Although there were many people, the meals in this restaurant were served very quickly.
Large plates and bowls, hot and cold dishes, meat and vegetarian, sweet and salty, sour and spicy were served and removed in quick succession, and Miss Jun was eating with great enjoyment.
Whether it was due to the spicy soup or the crowded and noisy surroundings, Miss Jun was sweating profusely, her face shiny with oil, looking amusing and funny.
With a light clatter, Miss Jun put down the spoon in her hand and raised her head.
"Why are you staring at me?" she said somewhat irritably, with fine droplets of sweat falling from her nose.
Zhu Zan made a sound of surprise.
"Am I?" he asked, seemingly just glancing at her, holding up the chopsticks in his hand, "I don't think so."
Miss Jun lowered her head to continue picking up food, then suddenly raised her head again and met Zhu Zan's gaze.
He was biting his chopsticks, and when he saw her looking over, he smiled.
"This, this is not tasty, try that one." He pointed at a bowl of fried meatballs with his chopsticks.
Miss Jun frowned at him without paying attention.
"Eat your own, don't look at mine." she said.
"I'm not looking at you." Zhu Zan said again, somewhat helpless.
"I saw you looking, ever since you sat down here you've been doing this." Miss Jun murmured, her face annoyed, "You're affecting my appetite."
Zhu Zan chuckled.
"No, I've always been like this, you didn't mention it before." He lowered his head, his voice softening, muttering, "And you haven't eaten any less."
Was he always like this?
Why hadn't she noticed before? Miss Jun clutched her spoon, slightly lost in thought.
It was strange; today she felt his gaze constantly on her, whether she was in front or behind him, no matter what she was doing, as soon as she lifted her eyes, she could immediately see his gaze, it was annoying.
She suddenly felt uncomfortable being alone with him, so after talking about camping outside, considering that it would definitely mean being alone, she immediately changed her mind to enter the city.
Walking in the bustling town, amidst chaotic views, she didn't have to be troubled by his gaze.
Therefore, she chose a crowded guesthouse again and squeezed into the bustling hall to eat together.
But why his gaze was still there as soon as she looked up, sitting in the noisy crowd it seemed like only the two of them faced each other, as if there was nothing else around, his gaze was still everywhere.
Annoyed to the point of not being able to hold back and rebuking him, yet he looked like she was deliberately picking a fight.
I've always been like this.
He used to be like this, it was because she didn't pay attention, because she didn't care? Now, it's because she knows his thoughts, it's different.
It turns out it's not he who changed, it's she who changed.
Miss Jun slowly picked up a hot dumpling, chewing it bit by bit.
Just like when he learned she was Princess Jiuli, he was flustered and confused, and she comforted him to be as before, after all, she hadn't changed, only his thoughts had.
Now it was the opposite.
Because she slightly glimpsed Zhu Zan's intentions, she became flustered and confused, so those things she didn't care about before became especially important, if he was always looking at her, then wasn't she also always looking at him.
Miss Jun pressed her lips into a smile, both shy and somewhat amused.
This amounted to troubling herself, his attitude hasn't changed, she has changed.
Actually, what's the big deal, look if you want....
With the thought flashing through, she subconsciously raised her eyes, and again met Zhu Zan's gaze.
He seemed startled.
"Hey, I was just going to remind you that you're biting your chopstick." he hurriedly said, "I wasn't purposely looking at you."
Even if it was intentional, so what? Does she fear him looking? Miss Jun glanced at him and smiled.
"Give me that bowl of noodle soup." she said.
Zhu Zan made a sound of acknowledgment, reached out to hand it over, and looked at her again.
Miss Jun was no longer annoyed, nor did she pay him any mind, she served herself the meal and ate seriously and attentively.
Though not knowing why her mood suddenly improved, he knew that at times like this, just enjoy it peacefully, questioning or digging deeper was foolish and asking for trouble.
Zhu Zan raised his eyebrows and happily started eating in the lively atmosphere.
....
.....
"They have passed Xin'an." Jiang Qianhu said, following Lu Yunqi as they approached the palace.
Beneath the eaves of the palace, the Jinyiwei stood solemnly, and they saluted Lu Yunqi when they saw him coming.
Lu Yunqi walked straight through.
"Then they'll be back soon." he said.
Jiang Qianhu replied affirmatively.
"Master, should we enter the city..." he thought for a moment and asked.
Lu Yunqi shook his head, and Jiang Qianhu promptly replied affirmatively and said no more, the two quickly passed through the corridor arriving at Qingzheng Hall where the emperor was.
"Lord Lu is here."
A sharp voice suddenly sounded.
This voice was not pleasant, the tone even less so, carrying a slight frivolity.
In this palace, no one dared to speak to Lu Yunqi like this, Jiang Qianhu frowned and looked over, seeing a group of eunuchs standing among the Jinyiwei beneath the palace hallway.
This group of eunuchs, unlike others, wore strange clothes, neither like servants nor officials.
However, Jiang Qianhu and the others were not unfamiliar now, these were the eunuchs of the newly established Investigation Department by the Ritual Department at the emperor's command, Yuan Bao serving as Supervisor.
Similar to the Jinyiwei, tasked with spying and supervising, nominally assisting the Northern Administrative Court, but not truly doing so.
"Lord Lu, His Majesty is talking with Eunuch Yuan, please wait a moment." the leading eunuch said with a seemingly mocking smile.
The emperor summoning Lu Yunqi and then making him wait was unprecedented.
Jiang Qianhu's expression showed slight anger.
Lu Yunqi showed no emotion, turning around and standing among the Jinyiwei under the hallway like the others.
Jiang Qianhu glared coldly at the eunuchs, then followed suit.
Seeing them like this, the eunuch felt rather bored, pursed his mouth and stopped talking.
Inside, Yuan Bao was carefully unfolding a secret letter to show the emperor.
"Split into three groups." he said, "That Young Master of Fang is the biggest, seventy-two money businesses, fifty of them in prosperous locations, the three Misses, the eldest and second Misses share sixteen, Third Miss Fang Jinxiu the least, only six, but they are close to the capital."
The emperor looked at the letter, his expression displeased and snorted.
"These are all mine." he said, "Without me, how would they have all this now."
Yuan Bao laughed apologetically, responding affirmatively.
"Exactly." he said, pointing at the letter, "They truly split up De Sheng Chang, the eldest and second Misses' businesses renamed to Dongfeng Place, Third Miss to Great Hengchang. Changing names, for money businesses, means they truly no longer interfere with each other, a perfectly good De Sheng Chang has been chopped to pieces."
"Such wastrels." the emperor said, slamming the letter onto the table, "Only able to share hardships, not wealth, they are unfilial descendants."
Yuan Bao chuckled, agreeing.
"Then before they squander everything, shall I retrieve it for His Majesty?" he asked.
The emperor pondered for a moment.
"Do it cautiously." he said, after thinking for a moment, "Take care of the major ones first, no need to bother with the little girls' childish antics, when the major ones topple, theirs can be blown away by the wind."
Yuan Bao responded happily, then lifted his head with a guilty look.
"Your Majesty, this servant has not handled things well, yet Your Majesty continues to trust and forgive this servant..." he choked up, said, wiping tears with his sleeve, "Perhaps, let Lord Lu work on this with the servant, in case the servant fails..."
"Alright." the emperor impatiently interrupted him, "You have your tasks, he has his, mixing them together how can you accomplish anything? If you fail, I'll punish you, so don't worry."
Yuan Bao happily knelt and bowed.
"Thank Your Majesty." he said.
Yuan Bao exited the hall, straightening his back, and the eunuchs immediately surrounded him with flattering words.
"Oh, Lord Lu is here." Yuan Bao seemed to have just noticed Lu Yunqi, hurriedly raised his hand in salute, with a smile, "Please go ahead, His Majesty is asking for you."
It seemed as if His Majesty permitting Lu Yunqi to enter required his approval, Jiang Qianhu's face turned even colder, Lu Yunqi seemed not to hear nor see him, already surpassing him and went straight inside.
Yuan Bao felt somewhat bored, chuckled a few times and left with the eunuchs.
Inside the hall, the emperor set down the memorial he was holding, looking at Lu Yunqi.
"What secret letter did Zhu Shan send to the northern lands?" he asked.