Fang Chengyu's archery skills were praised by Duke Cheng, who couldn't stop praising him even at the dinner table.

"It has been delayed for so many years. It would have been better if I had practiced since I was young." He said, thinking for a moment and making a comparison, "It would have been comparable to history."

Because Yang Jing brought some people from the Qingshan Army to escort Madam Xiao, Zhao Hanqing was left in the army to assist Xia Yong and had not met Fang Chengyu at this time.

However, Fang Chengyu was not unfamiliar with this name, nor was he unhappy about being compared with a woman.

"Can I do it?" he said happily, "Then I will practice harder in the future."

Then he looked at Miss Jun again.

"Jiuling, the Duke said I can be as good as Han Qing."

Like a kid who gets boasted about something.

Miss Jun smiled and nodded.

"Of course you can," she said. "You are all better than me."

Everyone was having a great time and laughing at the dinner table, except Zhu Zan, who seemed to be oblivious to everything and just kept eating with his head down.

"Zan'er."

After hearing several calls in his ear, Zhu Zan raised his head in surprise.

"What?" He looked at Duke Cheng, somewhat bewildered, apparently not having heard what was said.

"Your father asked you to take Chengyu to find an archery master after dinner." Mrs. Yu said, frowning, "What are you doing? Didn't he let you eat last night?"

Zhu Zan uttered an "oh" and glanced at Fang Chengyu, forcing a smile.

"Okay, I'll take you there," he said.

Mrs. Yu was a little surprised that he agreed so readily.

She was indifferent to Fang Chengyu yesterday, thinking that he would find an excuse to decline. But when she saw Zhu Zan immediately lower his head to eat his rice after he finished answering, with an expression that he didn't say much and didn't even look at the people at the table, she was so well-behaved that she didn't even recognize that he was her son.

What happened last night? Although she was only asking about her son, Mrs. Yu also knew that there was a commotion over there because of a maid.

However, if it was her two sons or a daughter, she would just pick them up and give them a scolding and a beating. It would not be convenient for her to interfere in the affairs of her sons and daughters-in-law.

The words "son and daughter-in-law" flashed by her mind, and Mrs. Yu coughed again.

"When are you going to tell us about Miss Jun?" she asked Duke Cheng.

"In these few days," said Duke Cheng, "try to go to the audience with Chengyu to receive the award."

As he said this, he looked at Miss Jun and smiled.

"You can think about it again, Duke. It's better to talk about it after some time." Miss Jun said.

The incident with Prince Huai just happened and the Emperor is furious. He will definitely take advantage of the opportunity to deal with Duke Cheng in one fell swoop. It would be better to wait for things to slow down.

Duke Cheng understood what she meant.

"Everything has its pros and cons." He said gently, "In this case, there is no need to worry about the consequences. I will write a memorial and submit it in the next few days."

Miss Jun sighed inwardly, and knowing Duke Cheng's character, she stopped trying to persuade him.

"Obedience is worse than respect." She said with a smile.

Even when she was thanking others, she was somewhat arrogant. Zhu Zan had noticed this a long time ago. He once thought it was strange that she accepted her mother's greetings calmly, but now he understood it.

It turns out that this is a habit I developed since childhood.

After all, she is a princess.

Zhu Zan bit his chopsticks and almost buried his head in the bowl, and Madam Yu's voice rang in his ears.

"You are no longer my daughter-in-law."

Daughter-in-law…Zhu Zan’s teeth gritted.

"I can recognize you as my stepmother." Miss Jun said with a smile.

Mrs. Yu was about to speak when Zhu Zan's chopsticks fell onto the table with a clatter.

Everyone looked over, and Zhu Zan jumped up with a red face.

"I remember now," he said, "Zhang Baotang has a master who is very good at archery, and is very suitable for someone like Master Fang."

Without waiting for anyone to react, he turned around and ran out.

"I'll go find him now."

Watching Zhu Zan run out, Fang Chengyu smiled.

"My brother is so nice to me," he said.

…

Miss Jun and Fang Chengyu left Duke Cheng's mansion. As Zhu Zan was nowhere to be seen, Duke Cheng personally arranged for guards to see them off. After watching Miss Jun leave, he walked towards the study, preparing to summon his staff to discuss writing a memorial.

"Dad, Dad."

Before I even reached the study, I heard a quiet greeting from the side of the road.

Duke Cheng looked over in surprise and saw Zhu Zan standing behind a tree and waving at him.

"You are at home?" Duke Cheng said, and then he laughed, "What trouble have you gotten yourself into that makes you hide here?"

Zhu Zan waved his hands and looked around.

"Miss Jun and the others have left, right?" he asked in a low voice.

"Let's go." Duke Cheng did not call him out, but walked over and asked gently, "What's wrong?"

Zhu Zan picked at the bark of the tree.

"Dad, I think what she said makes sense," he said, "It's not appropriate to submit a petition now to mention a fake marriage."

Duke Cheng said "Oh".

"It's not appropriate for us," he said, "but Zan'er, people can't just think about themselves."

Zhu Zan nodded quickly.

"No, no, that's not what I meant," he said. "I just think it's not good for her either."

Duke Cheng looked at him gently, waiting for explanation.

Zhu Zan was picking at the bark of a tree.

"I think this puts her in the spotlight, and she's a target of criticism because of her reputation," he said.

Duke Cheng smiled.

"I believe Miss Jun is not afraid of riding the wind and waves," he said.

"I know she's not afraid," Zhu Zan said, leaning against a tree. "I just think it's better to be safer."

Duke Cheng looked at the scattered bark on the ground.

Although he didn't know why his usually brave son became like a frightened rabbit, as a father, he didn't require his son to be brave and fearless all the time.

As long as one is a human being, he will and can be afraid. He will not be harsh or ask them to cheer up immediately.

"Don't be afraid." He patted Zhu Zan's shoulder with a smile, "I will do it more carefully."

Zhu Zan said "oh" and nodded, then watched Duke Cheng walk away. He stood under the tree for a moment, then thought of something and turned around and ran out.

"Second brother, second brother."

Zhang Baotang's voice at the entrance of the alley made Zhu Zan stop.

"I have brought the person you asked me to bring." He said happily, pointing to a middle-aged guard behind him.

The guards saluted Zhu Zan.

"Who is it?" Zhu Zan asked after being stunned for a moment.

Zhang Baotang stared.

"Didn't you send someone to look for my archery master?" he said.

Zhu Zan wiped his nose, muttered something, raised his head and smiled.

"Yes, yes," he said, "I didn't use it. I don't even remember it."

"Is this what Miss Jun wanted?" Zhang Baotang asked.

Zhu Zan nodded.

"Go to Jiulingtang and give it to her." He said, and just as he was about to take a step forward, he was stopped by Zhang Baotang.

"Miss Jun is not in Jiulingtang." Zhang Baotang said, "I just ran into her. Miss Jun and Young Master Ning went to the old Peng's teahouse."

Huh? Zhu Zan was stunned.

…

"Look."

Standing outside the Lao Peng’s Teahouse, Zhang Baotang pointed to a seat inside and said.

Zhu Zan peered from the corner of the wall and saw the woman inside sitting opposite Ning Yunzhao. It was unclear what they were saying, but she was smiling with her hands covering her mouth.

"It's not even a fake marriage yet, and she's already running out with another man..." He couldn't help but mutter.

"Brother, what did you say?" Zhang Baotang asked hurriedly because he didn't hear clearly.

Zhu Zan waved his hands.

"Nothing," he said.

"Why did Young Master Ning only meet with Miss Jun? Logically, you should have come too." Zhang Baotang also frowned and said, "I thought you were coming too, but I was wondering why I didn't see you after waiting for a while."

Zhu Zan glared at him.

"What's so strange about that? She's a doctor, it's normal for her to see patients." He said, "Didn't you see that boy looked sick?"

Zhang Baotang looked into the teahouse and saw a young man with a warm smile and a carefree and elegant manner.

"I didn't see it." He answered honestly.