Chapter 890: Squatting

With the new posthumous title announced, the Empress Dowager fell silent, and the courtiers standing behind her followed suit in silence.

Zhu Qiyu exhaled a breath of relief.

The new emperor ascended the throne on the first day of the tenth month, changed the era name to Jing Tai, and decided to adopt the new era name only at the start of the new year.

On the second day after his ascension, the new emperor formally issued an edict, elevating the Daoist Priest Pan Yun of Mount Sanqing to State Preceptor, ordering her to perform rites for the late emperor's soul and to pray for the nation's blessings.

No one expected the emperor's first edict after ascending the throne would be to appoint a State Preceptor—not to reward meritorious officials, not to deal with officials who accompanied him on the campaign, and not to enthrone the empress.

Even Yu Qian didn't expect it.

He thought the emperor would at least wait until matters were settled and the court stabilized before granting Pan Yun a title.

Zhu Qiyu: If the court were stable, why would he still need to elevate Pan Yun?

Precisely because the court is unstable, with lingering disputes between the former regime and the inner palace, and because Zhu Qiyu is a first-time emperor, blind and lost—he must rely heavily on Pan Yun.

If Pan Yun could predict he would become emperor, could she also predict other events?

Prediction can help avoid many mistakes.

Zhu Qiyu initially feared Pan Yun might exploit him for personal gain, but since she entered the palace, she rarely initiated discussions on state affairs, never sought him out, and spent her days sitting in meditation with her three junior disciples, even refusing to meet her father or brother.

Pan Yun had not met them openly, nor secretly.

When Yin Song climbed the Star Observation Terrace, he saw Pan Yun sitting on the rooftop of the pavilion behind him, her legs dangling and swaying.

Yin Song looked up at her: "State Preceptor~ Your father is pacing again outside the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, wanting to see you."

Pan Yun waved at him: "Brother, come up—stargazing from up here has a unique feeling."

Yin Song leapt up, stepped across the tiles, and sat beside her, exhaling: "It's not stargazing—it's observing the stars!"

The two senior disciples gazed at the twinkling stars above, then Yin Song turned to her: "You really won't see your father?"

Pan Yun: "This Daoist has severed all worldly ties; I belong solely to the state."

Yin Song: "Speak plainly."

"Less contact with me is best for them," Pan Yun said. "My father and brother are pure-hearted and upright; if they draw too close to me now, they'll be dragged into the whirlpool of power."

Yin Song: "Lord Pan understands at a glance—I spoke with him briefly when I came in, and now that your edict as State Preceptor has been issued, he won't come looking for you again."

Pan Yun exhaled a breath.

Her father learned she was in the palace two days ago, then came to find her—came three times a day for two days straight; she felt deeply sorry for him.

Yin Song turned to look at her, lips parted, then fell silent.

Pan Yun: "Brother, if you have something to say, say it."

Yin Song looked torn: "Now that you're State Preceptor, can I resign my post and return to the mountain?"

Pan Yun studied him, sighed: "I know I joined late—I'm not as vital to Second Brother as Senior Brother, Third Brother, or Fourth Sister…"

Yin Song: "Speak plainly."

Pan Yun: "Don't leave yet. At least wait until I've secured my footing in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. If I can't hold on here, I'll need you to back Mount Sanqing. If you resign now and I'm pushed out, will the Astronomical Bureau still let me come back?"

That indeed couldn't be allowed.

After thinking it over, Yin Song nodded: "Fine. I'll stay a while longer."

Pan Yun smiled happily.

"Then let Yin Qingjun lead Seeing Miao Zhen and the other three back," Yin Song said—no sooner had he spoken than Pan Yun's smile froze.

Yin Song: "Don't put all your eggs in one basket—if they all break, what then?"

The logic was sound, but Pan Yun had grown used to being with them—and…

"Return to Mount Sanqing now? Shouldn't they return to Long Hushan?"

Yin Song looked at her deeply: "No. Return to Mount Sanqing."

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow, about to ask further, when Yin Song continued: "You don't know yet—True Person Zhang has passed away."

Pan Yun's mouth opened wide.

Yin Song: "Long Hushan is in turmoil. Third and Fourth are involved. The Zhang family now deeply resents Mount Sanqing—Seeing Miao Zhen and the others must not return."

Pan Yun slowly closed her mouth, pondered, then stammered: "Fourth Sister is a Zhang—her involvement is natural. Third Brother is half a Zhang too—how can Long Hushan blame Mount Sanqing for this?"

Yin Song stared at her silently.

But Pan Yun changed her tone: "Fine. Then not to Long Hushan—back to Mount Sanqing."

After becoming State Preceptor, Mount Sanqing drew intense attention.

With Master Xuanmiao and Tao Ji involved in the succession of the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion, to the eyes of the world, it appeared Mount Sanqing was seizing control of the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion.

Pan Yun had no such ambition; Wang Feiyin and others had even less—none wished to provoke such a misunderstanding.

The moment Yin Song left at night, Pan Yun squatted outside Zhang Zijin's door.

Zhang Zijin initially ignored her—ever since she entered the palace, she'd been squatting outside his door daily.

He never responded.

But today she wasn't behaving—she wouldn't sit quietly; instead, she muttered incessantly.

Zhang Zijin's cultivation was high, his hearing sharp—he sealed his ears, yet the sound still seeped in continuously.

Zhang Zijin knew: he had to see her today, or she'd chant him to death like Tang Monk.

Zhang Zijin sighed. The door opened soundlessly.

Pan Yun, squatting before it, immediately rose, patted her backside, and stepped inside.

This was her first time entering Zhang Zijin's room. She glanced around—it was unlike what she'd imagined.

"What's different?"

Pan Yun snapped back to herself—she'd unconsciously voiced her thoughts.

She raised an eyebrow, scrutinized the room, and noticed traces of arrays.

"Your room's awfully empty~~" Only three bookshelves stood inside, all filled with books; there wasn't even a bed. On the northern wall lay a mat, with two cushions on it—Zhang Zijin sat cross-legged on one.

Pan Yun sat down opposite him and asked, "Do you live here normally?"

Zhang Zijin looked at her with a "what a waste of words" expression: "Say what you have to say."

Pan Yun cleared her throat and said, "Master Zhang, the True Person has passed away—do you know?"

Zhang Zijin regarded her in silence.

Pan Yun knew—he knew.

Pan Yun sighed, her face filled with sorrow, about to comfort him, when Zhang Zijin suddenly spoke: "Zhang Maocheng and the late emperor died on the same day."

Pan Yun gasped, suddenly remembering the bond between the Zhang family and the imperial house, her brow twitching.

Zhang Zijin regarded her in silence.

Pan Yun felt as though, beneath his gaze, she had nowhere to hide.

She could not speak.

Zhang Zijin finally withdrew his gaze and continued: "I give you fifteen minutes."

Pan Yun said flatly, "I came to confess my feelings to you—I have no intention of vying for power with the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion."

Zhang Zijin: "That is your matter with the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion."

"Aren't you one family?"

Zhang Zijin said, "I am a monk—uninvolved in worldly affairs."

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow: "Then why are you staying in the imperial palace…?"

"Since I received the order, I must fulfill my duty—occupying the position, attending to its responsibilities."

Pan Yun immediately said, "I am the same!"

Zhang Zijin could not hold back—he let out a sharp "hmm."