Chapter 64 But Please Avoid Suspicion

The words of the Dowager Zhao were like a warning bell ringing in Pan Haiyun's mind. After he saw the Dowager Zhao off with a smile, he went straight back to his courtyard. Coincidentally, he saw Pan Yueqing standing outside the door with her head down, looking a bit dejected. He was a bit puzzled and stepped forward, coughing softly behind Pan Yueqing.

"Daddy!" Pan Yueqing seemed to be startled and quickly turned around. She saw Pan Haiyun with his hands behind his back, smiling. In an instant, she lowered her head. Pan Haiyun looked at her in confusion, raised his chin slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Did you get into trouble?"

"Daddy," Pan Yueqing raised her eyes slightly and looked at Pan Haiyun cautiously. "I heard from Grandmother that the imperial examination is approaching, and someone has strongly recommended you as the chief examiner. So the Emperor is hesitating between you and the Imperial College Chancellor, Lord Gu?" After seeing Pan Haiyun raise his eyebrows slightly and nod, Pan Yueqing frowned and bit her lip. "What do you think, Daddy?"

"If you become the chief examiner, you'll be the mentor of this session of scholars. No matter who it is, it will bring great benefits. But Daddy... Yue'er thinks you should definitely decline the Emperor's offer this time." Pan Yueqing didn't wait for Pan Haiyun's reply for a long time. She raised her eyes and said nervously, "Daddy, do you know about Shangbei Fang?"

When she heard the Dowager Zhao mention this news in the carriage, she couldn't help but sigh that Qi Sian was really vicious.

On one hand, he dragged her into the pit of Shangbei Fang. On the other hand, through the mouth of Princess Pingning, he tied her to Shangbei Fang. At the same time, he had someone recommend Pan Haiyun as the chief examiner. This was forcing her to walk on the edge of a knife and a cliff, forcing her to become his pawn. If she angered Qi Sian in the future, he could expose the relationship between the scholars in Shangbei Fang and her, Pan Yueqing, and naturally bring up the matter of Pan Haiyun's favoritism and fraud!

"I know. It's said to be the property of a certain Hong Qiqiao, and the spokesperson is a young woman..." Pan Haiyun's eyes lit up at that moment. He unconsciously grabbed Pan Yueqing's shoulders with both hands and looked at her in disbelief. "Could it be you?!"

"Yes." Pan Yueqing felt that there was really nothing to hide from Pan Haiyun about this matter, so she nodded slightly.

Pan Haiyun grabbed Pan Yueqing's hand and pulled her straight into the inner room with a dark face. As soon as they entered, he dismissed everyone. He paced back and forth in the room three times. Finally, he still couldn't calm down his anger. He pointed at Pan Yueqing and gritted his teeth slightly. "How dare you do this right under the Emperor's eyes..."

"Father..." Pan Yueqing knew why Pan Haiyun was so angry. Since Shangbei Fang existed, it meant that someone had already set their sights on this group of new imperial examination scholars. She took a deep breath. "I can explain."

All the ministers wanted to win over the newly entered officials in the court to expand their own influence, including Pan Haiyun. But he never dared to imagine confining all the scholars in Shangbei Fang like raising them in captivity! If this matter went wrong in the future...

Pan Haiyun stared at Pan Yueqing with a gloomy look for a long time and finally uttered a word, "Speak."

"There were some problems in Yue'er's courtyard, so I converted my assets into real estate. By chance, I bought the property deeds of Shangbei Fang. Later, Master Hong came to me and discussed with me about renovating Shangbei Fang to provide a better preparation environment for the scholars in the capital in the future. Now it's progressing in an orderly manner. Yue'er thought that if I could have extensive contact with the scholars in the capital, it would also be a good thing for you, Daddy. It's just..." Pan Yueqing glanced at Pan Haiyun's expression. "It's just that you must avoid being involved in the imperial examination."

"Daddy, why don't you think about why someone recommended you as the chief examiner this year?" Seeing that Pan Haiyun's furrowed brows slightly relaxed and his expression softened a bit, Pan Yueqing subconsciously guided him softly. "Which person's faction is that person from? Could it be that someone is trying to frame you? You're currently in the limelight, Daddy. Yue'er thinks it's more in line with the Emperor's wishes to retreat in order to advance appropriately."

Pan Haiyun thought carefully and broke out in a cold sweat. It was as if a blow had woken him up from the secret joy he had felt at the morning court today. After collecting his thoughts, he raised his eyes and looked at Pan Yueqing, who was standing there and smiling at him. He couldn't help but rest his chin in his hand and said, "You're really bold. If you were a boy, you would have been dragged out and beaten with a rod by now, instead of standing here and chatting with me with a smile!" Pan Yueqing giggled and stepped forward to take Pan Haiyun's arm. "How could you bear to punish your daughter like that, Daddy!" Pan Haiyun pretended to be angry and slapped Pan Yueqing on the forehead with his hand. "You were also very bold at the Princess of Anbei's birthday banquet. Now that you're back, you should be more restrained!"

Seeing that Pan Haiyun had accepted her suggestion, Pan Yueqing nodded cooperatively. Pan Haiyun was a loving father. Since she was reborn, in almost every situation she encountered, Pan Haiyun had never ignored her grievances. She always felt that in her previous life, she owed Pan Haiyun closeness, and in this life, she had to make up for it.

"Master!" Liu Yingwei smiled and lifted the curtain. She saw Pan Haiyun sitting on the mahogany chair beside him, holding a book in his hand and smiling as he watched Pan Yueqing sitting at the desk, drawing with a pen. At her affectionate call, Pan Haiyun and Pan Yueqing both raised their eyes.

Pan Haiyun put down the book and his face was expressionless. "What's the matter?"

"The Second Miss is here too..." Liu Yingwei felt a bit uncomfortable. The maid behind her was carrying a three-layered basket. From a distance, one could smell the aroma of braised old duck with bamboo shoots. Pan Yueqing put down the pen and nodded slightly. Liu Yingwei bowed to Pan Haiyun properly and smiled. "I stewed a fresh soup for you in the small kitchen, Master. I'd like you to have a taste. Since the Second Miss is here, why don't you both have a taste?"

Pan Haiyun slightly lowered his eyebrows and eyes and continued to look at the book in his hand without speaking. Liu Yingwei looked a bit embarrassed and raised her eyes to look at Pan Yueqing and greeted her. "I guess Master doesn't have an appetite. But this is an old duck that has been raised for three years. Since it's already stewed, it would be a pity not to drink it. How about the Second Miss have a taste?"

"Auntie, you should keep it to nourish your body. You're pregnant now, and you shouldn't do such tiring work anymore." Pan Yueqing lowered her eyebrows and continued to pick up the pen. She was copying a calligraphy model. Although Pan Haiyun didn't beat her with a rod, he still punished her by copying calligraphy to calm her mind. Pan Haiyun raised his eyes and glanced at Pan Yueqing's writing. "You're in a hurry. Do it again."

"Master." Li Rou's soft voice came from the door. She was standing outside the curtain and said cautiously to the room, "I made some osmanthus-scented lotus root starch pastries."

Pan Haiyun casually hummed in agreement and motioned for Li Rou to come in. As soon as Li Rou entered the room with her maid and saw Liu Yingwei, she subconsciously lowered her head and called out "Sister", showing proper etiquette. She didn't pay attention to the pot of duck soup that Liu Yingwei had placed on the table. She gently placed the osmanthus-scented lotus root starch pastries from the food box on the table. She didn't urge or seek credit, but just quietly looked at Pan Haiyun with tender eyes.