Lu Yunqi's two words brought a standstill to the room.
The ladies all ceased their chatter, looking at Miss Jun with complex expressions, nervous jealousy flickering in their eyes.
Was it lust at first sight like they had each been inexplicably smitten?
"Are you from the Ning Family of Beiliu?" Lu Yunqi said.
His voice broke the stillness in the room, and Miss Jun felt a breath of air pass through her.
The Ning Family of Beiliu.
Ning Yunzhao.
Met before.
Together.
Fried tofu puffs.
Carriages passing by.
As a standout among the younger generation of the Ning Family, Lu Yunqi certainly recognized Ning Yunzhao.
At the time, he stood in company with Ning Yunzhao, which is why he remembered.
Lu Yunqi had an excellent memory, even one might say a photographic memory, developed from studying with his master, while he had forced himself to develop it due to his work with Jinyiwei.
She bowed her head again to curtsy, but someone beat her to speaking.
"That's not right, she is Doctor Miss Jun of Jiuling Hall," said the third lady hurriedly.
Lu Yunqi's gaze did not shift but grew even darker.
"Jiuling Hall," he uttered these three words, looking at the girl with her head bowed before him.
Once again, the atmosphere in the room congealed.
The ladies shivered with apprehension.
They had all heard of Lu Yunqi's reputation to some extent and knew how terrifying he could be.
Every one of them had been scared to death when they first arrived here, but they were all met with tenderness, smiles, and generosity.
They lived in luxurious comfort, with money at their disposal, ascending to the heavens alongside chickens and dogs.
He was simply the best person in the world.
They had never even seen him angry.
They had all forgotten the rumors about Lu Yunqi, until this very moment when they abruptly recalled them.
It wasn't necessary to say anything; his silence and grim expression were enough to instill fear.
What had displeased him?
Was it this Miss, or the medical hall?
The women in the room didn't know, but Miss Jun did.
She raised her head to look at Lu Yunqi, who was surrounded by the ladies.
"Yes, it's Jiuling Hall of Runan," she said.
No matter how displeased you are, no matter how much you dislike it, this name has re-emerged and will continue to exist.
Lu Yunqi showed no reaction, but the other ladies could not help but speak up.
Although they should have been glad to see Lu Yunqi upset with the doctor and then take it out on the third lady, potentially leading to one less rival for his favor in the household,
the thought of Lu Yunqi being angry was too frightening, for fear that they would be collateral damage in his wrath.
"So, it's Jiuling Hall."
"The very one that's rumored to be miraculous."
"The one that charges one thousand taels of silver for a single consultation."
"No wonder the illness was cured so quickly; indeed, quite impressive."
"Turns out she really is a young lady doctor."
They spoke one after another, trying to defuse the awkward atmosphere.
The ladies' chatter seemed to have an effect, as Lu Yunqi withdrew his gaze.
"A consultation fee of one thousand taels?" he said.
The third lady hastened to affirm.
"No," Miss Jun said, "a consultation fee of one thousand taels, and the medicine one thousand taels."
The women in the room clicked their tongues.
Indeed, it's expensive.
"Give her ten thousand taels," Lu Yunqi said.
Ten thousand taels!
The women were shocked once more.
"Oh my, this is the honor the lord is granting you," Nanny Huang whispered joyfully to the third lady, her eyes and eyebrows alight with happiness.
Yes, he was pleased to have his throat cured, so he wanted to reward the doctor generously.
This too showed Lu Yunqi's care for the third lady.
The women in the room could hardly conceal their jealousy, while the third lady was overwhelmed with excited delight.
"Thank you, my lord, but the due amount is what it is," Miss Jun said.
The servant had already fetched the silver banknote, and Nanny Huang personally handed it to Miss Jun.
"Miss Jun, please don't be modest," she said, pride and joy evident in her voice, "This is our lord's pleasure, don't dampen it."
The silver banknote was pressed into Miss Jun's hand.
"Two thousand is the consultation fee; the rest is for you to change the name of your medical hall," Lu Yunqi said.
Everyone's expression froze again.
Change the clinic's name?
Was it for the name of the clinic? Not for the third wife.
The women's gazes shifted towards the third wife, barely concealing their mockery and schadenfreude.
The third wife looked embarrassed.
Why change the name of a perfectly good clinic?
"Oh," a woman suddenly exclaimed, "Isn't that so? Jiuling Hall, that's an offense against the princess."
Princess.
Princess Jiuli.
That was Lu Yunqi's late wife.
The women also started to realize.
So it was for a dead person, not for any of them, and they all became happy.
"Yes, really, why would you..."
"You take the money and change it to a different name."
"Don't call it that anymore, that's the princess's name."
They kept saying, expressing their agreement and fawning over each other.
Miss Jun smiled slightly.
An offense, there has never been a taboo about offending the name of a princess.
It's merely offending your taboo.
"Lord Lu, Jiuling Hall is my family's ancestral enterprise," she said, "It has been passed down for a hundred years..."
She was cut off by Lu Yunqi before she could finish.
"I know that," he said, waving his hand, "take the money and go, change the name."
His words were simple and decisive, his tone not stiff, and his voice not frightening, but they made one's heart flutter.
The women in the room felt a bit of tension.
"What's wrong with this woman?"
"Go on, leave."
They said displeased.
Lu Yunqi no longer looked at her and took a hold of the third wife.
"Really better?" he asked, a smile resurfacing in his eyes.
The third wife immediately felt relieved.
"Yes," she answered softly.
"Then are you able to read the books you've been learning?" Lu Yunqi asked with a smile.
The third wife nodded repeatedly.
"Let's go," Lu Yunqi said, taking her hand and walking out.
The other women were both jealous and envious, and naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity.
"Yunqi, I want to listen too," they said, following him.
Miss Jun, left standing alone in the room, looked quite awkward.
Nanny Huang also smiled in relief, and when she looked at Miss Jun again, her expression was somewhat haughty.
"Miss Jun, thanks for your help," she said. "Please."
Miss Jun picked up her medicine chest and walked out.
"This time you're lucky, meeting our Lord when he's in such a good mood."
"Just remember to change the name immediately when you get back."
"If you anger the Lord, even if our third wife pleads for you, she may not be able to save you."
The maidservant muttered all the way.
Miss Jun remained quiet and walked on without replying. Behind her, there was the sound of laughter from the women, as well as the clear sound of reading scripture.
Miss Jun didn't look back, watching as several servant boys turned into the shadow wall, carrying a carved mirror stand embellished with gold and precious stones, dazzling and eye-catching in the sunlight.
"Ah, our third wife's new mirror stand has arrived," Nanny Huang said excitedly, leaving Miss Jun quickly to go over, examining the mirror stand around, clicking her tongue in admiration, while instructing the servant boys, "Be careful, take it slow."
Miss Jun stopped by the roadside to make way, watching the mirror stand pass by her, her gaze fell on the bronze mirror, seeing her own reflection in it.
The face of a young girl in her teens appeared before her, delicate and innocent, with a hint of childishness. This was Jun Zhenzhen, not looking much like herself at all.
Herself...
With a crack, it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck down.
Miss Jun abruptly turned her head to look at the women gathered around Lu Yunqi in the corridor.
She knew why she felt they seemed familiar.
Her gaze swept over the women; those were her eyes, that was her face, that was her nose...
"Yunqi, am I reading this right?" the third wife asked nervously, holding a scroll.
And her voice.
Miss Jun watched the women in the corridor, watched Lu Yunqi break into a smile, and she couldn't help but breathe faster, her footsteps slowly retreating before she turned and quickly ran out.
Rushing out the door, the sensation of tumult inside her could no longer be suppressed, and she leaned against the wall, heaving.
Damnit, damnit.
Despicable, despicable.
*******************************************************************
Have a great weekend.