The Duke's Mansion was originally the royal palace of the previous dynasty. It was awarded to Duke Cheng and then renovated. Although it has been almost uninhabited for many years, it is still well maintained.
The trees are tall and towering, and although the houses are a bit old, they are clean and tidy, without any smell of decay.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Zhu Zan said, looking at Miss Jun who didn't enter the house but looked around, "You've never seen such a big yard, right?"
I thought of something and got closer to her.
"As long as we can part ways amicably, you can come to my house anytime in the future, how about that?"
The so-called amicable parting, naturally she still had the title of the Crown Prince's wife in mind, Miss Jun smiled.
"Zhu Zan," she said, looking very serious, "then you can compliment me and make me happy."
Exaggeration?
"You're exaggerating. I'm really not that experienced." Zhu Zan stroked his chin and frowned, saying, "After all, there are very few people as good as me."
Miss Jun laughed.
"But you look very pretty when you smile." Zhu Zan said immediately, as if he had discovered something. "Your smile is as bright and shining as the sun, like a hundred flowers blooming, which is pleasing to the eyes."
Miss Jun raised her sleeves to cover her mouth.
"Well, you look good like this now, too, so gentle and charming. You've taken off your crude... ahem, bold appearance and shown your true nature." Zhu Zan continued.
Miss Jun nodded, her eyes smiling.
"Besides my looks, I also have talent," she said.
Zhu Zan shook his head.
"You are too modest." He said, "You are not only talented, but also brave and resourceful. Many men are not as good as you."
Miss Jun laughed again.
The laughter echoed in the yard, making the originally empty world lively and bustling.
The servants standing behind also smiled.
"What are they doing?" a servant asked in a low voice.
After entering the door, he did not go into the house, but walked slowly in the yard. At this time, he was standing under the tree in front of the hall, chatting and laughing.
"The prince is saying sweet words to Miss Jun." An elderly maid said with a sigh, "I never thought the prince would say sweet words. He must have met someone he likes."
Looking at the cheerful woman laughing with her hands covering her mouth under the big tree, and then at the tall man with a focused expression, the servants all nodded with satisfaction.
"It can be said that lovers finally get married."
"I guessed it when it was said that the prince stopped Lu Qianhu from smashing the plaque of Jiuling Hall."
"You're talking nonsense. That's not what you said at the time."
"I just didn't tell the truth. Sometimes you can't tell the truth."
At this time, Miss Jun also asked this question.
"Is this true or false?" She looked at Zhu Zan and asked, "Am I really that good?"
"Of course it's true. If I say you're so good, it's a lie. Doesn't that mean I'm blind?" Zhu Zan sneered, "Am I that kind of person?"
Miss Jun laughed.
"Yes, you are not that kind of person." She said, and then smiled, "So, I am so good, why are you so unhappy to be the wife of the prince?"
I went through so much trouble to coax him into saying nice things, just for this one sentence!
This dishonest person!
Zhu Zan pointed at her.
"Jun Jiuling, if you play tricks on me like this again, I will get angry." He said with raised eyebrows and gritted teeth.
Miss Jun said "Oh".
"Turn it over," she said, with a hint of curiosity, "Turn one over so I can see it."
Zhu Zan's eyebrows twitched, and just as he was about to say something, a series of shouts came from behind him.
"The Duke is back!"
Zhu Zan and Miss Jun both turned around and saw Duke Cheng approaching slowly.
"What are you talking about so happily?" He said with a smile, "Why don't you go inside?"
Zhu Zan immediately went to meet him.
"Dad..." he shouted, raising his voice with a hint of grievance, "She..."
Duke Cheng nodded to him and continued to look at Miss Jun.
"I don't know if you're used to it. I haven't lived here for a long time," he said.
Miss Jun nodded with a smile.
"It's pretty good." She said, "The layout of the Duke's Mansion is good, and it has been well maintained over the years. It's very comfortable. I like it very much."
The royal grandfather was really generous to Duke Cheng. This place was originally intended to be the prince's residence. One can imagine the specifications of the prince's residence, which can be compared with the royal palace. So when Miss Jun came here, she felt somewhat familiar. This familiarity made her feel comfortable and a little sad.
Zhu Zan's coughing sound was heard.
"Dad, what do you think of what happened just now?" he said, "The people and things I arranged, the timing..."
Duke Cheng nodded and smiled at him.
"You did a good job." He said, praising her, but also interrupting her conversation, and looking at Miss Jun again, "My wife will not be here for some time, Miss Jun, please make yourself at home here."
Miss Jun smiled and said yes.
"Dad, you don't have to be polite. It's up to you if you don't say anything to her." Zhu Zan hummed beside him.
"Zan'er, go and see how Miss Jun's accommodation is arranged." Duke Cheng looked at him and said in a gentle voice.
"Why should I go?" Zhu Zan said.
"There are only two of us in our family. Do you want me to go?" Duke Cheng said.
Zhu Zan immediately lost his temper and walked back kicking and fighting. Then he saw Duke Cheng extending his hand to invite Miss Jun.
"...Who is Miss Jun going to pick up?" he asked.
"It's my master's wife and others." Miss Jun replied and followed him to the hall.
"If there's anything I can help you with, Miss Jun, please just let me know," said Duke Cheng.
Hearing this, Zhu Zan sneered again.
This woman is so powerful, how can she help? She even brought tens of thousands of refugees from the north here without anyone noticing. This matter is just a small matter. My father is really something. He keeps asking questions about such a small matter. What he just did is a big deal, okay? He dismissed her without even asking any questions.
"My Lord, Miss Jun's residence is located in Zuiyue Tower next to Madam's. Please take a look..." the servant beside her reminded in a low voice.
"What about the arrangements for Zuiyue Tower? That's where I live." Zhu Zan glared and walked away in a hurry.
Not only did they rob my mother and my father, they are now trying to take away my place to live. This is really intolerable.
…
The night shrouded the capital city. Too much excitement happened that day, making the people of the capital tired and excited. The night market was more bustling than usual.
However, in the Huang family mansion, although the lights were bright, it was dead silent. The singing girls and beautiful maids were nowhere to be seen, and the servants came and went in a hurry, holding their breath and lowering their heads.
Huang Cheng was lying on his side in the study, while his staff in front of him lowered their heads and handed him documents.
"So, it cost a lot of money to send those refugees here." Huang Cheng said with his eyes closed.
"At least several hundred thousand taels of silver," said an aide. "In addition to food and drink on the way, it is said that everyone also received a hard work fee."
Huang Cheng coughed and laughed, opened his eyes and sat up, wiping his cheek intentionally or unintentionally, where the rotten fruit had hit him during the day.
Although he had already washed it, he unconsciously wanted to wipe it off, reminding himself of the humiliation he had suffered today.
"In the end, it all depends on money." He said, with a smile in his eyes, but a cold look, "I thought I was popular."
“They are no different from those instigated by merchants, except that they have more money and spend more,” said an aide.
Huang Cheng looked at the pile of documents on the table.
"The old saying is right. If people have money, they tend to become bad." He opened a piece of paper and tapped the three words "De Sheng Chang" on it. "Bad people should be eliminated, otherwise the world will be in chaos."