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Thank you all for the rewards, votes, subscriptions, and for your love for me.
Thank you, everyone. I am very happy that so many people love me, love me in various ways, and I will make your love worth it.
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Miss Jun had no thoughts at all.
She should think about something, but she didn't want to think about anything.
Even so, she continued to retch, a layer after layer of cold sweat broke out on her body, as if she was drowning and sinking.
The maidservant who came out with her and the carriage driver who drove the carriage were both startled.
"Alas, Miss Jun, are you all right?" Nanny Huang anxiously asked.
Miss Jun struggled to steady her breathing and put her hand on her chest to wave at her.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," she said, her hands trembling as she opened her medicine chest and took out a pill to chew and swallow.
Nanny Huang chuckled.
"Even the Doctor can feel unwell, huh?" she said, gesturing with a hand, "Then please get in the carriage."
Miss Jun shook her head at her.
"No, I feel even more uncomfortable in the carriage. I'd better walk, walk back," she said.
Hearing this, Nanny Huang did not insist any further.
Now that her third young mistress had regained favor, she must support her wholeheartedly, hoping to keep Lord Lu here today.
After being at this residence for so long, Lord Lu had never stayed overnight.
She figured it was because he was newly married to the princess, so it was inappropriate to stay at an outside residence.
Now that some time had passed since the marriage, and he was so delighted with the third young mistress's recovery today, perhaps with her soft pleading, he might stay tonight.
This third young mistress, who came from a tea-seller family and was not even as good as a maid, couldn't do anything. She had to teach her something.
"Then, Miss Jun, please be careful on your own," she said, without any ceremony, turning and going inside.
Seeing her like this, the carriage driver naturally did not insist and left as well.
Miss Jun, leaning against the wall, stood still for a moment before slowly taking steps, regardless of her slightly unsteady feet, increasing her pace.
Quickly leave this place.
Leave this place.
That was the only thought in her mind.
But after walking for a while, she became a bit lost.
She had arrived by carriage and had not noticed the route, and she had walked aimlessly just now; now she suddenly did not know where she was.
She carried her medicine chest and walked slowly for a moment, then suddenly saw a manor house before her, and a sense of familiarity hit her.
This was the Duke of Chengguo's residence.
It was the farthest place she had been to when she first left the palace.
Miss Jun walked slowly towards it.
Compared with ten years ago, the Duke of Chengguo's residence seemed somewhat dilapidated. Duke of Chengguo didn't often live here, and in the past ten years, he had hardly returned. Although servants remained to take care of the house, a manor required the vitality of people to maintain it.
Miss Jun entered the estate and walked along the tall surrounding wall, then stopped after a while and looked up.
There were lush tree canopies protruding from the mottled wall, casting dense shadows along the wall's edge.
She couldn't help but press her lips together.
Back then, it was here where she had thrown a rope to climb over.
There should still be a dog hole around here, she wondered if it was still there, subconsciously looking down to search when she heard footsteps behind her and someone uttered a sound of surprise.
Zhu Zan.
Miss Jun quickly turned her head and saw that it was indeed Zhu Zan.
He was not alone; a fat and round companion walked beside him.
But the sound of surprise Zhu Zan uttered was not directed at her.
"Huh... When did you guys go, how come I didn't know?" he continued to speak.
It seemed that the sound of surprise was not because he saw her.
His companion also uttered a surprised sound.
"Ah, didn't I just tell you?" he said, "You hadn't come back yet. Didn't you hear?"
Zhu Zan uttered a sound of realization.
"I forgot," he said, not shifting his gaze and walking forward with a focused expression, "after all, as a man awaiting punishment, I'm quite anxious and my memory has deteriorated."
His companion burst into laughter.
Miss Jun also laughed, watching Zhu Zan passing by her towards the mansion gate.
This guy pretends not to see me every time he sees me.
Is he that afraid I'll pester him?
"Zhu Zan," she called out.
Zhu Zan laughed and clapped his companion on the shoulder.
"... What's worth eating at Deyue Building ... let's go out of the capital to gnaw on lamb legs," he said loudly.
His companion also laughed heartily and pulled his arm down.
"We can talk about lamb legs later, but first, tell me, who is that young lady behind us?" he said, turning around.
He was chubby, his eyes nearly squinted shut by the flesh on his face, his gaze landing on Miss Jun.
Miss Jun also saw him and her expression faltered slightly.
Twelfth uncle.
The youngest son of the imperial grandfather, granted the title of Prince Xian, especially favored to stay in the capital without being sent away, the twelfth uncle.
This was the same prince who had fought with Zhu Zan before.
I thought after their fight they wouldn't cross paths again, but here they were, walking arm in arm and joking with each other.
Prince Xian gave Miss Jun a startled look, probably because of the medicine chest on her back.
"What's the young lady's honorable surname?" he asked with a chuckling smile, "Do you know Heir Zhu?"
Miss Jun looked at him, her feelings complex.
Though they were only a few years apart in age, there was a difference in seniority. She hadn't interacted much with the twelfth uncle since childhood, and after she left home, she only saw him briefly during the New Year, with their conversation amounting to a mere handful of words.
Those relatives, whom one assumes will be familiar for a lifetime even without words, suddenly became strangers, smilingly asking for one's name and origin.
"I..." she began to speak, but Zhu Zan had already taken three long strides over, grabbed her by the arm, and pushed her back.
Her words were cut off.
Zhu Zan stopped a few steps back, pointing at her nose.
"What did I tell you? Have you forgotten?" he said through gritted teeth in a low voice, "And now you've even come looking for me, impressive."
"I truly stumbled upon this place unintentionally," Miss Jun said, "It's purely coincidental."
Zhu Zan spat out in disbelief, glanced back and saw that Prince Xian was peering over at them.
"What whispered secrets are you sharing?" he asked with a grin still on his face.
Zhu Zan glared at him, then turned back to Miss Jun.
"Miss Jun, you're not a fool; coincidences like this don't just happen in the world, they're man-made," he said.
"If you say so, indeed I had something on my mind which led me here," Miss Jun responded, and as she said this, she recalled why she had come to this place.
The emotions she had suppressed suddenly surged forth again, like a tide bursting through its barriers.
She bent over and began to dry heave violently, tears welling up in her eyes.
Zhu Zan jumped in shock.
"What are you doing?" he shouted.
Miss Jun didn't want to do anything but retch, wanting to expel all the nauseating feelings.
She pressed her hand against her chest, continuing to dry heave, with tears streaming incessantly.
It was a mess she would normally not want anyone to see, but then she thought, what did it matter?
Would hiding this wretchedness make it any less real?
Watching her in this state, Zhu Zan stood by, frowning.
"Hey, are you alright?" he asked, with a hint of disgust, "Don't think you can latch onto me like this."
"Latch on?" Prince Xian came over, hearing this remark, and seeing Miss Jun crying and retching, he looked surprised, "Did you knock her up?"
"Dammit," Zhu Zan exclaimed, glaring, "What nonsense are you spouting!"
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Of course, it's the twelfth prince, I made a mistake writing eleven, the author's memory isn't too good...(*^__^*)