Chapter 979

“Pfft, who are you implying here? Who dares not seek revenge? His Majesty and the late Emperor were deeply bonded as brothers, constantly yearning to avenge and cleanse their shame—yet the treasury is empty, and the military is riddled with problems, so they endure humiliation in silence. How did it become ‘daring not to seek revenge’ in your mouths?”

“Don’t phrase it so nobly. Royal disputes—no one knows the truth. ‘Treasury empty’? That’s only fooling fools like you. The court collects such heavy taxes every year; how could the treasury possibly be empty?”

“That’s true. Last year, our village had two additional tax levies. If that still counts as an empty treasury, then we must ask: where did all the tax silver go?”

“Where are you from?”

“Ji’an, Jiangxi.”

“We in Shandong’s Laizhou also had two extra tax levies.”

“See? Everyone’s had tax hikes—it’s not just my word.”

“In my view, this land survey is just another way for the state to increase revenue, and the common folk still suffer. Better not survey at all.”

“Or perhaps it’s not the common folk who suffer—but corrupt officials and wealthy gentry who exploit the countryside?”

One sneered: “Foolish. Do you truly believe land surveying will increase state revenue and ease the people’s burden? The land uncovered will be the poorest of all.”

Pan Yun glanced over and asked the scholar seated at the next table: “Who is that man?”

“You don’t recognize him? He’s Shang Lu from Chun’an, Zhejiang. He ranked first in the provincial examination of Xuande Tenth Year and has been traveling to study—never expected he’d come for this imperial grace examination.”

“Many have placed bets he’ll be the top scorer of this grace examination.”

“Isn’t it too early to declare that yet?”

Pan Yun glanced at him once, smiled faintly, and turned to leave.

Miao Zhen also glanced at him, then tugged Miao He and Tao Yanbai to follow.

Miao He and Tao Yanbai walked far ahead but kept glancing back at Shang Lu, scratching their heads and asking Miao Zhen: “What did you notice?”

Miao Zhen: “The Star of Literature stirs—he will be the next Top Graduate.”

In truth, Shang Lu wasn’t just the Top Graduate—he was also the Provincial Graduate and the Metropolitan Graduate, the only Triple First in Great Ming history.

Of course, at this moment, only Pan Yun—who had read the history books—knew this; even she couldn’t be certain whether this timeline’s Shang Lu, amid so many historical shifts, would still pass the Metropolitan and Top Graduate examinations as his counterpart had.

Pan Yun decided to observe and wait.

Because Pan Yue would take next year’s spring examination, to avoid mishaps, Pan Yun decided to enter seclusion: “Even if the Ministry of Public Works comes calling, say I’m unavailable. Let them study on their own—if they can’t manage, wait until next March to ask me again.”

Miao Zhen asked: “What about us?”

Pan Yun swept her gaze over the three and said: “Focus on your own studies. Know nothing. Say nothing.”

Miao Zhen and the other two exchanged glances, bowed, and replied: “Yes.”

Like Pan Yun, as soon as the autumn examination results were posted, he immediately shut himself in, even skipping the Imperial Academy.

Soon after, classmates from the Imperial Academy came calling, but none even saw Pan Yue—Pan Hong dismissed them all.

Within just ten days, more and more people came seeking Pan Yue—not just his fellow students from the Imperial Academy, but also scholars from afar claiming to be admirers.

Even non-examinees came, hoping to befriend Pan Yue…

Pan Hong rejected them all, saying Pan Yue was in seclusion at home and would not leave until the spring examination.

Some came three times in a row, realizing they could not meet Pan Yue, then hinted to Pan Hong that they had a way to ensure Pan Yue ranked high in the spring examination.

Pan Hong looked up, smiled at him, then walked out of the courtyard and shouted toward the roof: “Embroidered Uniform Guard, there’s a man here attempting to cheat in the imperial examination—please come and arrest him.”

The man sitting on the chair froze in place; the Embroidered Uniform Guards hiding in the shadows fell silent for a moment, then leapt down from the roof, knocked on the door, and entered through the front gate.

They didn’t dare jump directly into the courtyard—it was too strange. They could crouch and peer, or stretch their necks to look—but anyone who tried to enter through any gate other than the front would be trapped in an illusion.

At first, several people “slipped” into the courtyard, each nearly dying from its tricks; finally, they had to humbly petition the Bureau of Celestial Observations to send someone in to drag the “slipper” victims out.

No one—not even Pan Hong—could see those who “slipped” into the courtyard, let alone retrieve them.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards entered openly through the front gate, dragged the man slumped on the chair away, and threw him straight into the Imperial Prison.

Once they interrogated his master and uncovered his intent, they handed him over to the Ministry of Justice.

That single shout turned the Pan household from a bustling gate to an empty one.

For the time being, the Pan household enjoyed peace.

Meanwhile, Pan Yun—who claimed to be in seclusion—was playing chess with Zhang Zijin. After hearing Pan Xiao’s vivid retelling, she fed him a rice cake.

Zhang Zijin glanced at Pan Xiao and said: “No wonder you were so calm about locking yourself away—this cat seems smarter than ever.”

Pan Yun: “He’s always been smart. His intellect equals that of humans.”

Zhang Zijin: “Are you truly doing nothing? Aren’t you afraid your father and brother will offend everyone?”

Pan Yun: “Those who attempt to cheat in the imperial examination to gain leverage over me? Let them be offended. Do I need to care about their gains or losses?”

“They say: better to offend a gentleman than a villain.”

Pan Yun: “If he’s a villain, even if I don’t offend him, he’ll come to offend me. If I must watch my steps because of villains, am I a gentleman—or a villain?”

Zhang Zijin paused, never having considered this question before.

Pan Yun seized his distraction, dropped a stone with a snap, and instantly captured five of his pieces.

Zhang Zijin looked down at the sound, saw she had wiped out a whole group, and smiled: “You’re right. Hesitation and overthinking lead to failure—especially hesitation born of fearing villains.”

Pan Yun: “Cheating in the imperial examination isn’t new to Great Ming. There was the Zhejiang-Fujian-Jiangxi scandal, and then…”

Pan Yun fell silent, closing her mouth.

Zhang Zijin smiled and asked: “And then what? Have you already seen when the next examination scandal will arise?”

Pan Yun smiled faintly, turning her chess piece in her fingers: “Interest stirs the heart. If no reform comes, just wait and see.”

Zhang Zijin: “I often wonder—do those born as Dao Children truly comprehend the Dao’s will far beyond us?”

Pan Yun looked up at him, puzzled.

Zhang Zijin: “My realm is far higher than yours. I sense the future, but vaguely—I still rely on celestial omens. Yet you rarely observe the heavens.”

“Your time studying the heavens is less than a fraction of your disciple’s. Yet you’ve always held a firm certainty about the future,” Zhang Zijin said. “Last year, you suddenly came to Beijing to meet Prince Cheng—I knew then you saw more than I did, and farther.”

Pan Yun remained silent. Zhang Zijin studied her calm expression and sighed softly: “No wonder Zhang’s disciples envied Zhang Liuzhen. At their age, I couldn’t say I felt no envy. You gifted ones are truly discouraging.”

Pan Yun: “You have a broad mind—unlike others.”

“Don’t flatter me,” Zhang Zijin dropped a stone with a snap, his tone heavy: “Ever since you became State Preceptor, you’ve been flawless. Your family and friends all behave with self-restraint—because nothing major has happened. But now, with the imperial examination, land surveying, military audits—all immense interests entangled—can you truly protect them?”

Pan Yun looked at him, silent.

Zhang Zijin spoke softly: “I’m telling you: true cultivators must abandon all worldly affairs. Only then will mundane matters not cling to you, reducing karmic ties so you may break through and ascend. I’m trapped here by force—but you walked in willingly.”

He pointed outside at the Forbidden City: “What’s so good about this cage?”

Pan Yun: “It’s not good—but the people inside this cage decide the lives of millions outside, even the world’s direction. And,”

she lifted her gaze to him: “Master, I cultivate merit.”

Zhang Zijin clicked his tongue, tossed his chess piece aside: “Those who cultivate merit never attain the Great Dao. They either die and reincarnate—or their souls scatter. No one has ever succeeded.”

“You’ve chosen the hardest path.”

Pan Yun: “I’m willing.”

Zhang Zijin stopped urging, nodded: “No more games. Thank you for guarding the palace these past days. I’m out of seclusion now—do whatever you wish.”

Pan Yun smiled faintly, rose, and bowed: “Master, my three disciples remain in the palace—please watch over them.”

Zhang Zijin raised an eyebrow: “What about your father and brother?”

Pan Yun: “Those are worldly affairs. No need for you to involve yourself.”

Zhang Zijin nodded, accepted.

Pan Yun slipped silently back to the Bureau of Celestial Observations, saw only Miao Zhen, then sealed her door. That night, she carried Pan Xiao out of the palace, out of the city, heading straight for the south.

Aside from Miao Zhen and Zhang Zijin, no one knew Pan Yun had left the palace—not even Miao He and Tao Yanbai. When they suffered injustice outside and couldn’t retaliate, they’d only rush to her door to complain.

After venting, they’d feel better and happily return to work and study.

Only Miao Zhen silently watched it all.

Pan Yun simply couldn’t stay still. The world was vast—and if she was to cultivate merit, she couldn’t just lock herself away practicing.

First, she went to inspect the newly built ocean-going ships, then remembered to ask about Wang Cong’s whereabouts.

Upon contacting him, she discovered Wang Cong had sailed away—not to Japan, but to Guangzhou.

“Guangzhou?”

Cao Jixiang sighed: “Yes. He said he wanted to buy land early, build shops and warehouses, as Guangzhou’s port reopens. He told me Guangzhou’s position in the South Seas is superior to Quanzhou—and that Guangzhou will surpass Quanzhou in prosperity.”

Pan Yun: “That’s not wrong.”

Seeing Cao Jixiang’s stunned expression, Pan Yun smiled: “Eunuch Cao, don’t be discouraged—you can steal customers.”

Cao Jixiang: “Guangzhou has natural advantages. How can I compete?”

“You can’t beat natural advantages? Then beat artificial ones. Quanzhou is closer to the Central Plains than Guangzhou, and after Quanzhou comes Jiangnan. Foreign merchants may first land in Guangzhou—but Ming merchants setting sail—can’t you lure them to Quanzhou?”

Pan Yun: “Once goods reach the port, they must be distributed. To export, you need roads. Lingnan’s development still lags far behind the southeast. If you lay good roads, build more shops, employ more workers, reduce costs—merchants, chasing profit, will naturally choose Quanzhou.”

Cao Jixiang pondered, found her logic sound.

He lowered his head, thinking: “Several official roads in Quanzhou turn into mud pits when it rains. I must urge the prefectures and counties to repair them.”

“Don’t just fix official roads—repair roads to villages too. If goods can’t reach villages, and village products can’t be shipped out, how can the economy thrive?”

Pan Yun: “Though ordinary folk aren’t as wealthy as great gentry and landowners, ninety-nine out of a hundred are ordinary folk—they’re the future economic backbone.”

Cao Jixiang doubted this, scoffed: “What money do they have?”

Pan Yun: “Isn’t the court’s purpose precisely to make these penniless people wealthy?”

“How much can a few rich men spend?” Pan Yun murmured: “Must our millions of Ming people labor their entire lives just to fuel the extravagance of a few thousand?”

Cao Jixiang trembled, stunned, staring at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun smiled faintly at him and turned to leave: “Keep going, Eunuch Cao. I’m off to find my disciples.”

Cao Jixiang hurried after her: “What do you need him for?”

Pan Yun: “I’m going to get money from him to reward skilled craftsmen.”

Cao Jixiang muttered: “Does he even have money?”

When Wang Cong returned to the country, he gave Pan Yun a large sum of money, spent another large sum to buy a ship from the Pu family, and repairing the ship was no secret—everyone was guessing how much capital he still had left.

News from the capital did not reach Quanzhou quickly, nor did news from Quanzhou reach the capital quickly.

Moreover, Pan Yun had met Cao Jixiang alone; no one else had seen her.

Based on her understanding of Cao Jixiang, he would never leak her whereabouts—at most, he would report them to the Emperor.

Next, Pan Yun had no intention of showing her face again before these people.

She changed out of her Daoist robe and stood at the crossroads in thought: should she fly directly to Guangzhou, or buy a horse?

Just as she hesitated, several men hurried past her from behind, saying: “Second Master, you must make Master stand up for us! It was Grandfather who decided to take their land and records; now, with the land survey underway, they refuse to leave, and the government is holding us accountable—how can we bear it?”

Pan Yun turned to look and saw several middle-aged men escorting a young man who hurried past her, passing straight into the cattle market; soon after, two carriages emerged from within.

Even as they boarded the carriages, they continued wailing loudly: “Those government office runners are both brutal and greedy—they came three times, each time leaving with something. If we’d known this would happen, we never should have taken their land in the first place.”

A relatively gentle voice called out: “Uncles, don’t rush—I’ll speak with County Magistrate Fang when I return.”

“This matter is unlikely to be easily resolved—think of a solution quickly. I hear the court is even investigating military lands and phantom payrolls; this land survey won’t be a minor affair.”

“That’s true. Inspector Xue Shao of the southern region is known for his incorruptibility. No one knows where he’s reached yet, but if he catches wind of this, it could damage Master’s and Second Master’s careers.”

Pan Yun immediately decided to ride a horse.

She turned and entered the cattle market to buy a horse, then trotted after the carriages ahead, hooves clattering.