Chapter 906: Not Listening to Your Superior

Zhu Qiyu had just become emperor, and he had not yet grasped the nature of struggle.

So he naively believed that the human disasters in Lingnan could be eliminated, that conflicts could be resolved, and that all the people could return to peace.

After the Chun Guanzheng of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau reported, Zhu Qiyu immediately summoned the Grand Secretariat and the Three Departments to discuss: "Liu Pu has acted improperly—who will go arrest him?"

Xue Xuan was the first to oppose: "Your Majesty, without evidence, how can you arrest a provincial Regional Commander based solely on the Imperial Astronomical Bureau's claim of an ominous celestial sign?"

Chen Xun also thought it was a joke: "That's a second-rank official; Liu Pu has never committed any major offense. Your Majesty cannot make hasty judgments based on slander."

Yu Qian pondered and said: "Since the Imperial Astronomical Bureau has spoken with such certainty, why not send a censor to investigate? If the matter is true, it can be dealt with early, preventing actual popular unrest."

Zhu Qiyu turned to Wang Wen and asked: "What do you think, Minister Wang?"

He was the Left Grand Censor of the Censorate.

Wang Wen did not want to investigate, but everyone stared at him intently; he was skilled at reading expressions and easily discerned the emperor's intent—he could not bring himself to refuse, so he shifted his words: "I believe Senior Grand Secretary Yu's words are reasonable. Since the Imperial Astronomical Bureau has this suspicion, someone should be sent to Guangxi to investigate. But Guangxi is remote and mountainous, and Liu Pu is Regional Commander—it may be difficult to probe. Why not select one person from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to accompany the Censorate's censors, to guide them?"

Yu Qian glanced coldly at him and opposed: "Unsuitable. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau's duties lie elsewhere."

He feared Pan Yun meddling in state affairs and guarded against it fiercely; yet Wang Wen, of all people, was handing the Imperial Astronomical Bureau a ladder—was he dissatisfied that Pan Yun wasn't meddling enough? Yu Qian gave Wang Wen a cold look.

Wang Wen lowered his eyes, his heart filled with conflicting regret and non-regret.

After some discussion, the emperor ultimately appointed Xia Guanzheng Yin Song to accompany the mission, and the delegation included personnel from the Censorate, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Ministry of War.

The purpose was that, should Liu Pu truly be at fault, they could resolve the issue swiftly—the emperor granted them discretionary authority.

The operation would be led by Censorate officials.

For this reason, Yu Qian intervened and specifically appointed Hu Wenhao, Deputy Grand Censor of the Censorate.

This man was upright and had served in local posts for over a decade; he returned to the capital in the seventh year of Zhengtong and entered the Censorate, but was soon dispatched to the Shanxi Circuit. Only after last year's death of Deputy Grand Censor Deng Qi, who perished accompanying the emperor, was he recalled to the Censorate and appointed Deputy Grand Censor.

This Censor Hu also looked down on his superior Wang Wen, but upon receiving orders, he still went to find Wang Wen first.

Wang Wen's expression was gentle as he instructed Hu Wenhao to be cautious of his safety and to act carefully to avoid inflaming local tensions: "The claim that Lingnan harbors traitors comes only from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau—it cannot be fully trusted. Investigate cautiously; do not alienate the meritorious nobility."

Liu Pu is the son of Marquis Liu Huai; after Liu Huai's death, he inherited the title of Marquis of Anyuan.

Hu Wenhao had just agreed when Wang Wen added: "The Imperial Astronomical Bureau still has some ability. Since they could predict Liu Pu would incite unrest, once in Lingnan, consult Yin Song often—do not act stubbornly."

Hu Wenhao: … Should you even listen to what you're saying? He hated these contradictory instructions—why couldn't his superior just say plainly what he wanted? Why must he guess?

Are you telling me to listen to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau or not?

Hu Wenhao decided not to follow Wang Wen's advice—he would judge for himself.

When a general is in the field, the sovereign's orders may be disregarded; Guangxi is far away, and the capital cannot command effectively.

Hu Wenhao responded with a calm expression, turned, and left, resolved to obey the emperor's command and exercise discretionary authority! As he exited the Censorate, he happened to meet someone leaving the neighboring Ministry of War—it was Yu Qian.

So the two left work together.

Yu Qian told Hu Wenhao: "I once served alongside Liu Pu. He is relatively honest, but lacks military talent, and… he is too lenient. Guangxi has many ethnic groups with fierce customs—his actions may have violated taboos. The key issue is not whether Liu Pu is a traitor, but whether Guangxi will erupt in unrest. The root is to resolve the cause of the unrest."

Hu Wenhao pondered and asked: "Can the Imperial Astronomical Bureau really predict Guangxi's unrest from celestial signs?"

Yu Qian fell silent for a moment, then sighed: "Others might not, but the State Preceptor can."

Hu Wenhao's pupils contracted sharply: "So… it really is possible?"

Yu Qian's face remained expressionless: "The Yin Song accompanying us is the State Preceptor's senior brother. His abilities may not match the State Preceptor's, but you may listen to his opinion—yet do not let him interfere excessively in state or military affairs."

Hu Wenhao nodded silently, indicating he understood.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau is already under intense scrutiny because of the State Preceptor; if he is allowed to meddle in state or military affairs, it will set a precedent—and it would be bad if the emperor always used Daoist Priests to govern or command armies.

And Yin Song, upon receiving the order, was thoroughly dismayed.

"Why me?"

Pan Yun looked at him sympathetically.

Yin Song hesitated: "Sister, can I resign?"

Pan Yun spread her hands: "I have no objection—ask your senior brother?"

Yin Song slumped back in his chair. His senior brother would certainly refuse—he had requested resignation twice before, and each time his senior brother wrote back telling him to stay put in the capital, to look after and support his little sister, to watch over her and prevent her from doing anything wrong.

Yin Song gazed sorrowfully at Pan Yun, then sighed: "Fine, I'll go. I'll leave Qingjun with you—watch him for me. Don't let him slack off in cultivation while I'm gone."

Pan Yun: … She had been planning to find an excuse to leave after her second senior brother departed.

Pan Yun frowned, but under Yin Song's steady gaze, she nodded.

Only then did Yin Song leave, reassured.

In truth, Pan Yun did not need watching—so long as someone she cared about was near her, she would restrain herself and act cautiously.

Pan Yun's attachment to the Pan family had grown increasingly faint—not only had her father and brothers noticed, but Yin Song had too, which was why he agreed to stay, following his senior brother's orders.

Now that he was departing, he could only leave Qingjun beside her, hoping she would remember those around her when she saw Qingjun, and not overreach in her actions, lest she harm herself or others.

The moment Yin Song left, Yin Qingjun appeared at the courtyard gate, a bundle in hand, gazing hopefully at Pan Yun: "Little Master Aunt…"

Pan Yun: "…Did your jade pendant's space break?"

Yin Qingjun immediately beamed and scampered forward: "No, it's just that I'm coming to look after Little Master Aunt. In front of others, I need to make some pretense. Little Master Aunt, which room can I stay in?"

Pan Yun had never imagined Yin Qingjun would move in, but she pointed: "That one used to be Tao Yanbai's."

Yin Qingjun immediately carried his bundle inside, quickly made the bed, and eagerly asked Pan Yun: "Little Master Aunt, what can I do? Shall I clean the courtyard for you?"

Pan Yun: "Cook for me. I'll clean the courtyard myself."

Yin Qingjun's smile froze—he couldn't escape the fate of cooking, no matter where he went?

Pan Yun saw his expression and sympathized: "Miaohe and Tao Yanbai loved cooking. I hope you can be like them."

The rule of Mount Sanqing: juniors cook.