The incident happened too fast. Even Ru Ning, right beside Yu Jun, failed to react in time.
She immediately tried to help, but in her panic, how could she manage?
Seeing Yu Jun being crushed down into the snow, the Third Prince Zhou Jin’s face changed drastically. He leaped down the steps: “Little Five!”
Behind him, the Second Prince also quickened his pace, descending the stairs.
Not far away, Yu Zhi turned back in surprise, watching this scene with astonishment.
Yu Jun lay on the ground. Fortunately, she had worn her wind hood, and there was snow beneath her. Even so, the fall left her somewhat dazed and dizzy.
With the motion, snow from the ground was thrown up, nearly blinding her eyes. The young man before her stared at her, his face frighteningly pale, his eyes faintly red-rimmed. He looked like a wolf that had darted out from the wilds to hunt, starved for too long, baring its teeth, utterly ferocious.
Yu Jun doubted her own eyes: “You…”
He panted heavily, his scorching breath rushing over her.
In that moment, Yu Jun almost believed that in the very next second, Zhou Zhi would unhesitatingly bite through her throat.
Luckily, Zhou Jin had already charged to their side. He grabbed Zhou Zhi fiercely: “Get off!”
The young man, however, held Yu Jun in a death grip, refusing to let go. When Zhou Jin pulled so forcefully, he ended up dragging Yu Jun along as well.
“Has this brat gone mad?!” Zhou Jin was furious, his voice cracking. He raised his fist to strike.
Ru Ning seized the chance to support Yu Jun, both shocked and panicked, scared out of her wits.
Thankfully, Zhou Xiao rushed over at this moment. He promptly stopped Zhou Jin: “Third Brother! Don’t be rash.”
“Second Brother, look at him…” Zhou Jin ground his teeth.
“Are you still not letting go?” Zhou Xiao grabbed Zhou Zhi’s hand. Suddenly his expression shifted. He exclaimed involuntarily: “He has a fever…”
Zhou Jin was stunned. He turned his head. Seeing Zhou Zhi’s eyes completely red, his face white as snow, he too suddenly drew a sharp breath: “This brat is sick?”
The personal eunuch attendants following the two princes rushed over. With great difficulty, they finally managed to pull Zhou Zhi away.
Two eunuchs carried Zhou Zhi and sent him to the Imperial Hospital. Zhou Jin supported Yu Jun, looking her up and down. Zhou Xiao also ordered an Imperial Physician to be summoned immediately.
The scene was chaotic, a bedlam of confusion.
Princess Yu Zhi had originally been about to leave. She hadn’t expected to witness such an entertaining spectacle.
Just now, she had watched Yu Jun get thrown to the ground. Then, because Zhou Jin was dragging Zhou Zhi, Yu Jun was pulled staggering this way and that. She looked just like a swan seized by a gyrfalcon, or a white rabbit being fought over by wild beasts—miserable and wretched. Yu Zhi could barely contain her laughter.
Still hindered by the presence of Zhou Xiao and Zhou Jin, she suppressed her mirth: “Really now, of all people he could choose to throw his arms around, he picks this one… Hmph… Truly, it’s karma. Who told her to be so universally adored usually? Well, now someone has come along to fiercely ‘adore’ her.”
Smugly, Princess Yu Zhi left swiftly, preparing to go spread the story to the Fourth Princess.
While everyone was clustered around Yu Jun in a flurry of activity, beneath the nearby corridor, Li Yin stood there silently, watching this scene from afar.
The girl in the snow-white fox fur had been helped up by the Third Prince. She seemed somewhat shaken, a trace of fear showing in her large, dark eyes.
But she still held herself steady, forcing a smile for everyone: “It’s nothing. I’m unharmed. Second Brother, there’s no need to summon a physician.”
Zhou Xiao said: “You fell so hard just now—there’s no guarantee you’re not injured. Let the physician check you over so we can be at ease.”
They first returned to the nearby study. Soon, the Imperial Physician arrived and checked Yu Jun’s pulse, saying: “Her Highness has been severely frightened. Just prescribe a dose of Nerve-Calming Powder.”
Zhou Jin asked: “She fell into the snowdrift. She couldn’t have hit her head or anything, could she?”
The physician asked Yu Jun if her head was dizzy, if anywhere hurt. Yu Jun only said “no.” The physician said: “It shouldn’t be likely.”
Just then, the Crown Prince hurried over upon hearing the news. As soon as he entered, he asked: “What happened? Is Little Five injured?”
Without waiting for anyone else, Zhou Jin explained everything himself, saying: “That brat truly doesn’t know his place… all of a sudden, like a madman, he just charged at Little Five…”
The Second Prince nudged his arm lightly: “Zhou Zhi seemed to have a fever. He’s already been sent to the Imperial Hospital. I wonder how he is now.”
Yu Jun, surrounded in the center, also added: “I’ve heard that people with a fever, if it burns too high, can become confused and lose their minds. Probably that’s what happened. But how long has he been sick, and why has no one cared for him?”
In her heart, she actually felt somewhat guilty. She wondered if her words, playing the villain, had provoked Zhou Zhi. He was ill, too—heaven forbid something bad happened.
The Crown Prince frowned: “You still have the heart to worry about others? The moment you saw him coming close, you should have dodged away. If he truly was delirious and hurt you, what then? Just wait—Imperial Father and Imperial Mother don’t know yet. Once they find out, there will be consequences.”
Yu Jun couldn’t help but say: “Brother Crown Prince, this really isn’t Zhou Zhi’s fault… Firstly, he was sick. Secondly, I didn’t recognize him at first and said some very unkind words. It was what I deserved.”
Before Zhou Xi could speak, Zhou Jin already shouted: “Nonsense! His being sick—well, no one could help that. But what do your words have to do with it? Stop always taking the blame upon yourself.”
The Second Prince Zhou Xiao also said: “Third Brother’s words hold some truth. It was merely a few jokes between siblings and kin. You’re often sharp-tongued with the rest of us. Have any of us ever done anything to you for it?”
Yu Jun smiled: “I know all my elder brothers indulge me. However… Zhou Zhi is younger than me…”
“He may be younger in age, but he’s still a male. This time, fortunately, you’re unharmed. If anything serious had happened to you, I don’t care if he was sick or not—I’d beat him to death first.” Zhou Jin uttered more harsh words.
“You’re speaking out of turn as well! Don’t say such things again. We’re all siblings—what’s all this talk of death and dying? Is that auspicious? If Imperial Father heard that, I fear you’d get a beating,” the Crown Prince rebuked.
Yu Jun stayed in the Imperial Study and drank a bowl of prepared Nerve-Calming Decoction. By this time, the Emperor and Empress had long since heard the news. His Majesty decreed that Princess Yu Jun was specially permitted to use a sedan chair when traveling and dispatched Imperial Physicians several times a day to check her pulse. The Empress personally came to the Imperial Study to see the situation and inquire about all the details.
News also came from the Imperial Hospital. It turned out Zhou Zhi had caught a severe cold, causing high fever which led to confusion, as if possessed by an evil devil.
Occasionally, he would even mutter phrases like “why harm me,” “why betray me”—causing the nearby physicians to tremble with fear.
The Empress had initially intended severe punishment. But since Zhou Zhi was ill, it became difficult to take action.
If they wanted to hold him accountable, they would have to wait until he recovered.
Yu Jun was kept by the Empress in the Phoenix Grace Palace for careful recuperation. Only after four or five days, once it was confirmed she was fully recovered, was she allowed to return to the Jade Splendor Palace.
As soon as she returned to her palace, Consort De, Consort Qi, and the others sent their head matrons bearing gifts—mainly tonics and such—to express their concern for Yu Jun.
Yu Jun, in turn, had Aunt Baohua bring gifts in return and go to each palace to express thanks on her behalf.
During her time in the Phoenix Grace Palace, the Crown Prince Zhou Xi had gone daily to pay respects to the Empress. Taking advantage of this, they met every day. The others didn’t have such convenience.
As soon as Yu Jun returned to the Phoenix Grace Palace, the Second Prince Zhou Xiao came to visit together with the Eldest Princess.
The Eldest Princess and Zhou Xiao were both born of Consort Qi. She had always been frail of health and had been raised within the palace, rarely venturing out. Otherwise, she would have been betrothed long ago, like the Second Princess.
For her to make a rare outing this time truly made Yu Jun feel both honored and startled.
The three sat down. Zhou Xiao said: “Third Brother hasn’t come looking for you, has he?”
Yu Jun shook her head. Zhou Xiao said: “I’m afraid he won’t be free to do so for some days.”
“What happened?”
“He, ah,” Zhou Xiao sighed: “He ran to the Palace of Eternal Harmony, slapped Yu Zhi hard, and smashed everything in her place. The palace servants were all terrified.”
Yu Jun was greatly alarmed: “How come I didn’t know?”
The Eldest Princess Zhou Hong said: “Imperial Mother was furious. Since it wasn’t exactly glorious, she strictly forbade anyone from spreading word. She almost severely punished Third Brother for this. Consort De knelt and pleaded before Imperial Father, and only then was he pardoned… But you can’t blame him entirely.”
Yu Jun caught a trace of something deeper: “Why did he go looking for trouble with Yu Zhi?”
It turned out that over the past few days, thanks to Yu Zhi’s efforts, the scandalous tale of Yu Jun being thrown into the snow and rolling around with that little prince from the Cold Palace had flown through all six palaces.
Zhou Jin was already holding a grudge from the last time Yu Zhi had made things difficult for Yu Jun. This time, Yu Jun had nearly been injured—how could he endure it? So he went to the Palace of Eternal Harmony and raised a huge ruckus, wreaking havoc in Yu Zhi’s palace until it looked like a battlefield.
Although Consort De begged, and the Empress didn’t punish him too severely, he still received two strikes with the board. Now he was in recovery, recuperating.
Yu Jun had been in the Central Palace those days. The Empress had restrained the servants—how could such talk ever reach her ears?
Yu Jun felt a mix of many emotions: “Third Brother really… hitting someone turned reason into unreason. His temper has truly grown more and more rash.”
Zhou Xiao glanced at her, understanding in his heart. If it were any other matter, Zhou Jin would naturally be composed and unruffled. But when it involved Yu Jun, and Yu Zhi was indeed infuriating… Actually, if Zhou Jin hadn’t acted first, the Second Prince himself had already thought of a way to deal with Yu Zhi. After Zhou Jin’s open, aboveboard strike, it actually became awkward for him to make a move.
The Eldest Princess, however, smiled: “You’re all upset at him for acting so rashly, but I think the Third Highness did very well.”
Both of them looked at her, puzzled. Zhou Hong said: “Inside this palace, it’s rare that the Third Highness still possesses such a sincere heart. Do you think he didn’t know the consequences of hitting Yu Zhi? Yet he was still willing to step forward. By openly striking Yu Zhi, from now on, those who love to gossip will be afraid.”
Zhou Xiao said: “Elder Princess, don’t say this in front of him, or else next time he’ll probably cause an even bigger calamity.”
Zhou Hong pursed her lips: “Have I gone mad? These words are only spoken privately between us three. Once out this door, if you say I said it, I certainly won’t admit to it.”
The two siblings sat for a while before rising to leave.
Yu Jun saw them off. She stood in the doorway, lost in thought, wondering whether Zhou Jin had been beaten severely. If he weren’t badly hurt, even with a limp, he’d surely come running here… Or perhaps Consort De was keeping a tight watch on him. She just hoped he wouldn’t act recklessly and cause trouble again.
Originally, after he fell ill from a single meal at her place, Yu Jun had intended to ignore him forever. But unexpectedly, things turned out this way. Every time she resolved to be detached, he would pop up and prod her again, making her feel as if she was the heartless one.
She was just about to send Little Shunzi to inquire when she saw a figure flicker near the palace gate. It looked somewhat familiar.
Suspecting whether Zhou Jin really had limped his way over, and worrying he might be afraid to enter, standing out in the wind where it would look even worse if seen by others, Yu Jun called out in that direction: “I’ve already spotted you! Aren’t you coming in?”
Outside the door, the silhouette shifted. The person revealed himself.
Yu Jun’s smile froze: “Why is it…”
It wasn’t Zhou Jin. It was the very culprit who had thrown her into the snow.
Perhaps it was a case of once bitten, twice shy. Seeing him step closer step by step, Yu Jun hurriedly retreated behind the door panel.
She wanted to call for help, but somehow the palace maids were nowhere to be seen.
There was no more noise outside. Yu Jun thought he had left. Cautiously, she peeked out, only to find Zhou Zhi had already climbed the steps.
He didn’t enter the door, just stood there quietly.
Their eyes met. Yu Jun felt the embarrassment of being caught red-handed: “You… what are you doing here?”