Chapter 879: It Was Him

The west city gate was a great victory, while the north city gate held firm, and Datong City was secured.

Meanwhile, Yang Hong of Xuanfu launched troops, driving the Oirat central army of eighty thousand north by fifty li.

Meanwhile, Datong Prefecture and Xuanfu Prefecture each dispatched a large force to clear out the remaining Oirat troops behind the lines; the Great Ming's defenses were reestablished, granting the imperial court a chance to catch its breath.

Only then did Zhu Qiyu find time to inquire about the investigation into the Emperor's murder.

The ministers were no fools; after their initial shock and grief, they knew the bird-man was not Yishi's man.

They had merely temporarily blamed Yishi to rally morale.

The situation at the time was this: regardless of who the bird-man was, the Emperor's misfortune was entirely Yishi's fault.

If he had not betrayed them, captured the Emperor, and dared to threaten Great Ming by holding the Emperor hostage, none of this would have happened.

So Yishi bears this guilt fairly.

But this explanation could satisfy the masses—it could not satisfy the Empress Dowager, the Prince of Cheng, the entire imperial court, or history itself.

They must uncover the truth.

So these past days, while fighting and defending the city, they had not forgotten to send men to investigate the bird-man.

They questioned every eyewitness on the city wall that day about the giant bird and the man, including the bow and arrows he held; painters produced many portraits, and finally synthesized the one most accurate to the descriptions.

Even Pan Yun, upon seeing that portrait, could not help but marvel at how lifelike it was.

Fortunately, that day she had not only worn a mask but also applied makeup using disguise techniques.

That disguise technique could alter appearance, height, and body type; combined with wearing foreign attire, no one would link her to "him."

Yet though she had altered her height and body type, no matter how powerful the disguise, it could not achieve two completely opposite extremes.

She was merely slightly taller and slightly more muscular than her true self.

But in everyone's eyes, "he" was of average stature, radiating youthful energy.

Xue Xuan, who had come to the frontier with Zhu Qiyu for reinforcements, declared: "This man is young—likely under eighteen."

The ministers were astonished: "That's too young."

Xue Xuan: "Talents often emerge in youth. Perhaps we should inquire widely—people can be easily hidden, but such a large bird is hard to conceal."

The imperial court's intelligence apparatus was no mere ornament; in these past days, they had compiled information and uncovered something: "Such a large bird, aside from those hidden in wilderness, exists only in the Mingying Sect."

"Mingying Sect?"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard glanced at Pan Yun before answering Zhu Qiyu: "Yes, like Long Hushan and Mount Sanqing, it is a sect of cultivators in the Jianghu, but they rarely come to the Central Plains—they operate in the steppes. The Northern Garrison has records: the last time they appeared in the Central Plains was in Jiangxi, ambushing a group of cultivators."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard glanced again at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun nodded and admitted frankly: "Indeed, they were ambushing me then."

All ministers turned to her; Zhu Qiyu's confusion was unmistakable.

Pan Yun said: "I was about to ascend to the First Marquis, and cultivated merit virtue, which itself is a medicinal ingredient—they sought to consume me to enhance their cultivation."

Zhu Mian's gaze flickered and he asked: "So, Daoist Pan, you are Tang Sengrou?"

Pan Yun smiled at him: "Not quite Tang Sengrou—consumption of me, or using me to brew pills, might grant a slight boost in cultivation, but beyond cultivators, my flesh is no different from beef, lamb, pork, or fish to others—just a meal."

Zhu Mian chuckled awkwardly: "I was just curious…"

Xue Xuan seemed curious too: "Then why, after your ascension, did no one come for your flesh again?"

"Because it's not worth it," Pan Yun said. "To a beggar, I am ten meat buns—worth risking everything for; if he seizes me, he can feast ten times, and perhaps even use the opportunity to catch his breath, accumulate capital, and escape beggary;

after my ascension, to them, my meat bun is surrounded by spears and swords—beggars fear it, so they dare not act; but to seniors whose cultivation or power surpasses mine, I am merely a meat bun—would my lord Xue risk his life for ten meat buns?"

Naturally not—it's just meat buns; you can buy them.

Thus, to those of higher cultivation, Pan Yun's flesh is no different from any other easily obtained herb; only those slightly below her level, or equal to her, see it as a potent elixir.

Back then, they had merely taken advantage of her vulnerability, hoping to profit while she was in the critical moment of ascension.

Now it seems they lost.

"With such a deep grudge, Daoist Pan, why haven't you settled accounts with the Mingying Sect?"

Pan Yun's lips curled slightly as she looked at the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard said: "There is a rumor in the Jianghu that last year, a man and woman stormed the Mingying Sect, defeated Ming Yi, and killed many of its members; afterward, for reasons unknown, they changed course and went to Japan. Rumor says they came from Mount Sanqing and targeted the Mingying Sect for personal vengeance."

Pan Yun: "They are my senior brother and senior sister."

"Then it follows that your senior brother and sister should be very familiar with the Mingying Sect," Xue Xuan asked: "Would they be willing to come and identify this giant bird and man?"

Pan Yun: "They are unpredictable; I can only try to contact them."

She sighed: "You all know—we Jianghu folk have no fixed abode; today here, tomorrow somewhere else."

Kuang Ye was also present and found it absurd to rely on two Daoists' information—he said: "After so long, is this all you've found?"

"Naturally not," this case was overseen by Grand Secretary Cao Nai; since Zhu Qiyu brought many reinforcements, Yu Qian had taken full command of the army, and Cao Nai had stepped back from the battlefield to focus on this case.

He said gravely: "The reason the Mingying Sect was mentioned is because they have a close relationship with Yishi's state preceptor, the great lama Sonam Jamtsan…"

He paused, then added: "And also with Yishi's general, Aral Zhiyuan."

Cao Nai's voice grew unexpectedly somber: "The irony is, the clothing and ornaments on this man bear distinct features of the Oirat's Weilat tribe, and the badge he wore likely came from Aral Zhiyuan."

Aral Zhiyuan was the leader of the Oirat's Weilat tribe.

Chen Huai, who had just finished fighting and rushed over to listen, wore a look of disbelief: "Framing someone? How is this any less crude than framing Yishi?"

But Cao Nai said: "There is no evidence this is a frame-up—how can we be certain this was not the bird-man's deliberate act? Perhaps he gambled that Yishi would think just as you do."

Chen Huai opened his mouth wide, frowning: "This is too complicated. Whether or not Aral Zhiyuan sent him, have you already decided it was him?"

"Precisely because we must investigate," Cao Nai said expressionlessly. "Otherwise, what is the point of our existence?"

Xue Xuan: "Cases require evidence. Current evidence points to Aral Zhiyuan—but all of it is unreliable."

Yu Qian, who had entered with Chen Huai, suddenly said: "Then let us declare it was Aral Zhiyuan who did it."

Everyone turned sharply to him.

Yu Qian said gravely: "At the very least, we must make Yishi believe it."

He looked at Cao Nai: "Let him, just like you, believe this is a diversionary tactic by Aral Zhiyuan, and firmly believe it was Aral Zhiyuan who did it."

A scheme to sow discord! The thought flashed through everyone's mind at once, and none objected.