Chapter 409: Everyone Knows

The Emperor's smile slowly faded, and everyone in the private room stared at her with wide eyes.

Xue Shao was also surprised, opening his mouth but holding back his words.

Cao Jixiang was the first to shout: "How dare you! Do you know who our Young Master is?"

Pan Yun spoke softly: "I don't know."

Cao Jixiang choked on his words, then snapped: "If you don't know, don't speak nonsense! You can't even discern who your master is—how dare you utter such treasonous words?"

Pan Yun internally scoffed: With his uniquely distinctive voice and these exact words, if she hadn't been certain they had no collusion, she'd suspect he was giving her hints.

But…

Pan Yun refused to reveal the Emperor's identity.

If she did, the game would no longer be fun.

The Emperor found nothing wrong with Cao Jixiang's words, nor did he believe Pan Yun could deduce his identity from them.

He sank into thought for an instant, then immediately categorized Pan Yun as a fraud, his interest draining away. "Then tell me, how did I lose my family fortune?"

He said: "My family fortune is vast—I wouldn't lose it so easily."

Pan Yun sneered: "Building a fortune is hard; destroying one is simple. Besides—is this so-called fortune truly your personal property alone?"

The Emperor's smile stiffened slightly.

"Can you manage your fortune as effortlessly as you move your own limbs? Can your servants serve only you and this fortune with pure loyalty, free of self-interest? And can you distinguish loyalty from treachery, and choose only the words that benefit your fortune?"

The more Pan Yun spoke, the more serious the Emperor's expression became.

"Does your fortune have no external enemies? Can you defeat them and protect your fortune?"

The Emperor's eyes narrowed as he fixed his gaze on Pan Yun.

Pan Yun met his stare unflinchingly, leaning forward, and asked him word by word: "Most importantly—are you truly committed to managing this fortune well, or do you prioritize your own interests?"

The Emperor tightly pressed his lips: "Naturally, I prioritize the fortune."

Pan Yun stared at him steadily and said: "I hope Young Master will always remember these words."

The Emperor stared back at her. "Do you know who I am?"

"Oh dear, this Daoist Priest is shallow and unskilled—I can't calculate anything so precise, so I don't know."

"Don't know?" The Emperor scoffed at her, but didn't expose her. "Then, Daoist, call me Zhu Da Young Master."

Pan Yun went along with it: "Zhu Da Young Master."

The atmosphere eased. The Prince of Cheng, who had been holding his breath, finally exhaled—and was about to change the subject when the Emperor pointed at him and said: "You, calculate for him."

The Prince of Cheng's heart instantly tightened.

Pan Yun turned to look at the Prince of Cheng.

Unlike the Emperor, who met her gaze directly and openly revealed his curiosity and suspicion, the Prince of Cheng appeared timid and flustered; he met her eyes for only an instant before instinctively looking away, unable to hold her gaze.

After watching him for a moment, Pan Yun said: "Young Master Second has the bearing of a dragon and phoenix—your future achievements will not be low. But I have one piece of advice for you."

The Prince of Cheng looked up at her curiously.

After a moment's thought, Pan Yun said: "A person with a broad heart can not only forgive others, but also forgive himself."

The Prince of Cheng was baffled—he considered himself reasonably open-minded, with no narrow-minded actions. Why would this fortune-teller say this?

The Emperor frowned and spoke for the Prince of Cheng: "My younger brother has a gentle disposition, but his heart has always been broad. Daoist, are you even capable of fortune-telling?"

You're so inconsistently accurate—it makes me swing endlessly between belief and doubt. Don't you know how painful that is?

Pan Yun smiled and said: "Young Master First and Young Master Second share deep brotherly affection. I hope you both will always remember this—no matter what happens, think of each other, and never betray this bond."

The Emperor glanced at his gentle, timid younger brother and snorted: "You don't need to remind me—I have only one younger brother. I'll treat him well."

The Prince of Cheng looked at the Emperor with deep emotion.

Pan Yun's gaze shifted between the two, smiled, and said nothing.

Xue Shao stared at Pan Yun, then after a moment lowered his eyes.

He couldn't calculate it—but he knew Pan Yun had deduced something, and it certainly wasn't what the Emperor and the Prince of Cheng understood.

Pan Yun held out her hand to the Emperor. "Calculation's done. Two cash coins, thank you for your patronage."

The Emperor took two cash coins from his purse and placed them in her palm, then formally asked: "Who is your master?"

Pan Yun said: "This Daoist is Pan Sanzhu, disciple of the Mountain God of Mount Sanqing."

The Emperor's eyes lit up with excitement. "Have you actually met the Mountain God of Mount Sanqing?"

Pan Yun nodded: "Of course I have."

The Emperor looked skeptical. "Really?"

The Emperor had always been half-believing, half-doubting in matters of gods and spirits. Of course, publicly, he had to appear fully convinced—after all, to hold his throne, he must believe.

He, was the legitimate one!

The Great Ming was a dynasty fond of auspicious omens—nearly every Emperor had staged such events.

That's why the Emperor was deeply suspicious—after all, auspicious omens could be manufactured.

But thinking of the Daoist Priests enshrined in the palace, he couldn't help believing a little.

So he remained tormented, endlessly swinging between doubt and belief.

The Emperor rolled his eyes and asked: "Then is your cultivation method taught by the Mountain God?"

"No. It was taught by my eldest brother."

The Emperor instantly lost interest. Then he remembered: "Mount Sanqing? Who is Yin Song to you?"

"He's my second brother."

The Emperor fell silent.

Pan Yun didn't ask how he knew Yin Song. She knew he was the Emperor. He knew she knew. She knew he knew she knew. So asking would only make her look foolish.

They both knew—but the Prince of Cheng did not.

He exclaimed in surprise, "You're Yin Song's junior sister? Then who's stronger—you or Yin Song?"

Pan Yun, thinking of her second senior brother, replied bluntly, "I am stronger."

The Emperor had already thought of more possibilities; he narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Could Yin Song have deliberately urged him to leave the palace?

No, he hadn't told Yin Song he'd go find his second brother to play with. Yin Song hadn't followed him—unless he could predict such precise events.

The Emperor found this hard to believe.

If Yin Song had this ability, how could he still be only a Xia Guanzheng?

The Emperor suppressed his suspicions. Just then, dishes arrived, and the group fell silent.

Delicious dishes instantly filled the table; Pan Yun immediately stopped speaking, picked up her chopsticks, and waited.

The Emperor couldn't help smiling.

This was how a little girl should behave.

The Emperor picked up his chopsticks and signaled everyone to begin eating.

All four clearly loved food; from the start, their chopsticks never stopped. The Emperor noticed that Pan Yun and Xue Shao seemed even more at ease than his second brother.

He had already seen Pan Yun's boldness; now he couldn't help glancing at Xue Shao.

"What's your name?"

"My surname is Xue, single character Shao," Xue Shao smiled faintly. "Thank you, Young Master Zhu, for treating us. This is the best meal I've had since arriving in Jingcheng."

The Emperor frowned. "Judging by your attire, you don't seem poor. Then why are you selling calligraphy and paintings to fund your journey to the capital?"

Pan Yun: "Like the candidates outside this private room, loudly debating poetry?"

The Emperor: "They're exchanging knowledge."

Pan Yun: "But in the Chunwei examination, poetry counts for almost nothing. Isn't the Eight-Legged Essay the most important?"

Xue Shao nodded. "Most candidates with real potential are now frantically studying. Even if they discuss, they don't come here—they gather in small groups to analyze essays together."

"Those who come here to debate poetry are mostly those who believe they won't pass this time, and are here to build connections."

The Emperor frowned, puzzled. "What use are connections? Isn't the imperial examination supposed to be based purely on merit?"

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"It's very useful," Xue Shao said. "Few pass the Metropolitan Graduate exam on their first try; passing twice is rare. So many first-time candidates who feel their knowledge falls short focus on building connections."

"If lucky, they may find a renowned master, or make one or two close friends to exchange annotated texts. Three years later, their chances of passing rise significantly."

"Or, some who believe they'll never pass may give up on further attempts. But this is still an opportunity—if they build connections, they can use their Ju Ren status to seek official posts. It's not an insignificant path."

The Emperor had never heard of such practices. After thinking, he hesitated, "Can Ju Ren really seek official posts? I… I recall there are still many Metropolitan Graduate and officials returning after completing their mourning period waiting for appointments. How could they be chosen over them?"

Xue Shao: "In poor, remote counties, no one wants to serve as magistrate—so they appoint Ju Ren. Some county commandants or deputy magistrates, though Lowest rank, are hard to advance in—but still offer opportunity."

"Metropolitan Graduate, the favored sons of heaven, look down on these posts. Officials who once held office but left for various reasons and now return look down on them even more. Hence, there are precedents for appointing Ju Ren."

The Emperor: "So these Ju Ren are willing to endure hardship?"

Xue Shao smiled but said nothing.

Pan Yun picked up a goose leg and said, "Since there are precedents, Ju Ren have the right to enter the pool of candidates for appointment. When a whole school of fish is thrown into a pond, and officials cast a net to fish them out, how do you know the one pulled up won't be a Ju Ren fish, brilliantly adorned and standing out?"

Prince Cheng startled. "Are you saying some Ju Ren bribe officials to secure better posts?"

Pan Yun: "I thought this was common. But seeing Young Master's shock, you two truly didn't know?"

Prince Cheng immediately glanced at the Emperor.

Though he was a prince, he rarely participated in court affairs. His daily greatest headache was still studying with his tutor and completing his homework.

So he genuinely didn't know.

The Emperor's face darkened. "Are officials in the Ministry of Personnel taking bribes?"

Pan Yun smiled. "Above money stands power. Compared to money, I think they yield more to power."

"Who has such authority to make them obey?"

Pan Yun: "Of course—the Emperor's favorite, Wang Zhen, father-in-law to nearly half the imperial court's officials."

Cao Jixiang's knees buckled; he nearly collapsed. He quickly glanced at the Emperor, face filled with terror.

Indeed, his expression was dark.

The Emperor was deeply displeased. He fixed Pan Yun with a piercing gaze. "Who sent you?"

Pan Yun had finished eating. She put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth. "Young Master Zhu—dare you come with me to a few places? Go there, and you'll know who sent me."

Zhu Qizhen stared at her, then said, "Why not?"

"Your Majesty—Young Master, no! This woman seems malicious. Better to arrest her and let Ma Shun interrogate her. You can learn everything you want to know."

Zhu Qizhen glanced at him, then put down his chopsticks and stood. "Let's go."

Pan Yun rose, shouldering her banner. "Let's go."

Prince Cheng looked bewildered. Xue Shao stood and pulled him up; the two followed silently behind.

The moment the four descended the stairs, the waiter rushed forward eagerly. "Did our guests enjoy their meal?"

Pan Yun nodded. "Very much. The dishes were excellent—especially the goose. Few can cook goose this well."

The waiter beamed. "Thank you, esteemed guests. The total is three taels and four qian."

Pan Yun turned to Zhu Qizhen. Zhu Qizhen looked back.

Cao Jixiang immediately stepped forward with a money pouch to pay.

Zhu Qiyu was a step slower but didn't argue with his brother. He trailed behind, anxious.

Xue Shao was puzzled. "Why is Young Master so worried?"

Zhu Qiyu: "My elder brother's status is noble. I can bring him to the main street, but if we go elsewhere, what if he's jostled?"

Even though it was his Imperial Brother who left the palace to find him, he was the one who brought him to the main street.

Not only would he bear blame if something happened—even if nothing happened, if the old ministers in court found out, he'd be ruined.

He lowered his voice and said, "Xue Shao, this Pan Yun is too bold. Where on earth is she trying to take us?"

Xue Shao shook his head; he didn't know either.

Pan Yun led the Emperor through twists and turns, finally turning into a ward in the north of the city.

The residents of this area were of far higher status than those in the eastern part of the city, where mid- and lower-ranking officials and gentry lived mixed together.

Generally fifth rank and above — important court officials and noble meritorious families all lived in this area.

Oh, Prince Cheng's Wang Fu is also in this area.

It's close to the imperial palace, so going in and out of the palace is convenient.

Pan Yun, shouldering the banner cloth, led them familiarly into one alley, then bent from that alley into another.

Zhu Qiyu could not help asking, "Why not take the main road instead of squeezing through these little alleys?"

The Emperor also looked at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun gave them a shush, led them to a corner, and peeked out to look.

Cao Jixiang was the first to sweep a glance outside; only after finding no danger did he set his mind at ease, but once he clearly saw the doorway Pan Yun wanted them to look at, his expression shifted slightly, and he turned back to give her a meaningful look.

Zhu Qizhen stood at the back and hurriedly asked, "What is it? Let me see."

The two brothers Zhu Qizhen together pulled Pan Yun aside to peek out, and saw the alley outside the wall was packed with people.

Every one of them held a gift box in their hands, queuing in an orderly line to hand them in through the side door.

That's right — the door in the alley was the side door of a residence, normally used by servants running errands or by family members for daily comings and goings.

Zhu Qizhen saw that the household had set up a table inside the door to register the gifts received.

They were far away, but the voices inside were not low, and Zhu Qizhen heard a voice from within the door: "Cao Qi of Fengyang, Southern Zhili, presents banknotes of three hundred taels, together with a golden Buddha…"

Zhu Qizhen listened for a while, his brow tightly furrowed. "What gifts is his household receiving? Birthday gifts? Or for a wedding, funeral, or marriage?"

(End of chapter)