Chapter 57: Keep Silent

This palm's memory was too profound; Jiurong subconsciously shuddered and looked at her with anger and caution.

"Don't cry." Miss Jun looked at him, "I haven't done such things, I have no intention of marrying anyone, and I certainly wouldn't force your sister."

Explaining after hitting someone generally doesn't carry much persuasive power.

Especially when the one being beaten is a child. For a child, offering candy instead might be more effective.

Jiurong raised his head to look at her, his face tear-streaked and angry.

"I said it didn't happen." Miss Jun continued.

After saying that, she suddenly felt another impulse and paused for a moment.

"I will not harm you or your sister." She said.

This statement was impulsive, and also quite ridiculous.

Saying I won't harm you, and I'm a good person, holds as much weight as commenting on the pleasant weather; it's meaningless.

Especially to a child who you just unexplainably spanked.

You just hit their bottom for no reason and then claimed you are a kind person and wouldn't harm them.

Even when trying to pacify a child, one should not be so dismissive.

Miss Jun looked at Jiurong's wide-eyed gaze and gave a bitter smile herself.

On the other hand, her saying that was truly impulsive and risky. For those scheming, like Lu Yunqi, her words could confirm their suspicions.

She came for Prince Huai and Princess Jiuli.

Lu Yunqi would definitely not let her go, and from the emperor's side, De Sheng Chang and many other issues were likely to arise.

Having already died once, deep down she couldn't suppress her impulsiveness, or perhaps she was really just too lonely and heartbroken.

Facing her dearly missed younger brother, who was then prompted to whip and insult her with "cheap slut."

This was very painful.

She looked at Jiurong with some stubbornness, unable to shift her gaze and also afraid to speak, lest she blurt out "I am your sister Jiuling."

While Jiurong looked at her and didn't speak, his expression was odd; perhaps wondering if he was dealing with a crazy person best not provoked, to avoid another beating.

Footsteps broke the weird silence.

"Miss Jun, I have brought the person…" Mr. Gu walked over, looking surprisingly at two people, one lying on the ground and the other squatting, "Your Highness… what happened?"

Though it was not visible on the buttocks, Jiurong's tear-streaked, red eyes and messy clothes made it clear that claiming nothing happened would only fool the blind.

"Oh, the Prince just didn't want to use acupuncture needles and started crying," Miss Jun stood up and said.

The lie came easily, Miss Jun couldn't be bothered to think too much; she didn't believe the surroundings were devoid of witnesses who preferred to act as though they saw nothing, so why should she bother crafting a perfect lie?

Even if they saw her hitting the Prince, she had her reasons to explain.

But the main issue was what she had said to the Prince.

She could explain that too, as people tend to try to appease those they've hurt, but others might believe her, yet Lu Yunqi surely wouldn't.

Lu Yunqi was a madman; who knows what else he might have planned.

"Is that so?" Mr. Gu asked in surprise.

Miss Jun looked at Jiurong; Mr. Gu also looked at Jiurong, who raised his head to look at Miss Jun with an angry gaze.

"Sir." He suddenly jumped up, throwing himself at Mr. Gu.

Mr. Gu hurriedly held him. Jiurong clung to Mr. Gu's waist, pressed against him with a face full of grievance and annoyance.

But he said nothing further.

This was tacit acceptance of Miss Jun's words.

Miss Jun felt somewhat astonished and unprepared.

"It's alright, it's alright," Mr. Gu smiled and patted Jiurong's shoulder. "Your Highness, how old are you? You shouldn't be scared of this."

He paused a bit.

"Many young kids outside, even those who can't yet walk, are not afraid," he continued.

The so-called follow-up appointment was actually for vaccination. Lu Yunqi knew this, and certainly Mr. Gu did too.

Nowadays vaccinations no longer used the initial nasal insertion, but involved pricking the skin with acupuncture needles.

Mr. Gu certainly thought that the Prince was scared of this, hence the fuss.

Jiurong tightened his grip on Mr. Gu's waist, his face taut, without uttering a word.

Mr. Gu laughed heartily, again patting Jiurong's shoulder.

"Come on, your highness, be a man, and don't be laughed at," he said.

Perhaps the remark about being a man stimulated the boy's pride, for Jiurong suddenly stood up straight.

"I was just upset that my fishing was interrupted," he said loudly.

Mr. Gu laughed and agreed.

"There are priorities; the fish are right here. After the checkup, we can continue fishing," he said.

Jiurong tensed his face and remained silent.

Mr. Gu glanced at Miss Jun and gave her a meaningful look.

Miss Jun looked down and took the medical box beside her, opening it.

"Shall we go inside?" Mr. Gu asked.

"No need, here is fine." Miss Jun replied.

Mr. Gu then pulled Jiurong.

"Come, sit down, it'll be over soon," he said.

Without thinking, Jiurong was pushed by him to sit on a stool nearby, but as soon as he sat down, his body immediately bounced up, and he hissed.

Mr. Gu was startled, and Miss Jun paused while opening the medical box.

"What's wrong?" Mr. Gu asked.

Jiurong's face alternated between red and white.

"This prince will not sit; this prince will stand," he said.

Mr. Gu laughed and patted his shoulder.

"Real men can sit too," he whispered.

Jiurong huffed and turned his head away.

Miss Jun, holding the acupuncture needles, turned towards him.

"It's okay, standing is also fine, it'll be quick," she said.

Mr. Gu stopped insisting, opened Jiurong's clothes to expose his shoulder, and watched as Miss Jun efficiently pierced the skin and inserted the smallpox vaccine wrapping it up.

"It's that simple," he laughed.

"The skilled find it easy, the unskilled find it hard," Miss Jun said, putting things away.

"Miss Jun, they say after the vaccination there might be a fever and pustules; perhaps you should stay and watch over for a day," Mr. Gu suggested.

Miss Jun looked at Mr. Gu, then at Jiurong.

Jiurong turned his head away from her, but he did not say anything.

"No need," Miss Jun said, "A fever and pustules are no cause for alarm, just drink plenty of water and rest. If the fever still hasn't subsided after two days, I'll come back."

Mr. Gu responded with an oh, his face carrying a somewhat meaningful expression.

Jiurong then tugged at his sleeve.

"Sir, sir, let's go fishing," he said.

Mr. Gu smiled.

"Much obliged, Miss Jun," he said again, glancing at Jiurong.

With a slight reluctance, Jiurong nodded slightly at Miss Jun, a gesture befitting his status as thanks.

Miss Jun smiled, thanked him back and picked up her medical box, walking out, led again by a eunuch who had reappeared.

As she turned a corner, Miss Jun looked back; Jiurong and Mr. Gu were no longer looking at her and had moved back to the edge of the lake, Jiurong holding a fishing rod sitting down and then suddenly standing up.

"Sitting doesn't catch fish; I need to stand to fish," he said a bit irritably.

Miss Jun couldn't help but laugh, feeling a mix of pity and regret.

She had been too harsh earlier.

She withdrew her gaze as she stepped over the threshold, but why did Jiurong lie for her?

Was it because he feared that the words spoken would harm Princess Jiuli if Lu Yunqi found out?

That didn't make sense; without Lu Yunqi's permission, how could Jiurong know to say such things?

Miss Jun slightly furrowed her brow, infuriated that someone purposely made Jiurong hear such things.

To do this to a child who can achieve nothing is simply outrageous.

It's outrageous to Princess Jiuli and Jiurong.

Holding the medical box tightly, Miss Jun walked out of Prince Huai's mansion.

Inside Jiuling Hall, everyone sighed in relief when they saw Miss Jun return, their expressions somewhat complicated.

They naturally knew that not long after Miss Jun entered Prince Huai's mansion, Lu Yunqi came out from inside, clearly having met Miss Jun.

The public would naturally know as well.

Now that Miss Jun was safe and unharmed coming out of Prince Huai's mansion indicated that Lu Yunqi didn't trouble her.

Could this also be considered genuine affection?

Although they wouldn't think so, it couldn't stop some people from thinking it.

"In town, it's unknown who is spreading rumors," Seventh Chen said irritably, "saying all kinds of nonsensical things."

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Keep going on Monday