Chapter 117 Deliberation and Thorough Consideration

This extra update is sponsored by Tianyu and Tianyue (4.29)

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This time, Ning Yunzhao did not enter the restaurant again but said farewell to her at the entrance and left.

Liu'er, holding her chest, went "Ouch" all the way back to the hostel. Pacing around the room, Miss Jun found it both amusing and exasperating.

"If you find this matter fun, you can do it, but the prerequisite is that this fun does not harm yourself," she said.

Liu'er, feeling uncomfortably full, had long since lost her previous smugness and joy. Hearing this, she nodded repeatedly.

"I got it," she said with a pained expression. "But Miss, how did you happen to meet Tenth Noble Son Ning?"

"It just happened as I was walking down the street," Miss Jun said.

"It's such a coincidence?" Liu'er asked. "The capital is so big; you just happened to meet him by chance? Could it be he did it on purpose?"

"No," Miss Jun laughed.

Thinking of the companions following behind Ning Yunzhao, it couldn't have been planned.

Besides, so many things had happened that evening, which were beyond Ning Yunzhao's control.

"That's too much of a coincidence," Liu'er paced back and forth and said. "Does he know we've entered the capital? How did he know we've entered the capital?"

Miss Jun yawned.

"That's trivial, not important," she said.

This matter is not important? To Miss Jun, wouldn't Tenth Noble Son Ning's matters be the most important thing in the world?

And now they're unimportant?

"Then what is important?" Liu'er asked.

Miss Jun flopped down on the bed.

"Sleep," she said, closing her eyes.

...............

Meanwhile, Ning Yunzhao, who was walking briskly, also stopped in his tracks.

He thought of something important.

"What is it?" Xiaoding hurriedly asked.

"I forgot to ask her what she's doing in the capital," Ning Yunzhao said.

How could that be considered an important matter? The important thing is that she's already here, isn't it?

Xiaoding didn't understand.

That was indeed the case, Ning Yunzhao thought, retracting his about-to-turn footsteps.

Besides, if she had private matters, it wouldn't be good to go back and inquire now. Since they weren't very close, he might make her overthink.

She has already come to the capital; whatever she's here for, it will become known eventually.

Ning Yunzhao's lips curled slightly, and he continued on his way. After two steps, he stopped again.

"Xiaoding, I don't think I told Miss Jun where I live," he said with a frown.

In case she needs to find him...

"But we know where she's staying," Xiaoding answered somewhat speechlessly.

Ning Yunzhao's brow remained furrowed.

"How could she possibly stay at the hostel all the time? Didn't you hear her say she arrived only yesterday? This place must be a temporary stop, and that hostel is near De Sheng Chang's money business. I'm sure they will arrange accommodations for her soon enough," he said.

Xiaoding looked at him.

"Master, you think too much," he couldn't help saying.

Think too much?

Ning Yunzhao frowned, not liking the sound of that.

How could that be overthinking? This is something everyone would consider. Since it's something everyone would think of, it cannot be termed overthinking.

"Master, we know where De Sheng Chang's money business is. If Miss Jun moves and they arrange another place for her to stay, they will surely know. You can just ask, and you'll find out," Xiaoding said.

Yes, just one question would do.

There was nothing he couldn't ask.

In Yangcheng, he had once gone to Fang Family's door to ask about her in the middle of the night, let alone now.

Moreover, she was no longer the Young Madam of Fang.

Ning Yunzhao was slightly embarrassed.

Such a simple thing, and he hadn't thought of it; it seemed he was really thinking too little.

Ning Yunzhao continued on his way, his steps light, his smile broad, feeling the irritability of the previous day swept away, his good mood lasting all the way back to his residence.

Inside, a group of companions sat scattered around, each looking at him with a disgruntled expression.

Ning Yunzhao was taken aback.

"It's this late, and you aren't studying?" he said without waiting for them to reply, "How can you waste such precious time?"

His companions crowded around him.

"It looks like you were the one enjoying your time."

"Pay back the debt!"

"You owe double, plus compensation for the embarrassment!"

"Spill it, what's the relationship with that fellow townsman?"

The room erupted into a cacophony of noise as Ning Yunzhao was clumsily seized and pinned down by several people.

"I forgot."

"I'll pay."

"Pay double."

"Just a fellow townsman."

He laughed loudly, answering their questions.

"Don't lie, there are plenty of your townsmen in the capital, but I've never seen you like this before."

"Just tell us who it is, will you?"

"When did you meet?"

The young men weren't so easily brushed off, continuing to question him with flurry and fervor.

In this quiet academic setting, usually bustling with scholars, the noise inside the room was unprecedented.

Someone pulled open the door, surprised at the scene.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

Everyone looked up at the young man standing in the doorway, whose face bore a resemblance to Ning Yunzhao.

It was Ning Yunzhao's cousin, the second son of Ning Yan, ranking the eleventh in the Ning Family.

He wasn't as studious as his older brothers and had already decided not to pursue the imperial examinations but to take an official position by appointment. Now, working as his father's deputy and learning the ropes of official business, he seldom visited here to avoid disturbing Ning Yunzhao's studies.

He certainly didn't expect to walk in on this.

"Is this how you're diligently studying?" Ning Shiyi asked in surprise.

"Eleventh, you've arrived just in time. Your brother shamelessly invited us to a meal and then ran off without paying," someone hurriedly called out to him.

Ning Shiyi was taken aback.

"Don't listen to their nonsense; I just forgot," Ning Yunzhao said with a laugh.

"You see, you see, you forgot because of what big thing?" his companions immediately jeered in unison.

The room erupted into chaos again, and Ning Shiyi piped up.

"What big thing? No big thing is bigger than the news I have," he said, moving forward to sit down. "Do you know? The Duke of Chengguo's heir has been arrested."

The room fell silent for a moment as people turned to look at him, then broke out into laughter.

"Yes, we already know that."

"Not only do we know, but we also saw it with our own eyes."

"Wait until we sort out your brother's matter, then we'll explain it to you in detail."

Everyone roared with laughter.

Ning Shiyi was a bit taken aback.

"You saw it with your own eyes?" he inquired.

"Not only did we see the Duke of Chengguo's heir getting captured, but we also saw Ning Yunzhao favor love over friends and run off with a female townsman," the young men declared in unison.

"What female townsman?" Ning Shiyi asked, confused.

"Don't listen to their wild stories," Ning Yunzhao said with a smile.

"A Miss Jun from Yangcheng..." one of his companions had already responded.

Then everyone saw Ning Shiyi's expression freeze.

"Miss Jun from Yangcheng?" he echoed as though trying to recall who she was, then his eyes widened in disbelief like Xiaoding, "Your fiancée?!"

At this outburst, it was the others' turn to be astonished.

Fiancée?

Fiancée!

"Ning Yunzhao actually has a fiancée?"

"When was the engagement settled?"

"He's engaged! And he didn't say a word!"

"So, the term 'townsman' can also refer to a fiancée!"

The room plunged back into chaos.

"At this time, a lengthy explanation is due, but allow me to be brief," Ning Yunzhao extricated himself from the crowd and spoke up loudly.

The room fell silent, the crowd stopped, and all eyes were on him.

"Speak," they urged in unison.

"There was an engagement, but it has been canceled for various reasons," Ning Yunzhao explained.

Canceled?

There was a moment of surprise among his companions, followed by a raucous reaction.

Ning Yunzhao then solemnly bowed to them.

"Ning Yunzhao does not speak falsely," he declared, "This matter is indeed as such, and the various reasons behind it are not convenient to divulge publicly. I hope you all can forgive me. Feel free to mock me, but please..."

He paused there.

"However, spare the young lady from your words."

With that, he bowed again.

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Thank you to Xiaoyao Benben Xian, Wei and Wencheng for their generous tips and the gift of He's Bi.

Thank you, everyone.