Chapter 425

Catching adulterers requires catching them in the act; catching thieves requires catching them with the stolen goods—they turned Yin Zhai upside down and found nothing.

With no evidence, Yun Yan even began to doubt himself—were their deductions truly correct?

But An Chen leaned in and whispered, "Thousand-Household my lord, I dare swear on my head that the man I saw at Yin Zhai this morning was Hu Jing."

"Now he's gone—what good is saying this?" Yun Yan lowered his voice. "I believe you—but what of Your Majesty? Yin Song may be only a sixth-rank official, but his cultivation is far from low—he's the Xia Guanzheng who corrected the imperial calendars these past two years. Besides, he rendered great service in the Luchuan Campaign. If he weren't a Daoist Priest, he'd have been promoted beyond the Imperial Astronomical Bureau."

The Brocade Uniform Guards feared neither civil nor military officials—they dared investigate Yang Shiqi and Wang Ji—but they dared not treat the Daoist Priests of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau with undue boldness.

Especially not one like Yin Song, whose reputation was well known.

Who knew if he might secretly curse them?

Others might not know, but Yun Yan knew—the world did hold certain mysterious forces.

After a moment's thought, Yun Yan bowed to Yin Song and Pan Yun. "We've finished our investigation. Apologies for the intrusion."

He turned to leave with his men, but Yin Song called out, "Lord Yun, are you certain you've investigated thoroughly? Don't come knocking again in the dead of night claiming you haven't finished."

Yun Yan's face remained stern as he spoke slowly, word by word: "We've concluded our investigation. I will report truthfully to Your Majesty."

Yin Song turned to the silent Cao Ye. "And you, Lord Cao—have you also concluded your investigation?"

Cao Ye was taken aback by being addressed—he frowned, fixing his gaze steadily on Yin Song.

Yin Song's gaze remained gentle, yet unwavering as he pressed: "Lord Cao, have you concluded?"

Cao Ye's heart leapt—he felt Yin Song knew. Knew that his squad had been arranged by Wang Zhangyin.

He lowered his eyes, avoiding Yin Song's gaze, and replied: "I've concluded as well. There were no suspicious individuals."

Yin Song pressed further: "What of suspicious objects?"

Cao Ye clenched his teeth inwardly but still answered: "No suspicious objects were found either."

Only then did Yin Song relax slightly, stepping aside to gesture: "Thank you all for clearing my name. Please, go."

The Brocade Uniform Guards turned and left.

Yun Yan bowed again to the master and disciple, then paused—he noticed the food on the table behind them. He turned back and asked, "Lord Yin, it's so late—are you only now eating dinner?"

Yin Song snapped: "If not for your sudden visit, we'd have already finished eating."

Yun Yan: "That's far too late."

Yin Song: "What can I do? I only have one servant, and he's not much of a cook—he went out with me today. When he returned, I had to cook from scratch. Alas, Daoist Priests live in poverty—we're not like your wealthy Brocade Uniform Guards."

Yun Yan merely listened—he didn't believe a word.

Yun Yan calculated the time spent searching, stepped past them, and touched the sides of bowls and plates—he felt faint warmth, then withdrew. "The food is still warm. We won't disturb your meal."

Yun Yan turned and left; the Brocade Uniform Guards finally departed for good.

Pan Yun exhaled. Tao Yan Bai patted his chest. "Thank goodness I worried the food would cool—I placed it on the lid of the pot, with hot water simmering underneath. The steam kept it warm."

Yin Song praised him: "Well done."

He lifted his robe and sat at the table, picking up chopsticks. "Eat quickly—otherwise it'll truly grow cold."

The others sat down again.

Hong Yan, who had been crouching by the door like a lucky charm beside Pan Xiaohei, instantly transformed into human form—her unchangeable tail swayed behind her. "I want to eat too."

Everyone immediately made room for her—someone poured rice, someone brought a stool.

Pan Yun exhaled and asked Yin Song: "They can't touch us now, right?"

"But the Brocade Uniform Guards can confirm Hu Jing was here."

Pan Yun remained optimistic. "It's fine—once Hu Jing is caught outside, this whole matter will be settled."

Everyone: …

They took it as mere venting—but at this moment, Hu Jing's departure from Yin Zhai was indeed safer.

After dinner, Yin Song warned: "Be careful in your movements these next two days—the Brocade Uniform Guards will surely watch you."

He turned to Wang Cong: "Especially you—don't contact anyone for the next two days."

Wang Cong agreed.

Pan Yun sipped warm tea, leisurely saying: "Carry on as usual—it'll pass in a couple days. Cong'er, since you can't go out, list for me the quantities of grain, cloth, and copper coins available across both regions—I need them."

Wang Cong replied.

Everything was in his space—he could calculate the total.

For items to be sold, he calculated at his lowest possible price, then converted them into grain and cloth. The list was ready. Yin Song also patted his body and pulled out a stack of paper. "These are figures I quietly obtained from the Ministry of Revenue—use them as reference."

Wang Cong opened it, glanced once, and was startled: "So many refugees have fled from Runing Prefecture?"

Yin Song sighed: "These are the figures reported by Henan and Runing Prefecture—local officials always whitewash the truth. The real situation is worse. I've heard even mulberry bark has been stripped bare in Runing. Prepare more grain."

"Those still alive now have survived winter—they may not freeze to death, but they may starve."

Wang Cong pondered: "I understand. For them, I'll prioritize grain and copper coins. I know a few merchant caravans—small, but loyal. I can ask them to transport grain to Runing."

Pan Yun: "The relief grain must be distributed by trustworthy people."

Yin Song: "The magistrates of Zhengyang and Xincai counties are upright and meticulous. Directly entrust them with the grain for these disaster-stricken people—they'll handle it well."

"The magistrate of Xiping is capable. While the entire Runing Prefecture suffered drought, Xiping's drought was even worse—there are even rumors of locusts. But I've heard his county is best-managed: local gentry voluntarily reduced rents and donated grain and money. Though he doesn't deprive himself—he keeps three parts out of ten—he gets seven parts done with five. If you can get past your moral qualms, entrust Xiping's relief to him."

Pan Yun: "Give it to him."

She raised her brows and smiled: "What moral barrier do I have? I'm just paying him to do a job. For relief, I care only about results."

Yin Song nodded slightly, then added: "For the other counties, entrust relief efforts to your own contacts. If you can enlist respected figures, ally with local gentry—use three parts grain to achieve ten parts effect."

!. Read

Pan Yun: "Will they agree? What if they use this as a bridge to seize people's homes and land?"

Yin Song couldn't help laughing: "Little sister, you understand them well—but you've forgotten—they're still human. Humans have humanity."

"If you don't want the Brocade Uniform Guards to trace you and Cong'er, stir up the chaos—make it as hot as possible. When the water is muddy enough, you two will be hidden within it."

Wang Cong understood instantly: "Master, you mean to drag the Daoist Priests of Runing Prefecture into this too?"

Yin Song glanced at him and said, "Why be so stuck on it? Whether monks or Taoists, or other sects of the Wu Lin—if we can pull one in, we pull one in. The jianghu has already been stirred up over the matter of the Japanese pirates' treasure map, so since that's the case, let's make it even livelier."

Pan Yun and Wang Cong both widened their eyes and couldn't help but give a thumbs-up. "Second Senior Brother, you're the impressive one—gutsy enough."

Yin Song made a stroking-beard gesture, looking immensely pleased with himself. "I'm a few years older than you, but I didn't grow older for nothing."

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Then should we write a Wu Lin invitation?"

Yin Qingjun frowned and raised a practical question: "With so many sects, who's going to coordinate them? Are we supposed to write back and tell First Senior Uncle?"

Everyone present, including Yin Song, shivered and refused in unison.

Yin Song frowned in thought. "Write anonymous invitations, then hire storytellers to spread the word far and wide and stir things up. Whether gentry or jianghu sects, they all care deeply about their reputation—they won't be able to resist joining."

Pan Yun: "It could work, but wouldn't it be too slow? I know a few people from the Wu Lin Alliance—I could ask them to write the invitations for me, and use the Wu Lin Alliance's name to whip up a frenzy."

Yin Song was surprised. "You're that capable—you know the upper echelons of the Wu Lin Alliance? But if you show up in person, won't you expose yourself?"

"It's fine," Pan Yun insisted. "They don't know me—I won't expose myself."

Yin Song frowned. "If they don't know you, why would they write invitations for you? Lend you the Wu Lin Alliance's reputation to use?"

Pan Yun: "I have my own ways."

Yin Song: "You… you're not planning to threaten them with your fists, are you? Who are those few people? Those Wu Lin Alliance fellows are very protective of their own—don't let it slip out of your control."

Pan Yun said confidently, "No, they're just ordinary members of the Wu Lin Alliance."

"How would ordinary members have the qualifications to issue invitations?"

Pan Yun shook her head confidently and said, "Men, when they're out and about, their identities are whatever they say they are. I say they're upper echelons of the Wu Lin Alliance—who would dare say they aren't?"

Yin Song: …

Wang Cong: "…Little Martial Aunt, isn't that them giving it to themselves—it's you giving it to them, isn't it?"

Pan Yun waved her hand and said, "Same meaning. What's the difference between me saying they're 【upper echelons】 and them saying they're 【upper echelons】? Identities can all be arranged by oneself."

Yin Song was at a loss for words and could only offer one reminder: "If something goes wrong, don't mention Mount Sanqing's name. Our Sanqing Temple has few people—we can't fight that many from the Wu Lin Alliance."

Pan Yun: "When I'm out and about, I always throw around the prestige of Long Hushan."

Yin Song let out a breath. "That's good, then, that's good."

Yin Song felt immensely grateful. When First Senior Brother had originally sent Pan Yun to Long Hushan's Academy to study, it turned out her claiming the Long Hushan name was truly no mistake.

Spring plowing was imminent, and this matter truly couldn't be delayed. That very evening, Wang Cong worked through the night taking inventory and doing calculations.

For this, Yin Song even added a layer of protection to his room, and Pan Yun even asked Little Red to get on the roof and stand guard for him.

As long as anyone approached, Little Red could tell him inside the room.

Little Red gladly agreed.

(End of chapter)