Chapter 447

Wang Cong looked up. "Master, are you and Little Xiao Shishu about to cause trouble?"

Yin Song glanced at him. "Shut up. Your father still has some face at Bai Yun Temple—you'll be safe there. The Embroidered Uniform Guard won't go near it."

"If I'm fine, stay put in the temple. If I end up in prison too, and I'm not out in five days, go get your senior brother to rescue me."

Seeing Miao Zhen asked: "What about Little Xiao Shishu?"

"Her?" Yin Song glanced at her. "If her identity is exposed, she'll definitely be thrown in prison."

Miao He was unwilling. "Little Xiao Shishu's cultivation is so high—she could easily escape. Why stay and let them catch her?"

Seeing Miao Zhen handed her a steamed bun. "You're silly. Little Xiao Shishu came to Jingcheng specifically to clear her name. How can she clear it without exposing her identity? Either way, she's going into prison—it's just a matter of when."

Pan Yun nodded and reassured them. "Don't worry. I've already prepared. Go hide at Bai Yun Temple first—don't let them sweep us all up at once."

Yin Song glared at her. "Can't you speak properly?"

Pan Yun smiled at him, then turned to Wang Cong. "You're the senior disciple. I'm leaving everything at home in your hands."

Wang Cong agreed, then hesitated. "Little Xiao Shishu, about the grain donation…"

"This can't be known as our doing," Pan Yun said. "We went through so many twists just to distance ourselves, didn't we?"

"But we have so few advantages," Wang Cong said. "Can you really rely on just that one meeting with the Emperor to get it overturned?"

"Who said we only have that one advantage?" Pan Yun raised her palm, a faint smile on her lips. "Our greatest advantage is our own ability—and…"

Pan Yun's eyes gleamed. "Xue Shao will come to plead his case. He wouldn't come without preparation. Xue Xuan letting him come means she's certain of the Emperor's heart."

"The difficulty in this case has never been the evidence—it's the Emperor's will. If he's willing to investigate, it's a wrongful case. If he's not, it remains an ironclad one."

Pan Yun clenched her fist, fingers closed over her palm. "We've already planted a nail in his mind. I bet he'll investigate."

Yin Song nodded gently. "Exactly. So don't worry. The outcome is mostly decided—it's just the path that will be winding. Sending you to Bai Yun Temple is both protection and a way to reduce the twists."

The group finally agreed.

Xiao Hong raised her hand. "What about us? Can Bai Yun Temple accept us too, like your Sanqing Temple?"

Everyone turned to look at the ghost and the fox.

Pan Yun didn't know Bai Yun Temple well, so she looked at Yin Song.

Yin Song's gaze softened. "You two will have to endure some hardship from now on."

In the end, Wang Cong and the other three carried their packs. Seeing Miao Zhen hugged a fiery red fox with a white-tipped tail, clutching a golden hairpin and gazing adorably at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun couldn't resist stepping forward to ruffle its head. "Take good care of them. Don't let those stinking Daoist priests bully them."

Wang Cong muttered: "…We're Daoists too."

Seeing Miao Zhen looked serious. "We're different from them."

Miao He nodded fiercely. "Right, different. Sister Hong Yan, don't be afraid."

Sister Hong Yan wasn't afraid at all—she was even excited.

Because Pan Yun and the others were so kind, she hadn't fought any Daoists in a long time.

After they left, Yin Song finally exhaled. He turned to Pan Yun. "Have you decided?"

Pan Yun nodded. "There's no better chance than this. If we don't act now, we won't know when another will come."

"Even if you're charged with deceiving the Emperor and harboring fugitives?"

Pan Yun's lips curled slightly. "I asked Xue Shao nearly the same question."

"He said he wouldn't regret it—even if stripped of his title and exiled to the remote frontier."

Pan Yun said: "I won't regret it either. I'm younger than him, my cultivation is higher, and I've given up less. I'm a Daoist. I can cultivate anywhere under heaven. If I alone can right all the wrongs, why not?"

Yin Song burst into laughter, saying "Good!" three times. "I'm going to the palace now. Wait for news at home."

Pan Yun smiled and replied, "Yes."

Yin Song led Yin Qingjun into the palace in long strides.

Pan Xiaohei leapt over with a *shoo! * Pan Yun caught it in her arms, face full of distaste.

Pan Xiaohei grumbled: "Only I'm with you. When you're locked up, I'll still be with you. What's there to complain about?"

Pan Yun pinched the back of its neck. "How big can a prison be? You don't have to go in—but inside, you've got a roof. Outside, you'll be exposed to wind and rain."

Pan Xiaohei: "Am I an idiot? I can't find my own place to stay?"

Pan Yun: "I heard the rats in prison are especially plump and delicious…"

Pan Xiaohei shuddered and hissed angrily at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun clucked. "A cat afraid of rats? I'd be ashamed to tell anyone!"

!. Read

"I'm not afraid—I'm disgusted! Disgusted!"

Pan Yun ignored its protests, picked it up, and turned back inside.

To prepare for prison life, Pan Yun rolled up her sleeves and began making steamed buns and mantou, planning to steam extra to take in.

Yin Song was only a sixth-rank official—he couldn't just walk in to see the Emperor whenever he wanted.

He had to report first, then wait patiently.

The Marquis of Qian arrived later but was admitted immediately.

The Marquis of Qian's eyes reddened the moment he saw the Emperor. He rubbed them, and they grew even redder.

Tears fell plop-plop. Zhu Qizhen grew sorrowful and comforted him: "Are you worried about Mu Xi's illness? I've already sent another imperial physician south—Li Taoyi. He's studied rare illnesses."

The Marquis of Qian knelt and thanked the Emperor, then said: "All the imperial physicians are helpless. Even Li Taoyi, having heard of this strange illness from them, would have offered a cure long ago if he had one."

Zhu Qizhen sighed. "Fate is like this…"

"Yes. We no longer dare hope for a cure—only that Xi-brother may pass peacefully. But the corpse worms gnaw his organs—it's unbearable. We've searched everywhere for extraordinary people. Only one person can ease his suffering."

"Oh? Who?"

The Marquis of Qian said: "A Daoist priest named Pan Yun from Mount Sanqing."

Zhu Qizhen's eyes lit up in an instant. "It's her? I recognize her!"

The Duke of Qian, hearing this, immediately dropped to his knees again, cupped his fist, and said, "If that is so, then I beg Your Majesty to issue an order, asking Daoist Master Pan to go to Yunnan to treat Mu Xi. I do not ask for a cure of his wounds and illness, only that Mu Xi suffer a little less…"

Wang Zhen, standing to one side, listened as the veins on his forehead pulsed. He had originally intended to wait until Mu Xi died before exposing Pan Yun's identity. He had never expected that the Duke of Qian would also know Pan Yun.

When had this Pan Yun become entangled with the Mu household?

Does she truly have use for Mu Xi, or is it false, merely a preparation made in advance?

At this moment, Wang Zhen truly began to suspect—could Pan Yun really be Pan Hong's daughter, rather than someone he had framed?

Seeing that the Emperor was about to issue an edict, Wang Zhen could hold back no longer. He stepped forward two paces, leaned close to the Emperor's ear, and said, "This is not appropriate, Your Majesty. This Pan Yun's origins are unknown; we cannot let him get close to Young Master Mu Xi."

Zhu Qizhen frowned slightly. "What do you mean, origins unknown?"

Wang Zhen said, "The Southern Garrison Office investigated this person. She is the daughter of a convicted minister, guilty of deceiving the sovereign, hiding herself among the common folk. How could such a person be allowed to approach Young Master Mu Xi?"

Good night.

(End of this chapter)