Chapter 199: Time Waits for No One

Why has she become such a headache of a child?

She was clearly a well-behaved and sensible child, it's just that her sister never liked her.

Miss Jun cast her eyes down, her voice slightly hoarse.

Princess Jiuli, however, did not continue speaking.

"I actually cause a lot of headaches for my family as well," said Miss Jun, not wanting the topic to end there. "The princess's sister..."

Before she could finish, footsteps approached from behind, accompanied by the voice of Lu Yunqi.

"Princess, how is Prince Huai?" he asked.

Miss Jun kept her gaze lowered.

Princess Jiuli put down her needle and thread, looking up at him with a smile.

"Much better," she replied.

Lu Yunqi nodded his head.

"Then I'll ask the princess to please go home," he said.

Go home?

What home? This was her home.

The hand Miss Jun had at her side, covered by her sleeve, clenched slightly.

"The Empress Dowager will send someone to take care of His Highness," said Lu Yunqi.

Princess Jiuli stood up.

Without the slightest bit of dissatisfaction, and without a single word requesting to stay, she turned and gently touched Prince Huai's forehead.

"Yes," she said, "then I shall return to my residence."

Lu Yunqi stepped aside to make way.

Sister...

Miss Jun curtsied to Princess Jiuli.

She could not show her discontent, nor could she ask her to stay.

Princess Jiuli did not look at her again, not even uttering a word of gratitude for taking care of Prince Huai.

Caring for Prince Huai was something she had neither the right nor the ability to demand; whether well or not, it was not for her to decide.

Miss Jun watched as Princess Jiuli left the chamber and, surrounded by a procession of palace maids, departed.

Lu Yunqi blocked her view, advancing step by step, standing over her with a cold and lofty gaze.

"My name is Jiuli," he repeated.

Miss Jun looked up at him with a smile.

"I am called Jiuli," she said.

Lu Yunqi's expression remained impassive.

"Jun Zhenzhen, why do you call yourself Jiuli?" he asked.

Although his words formed a question, his tone was declarative; he did not need an answer, for he already had it.

In these days, despite being careful to disguise herself, in the suspicious eyes of Lu Yunqi, she must have appeared highly suspect.

Especially today, after what Princess Jiuli asked, and with her own response of that name.

In Lu Yunqi's eyes, this was an overt indication of ulterior motives, which must be why he immediately and without hesitation sent Princess Jiuli away.

Miss Jun's expression remained calm.

"It was my grandfather's dying wish," she explained, "I intend to honor our family business and bring glory to Jiuling Hall."

Lu Yunqi watched her.

"You will get your wish," he said.

This deep and rich voice should have been pleasing to hear, yet paired with his emotionless, porcelain-like face, it only served to send chills down one's spine.

With that, he turned and left.

Miss Jun stood in the quiet chamber, slowly exhaling.

It wasn't just in front of Jiuli where Lu Yunqi was genuinely terrifying; she didn't even know if he would draw his sword and kill her in the next moment.

If he truly wanted to, he would surely do so without hesitation.

Miss Jun was as certain of this as she was of the previous encounter outside Jiuling Hall where he had truly intended to kill her.

He was a fearsome man she didn't know at all, and over whom she had absolutely no control.

...

"Has my sister left?"

Prince Huai woke up and couldn't see Princess Jiuli, looking somewhat panicked, but he did not cry or make a fuss, and only asked in a trembling voice.

The two female officials sent from the palace replied with smiles.

"Yes, Your Highness," they said, "Princess Jiuli is married now and has her own family to take care of; you have the Emperor and the Empress Dowager here."

Tears glistened in Prince Huai's eyes.

"Yes, thank you to the Emperor and the Imperial Grandmother," he said.

Like Princess Jiuli, he accepted any arrangement and would not throw tantrums like a real child.

The female officials' smiles grew even more affectionate.

"Your Highness is so sensible."

"Your Highness should recover quickly, to pay respects to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."

"Look, this is the pastry the Empress Dowager had brought here, your favorite."

They said with smiles, pointing to the pastries arranged on the table.

"Would Your Highness like to try some?"

Prince Huai straightened his body, and although his eyes still held some tears, his expression was composed, much like another Princess Jiuli.

"Good," he said, never refusing an arrangement.

Miss Jun stepped forward.

"My lady, His Highness is still taking medicine, and it's best to avoid these sweets for now," she said.

The two female officials looked at her and acknowledged her recommendation.

"If that's the case, then let's follow the doctor's advice," they said with a laugh, signaling the palace maid to take away the pastries, "Your Highness should recover quickly, and then you can eat however you like."

Prince Huai obediently nodded, lay down on the bed, and remained quiet.

Just like a restrained child visiting someone else's house.

"Your Highness, you can't stay in bed all the time," Miss Jun said as she stepped forward, "You need to get up and walk more so you can grow stronger."

It was only then that Prince Huai looked towards her.

"Is that so?" the two female officials said, looking at Prince Huai as they helped him stand, "Then we should listen to the doctor."

Prince Huai nodded, and got up quietly, while the palace maids hurriedly dressed him in clothes and shoes, watching as he slowly walked around the room.

Miss Jun watched his steps, now much steadier than before, and turned her gaze towards the outside of the chamber.

"Your Highness, it's a nice day today, why don't we go outside for a walk?" she suggested.

Go outside?

The female officials and palace maids all looked at Miss Jun.

Won't it be cold?

"His Highness has been inside for too long; it's time to get some fresh air," Miss Jun asserted.

Is that so? Does what she say make sense?

The two female officials exchanged glances, it should make sense, after all, she cured Prince Huai.

Nodding in agreement, the female officials ordered the palace maids to dress Prince Huai in warm clothes, a cloak, and a hat.

"There's no need to walk immediately; you can first sit in the sedan chair to get used to it," Miss Jun said.

The maids then quickly summoned the little eunuch to bring a sedan chair, while Prince Huai let himself be arranged without speaking, soon being carried out of the chamber in the sedan, surrounded by a bustling group of female officials and palace maids.

"Miss Jun, where would you suggest we go for a walk?" a female official asked.

After the question, she felt a bit odd, as Miss Jun was an outside doctor not familiar with Prince Huai's mansion; how could she know where to go?

"Should we go far or just stroll nearby?" the female official then added.

Miss Jun looked up and around, as if searching for something.

"Is there a garden?" she said, "A place with bare land and lots of trees would be nice."

The female official acknowledged with a sound.

"Of course, there is," she said with a smile, ordering the eunuchs carrying the sedan, "let's head to Ningcui Garden then, it's close by, and there are many ancient trees."

The eunuchs agreed and stepped forward carrying the sedan.

"Miss Jun, please follow us," the female official said to Miss Jun, who was standing aside, "as His Highness has just recovered, it's reassuring to have you by our side."

Miss Jun agreed, picked up her medicine box, and slowly followed at the end of the procession.

Ningcui Garden was not the largest garden in Prince Huai's mansion nor was it the closest to Prince Huai's chamber, but rather, it was nearest to where Princess Jiuli's former chamber was located.

The garden had few flowers and mostly towering ancient trees; Miss Jun could see from a distance the thickest of the ancient trees, under which stood a swing.

In the year she had just moved into Prince Huai's mansion, she often sat on the swing, slowly swaying, as the tree concealed her master's and her own past memories.

Lu Yunqi had grown suspicious, her sister was sent away, and she could be expelled at any moment, so it was necessary to quickly retrieve the hidden handwritten notes of her master.