Compared to the bleak winter in the northern lands, the capital still holds a deep, vibrant green, but the wind howls through the Imperial City, piercing through doors and windows and bringing a biting chill into the hall.
The emperor's expression was equally cold.
"Really useless, it has been so long and still can't find a single person." He slapped the memorial on the table and shouted, "I don't believe the Duke of Chengguo can grow wings and fly away!"
"The Duke of Chengguo has accumulated power for over a decade and made wide connections, who knows how many people are helping him hide," Huang Cheng bent forward and said.
His words were not meant to provide an excuse, just to add fuel to the emperor's fire.
Sure enough, the emperor was enraged.
"Has the world changed its surname to Zhu?" he cried, fixing his gaze on Lu Yunqi, "Lu Yunqi, tell me, where is the Duke of Chengguo now?"
"The last trace was at Mallor Pass, heading towards Baozhou," Lu Yunqi replied.
"Why couldn't you capture him if you tracked him?" the emperor asked.
Lu Yunqi bowed.
"Because I am incompetent," he stated.
Unexpectedly, Lu Yunqi would answer like this, a minister nearly couldn't help but laugh, fortunately restrained in time.
The emperor slammed the memorial on the ground.
"Did you hear? The Duke of Chengguo went to the northern lands, tell Uncle Qinghe, I want to see if he is also just trash." He said coldly.
Huang Cheng bent forward and replied affirmatively.
"The Duke of Chengguo actually went to the northern lands, isn't it like walking into a trap?" The officials couldn't help but whisper as they left court.
Huang Cheng snorted.
"Of course, he will go to the northern lands," he said, "everything he has is in the northern lands, the most dangerous place is also the safest."
The following officials nodded.
"Tell Uncle Qinghe, His Majesty has ordered him to act as he pleases." Huang Cheng said, "He better not let His Majesty down."
He paused again.
"Don't let himself down again, either."
The officials agreed, their expressions couldn't hide the joy.
Although the Duke of Chengguo hasn't been captured yet, now he is as good as dead; his military power is gone, he is a criminal, his reputation is ruined, even if many protect him in secret, it can only be done covertly, no longer daring to show openly.
From now on, the Duke of Chengguo became like a rat, unable to see the light of day.
Falling from clouds to the mire, for a hero, this is more painful than death.
The officials in front whispered and occasionally emitted low laughs, Lu Yunqi walking behind didn't care and even stopped.
He turned his head to look at Ning Yunzhao following behind.
Ning Yunzhao approached with a smile.
"Is Lord Lu going back to the government office or home?" he asked, as if not having been following Lu Yunqi all along, but instead just casually greeting.
Ning Yunzhao was different from others in the court, facing Lu Yunqi, the court's reaction either contemptuous like Zhu Zan among the royal family, nobles offspring, or disdainful like Ning Yan, civil servants and scholars, either fearing or disrespecting him, everyone kept their distance.
Of course, some people try to curry favor, but none in the way Ning Yunzhao does so calmly.
Lu Yunqi ignored him and continued walking.
"What do you think they are thinking now?" Ning Yunzhao smiled, glancing around.
A lot of eyes, both obvious and concealed, were watching them, full of speculation.
Lu Yunqi certainly did not respond to him, Ning Yunzhao didn't wait for an answer either.
"They must think I am rather daring." He said, seemingly amused by something, "I am bold indeed, Lord Lu knows that? Back then, I snuck into the Fang Family at night meeting with Miss Jun."
Lu Yunqi stopped.
"Was it after the third of March at Jin Yun Hall, your sister and Miss Lin conspired against her?" he asked.
Ning Yunzhao nodded with a smile.
"What do you want to say?" Lu Yunqi asked.
"I want to say, I always seek to see her at unsuitable inconvenient times and shouldn't do so," Ning Yunzhao said calmly, "So now can I go see her?"
Now it is even more unsuitable, more inconvenient, and more dangerous than when meeting someone else's wife at night.
Yet Ning Yunzhao still spoke with ease.
Lu Yunqi looked at him for a moment.
"You indeed are rather bold." He said.
Ning Yunzhao smiled at him.
"Then.." he asked.
"No." Lu Yunqi interrupted and walked away.
No means confirming that she is indeed in his hands, Ning Yunzhao silently followed behind.
"Alas." He caught up with a few steps, "Then can I send her some things?"
Lu Yunqi walked onward without turning back.
Lu Yunqi didn't return to the Northern Administrative Court, but directly went home, a servant waiting at the door, timidly saluting upon seeing him.
"Has the princess sent any message?" Lu Yunqi asked first.
The servant's tension dissipated, Lord Lu indeed treats the princess differently.
"Yes, the princess earlier asked whether you were back." She replied.
Lu Yunqi acknowledged, heading straight towards Princess Jiuli's courtyard.
"Made a cotton-padded coat for Jiurong." Princess Jiuli handed him a garment, "Trouble you, my lord."
Lu Yunqi accepted, glanced at the dense stitches, and nodded.
"I will deliver it myself." He assured.
Princess Jiuli smiled and thanked him.
"Back so early, haven't had dinner yet?" she asked, glancing aside, "I just set the meal here..."
Lu Yunqi shook his head.
"I have matters to attend, thank you, princess." He said.
Princess Jiuli, smiling, nodded without further courtesy, watched as Lu Yunqi walked out, her expression gradually turned serious, sat at the table, slowly eating, suddenly gestured at a dish.
"This is quite well done. You go tell Lord Lu, let the kitchen send one to Prince Huai too." She ordered.
A servant quickly responded and went out, returning not long after, looking somewhat uneasy.
"Have you spoken?" Princess Jiuli asked.
"Yes," the servant replied, "just that the lord was at Fuyun Mansion, I haven't seen him, let them handle it."
Without Lu Yunqi's command, none dared to send anything to Prince Huai Mansion, must get Lu's approval first.
Princess Jiuli nodded.
"Speaking is good enough, no rush." She said with a smile.
The servant bowed and withdrew, Princess Jiuli slowly ate a mouthful of food.
Fuyun Mansion.
In the softly lit room, Lu Yunqi sat opposite Miss Jun, dishes were arranged on the table, but this time he didn't serve her, he just watched her, seriously.
Miss Jun gazed indifferently at him, neither avoiding nor staring.
"Today, that Ning Yunzhao, Lord Ning, is rather interesting," Lu Yunqi remarked, "He actually told me he wanted to visit you."
Ah, Ning Yunzhao, Miss Jun's gaze softened slightly.
Lu Yunqi watched her eyes.
"He really likes you," he stated, "People only have extraordinary courage when they are truly fond."
Miss Jun remained silent, her expression reverting to indifference.
"You don't need to worry I'll be upset and harm him," Lu Yunqi declared, "I am pleased, you are who you are, no matter what form, you are good as you are, likable."