Chapter 419: Bracing Up

Hu Jing isn't a kind or upright man, otherwise he wouldn't have knowingly gone to work as a thug for Song Bei, even though he knew Song Bei was a pirate, openly defying the imperial court.

But he has boundaries.

He carries his own internal measure.

In his view, the court's maritime ban meant their smuggling targeted the court's interests and those of the wealthy landowners and merchants who secretly colluded with the naval forces to smuggle.

Beyond them, they harmed no ordinary commoners.

Because the profits from court-sanctioned maritime trade went solely to the Emperor and the imperial family, with no connection to the state treasury.

And as for the wealthy landowners and merchants colluding with the navy to smuggle—what possible connection did that have to ordinary people?

At least when they smuggled, they bought goods from commoners at fair prices, bringing tangible benefits to the people.

So helping Song Bei smuggle, he had done it with a clear conscience.

But this time is different.

The treasure on the map should, by right, belong to the state treasury—that belongs to the people.

For Pan Yun's life-saving grace, he was willing to give her the real treasure map, but he refused to hand the fake one to the court.

He'd rather the court get no map at all.

"The fake map… if they sail out and can't find the treasure…"

"Even if you give them the real map, in the end the court will still hear they found nothing—or they found it, but the treasure was already emptied," Pan Yun said, shrugging. "So what difference does it make if we give them a fake?"

Hu Jing: "The Embroidered Uniform Guard operates right under the Son of Heaven's nose—the map will surely reach the Emperor's hands. Surely not?"

Pan Yun looked at him with an expression that said, You're so naive: "The Emperor is the most self-centered, most foolish ruler in the land. Do you really expect him to sail out himself to hunt for treasure?"

"This matter will almost certainly end up in Wang Zhen's hands," Pan Yun shook her head at him in disappointment. "Hu Daxia, you were so wise just now when you warned me—why are you so naive and foolish now?"

Hu Jing stared at her silently, then said: "It's not that I'm naive and foolish—I still have some trust in the Emperor and the court. It's you—you're so young, how can you hold such deep prejudice against the court and the Emperor?"

Pan Yun snorted and said nothing.

She had seen the best government, and the worst; she had witnessed the most enlightened rulers, and the most foolish leaders.

Zhu Qizhen, though not yet among the most foolish, was far from enlightened.

Even if he spoke beautifully in the VIP room of the Top Graduate Pavilion, she judged by deeds, not intentions—his actions over the past few years proved he was a self-centered man.

Self-centered and sentimental.

For an emperor, both are fatal flaws: self-centered yet sentimental, he will inevitably listen only to those who flatter him and inevitably abuse power for personal gain.

Pan Yun slammed two ten-tael silver ingots onto the table and said sternly: "I still advise you to hand over the treasure map now and get out while you can. But if you insist on leaving, I won't stop you."

Hu Jing looked at the silver ingots on the table, then chose to follow his heart—he propped himself up, dressed, slipped the silver into his pocket, and prepared to leave.

Pan Yun called softly from behind him: "There are many martial artists in Jingcheng looking for you right now."

Hu Jing said: "I'll hide well. Even injured, they won't catch me easily."

Pan Yun leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching him leave.

Wang Cong crept quietly to her side and asked: "Little Master, why did you two argue?"

Pan Yun: "I have a good temper—how could I argue? We didn't argue!"

That tone wasn't the tone of someone who hadn't argued.

Wang Cong silently muttered to himself, then whispered: "Little Master, there are many martial artists out there hunting for Hu Daxia." Pan Yun crossed her arms and snorted.

Wang Cong added: "But it would actually be better if he leaves. Once we confirm the last map fragment is in our hands, the best outcome would be for him and the two Japanese pirates to die—after all, only the dead can keep secrets forever."

"Little Master, don't worry—Hu Daxia is honest. He won't betray us. When they catch him, he'll die under torture, and we'll be safe."

Pan Yun turned and glared at him. "Who says the dead keep secrets? Haven't you heard the saying: corpses have voices too?"

"It's precisely because of fools like you that so many murders occur. If killing to silence someone worked, then what would be the point of having the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate?"

Wang Cong immediately apologized: "Yes, Little Master is right."

"What are you standing around for? Go follow him! If they capture or kill him, all the medicine we've spent this time on will be wasted."

Wang Cong immediately agreed and ran off after Hu Jing.

Pan Yun grumbled, grabbed Pan Xiaohei by the neck, and dragged him outside.

Pan Xiaohei struggled, realized he couldn't escape, and went limp, limbs dangling. "Even if you're using Wang Zhen's money, it's not that unlucky—but such a huge sum falling into your hands? I advise you not to go out."

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Pan Yun dragged him toward the northern city, "I just did a quick divination—today's auspicious. My luck is boosted."

Pan Xiaohei: "Where are you taking me?"

Pan Yun: "Aren't you curious? Why is there only one box of banknotes in Wang Zhen's room? Where did all the banknotes he collected before yesterday go?"

Pan Xiaohei: "I searched thoroughly—the mansion has none!"

Pan Yun: "Either he didn't hide them in this mansion, or they're hidden somewhere you can't find—like a secret chamber, perhaps."

As they neared the northern city, Pan Yun estimated the distance in her mind, felt it was right, and lifted the black cat, locking eyes with it: "I'll give you one chance—follow him, find where he hid the money."

Pan Xiaohei: "Enough is enough. What are you after?"

Pan Yun smiled slightly at him. "Money—I can't keep it. But it's very useful to us. The next seal remains unbroken—don't you want to take a chance?"

"Hu Jing is too indecisive. As long as the treasure isn't in our hands, there's uncertainty. We can't bet everything on this treasure."

"Wang Zhen has held power for years—especially since the Empress Dowager's death, many courtiers and officials fawn over him. When people grow proud, they make mistakes. He collected this many banknotes in one day—how many do you think he collected over the past two years?"

Pan Yun said: "Find it. Turn it all into our merit."

Pan Xiaohei lifted his head slightly.

Pan Yun: "Merit. Seal."

Pan Xiaohei perked up his head.

Pan Yun: "And little fish—three days' worth."

Pan Xiaohei's limbs regained strength; he bargained: "A month."

Pan Yun agreed at once, "Fine, one month."

Pan Xiaohei felt a bit regretful, thinking he'd asked for too little.

(End of Chapter)