Chapter 481: Found

Pan Yu took the money, gripped his hand with tearful gratitude: "Good brother, I'll never forget your kindness. Don't worry—I'll repay you the moment my uncle and little sister send money to Jingcheng."

"No rush," Yu Rui said, eyes glistening with emotion: "Uncle Pan is in dire need of funds right now—use this money first. It's no big deal if you never repay it."

He added: "Wait for me—I've already figured it out. In ten days, my father will receive another sum. He'll surely hide some of it. I'll watch, and steal it for you then."

Pan Yu's tears spilled over as he clenched Yu Rui's hand tightly: "Good brother!"

Yu Rui gripped his hand just as tightly: "Good brother!"

Xue Shao: …

He turned to look at Pan Yue.

Pan Yue stood calmly beside them, arms folded, watching the two brothers bond with deep camaraderie.

Xue Shao felt this was surely Pan Yue's idea.

He rubbed his forehead—somehow, at this moment, he saw Pan Yun's shadow in him.

Siblings, after all, are bound to resemble each other.

Pan Yu took the money from Yu Rui, left, handed it all over to Xue Shao, then went to another house.

Same tearful embrace, same sum of money received. This classmate, Shi Zhi, dared not steal from his father—but gave Pan Yu all his New Year's money, then visited his grandmother, mother, and sister-in-law under pretenses of buying books, ink, paper, and brushes, swindling money from them all and handing it over to Pan Yu.

The two brothers agreed that after Pan Hong's rehabilitation, they'd go hunting outside the city: "I'll bring wine, invite Yu Rui, and we won't stop until we're drunk."

Pan Yu agreed at once.

Next came Pan Yue.

His good friend was older, more mature.

But no matter how old or mature, he was still a youth—eighteen or nineteen, the age of boundless passion—and even more radical than Pan Yu's other classmates.

Not only did they support Pan Yue with money, but solemnly declared: "This is the perfect moment to eliminate Wang Zhen and his ilk. I'll persuade my grandfather and father to publicly support Lord Pan."

No matter how Pan Yue tried to persuade them, they wouldn't listen.

Seeing their motives weren't purely for the Pan family or justice, but to gain fame, Pan Yue stopped urging them—only warned them not to be too reckless, lest Wang Zhen harbor resentment.

"We can act not just from the court, but from the Imperial Academy and the Taixue. The Yue and He cases involve many people—especially the Yue injustice, which claimed so many innocent lives. The students are all stirred."

Xue Shao's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Pan Yue's expression grew faint, his brows twitching too: "I hear Xue Xuan's nephew, Xue Shao, has the talent of a top scholar—but lost the chance at the Triple First due to citing this case in the palace examination, landing only as second-rank Top Graduate."

Pan Yue paused, as if waiting for him to reflect: "Such things can't be repeated. If students get involved again, His Majesty and the Grand Secretariat will grow angry. Better to wait."

The court is now embroiled in debate over this matter—it's entangled in the power struggle between Wang Zhen and the Grand Secretariat. Your father and mine are merely pawns caught in it. If students rashly intervene, they'll only make the situation worse."

The classmate sighed, seeing his timidity: "Pan Yue, exile has broken you—you're no longer as brave as before."

Pan Yue lowered his eyes: "I've simply become more thoughtful than before."

The classmate shook his head: "No—I think you've lost your edge. But your little sister? She's just like you used to be."

Pan Yue stared at him in surprise: "You know my little sister?"

The classmate shook his head: "I've never met her—but I've heard of her for a long time."

He said: "You probably don't know yet—your sister was recently imprisoned in the Imperial Prison, held alongside Wang Zhen. Rumor says she privately petitioned Your Majesty—and even has some connection with him."

Pan Yue didn't know. He gaped.

Though Pan Yu and he had returned with the convoy, they grew exhausted and hungry along the way, lagging behind—arriving in Jingcheng a day and a half after the group.

Upon arrival, they began inquiring about their father's condition, learned he'd been thrown back into the Imperial Prison, and spent their days scraping together living funds while gathering news on the case.

Just as they'd found lodging, they heard the Yue and He cases had been overturned. Before they could rejoice, they learned that while those cases were reversed, their father's and Xue Xuan's remained untouched—and now, separated from the Yue and He cases, their father's rehabilitation seemed even more distant. That's when they tracked down Xue Shao and came to the Shuntian Prefecture to find him.

Pan Yue feared his father's case would be suspended—because… Great Ming had precedent.

In past generations, officials had their cases suspended, left languishing in the Imperial Prison, living worse than death.

Then one day, they might be crushed by snow, suffocated by charcoal smoke…

If that's the fate, better to be exiled to Datong.

He wasn't in court, and had just returned to Jingcheng—he didn't fully understand the case's progress or current state.

But he knew Xue Shao was famous.

Ask anyone, and you'd hear how he aced both provincial and metropolitan exams, yet lost the Triple First—and nearly got arrested—for defending his uncle in the palace examination.

Whenever this case was mentioned, everyone spoke of Xue Shao. He didn't yet know his sister was involved.

Thinking of his sister, only eleven, Pan Yue's eyes burned red. He asked hoarsely: "Where is my sister now?"

"She's gone to Yunnan to treat the Second Elder of the Mu household."

!

Pan Yue and Pan Yu gaped.

The classmate praised: "That's why I say your sister is formidable. While Wang Zhen was still imprisoned, she freed herself. Oh—you didn't know? Your sister's crime of deceiving the Emperor was pardoned. Meaning—even if your father isn't rehabilitated, she's completely absolved."

Pan Yue lowered his gaze, stepped back, and bowed: "Thank you for telling me."

The classmate hurried to support him: "Pan Yue, you were once a top student of the Taixue. Many of your classmates still revere you. We all knew Lord Pan was innocent—but Wang Zhen's power was too great. Now, Your Majesty is beginning to suspect Wang Zhen, and the Grand Secretariat is striking back. Why won't you step forward as leader? Tear this case open, crush Wang Zhen once and for all?"

He said: "What's stopping you compared to Xue Shao? He's younger than you, already won two top ranks—and still dared risk his future. What are you afraid of?"

Afraid his father would go from being a fish in the pond to a fish on the chopping block.

His future? He dared to gamble. He could afford to lose.

But he and Xue Shao were different: if Xue Shao failed, Xue Xuan wouldn't suffer—he'd just stay out of Jingcheng, teaching quietly in his hometown.

But if Pan Yue stepped forward, rallied students to this case, and lost—his father would be dragged from the pond and laid on the chopping block, utterly at their mercy.

So he couldn't afford to gamble.

Pan Yue suddenly wanted to know how his sister had done it. But three years had turned classmates into strangers—he couldn't ask this one. He had to ask Xue Shao!

Pan Yue quickly thanked him and made an excuse to leave.

Though disappointed by his cowardice, the classmate still sent a servant back to fetch money—offering him aid—and said: "If you change your mind, or need help—come find me."

Pan Yue agreed, took the money, and left, then grabbed Xue Shao in the alley: "What's going on with my sister?"

Xue Shao: "I was going to explain everything to you, but I never got the chance—and now it seems I won't."

Pan Yue and Pan Yun were bewildered: "What?"

Xue Shao looked past them, toward the person behind them, and smiled: "My lord Yin."

Pan Yue and Pan Yun turned around.

Yin Song smiled at them: "I've finally found you. You really know how to run."

He cast a divination, followed the omen to the place—and they ran again;

He cast another, chased again, and they ran once more.

For two days, he's been running circles around Jingcheng—literally better at running and hiding than my little junior sister!

Good night

(End of Chapter)