Chapter 803: Coercion and Bribery

The Wang Fu guards were imprisoned nearby; seeing Sun Xin hanging there in such a pitiful state, they began kicking the prison cell in fury.

Pan Yun turned and glanced coldly at them; Wu Zhihong stepped forward and rebuked: "What's all this noise? Whether you're guilty or innocent, you'll find out soon enough. I'm merely a minor county magistrate—without absolute certainty, how would I dare imprison and interrogate the Wang Fu's Chief Secretary and his guards?"

The guards: "Regardless of our guilt or innocence, you have no authority to interrogate us. Above us stand the Lu Prince, who answers to the Imperial Clan Office. What right does a lowly county magistrate like you have to question us?"

Wu Zhihong sneered: "Anything that occurs under my jurisdiction falls under my authority. Even during Hongwu's reign, when the founding emperor himself erred in a county, he was still subject to the magistrate's rule—how much more so a mere guard like you?"

"That was the founding emperor's magnanimity..."

"Is the Lu Prince greater than the founding emperor, able to override him?"

The guards had no reply.

Wu Zhihong said: "In my view, the Lu Prince and his heir's lawlessness stems directly from you. The Chief Secretary and guards act with such utter disregard for law and order, so brazen and arrogant—how could the Lu Prince and his heir, even if willing to listen to counsel, receive any sound advice?"

The group of guards turned red with shame, desperate to shake Sun Xin awake; they were warriors, tongue-tied, unable to refute Wu Zhihong, and only hoped Sun Xin would wake soon and use his silver tongue to crush Wu Zhihong.

But Sun Xin did not wake.

Pan Yun, who had been imprisoned before, scooped up a ladle of icy water and hurled it over him.

Sun Xin jolted, shuddered, and snapped awake.

The county constable himself brought up a bucket of saltwater and soaked the whip in it: "Master Pan, let me handle this dirty work."

Sun Xin, now awake, saw them and exhaled in relief—he feared no torture, only ghosts.

Pan Yun circled him once, then gave the constable a slight shake of her head: "He's no longer afraid of these punishments."

Sun Xin sneered at Pan Yun, then turned to Wu Zhihong: "Wu Zhihong, you think possessing those letters and ledgers stolen from the Wang Fu is enough to bring down the Lu Prince? Hmph! Even if my fate is dire, yours won't be better—wait and see. In the end, neither the Lu Prince nor his heir will lose a single hair, but you—and your entire Wu family—will be utterly destroyed."

Wu Zhihong's face turned ashen; he spoke in a low, heavy voice: "Sun Xin, behind me stands Your Majesty. Do you truly believe, in Your Majesty's eyes, the Lu Prince matters more than the people?"

Sun Xin sneered: "Perhaps in Your Majesty's heart, the people matter more—but between the Imperial Clan and the people, the Clan always matters more."

"The Lu Prince alone cannot represent the entire Imperial Clan."

Sun Xin sneered without end.

Seeing this, Wu Zhihong's heart sank further—he realized the Lu Prince had long prepared for this, certain the Imperial Clan would stand by him.

Pan Yun sighed and countered: "Then in the Emperor's heart, who matters more—the Empress Dowager or the Imperial Clan? The Marquis of Huichang or the Lu Prince?"

Sun Xin's heart gave a slight leap: "The Imperial Clan and the Empress Dowager share the same interests—what's there to compare?"

Pan Yun smiled: "Do they? Then why did the Lu Prince frame the Marquis of Huichang? Why force the Empress Dowager into disgrace?"

Hanging there, Sun Xin clenched his fists, tensed instantly, then relaxed quickly: "I don't know what you're talking about."

Pan Yun stepped close and whispered to him: "This is Ji'an, not Yanzhou. What you say in this cell, the Lu Prince will never know. Guess what—he'll find out it was you who told us about his collusion with Japanese pirates, his treasonous ties to the north, his alliance with the Marquis of Huichang and others to order sea bandits to ambush the envoy mission, then pinned everything on the Marquis. If he believes you're the one who revealed all this, what do you think he'll do to your parents, wife, and children?" Sun Xin's pupils shrank violently; he stared at Pan Yun in terror: "You, you..."

"How did I find out?" Pan Yun leaned close to his ear: "Little Red remembered everything. And you sent Jiang Fangzheng to threaten me, forcing me to leave Quanzhou—did you really think I'd obey you?"

Sun Xin looked up at her, stunned.

Their faces were inches apart, eyes locked; Sun Xin saw mockery and scorn in hers.

Pan Yun whispered: "I entered the Imperial Prison and dragged Wang Zhen into it with me. You're nothing but Wang Zhen's lackeys—why would you think I'd yield to you?"

Sun Xin breathed heavily, teeth gritted: "Aren't you afraid you'll drag Wang Cong down with you?"

Pan Yun smiled: "So you really do know about Jiang Fangzheng's threats to me."

Sun Xin stiffened, regret flooding him—he'd lost his composure.

Pan Yun pressed her hand on his shoulder and whispered: "Wang Cong doesn't do sea trade—he still has three hundred and sixty-four other trades. But you? One misstep, and your entire clan is erased. At the very least, I can guarantee your parents, wife, and children will die before you do."

"You dare!"

Pan Yun stepped back, spreading her hands: "Of course I won't do such a dirty deed myself. But if I spread what I just said, others will act. Guess who will strike—the Marquis of Huichang, enraged and seeking revenge, or the Lu Prince?"

Sun Xin glared at Pan Yun with venom, coldly saying: "The Prince won't believe you. Even to ensure I stay silent, he'll protect my family."

Pan Yun smiled lightly, watching his eyes as she stepped back three paces, then suddenly turned and shouted to Wu Zhihong: "County Magistrate Wu, did you hear that? He says the Lu Prince and Jiang Fangzheng not only colluded with Japanese pirates, selling them crossbows—but also conspired with the northern barbarians, and together with Wang Zhen, sold vast quantities of military equipment to the Oirats!"

Sun Xin's eyes bulged; he screamed to object—but no sound came out. He stared at Pan Yun in horror.

Pan Yun stood at the door of the interrogation chamber, blocking the guards' view from around the corner, her back to them as she asked Sun Xin: "Sun Xin, what else has the Lu Prince done? Don't be afraid. If you speak, I'll guarantee your family's safety—and count it as redemption, sparing your life!"

Sun Xin stared at her in terror, shaking his head frantically.

But Pan Yun ignored his refusal, exclaiming again: "You mean the Lu Prince also conspired with Jiang Fangzheng to pin the ambush of the envoy mission entirely on the Marquis of Huichang, to force Quanzhou Prefecture and the Northern Military Surveillance Office to drop the investigation?"

The guards erupted in uproar: "Master Sun! Master Sun! What are you saying?!"

Sun Xin's body turned icy; his knees went weak—he would have collapsed if not for the ropes holding him up.

He knew—he was finished. Completely finished.

These guards—if even one of them escaped, his family would be utterly destroyed.

Sun Xin looked at Pan Yun, nearly begging.

Pan Yun stopped, slowly walked to him, and whispered: "Sun Xin, I cannot guarantee your life. But I can guarantee your family's safety."

Sun Xin opened his mouth, found he could speak again—but the urge to shout was gone. His voice hoarse, he asked: "You're just a commoner. Why should I believe you?"