Chapter 30: Facing Death with Equanimity

"Long live the Empress Dowager, may you live for ten thousand years..."

Early in the morning, in the Golden Throne Hall.

Hundreds of officials bowed and knelt, their voices resonating like a great bell. The Empress Dowager sat behind the beaded curtain, her gaze passing over young Ning Chen to scan the assembled officials, a satisfied smile gracing her face.

Although Pan Yu had yet to uncover the mastermind behind the assassination attempt, the Empress Dowager understood that such a person must be buried deep. This was not a matter that could be resolved in a short time. However, she had at least observed Pan Yu’s work ethic during this period. He had been investigating day and night, strengthening the palace guard, and more importantly, through his machinations, several officials she found displeasing had been removed from the court. For this alone, Pan Yu could not only atone for his failures but also deserved a handsome reward.

Moreover, she was aware that the "official position donation" and "crime-redemption silver" systems proposed by Zhao Siwen, the Minister of Revenue, had been remarkably effective. As expected, Zhao Siwen stepped forward and reported triumphantly, "Congratulations, Your Majesty. According to the Ministry of Revenue’s audit, the treasury has received an additional eight million taels of silver during this period. I believe that if these systems continue, the emptiness of the national treasury will soon be resolved."

The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Ning Chen, who remained in a state of bewilderment, and smiled. "My son, do you see? These are the pillars of support our Great Ning requires! Although your intentions were good in wanting to share my burdens, the idea of engaging in business is truly preposterous. You have made enough of a scene; do not mention business again, and focus on learning the righteous path from these ministers."

Ning Chen chuckled to himself: *My dear Mother, you had better cherish this moment of happiness, for soon you will no longer be able to smile...*

Aloud, however, Ning Chen replied with feigned docility, "Yes, Mother. I will certainly learn from Minister Zhao in the future!"

Just then, a eunuch hurried in to report, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager and His Majesty, Fan Dayou, the Censor of the Xichuan Circuit, is kneeling outside the palace, begging for an audience!"

"Fan Dayou?"
"Why has this old scoundrel returned to the capital?"
"Damn it, why didn't that man Pan Yu report this to me!"

The Empress Dowager frowned inwardly. She glanced at Zhao Siwen, who understood immediately and stepped out, saying to the eunuch, "What qualifications does a seventh-rank official have to demand an audience in the main hall? If he has matters to report, he should follow protocol!"

Seeing this, the assembled officials echoed his sentiment. The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction. "Tell him there is no need to kneel outside. Whatever the matter is, he must report it according to protocol!"

She truly did not wish to see that old scoundrel Fan Dayou, for she knew that nothing good ever came of his presence. Yet, no one noticed that Ning Chen, witnessing all this, was laughing to himself: *My dear Mother, if Fan Dayou were so easily dismissed, why would I treat him as my sharpest blade?*

*Mother, dear Mother, do you know what a sharp blade is? It is one that speaks the words I cannot say, does the deeds I cannot do, and cuts down the people I cannot slay myself.*

While he laughed internally, Ning Chen maintained a naive and submissive expression.

Sure enough!

The eunuch reported again, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Fan Dayou says this concerns the Commander of the Imperial Guard, General Pan Yu. If you refuse to see him, he—he will..."

*It concerns Pan Yu?*

The Empress Dowager’s delicate brows furrowed, and her face turned pale with fury. *What is happening? What does this have to do with Pan Yu? What is this old scoundrel trying to do?*

The court erupted into murmurs.

"If I refuse to see him, what does he intend to do?" the Empress Dowager asked in a deep, cold voice.

The little eunuch trembled in fear. "He—he said that if you do not allow him to enter the court, he will take it upon himself to interrogate General Pan on behalf of the imperial court, and will execute the General on the spot for the sake of the people..."

The moment these words were spoken, the court was thrown into chaos.

*Execute the Commander of the Imperial Guard on the spot?*
*That seventh-rank minor official, Fan Dayou, dares to say such things? Has he gone mad?*

The Empress Dowager was consumed by a sudden, violent rage. *Execute him on the spot? And on behalf of the people? Has Fan Dayou lost his mind? How dare he use such a tone? Does he have no regard for me at all?*

But soon, she felt something was wrong. *Could Pan Yu have fallen into his hands? How is that possible? Pan Yu is the Commander of the Imperial Guard; how could he be captured by an old, weak-handed scholar? What is going on?*

She quickly realized that Fan Dayou was the Censor of Xichuan, Pan Yu’s home province, and she recalled that she had not seen Pan Yu since last night. Intense curiosity and unease held her in a long silence. *Could there be more to this? No, regardless, Pan Yu must not fall into others' hands, or else...*

Seeing the Empress Dowager’s reaction, Ning Chen felt even more exhilarated. *Beautifully done! A fine Fan Dayou—you truly did not disappoint me! Let this grand play concerning Pan Yu be ignited by you!*

As expected, after a long moment of contemplation, the Empress Dowager waved her hand impatiently. "Bring him in. I want to see exactly what he intends to do!"

Soon, Fan Dayou walked into the Golden Throne Hall with a stride that showed no fear, appearing before everyone. Perhaps due to kneeling for too long, his face was deathly pale, but his eyes burned with determination. He looked like a warrior about to face his execution, as if every step forward could be his last.

"Your subject, Fan Dayou, pays respects to the Empress Dowager and His Majesty..."

Fan Dayou bowed respectfully, but before he could finish, the Empress Dowager interjected coldly, "I ask you: did you say that you would execute the Imperial Guard Commander Pan Yu on the spot for the sake of the people?"

Fan Dayou raised his head, neither humble nor arrogant. "That is correct. It is indeed what I said."

The Empress Dowager stood up abruptly, pointing at Fan Dayou, her gaze dark and menacing. "Fan Dayou, you have immense audacity! You, a mere seventh-rank Censor, what right do you have to arrest the Commander of the Imperial Guard? And to boast that you will represent the people to execute him? I think you no longer want your head! Tell me, what have you done to Pan Yu!"

Fan Dayou said, word by word, "Your Majesty should ask what he has done to me."

The Empress Dowager was stunned. "I have no interest in your petty disputes. Tell me, where is Pan Yu? Release him immediately! I want to see him now!"

"Your Majesty, I will naturally release Pan Yu, but not now. Please allow me to seek justice for the people first!" Fan Dayou remained firm.

"Insolent!" the Empress Dowager barked. "Fan Dayou, are you attempting treason? Guards! Take him into custody, interrogate him strictly, and find out where Pan Yu is..."

Beside them, Ning Chen frowned slightly. At this moment, he could feel that the Empress Dowager’s partiality for Pan Yu was not even hidden. *Why is she so anxious to protect him? Is it merely because he is her confidant?*

Unwittingly, Ning Chen sensed that this play he had painstakingly designed might yet reveal something even deeper.

As she spoke, Fan Dayou suddenly interrupted, "Your Majesty, you are the Empress Dowager of Great Ning, a virtuous queen renowned throughout the world. Even if you wish to arrest me, must you not at least allow me to state Pan Yu’s crimes? At the very least, you should ask why I arrested him and how I managed to do so!"

The Empress Dowager sneered, "Enough nonsense! Whatever you have to say, go say it in the dungeon!"

Ning Chen felt a sense of impending disaster! He had never expected that Fan Dayou’s use of her reputation as a "virtuous queen" to pressure her—as per his instructions—would fail to work this time. He grew tense. Was the Empress Dowager truly going to ignore everything and arrest Fan Dayou? Had he miscalculated?

At the same time, he became more certain that Pan Yu must hold a secret unknown to the world.

Soon, accompanied by the sound of footsteps, Cao Dahai, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, arrived with his men. Ning Chen’s heart sank. He could not let Fan Dayou be captured; otherwise, all his efforts would be in vain, and Fan Dayou might lose his life.

Thinking of this, Ning Chen instinctively wanted to stand up. However, just as he was about to rise, and just as Cao Dahai was about to seize Fan Dayou, Fan Dayou suddenly unbuttoned his robes in front of everyone.

He shouted, "Your Majesty, see clearly! This is the reason I arrested him!"

As his voice rang out, Fan Dayou’s chest was revealed to all. The medicinal cloth already stained red with blood instantly drew everyone’s gaze. The next moment, Fan Dayou ripped the cloth away, and fresh blood surged forth.

The crowd gasped. The hall fell into absolute silence. Anyone could see that if the wound had been an inch deeper, this old scoundrel would have been a corpse, let alone standing upright.

Unknown to them, as everyone stood in shock, Ning Chen silently clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, his eyes involuntarily moistening. He had to suppress his emotions; he could not reveal his feelings. He knew clearly that last night, Fan Dayou had walked the line between life and death. And all of this was for him.

Fan Dayou’s voice sounded once more, "Empress Dowager, although I am only a seventh-rank Censor, I am still an official of the Great Ning court! According to the laws, assassinating a court official is punishable by death! Furthermore, Pan Yu is the Commander of the Imperial Guard; as an official, he has knowingly broken the law, which warrants an even heavier penalty! I ask you, Your Majesty, as a Censor, do I not have the right to execute such a villain on the spot?"

The moment these words were spoken, the court exploded into thunderous murmurs.

*What is happening? Was this severe wound on Fan Dayou caused by Pan Yu? Was it really Pan Yu who attempted to assassinate Fan Dayou? But why would the Commander of the Imperial Guard try to assassinate a seventh-rank Censor?*