Xuanqing Guard

Chapter 346: Chapter 346: Spider Web

Fuan Palace is located in the northwest of Palace City, and beyond it lies the bounds of the Harem. This is also the deepest place foreign ministers are permitted to enter.

Because there is a warm spring beneath Fuan Palace, hot soup baths are available year-round. It is also the Emperor’s favorite place to be during winter.

Yet, Pang Ban, who has served before the Emperor for nearly fifty years, can count on one hand the number of times he has been summoned directly to Fuan Palace. In general, the Emperor prefers to conduct affairs in the Diligent Governance Hall rather than Fuan Palace.

All the way in silence, a eunuch led Pang Ban to the entrance of Fuan Palace, bowed after arriving, then went in to report, leaving Pang Ban standing outside.

Looking up, he could see steam rising behind the tall palace—this was the warm soup within.

"Lord Pang, His Majesty invites you."

"Thank you for guiding the way."

The whole time, Pang Ban walked with his head bowed low. Especially after entering Fuan Palace, he did not look ahead, his gaze fixed just a few feet below. He relied on his perception, so it was not as if he would stumble. The reason was that sometimes palace maidens would come and go in Fuan Palace—he needed to be careful to avoid any hint of impropriety.

Entering a warm pavilion, Pang Ban saw Yang Jian wearing a loose long robe.

"Greetings to Your Majesty."

"Mm, sit and speak."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Only then did Pang Ban raise his head. His eyes swept across the Emperor, and his heart tightened slightly. He found that the Emperor’s complexion between the brows was much worse than the last time they met. Moreover, in his perception, the Emperor’s soul fluctuated abnormally, as if it was trembling on a small scale, rather than the stable state it should be.

"Speak. What urgent matter compelled you to request an audience twice?"

The Emperor’s voice was flat, devoid of emotion, and not loud, as if he lacked vitality.

"Your Majesty, it concerns the military."

"The military?" The Emperor’s bland face showed a trace of doubt, not understanding what urgent issue in the military required Pang Ban to bring it directly to him.

"It is like this—the origin was a rectification operation earlier in Jingxi, where a man named Ma San, a pseudo-evil cultivator, was uncovered. Following this lead, our Xuanqing Guard’s Black Banner Battalion traced Ma San’s downstream contact to the southern Southern Barbarians..."

The only matter Pang Ban could bring before the Emperor as an "urgent issue" was that affair in Jingxi. Originally, he had not intended to bring it before the Emperor so soon, since there had not yet been substantive progress. But, to ascertain the Emperor’s current state of health, he had put aside such concerns. Even if it was hasty, at least now he had discovered the Emperor was indeed declining in health.

When Pang Ban reached the part about "Ministry of War implicated and highly likely acting as the main instigator," the Emperor suddenly swept the teacup by his side to the ground with a bang, shattering it to pieces.

A eunuch swiftly poked his head in to glance, then quickly withdrew.

Pang Ban seized the moment to kneel and remained silent.

"Is it a few individuals, or is the entire Ministry of War rotten? What about the Jingxi Army and the Border Army? Is this open rebellion?" The Emperor’s chest heaved, suppressing his anger so as not to erupt in fury.

"In reply to Your Majesty, the Ministry of War is currently tightly structured. It is difficult to uncover anything by ordinary means, only by investigating from the bottom up. Judging by the information collected so far, it is not wholly corrupt."

The Emperor’s expression, which just now had been one of rage, reverted in an instant to calm, but his lips curled in a cold smile: "Not wholly? Heh, splendid, splendid! These people act pitiful every day, claiming to be oppressed by civil servants, full of righteous indignation. Now it seems that’s accurate. The appointment of military supervisors truly was apt!

Investigate! No matter who you find, do not stop. The investigation must reach the very end!"

How many died in the great war forty years ago? How much money and grain was squandered? How many sleepless nights endured? The Emperor remembered all this vividly, and he would not allow the Southern Barbarians in the south to rise again—and certainly not in this manner.

"I understand, Your Majesty. To avoid alarming the enemy, the investigation is progressing from the bottom up. The Jingxi Town Governor’s Office has deployed its most capable front-line Black Banner Battalion to take charge. There are already leads; I believe more developments will follow soon."

"The investigation is entrusted to the Jingxi Town Governor’s Office? Can’t your Commander’s Office conduct it?" Compared to the Governor’s Office, the Emperor clearly trusted Pang Ban’s men more.

But Pang Ban explained, "This case was initially investigated by the Black Banner Battalion in Jingxi Fengri City. In terms of familiarity, they are highest. The lead investigator is a prodigy, surname Shen, given name Hao; highly capable. The case of illicit arms by the Jingbei Army was investigated by him, as was the Sword Emperor’s Tomb, and the epidemic cover-up affair, all under his responsibility."

The Emperor dealt with countless affairs throughout the year—major matters piled up. Rarely would an issue remain on his mind, but there was still an impression. Hearing Pang Ban mention it, he responded, "I recall something. If you trust this person so much, proceed as you see fit. Bring results quickly."

"I understand, Your Majesty."

"That is all, you may withdraw."

"Your Majesty, I still have matters to report."

The Emperor took a deep breath, apparently impatient, and waved for Pang Ban to speak quickly.

"Your Majesty, recently several Princes have been active, and many acts are outside protocol, even preparing to travel and claiming inspections elsewhere..."

"Enough. Withdraw."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I take my leave."

Though the final matter was barely begun before being cut off, Pang Ban’s purpose was already achieved. He confirmed that the Emperor’s health was abnormal—especially toward the end. The Emperor seemed agitated, with his soul fluctuating in evident disorder.

Moreover, when the issue touched upon the Princes, the Emperor evaded discussion entirely—the signs of indulgence were clear.

With these realizations, Pang Ban quickly left the Imperial Palace, weighed down in thought.

...

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Violent coughing hunched the Emperor over, and a clump of blood the size of a fingernail was expelled from his mouth onto the floor.

"Medicine! Cough, cough, cough..."

"Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Chen says, this medicine can be taken only once daily—no more..."

"Half a bowl! Cough, cough, hurry, cough..."

The eunuch, face stricken, could do nothing but pour half a bowl of medicinal soup from the kettle and deliver it to the Emperor.

Once the soup was swallowed, the Emperor’s complexion grew paler, but the violent coughing quickly subsided.

"Carry me to the warm soup."

"Yes."

The Emperor, weak throughout, was carried by several eunuchs on a soft couch to the warm soup at the rear. Stripped of the wide outer robe, the Emperor sat naked in the warm soup, letting out a comfortable sigh. As the eunuchs who served him year-round helped him undress, their eyes always flashed with pity.

Inside the warm soup, from the Emperor’s back all the way to his chest, his emaciated body was covered by a black-red web-like pattern, resembling a spider web, which penetrated deep into his flesh and blood—also seemingly pulsing with his breath.

Only immersed in the warm soup would these webs grow sluggish, affording the Emperor some comfort.

"Pang Ban truly is a clever man; he must have noticed."

In the haze rising from the warm soup, the Emperor smiled softly, watching the sky gradually darken, as if speaking to himself.