Chapter 528: Cai Zai Lai

Pan Yun looked torn: "Maybe you should ask my second senior brother to take a look?"

Yang Shiqi saw her face scrunched up and smiled: "Could it be that Lord Yin's medical skill surpasses even the Imperial Physicians'?"

Pan Yun shook her head: "My second senior brother's medical skill is certainly no match for the Imperial Physicians; my first senior brother might be comparable…"

Thinking of the legends surrounding the Great Ming Imperial Medical Bureau, Pan Yun amended: "Then again, maybe not—my second senior brother may not match all the Imperial Physicians, but some of them, perhaps."

Yang Shiqi let out a soft laugh, the heaviness in his heart instantly lifting, even feeling his body improve somewhat.

He smiled at Pan Yun: "No need to trouble Lord Yin—old yet not dying is a thief; I have no wish to become an old thief."

Pan Yun opened her mouth, held back for a long while, then comforted: "Lord Yang, you are you, Yang Ji is Yang Ji—you needn't listen to what others say."

She said: "Your son is over forty, older than my father, and not some infant still nursing—his actions shouldn't be blamed on you."

Yang Shiqi's gaze was calm, gentle: "But just now you yourself said he is my son."

Pan Yun frowned.

"Even someone like you, who defends me, unconsciously calls him my son—how could others possibly separate me from him?" Yang Shiqi said: "Those who condone his crimes and conceal them do so precisely because he is my son, Yang Shiqi's son."

Pan Yun fell silent.

"Those who impeach me are not wrong—I truly failed to discipline my household."

Seeing Pan Yun and Xue Shao's moods sinking, Yang Shiqi laughed, waved his hand: "Let's not speak of that disobedient son anymore—today, having two young friends accompany me has sharpened my appetite; let's have a meal together."

Pan Yun and Xue Shao agreed.

The kitchen quickly prepared the meal.

The old steward gathered the blanket from Yang Shiqi's wooden bed, helped him sit up against the pillows, set up a low table, and invited Pan Yun and Xue Shao to sit on the bed.

Yang Shiqi pointed to the cushion beside him and smiled: "I'm sorry to impose on you."

Pan Yun and Xue Shao shook their heads repeatedly and sat down.

The kitchen had prepared mostly soft, bland dishes suited for the elderly.

Pan Yun and Xue Shao found them unfamiliar, yet both ate their bowls of rice with great relish.

Seeing them enjoy the food, Yang Shiqi's appetite returned, and he ate nearly half a bowl of rice.

He was curious about Pan Yun.

"I heard a bird demon once attacked the Imperial Prison, and rumors whispered it was targeting Wang Zhen—but you defeated it. Is that true?"

Pan Yun's chopsticks paused; she looked up at him: "Lord Yang, are you serious, or joking?"

Yang Shiqi burst into laughter: "I know the bird demon came for you—but how the court spread the tale, it ended up saying it was after Wang Zhen. I heard it so often, I grew confused myself, so I couldn't help asking—did I misremember?"

Pan Yun immediately said: "You didn't misremember, and neither did they—the bird demon came for both me and Wang Zhen."

Yang Shiqi shook his head: "You're a child who never tells the truth plainly—this one thing, you're far behind Xue Shao."

Pan Yun: "I'm going with the flow. No matter how I explain, rumors will persist—why waste effort?"

Yang Shiqi sighed: "I hope you keep this mindset forever."

"Hm?" Pan Yun was puzzled.

Yang Shiqi said: "I see you'll face endless criticism in the future—if you hold this understanding and never abandon it, your inner peace will suffer less, and you'll fare far better."

To reassure him, Pan Yun nodded: "I'll keep these words in my heart."

Yang Shiqi saw she hadn't truly absorbed them, yet was willing to memorize them for his sake—he smiled: "You're a kind, generous child; Heaven won't wrong you."

Yang Shiqi ate with them, his energy finally spent, his whole body sinking into exhaustion.

Pan Yun and Xue Shao no longer dared to disturb him and quickly took their leave.

The old steward moved to escort them out, but Pan Yun refused: "Stay and care for Lord Yang."

Before leaving, Pan Yun turned back to look at Yang Shiqi.

He sat in the brilliant afternoon sunlight, yet radiated profound loneliness; from afar, she finally saw the full contours of his face.

Her innate power activated silently—she saw heavy yin energy on him, also called death qi.

Pan Yun's eyes filled with sorrow; only when Xue Shao tugged her did she snap back, then followed him in silence.

Outside the Yang mansion, they walked in silence for a long while before stopping.

Xue Shao asked her: "What did you see? I thought you were about to cry."

Pan Yun said: "I once hated him—I thought he didn't deserve to be Chief Grand Secretary. He knew your uncle and my father were innocent, yet as head of all officials, he did nothing to uphold justice."

"But now that he's dying, I'm heartbroken."

Xue Shao said: "Birth, aging, sickness, death—these are the natural ways of man."

Pan Yun turned to look at him: "You're a scholar, yet you understand life and death better than I, a Daoist Priest."

"Understanding life and death has nothing to do with one's status."

Pan Yun asked casually: "Then what does it depend on?"

"Investigating things, extending knowledge," Xue Shao said: "The Great Learning has eight principles: investigating things, extending knowledge, sincerity of intent, rectifying the heart, cultivating the self, regulating the family, governing the state, bringing peace to the world."

Pan Yun fell into thought, then said: "Oh no—nowadays everyone's fixated on governing the state and bringing peace to the world; few remember cultivating the self or regulating the family, let alone the first four principles."

Xue Shao said: "That's why education is vital—my great-uncle loved teaching, and so did my father and Pan Ershu."

Pan Yun looked up at him. Xue Shao smiled and nodded: "So you don't need to comfort me—when my Pan Ershu was dismissed and sent home to teach, he wasn't sad at all; he was happy."

He could now, without guilt, lay down the burden of office and return to teaching.

The injustice had been cleared; his heart was free of attachments.

Pan Yun: "What about you?"

Xue Shao: "I'm not sad either."

He said: "I'm glad to be sent to inspect the Jiangnan region. Though the path ahead is hard, I'll strive to see truths I've never witnessed, strive to find solutions, and fulfill my duty as a Censor."

"If I ultimately fail, I will have no regrets."

Xue Shao smiled: "Whatever happens benefits me. Who knows? Might a seventh-rank Censor inspecting Jiangnan gain deeper insight than a Third or Fourth-rank official?"

Pan Yun gave him a thumbs-up: "You're awesome—I think the same way: whatever happens, it's all to my benefit!"

Xue Shao: "So, you really won't take me along when you head south tomorrow?"

Pan Yun glanced around, then lowered her voice to him: "No way—I'm flying back."

Not a single mistake in content, not one!

"Hm?" Xue Shao looked at her, puzzled.

Pan Yun winked at him.

Xue Shao understood and nodded: "Then it really won't work—I'm on official patrol and need seals from every local government along the way."

Pan Yun: "Exactly. If you weren't an official, just traveling privately and happened to be going the same way, I'd definitely take you."

Xue Shao murmured: "Looks like I really will have to set up a stall and earn money after leaving Jingcheng…"

Pan Yun turned her head: "What did you say?"

Xue Shao snapped back to himself: "Nothing. Well… let's meet again in Jiangnan."

Pan Yun agreed.

She turned to leave, then remembered she still owed Xue Shao money, so she stepped back, pulled two large silver ingots and three talismans of safety from her sleeve, and shoved them into his hands: "Here's the money I borrowed from you—these talismans are a gift."

Xue Shao hugged the silver ingots, eyes gleaming: "Perfect—I don't need to set up a stall anymore…"

Pan Yun: "Why would you set up a stall?"

Xue Shao smiled broadly and shook his head: "Nothing. Thank you."

"Why are you thanking me? I should be thanking you."

Xue Shao smiled: "Thank you for remembering to repay me."

Pan Yun: "…Am I the kind of person who breaks her word?"

"No, that's not what I meant," Xue Shao hurried to explain. "I've lent money to many people, but few remember to pay me back."

Pan Yun looked at him sympathetically: "I'm different—I only lend to people I believe can repay. Those who can't, I just give away outright."

"You're quite generous."

Pan Yun bared her teeth at him: "So far, besides my father, brothers, and my master and senior disciples and juniors, no one has ever been listed as a gift recipient when borrowing from me. If someone can't repay, I just refuse to lend!"

Xue Shao fell silent.

He returned to the rented house.

The house was lively—neighbors had come over to pick up items.

The neighbors greeted Xue Shao warmly, carrying or shouldering things away.

Since his uncle and he were leaving Jingcheng, they had to return the house; many things inside couldn't be taken, so they gave them to neighbors. Whatever couldn't be given away or carried was left for the next tenant.

Xi Jin closed the courtyard gate and picked up a broom to sweep: "Master, our trunks are packed, but we haven't rented carts yet. I went to the carriage stable again this morning—if we rent a single cart to Nanjing, it's twelve taels of silver; if we join a caravan and bring only two quilts and two bags, it's eight taels; if we bring no quilts, just the bags, it's one tael less…"

Xue Xuan said: "Don't rent. Walking is better—it trains your leg strength, calms the mind, and lets you think clearly as you go."

Xue Shao snapped back: "Let's buy a horse and cart. When we reach Nanjing, if we don't need it, sell it; if we do, keep using it."

Xue Xuan and Xi Jin turned to look at him at once.

Xue Xuan: "You got rich?"

Xi Jin's eyes lit up: "Master, did you earn more money?"

Xue Shao pulled two silver ingots from his sleeve: "I collected a long-overdue debt."

Xue Xuan exclaimed: "We're this destitute, yet this person still repaid their debt? What a good soul—who is he?"

Xue Shao: "Lord Pan's daughter, Pan Yun."

Xue Xuan raised an eyebrow: "I've heard tales of her, but never met her."

Xue Shao: "Pan Ershu, haven't you visited Lord Pan since he got out of prison?"

Xue Xuan: "Why should I visit him?"

"You're both victims, and you both cleared your names together…"

Xue Xuan smiled faintly and cut him off: "That's enough. A gentleman's friendship is as light as water—no need to force connection."

Pan Hong also said: "I can be a distant friend to Lord Xue. I admire his character and respect his wisdom—that's enough. No need to force connection."

Pan Yun: "Alright, I was actually quite interested in this Lord Xue."

(End of Chapter)