Having been here for a few days, Miss Jun knew that these people were diligent in their work, and the children were no exception.
Every day, climbing the mountain in the morning and descending in the evening, she would encounter them.
But she had never paid attention to how they worked; it was like this, she realized.
Miss Jun stood up, watching these people intently and attentively.
The sound of the gong was becoming more frequent, and the scattered people's movements got quicker. Accompanying the rapid rhythm of the gong, men and women, young and old with companions near them, even began to spar with each other.
This scene continued for a long time until the sound of the gong stopped, and everyone's movements also ceased. They flexed their hands and feet, grasped the farm tools in their hands, and resumed their labor as if nothing had happened.
"Have you always done this?" Miss Jun suddenly asked.
Yang Jing, standing behind her, was startled, then fell silent.
The eldest brother is intelligent and picky, so the disciples he takes are, of course, extremely clever. It was only natural that he noticed him standing behind her.
"We are government soldiers; it is necessary that we mustn't neglect our practice," he said.
Now that he mentioned they were government soldiers, Miss Jun wouldn't think it was a joke anymore.
"Which government soldiers are you?" she turned around and asked, "Is the master also one? Then why is he here? And why would the master..."
Yang Jing cast his eyes down to interrupt her.
"Miss Jun, I do not know your master, and I'm unaware of his affairs," he said.
Miss Jun looked at him and sighed.
"Uncle Yang, don't be like this," she said, "Can't we speak openly and discuss whatever it is that's the matter?"
Yang Jing suddenly laughed, but it was a laugh that seemed close to crying.
"Yes," he said, "Can't we speak openly and discuss things properly?"
Was this an answer or a counter-question? Was he responding to her or asking someone else?
Miss Jun looked at him and could feel the anger and sadness deep within his bones.
What on earth had her master done back in the day?
Yang Jing looked like he didn't want to talk further, turned around, and went up the mountain. Miss Jun subconsciously called out to stop him.
"Does Miss Jun have any other instructions?" Yang Jing turned his head and asked.
Instructions… Miss Jun looked at him, then down the mountain.
"I would like to request your help," she suddenly said.
Yang Jing looked at her, his expression somewhat guarded.
"My guards..." Miss Jun said with a smile pointing towards where she was staying, then looked at Yang Jing, "I would like to ask you to train them."
Train them? Yang Jing was momentarily perplexed. What did she mean?
"Not hiding anything from Uncle Yang, the real reason I came here is actually because I am being pursued," Miss Jun revealed.
Pursued?
Yang Jing was startled, then it dawned on him.
"Those Jinyiwei?" he asked.
So that was it. No wonder they were together and then suddenly had to be arrested.
It was to capture her, but they looked like her guards, which was understandable. They were after her, naturally, they wouldn't let others take her away.
"It was quite easy for you to capture them; my guards are much less skilled," Miss Jun continued, "On our return journey, we'll face even more Jinyiwei, so I want my guards to train with you."
Yang Jing hesitated for a moment.
"Actually, we're not very skilled ourselves," he said.
"Yes, you, whether old or young, whether in strength or skill, surely are not as good as my guards," Miss Jun said, "But alone one cannot make a forest; together you made even those Jinyiwei no match for you."
That was true; Yang Jing rubbed his short beard.
"My soldiers are of course very good," he said unconsciously, as he used to say in the past.
Upon saying it, his expression turned somewhat melancholic.
It had been many years since he had last said that.
"So, I hope you will train my guards to become good soldiers," Miss Jun said, "to protect me safely back to Shanxi."
Yang Jing was silent for a moment.
"Alright," he finally said, "You, Miss Jun, have been very forgiving towards us, so it's only right we do something for you."
No sooner had his words fallen than the girl in front of him burst into a radiant smile.
"Not 'only right,'" Miss Jun laughed, "I will give you a reward."
A reward?
Yang Jing faltered momentarily.
"No, that's not necessary..." he began to say hastily.
But Miss Jun did not heed his words, waving him off and then turning around to bound down the steps with a spring in her step.
"I'll take care of it," she said with a smile before tossing off the line.
Yang Jing called out several 'hey hey,' but the girl had already scampered away like a deer.
Did he say something wrong? Yang Jing couldn't help but scratch his head. Had the young lady deceived him? But what could she possibly deceive him of?
Come noon, Yang Jing found out exactly what he had been deceived of.
"They said this was with your consent." Xia Yong said, pointing to the mountainous piles of rice, grain, vegetables, and meat in the courtyard.
Yang Jing looked startled and embarrassed.
"I didn't agree to this," he said. "I only agreed to let them train with us."
Xia Yong nodded.
"Yes, so this is the reward for the training," he said.
Yang Jing was stupefied once more and scratched his head again.
"This child," he said, "what should we do? Send it back?"
"Ask your sister-in-law," Xia Yong's wife suddenly said. "Sending it back means refusing to train her guards, which would also be quite awkward."
That was true. Yang Jing and Xia Yong exchanged glances and nodded.
Hearing the words of Yang Jing and Xia Yong, the woman weaving cloth laughed.
"So she's giving us the rice, grain, vegetables, and meat because it's for her own sake," she said. "For herself, not...for someone else."
As she said 'someone else,' her voice grew slightly somber.
Yang Jing and Xia Yong also bowed their heads in silent assent.
"Then let's accept it," the woman said cheerfully. "Mutual benefit makes everyone happy. It's good."
Yang Jing and Xia Yong looked at the woman in surprised delight.
"Sister-in-law," they called out in unison.
The woman looked at them.
"What? Do you see me as someone who blindly can't tell right from wrong?" she said with a mock-serious laughter.
Yang Jing and Xia Yong quickly shook their heads.
"Of course not, Sister-in-law is the kindest person in the world," they said together.
The woman smiled faintly.
"The kindest?" she sighed softly, bowing her head to continue her weaving.
Yang Jing and Xia Yong exchanged looks, both feeling somewhat uneasy and somber, and without another word, they bowed and took their leave.
In the afternoon, the mountain village became lively, with Liu'er running back in a blur of motion.
"Miss, everyone is as happy as during the New Year," she said exaggeratedly. "Some even started to unwrap the snacks and eat them right there."
Miss Jun chuckled, then sighing.
Have they always been so poor all these years?
"They pretended to be so upright in the morning, not wanting it, look how happy they are now," Liu'er added.
"It's not about pretending to be upright," Miss Jun said, her tone slightly irritated. "Their initial refusal was genuine, and now their joy is sincere. That's what real people are like."
Liu'er stuck out her tongue.
"I was wrong, Miss," she immediately said. "Seeing them happy makes me really happy too."
Miss Jun gave her a reproachful glare, but smiled.
"Miss, try the meal I made today," Liu'er said, beaming as she brought over a covered bowl.
Seeing the mistress and servant enjoying themselves, Lei Zhonglian walked away with a smile on his lips, followed by two escorts with complex expressions.
"Lord Lei, are we really going to work on the farm?" they whispered.
"What's true or not?" Lei Zhonglian said, raising his eyebrows. "Whatever Miss Jun asks us to do, we do. There will only be benefits, no harm."
So absolute, the two escorts looked at each other, well then, she paid so their lives were bought; doing farm work wasn't anything in comparison.
As dusk enveloped the land, smoke rose from the households in the mountain village once again. This time, no one came out anymore; everyone gathered at home, awaiting with intermittent laughter and children's raucous noises.
The aroma of various dishes wafted through the village, and every household lit up their lights. Although frugally only lighting one torch, it was enough to make the village sparkle like the stars.
The autumn night became even more intoxicating.
The Lu Mansion in the capital was as bright as ever, but unlike the bustling and eerily still evenings of the past, tonight it was enveloped in a tense atmosphere.
Many maidservants stood anxiously outside Princess Jiuli's room.
Lively noises came from outside the courtyard, and Lu Yunqi approached in his official robe, stepping briskly through the night. The maidservants hurried to greet him with unease.
Ignoring them, Lu Yunqi entered the room, where more maidservants and several imperial physicians, who were talking in low voices, stood. Seeing Lu Yunqi, they quickly paid their respects.
Lu Yunqi's gaze shifted inside, where, through the colorful beaded curtain, he could see Princess Jiuli reclining on the bed.
"What illness does the princess have?" he withdrew his gaze and asked the imperial physicians.