Duchess Cheng.
My husband is Duke of Chengguo Zhu Shan.
Indeed.
So it turns out.
She truly is Zhu Zan's mother.
No wonder I found her somewhat familiar.
Miss Jun had never seen Zhu Zan and his mother, but because of her impression of Duke of Chengguo, she blurted out his name upon seeing Zhu Zan in Runan.
Because of her impression of Zhu Zan, she felt a sense of familiarity when she first laid eyes on Madam Yu.
However, Zhu Zan resembles Duke of Chengguo even more.
What a coincidence, while searching far and wide for bandits and outlaws, to actually encounter Zhu Zan's mother.
Miss Jun couldn't help feeling delighted, but soon after, she was drenched in a cold sweat.
Such serendipity—if at that moment she hadn't gone there, wouldn't the Duchess have been...?
"What has happened to you? Why would someone be trying to kill you?" Miss Jun asked anxiously, "Why did you venture out with so few people?"
Madam Yu was momentarily taken aback.
This girl changed her demeanor in an instant.
The previous disinterest and even a hint of impatience vanished, and even her recent surprise and disbelief upon hearing news about the northern lands had dissipated.
It's understandable that her impatience would fade, after all, what she just said clearly indicates her extraordinary identity, but now that she has revealed her status, why isn't this girl surprised anymore?
Instead of surprise, doubt, or being flustered, there was only... concern?
And it was the kind of concern that exists between acquaintances.
"Do you have injuries anywhere else? I haven't examined you carefully," Miss Jun continued, looking uneasy, "Please sit down and let me check."
Madam Yu couldn't help but smile.
"No," she said, "Miss Jun, you worry too much."
Miss Jun responded with an "Oh," as she looked at Madam Yu.
So this is what the Duchess Cheng looks like.
She can't be described as pretty, not as good-looking as Duke of Chengguo, and compared to Duke of Chengguo's scholarly grace, she's somewhat more heroic.
Where is Duchess Cheng from again? It seems she's from the northern lands, where at that time, amidst the Jurchen chaos, many local rebel armies were fighting against the Jurchen people. The Duchess reportedly is the daughter of a rebel army leader.
Of course, publicly she's only acknowledged as the daughter of a local gentry.
Miss Jun vaguely recalled, as a child in her mother's palace, hiding under a table and overhearing the Imperial Mandate ladies who were waiting to be presented at court, whispering about Duchess Cheng, saying she doesn't return to the capital because she dares not.
"What rebel army, the daughter of a gentry? Actually, she's just a bandit's daughter," a Mandate lady laughed, "Duke of Chengguo married her just to gain the support of those bandits."
"Does that mean the Duke wooed her with his charm?" another Mandate lady also chuckled quietly.
Duke of Chengguo was very handsome; even these ladies couldn't refrain from discussing this privately.
Although she was young back then, she knew the term 'wooed with charm' was not a compliment, which is why she stubbornly refused to leave when she heard about Duke of Chengguo visiting her father, and then she was captured with a smile and a sweet treat.
At this thought, Miss Jun couldn't help but laugh.
One wonders if Madam Yu really was wooed by Duke of Chengguo with his charm as those Mandate ladies said, or coerced into marriage.
Madam Yu looked at this girl laughing foolishly in front of her with some puzzlement.
"Miss Jun?" she asked.
Miss Jun hummed in acknowledgment, gazing earnestly at her.
"You may not believe me when I tell you who I am, but if you accompany me, I will provide proof..." Madam Yu said.
She was interrupted by Miss Jun before she could finish.
"I believe you," Miss Jun said with a smile, "What's there not to believe?"
Madam Yu was taken aback for a moment, then laughed again.
"You are a straightforward person, Miss Jun," she said, "Then let me explain in detail about asking you to accompany me to Hejian Prefecture..."
Miss Jun interrupted her again, shaking her head, then nodding.
"No need, I'll go with you," she said.
Madam Yu was taken aback again; this was far too forthright.
"Whatever you say to do, I will do," Miss Jun added with a beaming smile.
Madam Yu gazed at her for a moment, her eyes filled with questions.
"Miss Jun, do you, know me?" she asked.
Otherwise, why had the girl been staring at her with that peculiar smile ever since she revealed her identity? That kind of smile clearly meant, 'Oh, so it's you.'
Miss Jun collected herself.
"Who in the world doesn't recognize the Duke and his wife?" she said.
Madam Yu smiled.
"Do you trust me just because of this name?" she asked.
"I believe the deeds of the Duke and Duchess are all about loyalty to the country, defending the land, and protecting the people. Since you said to do it, then let's do it," Miss Jun said.
I believe the deeds of the Duke and Duchess are all about loyalty to the country, defending the land, and protecting the people.
Madam Yu had heard such words all her life and had become somewhat numb to them, but at this moment, hearing this young girl before her say them, there was an inexplicable stirring in her heart.
Perhaps it was because she answered with this phrase without the slightest hesitation or even a second thought, or perhaps it was her nonchalant and assured tone.
"Very well," she composed herself and said, "Then for this matter, Miss Jun, how much would you ask for?"
Miss Jun smiled.
"This, well, it must be at least a hundred thousand taels," she said.
...........................….
Seeing Miss Jun come over with Xia Yong and Yang Jing, Zhao Hanqing took the initiative to walk away.
"I'll be waiting for you in the back mountain," she waved her bow and arrows at Miss Jun.
Miss Jun gave her a knowing gesture with a smile.
"Is it about escorting that lady to Daming Prefecture?" Xiao Zhi asked, her needle and thread not missing a beat, "It looks like it's about time to set off."
Xia Yong and Yang Jing thought that Miss Jun came to find them today for this matter as well.
"We've already selected twenty men, ready to depart with you any time," they said.
Miss Jun shook her head.
"Aunt Xiao, that lady is not going to Daming Prefecture anymore," she said, "She's going to Hejian Prefecture."
Hejian Prefecture?
"The distance is roughly the same, although it's a bit more to the north. These men should be enough, right?" Xiao Zhi said, glancing at Yang Jing and Xia Yong.
That was an agreement.
Yang Jing nodded his head.
"Enough," he said.
"The distance is about the same," Xia Yong said, "In fact, Hejian is even quicker."
"When does Miss Jun wish to depart?" Xiao Zhi asked.
But Miss Jun remained silent, not saying a word.
The atmosphere felt off. Xiao Zhi and the two men exchanged glances, their expressions slightly puzzled.
They had all heard about Miss Jun receiving a letter and getting upset, and it was said that it was due to changes in the war situation outside. Could it be that because of this, she felt the journey was dangerous?
"Miss Jun, you don't need to worry. We're not afraid of bandits. Even if we head north and encounter the woodcutters, there's nothing to be afraid of," Xia Yong couldn't resist saying.
To them, the woodcutters were nothing scary, which meant that they had battled with the woodcutters before.
So were they really government soldiers?
"This trip to Hejian Prefecture is not just about escorting this lady," Miss Jun said.
Xiao Zhi and the others looked at her. Not just an escort? Then what else?
"Aunt Xiao, the dynasty is seeking peace and plans to cede the three states of the Baotuan Region to the Jurchen people," Miss Jun said.
"Miss Jun, we do not want to know about the dynasty's affairs, nor can we influence them," Xiao Zhi interrupted, "Just tell us directly, what do you want us to do?"
Aunt Xiao has always been a straightforward person, just like with her master—when she said she doesn't acknowledge him, she doesn't.
"To go with that lady to Hejian Prefecture, and to escort the people from those three counties south across Hejian," Miss Jun stated plainly.
What?
The three people in the room were astonished, staring at Miss Jun.
"Then I'm sorry, Miss Jun, we can't earn this money," Xiao Zhi immediately recovered and said bluntly.
The room fell into silence for a while.
Xia Yong and Yang Jing had complicated expressions, wanting to say something but not daring to speak.
Miss Jun smiled.
"No, that's not what I meant," she said, "I just came to tell you that this money is difficult to earn, so there's no need for Uncle Yang and Eldest Uncle Xia to send their men."
Is that so.
The expressions of Xia Yong and the others became even more complex.