps no one noticed. The light was fading, and they were just passing by—shopkeepers might not have paid attention."

The Brocade Guard: "I find that unlikely. Along the road from the Court of Judicial Review to Top Graduate Tower, every shopkeeper and clerk has sharp eyes."

"Xue Shao clearly looked like a scholar heading for the imperial exams, and Pan Yun carried a large banner—highly conspicuous. If they passed, someone must have noticed. But when we questioned every shop along the way, only the first and last remembered them. None in between did. So they did not take the main road."

The Brocade Guard said, "If they turned into an alley and took a side path, they could reach Wang's residence—but…"

Zhu Qizhen: "But what?"

The Brocade Guard said, "But in just one ke, how could they find the treasure and remove it all without anyone noticing?"

Zhu Qizhen grew curious too. He tapped the table and asked, "Do you suspect they didn't do it?"

The Brocade Guard replied, "I believe only in evidence."

Zhu Qizhen nodded, studying him from head to toe. The man was handsome but powerfully built, familiar yet not quite recognizable. He asked, "I recall your surname is An?"

"Yes," the Brocade Guard bowed. "Your servant, Captain An Chen of the Brocade Guard."

Zhu Qizhen nodded. "Good. Promote you to Chief Flag of the Northern Town Command. Investigate this matter. Assemble your team. Find the thief who stole from Mr. Wang's residence."

An Chen immediately bowed. "Yes!"

As Zhu Qizhen was about to wave him off, he remembered something and added, "Also investigate Pan Yun. Send two men to Jiangxi."

An Chen bowed and withdrew. The Brocade Guard had barely left when Pan Yun sensed them. By then, she could no longer hide Hu Jing.

She could only endure the faint rustling above as tiles were lifted.

Hu Jing, lying sideways on the bed: …

He used every ounce of strength not to look up.

The Brocade Guards were formidable—but who in this room wasn't?

Pan Yun had entered the First Marquis realm; not even a whisper escaped her ears.

Hu Jing, a bounty hunter for over a decade, had spent his entire career navigating this path. His surveillance skills ranked among the best in the Great Ming.

Even though the Brocade Guards above moved with extreme caution, both still sensed them.

Pan Yun turned and silently regarded Hu Jing.

Hu Jing looked up and met her gaze silently. Neither spoke; their eyes conveyed everything.

For an instant, Pan Yun wanted to reach up, drag the man down, strangle him, and erase all trace.

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But Hu Jing gently shook his head, stopping her with his eyes.

Pan Yun sat by the table, enduring as the Brocade Guard scoured Yin Zhai from top to bottom like a rat.

Hu Jing did not know Pan Yun had stolen from Wang Zhen's residence, nor that most of the stolen wealth was on her person. He assumed his own trail had been exposed. As soon as the Brocade Guards left, he said, "I'm leaving immediately. If the authorities come knocking, deny everything. If they can't find me, they can't touch you."

Pan Yun's face darkened. "They're not here for you."

Hu Jing: "Who is this targeting? Your second master isn't even a sixth-rank official?"

Pan Yun shot him a glare. "Sixth-rank is huge! The Imperial Astronomical Bureau only has fifth-rank. The highest rank a Daoist Priest can hold is fifth-rank. My second master is sixth-rank—just below the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. Is that not a big post?"

Hu Jing: "If this were some other martial artist, you might fool them. But I'm not one of them."

He said: "Zhang Tian Shi is second-rank."

Pan Yun snorted. "His second-rank comes from ancestral privilege—it's inherited. The only rank he earned by merit is fifth-rank as head of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau."

Hu Jing: "The imperial court recognizes second-rank."

Pan Yun: "Fifth-rank!"

"Second-rank!!"

Pan Yun fixed him with a fiery gaze.

Hu Jing smirked. "I know—you Daoists have supernatural powers. Zhang Tian Shi isn't just some astronomer who forecasts weather and calculates calendars. Let alone the Tian Shi Mansion behind him."

"How many old monks are hidden in the back of Shaolin Temple? We martial artists know. But how many old Daoist Priests lurk in the back of the Tian Shi Mansion? No one knows—not even the one sitting on the imperial throne. So tell me, why does Zhang Tian Shi still come when summoned and leave when dismissed, always bowing and scraping?"

Pan Yun looked at him strangely. "Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?"

Hu Jing: "You just felt murderous toward the Brocade Guard. Do you even know who the Brocade Guard is?"

Pan Yun: "The Brocade Guard is the Brocade Guard."

Hu Jing shook his head. "The Brocade Guard is the Emperor's arm, his eyes, his teeth. They embody the Emperor's will."

"Even Zhang Tian Shi and those old Daoists dare not think like that. You're truly a calf unaware of the tiger's might."

Hu Jing said: "Do you think they can't defeat a single Brocade Guard?"

"They can. One of them could kill ten, a hundred. But can they kill ten thousand? A hundred thousand?" Hu Jing said: "After ten thousand, there are a hundred thousand soldiers. A million soldiers!"

Pan Yun's expression grew solemn. She listened intently.

"Swords dull. Strength exhausts. Qi and Yuan energy deplete," Hu Jing said. "Every martial artist can defeat a single official. So why do martial artists always avoid the authorities and refuse to offend them?"

"Just as the Tian Shi Mansion submits to the imperial court and obeys the Emperor, I don't know your cultivation level, San Zhu Dao Chang, but even the Third Marquis would die in the imperial army's onslaught."

"Soldiers fear no death. We have only one path: flee. So, San Zhu Dao Chang, next time you meet the Brocade Guard, bury your murderous intent. Don't let it show."

Pan Yun lowered her eyes in thought, then raised them and bowed to Hu Jing. "I've learned. Thank you."

Pan Yun turned to leave, but Hu Jing called out: "Give me some money. I'll leave right away."

"They…"

"Whether they came for me or not, they saw me. My existence is leverage. If you keep me…"

Pan Yun took a deep breath and cut him off. "Why not use this chance to turn in the treasure map hidden in your money pouch's lining?"

Hu Jing stared at her silently, silently resisting her—It's fake!

Pan Yun met his gaze in return: You don't say it. I don't say it. Who knows it's fake?

(End of Chapter)