Chapter 53: Messages Get Distorted in Transmission

As these words were spoken, silence suddenly fell all around.

After the silence, a suppressed chorus of hissing soon erupted.

"Don't you even consider where you are."

"You mustn't want to leave here alive today."

Everyone spoke in low whispers of admonition, and while subdued, it still caused a lively stir. The imperial guards nearby gave a cold sweep with their gaze, and our side quickly fell silent.

Just then, the bells from within the palace began to sound, the gates slowly opened, and the casually chatting palace graduates immediately fell silent and lined up, heading inside following the officials' direction.

Once all the palace graduates had entered the imperial palace, the results of their final examination wouldn't be announced until the next day. The onlooking crowd then dispersed, speculating amongst themselves who the top scholar might be.

But amidst the speculations, those odd comments from earlier were still mixed in.

"About that matter of the betrothal gifts you mentioned just now..."

"...Really from the King of Hell?"

"...How could that be, the King of Hell offering betrothal gifts to someone..."

The King of Hell? Betrothal gifts? What were they talking about?

Many outsiders who couldn't understand felt that the people of the capital were truly odd. Leaving behind these idle onlookers, they walked onto the main streets. Day had broken, the capital in spring was bustling with flowers and vibrant crowds, and the taverns and tea houses had opened their doors early.

"…Absolutely true, it was done by the King of Hell... I saw it with my own eyes..."

Sitting down to rest their feet in a tea house, the outsiders heard this strange talk again.

What's going on? Why is everyone talking about the King of Hell? Is this some unique festival of the capital in March?

"Who is this 'King of Hell' they're talking about?" The outsiders couldn't help asking.

The person sitting at the next table turned around.

"Do you know what Jinyiwei is?" he said in a low voice.

With that clue, the outsiders understood; everyone knows the King of Hell of the underworld, and everyone knows the King of Hell of the mortal world too.

That naturally referred to Thousand-Man Commander Lu of the Jinyiwei.

But wasn't Thousand-Man Commander Lu married to Princess Jiuli? Why would he be offering a betrothal gift again? To whom was he offering a betrothal gift?

Hearing this question asked, the person at the next table looked somewhat indignant.

"That wasn't a betrothal gift, that was bullying," he said, "Bullying Miss Jun."

Miss Jun?

Although there were many people with the surname Jun in the world, the outsider did not hesitate upon hearing this name.

"Miss Jun from Jiuling Hall?" he said.

As vaccination spread, the name of Miss Jun from Jiuling Hall had taken deep root in people's hearts.

She was the divine doctor who relieved the sufferings of the distressed; how could she be entangled with a life-taking Thousand-Man Commander Lu? This was more than bullying; it was outright insult.

"This is preposterous," said the outsider, righteously indignant.

Rumor had it that Thousand-Man Commander Lu was becoming more and more debauched, not sparing any women he fancied, whether they be chaste maiden or brothel woman, even not sparing other men's wives and concubines.

He didn't expect the man to become so brazen as to covet Miss Jun.

However, someone on the other side coughed lightly.

"But, this sort of matter isn't always so certain," he said.

All eyes around turned towards him.

"How could it not be certain?" someone asked discontentedly, "Could Miss Jun fancy such a man?"

The man who spoke before raised his hand and waved it.

"Hey, one can't speak so definitively about matters between men and women; sometimes they defy reason," he noted, "Don't forget, Miss Jun has been in contact with Thousand-Man Commander Lu regularly, and their relationship is quite intriguing."

Intriguing?

The expression on the faces of those present turned somewhat peculiar.

To imply a man and a woman's relationship is 'intriguing' does indeed suggest something.

"It started with misunderstandings that led to a fight."

"Later on, when Miss Jun treated Prince Huai, both Thousand-Man Commander Lu and Princess Jiuli were very grateful."

"When she treated the smallpox cases, it was Thousand-Man Commander Lu himself who personally accompanied her."

While true, the way they spoke made it seem odd. The faces of the people in the tea house reflected complex emotions.

"So who knows if they might not be fond of each other after all," that person added with a knowing wink.

This comment provoked sudden anger among those nearby.

"You're spouting nonsense," one of them said, "Miss Jun would never fancy that sort of person."

That man glared back.

"That sort of person? What sort of person are you referring to?" he challenged, narrowing his eyes.

What kind of people? The kind that kills without blinking an eye, deceives, cheats, and wouldn't spare even the elderly or children... the inhuman type.

But no one dared to say this out loud.

Seeing everyone's silence, the person who spoke earlier smiled and took a sip of tea from the cup on the table.

"What's the problem with that kind of people? They are wealthy, powerful, and good-looking. Moreover, their family even has a princess who treats her like a benefactor. That's not what you call bullying, right?" he said.

The person next to him was glaring for a long while.

"Anyway, Miss Jun definitely wouldn't want this," he said. "If Miss Jun doesn't want it, then it is bullying."

"How do you know Miss Jun doesn't want it?" the first person immediately retorted.

As the argument ensued, someone exclaimed.

"Look quickly!"

Look at what? Everyone looked outside and saw a carriage speeding down the street, piled high with gift boxes, with four or five men following alongside the carriage, looking rather aggressive.

"Is this for delivering a betrothal gift or going to start a fight?" a person from out of town commented.

The items on the carriage were indeed gifts of betrothal quality, and not of low standard at that, but the expressions of the attendants beside the carriage didn't contain a hint of celebration.

The people nearby became excited.

"Did you see that, did you see that? Miss Jun has sent the betrothal gifts back again."

"I told you Miss Jun didn't want this at all."

The person from earlier put down his teacup and glanced over, his eyes spinning.

"Maybe it's not the person she's unhappy with, but the treatment?" he said. "Otherwise, you see, even though the Thousand-Man Commander Lu's gifts have been returned twice, he has not given up and instead keeps increasing the standard of the betrothal gifts."

With a slap, the person standing at the front couldn't hold back any longer and punched the man.

"If it's said to be bullying, it is bullying, you're just spouting nonsensical excuses while bullying!" he cursed.

The man, caught off guard, fell to the ground and started shouting.

"Why are you hitting people?"

The man with the raised fist was relentless, throwing another punch and fully committed to it.

"I'm hitting you for talking nonsense," he shouted, swinging his fist again.

The teahouse instantly plunged into chaos.

Compared to the outside noise and chaos, Jiuling Hall remained silent, but Manager Liu seemed somewhat restless in his chair.

"This really is persevering harassment," he said. He changed positions and put down the tea he had picked up, "They send it back, and we send it over again, no matter how we throw it or how disgracefully we speak in front of their door, there is no reaction. Now the street gossip is getting more and more bizarre. He's blatantly disgusting people."

"Disgusting is disgusting, and gossip is just gossip – who is afraid of whom?" Fang Jinxiu said. "What sort of disgusting behavior haven't the women of the Fang Family endured before? If we could be so easily disgusted, we wouldn't have survived until now."

Indeed, the men of De Sheng Chang had died in succession, the descendants bore a curse, Old Lady Fang cut ties with both her husband's and father's families, a bunch of women upheld the family business, and their daughters were shunned from marriage proposals – of course, there were many disgusting words to be heard.

Manager Liu chuckled.

"Of course, it's not about fear," he said. "It just feels unfair."

"It doesn't matter," Fang Jinxiu said. "We are still living well regardless."

Seventh Chen walked in from outside.

"That was quite fast this time," Manager Liu commented.

Seventh Chen waved his hand.

"Next time will be even faster," he said, sitting down and downing his tea in one gulp, "Seriously, you guys know what? People started a fight in a restaurant over discussing this matter, and the person who got beaten went straight to the Northern Administrative Court to report the guy who insulted Thousand-Man Commander Lu."

Manager Liu straightened up with an "ouch."

Insulting Thousand-Man Commander Lu – those Jinyiwei people wouldn't let the other party off easily.

This person really got implicated.

Seventh Chen waved his hand.

"Don't worry, no one was arrested," he said, signaling Fang Jinxiu to pour some more tea.

Fang Jinxiu glanced at him and still got up to pour the tea.

Seventh Chen picked it up and downed it once more.

"Not only did the Jinyiwei not arrest the insulting guy, but they also scolded the complainer," he said. "They spoke so righteously; it hardly seemed like something a person would say."

"Trying to look good at this point; isn't it a bit too late?" Fang Jinxiu said. "What's the use?"

Manager Liu gave a pained smile.

"It's not about looking good; it's about appearing deeply in love," he said.

No matter how much Miss Jun makes trouble, Lu is neither hurried, nor agitated, nor annoyed. Even those disputes that arise because of you, no matter how much they insult Lu, he remains calm and unbothered.

He wants everyone to know everything is for you.

Seventh Chen rubbed his face.

"This guy is really shameless," he said.