To reward the 1.2 million starting coins from the Southern Ice, here is an additional chapter (4)
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This atmosphere simply cannot continue like this.
"Your Highness has just recovered," Miss Jun, being an adult, spoke first, her voice somewhat hoarse. "You shouldn't run and jump."
As she said this, she steadied Jiurong to stand on the ground.
Jiurong's face was flushed with embarrassment, and though his eyes turned away in confusion, there was also a hint of disappointment.
He hummed affirmatively, straightening and adjusting his posture.
Miss Jun's gaze fell upon his hands.
His hands were stained with ink.
Though he had become an awkward prince, the education of the royal family was deeply ingrained in his bones.
Before meeting with someone, he would have normally tidied up his appearance.
The expression on Miss Jun's face softened even more, feeling a mix of sour and sweet emotions inside.
So, he must have heard about her visit and ran over without even having time to wash his hands?
"Have you been practicing calligraphy with Mr. Gu?" she asked gently.
Jiurong hummed and clenched his hands behind his back as he walked forward.
Miss Jun watched his attempts to act like a little adult and chuckled before turning back to look outside the palace doors.
There were no eunuchs or palace maids, nor was there any sign of Mr. Gu.
Her expression grew more complex.
Who intentionally gave her and Jiurong this chance to be alone?
Was it to spy on them, or genuinely for them to have time alone?
Mr. Gu, who is this person really — friend or foe?
"Did you come to treat me?" Jiurong's voice came, interrupting Miss Jun's reverie.
She hurriedly followed him over, looking at Jiurong who had taken a seat at the center.
"Yes, how have you been feeling lately?" she asked, opening her medicine box and taking out her pulse-diagnosing tool.
Jiurong extended his hand.
"I've been very well," he said. "A few days ago, I even ate sashimi with Mr. Gu."
Perhaps talking about something fresh and memorable, Jiurong's face brightened and his eyebrows lifted.
"Have you ever tried sashimi? Turns out you can eat fish raw."
Miss Jun laughed, feeling his pulse.
"I have," she said. "I ate it with my teacher."
She then pouted slightly.
"But it wasn't tasty."
Jiurong's eyes widened.
"It's delicious!" he exclaimed, "It's really good."
"It's delicious, but you should eat less of it; you're still young and delicate," Miss Jun withdrew her hand and looked at the little fellow with bright, wide eyes, and subconsciously scratched his little nose.
This gesture made Jiurong stiffen again.
Miss Jun regretted it once more.
"Eating too much is bad for the spleen and stomach," she said, trying to cover up.
Jiurong hummed in acknowledgment.
"Do you also have a teacher?" he asked with a hint of curiosity.
Miss Jun knew that his use of the word "also" might not have been referring to him having a teacher, perhaps he meant Princess Jiuli.
Although kept a secret to the outside, Jiurong and Princess Jiuli were both aware that she was learning medicine from someone.
Looking at the excitement and anticipation in Jiurong's eyes, Miss Jun felt that she couldn't continue this topic.
"Yes, of course, to learn a skill one must have a teacher," she said.
"Is your teacher also a doctor?" Jiurong sat up straight and asked, his eyes sparkling brightly, "Your teacher's name is…"
"Your Highness," Miss Jun interrupted him, "Your illness has already healed. Eating well and exercising more from now on should pose no problems."
Jiurong hummed in acknowledgment.
"Then you…" he continued to say.
"Then I must take my leave," Miss Jun interrupted him once again with a gentle voice.
Jiurong's face showed a trace of disappointment, but he still sat up straight and nodded his head.
"Okay," he said, pausing for a moment, "then I'll see you next time."
Saying 'see you next time' made him somewhat bashful.
He was no longer used to saying 'see you next time' because he had been taught to understand that seeing or not seeing was not his decision to make, hence it was unnecessary to think about or say it.
Hearing this and seeing Jiurong's nervous happiness and shyness, Miss Jun almost burst into tears.
It was really ridiculous, she had earnestly wanted to get close but couldn't, and now that Jiurong was willing to accept her closeness, she was about to leave.
"Next time might be a very long time from now," she forced a smile, trying to soften her expression as she looked at Jiurong, "because I am leaving."
Jiurong's expression stiffened.
"Leaving?" He seemed puzzled.
"I'm going to leave the capital," Miss Jun said, "Actually, I came today to say goodbye to you."
Jiurong's face turned pale in an instant, his little chest heaving violently, eyes round and rimmed with red.
"Didn't you promise my sister you would look after me?" he said, his voice somewhat shrill.
Miss Jun's heart suddenly clenched in pain.
"Yes, my departure is not because I..." she hurried to explain, reaching out to pat Jiurong's head.
But Jiurong abruptly brushed her hand away and jumped off the chair, dashing outwards.
"Jiurong," Miss Jun startled, quickly called out and chased after him.
But Jiurong ran too fast and disappeared from sight in the blink of an eye.
This child must be hiding again, he liked to hide in the hollow of the ancient tree beside the rockery on the lakeshore, Miss Jun headed straight there.
As she was almost at the spot, Mr. Gu came from the side.
"Miss Jun," he said with a smile.
Miss Jun stopped in her tracks and greeted him.
"What brings you here today?" Mr. Gu asked straight to the point.
Does he not know?
Wasn't he peeking just now?
Miss Jun looked at him.
"I came to bid farewell today," she said directly, "I am going to leave the capital."
Mr. Gu's expression showed some surprise.
"Why are you leaving?" he asked, "What happened?"
Then he smiled again.
"You know, our doors are always closed here; we never know what happens outside."
Miss Jun looked at him for a moment.
"A lot has happened outside recently," she said, recounting events from Ning Yunzhao's public declaration of an existing engagement to help her, Jinyiwei disturbing every household she treated, to Lord Huang being stabbed to death by Wan Dachun's granddaughter, to Zhu Zan being thrown into prison by the emperor after a disturbance with a startled horse.
Of course, she did not say that the engagement was fake.
Mr. Gu listened with astonishment.
"So much has happened," he said, looking at Miss Jun with a complex expression, as if wanting to say more but stopping himself, eventually smiling, "Miss Jun, decisive and undisturbed by the chaos, clean and resolute, very good."
He then bowed slightly.
"I wish Miss Jun a smooth journey."
He paused for a moment and then added another phrase.
"May all your wishes come true."
May all your wishes come true, huh? Do you know what my wishes are? Miss Jun smiled at him.
"Farewell," she finally said, bowing graciously, standing straight, and turning to leave.
Behind her, it seemed as if Jiurong's voice could be heard.
"She lied."
The voice was tinged with tears.
Miss Jun's nose turned sour, and her eyes blurred with tears she struggled not to look back.
She had come to the capital for Jiurong, and she was leaving for him too.
Someday he would understand.
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Chapter twenty-five is delivered, thank you all for your support along the way.
Whether the plot has holes or the storyline isn't quite satisfying, I've thrown out everything I could, and there's no turning back now; I can only clench my teeth and keep running forward.
If there are deficiencies, I will make corrections. I have always told this story with all my heart and effort, but due to limited ability, willingness often exceeds capacity. I hope for your generous understanding.
See you tomorrow.