Chapter 813: Recommencing the Journey

Wang Cong was carried back to the inn, drunk.

He came back early enough; Quanzhou had grown lively lately due to the lifting of the maritime ban and the opening of the port, with a mixed crowd, especially during the New Year period, so Prefect Lu had imposed a curfew. When Wang Cong was brought back, the sky was still light, but fate was cruel—Pan Yun had returned to the inn early today.

Wang Cong stepped into the inn and, suddenly seeing his junior aunt, startled so badly that as he raised his left foot to enter, he tripped on the threshold, lost his balance, and crashed face-first to the ground with a thud.

Tao Yanbai rushed over to help him up.

Pan Yun rose, holding Pan Xiaohei.

The men who had brought Wang Cong back saw Pan Yun's dark expression and aura of two meters eight, instantly feeling like accomplices caught by a parent—they shuddered, turned on their heels, and fled.

Pan Yun glanced coldly at their retreating backs, then walked slowly to Wang Cong's side and asked: "What have you done behind my back that weighs on your conscience?"

Tao Yanbai helped Wang Cong sit on a nearby chair. Wang Cong acted as if he hadn't heard, clutching his head and groaning, "Dizzy."

Pan Yun shook her head, dropped the line of questioning, and told Tao Yanbai: "Make him a sobering soup, then help him to bed."

Tao Yanbai: "Do we still leave tonight?"

"We depart at first light tomorrow."

With Wang Cong this drunk, leaving him alone at the inn would make them uneasy to leave; besides, the journey to Ji'an is barely over an hour by flight—there's little difference between leaving tonight or tomorrow.

Wang Cong quietly opened one eye, saw his junior aunt walk off carrying Pan Xiaohei, then exhaled in relief, slumped all his weight onto Tao Yanbai, letting him half-carry, half-drag him back to the room.

Tao Yanbai was meticulous—he brought hot water to wipe Wang Cong's face and hands, then removed his outer robe.

He poured out the water and returned to tuck him in, only to find Wang Cong sprawled out, taking up the entire bed—and what struck him was that Wang Cong's eyes were wide open.

Tao Yanbai: "... Senior brother, you've been awake this whole time?"

"No," Wang Cong stared motionlessly at the mosquito net above him: "I just woke up. Junior brother, your sobering soup works wonders."

Tao Yanbai was skeptical but still pulled the blanket over him.

"Before I knew it, junior brother has grown so thoughtful," Wang Cong grabbed Tao Yanbai's hand, his expression solemn: "Junior brother, when I'm not around, I entrust your senior aunt and the two junior sisters to your care."

Tao Yanbai nodded: "I'll take good care of the junior sisters."

"No, you don't understand," Wang Cong said: "I mean your senior aunt and the two junior sisters. Third junior brother, your senior aunt may be powerful, but she's younger than all of us."

Tao Yanbai suddenly understood, nodding vigorously: "I'll take care of your senior aunt."

Wang Cong stared at him for a long while, then sighed: "I still think you don't understand."

Tao Yanbai scratched his head: "Senior brother, just tell me plainly how you want me to take care of her—I'll do it."

Wang Cong frowned at his stubborn junior brother, then said after a pause: "Just remember this: stick close to your senior aunt. Don't let her be alone with Xue Shao."

Tao Yanbai: "Why? Is Xue Shao a villain? Or a spy planted by someone else?"

"... You think too much," Wang Cong said helplessly: "Forget it. With your brain, I'm afraid you'll make things worse. Seeing Miao Zhen—go get her for me."

"Seeing Miao Zhen is younger than me..." Tao Yanbai muttered under his breath, disgruntled, as he went to find Seeing Miao Zhen.

Seeing Miao Zhen arrived quickly.

Wang Cong: "I'm going to sea. While I'm away, keep an eye on Xue Shao. Don't let him be alone with your senior aunt."

Seeing Miao Zhen agreed at once: "Alright."

Tao Yanbai, standing behind her, instantly widened his eyes.

Wang Cong nodded in satisfaction: "That's all. Go now. Oh, and when you reach Jingcheng, convey my greetings to Master and Second Junior Brother."

Seeing Miao Zhen nodded: "Alright."

Tao Yanbai looked from one to the other, then hurried after Seeing Miao Zhen as she left: "Why didn't you ask Senior Brother why he wants you to watch Xue Shao?"

Seeing Miao Zhen glanced at him and said: "You don't need to know. Just watch."

Tao Yanbai:...

Before returning to her room, Seeing Miao Zhen warned: "Don't tell your senior aunt about this."

Tao Yanbai: "Oh."

Tao Yanbai kept his silence, as expected—and Pan Yun noticed nothing amiss.

She was always lenient with the children, because she herself was still a child.

Whether in this life or her past, she always saw herself as a student, and as students, none should overly constrain another.

Every child loves freedom.

So she rarely interfered in Wang Cong's affairs, only supporting him when he needed it;

Naturally, she also rarely interfered in Tao Yanbai's affairs.

Fortunately, Tao Yanbai and the others were all self-disciplined—they never gave her cause to worry about their cultivation or studies; when they couldn't understand something, they studied it first themselves, then asked her if they still couldn't grasp it, and if she didn't know either, they wrote joint letters to their masters for answers.

Each letter was always copied twice—one sent to the Academy, one to Mount Sanqing—and they always received replies.

She herself also reviewed her lessons and gained much insight, for many questions were ones she'd never considered before.

Precisely because of them, her talisman arts improved, as did her knowledge of astronomy, physiognomy, and medicine.

So she liked taking all three with her wherever she went—not so much that she was guiding them in their trials, but that they formed a study group, constantly learning from each other.

All three junior disciples were very sensible, even more considerate than Wang Cong, because they were all extremely self-motivated.

Sometimes, after a long day's work, she was so tired she wanted to abandon her cultivation at night—but then she'd turn and see the three of them: one reading, one meditating—and she'd force herself to stay awake and complete her daily practice.

That's the power of a team: when alone, she might have simply let herself sleep.

Precisely because of this relaxed atmosphere, she didn't notice Seeing Miao Zhen always hovering near her, or Tao Yanbai lingering near Xue Shao—every time she spoke to Xue Shao, two people would be crouching nearby.

Seeing Miao Zhen, unwilling to be left behind, after two or three times, began crouching beside Pan Yun too, chin propped on her hand, listening to their conversation.

"Considering the time, Jingcheng must have received Magistrate Wu's memorial by now. Prefect Lu has agreed to contact the Southern Inspection Censor to submit an impeachment against Prince Lu, Marquis Huichang, Wang Ji, and the Chen clan and other local lineages." Pan Yun looked at Xue Shao: "Based on your experience, how long will the imperial court take to respond?"

Xue Shao: "The current Assistant Minister of Justice is my second uncle. From what I know of him, he'll act swiftly on the Ji'an case, but he'll suppress the case of the maritime assassination of the envoy delegation, letting all involved gradually surface before dealing with them."

Pan Yun nodded: "That's good. Though it will take longer, forcing all hidden players to reveal themselves is no bad thing."

Xue Shao: "We can wait." (End of chapter)