Chapter 1109

Mount Sanqing belongs to the Zhengyi Sect, where practitioners may marry and have children; even though Pan Yun is a Daoist Priest, Chinese people still insist on urging those unmarried to wed, and those already married to have children.

Though no one dared openly pressure Pan Yun, they privately gossiped about her, their eyes scanning like lasers anyone closely associated with her.

Would the State Tutor love the Emperor? Would she wish to enter the imperial harem?

Seeing how Pan Yun treated the Emperor as if instructing a son, everyone silently swallowed this question.

Could the State Tutor have taken a fancy to Yu Qian? Though Yu Qian already had a wife and children, and was old, he was talented, powerful, dignified, and the two could be called kindred spirits.

Intellectual love can transcend age and wealth.

At least half the decrepit old officials in court believed their teenage concubines genuinely loved them, not because of their power.

Until one day, they heard Pan Yun, with clear disgust, urging Yu Qian to maintain hygiene and bathe regularly…

That look of disgust instantly dispelled the notion.

Finally, they ran through everyone around Pan Yun and discovered that the person closest to her, most likely to develop a romantic bond, was Xue Shao.

The two were recognized as good friends, having collaborated since the exoneration of Pan Hong and Xue Xuan.

They had collaborated more than once—even the mission to Japan bore their traces.

Xue Shao was of the same age as her, and best of all, he cultivated the Dao and had declared he would never marry for the sake of his cultivation.

So, they were truly unmarried man and unmarried woman.

How could anyone not suspect, not wonder?

Zhu Jianji quietly shipped them off, but after becoming Pan Yun's disciple, he had only met Xue Shao twice before being exiled to Heilongjiang as Provincial Administration Commissioner.

Knowing this folk training mission would take him to Heilongjiang, Zhu Jianji had already prepared.

He cast Gu Bulue Wuyun aside, his face alight with excitement as he trailed behind Pan Yun.

Pan Yun cast him a light glance, as if seeing through his eyes into his soul: "Do you know why, after reaching Xue Shao, the court fell silent?"

"Huh? Silent? What silent? Mr., your student doesn't know what you mean."

Pan Yun gave a light hum: "You have three names for me here—State Tutor, Teacher, Mr. —you only call me Mr. when you're guilty."

Zhu Jianji lowered his head, hunched his shoulders, and stammered: "Then, then why?"

"Because Xue Shao satisfies no faction's interests," Pan Yun said: "Look at the people they've arbitrarily paired with me—every last one behind Yu Qian has vested interests. But Xue Shao? No one stands behind him."

Zhu Jianji's mind returned, and he began to think seriously: "Lord Xue hails from the Hedong Xue clan; though his branch is a collateral line, in officialdom, even those of the same surname but different clans often ally for profit—why doesn't the Hedong Xue clan stand behind him?"

"Because his great-uncle, the Hedong Education Official, educated even his own son Xue Xuan to avoid forming cliques," Pan Yun said: "When Xue Xuan was dragged to the execution ground, they merely tried to plead for his life—not to spare him from execution. Over the years, Xue Shao has remained upright and incorruptible; the enemies he's made are no fewer than Xue Xuan's."

Zhu Jianji's eyes brightened slightly: "I understand—Xue Shao is a pure minister, trustworthy and worthy of great responsibility."

"He is indeed now," Pan Yun glanced at him: "But people change. Who can say what the future holds? Crown Prince, remember: never assume the past defines the present, or you'll become blind and deaf—and you won't even know how Great Ming fell."

Zhu Jianji nodded solemnly.

"I understand—so because Xue Shao stands alone, if he were to marry Teacher, they would gain nothing, and risk losing much. Thus, since this speculation arose, though rumors spread, no one dares mention Teacher's marriage again—they fear that if they push too hard, you'll truly marry Xue Shao."

"So you see, those who pressure you to marry aren't merely pushing for marriage—when a union doesn't serve their interests, they'll sever the red thread themselves and do everything to dissuade you from marrying."