You trust me.
This sentence seems to have no beginning or end.
She was talking about being able to kill herself, while he responded that she trusts him.
Lu Yunqi looked at her.
Miss Jun looked at him.
Others couldn't understand, but they both knew what the other meant.
To threaten someone with death, you can only affect those who care about you.
So, she knew and believed he cared about her, loved her, and would never hurt her.
She knew his feelings completely.
"These are two different matters," Miss Jun looked at him, her expression indifferent, "These are your matters, unrelated to me."
Your feelings are yours, they are your own willingness, being threatened out of reluctance is also your own matter, your own choice, your own difficulty, unrelated to others.
Lu Yunqi nodded.
"Yes," he said, "I am willing."
Miss Jun pressed the long sword against her neck again, slightly raising her head so he could see the faint blood mark on her skin.
"Move aside," she said, stepping forward.
Lu Yunqi looked at her.
She walked towards him step by step.
"You are formidable, but don't think you can stop me," she said, "I can't kill you, but I have countless ways to kill myself."
Princess Jiuli followed her, cautiously trying to stop her but then halted, only looking at her tearfully.
Lu Yunqi stood still.
"I know," he said, paused for a moment, "How about this, let's leave the capital first, then I won't keep you locked up."
Miss Jun smiled.
"I will not leave the capital," she said.
"I know," Lu Yunqi said.
Now he knew why she made a name for herself and stood firmly in the capital back then.
"But now the situation is different," he continued.
"Precisely because of the current situation," Miss Jun interrupted him, word by word, "I won't leave, absolutely won't."
She was much closer now, standing in front of Lu Yunqi, appearing smaller in stature, but perhaps it was the slightly raised chin, or perhaps it was her gaze, making it seem as if she were looking down on him.
"The descendants of the Chu Family, even if captured, will never abandon their country and people to escape."
Her lips moved slightly with silent words.
"Cowards don't deserve the Chu name."
Lu Yunqi looked at her silently.
"Move aside," Miss Jun said again.
Lu Yunqi remained silent, some Jinyiwei rushed in from outside, unusually not disturbing Lu Yunqi's actions, whispered a few words urgently.
After listening, Lu Yunqi remained silent, still looking at Miss Jun, while the Jinyiwei did not retreat but urged him with their gaze.
Miss Jun looked at him, her hand flipped slightly again, fine red dots like love beans burst out on her white neck.
"Alright," Lu Yunqi said almost simultaneously, then turned around.
The Jinyiwei surrounding him followed suit, their scarlet cloaks fluttering and boots clattering as they quickly left.
Miss Jun stood there with the sword in her hand, somewhat in disbelief.
Princess Jiuli also seemed stunned but then looked at Miss Jun's neck.
"First, put it down?" she muttered.
There was no pleading or panic, just a question.
Did he really agree? Miss Jun looked ahead, Lu Yunqi and his people had disappeared, or was there some conspiracy outside?
Princess Jiuli also looked.
"I'll go have a look first," she suddenly said and started walking outside.
"No need," Miss Jun stopped her, removed the sword from her neck but still held it tightly in her hand, "They should be gone, the emperor can't wait for him."
The emperor?
Princess Jiuli looked at Miss Jun.
Miss Jun also looked at her.
"The Jurchen people have attacked," she said.
Princess Jiuli looked surprised.
"How..." she blurted but then swallowed the rest of her words, turning them into a sigh.
"The emperor is going to run," Miss Jun continued.
This time Princess Jiuli was not surprised, instead she smiled.
"Oh," she said.
Miss Jun looked at her.
"I will not leave," she said.
Princess Jiuli looked at her and nodded.
"Hmm," she said, then added, "I won't leave either."
It seemed they had many things to say now, but as they looked into each other's eyes, it felt like nothing needed to be said.
Now was not the time for words.
Miss Jun took a deep breath.
"Let's go," she said, holding the sword, and headed outside.
Princess Jiuli followed behind her, watching her carefully and just looking at her.
Outside in the courtyard, the servants were still there, startled to see Miss Jun with a sword, but no one shouted or came forward to ask, this was their long-standing habit.
Miss Jun walked through unhindered, all the Jinyiwei had disappeared, the gate was right ahead.
"Open the gate," she said.
The servants at the gate did not hesitate for a moment, nor did they question who this stranger was, but immediately opened the gate.
The Lu Mansion seemed to turn into a place where everyone could freely enter and exit.
Lu Yunqi had left, escorting the emperor away.
Miss Jun gripped her sword and turned to look at Princess Jiuli.
Princess Jiuli kept looking at her, their eyes met, she smiled at her, her eyes shimmering with tears.
"Stay at home and lock the door," Miss Jun said, "Don't be afraid."
Princess Jiuli smiled and shook her head.
"I'm not afraid," she said.
Miss Jun nodded at her.
"I'm going outside to see, and think of a way," she said.
Princess Jiuli looked at her.
Outside, the Jurchen people were about to invade, would she go to see and think of a way to deal with them?
Just her, holding this sword?
Just her, facing the Jurchen army alone?
Like the time before, when she went for revenge?
Back then she went and never returned, what about this time...
Princess Jiuli looked at her, straightening her back.
"Okay," she said, "You, go ahead."
Miss Jun turned and walked away, then quickly turned back and stepped forward to hug Princess Jiuli.
"I'm going," she said, gently bumping her head against Princess Jiuli's shoulder, released her without waiting for Princess Jiuli's reaction, and ran outside.
She ran out without looking back.
Princess Jiuli's tears finally fell.
She finally saw her lost sister again, but they hadn't exchanged a word, she hadn't even called her sister.
Could she return this time?
She must return.
She watched the woman's back as she strode away, wanting to loudly remind her, wanting her promise.
You must return.
"You go," but she ultimately only said.
She spoke those words when Miss Jun had already walked out of sight, but she still said them.
"You go," she nodded said again, her hands folded in front of her, her expression restored to composure, her posture straight and dignified.
......
.......
Miss Jun ran out onto the street, which was bustling in daylight, and although there was now more tension than before, it was still lively and prosperous, without chaos and panic.
The news hadn't spread yet.
Miss Jun bit her lip and dashed through the crowd on the street.
The atmosphere in Qingzheng Hall at the imperial palace, however, was tense and strange.
Once having many accompanying eunuchs, the hall now had only a few people, including Yuan Bao, who hadn't been seen for a long time.
"Hurry up," he urged in a low voice.
A few eunuchs were nervously sorting out the items in Qingzheng Hall.
With a squeak, the door opened, startling the eunuchs, one even cried out.
Yuan Bao was also startled, but when he saw it was a young official, he angrily kicked the eunuch.
"Why are you shouting?" he scolded in a low voice, "Is Lord Ning a ghost? Shouting out loud."
Ning Yunzhao wasn't a ghost and wasn't bothered by Yuan Bao's rude words.
"Eunuch Yuan, are you done?" he said softly, nodding slightly towards the outside, "His Majesty calls for you."
Yuan Bao responded hurriedly and was about to leave, then stopped and glanced inside.
"But what about here..." he hesitated to say.
"I'll watch," Ning Yunzhao said promptly, nodding solemnly, "Rest assured, Eunuch Yuan."