Chapter 65 I understand everything you said

Jiuling Hall was filled with the laughter of a girl.

Seventh Chen also forced a laugh.

"Don't joke around," Fang Jinxiu frowned as she spoke.

"I'm not joking," Miss Jun laughed, looking at Zhu Zan, "Had Noble Son Ning not spoken up a moment later, wouldn't you have been the same?"

Zhu Zan scoffed.

"How presumptuous," he said.

Seventh Chen felt his head spinning, in fact, he had been puzzled ever since learning that Zhu Zan had brought a dowry to smash the doors of the Northern Administrative Court.

He felt that the way these two were questioning and answering each other was strange, yet not strange because it seemed that both knew what the other was talking about.

What exactly were they talking about?

Fang Jinxiu was also taken aback for a moment, but after thinking it over, she understood.

The words spoken by Miss Jun seemed to be answering one question, but in fact, she was responding to two.

"How come both a wealthy friend and the top scholar have become your husbands? How many husbands do you have exactly?"

Zhu Zan had just asked this question, which contained two queries: asking why the top scholar became your husband, and also asking how many husbands you have.

Miss Jun's answer was three, counting Zhu Zan as one, since he was also about to say the same thing as Ning Yunzhao.

Zhu Zan, of course, is not her husband. Why would he say such a thing? Thus, the question is also why Ning Yunzhao would say it.

But then, why would Ning Yunzhao say it?

Fang Jinxiu's brows furrowed again.

Could it be because they know each other?

She recalled what Miss Jun had once said when asked why she cared about the rank Ning Yunzhao obtained in his exams.

Miss Jun was already standing up, bowing to Zhu Zan.

"Thank you very much," she said, composed.

No matter how absurd or unexpected, and regardless of whether they helped in this matter or not, Zhu Zan's and Ning Yunzhao's unhesitant stepping forward in public today was enough for gratitude.

Fang Jinxiu and Seventh Chen also bowed in thanks.

Zhu Zan unflinchingly accepted their bows.

Although Fang Jinxiu felt it was not appropriate, she also knew that Miss Jun had many secrets, such as with the Duke of Chengguo's heir. Excusing herself to make tea, she left, dragging along Seventh Chen who was reluctant to depart.

Only Miss Jun and Zhu Zan were left standing face to face in the hall.

"What's the real story?" said Zhu Zan, "How did you make him go mad?"

He glanced at Miss Jun as he spoke.

"Just a name is not enough to do that."

Lu Yunqi was already a madman. How could he question her as if he was absolutely certain that if she hadn't provoked on purpose, Lu Yunqi wouldn't have been stirred up like this and entangled with her?

A smile emerged on the lips of Miss Jun once more.

He really was a clever man; what he said was right. Lu Yunqi being driven to such madness was indeed because of her.

"I needed to do something at that time and to avoid him noticing," Miss Jun said, looking at Zhu Zan, "I deliberately lured him."

Zhu Zan spat out a disdainful noise.

"How is Prince Huai doing?" he suddenly asked.

Miss Jun was briefly stunned. He didn't ask what she wanted to do, nor did he ask what she had done to lure Lu Yunqi, and he didn't even show any disdain or surprise at the word 'lure'.

He only asked about Prince Huai.

Miss Jun smiled slightly again.

He only cared about what mattered to him, like whether Prince Huai was safe or if she posed a threat to Prince Huai's safety.

"Prince Huai is doing well; I vaccinated him yesterday," Miss Jun said.

Zhu Zan shook his hand and turned to leave.

Just like that, he was leaving? Miss Jun couldn't help but call out to him.

"What is it?" Zhu Zan turned back, slightly impatient.

Miss Jun smiled at him warmly.

"Nothing," she said, "When did you come back? Such a short time wouldn't get you to Zhending, right? Were the Zhou Family children not sent to Zhending? Or did you have someone else send them?"

Zhu Zan turned around and gestured with his finger toward her.

"Here we go again," he said. "Don't meddle in my affairs, and I won't meddle in yours. We're just in a transaction."

This transaction is that you healed Prince Huai, and you don't harm Prince Huai, then I will protect your life. Regardless of why you're here or what you intend to do, just as long as you don't pose a threat to Prince Huai.

Why is that? Why is he so concerned about Prince Huai? Is it the Duke of Chengguo who asked him to?

In the capital, many desire to build good relations with the Duke of Chengguo, and there are many worth his concern. Prince Huai should not be counted among them. He is not only unworthy of such concern but is also a trouble, a taboo.

Duke of Chengguo.

Miss Jun watched Zhu Zan, vaguely making out the appearance of that man in his handsome features.

Perhaps Zhu Zan resembles his mother more, or maybe she no longer clearly remembers what the Duke of Chengguo looked like, after all, she had only seen him a few times.

"Why are you so kind to Prince Huai?" she couldn't help but ask.

"It's none of your business," Zhu Zan said, without warning or guard, still nonchalant and arrogant, then turned to leave again.

"Hey, you're just leaving? What about my trouble?" Miss Jun asked.

Zhu Zan didn't turn back.

"Go to your top scholar husband," he shouted.

Miss Jun laughed out loud, watching him leave Jiuling Hall, disappearing from her sight.

The dusk spread out on the streets.

Miss Jun watched the street in a daze, while Fang Jinxiu came in from behind.

"What should we do next?" she asked. "Should I and Seventh Chen go to meet Noble Son Ning?"

Miss Jun came back to her senses and shook her head.

"No need, let's wait for him to come to us," she said. "He should come very soon."

What is going on? Fang Jinxiu also looked at the door, feeling confused, when suddenly Miss Jun beside her chuckled.

"What is it?" she hurriedly asked. "What are you thinking about?"

Miss Jun looked at her with a smile.

"I was thinking about him asking me how many husbands I have," she said.

What a mess, Fang Jinxiu rolled her eyes. At such a time, what kind of nonsense was she thinking?

"Seventh Chen, go get Manager Liu," she said, too lazy to pay more attention to Miss Jun, as she turned to shout and walked inside.

Miss Jun watched her walk away with a smile.

Actually, not three husbands, but four. She lowered her head and opened her palm, bending her thumb down.

...

Night enveloped Jiuling Hall; Liu'er and the cook lit up the lamps in the room, and dishes were arranged on the table, but now no one was in the mood to eat.

Fang Jinxiu stood inside the hall looking outside.

"Manager Liu shouldn't have gone far; he hasn't left the house in the past few days because of the matter with Thousand-Man Commander Lu," she said, turning around.

Miss Jun sat down at the dining table.

"Just let him know not to worry," she said.

Fang Jinxiu was about to speak when the sound of footsteps came from outside.

"He's back," she said eagerly, looking over, but she saw only one person enter.

Fang Jinxiu's steps halted as she looked at the young man who stepped from the darkness into the lamplight.

"Noble Son Ning," said Fang Jinxiu, hesitantly bowing her head and curtseying.

It was the first time Fang Jinxiu had taken the initiative to pay her respects to him.

Ning Yunzhao smiled and returned the gesture.

"I hope I'm not too late," he said, looking inside the room.

Fang Jinxiu understood the meaning of his words.

They must already know what happened at the Northern Administrative Court; undoubtedly, they were surprised and had questions, and here he was, the person involved, only now arriving.

Miss Jun, who was sitting at the dining table, had already stood up.

"Not late," she said, glancing at the dishes on the table. "Haven't had dinner yet, right?"

She smiled at him and gestured with her hand.

"Why not eat and talk?"

No matter what occasion, Ning Yunzhao always felt that this girl had a way of starting the conversation that was so fitting and natural.

He also smiled.

"Alright," he said, stepping forward.

How did it turn into dinner so suddenly?

Really to their credit.

The 'they' refers not only to Miss Jun and Ning Yunzhao but also includes Zhu Zan. Indeed, all the men who interact with this Miss Jun speak and act in peculiar and baffling ways that leave one speechless, including that Lu Yunqi.

Fang Jinxiu rolled her eyes.