Chapter 74: Not Good, Won't Work

The room fell into silence.

Princess Jiuli looked at Lu Yunqi.

"Lord Lu, why must you do this?" she said.

Lu Yunqi didn't speak, standing quietly and upright. The spacious room was bright, yet he seemed to be enveloped in shadows, his whole person dull and dim.

"You don't even like her, and just because she resembles Princess Jiuli, you want to ruin her. She's so innocent, and so is the Ning Family's son. How innocent was Princess Jiuli," Princess Jiuli said.

Lu Yunqi remained silent.

"It could have been overlooked if she was willing, but she has her own life, such a wonderful girl," Princess Jiuli said. "A little bit similar to Princess Jiuli, isn't it nice seeing her live happily and well?"

"Not good," Lu Yunqi said.

Princess Jiuli looked at him, her expression somewhat helpless.

"Noble Son Ning is part of the Ning Family of Beiliu, and also a new top scholar," she said.

"The emperor doesn't lack just one more of him," Lu Yunqi said.

Another official could replace one who's gone, as there are many waiting for such a position, but Lu Yunqi's sword was indispensable.

At least, the emperor still couldn't do without him now.

"Miss Jun's deeds in saving the world are boundless," Princess Jiuli said.

"What's that to me," Lu Yunqi said. "What's that to the Emperor."

That man is really mad, devoid of any trace of humanity.

Anger was hard to disguise on Princess Jiuli's usually peaceful face.

"Lord Lu, what good does this do you? Provoking such public outrage, even if you get this person, will it be as you wish?" she said.

Lu Yunqi looked at her.

"Princess, you never used to be like this," he said. "You like her so much, don't you want to watch her and protect her every day?"

"I don't want to, nor do I like her, she's not Princess Jiuli, Princess Jiuli is already dead," Princess Jiuli said, looking at Lu Yunqi. "Stop your nonsense."

Lu Yunqi laughed.

"She likes being similar to Princess Jiuli so much, she should lead a life like Princess Jiuli's. If she is unwilling...," he said, his expression wooden. "Princess Jiuli is already dead, why should she live."

With that, he turned and left.

"You," Princess Jiuli said, taking a step forward, but ultimately she didn't stop him.

Princess Jiuli stood still, helplessly watching Lu Yunqi stride away, then she looked up at the patch of sky enclosed by the four corners.

Unstoppable, really.

She was trapped, but so were countless others in this world.

...............

"Noble Son Ning is so handsome!"

Liu'er returned to Jiuling Hall, still excited and said happily.

"Noble Son Ning is the most handsome."

Fang Jinxiu snorted twice and rolled her eyes.

"I haven't heard those words in a long time," she said.

These words had just not been heard in a while, not that they had never been heard.

When Miss Jun first came to Yangcheng with Liu'er, during the Lantern Festival, seeing Noble Son Ning, Liu'er had been repeating this every day. Not just Liu'er, but Jun Zhenzhen too.

Probably since the engagement was broken, no one had heard the maid and her mistress utter these words.

To hear them now felt somewhat unreal.

"Noble Son Ning is to be my family's son-in-law," Liu'er said proudly.

"What's so special about that, we've had a son-in-law before," Fang Jinxiu said.

That previous son-in-law... Fang Chengyu.

How could he be compared to Noble Son Ning.

Liu'er huffed.

"That was fake," she said.

Fang Jinxiu laughed twice, this one was fake too.

Only a few people knew of this matter, just as it was the case with the faux marriage to Fang Chengyu before.

Thinking of this, Fang Jinxiu couldn't help but chuckle again.

She looked at Miss Jun, who was being surrounded and laughingly fussed over by Liu'er, yet another sham marriage. Ever since she had the engagement dissolved, it seemed her marriage prospects had only increased.

Who knows with whom it would be next time.

As night fell, Ning Yunzhao brought Xiaoding over.

"Congratulations to the top scholar," said Seventh Chen with a smile, performing a courtesy, "returning from the Qionglin Banquet."

Ning Yunzhao smiled and nodded, looking inside the room, Miss Jun had already heard the news and came out.

"Did it just end?" She asked as she lifted the curtain and stepped in.

The greeting was casual and comfortable, much like a wife greeting her husband upon his return home.

Ning Yunzhao smiled and shook his head.

"It ended in the afternoon, I wrote a few essays, my classmates and I got to know each other, and after the emperor's awarded banquet, it was over," he said.

"Son-in-law," Liu'er jumped out from the side, holding out a cup of tea, smiling gleefully as she offered it, "Drink some tea to sober up."

Ning Yunzhao accepted with a smile.

"Please sit down, son-in-law."

"Do you want to have a meal, son-in-law?"

"I'll add a few more dishes."

"Nanny Zhang, Nanny Zhang..."

Liu'er's voice in Jiuling Hall followed one after another, ah, it's really... Fang Jinxiu rolled her eyes, unable to bear looking directly.

"I won't dine this time," Ning Yunzhao said with a smile, "I have a few friends at home."

You still know to act appropriately.

So Fang Jinxiu thought to herself, as she led Liu'er and Seventh Chen out.

"Sit," said Miss Jun, seating herself first.

Ning Yunzhao did as he was told and sat down.

"I will return to Yangcheng with my uncle tomorrow," he said straightforwardly, dispensing with pleasantries, "I wanted to ask if you wished to come along?"

Back to Yangcheng, huh.

Seeing Miss Jun's hesitation, Ning Yunzhao laughed again.

"Of course, it will be lively after going back," he smiled.

Even more lively than in the capital, for everyone in Yangcheng knew about the entanglement between them, and this bit of news would certainly be unexpected to all.

Especially from the Ning Family's side.

The troubles upon returning would likely be numerous.

"But, leave these matters to me," Ning Yunzhao said, "after all, it was I who caused them."

Miss Jun smiled.

"I'm not worried about that," she laughed, "I just don't want to leave the capital temporarily. If it weren't for wanting to stay in the capital, I wouldn't have waited until now to ask for your help."

Confronted by Lu Yunqi's difficulties, she could have chosen to leave or stir trouble up to the emperor's ears, but she did neither, confronting the situation with her own reputation, clearly reluctant to leave the capital.

Ning Yunzhao nodded.

"That's right, achievements earned through your own toil and tears should not be so easily relinquished," he said.

"Don't worry, with the top scholar as my protector, at least no one dares to harass me," Miss Jun smiled.

"Hope my name still holds some sway," Ning Yunzhao laughed, adjusting his appearance, "However, Thousand-Man Commander Lu is as unpredictable as a madman, not to be treated as an ordinary person."

Miss Jun nodded.

"Of course it's useful, if someone pesters me again, they'll have no justification and will bear the scandal, disdain by others," she laughed, nodding, "I will be careful, and wish you a smooth journey as well."

Ning Yunzhao rose with a smile.

"Farewell." He bowed crisply, turned, and stepped away.

Miss Jun personally saw him out, standing at the doorway watching him leave until he was out of sight before turning to go back, only to see a maidservant jump down from a stopped carriage.

"Miss Jun," she greeted with a somewhat anxious expression, "my master is ill, several doctors said it's incurable, I wonder if Miss Jun still makes house calls?"

House calls, eh? It had been three months since she was busy with the smallpox and stopped providing medical consultations.

Miss Jun glanced at the signboard.

Jiuling Hall was a medical clinic, and of course, a clinic made house calls.

"Alright, I'll take a look," she nodded with a smile.