A peal of thunder passed, and bean-sized raindrops dashed down, creating a dense rustling sound on the bluestone slabs of the Northern Administrative Court.
A Jinyiwei wearing a raincoat and a bamboo hat walked through the curtain of rain and entered a room.
"Miss Jun has entered the Shanxi boundary," he said in a low voice as he saluted.
Chiliarch Jiang waved him away, and the Jinyiwei bowed and retreated.
"Is Miss Jun here to help Young Master Fang hold onto his family estate?" he said.
Lu Yunqi, who was flipping through documents, did not lift his head.
"Is that even a matter worth her attention?" he said.
In his mind, was this Miss Jun becoming increasingly formidable with age? Chiliarch Jiang thought to himself, and gave a light cough.
"My lord, Eighteenth Jin has already returned to Shanxi. Should we greet him, take the opportunity to..." he said.
"No need," Lu Yunqi said.
Was it because the Duke of Chengguo's heir was with her? But still, he was just one person, what could he accomplish?
Chiliarch Jiang looked at Lu Yunqi.
Lu Yunqi looked up.
"She will come back," he said, pausing, "I will wait for her to come back."
My lord's attitude towards Miss Jun seems to have changed, Chiliarch Jiang thought to himself. Previously, he was determined and aggressive with her, but now he just sidelines and watches, without approaching or pressuring.
But it does not matter, once the troubles with the Duke of Chengguo are resolved, this Miss Jun will surely be in hand eventually.
"There are movements in the north," Chiliarch Jiang said quietly.
Lu Yunqi responded with a light hum, his expression indifferent.
While heavy rains poured over the capital, Shanxi was bathed in shining sunlight.
A young man, wearing a bamboo hat and holding a fishing rod, had been sitting by the river for almost half the day, his expression still focused.
"Young Master."
A voice came from behind him.
"Shh, don't disturb me," Fang Chengyu extended a hand back, "The fish might get scared away."
The guard behind him remained silent, footsteps approached, and someone leaned slightly forward to look from behind.
"Hey, are there really fish in this river?" a gentle female voice asked.
Fang Chengyu exclaimed and leapt up.
"Jiuling! You came too!" he shouted in delight, looking in disbelief at the woman in front of him.
The woman unveiled her face, her attire dusty from the journey, even holding a horsewhip in her hand.
"With such a big matter, of course, I had to come," she said with a smile.
Fang Chengyu nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, yes," he said, "I was actually very scared."
As he spoke, he reached out to embrace Miss Jun, but someone extended a hand from the side, grasping his fishing rod and blocking his approach to Miss Jun.
"There's no hook on this, what are you fishing for," Zhu Zan said, "You're too young to be posing as Jiang Taigong."
Fang Chengyu looked aggrieved and tossed the fishing rod aside.
"It's the mood," he said, "Fishing doesn't necessarily mean catching fish."
Zhu Zan laughed heartily.
"Truly, you're just teenagers trying to act melancholic for the sake of poetry," he said.
Fang Chengyu looked at him in embarrassment, then at Jiuling.
"What's so funny," Miss Jun glared at Zhu Zan, "It's not like you were never young."
"I was young, but I never did anything like this," Zhu Zan said proudly.
Fang Chengyu glanced at him, then at Miss Jun, sighing internally, thinking that their interactions had returned to the way they used to be in just a few days.
This sentence sounded peculiar, but it was simple. During some period in the capital, a situation unfolded between the two, making their interaction constrained and awkward, but now it seemed that constraint and awkwardness had dissipated, and they were comfortable with each other again.
"Brother, why are you here?" he asked gratefully, "Did you come specifically to help us?"
"No," Zhu Zan said, "I'm here to watch the show."
As he spoke, he glanced at Miss Jun.
"She doesn't need anyone's help."
The words were a bit sour, but Zhu Zan said them nonetheless.
Miss Jun glanced at Zhu Zan but didn't respond.
Just as he thought, this man was thick-skinned! Fang Chengyu sighed again internally, then looked around.
"Where is Jinxiu? Jiuling, didn't you say she should return?" he asked.
"She's already gone back to Yangcheng," Miss Jun said, "It should be about time."
Fang Chengyu nodded, his expression turning enthusiastic.
"Jiuling, Second Sister is really impressive," he said.
Miss Jun smiled, thinking of the Second Miss Fang of the Fang family, with whom she hadn't had much contact.
Fang Yunxiao and Fang Jinxiu had both suffered at the hands of Jun Zhenzhen, but only Fang Yuxiu remained unaffected, and when facing her, Fang Jinxiu had provoked her several times to no avail, still stubbornly argumentative, and it was this Fang Yuxiu who had once coldly discovered on purpose that she hadn't been tricked and immediately became friendly.
She knew this Second Miss Fang was not as meek as she appeared.
"Which of Chengyu's sisters isn't impressive?" she said with a smile.
Fang Chengyu laughed heartily.
What a show-off, Zhu Zan thought to himself, but admittedly, it was quite charming, and he turned his head away with a grin.
.......
.......
Fang Jinxiu reined in her horse in front of the city gate and looked up at it.
How long had it been since she returned? A year or two? Time passed quickly, yet the city gate remained unchanged, and the bustling citizens continued on their respective paths, with no one sparing her a glance.
Once dazzling or once disgraced, the people of Yangcheng had long forgotten the Third Miss Fang.
However, soon they would remember her again.
Fang Jinxiu raised her eyebrows, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned. Her teenage years had been truly tumultuous.
With a snap, she raised her whip and urged her horse through the city gates.
The weather was fine, the people safe, the administration efficient. Registrar Lin, after finishing his official duties, sat leisurely in his room, pouring wine and enjoying himself.
Once filled with wine and food, other thoughts easily emerged.
Thinking of the tavern's little widow's fair and tender hands, wondering if the rest of her body was the same.
Moreover, she winked at him and deliberately dropped her handkerchief.
Unfortunately, ever since the affair with a kept mistress was exposed a few years ago, Madam Lin had been causing a commotion for a long time, and his brothers-in-law from his wife's family had intimidated and extorted silver from him. He had been living quietly ever since.
Thinking of that incident inevitably brought to mind the troublemaker Jun Zhenzhen.
When he thought of that name, he subconsciously glanced around, ashamed and annoyed at his own fear.
Since leaving Yangcheng, Jun Zhenzhen had been stirring up storms one after another, each more alarming than the last.
Whatever the case, she now caused trouble in the capital and no longer in Yangcheng.
Maybe it was time to keep a mistress again...
Just as the thought crossed his mind, he heard drumming sounds outside, startling Registrar Lin.
"Who's there? What's going on?" he shouted in annoyance.
A clerk ran in, looking alarmed.
"Sir, something's wrong, someone wants to file a lawsuit," he said.
Registrar Lin regained his composure and exhaled.
"How is that bad? Filing a lawsuit is a good thing," he said.
Filing a lawsuit meant making money, and Yangcheng had been peaceful, with no lawsuits for months.
However, the clerk remained uneasy.
"But, the person filing the lawsuit is suing the De Sheng Chang Fang family," he said.
The Fang family was synonymous with the surname Jun, with Jun Zhenzhen.
Registrar Lin almost jumped up.
Indeed, never speak of people behind their backs.
He dared not provoke this troublemaker.
"What have we done, quickly dismiss them," he said.
"That young lady sent a note for you, Lord Lin," the clerk said, handing over a letter.
Registrar Lin hesitated as he took it and opened it.
The letter was simple, with only one line.
Lord Lin, a small matter troubles you. My cousin wishes to file a lawsuit, please take care, much appreciated, Jun Jiuling.
Damn it, this troublemaker is back again, Registrar Lin's expression turned ashen.