Chapter 489: Threat

This is a grave act of disrespect; one normally cannot walk through the imperial palace grounds carrying a dead rat.

But as Yin Song carried the rat, his sleeve hanging low, the patrolling Embroidered Uniform Guards acted as if they saw nothing.

He walked all the way to the Office of Eunuch Supervisors.

Wang Zhen was at work, sorting through imperial memorials by category and prioritizing them by urgency.

While sorting, he would write his opinions and insert them into the memorials; if the Emperor found them useful, he would adopt them.

Thus, the power of the Office of Eunuch Supervisors rivaled that of the Grand Secretariat.

Since the new Emperor's ascension, the Office of Eunuch Supervisors had grown even more powerful, now able to stand on equal footing with the Grand Secretariat.

Yin Song came to request an audience with Wang Zhen and waited outside for nearly fifteen minutes before being admitted.

Wang Zhen wore a python robe, seated upright on his chair, his face pale and beardless, yet stern and dignified.

He lifted his eyelids slightly, glanced at Yin Song, and continued writing as he asked in a low tone: "What brings you, Director Yin?"

Yin Song pulled back his right sleeve and held up the rat: "I've come to deliver a gift to Master Wang."

Wang Zhen saw the dead rat in his hand and turned instantly ashen; he slammed his brush down with a crack, ink splattering everywhere. "How dare you threaten me, Master Wang!"

"Master Wang misunderstands," Yin Song said calmly. "This dead rat died from poison after eating something in the Imperial Prison under Pan Hong. I bring it to you to expose the truth and offer my service."

Wang Zhen's heart gave a slight jump: "Did Pan Hong die?"

Yin Song: "By heaven's grace, he was merely frightened—he did not die."

Wang Zhen felt both disappointment and relief, his emotions tangled beyond measure.

Why didn't he die?

But thank heaven he didn't.

After a moment of silence, Wang Zhen asked: "Do you know who poisoned him?"

Yin Song's face turned grave: "I do not know, but I know this person's intent is to frame Master Wang and sow discord between you and Pan Yun."

"Sow discord?" Wang Zhen sneered. "Do you think my relationship with Pan Yun needs sowing?"

"Of course," Yin Song said solemnly. "Though you and Pan Yun have grievances, Pan Hong and his two sons still live—there is enmity, but not deep enough."

"But if Pan Hong dies in the Imperial Prison and it is discovered you silenced him, the vengeance of a father's murder is unforgivable—then your feud with Pan Yun will become a death feud."

Wang Zhen let out a cold snort. "I already have enough mud on me; one more accusation won't matter. I already have too many death feuds; one more from Pan Yun won't add to them."

Yin Song smiled confidently. "You're underestimating my junior sister. Haven't you always wanted to know what the Emperor's talismans are for?"

Wang Zhen finally lifted his gaze to fully face Yin Song.

Yin Song smiled. "That first talisman was given to the Emperor by my junior sister—Pan Yun. It can peer into a person's heart. Master Wang, your inner thoughts were once known only to you—but now, the Emperor, holding the talisman, will know them too."

Wang Zhen's lips trembled; he gritted his teeth and asked: "And what is the second talisman for?"

Yin Song stepped forward two paces and lowered his voice: "Its use is even greater—I myself cannot fully comprehend its power."

"I only know this: if the Emperor wishes, he can see you at any moment, anywhere. Whatever you say, whatever you do—twelve hours a day, if he wishes, he will know it all."

Wang Zhen shuddered, his voice rising sharply: "You lie! How could such a talisman exist in this world?"

"What's so hard?" Yin Song said. "To cultivators, moving mountains and reversing seas is possible—this talisman merely grants the Emperor the sight and hearing of a thousand li." He smiled faintly, his voice barely a whisper as Wang Zhen's eyes widened in dread: "Master Wang, you've sent people to investigate my junior sister, haven't you? You know she is the most gifted disciple Mount Sanqing has produced in decades—even among Long Hushan's many students, she stands among the elite."

"When the monster attacked Jingcheng—oh, you were in the Imperial Prison then, so you didn't see my junior sister fight the monster. Had you witnessed it, you'd have understood her talent more vividly."

Yin Song gently placed the dead rat on the table before him, leaned close, and whispered: "She has the ability to kill within the palace walls—whether by her own hand or by asking the Emperor to act."

Wang Zhen's mind flashed again with the image of Pan Yun bursting through the window in an instant.

He stared at the dead rat on the table, a wave of nausea rising.

But he swallowed the sour taste and asked in a low voice: "What do you want me to do?"

Yin Song: "Master Wang, we don't want Pan Hong to die—and you don't want a death feud with Pan Yun either. Besides, they're trying to frame you. Will you let them run wild in the Imperial Prison?"

Wang Zhen: "You said this is a frame-up—then the death feud won't be mine…"

Yin Song shook his head with a smile. "My junior sister won't let them go unpunished—but Pan Hong's imprisonment is your doing. She doesn't reason; she only seeks the father's killer. You? She'll count you among them too."

Wang Zhen's mind again replayed Pan Yun's appearance in the prison; he clenched his teeth inwardly.

That was exactly the kind of thing she'd do.

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Wang Zhen gritted his teeth: "Just say it—what do you want me to do?"

"Protect Pan Hong," Yin Song whispered. "As long as he lives, you benefit, I benefit, only they suffer."

Wang Zhen snorted coldly: "If Pan Hong lives, I gain nothing."

"But if he dies, Master Wang, you'll suffer far greater losses. Master Wang, our Imperial Astronomical Bureau differs from the Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guards—we survive by skill. The empire's farming calendar depends on us, but you, the Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guards, survive only by the Emperor's favor," Yin Song said meaningfully. "I've always wondered: why must you protect your nephew Wang Shan? Even at the cost of damaging the Emperor's trust?"

Wang Zhen fell silent, his fingers involuntarily tightening.

Yin Song's lips curled slightly, coaxing gently: "Master Wang, everyone knows the old case was unjust. You and the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice were too proud to admit fault, so you framed Xue Xuan and Pan Hong. These years, they've suffered enough—and you and Lord Wang have had your revenge."

"Now, this case has become a pawn in factional strife," Yin Song said softly. "It's also the Emperor's chess piece—move left, and he can use it to strike down the Pure Stream faction and seize power; move right, and he can control you, Master Wang…"

Yin Song lowered his voice: "As long as the case remains open, it will never end."

Wang Zhen lowered his eyes, lost in thought: "You want me to sacrifice Wang Shan and take the blame?"

"Master Wang, that's incorrect," Yin Song said. "This injustice began with Wang Shan and Chen Fulin. You and Lord Wang were merely misled. Now that the Yue family and He family cases have been overturned, if the Xue Xuan case remains unredressed, must we revisit it every year? That would be a devastating blow to your reputation."

Wang Zhen fell into deep thought.

Seeing him swayed, Yin Song stepped back and bowed respectfully: "Master Wang, I await your good news in the Imperial Prison. Pan Yun waits for word in Yunnan."

Wang Zhen's cheeks puffed slightly. "Are you threatening me?"

Yin Song bowed his head. "I dare not."

With that, he stepped backward two paces, turned, and left.

Wang Zhen took two sharp breaths, looked down at the rat on the table, clenched his fist—and damn it, the threat worked.

He was right: the Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guards survive on the Emperor's favor. His recent experiences had taught him: the Emperor's wrath and grace are both his to bestow.

He absolutely cannot lose the Holy Heart!

And Pan Yun clearly has the ability to make him lose the Holy Heart.

Wang Zhen closed his eyes, took two deep breaths, and shouted: "Someone—" (End of Chapter)