Chapter 121: Wicked Intent

Jun Jun Shuyan had been listless these past two days; she lay curled on a soft couch, absentmindedly poking charcoal into the brazier. As she dropped the charcoal into the heater, maid Qiuju went to fetch more, but Jun Jun Shuyan grabbed Zhou Zhou Yiniang and asked:

"Auntie, my heart is in a constant flutter. Second Sister suffered such grievous injuries; do you think she will surely be alright?"

Zhou Zhou Yiniang was equally worried; hearing this, her brows knitted slightly, yet she patted Jun Jun Shuyan's hand and softly comforted her:

"Second Young Lady is blessed by Heaven. With so many Imperial Physicians in the Palace, she will surely be fine. Besides, Second Young Lady is no ordinary woman; she is very determined and will surely be alright. Do not worry too much; look at you these past two days, you have grown a full size thinner."

Yet even as she spoke, she herself had no confidence.

Jun Jun Shuyan shook her head and said:

"Auntie, but I simply cannot rest easy. Second Sister has suffered such a great calamity; look at the faces of those in the manor. Few truly care for her, and the people of the Second Branch are openly gloating."

As she spoke, Jun Jun Shuyan's eyes turned red.

Zhou Zhou Yiniang sighed as well:

"Indeed. Do not think that because your Second Sister was radiant in the past, many would stand up for her if trouble arose. Even your father has not yet seen Second Sister's face. Let alone us; we can only worry in vain and offer no help. The people of the Second Branch will only be eager to strike the fallen."

"The people of the Second Branch are all wolves with ambitious hearts!" Jun Jun Shuyan pouted.

Zhou Zhou Yiniang scolded:

"Do not speak recklessly; walls have ears."

Zhou Zhou Yiniang looked around nervously. Jun Jun Zhihao knew martial arts; though no one had ever seen him use them, who knew if he might be hiding in some corner, spying.

Jun Jun Shuyan pouted her lips and muttered quietly:

"What I said is simply the truth."

Zhou Zhou Yiniang sighed and was about to persuade her further when a sound of footsteps came from outside.

At that moment, Qiuju entered carrying charcoal. Upon entering the door, she said to Jun Jun Shuyan:

"Young Lady, I heard the Palace sent news about Second Young Lady back to the Old Lady."

Hearing this, Jun Jun Shuyan immediately perked up and asked:

"Qiuju, how is my Second Sister?"

"I do not know the specifics," Qiuju said, shaking her head.

Jun Jun Shuyan grew anxious: "Go quickly to the Old Lady's courtyard to inquire."

"Forget it, I will go myself," Jun Jun Shuyan added immediately.

She instantly rose from the soft couch and hurriedly ran toward the Old Lady's courtyard.

Zhou Zhou Yiniang called out from behind: "Fourth Young Lady, do not rush; take the hand warmer."

But Jun Jun Shuyan had already run out, so Qiuju quickly chased after her, clutching the hand warmer.

Yet having just crossed two corridors, Jun Jun Shuyan's lips turned blue from the cold; only then did she remember she had forgotten to wear her cloak.

She shivered and told Qiuju: "I was too rushed when I came out and forgot to put on my cloak. Go back quickly to fetch it; I will wait for you here."

Qiuju, seeing her Young Lady run out, chased after her with the hand warmer, only to realize her Young Lady had not even brought her cloak out. In this ice and snow, the wind cut the face until it hurt; without a cloak, she certainly could not endure it.

Qiuju stamped her foot, answered with a sound, and hurriedly returned.

Jun Jun Shuyan stood alone under the corridor; beyond that was a lake, and the wind blowing over carried ice shards, making it even more bone-chillingly cold.

Jun Jun Shuyan huddled her body and walked to the corner of the corridor to avoid the wind.

On the other side, Jun Jun Zhidie was being punished by the Old Lady to Guicitang. Her face was iron-green all the way, her heart filled with both anger and fear. In such freezing weather, to punish her by kneeling at Guicitang and copying scriptures—was this not asking for her life?

She cursed the First Branch thoroughly in her heart; that old thing of the First Branch only protected the lowborn woman of the First Branch. She had merely spoken a few words against that lowborn woman and received such punishment.

Just wait; even if that lowborn woman did not die, she had heard the Crown Prince would not return this time. With that lowborn woman having lost her support, let us see how she acts arrogant.

Jun Jun Zhidie walked forward with her head down, thinking of these matters. At a corner, combined with the early darkness of winter, she crashed straight into Jun Jun Shuyan, who was hiding in the corner to avoid the wind.

Jun Jun Shuyan was knocked back several steps. She looked up, saw it was Jun Jun Zhidie, her brows knitted slightly, and was just about to step aside.

Who knew that Jun Jun Zhidie, still in a rage, raised her hand and slapped Jun Jun Shuyan across the face.

Jun Jun Shuyan covered her face, looking at Jun Jun Zhidie in disbelief, her eyes full of fury.

After striking, Jun Jun Zhidie was also a bit panicked, yet she still forced a calm demeanor and said: "You blocked my path and dare to glare at me."

Originally, Jun Jun Zhidie was in the wrong; having struck someone, she still spoke stubbornly. Jun Jun Shuyan would not stand for it:

"Jun Jun Zhidie, do you think you have the right to hit people?"

Jun Jun Zhidie's heart tightened, yet she spoke stubbornly:

"So what if I hit you? You think Seeing Jun Jun Zijin, that lowborn woman, protects you, but now she cannot even protect herself; whether she lives or not is unknown."

How could Jun Jun Shuyan bear to hear such words? Immediately, rage rose in her heart, her voice full of indignation:

"Jun Jun Zhidie, you dare curse my Second Sister! Let us go to Grandmother to judge this and see what she, the elder, has to say."

Hearing she wanted to find the Old Lady, Jun Jun Zhidie suddenly became afraid. That old thing was not her own grandmother; she always favored the First Branch and doted on Seeing Jun Jun Zijin, that lowborn woman, as if she were her own eyeball.

Just now, for cursing Seeing Jun Jun Zijin, she had been punished by that old death to kneel at Guicitang. Now, having cursed Seeing Jun Jun Zijin again and struck Jun Jun Shuyan, the old thing would certainly not let her off easily.

But now she was in a predicament she could not escape; she could only follow Jun Jun Shuyan toward the Old Lady's courtyard. All the way, Jun Jun Zhidie thought of various strategies, her palms covered in sweat.

The night grew deeper, the surrounding scenery became hazy, and only the stone path beneath their feet glowed faintly under the moonlight.

The two needed to cross a lake, pass a rockery, traverse two corridors, and go through a garden before reaching Jingzhu Courtyard.

Before long, the two arrived at the lakeside. A thin layer of ice still covered the lake surface.

Jun Jun Zhidie looked at the calm lake surface, and suddenly a wicked thought arose in her heart.

All the lowborn women of the First Branch should die; even Jun Jun Shuyan, a mere illegitimate daughter, dared to challenge her. Thinking this, her eyes turned fierce, staring at Jun Jun Shuyan as if she intended to burn holes through her.

Jun Jun Shuyan suddenly shivered, turned her head, and saw that Jun Jun Zhidie's eyes were full of murderous intent.

Jun Jun Shuyan's mind exploded with a buzz; realizing disaster was imminent, she turned to run, but she was several years younger, and though she wanted to run, it was already too late. She could only watch helplessly as Jun Jun Zhidie, with vicious intent, pushed her into the lake.

"Ah!" Jun Jun Shuyan could only let out a single scream before falling into the ice-cold lake. The freezing water instantly enveloped her; she struggled desperately but kept sinking. She wanted to cry for help, but as soon as she opened her mouth, ice water poured straight in.

Jun Jun Zhidie stood by the lake, her heart pounding. She looked around nervously, confirming no one noticed this spot, then sighed in relief. She cast a cold glance at Jun Jun Shuyan thrashing in the lake, turned, and hurriedly left the lakeside, running quickly toward her own courtyard.