Too coincidental?
What does this mean? Madam Yu was slightly taken aback.
She thought of many words and reactions that the girl might have said.
A young unmarried woman, suddenly referred to as someone else's wife, shouldn't she be questioning, angry, aggrieved, or perhaps shy?
Of course, this woman was different from others, bold and uninhibited, with justice in her heart, perhaps just lightly smiling and commenting that a girl of Jianghu should not mind these trivial matters.
But she hadn't expected her to react just with this phrase, and her expression showed neither happiness, anger, sorrow, nor surprise, seemingly on the verge of laughter.
Not seemingly, she was indeed laughing.
Miss Jun lifted her sleeve to cover her mouth, her eyes crinkling, trying hard to hold it back, yet unable to resist, and turned her head, laughing even more.
Madam Yu watched her and did not get impatient due to her inexplicable reaction, but instead smiled slightly.
"How is it coincidental?" she asked.
Thinking about the coincidence brought some subtlety.
Miss Jun smiled looking at Madam Yu.
"The coincidence is in what Madam said," she said, "the coincidence is.."
She started laughing again at this point, covering her mouth with her hand.
The coincidence was that Zhu Zan almost said the same, and she had said it too.
Back then in the capital when Lu Yunqi pressured her, if Ning Yunzhao had not suddenly intervened, Zhu Zan would probably have declared their relationship as well.
Something like fiancée or something.
And later, when he met her, he grumpily asked how many husbands she had, and she answered him three.
"Three? Who else?"
She pursed her lips, smiling, her pointing finger directed towards him.
"You," she said.
Thinking of this, Miss Jun laughed again.
Madam Yu, not understanding or being clear about it, wasn't the slightest bit annoyed by Miss Jun's laughter, her expression stayed calm and serious.
"Madam Yu, I have never properly introduced myself," Miss Jun said, suppressing her laughter.
Madam Yu uttered an 'oh' sound.
"Miss Jun, as you wish," she said with a smile, "A hero does not ask about origins, I only request Miss Jun to do a task."
Just like her son, Zhu Zan was the same.
In the capital asking her to treat Prince Huai's illness, I don't care who you are, what your intentions are, I only need you to cure Prince Huai, and as long as you cure Prince Huai, I'll ensure your safety.
Miss Jun smiled quietly with her lips pursed.
"My family name is Jun, first name Jiuling," she said, looking at Madam Yu, "I wonder if Madam has heard of it?"
Miss Jun?
Madam Yu's expression abruptly changed, then quickly she looked at Miss Jun with surprise.
"So it's you," she said with a dawning smile, nodding with some admiration, "Truly a master healer, capable of healing the people of all generations."
This was in praise of her vaccination efforts. Miss Jun's eyes slightly shifted.
"Madam Yu, are you aware of my Jiuling Hall?" she asked.
Madam Yu nodded with a smile.
"Jiuling Hall's vaccination benefits the people, who in this world doesn't know, though I am in the remote northern lands, I have long heard of it," she said, "But I never expected to meet Miss Jun in such a way."
She too smiled as she spoke.
"Indeed, quite coincidental."
Miss Jun's eyes twinkled, she tilted her head slightly.
"Madam, is that all you know about me?" she asked, smiling wryly, "Is there anything else?"
Besides vaccination, has Zhu Zan never mentioned anything else about her? Even if Zhu Zan didn't, wouldn't a mother pay attention to news about her son?
In the capital, news about Zhu Zan would surely have some mention of her too.
At least because of her, Zhu Zan and Lu Yunqi's uproar in the capital was quite sensational, and the rumors were not very pleasant.
It seemed like Madam Yu genuinely didn't know.
Madam Yu appeared somewhat puzzled, pondering.
"I'm sorry, I really don't know anything else," she said candidly with a smile, "I've been a bit busy and rarely chitchat with others."
It seems he really hasn't mentioned it, Zhu Zan hasn't and Madam Yu hasn't inquired about her son's news either.
But for Zhu Zan, this was not really a big deal.
It was just a transaction, after all.
Miss Jun smiled wryly with pursed lips.
"I know the Princely Heir," she said directly.
Madam Yu was taken aback and uttered an "Oh."
"No wonder," she smiled, "I thought, Miss Jun knows me."
When she had revealed her identity at the beginning, she had wondered, because the girl's reaction was clearly one of recognition.
Miss Jun smiled and nodded.
"It's not exactly knowing; I have long admired the great name of the Duchess and the mother of the Princely Heir," she smiled.
Madam Yu looked at her and nodded again with a smile.
"Well, that really is a coincidence," she said.
Miss Jun also nodded with a smile.
"Since you know each other, I'll have to ask Miss Jun to take more responsibility for this matter," Madam Yu said, not bothering to ask how she knew Zhu Zan, as if it was completely irrelevant.
This matter? Is it about her claiming to be Zhu Zan's fiancee?
She was unaffected, but if Zhu Zan heard this news, who knows what his reaction would be?
Imagining the scene, Miss Jun couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.
"Of course, if it causes inconvenience to Miss Jun, please don't hesitate to say so. I will explain to everyone and ensure it doesn't delay Miss Jun or cause you any trouble," Madam Yu continued.
Miss Jun shook her head with a laugh.
"That's why I said, Madam, you really haven't heard my other news," she said, with a meaningful smile, "If being called someone else's fiancee and having a marital engagement is considered a delay and brings me trouble."
She stretched out her hand and showed Madam Yu three fingers.
"Then you and the Princely Heir can only rank third," she said.
Third place?
Does that mean she has already been someone else's fiancee twice?
Interesting, Madam Yu watched her, her expression not one of surprise, disdain, or confusion, but rather full of interest.
"Indeed, appearances can be deceiving," she laughed, settling into her chair and patting the armrest, "Come on, let's hear it."
...............…..
It was early spring, halfway through the first lunar month, but the further north from Daming Prefecture one went, the more desolate the landscape became.
The lands, once fertile, were now overgrown with weeds and the ground frozen, water dried up.
Many trees along the road were stripped of bark, clearly eaten by the famished passersby; the road was littered with groups of starving refugees, each looking panic-stricken and emaciated.
"Having left for less than a year, returning feels as if the world has changed," said a man with a husky voice.
The men following him had expressions of sorrow and anger.
An old man, resting on his tattered cover by the roadside, looked up upon hearing this. He had heard such lamentations frequently on his journey, though they usually came from officials, scholars, wealthy people, or military generals. These few men, dressed in tattered clothes, tied with grass ropes, their hair and beards unkempt, were no different from other refugees in physique, apart from their robust and muscular build.
"It's much better now," he coughed lightly and said, "Before, there were bodies of the starved scattered all along this road."
The group of men turned to look at him upon hearing this.
"Why is it much better now?" Asked one of them, his expression complex, "Is it because of the ceasefire?"
War brings suffering to the people, but this ceasefire was heartbreakingly painful.
The old man waved his hand.
"No, it's thanks to the Qingshan Army," he said, "The Qingshan Army distributed porridge along the way, saving many lives until they could reach the next town. Moreover, they also provided aid in the northern lands, so many refugees no longer had to travel long distances and could survive the winter locally."
Distributing porridge meant a chance for survival, while allowing people to stay put guaranteed their lives.
But...
"The Qingshan Army?" The man raised an eyebrow, "That impressive? This is the first I've heard of them."
Distributing porridge costs a lot of money; nowadays, even the military rations aren't fully supplied, ensuring people and horses are fed is already a struggle, let alone having surplus food and money for refugees.
And being able to persuade refugees to stay put was incredible.
Though peace was being discussed, ceding three territories meant the Jurchen people would be closer, instilling fear and unrest among the local populace, who would desperately want to flee inland.
It would require substantial credibility to calm the populace's unrest and encourage them to stay locally without fear.
Being able to achieve these two feats certainly qualified as impressive.
The old man got somewhat excited when talking about the Qingshan Army.
"Of course, they're impressive," he said eagerly, "That's the force of the Duke of Chengguo's heir's wife."
Who?
The group of men was stunned, and the one who asked the questions even looked as if he had seen a ghost.
"Who is this? Who is so shameless!" he exclaimed wide-eyed.