The night was peaceful in the Duke Mansion, with laughter from the maidservants and maids occasionally ringing out from the courtyard.
The Duke of Chengguo, dressed in casual home attire, sat under the corridor to cool off. Madam Yu fanned herself as she sat beside him, chatting and joking with several maids and servants.
"It's much hotter here than where we came from," she said.
"Have the ice blocks been prepared?" the Duke of Chengguo asked.
The maids and servants all laughed.
"They've already been prepared according to your orders, Duke," they said.
"I was just saying it in jest, being playful, yet you took it seriously," Madam Yu replied with a laugh as she waved her fan.
Such banter between the couple in front of the help was so common that the Duke of Chengguo merely smiled, and his maids and servants took no notice, as they were used to it.
The atmosphere in the courtyard was lighthearted and pleasant.
"The Lord Heir has returned."
A voice called from outside, followed by a shadow appearing at the entrance of the courtyard.
"Father, Mother, I'm back," Zhu Zan said in a slightly muffled voice. He did not approach further and, without waiting for his parents to ask questions, turned around and said, "I'm going to rest."
"Going to your wife's place?" Madam Yu asked.
Zhu Zan said nothing, as if he hadn't heard.
"Zan'er, wait a moment. I have something to ask you," the Duke of Chengguo said.
Zhu Zan stopped in his tracks.
The maids and servants bowed their heads and retreated, leaving the courtyard to the family of three.
"Come over here, don't stand in the shadows," Madam Yu said with a laugh. "Otherwise, I can't get a good look at how badly you've been beaten."
She burst into laughter after saying this.
Zhu Zan, now walking toward them, looked even more displeased.
"Take a good look," he said, standing in front of Madam Yu.
His clothing was slightly disheveled, and there was a bruise on his face.
Madam Yu laughed even harder.
"Oh my, even your face got hit," she said, poking at Zhu Zan's face. "You definitely can't go meet Miss Jun like this—it's downright embarrassing."
Zhu Zan hissed in pain and called out, "Father."
"Look at her, Father," he complained.
The Duke of Chengguo smiled at Madam Yu.
"Don't tease him," he said, then turned to look at Zhu Zan.
Before he could speak, Zhu Zan interrupted.
"Father, there's no need to ask. It is what it is. This was Huang Cheng's scheme, and also the emperor's way of testing you," he said. "It all depends on how you respond during tomorrow's court session."
The Duke of Chengguo acknowledged him with an "Oh."
"Then..." he started to say.
"As for that dog Lu Yunqi stationed at Prince Huai's mansion, he's not targeting you specifically, Father," Zhu Zan interrupted again. "He's aiming at Miss Jun."
"Miss Jun..." the Duke of Chengguo remarked thoughtfully.
"Miss Jun treated Prince Huai before. It was even part of a bet. She became famous in the capital because of it. Lu Yunqi must be planning to use Prince Huai to discredit Miss Jun's medical skills. He might even blame the so-called 'evil spirit' incident on her," Zhu Zan hissed through gritted teeth.
The Duke of Chengguo responded with another "Oh."
"Father, there's no need for you to worry. Discuss it with your staff and handle it as you see fit," Zhu Zan said, waving his hand dismissively. "Once Prince Huai reaches the Imperial Mausoleum, we'll be able to treat him properly."
The Duke of Chengguo gave another short response: "Oh."
"Alright," he finally said with a smile and a nod. "Go on then."
Zhu Zan answered in agreement and turned away. His expression, however, was no longer as casual as before. With a heavy countenance, he strode off swiftly.
Watching his retreating figure, Madam Yu shook her head and clicked her tongue twice.
"With Miss Jun on one side and his father on the other, it must be a tough choice," she remarked.
The Duke of Chengguo smiled without responding and sat back down.
"What are you thinking?" Madam Yu sat closer to him, bumping his shoulder playfully. "This emperor... Honestly. Even though the person is no longer here, why does he care so much? Using a child to cause trouble."
Guilt.
The word flashed simultaneously through both their minds, but of course, neither said it aloud.
"In the world of officialdom and imperial power, does it truly matter if one is a child or not? It's all the same," the Duke of Chengguo said softly.
Madam Yu was silent for a moment. She shook her fan and stood up.
"I'm going to bed first. You take your time thinking, but don't wake me up during the court session," she said.
The Duke of Chengguo gave a warm smile and nodded.
"Sleep well," he said.
Once Madam Yu left, the only one remaining in the courtyard was the Duke of Chengguo. He sat in his chair under the countless stars, absorbed in silence.
...........
Viewing the stars in the capital paled in comparison to doing so in the countryside. The capital was too bustling; the lights on the ground outshined the stars in the sky.
Under the starlight and amidst the glow of city lights, Miss Jun's gaze remained fixed, unmoving for a long time.
"Hey,"
Zhu Zan's voice broke the silence as the sound of roof tiles shifting followed his approach.
"Is the spot by the window not enough for you to sit on? Why do you have to climb up onto the roof?" he asked. "You women, always climbing up and down."
Miss Jun laughed and pointed.
"Someone else who lived over there used to say the exact same thing to me as a child," she replied.
What words? Which person?
Zhu Zan followed her gaze. Half of the capital stretched out like a fairyland before him, with rows and rows of houses and courtyards. Who could she be referring to?
Always speaking in riddles, Zhu Zan decided not to respond further and took a seat himself.
Silence fell between them.
"On the way to the Imperial Mausoleum, I'll leave it to you to take a look at Prince Huai," Zhu Zan suddenly said. "I've made all the arrangements."
The Imperial Mausoleum.
Miss Jun gave a soft "Mm."
"Alright," she said.
Silence descended again.
"Hey, are you angry?" Zhu Zan asked, his tone low.
"I don't have the energy to be angry," Miss Jun replied with a smile. She glanced at him. In the dim light of the night, all she could see were Zhu Zan's bright eyes. "If I were to get angry, I would've died of anger long ago."
The deaths of her parents, the imprisonment of her siblings—what more could a person be angry about? Beyond that, everything else was as it should be. What was there to be upset about?
"To be honest, I'm not that strong," Zhu Zan suddenly admitted.
Miss Jun laughed even more.
"You've finally realized that? Congratulations, congratulations," she teased.
Zhu Zan spat with disdain.
"I was just being modest. Don't take it seriously," he retorted.
Miss Jun burst into laughter again.
"It's just a case of a tiger falling from grace and being ridiculed by dogs," Zhu Zan said. "I can't get you into Prince Huai's mansion. If you're angry, I wouldn't blame you."
"If I'm angry, I'm not mad at you. It's not like you're the one barring me from entering," Miss Jun said. "Why are you acting confused, coming here to spout nonsense at me?"
She shifted closer to him, examining Zhu Zan's face in the faint starlight.
"Oh, so you got beaten up," she observed with a giggle. "You've come to complain and seek comfort, haven't you?"
She reached out to touch Zhu Zan's head.
"Let me see where you're hurt..."
Zhu Zan jumped to his feet.
"Can you be serious for once?" he shouted, irritated. "I'm trying to talk seriously here."
Miss Jun stifled her laughter.
"I'm being serious too," she said. "There's no need to enter Prince Huai's mansion for now. As you've suggested, we can meet halfway. Since they're treating Prince Huai as a tool, there's no real danger to him. There's nothing to worry about."
She laughed again.
"This is good, actually. Prince Huai can take this opportunity to get some fresh air. It's been years since he's left that place. A chance like this is rare."
Zhu Zan stood above her, looking at her for a long moment.
"I can't ask my father to stop this," he said. "I don't know why, but I do know that Prince Huai is important to you. From an emotional standpoint, I should beg my father to intervene."
"You've already answered yourself," Miss Jun said. "That's emotion talking, but rationally speaking, doing so would be completely meaningless. Would you knowingly jump into a trap? That would make you an utter fool."
She laughed lightly again.
"I've already done something that foolish once before."
Entering the palace with a blade, attempting to assassinate the emperor all on her own—back then, she didn't think of anything else. She just wanted immediate revenge for her parents, to kill her enemy there and then. It was a moment driven entirely by hatred. She hadn't thought about whether it was feasible, whether there was another way, or what would happen if she succeeded—or failed. None of that mattered to her in that moment.
At that time, all she thought about was avenging the blood debt, of perishing together if necessary to ensure the other person didn't live.
Doing something that foolish once was enough. Dying once was enough.
"There are actually many things we can do in situations like this," she said, looking at Zhu Zan. "For example, what you've arranged works perfectly."
Zhu Zan remained silent for a moment.
"Alright, you've comforted me," he finally said. "Thank you."
Miss Jun looked at him with a smile.
"Then should I expect you to offer yourself to me in gratitude?" she teased.
Zhu Zan spat in annoyance. Just as he was about to retort, a voice called out from the courtyard below.
"Miss Jun, Miss Jun, the Lord Heir hasn't returned yet. Could he have run off..." Chen Qi lowered his voice as if to whisper but raised it again in fear she might not hear him from the roof.
"You're the one who ran off," Zhu Zan shouted down angrily.
Chen Qi jumped in shock, then quickly let out a dry laugh.
"No, no, I misspoke," he said hurriedly. "I meant to say the Lord Heir returned late. Should I prepare a midnight snack for him?"
"Scram, scram, scram!" Zhu Zan yelled.
Chen Qi scurried away with a laugh.
Miss Jun stood up as well.
"What are you doing?" Zhu Zan asked warily, stepping back.
"I've had enough of stargazing. I'm going for a midnight snack," Miss Jun said. "Care to join me?"
Not waiting for his response, she strode past him.
Zhu Zan let out a long breath, watching her slender figure fade into the night. After a moment of silence, he followed her.
The starlight dimmed, the city lights faded, and the night receded as the first light of dawn broke.
People had already begun moving in the streets. Carriages, horses, and palanquins filled them. These were the officials heading to the Grand Court. Today was not like any other day; officials encountered one another on the road and exchanged a few words, their expressions a mix of excitement and nervousness.
Soon, a procession appeared on the street, nearly a hundred guards accompanying a figure in a purple robe, their majestic presence forcing the minor officials in green robes to step aside.
This was the Duke of Chengguo's entourage. As onlookers watched, the Duke of Chengguo rode forward on horseback, soon approaching the Imperial Street.
Since it was still early for court, some officials stopped to eat at food stalls along the imperial corridor.
The Duke of Chengguo also halted, but could it be that he, too, intended to eat here?
However, instead of looking at the food stalls, he gazed in another direction.
"Let's go," he suddenly commanded, turning his horse.
His attendants hesitated for a brief moment.
"Where does the Duke wish to go?" one asked.
"To visit someone," the Duke of Chengguo replied.
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What chapter is this?