Chapter 817

Although the tavern next to Taotie Tower probably wasn't bad either, how could one not be stirred after seeing Taotie Tower?

It wasn't about the building's splendor, but the slow-drifting aroma of food.

Pan Yun began silently counting the coins in her purse.

Money is only truly motivating when you spend it!

Pan Yun mentally braced herself, lifted her head, and waved her hand grandly: "Come on, I'm treating you all to Taotie Tower!"

No sooner had she spoken than a shadow loomed overhead; Pan Yun's heart tightened, and her reaction was so swift she later marveled at it herself.

She flashed sideways, snatched the arm of a middle-aged man with blinding speed, and hurled him away, then raised her hand and struck upward.

Yuan power crashed with the force descending from above, then she spun aside, the impact dissipated—thump! —the mass slammed onto the ground with a loud bang.

This entire sequence, though seeming complex, took less than half a breath—under two seconds.

Those nearby froze with wide eyes, then scattered in panic, screaming: "Ah! Someone fell from the building!"

Wang Tianyi lay sprawled on the ground, raised his drunken, blurry face, and let out a laugh: "So dying drunk really doesn't hurt at all."

His head thudded heavily against the ground—thump! —he exhaled, waiting for the Ox-Head and Horse-Face to come claim him.

Pan Yun snorted, stepped forward, and planted her foot squarely on his fingertips, grinding down hard.

Pain, sharp enough to pierce even alcohol's numbness, shot straight to his skull; Wang Tianyi screamed "Ah—!" and instinctively shoved at her foot, glaring up at her with bloodshot eyes.

Pan Yun looked down at him expressionlessly: "Sir, I see dark clouds over your head and your forehead blackened—this is an omen of bloodshed for your entire family."

Before Wang Tianyi could speak, the middle-aged man Pan Yun had thrown earlier shoved aside his guards and rushed forward, kicking him repeatedly with furious, unrelenting blows: "You're right—he truly has bloodshed coming to his whole family."

The man's kicks were merciless but chaotic, pure venting.

As he moved, seven or eight young men surged forward, surrounding Wang Tianyi and kicking him viciously—their ferocity far outstripped their master's, and every kick targeted vital points; Pan Yun stumbled backward, retreating between her two brothers, patting her chest in fright: "I'm terrified~~"

Pan Yue's face turned pale; he glanced up at Taotie Tower, while Pan Yu was exclaiming in awe: "Little sister, you're incredible! You yanked him flying and dissipated his force so fast—if I'd been there, I'd have been crushed! How long would I need to train to do that?"

Seeing Miao Zhen had been watching the beating, and after estimating, she warned: "Little Uncle, he's about to die."

At once, Pan Yun and Xue Shao rushed forward: "Please, calm down—"

Seeing Miao Zhen and Tao Yanbai moved more slowly but still stepped forward to intervene.

What passed as intervention was actually forcibly pulling the attackers away.

The eight young guards immediately exchanged over a dozen strikes with Pan Yun's group, gaining slight advantage over Seeing Miao Zhen, Tao Yanbai, and Xue Shao—but couldn't break free.

Meanwhile, Pan Yun fought four at once, pinning two with two moves, flicking their elbows lightly with her fingers—rendering their arms numb and useless.

Seeing this, the middle-aged man's eyes flickered; he ordered the guards to stand down.

The fighting ceased; Pan Yun's group successfully pulled the men away, revealing the figure curled on the ground.

Tao Yanbai and Seeing Miao Zhen knelt to examine the unconscious Wang Tianyi; after a quick check, Tao Yanbai said: "At least six ribs broken, right arm fractured…"

? ￠o

"Left leg fractured, left arm not yet clear…"

In addition, internal bleeding—though not severe. Tao Yanbai slipped him a hemostatic pill to stabilize him, then looked up at Pan Yun: "Little Uncle, he won't die—at least not yet."

"As long as he's not dead, send for the constables. Suicide in a crowded market violates the Great Ming Code—it carries heavy punishment; if someone's injured, the penalty increases."

The Great Ming Code holds: you may die if you wish, but not if you disrupt others. Suicide in public disorderly grounds is punishable by caning at minimum, imprisonment at worst.

"Wait," one of the young guards stopped Xi Jin, who was heading to summon officials, and said to Pan Yun: "We'll handle this man ourselves."

Xi Jin halted, glancing at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun's gaze swept over the middle-aged man standing behind the guards; she raised an eyebrow slightly, then nodded.

She called to the group: "Let's go eat."

The entire group simply left Wang Tianyi lying on the ground, heads held high, walking into Taotie Tower.

The Taotie Tower attendants finally snapped out of their shock and hurried forward warmly: "Esteemed guests, please come in—let me find you a prime table with the best view."

The shopkeeper soon pushed through the crowd from behind and ordered the attendant: "Quickly, escort these esteemed guests to the third floor."

Soon, one of the young guards entered and tossed a money pouch to the shopkeeper: "Their entire evening's bill is covered by our master."

This series of events left Pan Yue and the others stunned; even Pan Yun sighed: "The wealthy in Jingcheng really know how to do things~~"

The shopkeeper caught the pouch, bowed repeatedly, ordered attendants to lead Pan Yun's group to a private room on the fourth floor, then personally went to apologize to the shaken middle-aged man.

Pan Yue and the others stared at Pan Yun; Pan Yu whispered: "Another floor up—Little sister, are we eating?"

"The way the shopkeeper trembles, that middle-aged man's status is high," Pan Yue murmured. "Rumors say Taotie Tower's owner is a member of the Huangshi Sect."

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Then aren't they family?"

"Eat!" Pan Yun waved her hand. "Hehehe—caught a free meal at Taotie Tower just by stepping in. Worth it. Let's go upstairs."

Pan Yue snapped back to himself and hurried after Pan Yun, whispering: "Little Uncle Seeing Miao Zhen just said they're family…"

"Yes. That middle-aged man wears a coiled-dragon jade pendant—the jade is exquisite, unmistakably genuine. He's likely an uncle of the young Emperor."

Pan Yue followed her numbly, murmuring: "I haven't heard any prince has entered the capital recently… Could it be Prince Xiang returning to Jingcheng to pay respects to Empress Dowager Chengxiao Zhao?"

Empress Dowager Zhang bore three sons and one daughter; two sons have died; now only Prince Xiang remains.

Prince Xiang is deeply filial. When Empress Dowager Zhang passed, though he never submitted a memorial, his household observed the traditional mourning period of twenty-seven months.

If calculated by twenty-seven months, this month is precisely when the mourning period ends.

Prince Xiang is likely in Jingcheng to pay tribute to Empress Dowager Zhang.

Pan Yue glanced at Pan Yun—her expression was calm. His heart skipped: had she guessed this already?

Pan Yun had not only guessed the middle-aged man's identity, but also the fallen man's.

She couldn't help it—her hearing was too sharp. When she stepped on his fingers, she heard his mumbled words: "If I die now, the court can't touch Jingyuan Marquis's household. Won't Uncle forgive me now? Will my whole family be spared?"

Whether his family survives, Pan Yun wasn't sure—but Jingyuan Marquis would never forgive him.

Whether he died—or survived the suicide.