The evening descended, and the Lu Mansion was brightly lit.
Princess Jiuli put down the needlework in her hand and looked at the servants lighting more lamps.
"Did Lord Lu return today?" she asked.
The servants were a bit surprised; Princess Jiuli rarely took the initiative to ask about Lu Yunqi, but it was nothing they couldn't answer.
"Yes, he did," a servant answered respectfully, "He returned right after court."
"Does the princess need anything?" another servant asked proactively.
Princess Jiuli rarely sought out Lord Lu.
Although they didn't dare to disturb Lord Lu at home, it was still fine if it was a message from Princess Jiuli.
Princess Jiuli tilted her head slightly, looking at the lights for a moment.
"No, nothing," she shook her head, then paused, "I just realized I haven't seen him for a few days."
Although the two had little interaction, Lu Yunqi would usually come to see her whenever he returned home.
Suddenly, he stopped coming. Has something happened?
Princess Jiuli stood up and walked out, standing under the eaves.
He didn't like this home and didn't treat it as such, seeing it more as her home instead, with him just as a guest.
So what has made him treat this place as home now, returning punctually every day?
Something must have happened outside; Mr. Gu's communications have been stopped for several days, indicating news Lu Yunqi doesn't want her to know.
But what news would she care about, the outside world had nothing to do with her anymore.
If there was anything, it would be that girl…
Princess Jiuli furrowed her brow and looked toward the deep courtyard.
Did something happen to that girl?
In truth, that girl had nothing to do with her either. She just inexplicably hoped that girl could live freely and wildly.
Even though it's someone else's life, seeing someone live like that still inexplicably makes her happy.
The night pearl was covered, and the soft light inside gradually disappeared, plunging into darkness.
"I'll come back early tomorrow and bring you duck heads from East Street," Lu Yunqi said, sitting down on the bed, attentively massaging Miss Jun's arm to relieve the soreness from being tied.
Miss Jun remained silent, appearing to be asleep.
"Have you eaten?" Lu Yunqi paused to ask.
Silence was his only answer.
Lu Yunqi gently turned her to lie on her side, massaging her legs and feet.
"Is Xue'er with you?" he suddenly asked.
He also knew.
He must know.
Bing'er's death certainly wasn't due to illness.
At this point, she instinctively should have argued that she didn't know what he was talking about, but the more correct action was to say nothing.
However, to Lu Yunqi, any reaction was irrelevant.
"Jiuling, those are all of no use," he continued, "They will only hurt yourself."
"If you don't even dare to hurt yourself, what right do you have to hurt others?" Miss Jun said lightly.
She finally spoke, but Lu Yunqi remained silent, lying beside her as usual before soon falling asleep.
Miss Jun opened her eyes in the dark; after some time, the hands bound in front of her moved slightly.
The wrists were tightly bound, and the hands could only clasp together slightly, an action so negligible it could be entirely ignored.
With Lu Yunqi's hand resting on her, he slept deeply.
Miss Jun slowly rubbed her hands together, feeling the rough calluses in her palms.
Although Jun Zhenzhen's parents passed, she had been raised with every comfort, her small hands soft and tender. But since becoming Jiuling, from hitting wooden posts to working with herbs, labor left a layer of thin callus on her hands.
This thin callus was evidence of her hard work and also a layer of protection.
"Our bodies are fragile yet strong; beneath each tiny layer of skin lies a deadly weapon."
Her master had once vaguely said this while crouching on a rock, tearing off a piece of chicken skin to chew its tender meat.
"But you, a scion of nobility, don't need to hear these frightening tales."
He said this, glancing at her again.
"Though, who's to really say?"
Who can say? He was indeed right.
She slowly rubbed her palm, feeling the faint trace of a long thin needle beneath the calluses.
In winter, daylight comes late, but patients seeking medicine arrive at all times; as Jiuling Hall opened its doors in the misty dawn, someone peeked in.
This was a well-dressed house servant.
"Is Miss Jun here?" he asked respectfully, his eyes already wandering the hall.
"Miss Jun is not here," said the shop assistant, "Do you need medicine?"
The house servant looked a bit disappointed and curious.
"Miss Jun isn't here again? I thought she returned?" he asked.
"There's some family business in Yangcheng," Seventh Chen emerged from within, hearing this he casually replied, "Don't look for her; she isn't seeing patients, so it doesn't matter whether she's here or not."
That made sense, the house servant chuckled, handing over a prescription to the shop assistant.
"I heard Miss Jun's family in Yangcheng is dividing the inheritance?" the house servant asked, looking at Seventh Chen.
Seventh Chen lightly coughed.
"Those are private matters better left unsaid," he replied.
Though it was spreading outside too, as De Sheng Chang was a major financial firm in the capital, any monetary disturbances were known by all.
The house servant already knew the answer, especially seeing the barely concealed delight in Seventh Chen's eyes.
The accountant of Jiuling Hall, Miss Jinxiu, received her share, having an estate is much better than just being an accountant.
"Seventh Master must be well off in the future, marrying means no worry over food and drink, being your own shopkeeper," the house servant flattered with a smile.
Seventh Chen laughed heartily, then suddenly snapped back.
"What nonsense! Who's getting married? Married to whom?" he glared, waving his hand irritably, "Get out, get out."
The house servant chuckled, taking the prepared medicine and left.
Seventh Chen, with a hint of indignation, stood at the door, watching the street where pairs of government soldiers hurried past, disturbing the morning quiet.
"What's happened now? Why have troops been running around these days?"
"And many officials' homes are being surrounded and searched."
Passersby on the street inquired softly.
"You don't know yet?" someone said, with a knowing glance, "The Duke of Chengguo has rebelled."
Exclamations arose on the street, followed by a burst of clamorous chatter.
"... really..."
"How could it be possible..."
"Why not, it's said the Duke of Chengguo's military merits were all fabricated..."
"That might be true, like the recent credit, which was actually Jiuling Hall's Miss Jun's doing..."
"Yes, and who knows about the past merits."
"... Couldn't believe it... Have they caught him?"
"... The family has already fled... A warrant for arrest has been issued..."
"... Couldn't believe it..."
Seventh Chen only felt bothered and turned back inside.
"Couldn't believe it, couldn't believe it, what do you ever know?" he muttered irritably.
Yet he sighed again, looking back at the street where another troop rushed past, capturing fervently while bearing the charge of treason, wondering if escape was possible.
In this vast land, where could they escape? Flee for a lifetime? Is that the fate of heroes?
Seventh Chen stood within Jiuling Hall, feeling the chill wind at his back.
Meanwhile, in Yangcheng's De Sheng Chang, warm as spring, Fang Chengyu lounged lazily in a robe, casually eating crystal pears with a delighted face.
"Really? That's great," he beamed, "Finally something to do."
Manager Gao was a bit speechless; even through the doors and windows, the outside's bustling chaos could be heard, with inheritance disputes causing endless turmoil for De Sheng Chang, yet the young master spoke of having nothing to do.
Moreover, the Duke of Chengguo's rebellion, how could that be good news?
It's feared it might implicate Miss Jun, and by extension, the Fang Family of De Sheng Chang.
The situation might become more overwhelming.
Truly incomprehensible how young people think.
"Finally a place to spend money," Fang Chengyu rubbed his hands, his squinting eyes glistening with excitement or perhaps a chilling intent, "Such money should be spent this way."