Chapter 965
Want to Do Something
However, Pan Yun was always wary of Japan, as the intelligence provided by the Embroidered Uniform Guard mentioned it many times, which greatly worried the Grand Preceptor...
They also suggested that before Japan conquered Ezo, they should send people there to spread their teachings and expand the territory of the tributary states.
Shi Heng scoffed at this on several occasions and discussed it privately with his generals, feeling that Pan Yun did not understand military affairs but insisted on getting involved.
Looking back now, perhaps this was just one of her strategies, an insignificant detail that revealed her attitude.
Shi Heng thought to himself: Is she deliberately reminding me to submit to her?
If they don't submit, she'll investigate thoroughly.
While Shi Heng was deep in thought, Pan Yun had already spotted Pan Yue and a few others in the crowd.
There was also a young boy among them, whom Pan Yun felt looked familiar.
Pan Xiaohei suddenly jumped down from somewhere and landed on her shoulder. After glancing at her, he said, "Isn't that the little beggar you picked up in Kaifeng back then?"
Pan Yun narrowed her eyes: "Zhu Tongqie?"
Zhu Tongqi also saw Pan Yun, his eyes lit up, and he rushed over: "Sister Pan!"
Zhu Tongqie was overjoyed. He had been wanting to see Pan Yun, but his father was worried that their close relationship with Pan Yun would cause the emperor to misunderstand, so he forbade him to go to the Ministry of Works' testing grounds in the suburbs to find her.
Zhu Tongqi was overjoyed to see Zhu Tongqi at the Imperial College today.
Pan Yun was also very happy, never expecting that the child who was destined to die young had grown up so much.
Another person's fate has changed.
Pan Yun smiled and ruffled his hair, asking, "Where is your father?"
Zhu Tongqi immediately forgot his father's warning and hurriedly said, "Father is dealing with Prince Qin and others in the mansion. Does the Imperial Preceptor want to see Father? I will take you to see him."
Pan Yun raised his hand and smiled, "There's no rush. We're all in the capital; there will be plenty of opportunities."
Zhu Tongqi: "Did Sister Pan ask my father for help?"
Pan Yun raised an eyebrow: "You're quite clever."
Zhu Tongqi chuckled and said, "Sister Pan, you can also talk to me. I am now the Crown Prince of Zhou, and I can help you too."
Pan Yun said, "Go back and tell your father not to worry, that it's mutually beneficial for us."
Zhu Tongqie nodded firmly.
Upon hearing this, King Zhou became even more worried. He wasn't afraid of simply helping Pan Yun, but rather of mutual benefit.
Of course, this happened at night, and at this time, King Zhou was unaware that his son had met with Pan Yun.
Pan Yun turned her head to look at the stands and tapped Pan Xiaohei's head.
Pan Xiaohei jumped down and ran away in a flash.
There were quite a few foreign envoys who came to watch the Jinyiwei's first test. This was mainly because the Honglu Temple organized it well. Anyway, there were still two days until the emperor's birthday, and they had nothing else to do.
The main purpose of sending them to watch the selection of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was to let them see the martial arts of the Ming Dynasty.
Pan Yun naturally wanted to hear their private comments.
Pan Xiaohei could not only overhear their conversations without arousing suspicion, but he could also understand them, regardless of the language they used.
Even the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial couldn't do this, after all, there were quite a few foreign envoys in the stands.
Pan Yun and the others found a place to sit and watch the Imperial Guards' competition, but her mind was on Pan Xiaohei, using it to gather information from all sides.
Pan Yue and Pan Yu, unaware that her thoughts had wandered outside, flanked her on either side, talking to her. Pan Yun was capable of multitasking, replying to them without arousing suspicion.
Although the three siblings didn't spend much time together, they kept in touch through letters, so they always had plenty to talk about when they got together.
The three of them quickly rediscovered the feeling of their childhood, but it was also somewhat different.
Pan Yue looked at Pan Yun with a complicated expression: "Yun'er, you've grown up."
Pan Yun: "Big brother, I'm all grown up now."
Pan Yue remained silent. Pan Yu looked at her elder brother and then at her carefree younger sister, and said irritably, "What you mean, brother, is that you're too independent and capable now, and we don't have a chance to use your talents anymore."
Pan Yun: "My brothers should be happy for me. It's better to have what you have yourself than what others have. Although it's good to rely on my brothers, I still want to be stronger on my own."
Pan Yue sighed softly, "But we also want you to lean on us sometimes, so you won't be so tired."
After a moment of silence, Pan Yun said, "Brother, I don't even know what the future holds for what I'm doing now, or whether it will be good or bad for history. I'm just acting on my instincts and original intentions. I don't want to drag you all into this."
Pan Yu asked in surprise, "What do you mean?"
Pan Yue, however, had already discerned something amiss from the court politics of the past six months and murmured, "I understand. Reformers have never had a good ending, which is why you have been distancing yourself from us."
Pan Yu's eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to speak, but Tao Yanbai quickly covered her mouth.
Pan Yu stared at him.
Tao Yanbai said, "Second Brother Pan, your voice is too loud. You can't shout this out."
Pan Yu: "Waaaaah..."
Tao Yanbai then let go of his hand.
Pan Yu indeed kept quiet.
Pan Yun and Pan Yue stared at each other for a long time, everything understood without a word.
The three siblings got up and left after the preliminary test, without waiting for the final result.
As soon as they left the Imperial College, Pan Yun led Miao Zhen and the other two northwards. Pan Yue and Pan Yu stood there watching them walk away until their figures disappeared before turning southwards.
Pan Yu had been holding it in until they returned to the Pan family home, when he finally couldn't contain himself and asked, "Brother, what kind of reform are you talking about?"
Pan Yue: "First, the Fengyang imperial clan piloted reforms, then the Empress took charge of the Imperial Household Department's finances, opening up numerous workshops and girls' schools. At the same time, the court established branches of the Imperial Workshops in various places, recruiting artisans from all over the country. Now, the focus is on investigating corruption in the military..."
“It covers the imperial family, local areas, and military and political affairs. There should be more policies to be introduced for people’s livelihood and local reforms. What is this if not reform?” Pan Yue said. “However, unlike the previous reforms that first submitted a memorial to the emperor and put forward an outline to guide the direction of reform, this time, my sister is only influencing the emperor and the senior ministers of the cabinet to carry out reforms that are slow to happen.”
Pan Yu was stunned.
Pan Yue said, "The reason why the emperor did not issue a reform signal at the beginning, nor did he issue new policies in a sweeping manner, is because the emperor's power was not stable, his reputation was not good enough, and the various forces in the court were deeply entrenched."
“A serious illness cannot be cured by medicine in a day. My younger sister has chosen the most difficult path, but it is the most beneficial path for all people.” Pan Yue exhaled, his forehead throbbing with pain.
Pan Yu remained silent for a long time before asking in a hoarse voice, "How long can this be kept secret? Even you, my brother, have figured it out."
Pan Yue glared at him and said, "Indeed, it can't be hidden for long, but I'm not as incompetent as you think. I can tell because I'm capable. There aren't many people in this world as capable as me, and even someone as capable as me can't get the answer directly from my little sister like I can. So it will probably be a while before they confirm it."
Pan Yu touched her nose, ignoring the rest of his sentence, and asked, "Big brother, what can we do to help little sister?"
Pan Yue spread his hands: "I am just a candidate for the imperial examination. I will only become a sixth-rank Hanlin scholar next spring. As for you, you are just a fifth-rank military officer. All you can do is not cause her any trouble and cheer her on when she needs it."
Pan Yu muttered, "Aren't we all incredibly incompetent?" (End of Chapter)