The deposed Crown Prince rushed over, lifting Chun’er’s upper body and shaking him violently. “Chun’er, Chun’er!”

Seeing the child’s head drooping lifelessly, he cried out hoarsely, “Where’s the doctor? Where’s the doctor?”

Princess Jing pushed the deposed Crown Prince forcefully. “You’re hurting Chun’er—”

A crowd had gathered by the lake, and their expressions varied.

Yu Jin coldly observed Princess Jing’s despair, his heart softening a bit unusually.

He never cared about the life or death of strangers, but Asi was about to become a mother too. How heartbreaking must it be for a mother to lose her child?

Yu Jin thought of something and strode over.

“What are you doing?” The deposed Crown Prince noticed Yu Jin’s approach and shouted warily.

Yu Jin extended his hand. “Let me see if there’s still a chance to save him.”

“What did you say?” The deposed Crown Prince was stunned.

Princess Jing suddenly pushed the deposed Crown Prince aside and thrust Chun’er into Yu Jin’s arms.

“Have you gone mad?” The deposed Crown Prince yelled at Princess Jing.

Princess Jing didn’t even spare the deposed Crown Prince a glance, staring intently at Yu Jin without a word.

A mother’s desperation made her willing to believe in any impossibility.

She couldn’t accept that her Chun’er was gone just like that. Chun’er was her life. If Chun’er was truly gone, she had no reason to live on.

Yu Jin placed his finger inside Chun’er’s mouth.

The deposed Crown Prince grew anxious again, grabbing Yu Jin’s shoulder. “Seventh Brother, what exactly are you trying to do?”

Yu Jin continued his actions, coldly replying, “I said I’m trying to see if I can save the child.”

“You can save Chun’er?”

Yu Jin, unable to tolerate it any longer, cursed, “Fool, shut your mouth! I said I’m trying. It’s a last resort. Don’t you understand? It’s your son who died, not someone else’s, and I didn’t push him into the lake. Are you sick in the head, demanding guarantees from me?”

The deposed Crown Prince was stunned by the scolding. “You, you, you—”

Princess Jing picked up a stone from the ground and hurled it at the deposed Crown Prince’s head.

Her action was so sudden that the deposed Crown Prince had no time to react. He was hit squarely and fainted with his eyes rolling back.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Princess Jing said expressionlessly, “Prince Yan, please do your best. No one will disturb you now.”

Yu Jin had already cleared the foreign objects from Chun’er’s mouth and nose. He took a deep breath and, amidst the rising and falling gasps of astonishment, placed his mouth on Chun’er’s, breathing into him several times. Then he placed his interlocked hands on Chun’er’s chest and began compressions.

“What is Seventh Brother doing?” Prince Lu stared in bewilderment, elbowing Prince Xiang beside him.

Prince Xiang retorted irritably, “How should I know? Surely he doesn’t have some special fetish?”

Prince Qi stared at Yu Jin thoughtfully.

He hadn’t expected Seventh Brother to intervene. What was he doing? It looked so strange…

Prince Jin maintained an expression similar to the others, but his eyes were frozen with cold indifference as he watched everything unfold.

It had gone smoothly enough. Just a light push from his men and one life was ended, along with the threat it posed.

What madness had come over Seventh Brother?

Trying to save Prince Jing’s heir? It was absurd.

Just as everyone thought the situation couldn’t get any more bizarre, Chun’er, who had seemed lifeless, suddenly opened his mouth and vomited.

The stone Princess Jing had been gripping fell from her hand as she rushed over, calling out, “Chun’er—”

Chun’er coughed up more water and slowly opened his eyes.

“Chun’er, Chun’er, how are you?” Princess Jing asked through tears.

Yu Jin silently stood up, feeling a sense of accomplishment as he watched the awakened Chun’er.

He had saved Chun’er for no other reason than being unable to bear seeing a mother lose her child. As for the dirty business of scheming and plotting, he wanted no part in it.

Chun’er blinked, his confused gaze gradually becoming clear. He softly called out, “Mother—”

Princess Jing embraced Chun’er, tears streaming down her face.

“The doctor’s here, the doctor’s here!” shouted a servant who had been running at full speed, dragging the doctor along.

The panting Imperial Physician hurriedly asked, “Where’s the young master?”

Princess Jing said in a deep voice, “The young master is fine now. Please send to His Highness instead.”

The Imperial Physician: ??

This wasn’t what he had been told!

People gathered around, offering words of comfort to Princess Jing: “That’s wonderful, it’s great that the young master is alright…”

Princess Jing held Chun’er tightly, as if clutching a priceless treasure, still not quite recovered from her shock.

Joy at regaining what was lost? Not quite. She was still filled with fear.

She had come so close, so close to losing Chun’er forever…

“Your Highness, the young master is soaked through. It’s still cold outside. You should take him inside to warm up,” someone suggested.

Princess Jing kissed Chun’er’s forehead. “Chun’er, Mother will take you inside.”

Chun’er, buried in Princess Jing’s embrace, suddenly said, “Mother, someone pushed me—”

This statement instantly silenced everyone present. All eyes turned to Chun’er.

The deposed Crown Prince abruptly sat up, startling the Imperial Physician who had been about to treat him. “What did you say?”

Although Chun’er was still young, he appeared remarkably composed. He said earnestly, “Someone pushed me. I saw her shadow reflected in the lake!”

The atmosphere grew even more eerie.

The deposed Crown Prince flew into a rage. “Investigate! Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we must uncover who harmed the young master!”

Princess Jing stood up with Chun’er in her arms, not wanting her son to face this situation any longer.

She bowed slightly to Yu Jin. “Seventh Brother, we owe you a great debt this time. You saved Chun’er’s life. I will remember this in my heart.”

Yu Jin smiled. “I merely took a bold chance. The fact that Chun’er could be saved shows it wasn’t his time to go. Sister-in-law need not take it to heart.”

Several voices immediately chimed in agreement. “Indeed, the young master’s survival of this great peril surely means he’s destined for good fortune…”

Though Prince Jin’s expression barely changed, his fists were clenched tightly, veins bulging.

Prince Qi’s lips curved slightly upward.

He never expected Seventh Brother to give him such a pleasant surprise. Third Brother was finished this time!

Thinking about the fate awaiting Prince Jin, Prince Qi felt secretly elated.

“I must go to the palace and inform Father Emperor!” The deposed Crown Prince announced, abandoning the guests who had come to celebrate his birthday and heading straight for the Imperial Palace.

Emperor Jingming was just pondering about the deposed Crown Prince’s birthday.

He still remembered every detail of the day the Empress had given birth to their child, a day he would never forget.

Hearing the eunuch report that Prince Jing sought an audience, Emperor Jingming frowned. “What does he want?”

Surely he wasn’t expecting a birthday celebration?

“Prince Jing… Prince Jing says the young master nearly drowned…”

Emperor Jingming stood up abruptly, almost falling due to his haste, but he paid no heed to this. “Let him in!” he shouted.

Soon after, the deposed Crown Prince entered. Upon seeing Emperor Jingming, he burst into loud sobs. “Father Emperor, someone pushed Chun’er into the water, wuwuwu—”

Emperor Jingming felt dizzy hearing this.

“Father Emperor, you must seek justice for Chun’er!”

“Who killed Chun’er?” Emperor Jingming asked, barely able to contain his grief.

The deposed Crown Prince blinked, suddenly remembering to explain, “Chun’er was revived…”