Chapter 114 - Fit of Fury (1/2)

The Empress saw Jun Shan looking at her and smiled at him, then she turned to Zhong Ji, ”Zhong Ji, if I hadn't coincidentally passed by your palace today, then this poor child would have died here like this.”

Zhong Ji knit her brows and got on her knees, ”Your majesty, it really wasn't me who did this, it wa-”

”I don't care who did it! The child was put in your care and so you are responsible for his welfare. Don't think that because you currently have the Emperor's favor that you are beyond punishment.” The Empress scolded.

Zhong Ji frowned and then kowtowed, ”I apologize for my incompetence, it will never happen again.”

”It better not.” The Empress coldly said and walked out. Jun Shan watched the whole thing and stared on as the Empress left with her servants. He then closed his eyes feeling a sense of relief wash over him and slipped back into unconsciousness.

Later when he woke up, he asked his personal maid how the Empress got involved. She knit her brows in contemplation for a bit, then sighed and told him that he had been locked in the room for two days and Zhong Ji refused to see her and she was worried about his injuries so she went to plead with the Empress for help. And that thankfully, the Empress was gracious enough to come to his aid. Jun Shan quietly nodded and did not say anything, feeling a sense of gratitude towards the Empress and a renewed sense of hope for his life.

The next morning, Jun Kai came to visit him. He noticed that he was behaving awkwardly and was standing at a distance. He then called for him to come sit on the bed. Jun Kai complied but still seemed to be avoiding looking at him.

Jun Shan scrutinized him for a bit and then smiled, ”How about I come live with you? It'll be fun, don't you think? You can ask the Empre-”

Jun Kai frowned and flatly said, ”No.”

”You don't have to worry, I won't get in the way or anything. I won't ask for anything. I, I...I just hate it here.” Jun Shan finished in a pained voice as tears rolled down his face and he looked at him with pleading eyes begging for help. Jun Kai glanced at his face, then quickly looked down and scowled, bit his lip and then quietly murmured, ”I'm sorry.”

Jun Shan then grabbed his arm and pleaded, ”Please...I really can't stand it here anymore. I'm starting to hate my life...You can ask father, he'll listen to you or just ask the Empress, she's nice, she'll agree. I know she will, just ask...just try, please.”

Jun Kai looked up at the desperate expression on his face and knit his brows then looked down and repeated, ”I'm sorry.”

Jun Shan frowned but before he could respond one of the Empress's maids arrived, bowed toward Jun Kai and said, ”Your highness, the Empress ordered for you to return, the candidates for your playmate will be arriving soon.”

Jun Kai nodded and then got up to leave, but Jun Shan tightened his grip on his arm. Jun Kai then took a deep breath and turned to him and advised, ”It's better for you here. Consort Ji is not bad, as long as you just stay out of her way, she won't go out of her way to make things difficult for you. And something like this won't happen again...”

Jun Shan looked up at his face, and Jun Kai knit his brows and looked away. Jun Shan blankly stared at him and then asked, ”Am I nothing to you now too?”

Jun Kai blinked and turned back to him, ”No, that's not i-”

”Then what is it?” Jun Kai knit his brows, looked down and did not respond, Jun Shan then released him and looked away, ”You can leave.”

Jun Kai looked at him with slightly teary eyes, then looked down and bit his lip again then said, ”I'm sorry.” Then he turned and left with the maid.

Jun Shan watched him leave and whispered, ”This is unfair.” As tears streamed down his face as he fisted his hands in anger.

This was unfair. When Jun Kai had nothing and no one, he even offered him his little courtyard with his mother, although Jun Kai had ignored his offer, but still, he had offered. Now that their situation was reversed and he had nowhere to go, Jun Kai ignored him. Just like his offer then, he was of significance to someone of his caliber. Of course, he wouldn't leave his comfortable large palace to move into his small courtyard to live a cramped life. Jun Kai was a prince and he was...he was not sure what he was anymore.

It was unfair.