Chapter 994: Given Away

Pan Yun pressed her lips together, walked around to the front, and stood in the courtyard asking: “Excuse me, is Da Chun here?”

The boy stepped out of the house; he was overly hungry, his body leaning slightly against the door. He couldn’t make out the person standing in the sunlight, only a silhouette, but his expression remained unchanged, and he did his best to hide his condition: “Da Chun went to the guard battalion. Who are you, and why are you looking for him?”

Pan Yun saw his pale face, colorless lips, and unfocused eyes, and hurried forward to reply: “A friend of his asked me to deliver a message. Are you dizzy?”

She took out a pouch and pulled out a handful of candy—bought by Miaohé, who had kept a large supply with her.

Pan Yun peeled open a wrapper and shoved the candy straight into his mouth: “It’s sugar. Eat some. Do you have white or brown sugar at home? Drink some sugared water—it’ll help you recover faster…”

The boy didn’t answer her, but his tongue pressed the candy against the roof of his mouth. The sweet flavor spread slowly, and he began to clearly see the girl standing before him.

She was a girl not much older than him, dressed in a Daoist robe, yet as warm and familiar to him as his mother—he hadn’t dreamed of her in a long time.

Seeing Pan Yun, his eyes reddened, and he murmured softly: “Mother…”

His voice was low, barely audible, but Pan Yun’s sharp ears caught it.

She sighed, peeled another candy, and slipped it into his mouth: “Eat more. You’ll feel better.”

The boy unconsciously held the candy, and only when the dizziness fully passed and he steadied himself did he realize how embarrassed he was.

His face flushed, and he stammered: “I—I mean, Da Chun went to the guard battalion. The whole family moved away from here.”

“It doesn’t matter. His friend said if the message doesn’t reach him, it’s fine,” Pan Yun glanced past him toward the kitchen and asked: “Are you the only one home?”

The boy quickly stepped aside to let her in: “Yes. My father and older brother were conscripted to work near Bear Mountain. They won’t return until dark. I’m alone at home.”

The boy saw what was in the pot and felt embarrassed; his face grew even redder as he timidly asked Pan Yun: “Miss, are you hungry? Shall I cook you something?”

Pan Yun smiled: “I ate breakfast before leaving. It’s still early for dinner. I just need a bowl of water.”

The boy immediately fetched a bowl, scooped water from the storage vat, and offered it to her.

Pan Yun accepted it with both hands and drank half the bowl in large gulps before setting it down.

The boy quietly exhaled, his body relaxing slightly.

Pan Yun smiled and asked: “I’m Pan Yun. What’s your name?”

The boy replied: “I’m Shen Shukang.”

Pan Yun: “Can you attend school now?”

“Yes,” the boy paused before adding: “The military has a school. All sons of military households can enroll for free, but…”

Pan Yun smiled and asked: “But what? Don’t you have books, so you don’t go to school?”

“No, not that,” the boy blushed: “We have books. My older brother attended school before; I use his books, and neighbors can lend me theirs too. But the school no longer provides meals. I can only attend for one hour after noon. The rest of the day, I have to find food.”

Pan Yun: “If you can’t even eat enough, how can you train in martial arts or practice troop formations?”

The boy lowered his gaze: “My father learned when he was young. But by the time my older brother went to school, those things were gone.”

“What about military drills? This is the off-season. By regulation, shouldn’t your father and brother be training?”

“Rules changed. Now everyone works for Commander Feng.”

“What work is there to do at this time?”

“Plenty: leveling land, repairing irrigation and roads, chopping wood and making charcoal. Commander Feng’s houses need repairs too, and all the sewers must be cleared. From now until Lunar New Year, no one gets a break.”

Pan Yun laughed bitterly: “Do you all have no complaints?”

Shen Shukang lowered his gaze: “Who dares complain? Last year, Japanese pirates surged. Those who complained were sent out to sea to fight them. Ten went, one returned. Since then, no one dares complain.”

Pan Yun pressed her lips tightly, paused a moment, then asked: “Do you know where the military colonies and guard battalions in Chaozhou are? And where are Feng Hongde’s private lands and properties?”

Shen Shukang looked at her, startled yet hopeful: “You—you’re who?”

Since Pan Yun began asking questions, he’d harbored quiet hope. Now it felt like a dream come true; his eyes shone brightly as he stared at her.

Pan Yun whispered: “I’m sent by the imperial court. I have the power to control Feng Hongde—but we lack evidence.”

Shen Shukang leapt to his feet: “I have evidence!”

He abandoned his porridge and ran into the main room, returning shortly with a cloth bundle, which he opened right before Pan Yun.

Topmost were stacks of letters. He paused, pressed them down, then pulled out only the two at the bottom. One bore a drawing: “These are all the locations we know of for military colonies and his private lands.”

It listed village names, approximate directions, and distances.

A dense patchwork of dots, surrounding Chaozhou city like stars.

Pan Yun took it, her gaze dark: “No wonder they call him Feng Half-City.”

Shen Shukang handed her the other sheet: “This is the estimated acreage. We gathered this information during our labor assignments with fellow soldiers. Miss Pan, if you truly bring down Feng, the military households of Chaozhou will erect a longevity tablet for you. We’ll give our lives for you, now and forever.”

Shen Shukang’s eyes welled with tears: “We can’t go on anymore. Feng’s demands grow heavier every day. My mother—my mother was worked to death.”

He wiped his tears with his sleeve, voice choked: “We’re military households, but we’re military households of the Great Ming. We serve the state, we serve the emperor. What right does this Feng have to treat us like animals?”

Pan Yun’s fingers tightened around the two sheets. She spoke low and firm: “Yes. What right does he have?”

She gripped the boy’s shoulder and solemnly promised: “Don’t worry. If I don’t bring him down and restore your rightful rights, I’ll reverse my name!”

Pan Yun’s gaze swept over the envelopes in his bundle. She didn’t ask what the letters contained. She rose, taking the two sheets with her: “You must keep this secret. Until Feng Hongde is arrested, say nothing. Protect yourself and your family.”

Shen Shukang nodded, staring blankly as she left.

He looked down at the cloth bundle in his hands, clenched his teeth, and ran after her: “Wait!”

Pan Yun turned back.

Shen Shukang hurried forward, clutching the bundle. After a moment’s hesitation, he offered it to her: “This—this is a petition from every military colony. One letter per colony, each bearing villagers’ fingerprints. And these are the last letters from soldiers conscripted to fight the pirates.”

Pan Yun paused, then took them. Holding the thick stack of envelopes, she grew even more solemn, nodding firmly at him: “Don’t worry.”

Pan Yun left with the items.

Shen Shukang stood frozen at the door, watching her vanish into the distance. Only when her figure disappeared did he snap back to awareness.

His limbs went weak, his face pale, anxiety gnawing at him. He questioned himself: “Did I… just give it all to her?”

Shen Shukang felt both reckless and certain he’d been right.

Tormented, he couldn’t eat his porridge. He sat in the courtyard until dark, until his father and brother pushed open the door. Only then did he stir his stiff body, lifting his gaze blankly toward the two men at the threshold.

Shen An, seeing his youngest son dazed, asked: “Did someone bully you?”

Shen Boxiu chuckled: “Did you fight back?”

“I gave it away,” Shen Shukang said hoarsely. The moment the words left his mouth, the crushing pressure lifted—he lifted his head to his father and brother, tears streaming: “I think she’s good. I can trust her.”

At first, Shen An and his son didn’t grasp his meaning. Then, meeting his gaze, their faces turned ashen. They dropped their sickles and hoes and sprinted toward the main room.

Moments later, they burst out again. Shen An grabbed a thick club and swung it at Shen Shukang, but Shen Boxiu tackled him from behind: “Father, Father, calm down, calm down!”

Holding his father, he roared at his stunned younger brother: “What are you waiting for? Run!”

Shen Shukang rose stiffly, but didn’t run. He repeated: “Father, Brother, believe me. She’s good. She said she can help us—and she will.”

“You’re lying! Who in Chaozhou can help us? Those documents were meant for the imperial court! You gave them away—you gave them away…” Shen An’s throat tightened, a streak of blood spurted from his mouth. He broke into sobs: “That was everyone’s effort! The lives of every military household in Chaozhou! You fool—you’ll get us all killed—!”

“Father!” Shen Boxiu held him tight, whispering in his ear: “It’s too late to blame now. We must find her and get it back. Shen Shukang—who was she? How old? What did she look like? What did she say about her identity? Which way did she go?”

“Her name is Pan Yun. She looks a little older than me. She didn’t say who she was, but she said she could take down Feng Hongde. She went that way.” Shen Shukang’s eyes were red as he insisted: “Father, believe me. She’s good. When I saw her, she felt like Mother—how could someone like Mother be evil?”

Shen An, enraged, froze in disbelief: “What? Like your mother? She’s… a woman?”

“Yes, a woman. Just a bit older than me.”

Shen An reeled, his anger drained. How had he ever thought his youngest son was clever?

Shen An slumped to the ground. Shen Boxiu stood frozen, the name Pan Yun ringing too familiar in his mind.

He forgot to hold his father, who slid to the floor.

Shen Shukang rushed to help, but Shen An seized his ear and fumbled for the club, raising it—only for Shen Boxiu to catch his wrist.

Shen An glared.

Shen Boxiu’s face glowed with excitement, all fear gone: “Father—Pan Yun! It’s Pan Yun!”

Shen An snarled: “Who?”

Shen Boxiu dropped the club and seized his brother’s shoulders: “You’re sure? She said her name is Pan Yun?”

“Yes. Her name is Pan Yun.”

“Was she dressed in a Daoist robe? Two or three years older than you? Did she speak with a Jiangxi accent?”

Shen Shukang swallowed: “She wore a Daoist robe. Oh—and she carried a banner. She left it by the door when she came in, but picked it up when she left. I saw it. It said ‘Living Immortal Physician’ and ‘Fortune Teller.’ I couldn’t tell the accent, but her voice… it sounded like Mother’s.”

“Nonsense! Your mother’s from Chaozhou. When did she ever speak Jiangxi?” Shen An now recognized the name too, but couldn’t place it. He turned to his eldest: “Who’s Pan Yun?”

Shen Boxiu steadied himself, lowered his voice: “Father—it’s the State Preceptor. The State Preceptor’s name is Pan Yun.”

Shen An’s eyes widened: “W-what?”

Shen Boxiu paced frantically: “The one your brother met is definitely the State Preceptor! It must be!”

Shen An slumped to the floor, motionless. After a long silence, he asked: “What if she’s an imposter?”

Shen Boxiu’s excitement faded. He lowered his eyes: “If she’s fake, warn every military colony. Run if you can.”

Shen An’s lips trembled: “Desertion means execution for the whole family—and the whole village.”

“If everyone runs, there’s no one left to implicate,” Shen Boxiu said. “How many deserters have we had these past years?”

“But never this many at once.”

Shen Boxiu’s eyes hardened with lethal resolve: “When you’re already dying, when there’s no future, you might as well fight. Become a refugee. Better than waiting to die here.”

Shen An had no reply.

Shen Boxiu turned to Shen Shukang: “Pack your things. If anything happens, you go first.”

“Brother!”

“Gather every child your age in the colony—boys and girls. You’re least noticeable. You leave first. We’ll hold the rear.”

Shen Shukang’s heart broke, tears pouring: “Brother!”

“Stop crying. Once you’re out, fight for your life. Stick together if you can. Boys your age, if you unite, no one dares bully you. But don’t carry everything on your shoulders. If you can’t survive together, split up.”

Shen Boxiu clapped his shoulder: “Brother, once you leave, we may never meet again. But no matter what—you live. Live well.”

Shen Shukang threw his arms around Shen Boxiu and wept, regretting his impulsive act.

If he doesn’t hand over the goods, he can at least stay in his own home.

This home may be broken, but it still shelters from wind and rain; once he leaves, he will truly be cast adrift to the ends of the earth.

Shen An hugged his head; just thinking of having to notify every household and every military colony made him want to die.

They gave their belongings to him because they trusted him, and yet...

Shen Boxiu was still young and more rational; he said, “It may not be false at all, Father. First, inform the uncles and elders in the colony. I’ll take men to Chaozhou City tonight, and as soon as the gates open tomorrow morning, we’ll enter to gather news. In the meantime, prepare yourselves. If anything unusual happens, I’ll send word immediately—you can then tell your second son and the others to leave.”