Chapter 448: Zhao Yu

Zhu Qizhen's expression turned solemn. "Who is the daughter of this criminal minister?"

Wang Zhen replied: "She is the daughter of the former Censor Pan Hong."

"Pan Hong?"

Wang Zhen: "He was a confederate of Xue Xuan, aiding him in accepting bribes and fabricating wrongful cases."

Zhu Qizhen's mind suddenly flashed back to Pan Yun's earlier words: "I have a grudge against Wang Zhen."

He had thought then that she was merely joking, speaking from the perspective of an ordinary commoner with prejudice against a legendary powerful eunuch.

He never imagined it was truly true!

Zhu Qizhen's mouth opened slightly, words half-formed.

Cao Jixiang was also in the hall; seeing this, he gathered courage and stepped forward: "Your Majesty, the Xia Guanzheng of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, Yin Song, requests an audience and has been waiting outside for half an hour."

Wang Zhen's gaze swept coldly toward Cao Jixiang.

Cao Jixiang lowered his head, pretending not to see.

Zhu Qizhen also masked his expression, revealing nothing of his thoughts. "Let him in."

Outside the hall, Yin Song heard the call and finally swept away the tea that had just dripped, then lowered his eyes and entered the hall.

Before crossing the threshold, he paused deliberately, lifting his right foot first.

That morning, he had divined: right is auspicious.

Yin Song walked to the center of the hall, head bowed, and calmly lifted his robe to kneel and bow. "Your Majesty, I come to plead guilty."

Zhu Qizhen: …

Today's ministers are all so direct—he liked it!

Zhu Qizhen leaned forward slightly. "What crime has Yin Qing committed?"

Yin Song said: "I come to plead guilty on behalf of my junior sister, Pan Yun. She is in fact the daughter of the criminal minister Pan Hong. She has committed the crime of deceiving the Emperor."

Zhu Qizhen & Wang Zhen & Prince of Qian: She really is Pan Hong's daughter—we thought Wang Zhen (I) had wronged her.

Prince of Qian frowned, looking at Yin Song with a mixture of frustration and disappointment.

Wang Zhen, triumphant, declared loudly: "Your Majesty, see? I was right—Pan Yun is indeed Pan Hong's daughter. She approached you with ulterior motives, her intentions sinister…"

"She did approach Your Majesty with ulterior motives," Yin Song said, looking regretful. "My junior sister has studied the Dao for only a short time, yet her talent is extraordinary. Even as a child, she showed great aptitude in divination. She foresaw Your Majesty would leave the palace, so she wandered aimlessly through streets and alleys—yet somehow, she actually met Your Majesty."

Zhu Qizhen looked skeptical. "Didn't you help her?"

Yin Song shook his head directly, his expression grave. "I did not know her identity beforehand, nor her intentions—how could I have helped?"

Zhu Qizhen merely smiled, neither confirming nor denying his belief.

Seeing this, Yin Song hurried to explain: "My junior sister was lost outside the sect. She happened to be encountered by my third senior brother and fourth senior sister, who brought her back to Huishan for quiet cultivation."

"She claimed her family had sold her into servitude, and she had already repaid her debt of life and nurture. To us cultivators, once one enters the Dao, these worldly matters are severed. We never imagined she was the daughter of a criminal minister."

Wang Zhen snapped: "If she deceived the Dao Master, why hasn't the Sanqing Temple expelled her?"

Yin Song smiled. "She lied, she's disobedient, she's mischievous and troublesome—truly annoying. But since she entered the Sanqing Temple, she is Sanqing Temple's. If she caused trouble, we may be angry, but we must still bear the consequences. I beg Your Majesty to punish the Sanqing Temple for our failure to detect her true identity."

Wang Zhen: "Such a grave matter—and your Sanqing Temple only bears the charge of 'failure to detect'?"

Zhu Qizhen stopped the agitated Wang Zhen. "Wang Banban, Pan Yun outmaneuvered us through deliberate deception. Consider: three years ago, she was only eight. Who could have imagined an eight-year-old child could weave such a grand lie? The Sanqing Temple's decision to shelter her is understandable."

Yin Song immediately kowtowed: "Thank Your Majesty for your mercy." Wang Zhen couldn't help whispering a warning: "Your Majesty, this is the crime of deceiving the Emperor."

Yin Song: "Your Majesty, I only learned of her identity last night. She said she came to the capital to petition the throne directly—her father was truly wronged. She begs Your Majesty to re-investigate the Pan Hong confederacy case and restore Pan Hong's honor."

"Audacious! Your Majesty has already shown mercy by not punishing the Sanqing Temple for harboring a criminal—you dare press further?!"

Zhu Qizhen frowned.

Prince of Qian immediately bowed and said: "Your Majesty, Mu Lin is still waiting in Yunnan for Daoist Pan. I beg Your Majesty to pardon Daoist Pan and let her redeem herself through service."

Yin Song's eyebrows twitched—he had no idea how Pan Yun had become entangled with the Mu family of Yunnan.

He knew Mu Xi—he had been the one to rescue him. But at the time, the corpse worms had already entered his body, and he was powerless, forced to hand him over to the imperial physicians.

What use could Pan Yun's third-rate medical skills possibly be?

But if not through medical skill…

Yin Song's brow twitched—he suspected Pan Yun had used talismans.

Why can't these children ever give a full, detailed account of their trials?

While he was lost in thought, Wang Zhen and Prince of Qian had already exchanged two rounds of arguments—neither gained advantage, because the Emperor remained silent.

!. Read

Zhu Qizhen lowered his eyes. "This matter is serious. Can Pan Yun truly alleviate Mu Xi's illness?"

Prince of Qian immediately replied: "In Mu Lin's letter, he said he encountered Pan Yun on his southern journey and received a talisman from her. Mu Xi's condition has eased somewhat thanks to those talismans. Your Majesty, the corpse worms gnawing at the five viscera and six bowels cause unbearable agony—please show mercy."

Zhu Qizhen said: "Send someone to bring Pan Yun here—I will question her myself!"

Yun Chenzi personally led the Northern Garrison Command's men to Yin Zhai to apprehend her.

Pan Yun had just finished packing two baskets of buns and steamed bread into her Spirit Realm, holding a scalding-hot steamed bun, tearing into it, when Yun Chenzi arrived.

Pan Yun followed him.

On the way, Yun Chenzi glanced at her several times. Seeing she showed no fear, he asked: "You expected this?"

Pan Yun: "The Southern Garrison Command made so much noise, as if trying to make sure I knew—how could I not be prepared?"

Yun Chenzi: "You say these things to my face—don't you fear I'll report them to the Emperor?"

"I never deceive the Emperor. There is only the difference between speaking and not speaking." Meaning: since she said this, she had no intention of hiding anything.

Yun Chenzi snorted. "So now I'm your messenger."

Pan Yun smiled. As they walked, she noticed something was off. She looked left and right. "Aren't we supposed to meet the Emperor? This route doesn't look right."

"This is the way to the Zhao Yu. You'll wait inside for now."

Pan Yun asked: "Are we going to learn court etiquette inside?"

Yun Yan glanced at her and let out a cold laugh.

Pan Yun nodded slightly: "I understand. The Emperor is trying to intimidate me, and he must think carefully about whether to see me at all—because if he sees me, he must face my questions and respond. Will the old injustice be reopened, or will he stubbornly persist in the wrongful conviction?"

"Audacious!" Yun Yan's face darkened; he drew his blade and pressed it against her throat. "You show no respect for your sovereign. If you dare mock Your Majesty again, I will kill you."

Pan Yun smiled faintly at him, pressing her fingertip against the blade and gently pushing it away. "My lord's reprimand is just. This Daoist remembers."

Yun Yan saw her push the blade without leaving a mark on her fingertip—his heart quickened.

(End of Chapter)