Chapter 453

He sized her up, frowned, waved his hand in front of his nose, and sneered, "Your stench of black dog blood is overwhelming—how rich are you?"

"What can I do? I only have black dog blood for exorcism, no other blood. Second Brother, could you get me some other blood? I think I'll need blood again soon—alas, it all happened so fast, I forgot to prepare blood packs."

Yin Song frowned but nodded in agreement. "I'll find a way to get it to you."

"Leave it to Xiao Hei. It can come and go freely."

Yin Song: "You dare let it in?"

Pan Yun smiled sweetly at him.

Yin Song sharply tapped her forehead, then picked up the basket and left.

Just before leaving, he handed the basket over to the jailers, asking them to look after Pan Yun: "If my junior sister angers you, punish her by withholding food and drink—starve her for a few meals and she'll behave. But absolutely no physical punishment."

He sighed. "This child is naturally stubborn—she grows tougher the more she's beaten. Beating won't work; you must use soft methods—like hunger. No one in this world can endure hunger."

The jailers stared at Yin Song in surprise. "Does Master Yin hold a grudge against his junior sister?"

"No," Yin Song denied quickly. "Absolutely not. Please don't misunderstand—we're brother and sister in perfect harmony, no discord whatsoever."

The jailers were half-skeptical.

But they still accepted the roasted chicken Yin Song had given them.

Yin Song left quickly and went straight to the Emperor to report.

The incident of the demonic cat in the Imperial Prison had been suppressed; only the Northern Peace Office and the Bureau of Celestial Observations knew—oh, and Grand Eunuch Wang Zhen had found out too.

But no one dared inform the Grand Secretariat—yet, did the Grand Secretariat actually know?

Yin Song bet ten taels of silver that they knew, and one copper coin that they'd stay silent and pretend ignorance.

"So there truly is a demonic cat?" The Emperor set down his teacup, frowning. "How dare a demon approach the palace? Could it be…"

Yin Song smiled to soothe the Emperor. "Your Majesty, black cats are also called Xuan Cats—they signify good fortune and ward off evil. A black cat capable of cultivation is even more auspicious. Thus, Xuan Cats have always been permitted to enter and leave the palace walls."

Yin Song spoke calmly, and the Emperor's heart grew calmer as he listened intently.

Yin Song continued: "I personally inspected the Imperial Prison thoroughly. There is no trace of dark evil—only dampness and gloom. Thus, I believe the Xuan Cat merely wandered in by accident, frightened by the bloodstained air inside, and fled in panic."

So it wasn't the demonic cat frightening people—it was people who frightened the demonic cat.

Wang Zhen glanced at Yin Song in surprise. He had even less desire than Yin Song for rumors of demons in the Imperial Prison to spread, so he bowed deeply as well: "Your Majesty, it seems the Northern Peace Office overreacted. As Master Yin said, the Xuan Cat is an exorcising creature—it's actually an omen of good fortune."

The Imperial Prison is under the Emperor's direct control; those imprisoned there are either officials of Third rank or higher, or suspects in major, grave cases.

If rumors of dark evil emerged, whose fault would it be?

Thus, upon receiving Yin Song's definitive assurance that the demonic cat had left the prison and that the prison itself was not the cause of its appearance, the Emperor immediately closed the case.

The Emperor exhaled in relief.

Wang Zhen exhaled in relief.

Yin Song exhaled in relief.

The three guilty men believed the matter was over—but the Grand Secretariat did not.

The Grand Secretariat felt no guilt whatsoever.

The spring examination had ended; it was time to post the results.

Xue Shao received word the moment he exited the examination hall: Pan Yun had been imprisoned in the Imperial Prison. He endured two days, then finally waited for the results to be posted.

This time, he and Xi Jin surged to the front, scanning from the top down—and his name was the very first thing he saw.

Xi Jin shoved aside the crowd's arms, saw it too, and cried out in delight: "Master, you're the Metropolitan Top Scorer! You're the Metropolitan Top Scorer!"

Xue Shao's eyes filled with tears. "Good, good, good!"

Other examinees crowding to see the list turned at the cry of "Metropolitan Top Scorer." "So young? Who is he?"

"Xue Shao! Don't you know? The Hedong Provincial Top Scorer!"

"A northern man won the Metropolitan Top Scorer this time?"

Xue Shao paid no further attention to their chatter. He grabbed Xi Jin and left.

The crowd instinctively parted for him. Halfway through, someone finally remembered to bow: "Congratulations, Young Master Xue, on your triumph as Metropolitan Top Scorer."

Xue Shao bowed in return as he hurried away.

The examinees couldn't help turning back to watch. "He looked joyful—but why didn't he stay to socialize? Why leave so abruptly?"

"A young genius—he'd never deign to chat with the likes of us."

"Xue Brother isn't like that," someone said. "He's calm and kind—he must have urgent business."

The speaker was the examinee whose ankle had been trampled earlier.

Those beside him nodded in agreement, speaking up in Xue Shao's defense.

Xue Shao hurried to Bai Yun Temple.

Yin Zhai was under surveillance, but Bai Yun Temple was not—and with so many people there, it was easier to slip in and contact Wang Cong and the others. Xi Jin chased after him, looking crestfallen. "Master, you did so well—Provincial Top Scorer, Metropolitan Top Scorer—if you took the Palace Top Scorer too, you'd be a Triple First-Rank Scholar!"

Xue Shao strode quickly, lifting his robe: "Extreme success invites reversal. Triple First-Rank Scholars either fade into obscurity or meet tragic ends. The last Triple First-Rank Scholar in our dynasty was even greater—he won all six top ranks. Do you know what happened to him?"

Xi Jin trotted after him, curious. "What happened?"

"He drowned himself. His wife and daughter died too."

Xi Jin fell silent immediately.

Xue Shao sprinted to Bai Yun Temple, straightened his robes at the gate, turned to Xi Jin, and smiled: "Don't regret it. Passing as Metropolitan Top Scorer was already unexpected joy. We don't even hope for future glory—let the状元 go to someone with greater ambition."

Xue Shao pushed open the door and walked familiar paths to find Wang Cong and the others.

Though Wang Cong and the others were at Bai Yun Temple, their information was sharp—thanks to Xiao Hong, their great treasure.

With her, as long as they didn't charge into the palace or temples, she could roam freely through Jingcheng.

Pan Yun's news was mostly carried back and forth by her.

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Wang Zhen Sect had many men watching Yin Zhai; even the Emperor wanted to know if Pan Yun had a mastermind behind her, so he'd sent men too.

Xue Shao asked, "Has Your Majesty still not seen Master Sanzhu?"

Wang Cong said, "He hasn't. But the relief grain sent to Runing Prefecture and Quanzhou has arrived, and the news has gradually reached Jingcheng. My master says the Emperor is currently discussing with the Grand Secretariat about sending General Wang Ji to patrol the borders of Gansu and Ningxia."

Xue Shao looked puzzled. "How does this relate to Master Sanzhu being imprisoned? Didn't you cover it up so no one knows it was your doing?"

"Of course it's related," Wang Cong said solemnly. "The world doesn't know—but Heaven knows."

Xue Shao raised an eyebrow. "Merit?"

In areas of Runing Prefecture and its surroundings, unseen by them, groups of refugees carried half-sacks of grain and copper coins, hurrying toward their hometowns.

When they grew tired and rested, they would grab a handful of grain from their sacks, cook it, then kneel toward the north and bow their heads in sincere prayer: "Great Compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva, all gods and Buddhas, please bless our benefactor with all good fortune and a hundred-year life."

Other refugees did the same—even children held in their arms were lifted by adults to bow three times toward the north.

They did not know who their benefactor was, but they knew the grain had come from the north.

The merchant caravans distributing the grain said it came from San Bao Ding, but the person who placed the order seemed to be from Jingcheng.

Many said it was the good people of the Wu Lin Alliance who did it, but the common folk had their own feelings and perceptions—they felt it was not.

Still, they were deeply grateful to the Wu Lin Alliance; after thanking their benefactor, they would also thank the Wu Lin Alliance. But when educating their children, they still said, "Work hard in your studies, become an official in the future, and be as good as our benefactor—never join the Wu Lin Alliance as a thug."

In the fields, those who had returned to their land weeded and plowed while praying for a bountiful harvest—and also prayed that Heaven would protect their benefactor.

In Quanzhou.

Countless people driven inland received relief grain; they would now survive the lean months of March and April, and make it through the year.

Many, while eating or chatting, silently or aloud thanked this benefactor.

They did not know exactly who their benefactor was—but Heaven knew.

Countless beams of merit-golden light flew northward; some landed on Mount Sanqing, most flew toward the capital and settled upon a prison.

So great was the merit that Zhang Zijin, who had been quietly cultivating, could not help but climb onto his rooftop and gaze toward the Imperial Prison.

Zhang Zijin muttered, "This child really knows how to give me trouble."

Yin Song also climbed onto his own rooftop. He took one look, then slid down smoothly, and began pacing in circles. "Strange. It's just doing good deeds—why so much merit? As if all merit belonged to her alone."

Yin Song nearly bit his finger. "That shouldn't be possible. Even if one person gains a little, it should be divided among dozens—the distributors, the transporters, the buyers, even the farmers who grew the grain. Heaven's law ensures everyone gets a share. How could so much accumulate?"

As if Pan Yun alone claimed all the merit of these good deeds.

"So obvious—who could possibly hide it?" Yin Song's fingers dug into his palms. "The Grand Secretariat certainly won't believe it. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau… forget it. Outsiders always half-doubt us. Everyone's discreet—no one would blab. But… what about demons and spirits?"

Yin Song crouched anxiously on the ground. "Will my little sister end up as Tang Sengrou?"

No—

And the Imperial Prison is connected to the palace. That person inside…

Yin Song muttered to himself. "Should I call my senior brother now? Will he beat me? The matter's serious, but not that serious. When will the Emperor finally summon my little sister? If she stays in the Imperial Prison much longer, she'll be fine—but I'll go mad!"

At this moment, Xue Shao stood on the third floor of a tavern, facing the direction of the Imperial Prison, unable to suppress a faint laugh. "Luck really has turned for the better."

"Young Master, what are you muttering about? Tomorrow is the palace examination—don't drink anymore. Go rest."

Xue Shao shook his head slightly. "The palace examination tomorrow means little to me. I don't expect to rank well. I'd rather meet with a few Young Masters."

Good night

(End of Chapter)