Chapter 979

"Pfft, who are you insinuating? Who dares not seek revenge? Your Majesty and the late Emperor were deeply bonded as brothers, constantly yearning to avenge and cleanse their shame—yet the treasury is empty, the military is riddled with problems, so they endure humiliation. How, then, did it become 'daring not to seek revenge' in your mouths?"

"Don't phrase it so nobly. Royal struggles—no one knows the truth. 'Treasury empty'? That's only for fooling common folk 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?"

"Jiangxi, Ji'an."

"We in Shandong's Laizhou also had two extra tax levies."

"See? Everyone's had taxes raised—it's not just my word."

"In my view, this land survey is just another way for the state to increase revenue, and in the end, it's the common people who suffer. Better not survey at all."

"Or perhaps it's not the common people who suffer, but corrupt officials and local gentry who exploit the people?"

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's."

Pan Yun glanced over and asked the scholar at the next table: "Who is he?"

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

"Many have placed bets he'll be the top candidate in the metropolitan exam."

"Isn't it too early to declare that?"

Pan Yun glanced at the man, smiled faintly, and turned to leave.

Seeing Miao Zhen also glanced at him, then grabbed Miao He and Tao Yan Bai and followed.

Miao He and Tao Yan Bai walked far ahead yet kept glancing back at Shang Lu, scratching their heads and asking Miao Zhen: "What did you see?"

Miao Zhen: "The Star of Literature stirs. He will be the next Top Graduate."

In truth, Shang Lu wasn't just Top Graduate—he was also Jieyuan and Huiyuan, the only person in Great Ming to achieve the Triple First.

Of course, at this moment, no one knew except Pan Yun, who had read history books—and even she couldn't be certain whether this timeline's Shang Lu, after so many historical alterations, would still pass the Huiyuan and Top Graduate exams like his counterpart in another timeline.

Pan Yun decided to observe and wait.

Since Pan Yue would take next year's spring examination, to avoid mishaps, Pan Yun decided to seclude herself: "Even if the Ministry of Public Works comes calling, say I'm unavailable. Tell them to 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 scanned the three of them 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 locked himself away to study, 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 academy peers, but also students from other regions claiming to be admirers.

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

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

Someone came three times in a row, realized he couldn't see Pan Yue, and hinted to Pan Hong that he had a way to ensure Pan Yue passed the spring exam—and even ranked among the top.

Pan Hong looked up, smiled at him, then stepped out of the courtyard and shouted toward the roof: "Embroidered Uniform Guard officers! Here's a man attempting to cheat in the imperial examination. Please come and apprehend him."

The man on the chair froze in place. The hidden Embroidered Uniform Guard also fell silent for a moment, then leapt down from the roof, knocked on the door, and entered through the front gate.

They didn't want to jump directly into the courtyard—because the courtyard was strangely cursed. They could crouch and peer, they could stretch their necks to look—but anyone who entered through any means other than the gate would be trapped in the Illusory Realm.

At first, several people "slipped" into it, each time nearly dying from the courtyard's tricks. Eventually, they had to humbly beg the Bureau of Astronomy to send someone in to drag out the "slipper."

No one could help—not even Pan Hong could see those who "slipped" into the courtyard, let alone pull them out.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard entered openly through the main 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 shout turned Pan's household from a bustling gate to an empty one.

For now, the Pan household enjoyed peace.

Meanwhile, Pan Yun, who claimed to be in seclusion, was playing chess with Zhang Zijin. After hearing Pan Xiaohei's vivid retelling, she gave him a rice cake.

Zhang Zijin glanced at Pan Xiaohei and said: "No wonder you were so calm about secluding yourself—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 a villain's every glance before acting, am I a gentleman—or a villain?"

Zhang Zijin paused, having never considered this question.

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 slaughtered his group, and smiled: "You're right. Hesitation and overthinking lead to failure—especially hesitation based on a villain's whims."

Pan Yun: "Cheating in Great Ming's imperial examinations isn't new. There was the Zhejiang-Fujian-Jiangxi scandal, and then…"

Pan Yun fell silent, stopping herself.

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. Without reform, just wait and watch."

Zhang Zijin: "I often wonder: does a Heaven-Born Dao Child truly comprehend the Dao's will far more than we do?"

Pan Yun looked up at him, puzzled.

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

"In terms of time spent observing the heavens, you haven't even reached the tip of your disciple's fingernail—but you've always held a firm certainty about the future," Zhang Zijin said. "Last year, you suddenly came to the capital to meet Prince Cheng—I knew then you saw more than I did, and farther than I could."

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 wouldn't have claimed to feel no envy. You gifted ones are truly discouraging."

Pan Yun: "Master, your heart is vast—unlike others."

"You don't need to flatter me," Zhang Zijin dropped a piece with a snap, his tone laden with meaning: "Since you became National Teacher, you've been untouchable—your family and friends all behave with self-restraint, because nothing major has happened. But now, with the imperial examinations, land surveys, and military audits, under this tangle of immense interests, can you truly protect them?"

Pan Yun looked at him, silent.

Zhang Zijin spoke softly: "I'm telling you, a true cultivator must abandon all worldly matters, ignore earthly affairs—only then will earthly affairs not cling to you, only then will your karmic ties lessen, and only then can you break through to transcendence. I am trapped here by force, but you walked into this of your own accord."

He pointed toward the Forbidden City outside: "What's so good about this cage?"

Pan Yun: "It's not good—but the people inside this cage decide the life and death of millions outside, even the direction of this world. And,"

she lifted her head to look at him: "Senior, I cultivate merit."

Zhang Zijin clicked his tongue, tossed down his chess piece: "Those who cultivate merit always end up dead, reincarnated, or their souls scattered—never has one achieved the Great Dao."

"You've chosen the hardest path."

Pan Yun: "Then I'm glad to."

Zhang Zijin ceased his persuasion, nodded: "No more games. Thank you for guarding the palace these past days. I've now emerged from seclusion—do whatever you wish."

Pan Yun smiled faintly at him, rose, and bowed: "Senior, my three junior disciples remain in the palace—please watch over them."

Zhang Zijin raised an eyebrow: "What of your father and brother?"

Pan Yun: "Those are worldly affairs—no need for you to involve yourself."

Zhang Zijin nodded, accepted.

Pan Yun returned silently to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, saw only Seeing Miao Zhen, then sealed her door shut. That night, she took Pan Xiaohei and left the palace, left the city, heading straight for Jiangnan.

Besides Seeing Miao Zhen and Zhang Zijin, no one knew Pan Yun had left the palace—not even Miao He or Tao Yanbai. Occasionally, when they suffered injustice outside and couldn't retaliate themselves, they'd only rush to Pan Yun's door to complain.

After complaining, their moods improved, and they cheerfully returned to work and study.

Only Seeing Miao Zhen watched it all in silence.

Pan Yun simply couldn't stay cooped up—the world was vast, and if she was to cultivate merit, she couldn't just shut herself away to practice.

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

When she contacted him, she discovered Wang Cong had sailed out—not to Japan, but to Guangzhou.

"Guangzhou?"

Cao Jixiang sighed: "Yes. He said he wanted to buy land early, build shops and warehouses, now that the Guangzhou port is reopening. He told me Guangzhou's geographic position in the South Seas is superior to Quanzhou—that Guangzhou will one day surpass Quanzhou in prosperity."

Pan Yun: "That's not wrong."

Seeing Cao Jixiang's stunned expression, Pan Yun smiled: "Commandant Cao, don't be disheartened—you can steal customers."

Cao Jixiang: "Guangzhou has natural advantages—how can I compete?"

"You can't beat natural advantages? Then beat artificial ones. After Quanzhou comes Jiangnan, closer to the Central Plains than Guangzhou. Foreign merchants may first land in Guangzhou, but for Great Ming merchants setting sail—can't you lure them to Quanzhou?"

Pan Yun said: "Even after goods reach the port, they must be distributed and shipped out. Lingnan's development still lags far behind the southeast. If you lay good roads, build more shops, employ more workers, reduce costs of entry and exit—merchants, chasing profit, will naturally choose Quanzhou."

Cao Jixiang pondered briefly, found Pan Yun's logic sound.

He lowered his head, thinking: "Several official roads in Quanzhou turn into potholes every rainy season—we must urge the prefectures and counties to repair them."

"Don't just repair official roads—repair roads to villages too. If good goods can't reach villages, and village products can't be shipped out, how can the economy thrive?"

Pan Yun said: "Though ordinary people lack the wealth of great gentry and landowners, ninety-nine out of a hundred are ordinary people—they are the future economic backbone."

Cao Jixiang doubted this claim, sneering: "What money do they have?"

Pan Yun: "Isn't the imperial court's duty precisely to make these penniless people wealthy?"

"How much can a few wealthy men spend?" Pan Yun murmured: "Must the millions of Great Ming's people truly spend their lives merely to fuel the extravagance of a few ten thousand?"

Cao Jixiang trembled, stunned, staring at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun smiled faintly at him, turned, and left: "Keep going, Commandant Cao—I'm off to find my junior disciples."

Cao Jixiang hurried after her: "What do you want him for?"

Pan Yun: "I'm going to get money from him to reward meritorious craftsmen."

Cao Jixiang muttered: "Does he even have money left?"

When Wang Cong returned, he gave Pan Yun a large sum, spent another large sum buying ships from the Pu family, and still had to repair them—it wasn't a secret. Everyone speculated how much capital he still held.

News from Jingcheng didn't reach Quanzhou quickly, nor did news from Quanzhou reach Jingcheng swiftly.

Besides, Pan Yun had met Cao Jixiang alone—no one else had seen her.

Knowing Cao Jixiang as she did, he would never leak her whereabouts—perhaps only report them to the Emperor.

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

She changed out of her Daoist robe, stood at the crossroads, pondering: Should she fly directly to Guangzhou, or buy a horse?

Just as she hesitated, several men hurried past her: "Second Master, you must ask our lord to take up our cause! It was Grandfather who decided to seize their land and records—now, with land surveys underway, they refuse to leave, and the government office is threatening to punish us—how can we bear it?"

Pan Yun turned to see several middle-aged men escorting a young man past her, rushing straight into the horse market. Soon after, two carriages emerged.

As they climbed into the carriages, they continued wailing: "Those government office runners are brutal and greedy—they came three times, each time leaving with something. Had we known, we never should've taken their land."

A relatively gentle voice called out: "Uncles, don't panic. I'll speak to County Magistrate Fang when I return."

"This matter won't be easily settled—think of a solution quickly. Word is, the court is even investigating military lands and phantom payrolls. This land survey won't be a minor affair."

"True. Inspector Xue Shao of Jiangnan is known for his incorruptibility. No one knows where he's reached now—if he catches wind of this, it could damage your lord's and your own future."

Pan Yun immediately decided to ride a horse.

She turned, entered the horse market, bought a horse, and trotted after the carriages, clip-clop.