Just a single word—"Scram"—was nearly enough to reveal Her Highness the Crown Princess's intent.
Yet the guard dared not say as much aloud.
There's a saying: when immortals clash, it's the mortals who suffer. He was nothing more than a humble errand-runner, and it would be unwise to court disaster over words.
He lowered his head and replied cautiously,"This humble one does not know from where Her Highness the Crown Princess has arrived. Judging by the direction from which she rode, it does not appear to be from within the palace. More likely, she came from outside the city.
She did not say why she came today, only… judging by her bearing and tone, this humble one suspects that Her Highness is not in the best of moods."
She truly had come from outside the city.
The Eldest Prince's hands, hidden within the sleeves of his robe, trembled slightly. But soon enough, he managed to calm himself with forced reassurance.
He disliked admitting it, but Yun Shu had always shown great care for the common people.
If she had truly come into contact with someone infected by smallpox, and was herself at risk, there was no way she would so brazenly ride through the streets on horseback.
Therefore—
The good news: he was likely not infected.
The bad news: his plan had clearly failed.
Worse yet, Yun Shu probably knew everything.
"Eldest Brother?" the Third Prince called, puzzled by his silence. "Her Highness the Crown Princess is still waiting outside. Shall we not go and meet her first?"
"…Very well."
Yun Shu was already at the gates. Her identity alone made it impossible to ignore her, whether he wished to or not.
Besides, even if Yun Shu had guessed everything, what of it?
He was still a prince. Though his status could not rival the Crown Princess's, without definitive proof, even she could not touch him.
With the Third Prince at his side, he stepped out to the residence's grand gates—only to find Yun Shu standing just outside, dressed in plain garments, her back turned toward them.
She had brought no attendants. That alone made her seem far less threatening.
The Eldest Prince felt a small sense of relief. A faint, almost smug smile crept across his lips.
"We were not aware that Your Highness had graced us with a visit," he began with a shallow bow. "Forgive the discourtesy of not greeting you from afar—"
Crash!
No one had expected it.
Without a single word, Yun Shu turned around and drove her fist straight into the Eldest Prince's face.
The guards of the residence were dumbfounded.
Passersby on the street stopped in their tracks, shocked.
The Eldest Prince, completely unprepared, was hit squarely and flushed with rage. His fists clenched on instinct. But before he could retaliate, the Third Prince, stunned as well, quickly stepped in and placed himself between them.
"Let us speak calmly, please, speak calmly! Surely there must be some misunderstanding? We are siblings, after all—"
"Third Brother," Yun Shu cut in softly.
It was the first time she had ever struck someone like that. Her knuckles were still throbbing with pain from the punch, yet her voice remained eerily calm.
"The Eldest Brother sent men to bring in a young girl infected with smallpox. He then had my cousin bound together with that child, and left me to rescue them."
Her words struck the Third Prince like a thunderclap.
He turned stiffly, as though his mind had turned sluggish with age.
"Did you save them?" he asked.
"I did."
Yun Shu met his gaze without flinching. "They were uninjured, but may have been exposed to smallpox. I've already sent them to the countryside. The imperial physicians are tending to them."
"…Then all is well," the Third Prince replied hoarsely, nodding slowly. "They were not harmed… good…"
He seemed to relax. Even patted Yun Shu's shoulder and gently nudged her aside.
But in that moment, a familiar scene unfolded once again.
The Third Prince's hand, which had appeared gentle when pushing Yun Shu away, suddenly clenched midair. The next instant, it slammed into the other side of the Eldest Prince's face with full force.
"You wretched bastard, you want to die? I'll grant your wish!"
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The heavy sound of fists landing echoed beneath the stunned gazes of everyone present.
Unlike earlier, when Yun Shu had landed a single punch before being restrained, the Third Prince showed no such restraint. The Eldest Prince dared not strike back in front of the crowd—not against the Crown Princess—but the Third Prince? That was a different matter entirely.
The two princes broke into a full brawl.
The Eldest Prince had the upper hand in strength, but the Third Prince was possessed by fury.
And while the Eldest Prince dared not go for the kill, the Third Prince aimed every blow with ruthless intent.
For a time, neither could gain the upper hand.
"Your Highness, please, no more! Both of you, please stop!"
The servants were too terrified to intervene. The Crown Princess stood nearby, and neither prince could be harmed without consequences falling on their heads.
As for the common folk who had gathered further away, they dared not even speak up. They merely formed a circle and whispered among themselves.
"Heavens above… Princes brawling in the streets, just like common folk!"
"Why doesn't Her Highness the Crown Princess order them apart? She's just watching…"
"You must not have seen what happened earlier."
Amid the crowd, a disguised Dragon Shadow Guard spoke in a low voice. "The first punch that struck the Eldest Prince in the face? That came from Her Highness the Crown Princess herself."
"She struck him too?!"
Those who had just arrived were stunned.
"What could the Eldest Prince possibly have done to provoke Her Highness to such lengths?"
"I heard he had people bind the Crown Princess's cousin, the manager of the Tian Waitian Restaurant, together with a girl infected by smallpox. He then lured the Crown Princess to come save her, trying to get her infected as well!"
The Dragon Shadow Guard drew a breath, exaggerating the horror just as Yun Shu had taught.
"Thank the heavens Her Highness is wise and did not fall into his trap. Otherwise, her life would be in grave danger!"
"Yes indeed! If she had caught smallpox, that would be dire!"
Another passerby spoke with lingering fear.
"But didn't someone say a few days ago that the Crown Princess might already be infected?"
"You fool, does she look like someone with smallpox to you?"
The Dragon Shadow Guard's voice dropped even lower.
"If you ask me, that rumor was likely planted by the Eldest Prince. That way, if his plan succeeded one day, no one would question it. Everyone would just assume she was infected by those Bei Xiang assassins."
"You're right, you're right! How horrifying! No wonder the Crown Princess and the Third Prince are so furious! If it were me, even throwing punches would be too kind!"
…
By the time the Dragon Shadow Guard had repeated these words throughout the crowd and slipped back into the shadows, the Eldest Prince's vile actions had already spread through the entire street.