Never Lacking in Courtesy

Pan Yun still looked unconvinced. "Without solid proof, Steward Jiang can say whatever he wants."

Steward Jiang said angrily, "This is His Majesty's secret decree, an oral order delivered by people from the palace. The eunuchs are still staying at the residence. How would I dare deceive you over such a grave matter?"

"That is hard to say. A man's heart is separated from another's by his belly; I cannot simply believe whatever Steward Jiang says." Pan Yun narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Or perhaps you and the Commander were deceived."

Pan Yun looked at him doubtfully. "Steward Jiang, surely you were not truly deceived?"

"Impossible!" Steward Jiang said. "They came from the palace!"

Pan Yun said, "What is so strange about people coming from the palace? Every year, quite a few eunuchs and palace maids are expelled from the Imperial Palace for committing offenses. Perhaps someone is falsely passing along His Majesty's will. Without His Majesty's written order, with only an oral decree, it is all just empty words, isn't it? The Capital City is so far away—who can tell whether it is real or fake?"

Steward Jiang narrowed his eyes. "So Daoist Priestess Pan is unwilling to obey His Majesty's command?"

Pan Yun said, "That is not so. Poor Daoist is naturally willing to obey His Majesty's command, but you must prove that what you are conveying truly is His Majesty's command."

Steward Jiang's face turned livid. His expression shifted several times before he finally looked toward Wang Cong and Gong Xia.

Gong Xia tactfully rose to his feet. Wang Cong, meanwhile, looked at Pan Yun and only stood to leave after she nodded.

Once the private room's door closed, Gong Xia and Wang Cong exchanged glances and smiled faintly. They walked to the railing and looked down below,