At this moment, Miss Jun didn't want to talk to him.
She bowed her head, stood up, and turned away.
The footsteps behind her followed, and Miss Jun looked back.
"Princely Heir, it's not me following you this time," she said.
"I came to ask you, why are you following me?" Zhu Zan asked, his eyes somewhat scrutinizing.
"I'm not following you," Miss Jun frowned and said.
"Do you believe that yourself?" Zhu Zan asked, "Put your hand on your heart and think about it, from the beginning until now, why is it that wherever I go, you are there too?"
Miss Jun sighed internally.
"Perhaps it's fate," she said.
Zhu Zan clicked his tongue twice, just about to speak but saw Miss Jun continue to walk away.
"Hey, hey!" He followed her again, a few steps brought him in front of Miss Jun, "Let me make this clear to you, we have nothing to do with each other, I won't pursue what you intend to do either, just don't let me see you again."
Nothing to do with each other.
Everything had nothing to do with her.
Those acquaintances no longer recognized her, this feeling really made one want to go mad.
Miss Jun didn't go mad, her tears plopped down.
Zhu Zan jumped back startled, like a cat that had touched water.
"Come on, here you go again, it's happening again," he said, looking around, "This is not your Runan."
Miss Jun couldn't help but burst into laughter, glaring at Zhu Zan somewhat irritably.
"We have nothing to do with each other, what's there for you to cry about, do you think by crying, I'll soften my heart? Do you think things will go your way?" Zhu Zan scoffed.
That's also true.
Crying won't soften anyone's heart, nor will things go as one wishes.
Miss Jun raised her hand to wipe her tears.
"I'm just crying over my red bean cake," she said, "Don't overthink it."
Zhu Zan scoffed again, suddenly stretching out his hand with a paper package.
Miss Jun was startled.
This is...
Red bean cake?
She looked at Zhu Zan somewhat surprised.
Had he just bought it?
For her?
"Don't overthink it," Zhu Zan said, stretching out his other hand and hooking it, "pay up."
Miss Jun laughed again, indeed she took out her coin purse, carefully counted out ten coins, and placed them in his palm.
Only then did Zhu Zan hand the red bean cake to her, turned around without a word, and walked away.
"Hey," Miss Jun wanted to speak.
Zhu Zan did not turn his head back but raised his hand.
"Remember, we have nothing to do with each other, don't follow me anymore," he said.
Miss Jun didn't follow him again and shook her head with a smile, looking down at the red bean cake in her hand, she opened it, pinched a small piece, and put it in her mouth.
Tsk...
It was still as unpalatable as before.
Really an odd taste.
She slowly chewed as she walked along the street.
...............
The Jinyiwei were surrounding a street from all sides, and Lu Yunqi dismounted and walked in, the two Jinyiwei by the door opened it.
Lu Yunqi walked in, the doorkeeper immediately came forward with a stack of calling cards.
"My lord, these are the calling cards received over the past few days," he said.
Unknown from which day, Thousand-Man Commander Lu, who never used to receive visitors, suddenly started receiving officials here.
Perhaps it was because of that day when a foreign official came with a beautiful servant, whom Thousand-Man Commander Lu took in.
Although Lu Yunqi had a bad reputation, his power and status were high, which did not hinder many people from wanting to cling to him.
Since then, more people came to deliver calling cards, and Lu Yunqi occasionally met one, but every person he met brought beauties pretending to be servants.
Although only one in nearly ten would catch Lu Yunqi's eye, it was enough to drive the officials mad.
But today, not waiting for the doorkeeper to start reading these calling cards, Lu Yunqi gestured him to stop.
The doorkeeper promptly fell silent and stepped back, watching as Lu Yunqi went straight to the backyard.
Stepping into the inner house, amidst the emerald screen of lush foliage and fragrance of women's presence, some leaned against the railing gazing out, some turned out from behind trees, some rushed out of the houses.
These women were of various builds, either sixteen or seventeen years of age or twenty-one or twenty-two, their expressions a mix of nervousness, shyness, and enthusiasm.
Lu Yunqi's gaze swept over these women.
"I'm back," he said, a smile appearing on his face.
As he said this, a woman quickly approached.
"Yunqi," she called out, with undisguised enthusiasm.
Lu Yunqi reached out to catch her, embracing her in his arms, while other women, although scornful or annoyed, also surged forward.
"Yunqi."
"Yunqi."
Birdsong and laughter mingled, the fragrance enveloping the air like orchids.
Lu Yunqi smiled as he opened his arms, embracing one girl on the left and another on the right.
"Set up the banquet," he declared.
As night fell, the entire mansion was brightly lit, with servants frequently coming and going, continuously serving food and drinks.
"Yunqi, have another drink," a lady cooed, nestling against Lu Yunqi as she handed him a cup to his lips.
Without any hesitation, Lu Yunqi took the cup from the lady's hand and drained it in one gulp, then kissed her hand.
The lady joyfully wrapped her arms around his neck.
The other ladies watched, some blushing, some disgusted, some defiant.
Immediately, two more squeezed in.
"Yunqi, I have mine too," they said sweetly.
The women specifically sent here were all well-trained, while some had never experienced such a scene before. Though they blushed and fumbled, remembering their families' instructions and expectations, they still picked up their wine cups and joined in.
Lu Yunqi welcomed all comers, refusing neither wine nor company. All the ladies wanted to squeeze into his embrace, their coquettish voices filled the air along with Lu Yunqi's hearty laughter. Suddenly, with a crack, amid the women's screams, the chair Lu Yunqi was sitting on fell over due to the crowd.
The ladies in his arms fell with him and landed in a heap in his lap.
Lu Yunqi's laughter grew louder, as he simply rolled on the floor embracing them.
The ladies' screams and laughter intensified, causing the whole mansion to buzz.
In the midst of the noise, suddenly, Lu Yunqi pushed the women on him and in his arms aside.
"What hour is it?" he asked.
The women hastily inquired as well.
"It's already 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.," the servants announced.
It was time to rest.
The women instantly tensed up, eagerly looking at Lu Yunqi, who was still sitting on the ground.
At hearing this, Lu Yunqi sprang up.
"It's late; time to leave," he stated.
Getting up, he headed outside.
The women hurriedly rose.
"Yunqi."
They called out, following him.
Lu Yunqi had already stepped over the threshold but turned around at their calls.
The women also halted, their gazes hopeful yet reluctant.
"Yunqi," a lady called out, her voice tender.
Lu Yunqi looked at her, then swept his gaze over all the women, smiling.
Noticing their excitement, the ladies couldn't help but step forward.
"I'm off," Lu Yunqi said, the flickering light softening his eyes, his expression somewhat reluctant, then swiftly turned and walked away, leaving the women's pleas behind.
The street was not bustling, and at this hour, it was deserted.
Escorted by a troop of Jinyiwei, Lu Yunqi proceeded along the street.
The Jinyiwei were cautious, noticeably more tense than during the day.
Lu Yunqi was frequently targeted for assassination. It was manageable during daylight, but at night, the danger increased.
The aggrieved families of officials or perhaps desperadoes hired for money lurked in the darkness, waiting to strike this wicked man.
"My lord, perhaps you should stay overnight next time it gets late," a close follower couldn't help but say.
Especially since this had happened several times already, always around the same time, moving between two residences. Habit was convenient but also terrifying.
Lu Yunqi's face, perhaps due to the alcohol, looked much darker than during the day; he half-squinted, swaying gently on his horseback, slightly intoxicated.
"No," he succinctly replied.
The follower dared not speak further, gripping his Jinyiwei sword tightly, on guard in all directions.
Only the sound of horse hooves echoed on the street; fortunately, there was no disturbance, and the lights of Lu Mansion gradually brightened ahead.
The Jinyiwei already waiting at the gate saw them approach. Some came to greet them while others opened the gate.
The entourage spread out in front of the gate, and with the help of a Jinyiwei, Lu Yunqi dismounted.
His drunkenness intensified, his steps unsteady; he had to lean on his follower's shoulder. Just as he was about to step up the staircase, a sharp sound pierced the night, followed by a whooshing noise.
The Jinyiwei immediately acted on the sound, with the one supporting Lu Yunqi quickly pushing him behind the horse.
The horse neighed and reared up as an arrow struck it.
"There's an assassin!"
Calls erupted and swords were drawn, with countless people rushing towards the source of the arrow while more gathered around Lu Yunqi.