Chapter 115: A Fortuitous Encounter

Ning Yunzhao's smile quickly solidified on his face.

He saw her appearance.

She was in a sorry state.

Her hair was somewhat disheveled, her clothes were in disarray, stained with dust and grass, and her skirt was scraped, marked with bloody spots.

Was this the oddity that everyone's expression was hinting at?

He hadn't noticed.

Why hadn't he noticed?

Ning Yunzhao felt it was very impolite.

"What happened to you?" he asked, looking at the bloodstains on her knee-length skirt, obviously, given the thin fabric, it was from a fall.

Miss Jun looked down.

Last night, she had been tracking someone when Zhu Zan had struck her knee, causing her to kneel and fall...

"Just now, there were too many people on the street, and suddenly there was a commotion. I got knocked over," she said, her head bowed.

She seemed as uneasy as a child who had done something wrong.

"Where did you get hurt?" Ning Yunzhao hurriedly asked.

Miss Jun shook her head.

"It's nothing, just some scrapes on my leg," she replied, expressing her gratitude once more.

"How could you come to watch this chaos? It's very dangerous," Ning Yunzhao remarked, then suddenly remembered to ask, "Where... is your family?"

He looked around but did not see anyone from the Fang Family.

He couldn't recognize many from the Fang Family anyway.

Before Miss Jun could respond, someone exclaimed in surprise.

"Miss Jun!"

Everyone looked, and it was not someone from the Fang Family but Ning Yunzhao's servant boy, Xiaoding.

Xiaoding looked at Miss Jun with a surprised expression.

"Did you come from Yangcheng to find our young master?" he said.

His words left the already oddly acting companions even more dumbstruck.

From Yangcheng, she had pursued him.

Their eyes wandered between Ning Yunzhao and Miss Jun, their smiles carrying a deep meaning.

Ning Yunzhao was annoyed by Xiaoding's shout.

"Stop talking nonsense," he scolded.

Miss Jun smiled.

She understood why Xiaoding would shout such a thing. If there were people from Yangcheng here now and saw this scene, they would probably think the same, especially since everyone knew about Zhenzhen's unrequited love for Ning Yunzhao.

"I came by myself," Miss Jun said, ignoring Xiaoding and speaking to Ning Yunzhao.

Saying this, she also took a breath and glanced at the sky.

Liu'er.

It was so late now; Liu'er must have woken up terrified.

"I will go back first," she said to Ning Yunzhao, then bowed to the young men nearby who were watching them with strange expressions.

The young men hurriedly returned the gesture.

"You came here by yourself?" Ning Yunzhao was surprised.

Miss Jun nodded.

"I'm staying at an inn outside the city near North Pass with my maid," she said. "I set out on my own early this morning, and my maid doesn't even know. I should get back before she gets too scared being alone at the inn."

Watching her turn to leave, Ning Yunzhao quickly followed.

"I'll escort you back," he offered.

Miss Jun glanced at his companions.

"No need," she said.

"I think it's the proper thing to do," Ning Yunzhao pondered, then once again glanced at Miss Jun's leg.

Miss Jun wasn't very good at refusing people; she always took care of her own affairs, and other people's affairs were their own.

So, she moved forward without further words.

Ning Yunzhao gestured to the still Xiaoding, whispering a few instructions, prompting Xiaoding to head off into the street while Ning Yunzhao followed Miss Jun.

Watching the two disappear from sight left the young men still standing there somewhat stunned.

"Who would have thought," one of the young men suddenly said.

This comment brought everyone back to their senses, and a chorus of tsks followed.

"Who would have thought someone like Ning Yunzhao would have a sweetheart."

"And a devoted one at that, who would come alone thousands of miles from Yangcheng."

"No wonder Ning Yunzhao has been so restless since he arrived this year."

"There's no need to say more; those beautiful letters sent from Yunzhong were obviously from her."

Everyone chatted and laughed happily, until someone coughed behind them.

"Noble Son, do you want to clear the table or have it packed up to take away?"

Several young men turned their heads to see four or five fierce-looking teahouse attendants surrounding them.

Because of next year's imperial examinations, many scholars had gathered from different places to the capital, and having stayed for so long, they had quickly spent all their money upon arriving in this novel environment.

It was common during this time leading up to the end of the examinations for scholars to run out of money and eat without paying.

However, the Sanyuan Building was not the kind of place where one could behave recklessly.

"Also, which one of you can write out a bank draft?" the leading attendant asked with a threatening look.

Being questioned and suspected in such a manner, coupled with the surrounding crowd looking on and making remarks, the young men became somewhat flustered and embarrassed.

"Didn't he pay the bill?"

"I didn't bring any money."

"Me neither."

"He said he would treat us, and now he's run off."

"He went to make a delivery, leaving Xiaoding to settle the account would be fine."

"Today, I truly learned what 'bros before hoes' means."

............…

Ning Yunzhao looked at the inn in front of him.

"This inn is quite nice," he nodded and praised, "Did you choose it yourself?"

Miss Jun thought for a moment and, covering her mouth with her hand, leaned towards him.

"I chose it based on the description in the 'map'," she whispered.

Ning Yunzhao immediately understood what she meant by 'map'.

"You're being very cautious, and that's a good thing," he smiled faintly, "Even if you were to ask me, you couldn't mention it aloud."

Miss Jun smiled back.

There was nothing particularly praiseworthy about that.

"The capital is a bit tense these days, as you have just seen," Ning Yunzhao continued, "We must be more cautious with what we do and say here."

He paused there.

"You came without sending a greeting."

Actually, what he almost blurted out was "How could you not even send me a greeting?"

Fortunately, he realized that such a question would be unreasonable.

He and she were not on terms where a greeting was necessary.

But even saying it like that was not quite right – who should she have notified? The Fang Family's money business and close friends were in the capital; how would he know if she hadn't informed anyone?

It still sounded like he was saying she hadn't notified him.

Miss Jun looked at him as if she were about to speak.

"In Yangcheng, everyone said you were out treating patients," Ning Yunzhao quickly continued, "I didn't expect that you had actually come to the capital."

Having said this, he felt it wasn't quite right again.

How would he know what had happened in Yangcheng?

It was as if he had been constantly watching and prying into her affairs.

In fact, he was indeed keeping an eye on the news from Yangcheng, but it was not out of prying.

He was simply worried that there would be another dispute between his family and the Fang Family.

He candidly stated this reason.

"Moreover, the incident in Yangcheng involved an imperial decree, so it became quite a big issue, and naturally, the capital came to know of it too," Ning Yunzhao added.

Miss Jun looked at him and swallowed the words she was about to say.

He had already said everything that should and shouldn't be said; she didn't have anything more to say.

"Since I came for personal matters, aside from my family, I haven't told anyone else," she said with a smile, then lowered her head and curtsied, "Thank you, Noble Son Ning."

This was more reasonable and comfortable, and Ning Yunzhao also nodded back with a smile.

Xiaoding was catching up from behind at this point.

"Noble Son, Noble Son," he looked around as he followed, and upon seeing Ning Yunzhao in front of the inn, he called out eagerly, approaching with a bundle in his hand, "It's been purchased."

Miss Jun looked at the bundle as Ning Yunzhao handed it over to her.

"I just bought a change of clothes," he said frankly, "just in case."

Was it in case she had no clothes to change into?

Miss Jun smiled faintly and reached out to take it.

"You really thought ahead," she said candidly, "I traveled light and only arrived yesterday, so I haven't had time to buy new clothes yet."

Ning Yunzhao watched her, thinking of the two sentences she had said to him.

You're overthinking it; I wasn't thinking too much.

Now I'm not overthinking, and neither are you.

"What a coincidence," he said with a smile.

Miss Jun curtsied.

"Indeed, a coincidence," she replied with a smile.