Chapter 806

Who is currently the emperor's favorite?

Besides Wang Zhen, it's Marquis Jingyuan Wang Ji.

Wang Ji is different from Wang Zhen; this old general has glorious battlefield achievements, an excellent reputation in the military, and considerable prestige among the people. Even though he failed to capture Luchuan after prolonged campaigning and faced some criticism at court, many generals before him also failed to take Luchuan, often suffering defeats. In comparison, he at least achieved something—he's the best among them.

Last year, after victory in the Luchuan campaign, he rose to become the emperor's most trusted and beloved confidant, even forcing Wang Zhen to yield ground.

This old general is a man of action: right after returning from Luchuan, he was dispatched to patrol the northern frontier and discovered that veteran soldiers had been stranded there for years, their rotation cycle extended from two years to indefinite, severely damaging morale and troop strength.

The soldiers' winter clothing and military equipment were also aged and worn, and there were signs of northern barbarians stirring up trouble—because of his patrol, the number of northern barbarians raiding southward this autumn had decreased.

Wu Zhihong's family is in Zhending; other officials might not feel this deeply, but he glimpsed it through letters from his family.

How could such a man collude with Japanese pirates?

How could he ambush and kill an imperial envoy?

Just to oppose the maritime ban?

Wu Zhihong tugged at his hair, utterly baffled, crouched on the ground, completely lost.

Pan Yun paced in circles, then suddenly stopped: "I've met Wang Ji. His features are upright. I believe he smuggled maritime trade, but to say he colluded with Japanese pirates or ambushed and killed an envoy—I don't believe it."

Xue Shao whispered: "He may truly not know—but who can say? Sun Xin believes he's one of the masterminds; Prince Lu will also think he's complicit. That's why the Qi family must first put their own house in order before they can govern the state."

Pan Yun and Wu Zhihong both thought of Yang Shiqi and Yang Ji at the same time.

Pan Yun said coldly: "I must find out whether Great Ming is truly rotten to its roots—or still salvageable."

Wu Zhihong clutched his head, obsessively agonizing over his memorial.

Xue Shao couldn't bear it and reminded him: "The case of colluding with sea bandits to kill the envoy falls under Quanzhou Prefecture. You only need to investigate the corpse pit at the Sanjing Villa. Summarize the findings plainly."

Wu Zhihong still clutched his head.

Xue Shao said: "If your memorial is well-written, the court will count it as merit and may forgive your previous negligence."

Wu Zhihong looked up, dazed: "But I can't write it. My mind is full of Prince Lu and others colluding with Japanese pirates and northern barbarians—how can I avoid the heavy issues?"

Xue Shao said nothing.

Wu Zhihong grabbed his hand, gazing at him with desperate hope: "Brother Xue, please help me?"

Xue Shao, softened at last, took up his brush and wrote him a memorial.

Wu Zhihong read it again and again, overjoyed: "Excellent, excellent—no wonder you're the palace examination second-place laureate. This memorial is a hundred times better than mine."

He immediately set the draft aside and picked up his brush to copy it.

Xue Shao stood beside him a moment, reminding: "Best make copies of the letters and ledgers."

Wu Zhihong paused his brush, nodded in agreement.

Finally, Wu Zhihong handed the copied evidence to Pan Yun for safekeeping: "If I keep this, I might be killed. Only you, Master Pan, can hold it—I'm at ease, completely at ease."

Pan Yun nodded: "Rest assured."

Wu Zhihong exhaled, without resting, ordered the county sergeant to take two trusted men, and immediately send the memorial and evidence to Jingcheng.

He also finished his official closure report, but today was New Year's Day—government offices were closed—so he didn't submit it to the Prefect's government office.

Pan Yun and the others missed returning for New Year's Eve, but they could return for New Year's Day night.

Xiao Hong had vented enough. Pan Yun packed her things to take them back to the mountain, but before they could leave, the Prefect's men arrived.

Pan Yun: …

She turned to look at Xiao Hong and Sister Hong Yan.

Both immediately said: "We didn't mention your name!"

Pan Yun whispered: "Stay right here. Don't go anywhere."

Both nodded frantically.

The visitor was the Prefect's steward, followed by a squad of government office runners.

Wu Zhihong stood nearby, sweat pouring from his forehead. Seeing Pan Yun emerge, he hurried forward and whispered: "Where's Xiao Hong?"

Pan Yun gave him a look, then turned to the steward, calm and unyielding: "What does the Prefect desire of this humble Daoist?"

The haughty steward, seeing Pan Yun, immediately beamed and stepped forward warmly: "Surely this is the esteemed Daoist of Long Hushan, Master Pan?"

Seeing the steward bow deeply, Pan Yun raised an eyebrow and slipped into role, clasping fists: "I cannot claim such honor—I merely studied at Long Hushan's academy and achieved a little. I wonder why the Prefect has come…"

The steward quickly glanced at Wu Zhihong.

Wu Zhihong understood and stepped far away, leaving them space to speak—but his ears strained to listen…

The steward lowered his voice and invited Pan Yun to stay two days in the Prefect's private quarters, as his lord had recently taken great interest in Daoist studies.

Pan Yun instantly understood: this was a summons to exorcise a ghost.

Pan Yun looked up at the sun in the sky, calculating she could still finish before sunset.

She pinched her fingers and said: "I already know why you've come. This is no difficulty—give me one hour, and it's done."

The steward's eyes widened: "Master knows?"

Pan Yun nodded, turned to Wang Cong: "Take Xue Shao and wait for me outside the city. I'll meet you before sunset. If I don't come…"

She paused, then added: "Then come back and stay another night."

Wang Cong agreed.

Pan Yun beckoned to Seeing Miao Zhen and Tao Yanbai: "Come, let's go see something new."

The three eagerly followed.

The steward hurried after her: "Master Pan, wait! You said you know why I came?"

"Isn't it to capture a ghost?" Pan Yun glanced at him. "I see you're tainted with yin energy. Your household has been troubled lately, hasn't it?"

The steward's eyes lit up—he nearly knelt before her, nodding frantically: "Yes, yes, yes! Our lord is terrified! What can Master Pan do?"

"Just capture the ghost. No problem. Steward, let's go quickly—I still need to get back to Mount Sanqing for the first evening meal of the New Year."

"But Mount Sanqing is at least a day's journey…"

Pan Yun had quickened her pace, and the steward hurried after her.

Xiao Hong and Sister Hong Yan had already gone ahead to wait at the Prefect's residence.

Pan Yun arranged the rear courtyard of the Prefect's home with Seeing Miao Zhen and the other two, then changed into a Daoist robe, took up a peach-wood sword, and performed a ritual to subdue ghosts on the bright, sunlit first day of the New Year.

Sister Hong Yan had hidden herself away, blowing hard to sustain the illusion; Xiao Hong burst out in public and fought Pan Yun for twenty rounds in the courtyard, until Pan Yun, pressed for time, glared at her several times—finally, reluctantly, Xiao Hong was subdued by her.