Chapter 60: Ask Who You Are

The sleeping palace fell into silence, the atmosphere also becoming somewhat stagnant.

Prince Jiuri knelt on the bed, his little face flushed.

Miss Jun watched him, her mind somewhat in disarray.

Who are you?

When she stepped into Prince Huai's mansion and saw her sister and Jiuri, she tried hard to hide her feelings, but deep down, she still hoped they would realize something.

When Princess Jiuli glanced at her unintentionally, when Princess Jiuli asked her what her name was.

It's just a pity that Princess Jiuli was only interested in the name.

She also told Jiuri the stories she had told before.

Unfortunately, Jiuri only recognized faces, not even interested in names.

Indeed, how could he recognize? Such absurdity, one dares not even think about it, nor speak of it.

Or perhaps, like Lu Yunqi, suspecting she intentionally associated with Princess Jiuli to get closer, so some of her actions bore traces of Princess Jiuli.

Or maybe someone who once knew Princess Jiuli, or was taught by someone who knew Princess Jiuli.

In any case, no matter who she is, she would absolutely not be considered the same person as the real Princess Jiuli.

Miss Jun watched Prince Huai, his current questioning of who you are probably had the same implication as Lu Yunqi's suspicions.

Who are you, who sent you, what do you want to do?

"I am from Runan, I am a doctor, I won't harm you and..." she said earnestly.

Before she could finish, Jiuri interrupted again.

"Are you my sister?" he asked.

Miss Jun only felt her mind explode as if punched in the face, her nose sour and tears blurring her vision.

He has a sister, Princess Jiuli, who is in the nearby Lu Mansion.

Yet at this moment, he asked this question to a girl, clearly referring to another sister.

The Princess Jiuli who no longer existed.

He!

How did he come to think of this?

Just because she had beaten him?

This bratty kid, really taking the penalty drink when refusing the toast, she nicely treated his illness and told him stories to curry favor, but he paid no heed, and after she beat him, he could think of this.

Does he only remember her beating him, forgetting her kindness?

"Are you my sister?"

The trembling childish voice asked again.

Miss Jun lifted her eyes and pushed her tears back.

"I, know your sister," she slowly spoke, calming her voice.

Jiuri looked at her, seemingly having the energy drained from him in an instant, his shoulders sagging.

For a child, do they still believe that people can die and come back to life? Just like believing that deceased parents have just gone to heaven and will return one day.

Miss Jun had once imagined Princess Jiuli and Jiuri recognizing her, but she hadn't considered what to say after being recognized.

If it were Princess Jiuli, she might admit it, but Jiuri… is still a child.

Children cannot control and conceal their emotions.

This would put him in danger.

"Your sister mentioned you to me and entrusted me to take care of you," Miss Jun said softly.

Jiuri lifted his head to look at her and groaned as he lay down, forgetting the pain on his bottom, and quickly sprung up hissing.

Miss Jun couldn't help but laugh.

Jiuri glanced at her and then lay facing inward, quiet.

He didn't ask further, was it belief or did he not wish to think about it anymore?

Miss Jun watched Jiuri, lying motionless on the bed, feeling somewhat heartbroken, and she didn't speak again.

Footsteps came from outside, an eunuch and a palace maid came in carrying cooked herbal medicine, accompanied by Mr. Gu.

"Miss Jun has come," he said with a smile and a bow.

Miss Jun stood and returned the greeting, watching Mr. Gu who whispered to Jiuri as he approached, a peculiar thought crossed her mind.

She always felt that these two times she had been alone with Jiuri were intentionally arranged by Mr. Gu.

It wouldn't be strange if it were an intentional arrangement—Lu Yunqi being cautious of her, letting her be alone with Jiuri might expose something.

What made her feel the thought was peculiar was that she actually felt Mr. Gu's intentional arrangement was not by Lu Yunqi's will, nor to seek anything from her, but just to let her be alone with Jiuri.

Such a thought was too insane.

Miss Jun watched as Mr. Gu, not knowing what he whispered, Jiuri turned his head and smiled at him.

Jiuri, having spent a long time with him, a child without much guile, naturally trusted and relied on him.

She barely had any dealings with him, especially now, armed with caution, and yet after exchanging just a few words, she began to trust him?

This was simply too absurd.

Jiurong had already been given his medication by Mr. Gu, who looked over with a smile.

"Miss Jun, His Highness should be alright now, shouldn't he?" he asked.

Miss Jun nodded.

"No, he had a fever and a few smallpox eruptions today," she said, "He should recover after resting in bed for three days."

Having said this, she bowed to take her leave.

Seeing her bowing to leave, Jiurong kneelt up from the bed.

Mr. Gu also stood up.

"Miss Jun, is the gold list being released today?" he asked.

The gold list?

Miss Jun was momentarily stunned.

"Yes," she said.

Mr. Gu instantly became enthusiastic.

"Who is the top scholar?" he asked curiously.

His curiosity seemed somewhat pitiful, like someone caged peering eagerly at the fruit on a tree outside the cage, wondering if it tasted good.

Who the top scholar was, wasn't it easy for him to find out? Apart from the emperor, the first to know would definitely be Lu Yunqi.

Miss Jun looked at him.

"It is Ning Yan's nephew from the Ning Family of Beiliu, Ning Chang Ning Yunzhao," she said.

Mr. Gu oh-ed, nodding with a smile.

"I've heard of him, heard a lot about the progeny of the Ning Family," he said.

This was a topic Miss Jun did not wish to discuss further with him, she once again lowered her gaze and bowed.

"I will take my leave," she said.

She turned and walked out, feeling Jiurong's gaze on her back all the while. Miss Jun suppressed the urge to look back and strode ahead.

Leaving the street where Prince Huai's mansion was located, the noise and excitement of the outside world came rushing back, the commotion spurred by the gold list continued.

Listening to the noise outside, Miss Jun's solemn expression gradually relaxed.

Jiurong.

No matter what, Jiurong must have sensed something, and although she could not tell him outright that she was Jiuling, at least she made him aware that she was related to Jiuling.

His Sister Jiuling, although unseen, still cared for him.

She had come in place of Jiuling.

Letting him know that in this world, aside from Princess Jiuli, there were others who cared and looked after him, that they were not utterly alone.

This was comforting, to some extent.

As for the questioning from others when they found out, she was able to teach the vaccination technique to imperial physicians, and she could sell the crucial smallpox vaccine for a hundred copper coins; being his healer, her compassionate concern questioned whatever was necessary.

Miss Jun kept a smile until she alighted from her carriage, only to see that Lu Yunqi's betrothal gifts were once again placed in front of Jiuling Hall.

"Throw it back," Miss Jun said, not sparing another glance as she stepped inside.

The workers skillfully loaded the carriage and drove towards Lu Mansion.

Seventh Chen watched them leave and returned directly to Jiuling Hall, sitting down to drink tea, not bothering to follow them.

"Fight, just wait until they can't resist beating our people," he said to Fang Jinxiu, "If he dares to hit, we can show the imperial decree."

He had barely finished speaking when someone came running in from outside.

"Seven, it's bad, they've started fighting," a worker said, pale-faced.

Truly started fighting?

Seventh Chen and Fang Jinxiu both stood up.

"Are our people okay? I told you, cover your heads and run, the louder you yell, the better," Seventh Chen said, hurriedly urging Fang Jinxiu, "Quick, get the imperial decree, quick!"

Fang Jinxiu was about to go when the worker, panting, waved his hand.

"No, it's not our people, it's Duke of Chengguo's heir and Thousand-Man Commander Lu who started fighting," he said.

Duke of Chengguo's heir?

Seventh Chen and Fang Jinxiu froze, and Miss Jun, who came out from the inner hall after hearing the noise, was also startled.

Zhu Zan?

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Thank you, Ning Yunzhao, for the reward of the Spirit Beast Egg, and thank you DouDou.

Thank you to Qing Cai Bookworm, One Inch of Agarwood,? The Last Shot?, Ice from the South for rewarding He's Bi.

Thank you, everyone, thank you.