Chapter 796

Seeing Wu Zhihong's expression was no better than Qian Zhixiao's; only after walking out of the jail and standing in the sunlight for a long time, feeling warmth seep into his body, did he snap back to himself.

He looked helplessly at Pan Yun: "Prince Lu… can this case still be investigated further?"

Pan Yun was optimistic, patting his shoulder: "It's just Prince Lu—not the Emperor."

Even if it were the Emperor, we wouldn't fear him—it's the civil and military officials in court we truly fear.

Seeing Wu Zhihong still couldn't muster any spirit: "Prince Lu alone isn't terrifying, but there's also the Commander of Quanzhou Garrison here. What could they possibly do together?"

Just imagining it sent a chill down Seeing Wu Zhihong's spine.

One holds military power, the other is imperial kin; maritime smuggling has always been rampant, and the court's disputes over lifting the maritime ban have never ceased.

Seeing Wu Zhihong looked at Pan Yun.

This woman was the chief advocate of lifting the maritime ban—she was even the main force behind its implementation—and now, with Prince Lu and the Quanzhou Garrison emerging in this case…

Pan Yun met his gaze and raised an eyebrow at him.

Seeing Wu Zhihong immediately invited Pan Yun and the others to dinner and offered them lodging at his home.

Since his wife and children returned to their hometown, the back courtyard had stood empty, with many vacant rooms—there was plenty of space to squeeze everyone in.

Pan Yun politely declined lodging but gladly accepted the dinner invitation.

She had some questions for Seeing Wu Zhihong anyway—essentially, they exchanged information.

Pan Yun recounted how, before the maritime ban was lifted, the imperial envoy mission to Japan had been ambushed twice at sea by Japanese pirates: "This case is also stalled, but we've uncovered something—it's tied to imperial kin, meritorious nobles, and imperial relatives."

Seeing Wu Zhihong swiftly picked up the key point: "Imperial kin and imperial relatives?"

Pan Yun smiled but said nothing.

Cold sweat broke out on Seeing Wu Zhihong's back, chilling him again.

Pan Yun: "Interestingly, before I arrived, Jiang Fangzheng sent his household steward to meet me, subtly implying that the Sun family masterminded this case. Magistrate Wu, tell me—in the Emperor's eyes, is Prince Lu more important, or is the Sun family more important?"

Of course, the Sun family is more important!

Prince Lu is so many generations removed from the Emperor, while the Sun family is the Emperor's own maternal uncle.

Still, if Prince Lu were implicated, it would indeed disgrace the imperial clan—but…

Who can guarantee this isn't exactly what the Emperor wants?

Pan Yun murmured: "I never intended to uncover the truth at this moment—it's beyond human capability—but he insists on shoving a knife into my hands."

She fixed Seeing Wu Zhihong with a sharp gaze: "Rather than letting all four fat fish swim free, why not catch one? Maybe we'll get lucky and net the others too?"

Seeing Wu Zhihong: "Who are the other three fish?"

Xue Shao said: "The other two are unclear, but fortunately, Prince Lu moved first—we can use him as a stone to probe the waters."

Pan Yun decided instantly: "Then throw it!"

Seeing Wu Zhihong hurriedly said: "But we have no concrete evidence to accuse Prince Lu—you interrogated Xue Xin…"

He glanced quickly at Xiao Hong and whispered: "Tactics can't be disclosed to outsiders, and Xue Xin won't confess—so we can't even draft an impeachment memorial."

Pan Yun: "Didn't I just create an opportunity for you to seize evidence?"

Seeing Wu Zhihong pondered: "Qian Zhixiao…"

Seeing Wu Zhihong leapt up and ran out to summon the County Commandant, ordering him to send men to secretly shadow Qian Zhixiao and ensure he wasn't harmed.

By the time he returned and settled his arrangements, Pan Yun and Xue Shao had already planned their next steps.

Seeing Wu Zhihong stood by the door, watching her with a complex expression: "Ever since Daoist Pan arrived, our county government office has come alive."

Pan Yun: "Isn't that a good thing?"

"But it's also terrifying," Seeing Wu Zhihong touched his chest: "I nearly couldn't catch my breath just now."

Pan Yun smiled.

Seeing Wu Zhihong returned to his seat: "Ask whatever you want, Daoist Pan."

Pan Yun's expression grew serious: "Did you find Xi Yan?"

Seeing Wu Zhihong's smile vanished; he gave a slight nod: "We found her."

The County Commandant followed leads into the countryside, but frightened her away—by the time they reached the location, her family had already moved. The government office later spent great effort tracking her down.

Seeing Wu Zhihong glanced at Xiao Hong, then gave them the address without hesitation.

He whispered: "Two officials came from Jingcheng—I never summoned her out, nor revealed her whereabouts."

Pan Yun instantly understood: "Don't worry—we won't leak her information, and we won't harm her."

She was Seeing Wu Zhihong's last trump card—the only living victim.

Yes, Seeing Wu Zhihong had met many victims, but he couldn't have Jingcheng officials join him in confronting ghosts.

He lacked Pan Yun's ability—and even if he had it…

Besides Liu Xiao Hong, everyone else had been sent by Pan Yun to reincarnation; now not even a ghost's shadow remained.

So Xi Yan was crucial.

If it weren't for Pan Yun and Liu Xiao Hong, he would never have given the address.

The location of Xi Yan was known only to him, his secretary, the County Commandant, and two trusted government office Runners under his command.

Pan Yun took the address, scanned it once, memorized it, then crumpled the paper in her palm—rubbing it until it turned to powder, more effective than a shredder.

"One more thing," Pan Yun hesitated, then asked: "Has anyone from the Liu family come?"

Seeing Wu Zhihong glanced quickly at Liu Xiao Hong and whispered: "No…"

Xiao Hong paused, then smiled at Pan Yun: "It's better they don't come. You've already taken my bones—they can't claim anything. Better they stay away. Let's go find Xi Yan first."

Xiao Hong frowned slightly, her expression confused: "I have many memories of practicing music and singing with my sisters, but I can't focus on them. Xi Yan… I can't recall much about her."

Pan Yun: "She's very important to you."

"I know," Xiao Hong murmured: "The first memory I regained after lying in my bones was her—she was so happy, so happy looking at me. She was so beautiful."

But beyond that, I can't remember anything else.

Pan Yun immediately decided to take her to find Xiyan.

They lived in the mountains, in a solitary house with its own gate.

At the foot of the mountain was a very small, scattered hamlet of only eight or nine households, and Xiyan's home was two or three li further up the mountain — even more remote.

Passing through the village, they heard that the people up the mountain came down only once every ten days.

They followed the narrow mountain path upward.

The mountains were thick with trees, but fortunately, since the village below needed humus for composting, they often came up this way to scrape up leaf-mould and humus, so the air held two parts less rot and a few parts more freshness.

Walking along, Pan Yun gradually slowed her steps: "Settling down in a place like this when I'm old wouldn't be bad at all."

Little Red didn't think so. Restless and bored, she said: "I used to be tied down too, spending every day like this — I still prefer a bit of bustle."

"That's you being an Earth-Bound Spirit — it's not the same as what I want." A house came into view ahead, and the few of them quickened their steps.

Three mud-brick rooms, thatched with straw on the roof, with a very large yard in front enclosed by a wattle fence. On one side of the yard a few ridges of land had been opened up for vegetables — though it was winter, radishes and cabbages were still growing in the soil.

A girl of five or six and a boy of three or four were playing quietly in the yard; hearing the knock at the gate, they turned their heads to look, faces full of surprise.