For rewarding Purple Star and Splendid Moon with fairy fruits, additional updates have been sponsored (5.1)
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But there was no scolding heard from that girl, instead it was Miss Jun's laughter that emerged.
She can still laugh, the gatekeeper shook his head, listening to the footsteps disappearing, peace returned in front of the gate, and he breathed a sigh of relief, though with a touch of sadness.
Nobody wants it that way, it's all because the Jinyiwei are too brutal.
One should not risk their life just to seek medical help.
"Are they fools?"
Walking on the street, Liu'er spoke again.
Miss Jun took a skewer of candied haws from a street vendor and handed it to Liu'er.
"Not exactly fools, but they have no choice," she said with a smile.
Liu'er was about to take it happily when someone hurriedly passed by her side, bumping into her, nearly dropping the candied haws.
"Hey!" she shouted as she looked at the passing person.
It was a girl wearing a floral shirt and carrying a basket, walking with her head down, and when she heard the call, she looked back but seemed not to realize she had bumped into someone.
"You bumped into me," Liu'er shouted with wide eyes.
The girl looked at her and uttered an 'Oh', then turned her head and quickly walked away.
Unexpectedly, not even an apology, the people in the capital are too rude.
"Isn't that right, Miss?" Liu'er looked at Miss Jun.
Miss Jun did not respond but instead continued to stare at the back of the girl, her expression somewhat distracted.
"Seems like it," she said.
Seems like what? Liu'er didn't understand and looked again, but the girl had already blended into the crowd and was out of sight.
Miss Jun kept gazing down the street absently, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, sadness in her eyes.
What's the matter?
Liu'er felt uneasy.
"Miss," she shook Miss Jun's arm, "Do you know her?"
Miss Jun shook her head.
It's not the person, it's the look in her eyes.
The girl's expression was one of resolute resignation to death, just like when she herself had entered the imperial palace to assassinate the emperor.
Looking at her age, only sixteen or seventeen years old, younger than herself at that time.
Although dressed simply, her delicate and beautiful features undoubtedly showed she was raised in a wealthy family.
Did such a girl, from such a family, also encounter an insurmountable ordeal that she could only face with resignation to death?
"Let's go and see," she said.
"Is there something wrong?" Liu'er asked nervously, clutching the candied haws.
"Let's go and see, we still don't know, hopefully, nothing's wrong," Miss Jun said, patting Liu'er's head, "Go ahead and eat."
......
People on the street were running about because a procession was coming through, dispersing the crowd and heading towards an alley.
This was where the officials gathered, and in this alley, there were three residences, but now only one official lived here.
That is, Imperial College Scholar Huang Cheng, since Lord Huang had suffered a leg disease two years ago, the emperor had others relocate to allow him peaceful convalescence, assigning all three residences to the Huang Family.
Lord Huang naturally would not fail the emperor's grace; he took one of the residences for himself, filled with beauties, rumored to be extravagantly decorated.
But compared to Thousand-Man Commander Lu, who also kept beauties, Lord Huang was more generous; he believed in sharing joy rather than enjoying alone, thus he would invite friends over to his residence.
Everyone who had the fortune to enjoy it there had nothing but praise.
Lord Huang was also preparing a feast today, as he was very pleased; the emperor had accepted his recommendation, and the impeachment from the Advisory Court could be presented tomorrow, and not just from the Advisory Court, he also prepared several petitioners from the northern lands.
One could imagine, tomorrow's court session would be quite a feast.
Thus, leaving the imperial palace, Lord Huang invited many people to play, including Lu Yunqi.
"Is it convenient for Lord Lu to come?" an attendant whispered, "We've already informed him, when tomorrow Lord He and others rebut, we should have him list out those peoples' private crimes, Lord Lu has already agreed, won't this invite criticism for our collusion?"
Lord Huang laughed.
"How could it be, how could a man like Lord Lu be colluded with by others?" he said, "We're inviting him this time exactly because he can keep an eye on us, see if we are privately colluding and framing loyal subjects, also it's good to report back to the emperor."
The attendant suddenly understood and agreed.
"No wonder Lord Lu agreed," he said, "He rarely attends banquets."
Lord Huang laughed and nodded.
"Lord Lu isn't foolish," he said.
During their chat, they had already reached his residence, and shouts were heard from behind.
"Lord Huang."
Lord Huang reined his horse to a stop and looked over.
It was Lord Tang from the Advisory Court, whom he had met before.
"You've arrived quickly," Lord Huang dismounted, whispering to him with a smile, "It seems you're quite eager for the beauties here."
Lord Tang's dark face reddened.
"No, no," he said hurriedly, waving his hands, "I came to tell Lord Huang personally, I won't be coming tonight."
"Afraid of what? Even if you don't come, those who want to say we're in cahoots will say it anyway," Lord Huang laughed and looked around, "Living in this world, who isn't talked about by others? If one stops living because of a few words, how can one's days continue? Or work left undone?"
The people around him chuckled and agreed.
"Lord Huang is right."
"Only mediocrities are never envied."
"The necessary tasks must not be avoided just because of others' words; to hold an office without striving is nothing but a waste of space."
Everyone chimed in.
Lord Tang halted.
"I have some other matters," he said, "Thank you for the invitation, but let's wait until the task is completed tomorrow before we gather."
Lord Huang smiled and nodded.
"Lord Tang, always diligent, go swiftly then," he said.
As they laughed and talked, they continued walking, and people around the alley made way, and they arrived at the entrance of the alley.
Perhaps due to the crowded and chaotic avoidance of the crowd, someone panically ran into them.
A guard immediately shouted and swung his killing rod at them.
A woman's cry of pain rang out as she fell to the ground, and a basket fell too, scattering the rolls inside.
It was a young woman, and all eyes turned to her.
She was around sixteen or seventeen, wearing coarse clothes, tremblingly prostrating on the ground and kowtowing.
"Mercy, my lord, mercy," she said with a trembling voice.
Recognizing her dress, everyone recognized her as a common hawker.
There was no need to fuss over such a person, an attendant waved his hand to shoo her away, but Lord Huang suddenly raised his hand to stop him.
Perhaps it was the trembling, oriole-like voice of the girl, Lord Huang couldn't help but look over, and when he saw the girl lying prostrate on the ground, her simple clothes could not conceal her graceful figure, he squinted his eyes.