Chapter 15: 15

Xue Yunsu half-smiled as he stood aside. He watched Xue Yan expressionlessly walk to the edge of the lake and dive in. The lake surface rippled for a moment, then settled. 

Xue Yunsu felt a twisted pleasure in his heart. He had already foreseen this. Xue Yan only had a single servant at his side, a servant who was cowardly rubbish. Today, he would force Xue Yan out. There was no way Xue Yan would have the ability to find a tiny jade pendant in such a deep lake. 

If Xue Yan had not spoken up, Xue Yunsu could still give him a big slap to the face. Looking on helplessly as his own servant drowned in front of his face and unable to do anything, who wouldn’t ridicule him? And if Xue Yan dared raise a hand against Xue Yunsu, their imperial father would assuredly punish him severely, maybe even have him beaten to death.

Xue Yunsu thought smugly, this person is just trash among the dirt that I can trample at will. 

Jinbao was dumbfounded. When he recovered, he cried at the top of his lungs and crawled to the edge of the lake, searching desperately for Xue Yan.

He was only a lowly servant! Why would his master go this far?

He scanned the slushy surface of the lake. Occasionally tiny ripples appeared, proof that the person in the water was still moving.

What should he do! Jinbao’s tears flowed so much he couldn’t wipe them dry.

At that moment, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Hearing that people had come, he hurriedly looked up and through teary eyes, blurrily saw a group of palace servants escorting two nobles.

Among the crowd, one of them was dressed in a blue-grey overcoat. Over that, he had a dark red fox fur cloak. Although he was far away, he had outstanding good looks like an immortal, and was recognizable immediately. 

It’s him! The heir from Consort Shu’s palace with a bodhisattva heart!

Jinbao was spurred on by his desire to save a life. When no one was paying attention, he mustered his strength and dashed forward, nimble as a loach, and knelt firmly in front of that person.

“Lord Heir, you’ve[1] finally arrived!” Jinbao sobbed brokenly. “Please save His Highness! The Fifth Prince is about to drown!”

Jun Huailang had barely arrived at Wenhua Hall. He was listening to Xue Yunhuan chatter on and on when a sorry figure rushed up to him, kowtowed, and begged for help.

Jun Huailang gathered himself and realized that the person in front of him was Jinbao. His clothes and hair were disordered, and his head banged repeatedly against the ground.

“What’s going on?” Jun Huailang asked, and gestured for Fuyi to help Jinbao up.

Jinbao knelt on the ground and refused to move. He cried, “Replying to Your Grace, the Fifth Prince jumped into the lotus pool to save this servant! Your Grace, please save him…”

Jinbao had to catch his breath from crying so hard. Jun Huailang also did not hear what he said clearly. He only understood that Xue Yan fell into the lotus pool because of something.

It was currently the beginning of winter, the lake had already started to ice over and could freeze people to their bones. Jun Huailang did not stop to think, he immediately ordered the Mingluan Palace servants to go save the person in the water.

Only after giving the orders did he realize the contradiction of this situation.

I am truly too kind, Jun Huailang thought in his heart. Why not ignore him and let him drown? If he dies today, I won’t have to worry about the future.

He was displeased and forcefully persuaded himself. First of all, the destruction of the Jun family had many causes beyond Xue Yan. He was only the borrowed knife used in the light. Second of all, Xue Yan was hard to kill. Something as insignificant as water would definitely be unable to end him, the Polis Star descended.[2]

As Jun Huailang thought this, he hurried forward to check the situation. Xue Yunhuan hurriedly followed, unwilling to leave his side and worried Jun Huailang would encounter Xue Yan’s inauspicious aura.

Just as the servants crowded by the edge of the lake and were about to dive in, a splash suddenly startled the rescuers. 

Xue Yan swam to the surface with ease, without any of the distressed appearance that a drowning person would have. Supporting himself with one hand on the ground, he nimbly leaped out of the water, and with the other hand he brushed back the wet hair clinging to his face.

He was clearly a young man who had not yet received his guan,[3] but he innately had a deadly sex appeal.

Xue Yan lifted his hand and tossed a small dripping object at Xue Yunsu. Xue Yunsu caught it in a fluster before realizing it was his fan pendant.

He found it so quickly and silently?

While Xue Yunsu was still in a daze, Xue Yan looked around and saw the palace servants standing around dumbstruck. He frowned and asked, “What’s the matter?”

Then he saw Jun Huailang.

Jun Huailang was also shocked. Didn’t Jinbao say Xue Yan fell into the lotus pool and was drowning? How could he be drowning with that appearance? Xue Yan looked like he had just swum a leisurely lap. Jun Huailang looked at Jinbao suspiciously.

Jinbao was at that moment crying tears of joy, calling out for his master and about to throw himself on him. But there was a warning in those cold amber eyes that made Jinbao sober up. He stopped three steps away from Xue Yan awkwardly. 

“What is going on exactly?” Jun Huailang asked.

Jinbao knew that Xue Yan was not good at complaining, so he hurriedly stepped forward and told Jun Huailang, “Answering Your Grace, His Highness the Second Prince threw his own fan pendant into the lake and wanted this servant to pick it up. I don’t know how to swim, so the Fifth Prince went down and collected the pendant in place of this servant.”

Only then did Jun Huailang notice that Jinbao’s face was dripping wet, not just from tears. Most of his hair was wet and it was obvious that he had been forcefully pressed into the lake to drown him.

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Jun Huailang suddenly remembered that Mid-Autumn banquet when Xue Yan had pushed Xue Yunsu into Taiye Lake in the same way. But Xue Yan was just scaring him and had released him quickly. Today, it was clear Xue Yunsu wanted revenge but didn’t dare go against Xue Yan directly. So he wanted to drown the little eunuch following Xue Yan instead. 

As for Xue Yan, he had clearly gone in to save Jinbao.

Jun Huailang suddenly thought, that day when his jade arrow was smashed, he had also taken the blame for Jinbao.

Presumably Jinbao had been the only person by Xue Yan’s side all along, so he must cherish this person very much…… No matter what he would be like in the future, the current Xue Yan was still a person who valued love and righteousness, the sort who even protected a little eunuch.

Jun Huailang looked at Xue Yunsu with a sneer in his eyes. “I never thought that His Highness would be so frugal and dislike extravagance. You[4] don’t even have a servant who can help you pick up a jade pendant?”

As he said this, he looked at the guards next to him again and mockingly said, “The palace is actually very safe. Rather than raising a few thugs, you would be better off replacing them with some ordinary servants who can serve you and relieve your difficulties.”

His tone was calm and light, his smile warm. It offended Xue Yunsu’s eyes greatly.

He’s just the son of a duke who lives on others’ charity, freeloading in the palace because he has a barren aunt. He has the nerve to stand up for that evil star?

Xue Yunsu sneered, “Who do you think you are, you dare point your finger at this prince?” 

Xue Yunhuan was happily watching the excitement from the side, but his face immediately changed when he heard those words.

Xue Yunsu was an idiot with grass for brains. Xue Yunhuan was content to watch the fun from the sidelines when he was bullying that evil star. But this person was like a mad dog; after biting Xue Yan he came to bite Jun Huailang. That, Xue Yunhuan would not allow.

Xue Yunhuan pulled Jun Huailang behind him and said coldly, “Say that again if you dare. Who do you think you are?”

Xue Yunsu paled blotchily. He wanted to retort, but couldn’t get any words out. In the palace, other than the Emperor and Empress, no one dared provoke Xue Yunhuan, this overlord. And Xue Yunsu’s birth mother came from a humble background. Xue Yan had no mother, so bullying him was nothing much, but he didn’t dare quarrel with Xue Yunhuan.

Seeing that Xue Yunsu couldn’t even make a peep,[5] Xue Yunhuan despised him even more. He laughed coldly and used the situation to blow up.

“How surprising that a pack of servants saw a master jumping into a lake but did not save him. Your master didn’t teach you well, so I will teach you.” He looked around at the people behind Xue Yunsu and ordered, “Come, take all of Second Brother’s servants to Yong Alley[6] and have them wash chamber pots. Not a single one is allowed to come out until they’ve washed for a year.

Xue Yunhuan’s chief eunuch hurriedly led people forward. All the guards, eunuchs, and maids were taken away. Suddenly only Jun Enze of the previously majestic gathering was left. 

Among this group of servants, two were Xue Yunsu’s personal maids and one of them even served in his bed. Xue Yunsu’s face was dark and he gnashed his teeth, but dared not say a word.

At the side, Xue Yan silently picked up his cloak and watched indifferently.

He saw the Second Prince making trouble, and also saw the Sixth Prince easily protecting Jun Huailang. He thought to himself, Jun Huailang should be surrounded by people like Xue Yunhuan, not me.

He should leave quietly and stop accepting that person’s kindness. But his eyes were disobedient. They landed on Jun Huailang and would not move away.

At that moment, he met Jun Huailang’s eyes.

The space between Jun Huailang’s graceful and elegant eyebrows furrowed slightly. He walked straight from behind the Sixth Prince and stood in front of him.

“Why are you still standing here exposed to the wind? It’s such a cold day, if you get sick, wouldn’t you cause trouble for my aunt?” Jun Huailang said.

Jun Huailang didn’t want to admit it, but Xue Yan’s drenched appearance as he stood all alone hurt his eyes a bit. He had no choice but to bring out Consort Shu as an excuse, trying to deceive himself in his heart. 

After speaking, he ordered Fuyi to invite the imperial physician. He also asked a maid to fetch clean clothes for Xue Yan. Then he raised his hand and grabbed Xue Yan’s wrist.

The joints of Xue Yan’s wrist were distinct and full of strength, but it was clammy from lake water. His skin was so cold it hurt Jun Huailang’s hand. 

Jun Huailang pursed his lips and asked Xue Yunhuan to inform the imperial tutor that he would be taking leave. Then without consulting anyone he went straight to the princes’ side hall in Wenhua Hall, pulling Xue Yan along.

He thought to himself, the future Xue Yan may not be human, but that has nothing to do with the current Xue Yan, who would sacrifice his life to protect his servants.

Any enmity in the future could be put off until later. If Xue Yan dared become the slightest bit crooked, he would tally up Xue Yan’s crimes from the previous life even more severely and take his life.

Xue Yan let Jun Huailang drag him away, still without saying a word. To him, Jun Huailang’s hand was clearly weak, but he could not break free.

Because that dry and delicate palm was too warm. 

 

 

Notes:

[1] 您 respectful form of you [2] 七杀星 lit. the Seven Killings Star, a destructive martial star that signifies conquest and victory. [3] 冠 crown or hairpiece. In ancient times, boys reached adulthood when they turned 20, at which point they put their hair up and wore a guan. [4] 您 respectful form of you [5] 鹌鹑 lit. became a quail; weak and incompetent. [6] 永巷 a long and narrow alley in the imperial palace where unassigned maids were located and where out of favor concubines were assigned. Jinbao had previously been assigned here.

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