Chapter 781: Never Failing in Propriety

Pan Yun still looked skeptical: "Without concrete proof, of course Jiang the steward can say whatever he wants."

Jiang the steward snapped angrily: "This is the Emperor's secret edict, delivered by palace messengers—those eunuchs are still staying at the mansion. How would I dare lie about something this grave?"

"That's hard to say—people's hearts are hidden deep inside. I can't just believe whatever you say," Pan Yun's eyes narrowed slightly as suspicion crept in: "Or perhaps you and the Commandant have been deceived too."

Pan Yun regarded him with clear doubt: "Jiang the steward, you haven't really been fooled, have you?"

"Impossible!" Jiang the steward said. "These were people sent from the palace!"

Pan Yun: "What's so strange about palace emissaries? Every year, dozens of eunuchs and palace maids are expelled for misconduct. Someone could easily be forging imperial orders—no handwritten edict, only verbal instructions. That's just empty words. Jingcheng is so far away—who knows what's true?"

Jiang the steward's eyes narrowed: "So you're saying, Daoist Pan, you refuse to obey the Emperor's command?"

Pan Yun: "That's incorrect. I naturally wish to obey the Emperor's command—but you must prove this is truly his command."

Jiang the steward's face turned ashen, his expression shifting several times. After a long silence, he turned to Wang Cong and Gong Xia.

Gong Xia rose politely; Wang Cong looked at Pan Yun, and only after she nodded did he rise and leave.

The private room door closed. Gong Xia and Wang Cong exchanged a glance, smiled faintly, then walked to the railing and looked down—yet both unconsciously strained their ears to listen to the conversation inside.

Too bad, Jiang the steward spoke too softly—nothing could be heard.

Jiang the steward sat directly beside Pan Yun and leaned close, whispering: "Daoist Pan, many people are involved here. The maritime ban has been lifted. This case should end here—otherwise, if you dig deeper, you won't know how many more will be dragged in."

He added with heavy implication: "Not only did Prefect Lu and the Maritime Command fail in their duties, but even you, Daoist Pan—if examined closely—aren't clean either. Last time your ship sailed out, it was through a private arrangement between Prefect Lu, the Maritime Command, and the Maritime Trade Office, who turned a blind eye. When you examine it closely, the crimes here are serious."

Pan Yun looked astonished: "I sailed to help the Emperor bring back the mined silver. Officials from every level of the bureaucracy used my ship to go out."

Jiang the steward: "Do you have a written order? Is there official documentation from the Maritime Trade Office requisitioning your private vessel? Besides, was your ship carrying only officials? You smuggled out plenty of people and goods—none registered, no customs duties paid. How do you account for that?"

Pan Yun: … That made perfect sense. She had no rebuttal.

Seeing her silence, Jiang the steward whispered: "The prison has already had one fire. Daoist Pan, you don't want anything else to happen and drag innocent people into this, do you?"

Pan Yun fell into thought, her expression hesitant. After a moment, she asked cautiously: "Is this truly the Emperor's verbal order? Or are you deceiving me? What if, after I change my testimony, all the blame gets dumped on me?"

Jiang the steward immediately replied: "Anyone who enters the Commandant's residence has been verified. We don't believe just anyone who comes claiming to carry imperial orders."

Pan Yun tapped her fingers lightly on the table, thought for a moment, then gave a slight shake of her head: "But what if someone in the palace is forging the Emperor's orders?"

Jiang the steward frowned and looked up at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun met his gaze without fear, her eyes sharp: "Before coming, you knew my identity. You should know I hold a grudge against Wang Zhen. How do you know this isn't someone's scheme to kill two birds with one stone?" Jiang the steward frowned—Pan Yun's meaning was clear: she would only help if they gave her proof this was truly the Emperor's will.

Jiang the steward lowered his eyes and thought long, then gritted his teeth and said: "I can let you meet the emissaries from Jingcheng—but you must show proper respect. No more rudeness like today."

Pan Yun's lips curled slightly: "Jiang the steward, you jest. Though I am a Daoist priest, I come from a scholarly family. Our Three Pure Ones Monastery is a legitimate sect. Our discipline is strict—both in family upbringing and monastic rules—we are required to conduct ourselves with dignity and propriety, never humble nor arrogant, always following etiquette. So outside, I never fail to be courteous."

Jiang the steward: …

Her words stung his chest, but some things he had to say anyway.

"Good, you understand propriety," Jiang the steward sneered softly. "The emissaries here are different. They serve not only the Emperor but also the Empress Dowager. The Emperor is extremely filial—offending them is worse than offending the Emperor himself, far worse than Wang Zhen."

Pan Yun's whole demeanor softened. She leaned toward Jiang the steward, eyes wide with astonishment: "Could it be… one of the people behind those Japanese pirates is the Empress Dowager?"

Jiang the steward jumped, quickly glancing at the door to confirm it was tightly shut, then hissed: "Daoist Pan, watch your tongue!"

Pan Yun gave him a look and lowered her voice: "Jiang the steward, if you want me to act, you must tell me some of the truth. The Japanese pirates have patrons—four different masterminds working together. That's no secret. What's there to hide?"

Jiang the steward's eyes widened: "You—you said what? Four patrons?"

Pan Yun looked disappointed: "You don't even know that? And yet you came to me, promising to cover for them? Tsk, tsk, tsk…"

She beckoned him with her finger.

Jiang the steward immediately shifted his chair, leaning in curiously with his ear close.

Pan Yun whispered: "On the sea, we broke four pirate captains' mouths. Unfortunately, to save their lives, they only confessed half—but even half is enough. Four factions commanded them, including a prince."

Jiang the steward's eyes bulged, his heart pounding: "Why… why wasn't this reported?"

Pan Yun gave him a look of contempt: "The case isn't fully solved, evidence isn't secured. Reporting now would just alert the snakes and scorpions."

She whispered: "Even without reporting, the Empress Dowager showed up. If we had reported it, how many more demons and monsters would come crawling out?"

She lifted her gaze and fixed him with a steady stare, whispering: "So, Jiang the steward—what does the Emperor truly intend? To shield the Empress Dowager? Or to shield all four and blame it all on the Japanese pirates? The difference is enormous. Commander Jiang, don't misinterpret the Emperor's will."

Jiang the steward hesitated, murmuring: "Perhaps the Emperor doesn't even know… we should ask again…"

Pan Yun nodded: "Yes. The Emperor is filial—he can shield the Empress Dowager. But shielding the other three? That would be a loss. After all, the imperial envoy and the silver I brought back belong to the Emperor. Those people targeting the envoy and the silver are spying on the Emperor's people and his wealth."

It was strange too—the Empress Dowager has everything she could want. Why ally with Japanese pirates? Worse still, seizing imperial silver and murdering the imperial envoy—isn't that directly challenging the Emperor? (End of chapter)