Chu Jiuling.

She wanted some people to know this name and call it by name, such as sister or brother.

There were also unexpected people who knew and shouted it out, such as Zhu Zan.

But there was one person whose name she absolutely didn't want to hear called out from his mouth.

Miss Jun stood there without looking back, and her steps also stopped.

No one spoke, and no one moved. The world froze for a moment.

The sight behind her was like a snake coiled on her back, without moving, but with a chill that continued to penetrate her.

What to do?

She once pretended to be Chu Jiuling in order to conceal the buried master's handwritten note from being discovered by Lu Yunqi.

So what should she pretend to be now in order to prevent him from thinking she is Chu Jiuling?

She misheard and did not hear the last name Chu, but only heard Jiuling, a name she was familiar with, so she agreed by mistake.

She had been to this palace once or twice and had a good memory, so even without anyone to lead the way, she could walk around like she was on flat ground.

As if walking on flat ground.

As the thought flashed through her mind, Miss Jun ran forward.

Run out, run out of here. As long as you get in front of people, you can explain it in a thousand ways, but you must not fall into his hands.

There were no footsteps chasing after him, and no one blocking his way in front of him. The palace gate was right in front of him. He could see the guards moving around, and could faintly hear the officials' attendants talking outside the palace gate.

But the next moment, she heard a sound of breaking air from behind her, and her neck felt numb.

I was really careless this time.

As the last thought flashed through her mind, Miss Jun groaned and fell forward with a black screen before her eyes.

She did not fall to the ground. A Jinyi Guard rushed out from the side, knelt on one knee, caught her steadily with one hand, and with the other hand swung the scarlet cloak to cover the person, picked her up and walked away.

Silence returned to the front of the palace gate. The eunuchs passing by looked over unconsciously and saw Lu Yunqi standing at the side of the aisle with his hands behind his back. The whole person was hidden in the shadow cast by the high wall. Only the scarlet cloak fluttered in the wind. The eunuchs shuddered and quickly looked away, lowered their heads and walked past quickly.

…

Ning Yunzhao shuddered for no apparent reason, and a snapping sound rang in his ears.

The emperor threw the memorials in his hand onto the desks. The piled memorials were hit hard and fell down, with crackling sounds echoing in the hall.

"I don't believe it!" the emperor shouted, looking angry, pointing at the two kneeling generals, "I don't believe what you say."

"Your Majesty, everything we say is true." The two generals kowtowed, "If we are lying, God will strike us with five thunderbolts."

"Your Majesty, I know this is too shocking. It is hard to believe that the late emperor and Your Majesty both trusted Duke Cheng so much. However, there are witnesses and evidence. This is not a personal grudge." Huang Cheng said, kneeling down with a sad look on his face, "Please investigate it carefully, Your Majesty."

The emperor stood up and paced back and forth, feeling frightened, angry and uneasy.

“I don’t believe it.” He just repeated, “I don’t believe your witnesses, I don’t believe your physical evidence.”

He stopped abruptly.

"I want to hear what Duke Cheng has to say."

Stop talking and raise your hand.

"Lu Yunqi, call Lu Yunqi over."

If we listen to what Duke Cheng says and let Lu Yunqi ask, then of course he will be escorted to the capital.

Huang Cheng leaned forward and was about to call out "Your Majesty is wise", but someone got there first.

"Your Majesty." Ning Yunzhao turned around and bowed, "I think it is inappropriate."

What he said was not the word holy and wise?

Huang Cheng was stunned for a moment, then sneered.

Sure enough, having stood here by flattery, he will never be satisfied with just saying the word "wise and wise". Now he has to start saying what he wants to say.

But boy, I've been waiting for you to say this. Do you think you can persuade the emperor to deal with Duke Cheng? I just want to let His Majesty know that you, the uncle and nephew surnamed Ning, are indeed in cahoots with Duke Cheng.

The emperor was obviously a little surprised, and looked down at Ning Yunzhao.

"Your Majesty, I think it is not appropriate to let Lord Lu go." Ning Yunzhao took the initiative to speak without waiting for the emperor to ask, with a serious and frank expression, "We should let the Dali Temple come forward."

It's not an encouragement? Huang Cheng didn't even frown.

The emperor's expression eased a little.

"The Dali Temple, isn't that to question him?" he said, shaking his head. "I just want to ask him first. I don't believe he is guilty."

"No, Your Majesty, if Your Majesty does not want to hold him accountable, then you can only let the Dali Temple handle it." Ning Yunzhao said, "Letting Lord Lu and the Jinyiwei come forward will only cause the people to talk about it, and it will even be rumored that he is framed."

The Jinyiwei had a bad reputation, but they were the ones the emperor trusted the most.

The emperor looked hesitant.

"The charge of treason against Duke Cheng is of great importance and will surely cause an uproar throughout the country. I do not want your Majesty to be suspected of your trust and love for Duke Cheng." Ning Yunzhao said, and took another step forward. "Your Majesty has a clear conscience towards Duke Cheng. It depends on whether Duke Cheng has a guilty conscience when he dares to confront him in the Dali Temple."

Yes, once this matter is announced, the whole world will be in an uproar. It is better to let someone else step forward to deal with this matter in front of the whole world.

The emperor nodded.

"Lord Ning is absolutely right," he said, taking a deep breath, "I trust him. If that's the case, I should be more forthright. This is what it means to truly trust him."

He looked at an official in the hall.

"Order the Dali Temple to arrest Wang Chong, and Zhang Gui to report the case of Zhu Shan, the Duke of Cheng, for treason."

Although the official looked unhappy and obviously did not want to take on this unfortunate job, he had no choice but to lean forward and answer yes.

It turns out that they want to let the Dali Temple try the case. What’s the point of that?

It makes no difference to the outcome whether the Jinyi Guards or the Dali Temple are responsible for arresting him.

Huang Cheng glanced at Ning Yunzhao and stopped taking steps to stop him.

Do you think the Dali Temple is more fair than the Jinyiwei's imperial prison? You are really a young man.

The emperor seemed exhausted from arranging all this and didn't want to say a word.

"Don't say anything before the Dali Temple examines it." He sat down and held his forehead. "I don't believe anyone's words."

Stop talking and wave your hands.

The officials bowed and saluted, then left. They were all restless and confused, and did not notice the emperor raising his head behind them. His eyes were also on the general Zhang Gui who was leaving with his head lowered.

Zhang Gui seemed to notice and turned his head slightly, but when he saw the emperor's gaze, his expression was no longer as nervous as before. Instead, he immediately stooped a little bit more respectfully, as if he was greeting or responding to something.

Everyone left and the eunuchs carefully closed the palace door. Until this moment, the emperor released the hand that was stroking his forehead, and the fatigue and anger on his face disappeared. He leaned back on the dragon chair, raised his feet, and kicked the scattered memorials on the table two or three times.

There was a crackling sound in the hall.

The eunuchs outside heard this and thought that the emperor was still angry, so they lowered their heads nervously and kept silent.

The emperor leaned back in his dragon chair, his expression extremely relaxed.

"Ten years." He said to himself, "He, the Duke of Cheng, has been managing the North for more than ten years. Can't I do the same?"

His legs, which were resting on the table, were shaking slightly, as if there was a beautiful lady playing the zither and singing in front of him.

"I've made so much money, why do you think I'm still so poor? Money is useless if it's just sitting there. Money is meant to make money. With money, things can be done more easily."

As he spoke with a bit of resentment, he kicked the cases hard, making loud clanging sounds.

"I have done so many things outside, I have been involved with so many people, I have built relationships for so many years, and you say I am a waste. Do you really think I am a waste? Do you really think that this country was earned by you, a woman who played tricks in the harem?"

"Without money and without people, how can I know when that damn ghost will have an attack, and what that damn ghost does every day?" "How can I go to Beijing so few times but be able to go in and out of many places freely?"

"Duke Cheng has run the Northern Territory like an iron barrel. How can I order the Northern Territory's officers and soldiers to retreat just by issuing an imperial decree?"

"You say I am trash. I, a trash, fought for this world. You are trash. You are the trash."

With a loud bang, several tables rolled over and fell, and the sound drowned out the emperor's mumbling.

Ning Yunzhao, who had walked out of the Qinzheng Hall, had already put this matter behind him. He did not discuss this matter with other officials, but walked quickly towards the palace gate.

"Has Miss Jun come out yet?" he asked a guard.

The guard nodded.

"He left half an hour ago." He said blankly.

They’re gone. Ning Yunzhao looked not far away and saw that Jiulingtang’s carriages, horses and followers had indeed disappeared.

He rode towards Jiuling Hall without stopping. Although it was not a suitable time to go there, he had no time to choose the right time.

But when he saw him coming, Chen Qi was startled.

"Miss Jun hasn't come back yet." he said.

Didn't come back? Ning Yunzhao's expression changed immediately, and his heart dropped.

Oh no.

…

Oh no.

Miss Jun woke up slowly. Although her consciousness was still a little confused, the first thought that flashed through her mind was that it was bad.

Then she woke up with a start, and found that everything was dark, and her hands and feet were tied up.

Before she could adjust to the darkness, a cluster of firelight lit up, illuminating Lu Yunqi's porcelain-white face, which was very close.

She was lying on the bed, and he was squatting beside her, looking down, holding a fire twister in one hand and a dagger in the other.

"Jiuling." His voice was low and hoarse, with fire dancing in his eyes. "How did you hide in this person's body? Can I let you out?"