Chapter 184: Is the Heart Captivated by Beauty?

The imperial decree was the most precious thing to the Fang Family, and also their greatest secret.

If Fang Chengyu said he wanted to take it with him, it would not be much of an issue, after all, he was the Family Head of the Fang Family.

But he actually wanted to send the imperial decree to Jiuling Hall.

Sending it to De Sheng Chang in the capital was understandable, but sending it to Jiuling Hall—what did that mean?

Lady Fang almost thought she had heard wrong, but she was very clear that she had not.

Fang Chengyu indeed would and dare to do such a thing.

"You, have you lost your mind to infatuation?" Lady Fang said, enraged to the point of poking at Fang Chengyu's forehead.

Old Lady Fang stopped her.

"Stand up and speak," she said to Fang Chengyu.

Although Fang Chengyu had recovered, everybody still could not bear and did not dare to let him do such kneeling.

Fang Chengyu stood up as told and did not utter anything like, "if you don't agree to my terms, I won't stand up."

Lady Fang snorted in her heart but felt even more stifled.

This son was too clever for his own good, but such cleverness applied in youthful romantic impulses was truly infuriating.

Seeing Fang Chengyu stand up and sit down next to her, Old Lady Fang's expression softened slightly.

"What happened to her in the capital?" she asked.

Ever since Fang Chengyu took over the family's business, she had not been very involved, and Fang Chengyu regularly briefed her on business matters. Naturally, he had also told her about Jun Zhenzhen opening Jiuling Hall in the capital.

For Old Lady Fang and her daughter-in-law, there wasn't much to worry about. They both knew of Jun Zhenzhen's exceptional medical skills. Furthermore, even if the medical practice didn't profit, it was no big deal for De Sheng Chang to support a clinic, and they had not taken it too seriously. Fang Chengyu did not provide further details either.

Now hearing this, Fang Chengyu detailed how Miss Jun, while serving as a bell healer in the capital, went from being suspected by the public to being chased by them for her services, and then to declaring her willingness to diagnose incurable diseases for a hefty price, which had both aroused envy and earned her the respect of the capital's physicians.

Old Lady Fang and Lady Fang were shocked and amazed, finding it both unbelievable and yet perfectly plausible.

"This child, wherever she goes, it's always like this," sighed Old Lady Fang.

Wherever she went, there were disturbances; every time, they were filled with both trepidation and unexpected joy.

"Then isn't all well now?" Lady Fang dabbed her forehead with a handkerchief, then took a cup of tea to moisten her throat, "She's already secured a reputation without needing the imperial decree, so why send it?"

Fang Chengyu smiled.

"Because Jinyiwei Thousand-Man Commander Lu wants to smash Jiuling Hall's signboard," he said. "In my opinion, only the imperial decree placed in Jiuling Hall can deter him."

He spoke lightly, a stark contrast to the emphasis and drama of his earlier narration, as if he was casually discussing the events of today's play.

Jinyiwei, Thousand-Man Commander Lu, smashing Jiuling Hall's signboard.

The content and his tone created a sharp contrast.

Old Lady Fang and Lady Fang were momentarily stunned.

Jinyiwei, Thousand-Man Commander Lu, smashing Jiuling Hall's signboard.

Lady Fang stood up abruptly.

"How, how did she offend Commander Lu?" she exclaimed, the fine sweat she had just wiped away beading on her forehead again.

This was not like tricking Registrar Lin's daughter in Jin Yun Hall; this was the capital, that was the fearsomely known Yama Lu.

It had not been that many days—what had she done?

Lady Fang's mind was in chaos.

"Mother, don't worry, there's nothing wrong," Fang Chengyu said, standing up and soothingly taking her arm.

"Is it another childish quarrel?" asked Old Lady Fang, her expression somewhat complicated.

From making Zuo Yanzhi sell a golden hairpin, to leaving Ning Yunyan at a loss for words, and to ruining Lin Jin'er's reputation—Old Lady Fang described all these events as mere childish quarrels.

The events Jun Zhenzhen experienced in the capital, as told by Fang Chengyu, sounded alarming to say the least. But Old Lady Fang knew that if it had been Jun Zhenzhen narrating, it would have likely been dismissed in one sentence.

"It's nothing; it was just a small quarrel."

Old Lady Fang chuckled bitterly. Yes, these incidences could indeed be categorized as petty disputes, but she was no longer a child. She was already nearly sixteen years old—a young lady of age.

Moreover, some disputes had even led to families being wiped out.

What on earth was she thinking? What on earth did she plan to do? Was she naturally prone to trouble or was it deliberate?

Old Lady Fang also felt her brain was in a bit of a mess.

Fang Chengyu remained smiling and came over to take Old Lady Fang's arm again.

"Grandmother, it's not like that," he said. "There wasn't even a quarrel, truly no grudge."

That was utter nonsense. Would Thousand-Man Commander Lu go remove her signboard if there were no grudge?

"There really wasn't," Fang Chengyu smiled again. "It's just because of the name."

The name?

Old Lady Fang and Lady Fang were taken aback.

"Jiuling Hall... Jiuling..." Old Lady Fang was the first to come back to her senses and said, "Princess Jiuli?"

Lady Fang finally understood and was somewhat incredulous.

"Just because the name of Jiuling Hall is the same as Princess Jiuli?" she said, with a bit of a scoff, "What kind of reasoning is that?"

Was Thousand-Man Commander Lu so deeply in love with his deceased wife that he wouldn't allow others to use the name?

But it was just a princess, not the emperor. Others would need to avoid the taboo, and not to mention the whole world, even in the capital, there must be many called Jiuli. Surely there must be some among the court's civil and military officials as well.

Could it be that he, Thousand-Man Commander Lu, could force all these people to change their names?

Who could do such a thing? Wasn't that madness?

However, Fang Chengyu did not laugh but nodded seriously.

"Although it's laughable, that's the reasoning," he said. "There are many who bear that name in the world, but Jiuling Hall was seen by him."

Yes, Jiuling Hall had gained great fame in the capital with this series of high-profile actions.

Gaining fame has its advantages and disadvantages. No wonder Lu Yunqi wanted to remove it as a thorn in his side.

With this example set, others with the name Jiuli would naturally have the sense to avoid the issue.

Lady Fang and Old Lady Fang were silent for a moment, their expressions complex.

"What is this nonsense!" Lady Fang exclaimed.

"So this matter isn't really a big deal, Jiuli she…" Fang Chengyu began with a smile.

Before he could finish, Lady Fang slammed her hand on the table to interrupt.

"Still calling her Jiuli, Jiuli. Her name is Zhenzhen. What nonsensical name changing is this?" she said irritably.

The atmosphere in the room stiffened momentarily.

"Mother," Fang Chengyu's voice was sincere with a hint of calm, "she changed her name only because of this name, a legacy of the Jun Family that she intends to uphold with all her strength. This is a pledge, not a frivolous play. Mother, she has never been frivolous; she has always been working hard, doing things for the sake of this name."

Lady Fang had blurted out the harsh words with some regret. She knew that it wasn't Jun Zhenzhen's fault for changing the name; her heart just needed to find an outlet for its frustration.

Lady Fang naturally knew the reasoning Fang Chengyu spoke of, but reason was reason... She looked at Fang Chengyu.

Since recovering from his illness, Fang Chengyu had grown quickly, sprouting up in just half a year. Though still somewhat thin, his face was now full and radiant with health, the most striking time for a young man.

Now for the daughters of Yangcheng, Tenth Noble Son Ning had become a distant star due to his prolonged absence, whilst Fang Chengyu, being within reach, had become the most sought-after and favored.

The Fang Family's offspring, once shunned by everyone as a bad omen, had now become the most popular marriage prospects in Yangcheng, and even Shanxi. Previously overwhelmed by incessarily bothersome inferior matchmakers, and now equally overwhelmed by the multitude and affluent families vying for marriage.

Fang Chengyu's own marriage had become the hottest commodity.

"So this time, because of the name, Zhenzhen and Thousand-Man Commander Lu, neither willing to back down, that's how the grudge started, right?" Lady Fang said.

Fang Chengyu nodded.

"Yes," he said. "Jiuli absolutely can't give up this name."

So Jiuli absolutely would not give up this name, and neither would he, right? Lady Fang watched him.

After all the reasoning, wasn't it just because she was the one he liked?

"Whatever she needs, you'll give it to her? This time it's an imperial decree, what if next time it's our entire family's lives?" Lady Fang asked.

"Of course, I would give that too," Fang Chengyu answered without the slightest hesitation.

Lady Fang was furious again.

"Are you bewitched?" she said.