Chapter 62: Speak Out in Public

This time's palace test coincided with a case in the southwest, Ning Yan was busy handling it and did not participate, of course, he also did not return last night, and was waiting for the results of the palace test in the government office.

The palace test ended already into the night, the results have been reported back, but the new top scholar Ning Yunzhao did not want to go back either, going home would also be a sleepless night, so he simply brought the essay he wrote today to discuss with Ning Yan.

The public still did not know who the top scholar was, the top scholar had already forgotten his own identity, the uncle and nephew discussed the essay, and also discussed the official position Ning Yunzhao was about to receive, feeling exhilarated and relaxed, and unintentionally, it was already dawn.

Since they already knew the result, the uncle and nephew no longer cared, and after daybreak, they fell asleep until now, only awoken by their attendants urging them to go home.

Unaware of what happened outside while they were deeply asleep, their followers had been watching the excitement for half a day.

"It was the Duke of Chengguo's heir and Thousand-Man Commander Lu who started fighting, and the Five Cities Military Department who came to mediate also got involved in the melee," one follower said excitedly.

Ning Yan didn't have much of an impression of the Duke of Chengguo's heir and Thousand-Man Commander Lu.

"What a disgrace," he said.

The follower hurriedly toned down his excitement.

"Lord Bai has already stopped them, and the emperor has also sent someone to reprimand them," he said composedly.

Ning Yan maintained a serious demeanor without speaking and began to walk away, but Ning Yunzhao remained looking in that direction without moving.

"Why were they fighting?" he asked.

No matter why they were fighting, fighting is always absurd, there's nothing good to ask about, Ning Yan glanced at Ning Yunzhao.

The follower was already eager to answer this question.

"It's because of Miss Jun from Jiuling Hall," he whispered excitedly again.

Miss Jun from Jiuling Hall.

Ning Yan's expression darkened even more, and Ning Yunzhao frowned.

Miss Jun from Jiuling Hall had been the focus of the capital's attention both before and after the New Year, first because of her smallpox, then because of her entanglement with Lu Yunqi.

The identity of Miss Jun, the identity of Lu Yunqi, along with issues of gender, these three points made the whole capital lively, everyone was talking, not just the common people on the streets, but also high-ranking households and bureaucrats in the government offices.

Even if Ning Yan didn't want to know, he had no choice but to be aware.

Although the follower said only this, it already led people to guess what had happened.

Through the crowd, Ning Yunzhao's gaze faintly saw a carriage with the Jiuling Hall logo, and the trunks scattered on the ground, red silk trampled underfoot.

Lu Yunqi was sending betrothal gifts to Jiuling Hall every day, it was said that there were also handwritten letters from Princess Jiuli, while Jiuling Hall returned the betrothal gifts back to the gate of Lu Mansion every time.

Both sides, without quarreling or making noise, were engaged in a back-and-forth tug of war.

Clearly, the silent tug of war was broken by the return of the Duke of Chengguo's heir.

"This isn't the first time," a bureaucrat in the crowd whispered, "they have fought over Miss Jun before."

"I've also heard about it, it seems Miss Jun angered Thousand-Man Commander Lu, he went to smash Jiuling Hall, then the Duke of Chengguo's heir wouldn't have it, and fought with Thousand-Man Commander Lu," someone else also came over and whispered with a laugh.

This comment attracted even more people.

"So does that mean Thousand-Man Commander Lu and Miss Jun don't fight but don't get along?"

"Who does Miss Jun actually like?"

"It seems she likes the Princely Heir, after all, the Princely Heir is not yet married."

"No wonder she's been refusing."

The whispering low laughter spread at the back of the crowd.

Ning Yan furrowed his brow, looking at Ning Yunzhao before him, sensing his gaze, Ning Yunzhao turned his head without waiting for him to speak.

"This kind of commotion," he said in a low voice, "could both of them be punished?"

The Duke of Chengguo's heir is arrogant and haughty, leaving him in the capital was also to serve as a warning to the Duke of Chengguo.

And Lu Yunqi privately belongs to the sycophants.

The behavior of these two does not conform to the proper path of officialdom.

Both are skillful in sophistry in official affairs and can't be blamed for their mistakes, but what about personal matters? At other times it might not work, but this time it involves Miss Jun, whose current reputation is extraordinary.

Ning Yan understood Ning Yunzhao's intent but still shook his head.

"The emperor knows," he simply said.

Ning Yunzhao also understood what these four words meant; it meant the emperor does not care, he frowned, then stepped forward a few more steps, seemingly wanting to see clearly how the eunuchs would handle these two.

Ning Yan opened his mouth but ultimately did not stop him; being an official in the court in the future, it's inevitable to deal with these two, paying attention is also normal.

The eunuch in the field was entangled by Zhu Zan somewhat embarrassingly, but still stubbornly bit his tongue.

"Princely Heir, the emperor won't see you, the emperor also does not care about your matters, you make a public disturbance, you explain it in public," he shouted.

"What is there to explain about this," Zhu Zan said, "naturally it's Thousand-Man Commander Lu committing an outrage that infuriates both heaven and man, who doesn't understand that?"

"I don't understand," the voice of Lu Yunqi followed.

The always silent Lu Yunqi walked over, the bloodstain at the corner of his mouth wiped off, but the bruise more conspicuous, appearing somewhat fierce on his porcelain-like face.

Zhu Zan's eyebrows raised, and his face darkened.

Ning Yunzhao also had a dark expression on his face as he stood in the crowd.

"I don't understand why the Princely Heir is causing trouble," Lu Yunqi said emotionlessly, "smashing the doors of the garrison headquarters."

His gaze turned to the chests and cages scattered on the ground.

"Using my own bridal gifts, no less."

He then looked at Zhu Zan.

"How did my gifts offend you, Princely Heir?"

The crowd began to grow restless.

Lu Yunqi seldom spoke, and even less so in public; this was the first time those present had heard him say so much, and it seemed he had more to say.

And it was about matters of men and women.

"I am fond of Miss Jun and sincerely wish to marry her. What about you, Princely Heir?" continued Lu Yunqi's voice.

It was out, now said.

Speaking of his affections for Miss Jun in public.

The crowd suddenly quieted down.

Could the Duke of Chengguo's heir dare to say such a thing? How would he put it?

Everyone was excitedly looking at Zhu Zan.

Would he talk about their entanglement? How they met? Who really liked whom?

Would the Duke of Chengguo's heir also speak of affection and his desire to marry Miss Jun?

Lu Yunqi, having no parents, had no one but the emperor to oversee his marriage matters, be it with a brothel woman or another's wife; he could do whatever he wished without family interference. But it was not the same for the Duke of Chengguo's heir.

With the Duke and Duchess of Chengguo around, following their parents' decree and matchmaker's words, ever since the heir was born, many families had come asking for his hand in marriage; over the years, lots of proposals had been rejected by his parents, even those arranged by the emperor and the Empress Dowager.

With such formidable parents, could Zhu Zan make his own decisions?

Though the Duke and Duchess of Chengguo greatly indulged him, they certainly wouldn't mess with marriage matters, especially since Zhu Zan was to inherit the duke title which concerned the continuance of the Zhu Family.

If the Duke of Chengguo's heir spoke out now, and later his parents disagreed, Miss Jun would become a laughingstock.

If the Duke of Chengguo's heir refused to speak, how would he explain his current actions? As if competing for a prostitute in a brothel?

No matter what he said, a girl being publicly fought over by two men is a joke.

Seventh Chen's face turned pale.

Lu Yunqi definitely wouldn't care about the lady's reputation; to him, ruining her would be even better, making it harder for her to escape his grasp.

How vile, low, and despicable.

A sharp "tsk" broke the silence in the room.

"What's wrong with wanting to marry when you are fond of someone?" Zhu Zan sneered contemptuously, "Actions like yours deserve scorn from everyone."

Lu Yunqi, with his wooden expression, looked at him.

"Why should they be scorned?" he asked.

Zhu Zan looked at him with a smile, his expression turning sharp as he released the eunuch.

"Because she..." he started.

Just then, a clear male voice rang out.

"Because she is my fiancée."

Fiancée?

A moment of frozen silence enveloped the crowd, everyone instinctively turning towards the voice, seeing a young man stepping out from the crowd.

His forehead full, his nose high-bridged, he had an outstanding appearance with a genial expression, wearing a blue long robe, under the daylight his tall figure appeared graceful and unrestrained.

"Lord Lu may not be aware," he said to Thousand-Man Commander Lu with a slight smile, "Miss Jun and I have been engaged since childhood, thus your actions are indeed inappropriate, no wonder the Princely Heir is upset."

Zhu Zan raised his eyebrows, hmm...

Seventh Chen opened his mouth, ah...

While Ning Yan, standing in the crowd, suddenly became bewildered.

Was he dreaming?

Was he still deep asleep in the government office?

Otherwise, how could he be seeing and hearing such absurd things?