Chapter 109: Didn't Take Medicine Again

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin returned to the Jun Manor utterly exhausted, only to run straight into Li Shi and Jun Jun Zhidie, as if that mother and daughter had been waiting for her on purpose. The moment Seeing Jun Jun Zijin appeared, Li Shi wore a smirk on her face, her tone laced with mockery as her gaze swept over Seeing Jun Jun Zijin:

"Oh, so the second daughter has finally returned. With you never coming home day or night, the Jun Manor's reputation is surely ruined. On such a snowy day, standing on the city wall blowing in the wind, do take care not to freeze yourself. If you fall ill, the Jun Manor cannot bear that responsibility."

Facing Li Shi's provocation, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin glanced at her indifferently, said nothing, and walked straight toward her own courtyard. Li Shi had not taken her medicine again today; Seeing Jun Jun Zijin felt troubled in her heart and did not wish to waste more words on them.

Jun Jun Zhidie, however, had no intention of giving up. She hurried after Seeing Jun Jun Zijin, blocking her path, and spoke with feigned concern:

"Second Sister, do not be too heartbroken. In this ice and snow, with Crown Prince having gone off, his life or death is unknown; you must take care of your health. If... if he truly does not return, the Jun Manor will not treat you poorly."

This mother and daughter sang in harmony, saying "our Jun Manor" again and again, as if the Jun Manor were already the property of her second branch.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin sneered inwardly, stopped her steps, and looked at her coldly:

"Third Sister, what do you mean by that?"

Jun Jun Zhidie was stunned by Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's icy gaze, then blinked innocently and said:

"Second Sister, do not misunderstand; I am only concerned for you. After all, Crown Prince is your fiancé; if something happens to him, you must feel terrible. I only wish to remind you to prepare for everything, so that when the time comes..."

Quan Quan Aoyu had set out for the Northern Frontier today; apparently this mother and daughter were convinced she would definitely become a widow, and could not wait to jump out and seek trouble.

Before Jun Jun Zhidie finished speaking, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin turned to Guazi beside her and said:

"Guazi, slap her mouth." Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's voice was cold, her tone carrying an authority that brooked no refusal.

Everyone has a forbidden scale; here, her grandmother and Quan Quan Aoyu were her forbidden scales.

Guazi, standing nearby, immediately stepped forward and raised her hand for a slap; the crisp sound echoed under the corridor. Guazi had already been angered by Jun Jun Zhidie's loose tongue; she possessed martial skills, and with that single slap, Jun Jun Zhidie spun three times on the spot, her face instantly swelling red.

Jun Jun Zhidie clutched her face, her eyes filled with disbelief:

"You... you dare hit me? I will definitely tell Second Master."

"What if I hit you?" Seeing Jun Jun Zijin looked at her coldly. "If you dare speak nonsense again, do not blame me for being impolite."

Seeing this, Li Shi's face immediately darkened: "Second Daughter, what is this attitude? Jun Zhidie was only concerned for you. Now that you are a Princess, can you hit people at will? How many days have you been a Princess, and what is so impressive about that?"

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin turned, her gaze piercing Li Shi like a blade: "Second Lady, I respect you as an elder, but if you continue to indulge Third Sister's nonsense, do not blame me for disregarding family ties. Crown Prince has gone to the Northern Frontier to serve the country, yet you curse him here; what is your intention?"

Li Shi was cowed by her momentum and was momentarily speechless. Jun Jun Zhidie clutched her face, a flash of malice passing through her eyes, but she dared not speak again.

"Furthermore, since Second Lady remembers I am a Princess, when you see me in the future, how you should pay respects, I suppose I need not teach you?" Seeing Jun Jun Zijin raised an eyebrow and said.

Some crooked trees, left uncorrected for too long, will not straighten unless forced.

Li Shi and Jun Jun Zhidie exchanged glances. Li Shi was usually loud and boisterous, but she was not stupid; no matter how much trouble she caused before, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin had always called her "Second Aunt." Today, left with "Second Lady" and right with "Second Lady," she was just short of calling her "Li Shi" directly. Seeing Jun Jun Zijin had never used her status as a Princess to suppress others; today she actually used her Princess status to press down. Li Shi knew this time she had truly angered her, so she quietly pulled Jun Jun Zhidie, who was about to speak again.

Though both felt dissatisfied in their hearts, they dared not act out further. The mother and daughter lowered their heads and retreated to the side.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin glanced at the mother and daughter once more, ignored them, and walked straight toward her own courtyard.

The moment she stepped through the courtyard gate, she saw Nanny Zhou smiling as she came forward to greet her:

"Young Lady, you must be exhausted, right? The Old Lady made soup for you and instructed this old servant to bring it over; it is still hot, so please taste it quickly. The Old Lady said that after you drink the soup to warm your body, you should rest well in your own courtyard."

A warm current surged in Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's heart as she asked, "How has Grandmother been these past few days?"

"The Old Lady is only worried about you; just the day before yesterday, Second Lady made a scene before the Old Lady over firewood... but do not worry, the Old Lady's spirits are much better today."

Nanny Zhou thought for a moment and recounted the incident of Li Shi causing trouble at Jingzhu Courtyard.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin frowned tightly and said:

"Nanny Zhou, from now on, if the second branch again acts ungratefully and causes trouble before Grandmother, whoever it is, throw them out directly."

After speaking, she turned to Miss Huasheng and said, "Miss Huasheng, go attend to the Old Lady; if anyone offends her, do not be polite; if anything happens, I will take responsibility. Additionally, I am leaving Jingcheng; your lightness skill is good and your pace is fast; if there is any matter in Jingcheng, come find me immediately."

Back in her own courtyard, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin pushed open the door; the charcoal fire inside burned brightly, and warmth rushed to meet her. She removed her cloak, sat by the window, and gazed at the snowy scene outside. The words of Li Shi and Jun Jun Zhidie were like a thorn stuck in her heart.

"Young Lady, have a cup of hot tea," Guazi said softly as she entered carrying a cup of hot tea.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin took the tea, sipped it lightly; the fragrance of the tea filled her mouth, yet it could not dispel the chill in her heart.

Now that Hanxiao and Miaozhu had been learning from Xiaohe and Nanny Dong for some time, with the four of them managing the shops and workshops, processing medicine, and sewing down jackets, there was no problem.

With Nanny Xu and Nanny Chen, sent by Quan Quan Aoyu, managing the courtyard, she felt very reassured. On the Old Lady's side, Miss Huasheng was attending. As long as nothing unexpected happened, she need not worry about Jingcheng.

She still had many things to do; she had selected 3,000 soldiers from the Divine Arm Camp to form the Divine Arrow Team. She had promised Quan Quan Aoyu to train this Divine Arrow Team into true divine archers. Before she could conduct systematic training, he had set out for the Northern Frontier. She must return to the military camp again; time was pressing. Originally, she planned to train the Divine Arrow Team in one month. Now, with border warfare raging, smoke filling the air, the war situation tightening, and the winds of change in Jingcheng with undercurrents surging, there probably would not be that much time left for her.

By evening, the snow finally lessened, and Seeing Jun Jun Zijin felt slightly relieved. She spoke to herself:

"If the snow continues to fall like this, let alone Quan Quan Aoyu's great army facing even greater hardships in marching, the army escorting grain supplies will likely be delayed, making the battle in the Northern Frontier even more difficult."

After arranging matters in Jingcheng, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin rushed to the military camp overnight. Though her heart was full of concern, the military affairs were urgent and allowed her no time to linger.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin proceeded with all matters in an orderly fashion.

The moment Seeing Jun Jun Zijin left, trouble erupted again at the Jun Manor.