Chapter 451: Angry to Death

Pan Yun drew the final stroke, then turned to face Wang Zhen. "But my father—he may speak softly, yet his bones are the hardest."

"The Pan family upholds pure morals; we never tolerate traitors. Unfortunately, I love my parents and elder brother—I was born a Pan, and I will die a Pan." Pan Yun smiled lightly at him. "So I can only uphold our family's ways—and refuse to become a traitor."

Wang Zhen's face darkened. He waved his hand. "Then let the girl experience your methods."

Pan Yun voluntarily placed her hands on the rack, leaned back against the pillar, and smiled faintly at them. "Go ahead."

Several men rushed forward, binding her hands and feet, securing her to the rack.

Pan Xiaohei crept silently through the shadows, half his cat's head peering through the bars. Meeting Pan Yun's gaze, he opened his mouth soundlessly, two sharp fangs aimed at Wang Zhen's throat.

Pan Yun's gaze also slid over Wang Zhen's neck. Killing him would truly be easy—but the cost would be great.

Leaving aside whether she could escape, her father and brother, the entire Pan family, even the Three Pure Observatories, would all be implicated.

To kill a rat and shatter a jade vase? Pan Yun sneered. Wang Zhen wasn't even worth it.

She lifted her chin and said to Wang Zhen: "Will my lord Wang Zhangyin handle this himself?"

Wang Zhen's anger surged. In the past two years, few had made him this furious—after all, even Yang Shiqi avoided his sharp tongue. Now, a child of eleven had defied him repeatedly.

Wang Zhen strode forward, snatched the whip from the jailer's hand, and lashed it at Pan Yun.

The spiked whip struck Pan Yun's body, tearing her clothes. When it whipped back, the spikes tore out chunks of flesh. Crack—crack—crack—the blood immediately soaked through her garments, yet Pan Yun made no sound.

Seeing this, Wang Zhen grew even angrier. He whipped her wildly—ten, fifteen lashes—until he was gasping for breath and stopped.

Pan Yun lowered her head. When the whipping ceased, she lifted it again, gazing at Wang Zhen, then smiled. "Is that all? Your strength is… pitifully weak."

The jailers and eunuchs stared at Pan Yun in shock.

Pan Yun kept her eyes fixed on Wang Zhen, shaking her head with a sigh. "My lord Wang Zhangyin, you're doing this wrong. Your methods are terrible."

Wang Zhen's face turned black. He hurled the whip to the ground and pointed at Pan Yun, snarling: "Beat her! Use every punishment you have! Whoever makes her sign and seal her confession—I'll reward them handsomely!"

But no one answered.

Wang Zhen whirled on the jailer, glaring at him threateningly. "Hm?"

The jailer broke into cold sweat. He hadn't expected Pan Yun to be this stubborn—beaten this badly and still silent.

He'd thought she was just a girl, easy to break. But now…

He dropped to his knees with a thud. "My lord, she is, after all, an imperial prisoner. Some injuries are acceptable—but if she's crippled or dead—"

"How many prisoners are crippled or dead in the Imperial Prison each year? One more won't matter," Wang Zhen said coldly. "Besides, I'll bear all responsibility. You need only carry out your duties."

"Yes, yes…" The jailer hurriedly agreed, rising from the ground.

Pan Yun sneered, spat out a mouthful of blood. "That's only good enough to fool fools like you. Wang Zhen—I bet you dare not let me be crippled or dead before the Emperor."

Wang Zhen stared straight at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun met his gaze without flinching.

Wang Zhen clenched his teeth but showed no fear before her. He turned directly to the kneeling jailer. "Use the harshest punishments!"

The jailer nodded quickly—but he wasn't a fool. Anyone who'd lasted this long in the Imperial Prison knew how to hear three meanings in one sentence. He clearly sensed the hesitation in Wang Zhen's tone.

So as soon as Wang Zhen left, he searched through the torture tools, then finally picked up the least harmful whip and approached. "Girl, why fight my lord Wang Zhangyin? Confess now. Name who ordered you."

Pan Yun: "No more talk. Get on with it."

Seeing her still so defiant, the jailer said nothing more and began to lash her—crack—crack.

They took turns beating her. Pan Yun, hanging from the rack, grew tired of staying still. While they switched, she moved her hand slightly—and her whole body swayed.

One jailer turned sharply, saw only Pan Yun swaying slightly, then lowering her head again, hanging motionless.

After hours of beating, she was drenched in blood—but except for her slightly lowered head, she looked nearly unchanged from before the torture.

He frowned slightly. Is this girl really this stubborn?

Even a strong man, beaten this many times, would be half-dead.

Yet her face still looked so flushed.

Pan Yun, who had passed through the pillar and was now shaking her wrist to ease the ache, leaned out from behind to glance at her own face. She shook her head in dissatisfaction: 【This illusion rune isn't convincing enough—my complexion hasn't turned pale.】

Pan Xiaohei sat between the bars, licking his paw. 【Whose fault is it? Your poor training.】

!

【It's not poor training,】 Pan Yun argued internally. 【It's the materials. Damn, I had no time—only my blood was available.】

Pan Xiaohei: 【Why not use more blood? You only used a few strands—I've seen several runes fading. Keep beating her like this, the illusion rune will break.】

【No way. My blood is precious. Every drop hurts. For these few runes, I already drew three drops.】

Pan Xiaohei's face remained expressionless. 【That's a lot.】

【Isn't it? Luckily, I had an old invisibility rune on me—even if its effect is weak and short-lived.】 Pan Yun waved to him. 【Come in quickly. I've erased part of the recording rune. Take it to the young Emperor.】

Pan Xiaohei didn't move. 【I'm black, but that doesn't mean they can't see me. Send it out.】

Pan Yun glanced at the jailers' positions. Seeing them finally pick up the whips again and approach to beat "her," she carefully slipped away from them, creeping toward Pan Xiaohei.

Pan Yun slipped the recording rune into a pouch and hung it around his neck. 【Go quickly. I'm waiting for your good news.】

Pan Xiaohei grumbled: 【Your descendants are so chaotic—why even invent a recording rune?】

Pan Yun: 【It's practical! Go now and come back fast!】

【Pray the distance from the Imperial Prison to Kunninggong isn't far—so I can find the Emperor.】

Pan Yun sat down wherever she could, watching the jailers torture "her." 【If you don't find him, don't rush back. Come tomorrow. The palace is huge—I'm sure you'll bump into the Emperor.】

Pan Xiaohei ignored her completely, sprinting deep into the palace.

But just as he neared Kunninggong, he slammed into an invisible barrier and flew backward, crashing to the ground with a thump.

Pan Xiaohei let out a startled "Meow!" He scrambled up, about to turn and flee—when a pair of legs appeared before him.

Good night

(End of Chapter)