The next day, new news appeared in the capital.

The legitimate eldest son of the fourth-rank Xue family, who had been missing for over ten years, had actually been found. Such a thing was truly unheard of, and it immediately spread throughout the wards.

At the same time, a message came back from Yatang Teahouse—Ding Yiyuan had agreed to join the path of enlightenment.

This was within Yun Chu’s expectations. She wrote a letter and had Qiutong deliver it to Yatang Teahouse, then had it forwarded through several hands to reach Ding Yiyuan.

When Ding Yiyuan read the letter, he again found it absurd.

However, Master Shanji had even divined the matter of a nobleman emerging from the dilapidated temple. The matters in this letter were probably also close to the truth.

He immediately took out the copper coin from the envelope, brought his newly obtained travel documents, entered the capital, and found a spot to sit down on the busiest street in the Eastern Market.

He was no longer the disheveled figure from three days ago.

He wore a blue-black robe, his graying beard and eyebrows neatly trimmed, hanging down to his chest, making him look like a man in his forties or fifties.

In reality, he was not yet thirty years old. Due to the tremendous hardships he had endured over the past six months, combined with his long beard, he looked much older.

He took out the copper coin from his sleeve and placed it on the ground.

A woman selling handkerchiefs next to him asked in surprise, “What does placing a copper coin mean? What business are you doing?”

Ding Yiyuan replied, “Placing a copper coin means I’m selling a copper coin.”

The woman found it amusing and pressed further. “How are you selling this copper coin?”

Ding Yiyuan held up one finger. “One tael of silver.”

At these words, many people in the market began to laugh.

“One copper coin is worth one wen. One tael of silver can exchange for a thousand copper coins. Do you take everyone for fools?”

“I’ve been setting up a stall in the Eastern Market for over twenty years. This is the first time I’ve seen someone selling copper coins. How strange!”

“Isn’t that the truth?”

Ding Yiyuan’s face remained calm, turning a deaf ear to the crowd’s words.

A day passed, and naturally no one inquired.

On the second day, he appeared again in the Eastern Market. The woman couldn’t help but laugh. “You couldn’t sell it yesterday, which shows people aren’t fools. Why are you here again?”

Ding Yiyuan sat on the ground. “Therefore, today I’m selling it for ten taels of silver.”

The onlookers laughed heartily, treating him completely as a joke.

On the third day, he quoted a price of one hundred taels of silver, and the number of onlookers grew larger. Besides watching the spectacle, people were more curious.

On the fourth day, Ding Yiyuan quoted a price of one thousand taels of silver.

Though his expression appeared calm, his heart was actually quite panicked. Could a copper coin really be sold for one thousand taels of silver?

He thought it impossible.

But Master Shanji said someone would come to buy it.

So he just had to wait.

More and more people gathered to watch. Everyone chattered away in discussion, and he worked hard to maintain his composure while sitting.

“Interesting, interesting!”

A young man’s voice came through.

It was one of the capital’s wastrels, the heir of Marquis Pingjin’s manor.

He pushed through the crowd and walked in, squatting down at the stall. He reached out to touch the copper coin, examining it from left and right, but couldn’t see anything special about it.

“This thing, one thousand taels of silver?”

Ding Yiyuan’s eyes observed his nose, his nose observed his heart, and he said lightly, “Flowers bloom between reality and illusion, destiny’s chaos is hard to comprehend. The copper coin is both illusion and reality.”

Young Lord Pingjin picked at his ear—he didn’t understand.

But he had money.

Spending money for amusement was his daily routine.

He threw down his money pouch, hitting Ding Yiyuan. “I’ll buy this copper coin. What’s all this about illusion and reality? Explain it clearly, quickly.”

Ding Yiyuan stood up.

Only then did Young Lord Pingjin realize this person was very tall with a very long beard. He looked somewhat like a distinguished master, and the playful smile on his face involuntarily faded somewhat.

“In the south, there will be great chaos.” Ding Yiyuan gazed toward the south, then looked toward the direction of the Yun family’s general’s manor. “What the copper coin indicates—the stellar signs are abnormal, the nation’s war god, the Heart constellation is covered by dark clouds…”

Young Lord Pingjin frowned. “Can you speak like a normal person?”

Ding Yiyuan spoke slowly. “This dynasty’s war god is the Pillar State General. What I mean is, the Pillar State General has gone missing.”

“Nonsense!”

“Where did this swindler come from, daring to speak falsely about the general’s manor!”

“The Pillar State General is killing enemies at the front lines. How could he possibly go missing!”

“Swindler! Big swindler!”

The Pillar State General held tremendous prestige among the common people. The crowd didn’t believe a single word of what Ding Yiyuan said, grew extremely angry, and couldn’t help but throw things at him.

Young Lord Pingjin’s attendants snatched back the money pouch in the chaos. “Spreading lies to confuse people, daring to deceive even our young lord. Let’s see how we’ll teach you a lesson!”

Ding Yiyuan held his head as he was beaten with fists and kicks.

Having been beaten so often over the past six months, he had long grown accustomed to it and knew how to minimize the harm to himself.

After those people vented for a while, they dispersed.

The matter of selling a copper coin at a high price had actually reached the ears of many people. Now that this person had spoken such treasonous words, combined with Young Lord Pingjin’s embellished spreading of the tale, the matter also spread through the capital’s noble circles and reached the ears of those with intentions. Upon careful investigation, the result was that Yun Silin had indeed lost contact.

This time, the imperial court immediately erupted.

“Your Majesty, someone personally witnessed General Yun entering South Yue territory and losing contact thereafter.”

“In the memorial from the General of Chariots and Cavalry, it was mentioned that the King of South Yue held many secret discussions with General Yun, intending to win him over…”

“General Yun is the garrison commander of the Western Frontier. Why did he suddenly go to the southern border? This action is too suspicious.”

“This subject has reason to suspect that General Yun has defected to the enemy and betrayed the nation…”

The Emperor’s face darkened.

Yun Silin had carried an imperial edict to secretly go to the southern border to execute the General of Chariots and Cavalry, but then lost contact. He wouldn’t believe it if the General of Chariots and Cavalry wasn’t behind this.

But the General of Chariots and Cavalry was the Empress Dowager’s own nephew. The Empress Dowager and the remnants of the former Crown Prince’s faction still had influence in the court. The secrets involved weren’t convenient to announce publicly.

He trusted that Yun Silin would never betray the nation.

However, the National Preceptor’s divination, the rumors among the common people, and the ministers’ outrage couldn’t be resolved with just the word “trust.”

“We request Your Majesty dispatch troops to South Yue to capture Yun Silin!”

“Yun Silin colluded with the enemy and betrayed the nation—this cannot be tolerated by heaven’s principles. We request Your Majesty deal with the Yun family!”

“Our Great Jin has reached today with exceptional difficulty and cannot tolerate the slightest error. We beseech Your Majesty to make a decision!”

The Emperor said nothing.

Chu Yi laughed first. “Based on just this little evidence, you want to convict the Yun family? Don’t the lords think this is hasty?”

One person said fearlessly, “Then may Prince Pingxi explain why Yun Silin left his post at the Western Frontier without authorization to go to South Yue? Furthermore, after Yun Silin went to South Yue, why did he lose contact?”

“A great general guarding the nation’s borders can guard the Western Frontier as well as the southern border. There’s no need to explain to a mere third-rank official like you.” Chu Yi clasped his hands and looked toward the dragon throne. “Father Emperor, your son is willing to lead troops to South Yue, rescue General Yun from dire straits, and execute the true traitor who colluded with the enemy!”

The Emperor: “…”

Third son had just been beaten by him with twenty heavy strikes of the rod, administered in the harshest manner. That he could persist in attending court was already remarkable—riding horses and fighting battles was simply impossible for him.

After deliberation, he spoke. “Where is the General of Light Cavalry!”

The General of Light Cavalry stepped forward.

“We bestow upon you thirty thousand elite troops. Go to South Yue and be certain to find Yun Silin’s whereabouts!”

“Yes! This subject receives the decree!”