Chapter 124: How Much Is Family Worth?

Jun Jun Yiyi had not expected that her good intentions in coming to see him would result in hearing the first words Jun Chengcai spoke upon waking be a question about someone else's well-being. Lately, Jun Jun Yiyi had been brimming with resentment, yet with Xiang Xiang Junzheng still present, she still held some reservations; thus, she gritted her teeth, suppressed her anger slightly, and spoke in a sarcastic tone:

"Brother, you are indeed kind-hearted, worrying about others the moment you wake up."

Jun Chengcai frowned, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He glanced at Jun Jun Yiyi and said in a slow voice:

"I was merely concerned for Fourth Sister's safety; after all, the situation was critical at the time."

Jun Jun Yiyi's anger flared up instantly, completely forgetting her reservations regarding Xiang Xiang Junzheng. She snorted coldly:

"You are letting concern cloud your judgment. They have already summoned the best Physician in Jingcheng; where is the need for your such worry!"

Hearing Jun Jun Yiyi's words, Jun Chengcai felt somewhat displeased:

"Jun Yiyi, do not be so sharp-tongued and cruel. Fourth Sister was also in a perilous situation; anyone who saw it would not have ignored it."

Jun Jun Yiyi was so angry her face turned red:

"Brother, you side with her everywhere. Does that mean I, your own sister, am worth nothing in your eyes?"

Jun Chengcai's brows tightened, and he did not wish to speak further.

Xiang Xiang Junzheng felt increasingly disappointed in his eldest daughter, whom he had once placed high hopes in and doted on, while his approval of Jun Chengcai, whom he had previously disliked, grew a few degrees. Looking at Jun Jun Yiyi, he scolded:

"Enough, stop quarreling. Chengcai has just woken and needs quiet rest. Eldest Daughter, return to your courtyard; do not come out to cause trouble unless summoned."

Jun Jun Yiyi trembled with rage all over; everyone was bullying her. Yet under Xiang Xiang Junzheng's stern gaze, she had to suppress her anger. She glared coldly at Jun Chengcai once, turned to leave, and as she closed the door, she let out a heavy snort.

Jun Chengcai was now out of danger, while on the other side, Jun Jun Shuyan in Qinxin Garden remained unconscious.

The medicinal soup was fed in only to be vomited out again; her breath was so faint it was barely perceptible. The servants were frantic, pacing in circles, yet helpless; they could only wipe the cold sweat from her forehead again and again, whispering prayers.

They summoned the most renowned physician in Jingcheng. The physician frowned deeply, placed his fingers on her pulse, and his demeanor was solemn. After pondering for a moment, he ordered: "Hurry and fetch some mugwort, and prepare some hot water; you must ensure her body warms up." The servants immediately complied, yet Jun Jun Shuyan's breath remained faint, as if it might cease at any moment. After much struggle, the physician shook his head, sighed, and said to the old lady sitting in the primary seat with a face full of worry:

"This old man has done his utmost. It seems the Young Lady was terrified and soaked in the lake water for too long. Her pulse is extremely weak; she may not survive the night."

Upon hearing this, the Old Lady's body swayed, tears welling in her eyes. But at this moment, she could not collapse.

"Hurry and summon the Master," the Old Lady ordered.

Seeing Jun Jun Shuyan in such a state, Zhou Zhou Yiniang nearly collapsed, bursting into loud weeping.

"Old Lady, I beg you, save Fourth Young Lady. I beg the Old Lady to go and fetch Second Young Lady back to examine Fourth Young Lady."

Zhou Zhou Yiniang knelt before the Old Lady, kowtowing incessantly; blood seeped from her forehead, her voice shrill and desperate.

The Old Lady hesitated, her brows tightly furrowed, her heart in turmoil.

Looking at Fourth Daughter, who lay on the bed on her last breath, her heart was as if cut by a knife. Yet Second Daughter had been injured while saving the Empress; moreover, she was still recovering in the palace. Even Xiang Xiang Junzheng had been blocked by the Emperor when he went to visit; how could she easily leave the palace?

Just when everyone had no ideas, a small maid rushed in hurriedly, "Old Lady, Second Young Lady has returned."

Before the words had fully faded, a clear and cold figure had already stepped into the room.

It turned out that upon learning of the incident at the Jun household, disregarding her own injuries, the Empress, seeing that her attempts to dissuade her were useless, had dispatched a palace carriage and a palace Nanny to send her back to the manor.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin, dressed in plain clothes, her complexion somewhat pale and her steps somewhat unsteady, she walked quickly to the bedside, placed her hand on Jun Jun Shuyan's wrist. After a moment, she took a golden needle from her sleeve and gently inserted it into Jun Jun Shuyan's acupoint.

After a short while, Jun Jun Shuyan's breathing actually gradually stabilized, and her complexion regained a slight hint of color.

Everyone felt slightly relieved, yet Jun Jun Shuyan suddenly began to speak nonsense:

"Don't kill me... don't kill me..."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's eyes sharpened; indeed.

"Jun Shuyan, Jun Shuyan, wake up. I am Second Sister; Sister has returned." Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's hand gently stroked Jun Jun Shuyan's hair, her voice soft and concerned.

Hearing Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's voice, Jun Jun Shuyan's eyelids fluttered and she actually opened her eyes. Upon seeing Seeing Jun Jun Zijin right before her, she hugged Seeing Jun Jun Zijin, crying and laughing:

"Second Sister, you have finally returned. You are safe; that is wonderful." Her Second Sister was safe; she could finally rest assured.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin felt a warmth in her heart:

"Jun Shuyan, do not be afraid. Tell Sister, who intends to harm you? Sister will certainly make things right for you." Seeing Jun Jun Zijin asked.

Jun Jun Shuyan was stunned, then her expression turned terrified. Recalling the despair and horror of being pushed into the lake by Jun Jun Zhidie, she burst into loud weeping again:

"Second Sister... it... it was Jun Jun Zhidie... she pushed me into the lake."

Everyone was shocked; the Old Lady cursed angrily:

"You wretch, how could you do such a thing!"

Xiang Xiang Junzheng slammed the table and rose. He had not expected that the person who had nearly caused the death of his two children was actually the Second House's daughter.

Hearing this, Zhou Zhou Yiniang kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Old Lady, Master, Second Young Lady, I beg you all to surely make things right for Fourth Young Lady!"

"But, no one saw Third Young Lady push Fourth Young Lady into the lake. If she does not admit it, we have no way," the maid Qiuju said softly.

"Go summon the people of the Second House; I want to ask them clearly," the Old Lady roared.

"Wait, just say you are summoning them to discuss follow-up matters; do not say anything else," Seeing Jun Jun Zijin instructed.

The servant took the order and left.

"Feiying." Seeing Jun Jun Zijin snapped her fingers.

Everyone felt a flash before their eyes, and a figure knelt before Seeing Jun Jun Zijin, awaiting her orders.

Everyone looked around, yet did not know where this person had come from. They had long heard that Seeing Jun Jun Zijin had shadow guards, yet no one had ever seen them; seeing this today, everyone was both shocked and curious.

"Go to the Second House and retrieve a personal item belonging to Jun Jun Zhidie from today," Seeing Jun Jun Zijin ordered.

Everyone saw only a flash before their eyes, and that person vanished.

At this moment, Jun Jun Zhidie was in her room, in a state of constant fear and unable to rest, sitting and standing uneasily. The Physicians in Qinxin Garden had changed one after another; she did not know the current situation. She wanted to send a maid to inquire about the First House's situation but feared being discovered.

Li Shi's doubts grew increasingly; Jun Jun Zhidie was acting strangely today, and she was about to ask for the truth.

Just then, a maid ran in from outside, saying in a panic:

"It's bad, Fourth Young Lady is in bad shape. The Old Lady has requested Lady and Young Lady to come over."

Jun Jun Zhidie jumped up with a "Ceng!" and asked, "Did Fourth Sister die?" There was a hint of urgency and a hint of joy in her voice.

Seeing Jun Jun Zhidie's reaction, Li Shi's brows furrowed. Could the matter of the First House's Fourth Daughter truly be related to this girl?

"The servant does not know the specifics; they only said to request Lady and Young Lady to come to discuss follow-up matters."

Seeing Jun Jun Zhidie, her heart leaped with joy; the fear of having killed someone was long forgotten. So, she truly is dead? Even if she isn't, she is not far from death.

"Dead is good. If she is dead, no one will discover it," Jun Jun Zhidie murmured.

Li Shi was stunned. She never expected this girl, not even of age, to be more ruthless than herself. She asked a question:

"Jun Zhidie, can you truly bring yourself to do it? She is your sister after all. If the First House learns the truth, they will surely not spare us."

Jun Jun Zhidie turned back, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes. She gently brushed Li Shi's hand away and sneered:

"What sister? In this manor, how much is kinship worth? Besides, no one will know about today's affair."