Fang Chengyu's archery skills were praised by the Duke of Chengguo, and the compliments continued even at the dinner table.
"It's a shame it's been delayed for so many years; it would be even better if he had started practicing from a young age," he said, considering a comparison, "He could rival Hanqing."
Since Yang Jing took part of the Qingshan Army to escort Miss Xiao, Zhao Hanqing was left in the army to assist Xia Yong and thus had not yet met Fang Chengyu.
However, Fang Chengyu was not unfamiliar with this name and was not unhappy to be compared to a woman.
"Can I really?" he said happily, "Then I'll practice even harder in the future."
He then looked at Miss Jun.
"Jiuling, the Duke said I could be as great as Hanqing."
Like a child boasting after receiving praise.
Miss Jun nodded with a smile.
"Of course you can," she said, "You're all better than me."
The atmosphere at the dinner table was joyful, with laughter and chatter, except for Zhu Zan who seemed detached, keeping his head down and eating continuously.
"Zan'er."
After several calls in his ear, Zhu Zan jolted and looked up.
"What?" he looked at the Duke of Chengguo, somewhat confused, clearly having missed the conversation.
"Your father wants you to take Chengyu to find an archery master after dinner," Madam Yu said, frowning, "What were you doing? Didn't we let you eat last night?"
Zhu Zan responded with an "oh," glanced at Fang Chengyu, and forced a smile.
"Alright, I will take you," he said.
His straightforward acceptance surprised Madam Yu.
Yesterday, he was indifferent to Fang Chengyu, thinking he would find an excuse to refuse, but looking at Zhu Zan's immediate lowering of his head to continue eating without speaking or glancing at anyone at the table made her unrecognizable as to who her son was.
What happened last night? Though she generally did not pry into her son's affairs, Madam Yu knew there was a commotion involving a maid.
If it were about sons or daughters, she could bring them over to discipline them, but matters involving her son and daughter-in-law were not appropriate for her to intervene.
The thought of son and daughter-in-law crossed Madam Yu's mind again and she coughed.
"When do you plan to mention Miss Jun's situation?" she asked the Duke of Chengguo.
"In the next few days," the Duke replied, "I aim to present it at court when Chengyu receives his awards."
He said this with a smile at Miss Jun.
"Duke, you might consider waiting and discussing it later," Miss Jun said.
Having just faced the situation with Prince Huai and the emperor being angry, taking the opportunity to deal a blow to the Duke of Chengguo is inevitable, it might be better to wait until things have calmed down.
The Duke understood her meaning.
"Every situation has its pros and cons," he said warmly, "It's unnecessary to be overly cautious, I will write the memorial in the next few days."
Miss Jun sighed inwardly, knowing the Duke's character, she chose not to persuade him further.
"Better to obey than to be courteous," she said with a smile.
Even when expressing gratitude, she carried a degree of pride, something Zhu Zan had long noticed; initially, when she graciously accepted Madam Yu's polite gestures, he found it strange, but now he understood.
It was a habit formed from childhood.
After all, she is a princess.
Zhu Zan bit his chopsticks, nearly burying his head in the bowl, as Madam Yu's voice sounded in his ear.
"In the future, you will no longer be my daughter-in-law."
Daughter-in-law... Zhu Zan's teeth paused.
"I can acknowledge you as my adoptive mother," Miss Jun said with a smile.
Just as Madam Yu was about to speak, with a clatter, Zhu Zan's chopsticks fell onto the table.
Everyone turned their gaze toward him, and Zhu Zan jumped up with a flushed face.
"I just remembered," he said, "Zhang Baotang has a master who's excellent at archery, quite suitable for a young master like Fang."
Having spoken, without waiting for anyone's reaction, he turned and ran out swiftly.
"I'll go find him right away."
Watching Zhu Zan run out, Fang Chengyu laughed.
"My brother is really good to me," he said.
..........
...........
Miss Jun and Fang Chengyu left the Duke of Chengguo's residence because they couldn't find Zhu Zan. The Duke personally arranged guards to escort them, and watched Miss Jun leave before heading to his study, preparing to summon his staff to discuss writing the memorial.
"Father, father."
Before reaching the study, he heard a soft call from the roadside.
The Duke looked over with surprise and saw Zhu Zan behind a tree waving at him.
"You're at home?" the Duke said, then laughed, "Did you cause some trouble and hide here?"
Zhu Zan shook his hand and looked around.
"Miss Jun has left, hasn't she?" he asked in a low voice.
"She has," the Duke did not call him out but walked over himself and asked warmly, "What's wrong?"
Zhu Zan scratched the tree bark.
"Father, I think what she said makes sense," he said, "It's not appropriate to submit the memorial about the false marriage now."
The Duke responded with an "oh."
"It's indeed not appropriate for us," he said, "But Zan'er, one shouldn't only consider oneself."
Zhu Zan quickly nodded.
"No, no, that's not what I mean," he said, "I think it's not good for her either."
The Duke gazed at him with a gentle expression, waiting for him to explain.
Zhu Zan scratched the tree bark.
"I feel it would put her in the spotlight, with such huge accolades, she could easily become a target," he said.
The Duke laughed.
"I believe Miss Jun is not afraid of facing challenges head-on," he said.
"I know she is not afraid," Zhu Zan scratched the tree and said, "I just think it's better if things are safer."
The Duke glanced at the tree bark on the ground.
Though he didn't understand why his always brave son seemed like a frightened rabbit, as a father, he didn't require his son to be brave and fearless all the time.
Everyone is allowed, and can be afraid; he would not be demanding nor ask him to instantly cheer up.
"Don't be afraid," he said with a smile, patting Zhu Zan's shoulder, "I'll make sure everything is thorough."
Zhu Zan responded with an "oh," nodded, watched the Duke walk away, stood under the tree for a moment, then suddenly turned and ran outside.
"Second brother, second brother."
The voice of Zhang Baotang at the alley entrance made Zhu Zan stop.
"The person you wanted me to bring, I've brought him," he said happily, gesturing to a middle-aged guard behind him.
The guard saluted Zhu Zan.
"Who is this person?" Zhu Zan asked, taken aback.
Zhang Baotang widened his eyes.
"Didn't you ask someone to say you needed to find my archery master?" he said.
Zhu Zan rubbed his nose, muttered something, and looked up with a smile.
"Yes, yes," he said, "It's not for me, so I didn't remember."
"Was it Miss Jun who wanted it?" Zhang Baotang asked.
Zhu Zan responded with an "um."
"Take it to Jiuling Hall for her," he said, but was held back by Zhang Baotang as he was about to step away.
"Miss Jun is not at Jiuling Hall," Zhang Baotang said, "I just met her, Miss Jun and Mr. Ning are at the Lao Peng Tea House."
Ah? Zhu Zan was taken aback.
........
"Look."
Standing outside the Lao Peng Tea House, Zhang Baotang pointed to a spot inside.
Zhu Zan peeked from the corner of the wall, indeed seeing the lady sitting opposite Ning Yunzhao, not knowing what was said, and saw her raise her hand to cover her mouth while laughing.
"The false marriage hasn't even been mentioned yet, and she's already out with another man..." he murmured.
"What did you say, second brother?" Zhang Baotang did not hear clearly and asked quickly.
Zhu Zan waved his hand.
"It's nothing," he said.
"Why did Mr. Ning only arrange to meet Miss Jun? Ordinarily, you should have come too," Zhang Baotang looked inside and said with a frown, "I thought you would come as well, waited for a while without seeing you, was quite puzzled."
Zhu Zan glared at him.
"What's puzzling? She's a doctor, going out to meet people and treat them is quite normal," he said, "Didn't you see that guy looks sickly?"
Zhang Baotang looked into the tea house; the young man's smile was warm, his gestures smooth and charismatic.
"I didn't notice," he honestly replied.