[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming":3,"chapter-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-97":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Unorthodox Sword of Ming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2337302,4570,"Chapter 97: All Arranged","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-97",97,"\u003Cp>Wang Cong confidently took Pan Yun to the county office the next day to handle the procedures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun had been here once before, last time to inquire about the procedures and materials needed to build the Mountain God Temple, and had waited in line for half an hour just to see the Registrar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Wang Cong led her straight to the County Magistrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>County Magistrate Ming Xuan, around thirty years old, sported a small mustache and sat leisurely in the main hall reading a book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The government office runner ushered Wang Cong in and called out before they even reached him: “Your Honor, Master Wang Cong has arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan dropped his book, revealing half his face; seeing Wang Cong, he immediately tossed it aside and burst into laughter, “It really is you! Hahaha, I knew you’d be back soon—when did you return to the county?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong bowed and smiled, “I arrived home yesterday, and came today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan’s gaze swept over Pan Yun, and he shook his head with a chuckle, “You came so quickly—clearly you’ve come with no good intentions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t hide it from Your Honor—I’ve come with a favor to ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan turned back to his chair and sat down. “Then I’ll hear you out before deciding whether to rise and catch up with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong smiled and introduced Pan Yun: “This is my junior master aunt. My third and fourth masters encountered her by chance while traveling and discovered she had exceptional talent for the Dao. So they redeemed her from servitude and brought her back to the mountain. Now, like my father, she has taken the Mountain God Pan Gong as her master, follows His Divine Edict, and has adopted the Pan surname. She’s here to request two things from Your Honor: first, to change her name and remove her from the household register; second, to proceed with the construction of the Mountain God Temple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan paused thoughtfully. “It’s not a difficult matter—I can handle it all for you. But one thing: won’t you be traveling for trade next year? Won’t you take the imperial examination?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong shook his head and smiled. “I have no interest in an official career.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan frowned. “You—you’re a fool. Whether Daoist arts or trade, both are minor pursuits, nowhere near as grand as an official path. A true man cannot live only for his own comfort!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong: “My trading house now employs fifty-six people—that means I support at least fifty-six lives. I’m content. As my business grows, I’ll support even more. How is that only caring for myself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan: “But with your talent, you could become a local magistrate and benefit far more people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong shook his head. “Not necessarily. I’ve seen too many officials trapped by their positions. In terms of actual benefit to the people, they’re likely less effective than a mere merchant. If I can’t be a great man, nor live freely as I wish, why bother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan was speechless for a moment, then said, “You overthink it. The Emperor is wise and mighty—we still have chances to fulfill our ambitions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun sneered, adding cryptically, “The Emperor is wise and mighty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan turned to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun lifted her eyelids, her bright eyes fixed directly on him. “Is Wang Zhen still in favor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan’s face flushed crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong burst into laughter, clapping his shoulder. “Don’t mind her, Ming Brother—my junior master aunt is blunt, but that’s exactly what I wanted to ask you too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan angrily shook off his hand. “Say this only to me—don’t go spreading it outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat crouched under the eaves, silently crossing the threshold. It asked her: 【Why provoke him?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【If you want to clear your name, the bureaucracy is an unavoidable obstacle. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you’ll win every battle. In Yushan County, is there anyone better than the County Magistrate at understanding the bureaucracy?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun replied silently in her mind: 【He tolerates me speaking so freely about the Emperor—that means he has high tolerance. If we build a relationship, gathering court information later will be easier.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiaohei had no reply. It padded forward, when Ming Xuan suddenly exclaimed, “Where did this stray cat come from?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun picked it up. “It’s not a stray—it’s the spirit cat of our Sanqing Temple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Wang Cong. “Your Sanqing Temple is getting more and more superstitious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun, who had been about to promote her talismans, immediately fell silent, hugged the cat, and smiled sweetly at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was an atheist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had no intention of preaching her talismans to an atheist—it would be a waste of effort and only invite trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong didn’t press his friend to believe what he believed. He changed the subject. “Enough of state affairs—let’s talk about ordinary people’s matters. Could Your Honor help this humble citizen with these small matters?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan rose and led him to the Household Office. “Have you chosen a name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong: “Yes—single character: Yun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bamboo symbolizes purity—good meaning,” Ming Xuan glanced at Pan Yun. “I hope she lives up to your hopes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong pulled out Zhang Xiaomei’s household register page and the original slave contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew if the contract was real or fake—Ming Xuan glanced at it, couldn’t tell, and treated it as genuine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where will you register her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong hurriedly said, “Register her at Sanqing Temple on Sanqing Mountain.” Ming Xuan frowned slightly. “I recall your Sanqing Temple already has two orphaned young Daoist novices registered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My two junior sisters were abandoned infants—picked up by my father and uncles on the road, raised from infancy to this size. Your Honor can’t possibly deny them registration?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan said, “The court has rules: found abandoned infants must be sent to the Orphanage. Your Sanqing Temple raising them privately violates regulations. And as a Daoist temple, you’re under stricter oversight. Your Sanqing Temple is a small one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong smiled faintly. “If my two junior sisters hadn’t been rescued, they’d have starved, frozen, or been eaten by wolves and dogs. Your Honor—Yushan County’s streets are full of beggars. If the Orphanage worked, why are those beggars still homeless?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan: “You! You always accuse me when I point out your Sanqing Temple’s violations!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong: “You started it—you insulted Sanqing Temple first. I merely stated facts. If facts offend you, shouldn’t you reflect and correct yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun interjected: “I know where the beggars in the county need help. Would Your Honor like me to guide you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan: “I see—you two are here today specifically to annoy me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong laughed heartily. “Not annoying, not annoying—I brought you a gift. First, finish my paperwork, then I’ll give it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Registrar and clerks in the Household Office wanted to cover their ears, shrink into the floor, and vanish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.read\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong summoned the Registrar and registered Pan Yun on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The register book clearly recorded her original home, the reason for registration at Sanqing Temple on Sanqing Mountain, her former name, and her new name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the issued household register page could not contain all that—it listed only her current name: Pan Yun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun wanted exactly this page. Her lips curled slightly; her eyes sparkled. With this, finding her father and brothers in Datong would be far easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong also handled the paperwork for building the Mountain God Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan stood beside him, flipping through the documents. “I’ve said before—your Mountain God Temple on Sanqing Mountain needs rebuilding. The county office can contribute some funds, and with donations from good people, building it won’t be a problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not for any other reason—during the September Sanqing Festival, when other Daoists come to Sanqing Mountain to study the Dao, it’ll look better,” Ming Xuan shook his head. “But you’re stubborn—you refuse county funds and refuse to raise donations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong said, “I’ve told you—it’s the Mountain God’s Divine Edict. Only my father and junior master aunt are to fund the temple. Even I, as his disciple’s disciple, am forbidden to contribute.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong spoke truthfully, but Ming Xuan didn’t believe him—he kept shaking his head. “Hmph, you’re just fooling me. You won’t take free money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong smiled. “We appreciate Your Honor’s goodwill. The temple can’t be built—but we can repair the road.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said, “The road from Yushan County to Sanqing Mountain is too narrow. The mountain path is treacherous; during the Sanqing Festival, rain makes it nearly impassable. If Your Honor wants to boost the economy around Sanqing Mountain, improve the road—make it wider. And rebuild the bridge from Fenshui Village to the mountain base.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t even mention it,” Ming Xuan said. “I offered you a hundred taels for the temple—you want me to spend ten thousand taels on road repairs? Even if you emptied the county treasury, I couldn’t raise that much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong: “That stretch of road doesn’t need that much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dozens of li of mountain path—need widening, need to prevent rockfalls, need a bridge rebuilt—how could you not need it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan cut him off. “Where’s the gift? I’ve finished your paperwork—where’s what you promised me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong grinned and pulled two sheets of paper from his sleeve. “These are essays by Wang Xingjian, which I had copied during my trip through the capital. I brought them all the way back for you—take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan was delighted. “Essays by Minister Wang? I must read them carefully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Registrar and clerks: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn’t understand—really couldn’t. They’d thought it was silver notes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xuan opened them immediately and began reading with great interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Registrar and clerks turned away, utterly baffled—how could an essay compare to silver?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Registrar handed the completed documents to Wang Cong and smiled. “Master Wang, is there anything else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong glanced at them, bowed in thanks, and said everything was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He casually placed a small pouch beside the Registrar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Registrar quickly glanced at Ming Xuan—seeing him absorbed in the essays, he slipped the pouch into his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong folded the documents, draped his arm over Ming Xuan’s shoulder, and pulled him toward the door. “Come on, let’s go eat—I’ll treat you. While we eat, I’ll tell you—I’ve gained plenty of new insights on this trip.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?” Ming Xuan immediately tucked the essays away and walked shoulder to shoulder with him. “What insights?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll tell you at the restaurant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why go to a restaurant? Come home—my wife already prepared the meal. Bring your aunt too—we’ll eat together. Afterward, I’ll show you my calligraphy—I’ve improved a lot this year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s lucky number is any number ending in 9—screenshot as proof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1807,"2026-06-20T22:03:57.478Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ba11e2cb1c7983880092dca32c3827900e7556c17df70130d21aed5a14faa6e7","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-98","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-96",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-cover.jpg"]