Hearing that Madam Yu had arrived, Zhu Zan immediately bolted away.
Miss Jun, on the other hand, washed up, changed clothes, and enjoyed a bowl of warm porridge. Feeling much more refreshed and guessing that the reunited family of three had said most of what they needed to say, only then did she rise and head to where the Duke of Chengguo was.
As she approached the door, she heard Madam Yu's laughter.
"Why would I? When I went to see Uncle Qinghe, I had no intention of selling you off as a son-in-law," Madam Yu said, "Besides, your worth couldn't even cover the bride price they're asking for."
"So, Mother, you're selling me off for ten thousand taels?" Zhu Zan's dissatisfied voice followed. "Mother, you always try to take advantage, but taking advantage of that woman isn't so easy."
"How dare you speak this way? Such insolence!" Madam Yu immediately reprimanded, accompanied by Zhu Zan's exclamation of pain.
"If you have something to say, speak properly. Don't hit the child," the Duke of Chengguo said in a gentle tone.
"A child? He's grown. Stop spoiling him so much," Madam Yu replied.
What a picture of a stern mother and a kind father.
Standing at the door, Miss Jun's expression grew slightly strange. The personal soldiers guarding the entrance, however, appeared accustomed to the scene and even nodded at her in greeting.
They neither announced her arrival nor stopped her, treating her entirely as though she were Zhu Zan himself.
The Duke of Chengguo did not treat her as an outsider, but that didn't mean she could truly consider herself an insider.
Miss Jun paused at the entrance, signaling the guards to announce her presence before stepping inside.
"Miss Jun."
Seeing Miss Jun walk in, Madam Yu didn't say a word and immediately stepped forward to pay her respects.
Miss Jun quickly reached out to help her up.
Noticing Miss Jun's light support with one hand and her body barely bending, Zhu Zan raised an eyebrow.
This posture was certainly lofty, a polite gesture from someone clearly in a superior position.
Madam Yu, however, didn't mind. She clasped Miss Jun's hand, full of things she wanted to say—questions about why she made such a grand decision without informing anyone, scolding her for doing something so dangerous, expressing overwhelming gratitude for saving the Duke's life. In the end, all these emotions condensed into the simple words accompanied by a bright smile.
"Miss Jun, you're truly a good girl," Madam Yu sincerely said, patting her hand. "I have nothing to repay you with."
"Madam Yu, there's no need to be so polite," Miss Jun replied with a smile, patting Madam Yu's hand in return. "Just give me money, that'll do."
Madam Yu burst into laughter.
"Miss Jun," she sighed, "for what you've done, no amount of money could ever be enough."
After saying this, she glanced at Zhu Zan.
Miss Jun subconsciously followed her gaze.
Zhu Zan, who had been standing off to the side pouting, suddenly bristled.
"Hey, hey, Mother, you better not say that," he hurriedly said. "Are you trying to renege on the payment?"
Madam Yu glared at him.
"Who's reneging?" she said.
Zhu Zan chuckled.
"Mother, you clearly don't understand Miss Jun. In the capital, Miss Jun is known to recognize only money, not personal favors," he said. "If you just thank her without mentioning payment, it's far too insincere."
"Be qu…" Madam Yu began.
Before she could finish her sentence, the Duke of Chengguo lightly coughed and simultaneously gestured invitingly.
"Miss Jun, please have a seat so we can talk," he said, cutting off Madam Yu's words.
Madam Yu held back what she was about to say, smiled, and ushered Miss Jun to sit.
Miss Jun complied with the gesture.
"What Miss Jun has done is no trivial matter," Madam Yu continued. "Gratitude is gratitude, business is business. What should be thanked must be thanked, and what should be paid must be paid."
She turned to look at the Duke of Chengguo.
"Young Master, first pay the ten thousand taels," she said.
The Duke smiled and nodded.
"It's already prepared," he said, looking at Miss Jun. "Miss Jun, you can collect it today."
Miss Jun smiled and nodded, neither declining nor saying much.
Zhu Zan exhaled with relief, a look of impatience crossing his face.
"Mother, Mother, now let's talk about the payment for saving Father," he urged.
Madam Yu glared at him.
"Why are you talking so much?" she scolded softly. "Go stand to the side."
Zhu Zan's face flushed as he glanced at Miss Jun, only to see her watching him with a smile.
"Mother," he grumbled in discontent before reluctantly moving closer to the Duke of Chengguo.
Madam Yu smiled at Miss Jun.
"Second—" she began.
At that moment, Zhu Zan gave an exaggerated cough.
"Cough what, cough?" Madam Yu said sharply. "Miss Jun already knows you're called Second Little One. What's so embarrassing about a name? The real embarrassment is one's actions, not their name. The older you get, the more finicky you become."
Zhu Zan raised his hand to cover his face.
The Duke of Chengguo, meanwhile, chuckled and nodded politely at Miss Jun, his expression completely calm and composed, without a hint of awkwardness or discomfort.
Like father, like son—no wonder the Duke got along well with him.
Miss Jun returned the Duke's polite nod with a smile.
"Miss Jun, please excuse us," Madam Yu said, turning back to Miss Jun. "You're acquainted with Zan'er. You know what kind of person he is. He's good in many ways, but he talks too much. I really don't know who he got that from."
It probably wasn't from the Duke, Miss Jun thought with a slight smile.
"He's not that bad," she said.
As soon as she said that, Zhu Zan glared at her.
What did she mean by "not that bad"? Who did she think she was, acting as if they were close? What was she trying to pull?
Miss Jun pressed her lips together and smiled, ignoring him entirely.
"Let's not dwell on trivial things. Since we're all so familiar, let's be straightforward," Madam Yu said. "I know Miss Jun spent an enormous sum going to Yizhou, and saving human lives is worth more than mountains of gold and silver. But since you've made such sacrifices, you should gain something in return. Please, Miss Jun, name your price."
Miss Jun nodded with a smile and thought seriously for a moment.
"Then, thirty thousand taels it is," she said. "Mainly because some of my people were injured or lost, and I need to ensure their families are taken care of. While I could provide for them, it's only right that they receive what they're due."
Madam Yu agreed without hesitation. As she said, at this point, money was merely a number. She certainly wouldn't settle things with just money.
"I'll handle the arrangements to ensure Miss Jun receives the sum," the Duke of Chengguo assured.
Unable to hold back again, Zhu Zan chimed in from the side.
"Mother, now that this is settled, let's discuss our family's move to the capital," he said.
He emphasized the word "family" as he looked at Miss Jun.
Surely this outsider would understand it was time to excuse herself?
Madam Yu's expression grew serious.
"I don't agree with going to the capital right now," she said. "It's too high-profile. It's better to use the excuse of recuperation to avoid attracting attention."
Zhu Zan glanced at Miss Jun.
She appeared not to hear their conversation, quietly sipping her tea.
"Mother, I believe that precisely because it's high-profile, we must go," he said solemnly. "Blessings and misfortunes are intertwined. Taking advantage of the attention, Father could rise even higher. Problems left unresolved will always persist. Avoiding them won't accomplish anything."
Just yesterday, he hadn't thought this way. How did his attitude change overnight? Miss Jun glanced at him over her teacup. Men truly were fickle creatures.
Madam Yu pondered for a moment.
"So, the two of you have decided to go to the capital?" she asked.
Zhu Zan nodded earnestly, and the Duke of Chengguo smiled warmly as he nodded.
"I'd like to take a look," he said.
Madam Yu smiled as well.
"Naturally, we'll all go together as a family," she said. "There's nothing to discuss."
Zhu Zan's face lit up with a smile.
A soft cough sounded from another woman.
"Madam, you misspoke," the voice said.
Misspoke?
All three turned their eyes toward Miss Jun.
With her tea cup in hand, Miss Jun calmly spoke.
"It's not a family of three," she said with a slight smile. "It's a family of four."
A family of four?
Madam Yu and the Duke of Chengguo were stunned for a moment before realization dawned. Zhu Zan, however, erupted in fury.
As expected, this woman wasn't one to let things go so easily. Thirty thousand taels wouldn't satisfy her; she was still plotting something, clearly targeting him!
"You…" he began to shout.
"Be quiet."
Two voices—one a woman's, sharp and commanding, the other a man's, gentle yet firm—spoke the same words.
Zhu Zan's voice came to an abrupt halt. Flushing red with frustration, he looked between Madam Yu and the Duke.
"Father, Mother…" he called out in grievance.
"Listen to what Miss Jun has to say," the Duke told him gently with a nod.
"Don't interrupt," Madam Yu scolded, frowning at him before turning back to Miss Jun with a smile. "Go ahead, Miss Jun."
Listen to her? This woman could even persuade bandits into becoming righteous soldiers. If they listened to her, they'd be done for, Zhu Zan thought, glaring as he awaited her words.
*****************************
Finally, it's Friday. Seven days have never felt so long. This time, truly, I've experienced it.