Zhu Zan looked clearly impatient.
"Let's go, stop wasting words here," he said.
But the young men didn't move, their interest piqued as they watched Miss Jun.
"You really know how," said a young man with a bronze complexion, thinking for a moment, "My shoulder has been hurting recently, can you check what's wrong?"
Before Miss Jun could speak, Zhu Zan spat out a sound.
"What could be wrong, you're just pretending to be sick after being thrown over the shoulder," he said irritably.
The young men all laughed.
Miss Jun also smiled.
"It's your right shoulder that hurts, right?" she asked, "Like needle stabs, doesn't hurt during the day, but hurts at night."
As her words fell, the young man exclaimed in surprise and widened his eyes.
"That's right!" he said, "How did you know?"
"Because I am a doctor," Miss Jun responded with a smile, bending her head to open her medicine box, "Let me give you a couple of acupuncture needles, and prescribe you some medicine."
It really turned out to be a medical consultation.
So, was today's encounter arranged in advance by the Duke of Chengguo's heir and Miss Jun?
Impossible.
Although following the young master's order not to interfere with Miss Jun's affairs, he always had people paying attention, and there had been no interactions seen between Miss Jun and the Duke of Chengguo's heir, let alone an arrangement.
It must have been a coincidence; Miss Jun wandering around was just to bump into the Duke of Chengguo's heir, and now she finally had.
Since the two recognized each other, and with her being called a bell healer and his companions complaining of discomfort—real or fake, letting Miss Jun give a treatment for appearances' sake posed no issues.
Due to being the Duke of Chengguo, the Princely Heir had a wide circle of acquaintances in the capital, and he was highly regarded in the military.
With the Princely Heir promoting her, Miss Jun's Jiuling Hall was about to become famous.
After all, the Duke of Chengguo's heir was a celebrity himself.
Manager Liu breathed a sigh of relief, Indeed, Miss Jun had her own plans.
Hearing Miss Jun speak this way, the young man complaining of shoulder pain was eager to try.
"Alright," he said, about to step forward, when Zhu Zan with a long arm restrained him and pulled him back.
"What do you mean 'alright'?" Zhu Zan said irritably, glaring at Miss Jun, "Stop playing tricks."
With that, he turned and walked away.
"Let's go."
The young men present were all stunned for a moment.
Was this a real departure or a feigned one?
Manager Liu was also startled, was this a reluctant acceptance?
"Are you coming or not? If not, don't bother playing with me ever again."
Zhu Zan's voice came from ahead.
The young men looked at Miss Jun with complicated expressions.
"Little Miss, it seems you've really offended Zhu Er quite a bit," a young man with a clean complexion said to Miss Jun, winking and mouthing, "Sorry, we dare not offend him."
Then, laughing, he quickly caught up.
The other young men also glanced at Miss Jun and hurriedly followed.
Although they weren't looking at him, Manager Liu felt awkwardly stiff.
How could this be...
Was it just wishful thinking?
No wonder, the Duke of Chengguo's heir never cared to save anyone's face, regardless of who they were—relatives of the royal families, men, women, old or young—he always acted as he pleased.
So embarrassing.
It was better to leave such an embarrassing scene quickly to spare the young lady further discomfort.
Manager Liu was about to turn around with his head down, but then he heard Miss Jun's voice.
"Zhu Zan, I've opened a clinic, right on the street, still with the old name."
Her voice was gentle and cheerful, devoid not only of a crying tone but also of any awkwardness.
Manager Liu lifted his head, and the young men who had walked away also turned back.
The girl stood in her original spot with a smile, as if she had just said farewell after a delightful conversation.
"This young lady is interesting," the clean-faced young man pulled at Zhu Zan again, "How do you know her? Who is she? Why aren't you acknowledging her?"
Zhu Zan, however, continued forward without turning his head.
"The more people know me, the less I care," he said.
The young man with the fair complexion clapped him on the shoulder, glancing back at the girl who was still standing there and then at Zhu Zan.
"Second Brother, have you suffered at her hands?" he asked with a laugh.
Zhu Zan forced a laugh, shook off his hand, and quickened his pace.
Everyone laughed and followed without looking back at Miss Jun.
Miss Jun retracted her gaze, the smile still lingering on her face.
"Miss, who is that?" Liu'er asked curiously.
Liu'er had not seen Zhu Zan when they were in Runan or the capital, as she wasn't around.
Miss Jun simply told Liu'er some things about Zhu Zan, of course only mentioning how they met when entering the capital and happened to run into each other. She left out the details, yet even this much left Liu'er feeling surprised, pleased, and unhappy.
"This person is not good to Miss at all," she said. "Miss should ignore him in the future."
Even though the Duke of Chengguo's heir held a noble status, Liu'er didn't want to treat him kindly if he did not treat Miss Jun well.
Miss Jun laughed.
He truly was not good to Miss Jun, his words unkind without any intention to form a close relationship, simply regarding her as a stranger.
But he had been decent to Princess Jiuli, at least making the troublesome journey to offer a flower at her grave.
When she was alive, many wanted to offer her flowers.
After her death, those who remembered to bring her flowers were even more precious.
Keeping a promise to a living person sometimes doesn't mean much, as everyone is willing to do so since it can boost their reputation, but keeping a promise to the deceased is like walking in brocade at night—meaningless.
To do something meaningless indicates the person could also be described as a gentleman, though Zhu Zan's behavior was hardly that of a gentleman.
"He is quite good," she reflected aloud.
Manager Liu walked over just in time to hear this remark, his expression a complex mix of emotions, yet somewhat understanding.
Although the Duke of Chengguo's heir did not come to the capital often, his fame spread far and wide. With his background, character, and handsome appearance, he was one of the most admired figures among many young women in the capital. In the northern lands, the bold ladies were even fiercer, with rumors that someone even hanged herself over the Duke of Chengguo's heir.
For these girls, they didn't care what he did—he was simply perfect.
Women are always unreasonable like that.
Despite this, Manager Liu still felt the need to offer a word of caution.
"Miss Jun, are you asking the Duke of Chengguo's heir for help?" he asked bluntly.
"Help with what?" Miss Jun asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Miss Jun, I know you plan to make a grand move, but I'm afraid it won't work with the Duke of Chengguo's heir," Manager Liu said.
He had thought their acquaintance sufficient, but Zhu Zan's attitude was more like avoidance at all costs.
Young girls, unaware of their limitations, think that just because they are attractive everything will fall into place easily, but they are greatly mistaken.
Zhu Zan was not the type to be swayed or to let her take advantage of him, and it's possible Jiuling Hall in the capital might even have to shut down.
Now understanding, Miss Jun smiled.
"I didn't expect him to help," she said, shaking her head. "How could he help with such a thing."
Did that imply she looked down on the Duke of Chengguo's heir?
Manager Liu furrowed his brows, more perplexed and just about to speak when Miss Jun's expression turned serious.
"The one I'm waiting for has arrived," she said.
Was she really waiting for someone?
Manager Liu stared, following Miss Jun's gaze to see several women approaching from the end of the alley.
A beautiful woman, around thirty, was surrounded by two maids and an old maidservant, holding bags big and small, seemingly just returned from shopping, wearing a smile that clearly indicated a good mood.
Who was this person?
Was Miss Jun waiting for her? Could she be someone important? But that didn't seem right—there was no important person he didn't know.
Moreover, the woman didn't seem to be unwell.
Confounded, Manager Liu watched as Miss Jun, along with Liu'er, slowly approached the woman.
The bell in their hands produced a clear yet soothing sound in the alley.
This naturally caught the attention of the woman and her companions who looked up. Miss Jun had reached them, about to pass by, when her gaze swept over them, she stopped, stepped back, and stood in front of the woman.
"Madam," Miss Jun said softly, "I see a sign of misfortune in you."