If she hadn't clearly seen the person in front of her, Fang Jinxiu would have thought it was Ning Yunzhao again.
Well, whether it's Ning Yunzhao or Lu Yunqi, whoever shows up is always for that woman.
Fang Jinxiu grabbed the doorframe beside her, blocking the entrance, just like how she had confronted the uninvited guest that night in Yangcheng, neither retreating nor dodging.
"Whatever you have to say, say it here." She said.
Lu Yunqi's gaze had yet to focus on her, merely looking inside.
"Move out of the way." He said.
That cold, stone-like visage, paired with his casually indifferent tone, sent an unexplainable chill down one's spine.
Fang Jinxiu tightened her grip on the doorframe, standing still.
Seventh Chen rushed over from behind and pulled her behind him.
"Lord Lu, no entry without invitation." He said.
Lu Yunqi's gaze fell slightly on him, as if finding his words amusing.
"I've never needed an invitation to enter." He replied.
Indeed, what Lu Yunqi did was raid and annihilate families. For something like that, no one would invite him in. He always broke in by smashing doors and windows or using his blade.
"Lord Lu, this is not just a pharmacy anymore. The Duke of Chengguo's heir and the Heir's Wife are both here. This is essentially the Duke Mansion. No one has ever invited you to enter the Duke Mansion unbidden." Seventh Chen said.
After he uttered these words, looking at the man before him, aside from tension, a hint of inexplicable pride rose within him.
Imagine, he, Seventh Chen—once nothing more than a petty street hustler in Yangcheng, someone even tavern staff could chase away at will—dared now to rebuke a high-ranking official of terrifying authority.
Lu Yunqi showed no sign of anger; his expression remained calm as he looked at him.
"Actually, I used to think so too," he said suddenly, as if seeing through Seventh Chen's thoughts.
Used to?
Seventh Chen froze for a moment.
Indeed, it was said that Lu Yunqi had once been just like him—no better than a street hooligan—a boy who was bullied by the Jinyiwei and ridiculed by merchants' staff on the streets.
But later, someone like him had broken into the mansions of countless high-ranking officials and nobility, witnessing them plead, cry, and grovel before him.
How must that feel...
"There's nothing much to be smug about." Lu Yunqi said, "It's all the same."
The same? Was he implying they were the same? No way! Seventh Chen hadn't even spoken when his shoulder was pushed, causing him to stumble backward.
"What are you doing?" Fang Jinxiu's sharp scream rang in his ears.
Lu Yunqi had already stepped past him and entered the hall.
Fang Jinxiu raised her hand and lunged at him. Frightened, Seventh Chen broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly reached out to stop her.
But someone beat him to it, pulling Fang Jinxiu aside and stepping forward to face Lu Yunqi.
"Get out!"
A shout was followed by the sound of a series of bodies colliding. Seventh Chen could only see a blur, and when he looked again, Lu Yunqi had been forced back outside, with Zhu Zan standing at the door.
"Scram." Zhu Zan said, pointing at him.
"Lord Heir, are you sure you want to take a gamble?" Lu Yunqi said, looking at him.
A gamble?
"A gamble on whether or not I can kill you." He continued.
Zhu Zan scoffed, lifting his foot to step forward.
Miss Jun had already caught up and grabbed him.
"What are you doing?" She turned to Lu Yunqi and asked.
Lu Yunqi looked at her.
"Come with me." He said.
"Do you think she's a fool?" Zhu Zan retorted.
From the moment Miss Jun appeared, Lu Yunqi's gaze hadn't strayed to anyone else, completely ignoring Zhu Zan.
"Prince Huai is ill." He said.
Zhu Zan's expression changed, and he reached out, but it was too late. Miss Jun was already in front of Lu Yunqi.
She didn't speak or make a move, just stared at him, her eyes filled with fury, glaring fiercely at him.
Lu Yunqi returned her gaze.
Her face bore no resemblance to that of Jiuling, and he had never seen such anger in Jiuling's eyes.
But why did he feel that she was her?
"Maybe he's lying." Seventh Chen said from the side.
He wouldn't use something like this to lie. Miss Jun didn't doubt it. Someone like Lu Yunqi wouldn't stoop to falsehoods over something like this. Making someone fall ill was too easy for him. With his impunity, he could accomplish it effortlessly, so why waste energy on deceit?
"You're despicable." Miss Jun looked at him and said, "In your eyes, are humans not humans? Are they simply tools for you to manipulate and coerce others?"
That was Jiurong.
That was the Jiurong on whom he had once lavished tenderness and genuine affection.
She had deliberately avoided mentioning Jiurong due to the taboo it carried, yet every time, he would speak of Jiurong—what she had done, played with, or studied that day—and had even taken her to see Jiurong many times.
Back then, when she first got married, Jiurong had bitten him. Later, when Jiurong saw him, she would smile and call him brother-in-law. Children do not lie; they respond genuinely to kindness as they experience it.
But now, without pretenses, he showed his true nature.
Lu Yunqi looked at her.
"Why are you so sure that using Prince Huai to threaten you would actually work?" He asked.
The question sounded odd, but Miss Jun understood immediately, her expression stiffening slightly.
Indeed, she and Prince Huai were neither family nor friends. If anything, he had merely been her patient once.
To avoid Lu Yunqi, she had pulled out the imperial decree, left the capital, traveled thousands of miles, and even pretended to be engaged to someone else. She had taken on the most dangerous and absurd challenges. Yet, at the mere mention of Prince Huai's illness, she had unhesitatingly thrown herself back into the fire, stepping toward Lu Yunqi without pause.
Why?
"Because Prince Huai is someone I cured. I even wagered with the Imperial Hospital about it. If Prince Huai dies of illness, my reputation as the miraculous healer Miss Jun would be ruined." Miss Jun raised her chin slightly, looking up at Lu Yunqi from below. "No one gets to ruin my name."
Lu Yunqi looked at her. His usually emotionless face softened suddenly, and the corners of his lips curved into a smile.
He said nothing further and merely extended his hand.
"Come." He said.
This gesture was one he had made before, during the time Zhu Zan had killed Lord Huang and was imprisoned in the Jinyiwei's prison. When she went to negotiate terms, he had made the same gesture.
But back then, she didn't have to comply with his oppression; instead, she baited him into letting her leave the capital. She could refuse, could step back.
But now?
If she left, Zhu Zan would live, but what about Jiurong? Who would care for Jiurong? Who could take care of Jiurong? Other than her?
Miss Jun looked at Lu Yunqi. Lu Yunqi looked back at her, extending his hand again.
This was the hand she had once gleefully grabbed countless times, swaying and jubilant.
Miss Jun raised her hand, but before she could take it, someone else was quicker, placing their hand in Lu Yunqi's.
Zhu Zan glared at Lu Yunqi.
"Come." He said, gripping Lu Yunqi's hand tightly before flinging it away. "Allow me to escort you out."
Lu Yunqi staggered but quickly regained his footing within three steps.
Zhu Zan didn't chase after him as expected. Instead, he turned to Miss Jun.
"Do I even matter to you?" He bellowed angrily, "Why are you messing around with other men?"