Hearing these words, Zhang Baotang's face grew even more uneasy.
"What method is he thinking of then?" he said, "Isn't Miss Jun still in danger? We can't neglect to escort her."
Sifeng laughed.
"One can protect her on the journey but not for a lifetime," he said, "Don't worry, Miss Jun is also very capable. As long as we help her block some trouble here in the capital, by the time she gets back to Yangcheng, to her own turf, with the Fang Family there, it won't be easy for the Jinyiwei to reach out to her."
Zhang Baotang's face slightly relaxed.
"Then let's get going," he said cheerfully, "We'll catch up with Miss Jun by nightfall."
Sifeng slid down the slope.
"Catch up with her for what? We're heading back to the capital," he said without turning his head.
Zhang Baotang looked surprised.
"Aren't we going to say goodbye? Not even see Miss Jun once?" he asked.
"Second brother expressly told us not to see her, have you forgotten?" said Sifeng, who had already slid down the hill and whistled. A horse came trotting out of the dense woods.
Zhang Baotang slid down after him,
"I just feel that Second Brother, doing all this for Miss Jun without her knowing, it's quite pitiful. And why wouldn't you let me say that we could only visit him because Miss Jun asked Lu Yunqi? I can't help but wonder what conditions Miss Jun promised Lu Yunqi. Miss Jun is about to leave, maybe when she gets back, she'll get married…"
Then Zhu Zan wouldn't stand a chance.
Sifeng burst into hearty laughter.
"There's a saying—silence is golden," he said, "Even though Second Brother doesn't go or say anything, it doesn't necessarily mean Miss Jun doesn't know."
He patted Zhang Baotang on the shoulder.
"You're still young and don't understand."
He truly didn't understand. If the girl he liked was leaving, he would want to see her no matter what to say goodbye.
Zhang Baotang shook his head, but since it was Zhu Zan's order, he couldn't go against it. He called his horse, and the group disappeared on the mountain path.
Meanwhile, in another ravine, Seventh Chen nodded to a returning guard.
"Continue to be careful," he said.
The guard stepped back in agreement.
Seventh Chen briskly walked up to Miss Jun's carriage.
Miss Jun stood outside the carriage, watching Liu'er squat on the ground picking wildflowers.
"Miss Jun, it's strange. It's been several days, and not a single Jinyiwei has shown up," Seventh Chen said softly.
Miss Jun glanced around.
"I've noticed it too," she said, "Since they haven't appeared up to now, someone must be blocking them for us."
Stopping the Jinyiwei isn't something just anyone can do.
Seventh Chen's eyes lit up.
"Prince Xian?" he asked.
Miss Jun smiled wryly.
"How could he," she said, "It's likely Zhu Zan."
Seventh Chen made an enlightened sound and nodded.
That's right, the only one bold enough and capable of confronting Lu Yunqi is indeed the Duke of Chengguo's heir.
Though locked up, he still has people outside and even thought to accompany us on purpose.
This Duke of Chengguo's heir is really... deeply affectionate.
Seventh Chen thought to himself.
It's really a tough choice. Noble Son Ning is also good, but whom to choose?
Tenth Noble Son Ning is a man of letters, a top scholar, and the Ning Family has a profound literary base. The Duke of Chengguo's heir is from a family of dukes and marquises, with a distinguished position. These men are both rare good matches.
In terms of identity and status, Zhu Zan is slightly higher. It's said the emperor wanted to match him with a princess several times.
But with high status comes not necessarily a peaceful life. With so many eyes on one, one is always in the limelight.
By comparison, it's better to be like Ning Yunzhao, a civil servant, at least the days are more stable.
Being a woman is really hard.
Seventh Chen sighed. If only it were possible to marry both.
Such a thing isn't unheard of; wasn't there a woman in ancient times who had such a wish?
But Ning Yunzhao and Zhu Zan are both good-looking, so Miss Jun doesn't have to worry about that.
Seventh Chen chuckled.
"What are you laughing like a fool for?"
Liu'er's voice said in his ear, and with it came a captivating fragrance.
Seventh Chen came back to his senses and sneezed several times.
"Go away," he said, waving off the flower Liu'er had put to his nose, "I was thinking about things."
Miss Jun smiled and didn't take Seventh Chen's bustling thoughts to heart. Her own thoughts were quite simple; Zhu Zan really did as he promised.
"I saved Prince Huai, and I guarantee your life."
This was his promise, and he only acted on it.
She smiled again, gesturing for Liu'er to get on the carriage.
"Let's continue on our way," she said. "Everyone can relax a bit more after this."
Seventh Chen promptly agreed and called out to the guards who were resting, whether sitting or standing.
The procession in the mountain stream swiftly moved forward.
At this moment in Yangcheng, another troop galloped along the streets.
The leader rode a majestic horse that was entirely chestnut-colored, adorned in a plain white robe with subtle floral patterns, a waist ornament embellished with gold and gems, and a white jade binding. He wore a golden, glittering hairpin.
Such dazzling attire would seem ostentatiously extravagant to most, but once they saw the young man's face, everyone thought it was more than fitting.
No matter how ornate the clothes and accessories, they seemed perfectly suited for this young man.
"Young Master Fang!"
"Young Master Fang!"
Upon seeing this young man, shouts from women echoed down the street. Girls, young wives, and even some elderly women all came out; the bold ones waved their handkerchiefs towards Fang Chengyu, while the shy ones peeked at him coyly.
Young Master Fang responded to the roadside greetings with a smile and a wave of his hand.
"I'm going out of the city for a bit," he also said, his voice crisp, his demeanor sweet, as if speaking to his own elder relatives and sisters.
This made the ladies on the street even happier.
"Be careful on the road."
"Don't catch a cold."
They expressed their concern, and two elderly women even brought out some fruit for Young Master Fang to enjoy on his journey.
Amidst this bustling scene, Fang Chengyu moved on, leaving the envious men with eyes red with jealousy.
"Is it just because he's handsome? Are you really that into him?" they grumbled.
"We like it, we're happy," the women retorted unabashedly.
"Really, out with the old love as soon as there's a new? Have you already stopped liking Tenth Noble Son Ning?" the men said sourly.
Mention of Tenth Noble Son Ning sparked another flurry of excitement among the street's women.
"Tenth Noble Son Ning became the top scholar."
"Is Tenth Noble Son coming back?"
"He should be arriving soon."
Looking at the excited women, the men felt even more aggrieved. How annoying that Yangcheng should produce such beautiful men, and not just one, but two.
Fang Chengyu rode fast, quickly leaving the boundaries of Yangcheng, with his guards closely following. They continued at a brisk pace for more than half a day before slowing down.
There were no cities in sight, only sparse villages here and there.
"Young Master, if you're tired, let's rest for a while," they suggested.
"Not at all," Fang Chengyu wiped off sweat with a handkerchief and smiled, "I have learned to ride; don't worry."
He then looked ahead, his smile brimming in his eyes.
"gongzhu will be so happy to see I can ride."
He patted the bow and arrows hanging on the horse.
"I can also shoot arrows."
Is it possible he'll also show off his archery to Miss Jun when he meets her?
It was like a child, eager to show someone they liked the new skills they'd learned.
It's a bit childish.
The guards were somewhat speechless yet amused.
Young Master handled the family's business with flawless skill, more capable than a seasoned old man, yet sometimes he could be so childishly impatient.
Just like when he received the letter about Miss Jun's return to Yangcheng, he immediately rode out from home with his men to meet her.
Even though Miss Jun had not gone far at that point, calculating the fastest time, it would still be ten days before she reached Yangcheng.
Well, let's just take this as an opportunity to enjoy a leisurely outing; in April, the weather is neither cold nor hot, and the vibrant flowers and green willows are a pleasing sight.
"Where shall we wait for Miss Jun?" one guard asked and suggested, "The residence by Bishan Lake is perfect, right on Miss Jun's route."
Fang Chengyu shook his head.
"We're not waiting," he said with a smile, looking ahead, "we'll just keep going, keep welcoming, until we meet her."
The guards looked surprised.
Keep going all the way?
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Happy Monday, work hard, and stay motivated in your studies.