Going to the capital to take a look, those were once the Duke of Chengguo's words.
At that time, everyone advised against going to the capital, because they knew that going would surely bring trouble. Even Miss Jun had a way to make his injuries appear severe, but the Duke of Chengguo decided to go anyway. One reason was to settle the identity of the Qingshan Army smoothly and reward everyone accordingly, and the other was that he said he just wanted to take a look.
From being blocked at the moment of entering the capital to now being impeached, has he finally understood?
Miss Jun was silent for a moment.
"Are you disheartened?" she said, "Is the ten years of hard defense in the northern lands to be abandoned?"
"How to preserve it?" Zhu Zan sneered, "Meeting this group of people, ten years, twenty years, what difference does it make?"
This kind of emperor, ah.
Miss Jun had mixed feelings. Such an emperor allowed loyal officials to become disheartened and treacherous ministers to take control, proving even more that he was a foolish and incompetent ruler. She should be glad, yet there was really nothing to be glad about.
Loyal officials disheartened, treacherous ministers in power, chaos in the court, instability in the country, unrest among the people, suffering the common folk, and damaging the essence of the nation.
"Where are you going first?"
Zhu Zan suddenly asked beside her.
Miss Jun looked at him, as if somewhat confused.
"Back home with me, or to Jiuling Hall first?" Zhu Zan asked.
This sounded somewhat off.
"To Jiuling Hall." Miss Jun said, "There are some things you should first discuss with your father."
Zhu Zan responded with an "oh."
"It's okay to tell my father about our matters together," he chuckled, "he's not an outsider, you're more like his son than I am."
Miss Jun was startled, then spat.
Finally realized what was off.
What going home, her home was Jiuling Hall, what did he mean by going home with him.
"What matters do we have!" she retorted irritably, "Stop playing dumb, don't you know what I asked you to discuss with your father?"
Zhu Zan responded with an "oh."
"Now I remember." He said openly, "I did misunderstand just now."
Miss Jun glared at him, said nothing more, and mounted her horse.
The two set out one after the other toward the capital. Zhang Baotang and a few others who received the message near the city gate also arrived.
Knowing Zhu Zan was in a hurry to see the Duke of Chengguo, no one mentioned hosting a banquet. However, Zhang Baotang instructed the servant boy to bring over a package of roast pig trotters.
"County Magistrate, you must be too preoccupied to eat and drink on the road." He said with a simple smile, "Take this to fill up first."
Miss Jun accepted with a smile and directly took a piece to eat, not storing it away.
Zhang Baotang swallowed back the words that it must be eaten hot because it doesn't taste good cold.
"The County Magistrate knows a lot about food." He chuckled.
She wasn't a pampered princess raised in the deep palace; she was someone who traveled long distances and roamed widely. Such a person naturally knows a lot and understands how to enjoy life in less favorable environments.
She wasn't cast aside all those years but actively followed her heart's desire.
Just like himself.
Zhu Zan couldn't help but smile.
"Second brother, I didn't mean the County Magistrate is a glutton, please don't laugh." Zhang Baotang said nervously.
Zhu Zan's smile froze.
He certainly didn't mean that; is this rascal trying to mess with him deliberately? It was hard enough to stop this woman's wild thoughts.
Miss Jun laughed heartily.
"Adding one more to the list isn't a problem." She said, turning her head to smile at Zhu Zan.
By saying "adding," it implied there was already one before.
Dimwit.
This was how he referred to her.
Thinking back to those days, Zhu Zan felt inexplicably excited; why did he just happen to meet her back then? In the vast sea of people, how did she also happen to be there?
What other explanation could there be besides it being the arrangement of destiny?
The smile in his heart was difficult to suppress, spreading from his mouth to his eyes.
Zhang Baotang looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression, wondering why they suddenly burst into laughter and why it seemed so silly.
"But don't call me County Magistrate anymore." Miss Jun remembered something and said.
Is it because being called that sounds distant?
Zhang Baotang looked at her.
"It doesn't sound good, like a pig." Miss Jun said.
This was truly something he'd never heard before! Impressive that she thought of it, and impressive that she dared to say it!
Zhang Baotang and others were stunned, while Miss Jun wobbled as she urged her horse forward.
"Second brother, look how improper she looks." Zhang Baotang shook his head and sighed.
"There's nothing improper," Zhu Zan frowned and said, then glared at Zhang Baotang.
"She's a pretty proper person, don't talk nonsense."
Pretty proper person? Zhang Baotang was stunned looking at him, where was she proper? Besides, wasn't it he who always said she was improper?
Watching Miss Jun, mingling with the others on horseback, pass through the city gate, Lu Yunqi, who stood by the window at the highest point of the inn beside the city gate, still hadn't withdrawn his gaze.
"As the saying goes, rivers and mountains may change, but one's nature is hard to alter." He said, "A person's appearance can change, but their habits are hard to change. I finally get it, why it resembles so much."
Jiang Qianhu knew this saying, but why it was spoken at this moment, he didn't quite understand.
Was he referring to the Duke of Chengguo's heir?
He looked at Lu Yunqi.
In early winter, the midday sun was radiant, and Lu Yunqi's usually wooden face was flushed as if burning. The window he was gripping emitted slight cracking sounds, with fine cracks spreading across it.
......
.......
"The gentleman said rightly indeed."
Within a residence in Boye, Baozhou, a General Jin remarked with emotion.
Though this residence was in the countryside, it was lavishly arranged, clearly belonging to a wealthy landowner.
Of course, by now it belonged to this General Jin, either the squire was dead or had fled south.
The General Jin was surrounded by five subordinates. They were seated in a circle, with a tea table in front, and two small servant girls were brewing tea.
Although they were wearing armor, which was not quite fitting with the elegant scene, no one cared.
"At the time, it was said to muster the strength of the whole nation for one strike, which was excessively dangerous, especially with the Duke of Chengguo's surprise attack on Yizhou. The fifth prince was almost harmed, causing the emperor himself to hesitate. Doctor Yu insisted not to retreat, claiming victory was assured." The General Jin continued, "The emperor was very puzzled, faced with fierce Zhou Soldiers on one hand, and an unprecedented weapon on the other. How could one possibly win?"
"Indeed." The subordinates around them nodded, "That weapon was truly terrifying; after questioning for a long time, some old soldiers said they had seen it a few times over twenty years ago, calling it a Divine Artifact that fell from the sky, and later disappeared, thought to be retrieved by the Heavenly God. Unexpectedly, it reappeared after so many years."
"What Divine Artifact, it's all man-made." The General Jin said, "Doctor Yu told the emperor that as long as it's man-made, there's nothing to fear."
"Yet that thing is indeed fearsome," one subordinate couldn't help but say, "how was Doctor Yu so sure we could win?"
The General Jin slightly smiled.
"Doctor Yu said," he began, his tone shifting, "because when powerful officials are in power at court, there hasn't been a general able to achieve military accomplishments for a long time."
This phrase was said in Zhou Yu.
Although the dialect was peculiar, it was a standard northern accent, clearly imitating Doctor Yu's style.
The stationed General Jin officials here understood Zhou Yu to some degree; though it was scholarly, they grinned after pondering, then burst into laughter.
"Doctor Yu is prophetic," they chimed, raising their tea.
Everyone downed the drink and burst into cruel laughter again, causing the two small maids to tremble uncontrollably in fear, not daring to lift their heads.
"The Duke of Chengguo, Zhu Shan, is finished, so our grand plan can proceed," said one subordinate, placing down the teacup with excitement.
But the General Jin raised a hand and waved it.
"No, Doctor Yu said it's not over yet," he said, his expression chilling with a wild fervor, "this is just the beginning."
...
....
(Adjusting first to restore the morning update, tomorrow will restore dual updates.)