Lu Yunqi keeping a woman, just when he was about to get engaged to my sister?
Not to mention this timing... Lu Yunqi keeping a woman?
That's not like him at all.
Given his status in the past, plenty of people wanted to cozy up to him by offering beauties, but he either refused or re-gifted them, and there was even a time when he maliciously sent these women to the Northern Administrative Court to try and train them as spies.
"How could that be."
The drivers also murmured among themselves in hushed voices.
"That is a princess."
Even their own wives would make a scene if they caught them sneaking a glance at the widow down the street.
Miss Jun took a seat on the bench at the doorway.
A princess, what kind of princesses are they really.
"So, that's why I say Thousand-Man Commander Lu is incredible," the previous driver said, lowering his voice, "I'm not lying to you, now a lot of people know, that woman is none other than the daughter of Old Qiao from Mao'er Alley."
The drivers present were even more astonished at this revelation.
Mao'er Alley was a gathering place for craftsmen, mostly inhabited by the poor.
Miss Jun was also somewhat surprised.
"Old Qiao's daughter? The one selling tea soup?"
"His daughter?"
The drivers all inquired eagerly.
"Yes, the very one, his third daughter," bragged the previous driver, "Old Qiao has moved up in the world. Thousand-Man Commander Lu gave them quite a sum of money, and even bought them a new house to live in. The whole family has moved there to live the good life."
Houses and money represented the lifelong dreams of these drivers, who were all filled with envy.
"How good-looking is Old Qiao's third daughter?"
"Both of Old Qiao's are so ugly..."
"She wasn't anything special; from what I've seen, she's thin and petite, nothing extraordinary."
"Maybe she just suits Thousand-Man Commander Lu's taste."
"What are you jealous for? You can still have a daughter now; Thousand-Man Commander Lu is only twenty-three."
"Give your wife to me..."
A group of people began to laugh and banter wildly. Miss Jun withdrew her gaze and turned to look at the street but remained seated on the bench, lost in a momentary daze before she smiled again.
She was already dead, the emperor had firmly secured his position, and his notoriety was well established.
Scandals kept cropping up; who would remember the old questions about the inheritance of the throne? Nobody cared anymore.
The news had spread so widely that everyone from the peddlers to the workmen knew about it; clearly, there was no restraint left.
There was no need to cajole people anymore, nor to put on a charade; one could do as one wished, be the person they truly were.
"Would that princess die of anger if she knew?"
Soft laughter floated over.
Miss Jun clenched the hand resting in her lap.
My sister wouldn't, she absolutely wouldn't; if being angered to death was possible, she would have died when the emperor forced her to marry Lu Yunqi.
That was the real humiliation.
She thought of getting up and going in, but she didn't feel like moving and just sat at the doorway, watching the hustle and bustle of the street.
Ning Yunzhao stopped on the street, feeling as if something wasn't quite right.
There was something off indeed, but having come this far, wasn't it a bit late? More importantly, what was the issue?
He just wanted to check if she had moved yet, but it was something a servant boy could have done. His coming here might make her overthink it.
They were from the same place, but their previous relationship was a bit awkward.
Ning Yunzhao felt the awkwardness.
He was someone who acted upon his thoughts; feeling awkward, he immediately turned to walk away.
As he turned, from the corner of his eye, he glimpsed the inn and saw a girl sitting by the entrance, her eyes locked onto him.
Ning Yunzhao's body stiffened instantly, his feet going numb. The noise of the street and the people passing by vanished, leaving only the gaze of the girl looking his way.
This, was, too, coincidental.
That was the only thought racing through his mind.
Of course, there were many poems that could describe his feelings at that moment, but Ning Yunzhao's choice was crude and straightforward, not because he regretted not reading enough but when things actually happened, he truly couldn't think of anything.
Those poems by the ancients were also written in hindsight; they probably felt the same at the time.
It might have felt like a long time, but it was actually in the blink of an eye. Ning Yunzhao came to his senses and, having seen her, he couldn't pretend not to. He walked briskly towards the girl, meeting her eyes.
"Miss Jun," he said with a smile, "what a coincidence."
Miss Jun was brought back to reality by his call and only then did she notice Ning Yunzhao standing before her.
What a coincidence?
She was a bit bewildered for a moment.
"I just had a meal with friends at Deyue Building; I'm on my way to my uncle's house," Ning Yunzhao said with a smile, "I didn't expect you to be sitting here."
Miss Jun came to her senses, smiled, and gave a small bow.
"That truly is a coincidence," she said.
Ning Yunzhao smiled.
"Why are you sitting here?" he inquired, his voice tinged with both confusion and nervousness.
The confusion was understandable, but why the nervousness?
However, upon hearing his question and thinking about why she was sitting there, Miss Jun felt a twinge of melancholy.
"Just, sitting around," she said, looking down.
Just sitting around, indeed—not hoping to run into him, or waiting to see if he would come to check on her...
Pah.
Of course not.
What was he thinking?
Ning Yunzhao's expression became awkward in an instant.
Silence fell between the two.
This silence was peculiar; people on both sides glanced over curiously. Such quiet moments between a young man and woman often speak volumes, and understanding this, many smiled knowingly before shifting their gaze.
Ning Yunzhao keenly noticed the looks from all around.
This silence was not good; as a man, he naturally did not want the girl to feel uncomfortable.
"What a coincidence," he said quickly.
Even as he spoke, he felt a twinge of annoyance.
What kind of remark was that? It wasn't the kind to promote pleasant conversation.
As the saying goes, one should think before acting—a sage's advice is always profound.
Miss Jun smiled, coming fully back to her senses.
"Would you like to come in and sit?" she asked with a smile.
Ning Yunzhao chuckled and shook his head.
"No, another time," he responded.
Miss Jun uttered a sound of acknowledgment and nodded with a smile.
Ning Yunzhao smiled and was about to turn away but didn't.
"Oh right, have you been living here all this time?" he asked.
Miss Jun shook her head.
"I'll be moving the day after tomorrow. The money business took care of the arrangements," she explained. "It's not far from here; I bought a house just over there."
She gestured with her hand in the direction, specifying the exact location and door number.
Ning Yunzhao nodded.
"I know the place; it's a good location," he said with a smile. "For your housewarming, allow me to give you a red envelope."
Miss Jun laughed heartily.
"No need for housewarming festivities," she said.
No need, indeed... They weren't that close.
Ning Yunzhao smiled.
"However, for the opening celebration, you could give a red envelope," Miss Jun continued, still smiling.
An opening?
Ning Yunzhao was taken aback, then suddenly understood.
"Jiuling Hall?" he inquired.
It seemed Noble Son Ning knew quite a bit about Yangcheng. He knew of Jiuling Hall? Had it been advertised there already, or had someone from Runan gone to Yangcheng to find her, spreading the word?
But these details were not important; she would find out when she had free time to ask.
Miss Jun nodded with a smile.
"Yes, I came to the capital to open Jiuling Hall," she stated.
So that was it.
Ning Yunzhao nodded, a grin spreading across his face.
As it should be.
With her excellent medical skills and a heart full of chivalry and compassion, she ought to make a name for herself and help others in the capital.
"That's wonderful," he exclaimed. "On which date will it open?"
"The twenty-eighth of June," Miss Jun replied.
She answered readily, her face still smiling, but perhaps it was his imagination—Ning Yunzhao felt she didn't seem to exhibit even a trace of happiness.
Maybe it was due to the calm in her eyes.
Regardless, this was a joyous occasion.
Ning Yunzhao congratulated her earnestly.
"Is there anything you need help with?" he added.
Today was already the twenty-third of June, and the twenty-eighth wasn't far off. Wasn't it all a bit rushed?
Nevertheless, she must have been preparing for the medical hall's opening for a while; it couldn't be a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Still, it was only polite to offer assistance, even to someone with whom one isn't familiar. It was just a courtesy—no other implications, nothing to overthink.