Chapter 475: The News from Jingcheng

Zhang Ziming said indifferently: "We monks are used to eating under the wind and sleeping under the dew; now our lives are better, we even have carriages to ride in, so we have no problems at all—it's you who…"

He looked at Pan Yun and the others.

Pan Yun immediately said: "I'm a monk too."

Zhang Ziming smirked: "Aren't you the daughter of an official family? Your senior brother dotes on you—he even sent his own son to escort you on your cultivation journey. How could you have suffered?"

Wang Cong: …

Pan Yun's eyes darted: "That sounds a bit sour—and a bit like you're trying to sow discord."

"No, you're imagining things."

An Chen reminded: "Everyone, get on board—we need to keep moving."

The group turned to board their respective carriages.

Zhang Ziming reached out and grabbed Pan Yun's arm: "Ride with us—it's safer."

Pan Yun: "No way. I have to protect my junior disciples."

"Aren't you the greatest danger? Keep away from them, and they'll be safe."

Pan Yun: "No way. Demons are clever too—what if they find out they're my kin and use them to threaten me?"

Zhang Ziming: "I have fresh news from Jingcheng. Your father has returned to the capital."

Pan Yun instantly turned around: "Senior Brother Ziming, we haven't seen each other since winter break—I've missed you so much. Let's ride together and catch up."

Zhang Ziming smiled and took her hand, nodding: "Of course, of course."

Li Wenying: …

Wang Cong and the others, however, were unfazed—they calmly turned and returned to their own carriage.

Zhang Ziming couldn't help glancing back at them—had Wang Cong really just let Pan Yun ride with them?

Pan Yun climbed into the carriage herself, then reached out to Zhang Ziming: "Senior Brother Ziming, let me pull you up."

Zhang Ziming snapped back to himself, took her hand: "Thank you, Senior Sister Pan."

Li Wenying shuddered, slapped away Pan Yun's hand, and stepped into the carriage in one motion.

The three sat inside the carriage, each occupying one corner.

Pan Yun's gaze slid past Li Wenying and fixed intently on Zhang Ziming: "Senior Brother Ziming, how do you have such good connections in Long Hushan?"

Zhang Ziming: "I don't know the deep secrets, but I can still hear some general rumors and minor gossip."

Li Wenying picked up the teapot to pour himself tea, but before he could lift the cup, Pan Yun snatched it and offered it to Zhang Ziming: "Senior Brother Ziming, please speak."

Li Wenying: …

He fell silent, then quietly pulled out another teacup and poured himself some tea.

Zhang Ziming sipped contentedly and asked: "What news do you want to know?"

"I want to know everything," Pan Yun said. "Since you know I'm Pan Hong's daughter, you must have some case-related information, right?"

Zhang Ziming lightly tapped his teacup, paused, then said: "Wang Wen of the Censorate accused the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Fujian and the Prefect of Quanzhou of colluding with sea pirates to smuggle private goods and plunder state and public wealth; he also accused the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Jiangxi and the prefects of various prefectures of conspiring with local gentry to illegally open silver mines and embezzle state assets."

Pan Yun felt a complex mix inside and asked: "Did he submit evidence?"

Zhang Ziming smiled at her: "No evidence. Censors report based on hearsay. Wang Wen is Left Grand Censor of the Censorate—he has the right to impeach even on rumor alone. Besides, the matters he reported aren't just rumors."

Pan Yun frowned slightly: "Isn't the Prefect of Quanzhou one of Wang Zhen's men?"

Li Wenying interjected: "In this world, false becomes true and true becomes false—mixing truth and lies makes it seem more real. Do you think everyone Wang Wen named is guilty? Do you think those he didn't mention are completely innocent?" Pan Yun fell silent.

"Oh come on, you're upset," Zhang Ziming poured her tea and laughed. "Don't be angry. Honestly, this has nothing to do with us—we're just here to watch the show."

Pan Yun frowned: "We're commoners too—this affects the people directly…"

"So what if it affects them? Do commoners have any voice?" Zhang Ziming cut her off. "When you're powerless, let go. Don't dwell on it—otherwise, the more powerless you feel, the more furious you become, and your nature twists."

Pan Yun thought his words made sense—yet somehow didn't. "But it still involves my father."

"Wrong, wrong, wrong—he's not your father anymore," Zhang Ziming wagged his finger. "You've entered the First Marquis rank, endured the Lei Jie, and once died. Your ties to your family have weakened. You don't need to worry so much about their fortunes or misfortunes."

Pan Yun pondered, then nodded firmly: "Senior Brother Ziming, I think you're right!"

Zhang Ziming's eyes lit up: "See? Then you—"

"Then change your surname to Pan," Pan Yun grabbed his hand. "You're already a First Marquis—why cling to Zhang family in Long Hushan?"

"The Zhang family has too many talents. If you stay with them, no one will notice you. Change your surname to Pan, and become my disciple under Master Pan Gong of Mount Sanqing. We're few in number—resources and Dao insight are far easier to come by than in Long Hushan…"

"Puh…" Li Wenying spat out his tea, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and burst into laughter.

!. Read

Zhang Ziming calmly withdrew his hand and said to Pan Yun: "Enough. I've told you everything you wanted to know."

Pan Yun finally let go: "So Wang Wen only submitted an impeachment—no evidence?"

"How would I know? I haven't heard of any evidence. But the Emperor is furious—he's ordered the Three Departments, the Northern Security Bureau, and the Eastern Depot to investigate jointly. That's why Wang Zhen was released from the Imperial Prison."

Just as I thought!

Pan Yun thought: Those people finally angered the young Emperor—he's wielding Wang Zhen like a blade again, ready to slash back.

"Wang Zhen's out—what about my father?"

"Your father?" Zhang Ziming said. "As soon as he was brought back to Jingcheng, he was thrown into the Imperial Prison. By the way, Xue Xuan was imprisoned with him."

Pan Yun's eyes widened: "Xue Xuan is in Jingcheng too?"

Zhang Ziming smiled at her: "He arrived right after your father. Isn't that a coincidence?"

Pan Yun: … Not at all.

"By the way, what about my two brothers?"

Zhang Ziming spread his hands: "I read official gazettes and gossip sheets—not a spy from Qianxi Lou. I know your father returned because he's a named figure in this case against Wang Zhen. Who's going to care about your two brothers?"

Pan Yun gave him a scornful glance. "Pathetic. As head of the Ten Hua Academy of Long Hushan, you can't even match a tiny Qianxi Lou."

Zhang Ziming was furious: "You! I've done you a favor and fed you all this info—only to have it spit back at me like donkey's liver!"

Pan Yun whipped open the curtain, didn't get out of the carriage, didn't stop it, and simply kicked off—flying straight back to her own carriage.

An Chen watched her leap into the air like a pigeon, then zip instantly into another carriage, and couldn't help silently praising: Such exquisite lightness skill.

Pan Yun slipped into the carriage.

Wang Cong and the others were shelling peanuts, a pile of shells on the table; she plopped down beside Miaohe and stared at Wang Cong across from her: "My father and brother have returned to Jingcheng."

Wang Cong: "I won't go to Jingcheng. Before we set out, my master warned me—I must stay by your side, never leave your side."

He paused, then said: "Little Master Shu, Jingcheng is now a storm of turmoil. The Emperor sent you away to protect you—let's accept his goodwill."

Pan Yun mused: "The Emperor's greatest flaw is his attachment to emotion; his greatest strength is also his attachment to emotion. I've met him only once, yet he shows an unusual leniency toward anyone he's known or seen—I wonder if Xue Shao has noticed this."

Wang Cong: "What?"

(End of Chapter)