She had a sleepless night, and many people in the Fang Family certainly didn't sleep either.
Seeing the housekeeper at the door breathe a sigh of relief upon her return, and then watching Fang Chengyu hurrying out from Old Lady Fang's room.
"Have you eaten?"
"It's so early, you probably haven't eaten yet, have you?"
Fang Chengyu said with a smile, not asking where she went or what happened, as if meeting casually in the morning as usual. But the anxiety of a sleepless night could not be hidden.
Last night, when she suddenly lost composure and left home without returning for a night, especially in such a tense time, they must have been worried sick.
"I'm sorry for making you worry." Miss Jun said apologetically.
Fang Chengyu narrowed his eyes with a smile.
"No worries, you surely know what you're doing," he said. "We believe in you."
"Yes, we believe in you," Old Lady Fang said from inside the room upon hearing this, "but hope you'll also respect us a bit, Jun Zhenzhen; we're human, not stone."
Knowing how to be worried for you, to feel anxious, wanting to look for you but afraid of causing trouble, could your light apology just suffice?
"Jun Zhenzhen, this is not the first time." Old Lady Fang said sternly, "You're too much, what exactly do you take us for..."
Before she could finish, she saw the woman in front of her suddenly drop tears.
Old Lady Fang was taken aback, stopping her words abruptly.
Fang Chengyu was almost moved to tears himself, though he didn't know why she was crying.
"Gongzhu, gongzhu, don't be upset," he said urgently.
Miss Jun already raised her hand to wipe away the tears that had fallen and managed a small smile at them.
She couldn't tell if she was upset or what, somewhat at a complex moment when hearing Old Lady Fang's words about what she took them for. What were they to her? Jun Zhenzhen's relatives, people who prospered on the money paid for the life of the great-grandfather, and yet pitiful people.
She looked at Old Lady Fang. Time had etched its vicissitudes on this old lady's face; even rich living could not conceal the sufferings she had been through, with relatives inexplicably dying one after another, and grandchildren waiting in despair for death for ten years.
She recalled Old Lady Fang's resolute words when finding out the truth that a minister must die when commanded by the sovereign; such resolution was both despair and pride, wasn't it?
Miss Jun suddenly remembered the names of Old Master Fang and Old Master Fang, one called Fang Shouyi, and the other Fang Nianjun, guarding righteousness and thinking of the sovereign, diligently and wholeheartedly, considering serving the sovereign as an honor?
But unfortunately, the money they held from the sovereign was bloody and disgraceful, offering no pride.
There was not only no honor but possibly aiding the wicked and ultimately facing betrayal and destruction.
Did Fang Old Master know the true origin of this money back then?
If he didn't know, then why would he cut off all familial relationships, making his branch a solitary one, with the populace saying it was due to greed and heartlessness, but couldn't it also be said to prevent kinship involvement?
Did Old Master do it this way, and did Old Lady Fang also receive such an instruction, to treat her kin thus, not minding being called heartless to cut ties?
Did they know or not, and how much did they know if they did know?
Or maybe they knew nothing, but as Zhu Zan said, ministers are naturally wary of the emperor, seeking wealth amidst danger, for where there is wealth, there is danger, thus they prepared early to prevent a looming disaster from toppling the whole family.
And what exactly happened back then? Since it was ransom money for peace talks with Jin Country, why did it end up in Shandong? How was the Fang Family chosen for this task, and why did the previous emperor leave behind such an imperial decree?
Too many details remain unknown; it is too difficult to understand what really happened.
A few drops of cold water suddenly sprinkled on her face, mixed with a fishy smell of ashes, and Miss Jun shuddered, seeing Old Lady Fang standing in front of her, dipping her fingers into a water bowl again before flicking them over once more.
"Grandmother, what are you doing?" Miss Jun quickly dodged and asked.
"Exorcising," Old Lady Fang straightforwardly said while scrutinizing her, "Are you feeling like crying and laughing and can't control yourself, perhaps you've been possessed."
Miss Jun couldn't help but laugh, her eyes a bit moist from laughing, then nodded.
"Probably, maybe Grandfather met me for the first time and was very happy." she said.
"Your grandfather is not someone who frightens children," Old Lady Fang said.
"Gongzhu, are you alright now?" Fang Chengyu hurriedly asked and winked at her secretly, moving closer to her in a low voice, "Quickly say you're alright, or else we'll make you drink this ash water."
Miss Jun nodded with a smile.
"If you're alright, it means it worked, so you should drink it," Old Lady Fang said with a cold face, having overheard.
Miss Jun laughed.
"Grandmother, don't you not believe in ghosts and spirits?" she said, "Don't worry, I'm fine, I was just thinking about some things and got a bit lost in thought, and I didn't wander around last night, just went to talk to a friend for a while."
Does she have friends? Old Lady Fang thought, truly rare.
Fang Chengyu, on the other hand, looked quite aggrieved, truly annoying.
"You don't have to worry about delaying things," Old Lady Fang said bluntly, "You've set up the stage, now we will sing the play."
Her demeanor carried a bit of ease and pride.
"We are skilled at such things as singing operas."
Having said that, she gestured for Miss Jun to sit.
"Last night I had it figured out and discussed it with Chengyu, let's proceed with Jinxiu's accusations..."
Seeing Old Lady Fang enthusiastically ready to discuss with her how to proceed, Miss Jun felt reluctant to interrupt, it was her letting Old Lady Fang think about what to do all night, while she spent the night thinking about not doing it.
"Gongzhu, do you have any new ideas?" Fang Chengyu suddenly asked, interrupting Old Lady Fang.
Old Lady Fang also looked at her.
Miss Jun took a deep breath.
"I think it's better to let them take it," she said.
Old Lady Fang looked somewhat astonished.
"Ah?" She seemed to not have heard it clearly.
"I've thought it over and over, delaying is not a solution either," Miss Jun said, and as she spoke, her words became more fluent, "There's no guarding against thieves for a thousand days. Since they are determined to have it, if they can't get it, they will surely be furious, which would be bad for us. It's better to avoid their sharp edge."
Old Lady Fang made an 'oh' sound, seemingly understanding yet not understanding.
The silence made the atmosphere in the room somewhat strange.
"It was me who didn't think it through before, although I guessed some matters, but after truly seeing those things, I feel my previous considerations were somewhat inappropriate," Miss Jun continued, her expression unable to hide her shame.
The shame was genuine, but of course, it was not because of the inappropriate considerations.
Silence again filled the room.
When Miss Jun was about to say more, Old Lady Fang spoke first.
"Okay." She nodded very straightforwardly.
Miss Jun looked at her, momentarily not knowing what to say.
"Thank you," she said.
Old Lady Fang smiled.
"Thank what, this is what we should be doing," she said.
Miss Jun was silent for a moment.
"When soldiers come, the general will block; we will continue to do what we should," she said, paused again, "Grandmother, don't worry."
Rest assured, although she had no choice but to obscure the origin of the money for now, that didn't mean the emperor could just do as he pleased.
Zhu Zan was right, regardless of what the imperial grandfather did back then, it did not justify Prince Qi doing evil, and her father and the Fang Family should not be wronged.
There remains justice, there must be justice in this world.
Miss Jun saluted and took her leave. Watching Miss Jun walk out, Old Lady Fang let out a gentle sigh.
"Grandmother, thank you," Fang Chengyu said too, "for not blaming Gongzhu for being so fickle."
Old Lady Fang smiled, her expression returned to seriousness.
"Blame her for what, the cause of this matter has nothing to do with her, nor does the outcome," she said, "This was inherently my affair."
Saying that, she paused again, looking at where the girl's figure had already disappeared from sight.
"Moreover, she was truly frightened, coming to such a decision after a night is not child's play."
Fang Chengyu nodded, wrapping Old Lady Fang's arm.
"Grandmother, no matter what happens next, we're not afraid," he said.
Old Lady Fang nodded.
"Fear what?" she said, smiling, "Didn't she say, there is justice in this world."