"Things are just like that."
Miss Jun narrated the events that had occurred in the capital after Ning Yunzhao left.
As she narrated, Ning Yunzhao was sometimes calm and sometimes furrowed his brows. After listening to her, his expression became somber and he remained silent.
Wouldn't he say anything?
Liu'er blinked with hopeful eyes at Ning Yunzhao.
Miss had been treated poorly; even a passerby on the street would cry out in indignation.
Street loafers, hearing their wives were bullied, would roll up their sleeves and furiously swear, picking a fight halfway down the street.
As the Miss's fiancé, shouldn't he be banging on the table and yelling in rage?
Top scholar certainly couldn't be worse than a street loafer.
Yet, Ning Yunzhao just sat there steadily; his face didn't even show a trace of anger, merely silent.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became somewhat oppressive.
Why isn't he speaking? Is he chickening out? Frightened after hearing about how formidable Lu Yunqi is?
Liu'er pouted.
"But you don't have to be angry," Miss Jun continued, smiling, "This was expected. If he would back down just because we're engaged, then he wouldn't be Yama Lu."
Angry?
Is the gent in anger?
Liu'er stared at Ning Yunzhao but couldn't tell at all.
Well, it doesn't matter, if Miss said so, then it must be true.
It's good that the gent is angry; it shows he cares about Miss. Liu'er's face broke into a smile again.
"That's true," said Ning Yunzhao, "People like him won't stop until they're dead."
"So, it's not bad for me to leave the capital," Miss Jun said with a smile.
"Yes, we are not afraid of him," Fang Chengyu interjected seriously and firmly, "We will return, we will definitely go back to the capital."
Miss Jun turned and smiled at him.
Ning Yunzhao also smiled.
"Yes," he said, standing up, "Let's all return to the capital together in a few days."
Miss Jun looked at him with surprise and then smiled again.
He still wants to settle this.
She left the capital alone, and he wants to take her back immediately.
So what if Lu Yunqi won't stop at anything? Neither will he; he wants to take her back, to appear in the capital, right before Lu Yunqi's eyes.
After all, he is also young and impulsive.
"Noble Son Ning, you can return to the capital in a few days?" Fang Chengyu asked with a touch of surprise, "Isn't your mother still ill? Isn't it bad to leave now? Could you be impeached by the censor for being unfilial? I heard that an official was demoted just because he didn't attend to his sick mother."
He said, anxiously twisting his fingers.
"I don't really understand these, just talking nonsense," he said.
No no, you understand very well, Ning Yunzhao thought with a smile.
You're reminding me to not come to Miss Jun's first to reveal my intentions, but to take care of my mother's matter first.
He must be very clear why his mother is ill.
"Yes, Chengyu is right, technically the dynasty has given you a month," Miss Jun nodded, "You shouldn't rush back. Normally, returning early is good, but now, with Eldest Madam Ning ill, if you leave, it will certainly become a handle for others to attack you."
She said, also smiling.
"Don't think you have it easier than me; now that we're tied together, you're a thorn in many people's eyes too."
We?
A deep smile appeared on Ning Yunzhao's lips.
"Yes, now it seems like we are retreating, but in fact, we are not scared; everything is still fine," Fang Chengyu continued, standing next to Miss Jun, "Noble Son Ning need not worry too much."
He then shook Miss Jun's sleeve.
"Right, gongzhu?" he asked.
Ning Yunzhao smiled again but didn't respond.
Miss Jun then nodded at Fang Chengyu, apparently reminded by his words.
"Yes, I'm not worried now," she said, looking at Ning Yunzhao, "So, Noble Son Ning, we can settle the matter of our engagement, so that you can..."
"That might not be good for me either," Ning Yunzhao interrupted her, shaking his head.
Humph, scholars.
Fang Chengyu blinked standing next to Miss Jun.
"Besides, the time is still too short," Ning Yunzhao continued, with a ponderous and solemn tone, slightly furrowing his brows, "Moreover, coinciding with my mother's illness, if we dissolve the engagement now, those with ulterior motives might slander me for being unfilial and wilful, and further conjecture that initially, our Ning Family was treacherous and unreliable."
Upon hearing this, Fang Chengyu raised his eyebrows.
He actually dares to mock himself and admit to the past?
Scholars indeed can pick up and let go, not ordinary people.
Ning Yunzhao did not respond to Fang Chengyu's expression, but clasped his hands towards Miss Jun.
"After all, this matter is also our Ning Family owing Miss Jun a favor, asking for your help," he said with a bitter smile.
Miss Jun laughed.
"At this time, we shouldn't be so clear-cut," she said. "We should all help each other."
Fang Chengyu sighed softly, lowering his head, and pinched Miss Jun's sleeve.
"Our gongzhu is really quite unlucky," he said.
It's unclear whether he meant Miss Jun being unlucky because of Lu Yunqi bothering her, or because of the Ning Family.
Whichever one he was talking about, children speak their minds without malice.
Ning Yunzhao smiled and bowed to Miss Jun.
"I will take my leave first," he said.
Miss Jun and Fang Chengyu both returned the bow together.
"I will see Noble Son Ning out," Fang Chengyu took a step forward, saying first.
Miss Jun stopped in her tracks, nodded at Ning Yunzhao, and watched as Ning Yunzhao and Fang Chengyu walked out.
As the host who was seeing him off, Fang Chengyu was very enthusiastic and curiously inquired about Ning Yunzhao's experience as the top scholar.
"Noble Son Ning, you are really amazing," he said with a face full of admiration. "Truly the pride of Yangcheng people."
Ning Yunzhao smiled and said he dared not accept.
"And I also didn't expect that I would get to know you, Noble Son Ning," Fang Chengyu continued excitedly, "and even be able to walk and talk with you like this."
Is this a case of 'a river flows east for ten years and west for ten years'?
Once your Ning Family disdained and loathed our Fang Family and Miss Jun, and now you can't aspire to reach us?
Ning Yunzhao smiled without speaking, his expression unchanged.
Fang Chengyu's excitement still persisted.
"Noble Son Ning," he continued, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Ning Yunzhao, "may I boldly call you brother?"
Brother.
Ning Yunzhao could not hold back this time and choked, coughing dryly.
"Alright," he immediately recovered and smiled gently, nodding.
"That's great, to have such an excellent and impressive brother is truly our fortune," Fang Chengyu said happily, grabbing onto Ning Yunzhao's sleeve.
"I am very pleased too," Ning Yunzhao responded with a warm smile, patting Fang Chengyu's hand, "to have a brother as clever and adorable as Young Master."
Conversation was abundant but the road was short; by the time he finished speaking, they had already reached the doorway.
Xiaoding was peering outside with the gatekeeper.
"Young Master, the crowd outside has not dispersed yet, and more have arrived," he turned and said with a worried expression, "what should we do?"
Ning Yunzhao laughed.
"What to do? Are they blocking the road and not letting us leave?" he said.
That wasn't the case.
"Then let's go," Ning Yunzhao said with a laugh.
The gates of the Fang Family slowly opened, and the crowd outside immediately stirred, happily surrounding Ning Yunzhao as he emerged, looking behind him.
Behind Ning Yunzhao was not Miss Jun.
No Miss Jun? Did Miss Jun not come? Not see him off? Or not see him at all?
The crowd speculated wildly, their gaze shifting as someone came forward, a splendid figure smiling broadly at everyone.
"Young Master!"
The shouts of several women outside rose, temporarily putting aside thoughts of Miss Jun.
Ning Yunzhao mounted his horse and looked at Fang Chengyu standing outside.
Sensing his gaze, Fang Chengyu, who was talking to an old woman, immediately looked at him and waved.
"Brother, take care," he said with a smile.
Brother?
Not calling him brother-in-law yet, perhaps it hasn't reached that stage.
The watching crowd's gaze swept back and forth over them, but never mind, just watching the two of them was already overwhelming.
Today's children, compared to when he was their age, are much more formidable; back then, he was solely focused on the sage's books.
Ning Yunzhao smiled at Fang Chengyu and spurred his horse into a gallop, riding away.