Chapter 779: Like Lady

Soldiers turned their bodies, watching them surge past one by one; some knelt on one knee on the sand, while others dashed straight into the sea, still laughing wildly even after being knocked down by waves.

They stared blankly, their hardened hearts softening slightly, watching in silence.

After a moment, they turned their heads toward the nearby dock.

Two large ships were moored there, their general currently aboard.

Gong Xia Zheng stood with his hands behind his back on the ship, watching the spectacle; seeing the people so excited, he sneered: "They're acting like they'll get paid for this, hahaha…"

Pan Yun watched him coldly.

Gong Xia's smile froze; he awkwardly explained: "Daoist Pan, you've never lived by the sea—fishermen have a hard life; fishing is far harder than farming."

Pan Yun: "Fishing is indeed hard, but some are simply better suited to survive at sea. The purpose of lifting the maritime ban isn't to make farmers become fishermen—it's to let those who wish to make a living on the sea do so through fishing, giving them another choice, another path."

She gestured for Gong Xia to look at them: "Look, aren't they happy? Because they now have another way to earn a living."

Gong Xia nodded with a grin: "Yes, yes, this is all thanks to Daoist Pan. If you hadn't discovered the Japanese silver mines and just happened to bring back two hundred thousand taels of silver at this moment, lifting the maritime ban might still be years away."

Pan Yun was not pleased by his praise.

Seeing Miao Zhen glanced at Gong Xia and found his grinning demeanor truly annoying.

She stepped forward and said: "Little Uncle, Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle have arrived."

Pan Yun nodded to her and prepared to take leave from Gong Xia.

Gong Xia quickly stopped her—he had come today for a serious matter, not merely to watch the common folk's amusement.

"Daoist Pan, may we speak privately?"

Pan Yun gave Seeing Miao Zhen a slight nod and walked aside with Gong Xia; only then did he whisper his purpose: "The Commander of Quanzhou Garrison wishes to meet you."

Pan Yun looked at him in surprise; seeing his flickering gaze, she smiled faintly and nodded outright: "Fine. Let's pick a time—how about tonight at Ping'an Inn?"

Gong Xia's smile stiffened slightly; he hurried to say: "Tonight is too soon—Commander Jiang is still in Fuzhou, but his steward is in Quanzhou. If you don't mind, why not meet him first?"

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow and replied: "Fine."

The steward of Commander Jiang also bore the surname Jiang; he dressed like a scholar, with a small mustache, more like a secretary than a servant.

He was arrogant—even though he tried to be courteous, his chin was held higher than Gong Xia's as they entered the tavern together, and his gaze subtly looked down on others.

Pan Yun stood on the second floor, looking down; he looked up, yet somehow appeared even more haughty than she.

Wang Cong, who had come along to accompany Little Uncle in social matters, muttered two "tsks" and whispered to Pan Yun: "He's such a pretender."

Pan Yun's lips curled slightly; she whispered: "Aren't you curious? How could such an arrogant high official's steward want to meet a Daoist like me?"

Wang Cong: "You're no ordinary Daoist."

Pan Yun looked down at him, clearly seeing the disdain flicker in his eyes; she smiled softly: "He doesn't think so."

Saying this, she turned and returned to the private room, taking a seat first.

Seeing her simply turn away, Jiang's steward frowned.

Gong Xia, watching from the side, sneered inwardly but felt compelled to defend Pan Yun: "Daoist Pan is young, full of knightly spirit—she acts without rigid formalities."

Jiang's steward sneered: "Too much disregard for formality is a breach of propriety."

Gong Xia smiled awkwardly; if Jiang's commander weren't his direct superior, he'd truly refuse this task. He knew this steward spoke volumes to the commander—when officers needed favors, if they won the steward's approval first, the commander's consent was nearly guaranteed.

Thus, behind closed doors, he was called "Like Lady"—a title meaning he could half-run the household.

But such court gossip and unwritten rules were unknown to Pan Yun; even if she knew, she wouldn't care.

After all, she barely gave Cao Jixiang any respect.

From her words to Cao Jixiang, she showed little deference to Your Majesty either.

If she treats the Emperor and his favorite eunuch this way, how much less would she care for a steward of a garrison commander?

Gong Xia led Jiang's steward into the private room; sure enough, Pan Yun and Wang Cong were already seated.

Jiang's steward frowned slightly; seeing Pan Yun made no move to rise, his frown deepened.

Wang Cong glanced quickly at Pan Yun and instantly understood.

When a person is angry, they lose composure; losing composure reveals more information.

Little Uncle still held her reason, but Jiang's steward was already furious.

Wang Cong smiled faintly, stood up, and bowed to Gong Xia: "General Gong, Little Uncle and I arrived first—please take your seat."

Then he merely nodded politely to Jiang's steward.

Gong Xia knew he shouldn't, but couldn't help smiling; only when Jiang's steward glared coldly at him did he remember to introduce: "Daoist Wang, this is Jiang's steward, of the Quanzhou Garrison. This is Daoist Wang from Mount Sanqing, and this is the famed Pan Yun, renowned throughout Jiangnan."

Jiang's steward, seeing Pan Yun still seated, gave a cold, false smile: "I've heard Daoist Pan is young—today I see it's true. Before coming, our commander said your age is similar to our young master, and told me not to frighten you."

Pan Yun smiled but said nothing.

Jiang's steward's eyes flashed with cold light; he spoke slowly: "Now I see our commander overestimated the danger—Daoist Pan dared to leave the maritime ban, even traveled to Japan. How could a mere steward like me frighten you?"

Pan Yun laughed softly, her gaze falling on Gong Xia: "Didn't the Quanzhou Garrison claim credit for the June campaign against pirates?"

Gong Xia, who had been watching the drama, was pulled into the conflict—and he couldn't avoid answering.

He dared not offend Jiang's steward, nor could he offend Pan Yun.

He quickly smiled: "This success owes much to Daoist Pan, the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion, and the Wu Lin Alliance. Without your full support, the June campaign against pirates wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

In the June campaign, both Quanzhou and Fuzhou Garrisons secretly sent troops—for example, the soldiers Chen Wen dispatched belonged to Quanzhou Garrison.

Since it was considered a civilian operation, the imperial court did not publicly commend Quanzhou or Fuzhou Garrisons; instead, they found other excuses to praise the two commanders.

In truth, they had a record of merit noted quietly on the Emperor's and ministers' ledgers.

Among them, Pan Yun, the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion, and the Wu Lin Alliance contributed the most—Quanzhou and Fuzhou Garrisons had essentially taken advantage of them.

What could Gong Xia do?

He could only lavish praise on Pan Yun.

Pan Yun's lips curled slightly, she looked at Jiang's steward with quiet pride—perfectly fitting her age.

Jiang's steward, however, flushed crimson in a way utterly unfitting his age—from rage.