A cup of hot tea was placed beside her hand, interrupting Miss Jun's reverie.
Miss Jun exhaled and lifted her head to meet Liu'er's wide-eyed stare.
Both startled by their mutual gaze, they jumped slightly.
Miss Jun blinked her eyes.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Liu'er patted her chest.
"You were zoning out and talking to yourself for quite a while, it scared me," she said.
Miss Jun offered her a reassuring smile.
"It's nothing, I was just deep in thought," she replied.
Liu'er, naturally, didn't ask what it was about, nor did she think Miss Jun was feigning happiness. When Miss Jun said it was nothing, then it must be nothing. So she went back to happily fiddling with the toy in her hand.
Miss Jun glanced outside through the gauze window, where a cool breeze was blowing and the laughter of guards could be heard nearby.
After calming her thoughts for a moment, Miss Jun lowered her head and flipped backwards through the pages.
Thankfully, page seventeen wasn't a map, but it still made Miss Jun pause.
This page depicted a suit of armor, and eighteen kinds of weapons.
The armor was covered in rust spots as if long abandoned, and the weapons scattered behind it resembled phoenix wings, adding an inexplicable sense of menace to the decay.
What did this mean?
Her master was a scholar, well, that's what he claimed...
However, his behavior was often rough, and whether he was proficient in martial arts was unknown, but from several escapes and skirmishes she endured with him, it was clear he had some capability.
Moreover, he could make hidden weapons, though he used them to hold poisons, their craftsmanship was extremely intricate, beyond the reach of ordinary artisans.
Take her medicine chest for example, Manager Gao from Yangcheng had to search several workshops and craftsmen to make it, but it still paled in comparison to the one her master used.
Her master's chest remained intact even after falling down a cliff. She buried it with him.
Miss Jun touched the painted armor and flipped the page.
This one had neither drawings nor pictures, just a few words.
Fortunately, they weren't the incomprehensible words like those on the title page.
To dare is to live, to not is to die.
Miss Jun ran her fingers over the words.
They sounded full of vigor and valiance, yet it was odd to hear such words from her master who hated trouble and avoided conflicts.
Although it seemed nonsensical, these were her master's words, and Miss Jun repeated them silently in her heart.
Now, she felt the same way— to dare is to live, to not is to die.
At that moment, it was as if she was once again listening to her master's teachings.
Miss Jun reflected quietly.
How joyful it was to once again heed her master's teachings.
Lost in thought, she flipped this page, and the next moment her eyes widened in shock.
It was another picture.
Not a map or armor, but an Array Map.
The layout of the troops was geometric, points and lines representing soldiers, arranged like the eight trigrams of the I Ching. At a glance, it appeared as if real soldiers were emerging, wielding swords and spears.
Kill!
A murderous aura assaulted her.
Miss Jun felt a numbing sensation all over and abruptly snapped the handwritten notes shut.
Was this an Array Map, a military book?
First there was the map, then the armor, followed by a bloodthirsty proclamation, and now troop formations.
Were these the notes of a doctor, a divine healer?
They had nothing to do with medical skills.
Who exactly was her master?
She recalled what Mr. Gu had mentioned, that he was a man of great talent, worthy of the title 'Master.'
Putting aside whether he was truly talented or not, Mr. Gu never referred to her master with any title related to being a doctor or divine healer, but simply as 'Master.'
Before her eyes appeared the man's parting smile.
"I was never really a doctor."
He was not a doctor to begin with.
Indeed, he truly was not a doctor.
Miss Jun stared at this thick, yellowed collection of handwritten notes, feeling as if she were facing a stranger.
Who in the world was he? Was Zhang Qingshan really his name?
As dusk fell, the carriage stopped in front of a relay station.
Miss Jun put the handwritten notes from the small table into the compartment of the medicine chest.
Ever since she saw the combination of the military formations, she hadn't opened it again, firstly because they were travelling on a bumpy official road that was difficult to traverse, and secondly because she wanted to calm her disturbed emotions for a moment.
"Miss Jun!"
Upon seeing the relay pass handed over by Seventh Chen, the relay station deputy blurted out in surprise, and his voice fluctuated with amazement.
This reaction was something Seventh Chen had grown accustomed to on their journey.
"Ah right, you can call out now..." he said languidly.
Before he could finish, the relay station deputy was already looking to the back.
"Come quick, it's Miss Jun, it's the divine doctor who provides vaccinations, Miss Jun is here!" he shouted excitedly.
Hearing this call, the people from inside the relay station surged out. Seeing Miss Jun alighting from the carriage, the crowd eagerly gathered around her, with some thanking her and others inquiring about vaccination matters, creating a lively scene in front of the relay station.
Seventh Chen and the guards were used to this by now. Leaving a few to protect Miss Jun, Seventh Chen took his men to settle the horses and carriages, picked a room for themselves, and chose some food from the kitchen. By the time Miss Jun emerged from the crowd at the relay station, the night had already set in, and the food had been arranged on the table.
Meanwhile, at the Ning Family residence in Beiliu to the north of Yangcheng, the congratulatory friends and relatives had dispersed, and the Eldest Master Ning's family could finally sit down.
The courtyard was brightly lit, and maidservants and maids were all smiling as they brought in the food.
However, the Eldest Master Ning's family was not in the hall.
Eldest Madam Ning sat in the room, twirling her Buddhist beads, her face still wearing a smile as if she was still surrounded by friends and relatives, but the maidservants standing by her side all bowed their heads, their expressions one of trembling fear.
"Mother," Ning Yunyan hesitated for a moment, "Why don't you eat something? Uncle and father will surely talk for a while yet."
"I'm not eating," Eldest Madam Ning said bluntly, still smiling, but her eyes were cold as ice, "I fear that what I eat now, I might vomit out later."
Ning Yunyan dared not persuade her further. Ever since learning of Ning Yunzhao's top scholar title and the subsequent announcement of his engagement to Jun Zhenzhen, Eldest Madam Ning had fainted and been bedridden for two days. As everyone waited anxiously, thinking Eldest Madam Ning might stay in bed until Ning Yunzhao returned, she got up on the third day. Not only did she recover as usual, but she also continued to meet the congratulating friends and relatives.
At this time, the news of Ning Yunzhao and Miss Jun publicly announcing their engagement had already spread far and wide, and the focus of the congratulating visitors was no longer on Ning Yunzhao's top scholar status, but on the marriage to Miss Jun.
Everyone who came mentioned this matter.
What made it even more infuriating was that it seemed as if everyone knew of Eldest Madam Ning's temper and didn't wish to, nor dared to, display their disappointment about this union – every visitor was full of praises and envy.
Such comments as "This is really wonderful," "A Golden Boy and Jade Girl matched perfectly from heaven."
"Miss Jun is wealthy and talented."
"Having this divine doctor at home, no evil spirits dare to invade."
"From now on, we trust Miss Jun to care for us numerous times."
Ning Yunyan nearly fainted several times when listening to these comments, yet Eldest Madam Ning was still able to maintain her smile.
Of course, once she was away from the public eye, she would be so upset that she couldn't eat a bite and kept retching.
"Mother, you don't have to push yourself like this anymore, let's not meet with anyone," Ning Yunyan urged, both angry and anxious.
But Eldest Madam Ning shook her head in refusal.
"This joyous occasion of my son becoming the top scholar, his untarnished reputation – I will not allow others to joke about him," she declared. "I also believe my son must have his reasons for this decision, that it was against his will. Until I see Ning Yunzhao, I will not ruin his dignity; I will never cause trouble for him. If I don't stand up for my son, who will?"
Eldest Madam Ning had been holding out until now, having lost weight, but her spirit had remained strong.
This strong spirit was merely sustained by sheer willpower. Ning Yunyan knew that if Ning Yunzhao came back and said the marriage was a misunderstanding it would be one thing, but if not...
Ning Yunyan clenched her fists.
That's impossible, how could it be?
How could brother take a liking to that cheap slut Jun Zhenzhen?
What's so good about that cheap slut Jun Zhenzhen? She's just a bit prettier.
My brother hasn't seen beautiful women before, nor is he the type to lose his head over one.
It must be Jun Zhenzhen who seduced him.
I knew there was a purpose behind Jun Zhenzhen going to the capital; she has indeed climbed up the social ladder by hooking up with my brother.
That's not right, my brother isn't the kind of man to be seduced by a woman.
Jun Zhenzhen must have used the imperial decree to force the engagement, having nothing before and now just a marriage document from a bureaucratic family to act arrogantly. And with the imperial decree to back her vaccination work, she must think she can rule the skies.
As she was lost in her frantic thoughts, footsteps approached from outside.
"The Master and the Young Master are here." The maidservant's report followed.
Ning Yunyan tensed up, feeling a mix of joy and more nervousness as she looked toward the doorway.