The oil and wine-soaked embers burst into flames.
The wooden structure of the pleasure boat’s main hall, along with its curtains and gauzy veils, was engulfed by fire almost instantly.
Amidst the inferno, Yang Shengcai and his three companions could barely make out the features of the young entertainers. At this moment, they had no time to worry about such things. Gone was their composure from when they pushed Jiang Zhan into the water. Their faces were filled with undisguised panic as they shouted hoarsely, “Fire! Fire!”
Jiang Si smiled at the four panicking men before leaping out of the window.
The sound of a heavy object hitting the water seemed to give the four men an idea. In their confusion, they turned and jumped out of the nearest windows. Like dumplings being dropped into boiling water, splashes echoed one after another.
Shortly after the four men jumped, the young entertainers and servants left on the pleasure boat realized the young masters had already leaped into the water. They each escaped either by their swimming skills or by using wooden basins and barrels.
Jiang Si’s first sensation upon entering the water was coldness.
The summer heat had not yet dissipated, and the night breeze was still warm. It was precisely because of the temperature difference between the air and the water that the river felt particularly cool.
Jiang Si couldn’t help but shiver. She kicked her legs slightly and her head emerged above the water surface.
Cool droplets rolled down her smooth cheeks. At that moment, Jiang Si suddenly thought of someone.
Born and raised in the capital, from the East Peace Earl’s manor to the Anguo Duke’s residence, she naturally never had the opportunity to learn how to swim. This skill was taught to her by Yu Qi when she was in the South.
The south was abundant with water, with lakes of all sizes everywhere.
Yu Qi once jokingly pushed her into a river, watching her struggle clumsily. He was surprised that she, as the Holy Maiden of the Wu Miao tribe, couldn’t swim.
At that time, she felt guilty and sad. Guilty because his interactions with her were based entirely on the belief that she was the Holy Maiden Asang, and sad for the same reason.
Later, she finally couldn’t help but admit that she was just a Han woman who had accidentally drifted to the southern frontier, not the Holy Maiden Asang.
Yu Qi remained silent for a long time before telling her, “I’ve known for a long time. You look so much like Asang.”
It wasn’t until later that she learned Yu Qi had known from the beginning that she was just a substitute for Asang.
Regardless, under Yu Qi’s guidance, she learned how to swim.
In Yu Qi’s words, with lakes everywhere, if one didn’t learn to swim well, what would happen if one accidentally fell into the water one day? No amount of protection from others could compare to having the ability to save oneself.
She agreed wholeheartedly and learned very diligently.
Now, she had already used this skill twice. The first time was to save Ji Chongyi’s love interest from drowning, thereby successfully breaking off her engagement. This time, it was to escape after setting a fire.
“Miss, quickly, give me your hand!” Through the hazy night, where the shimmer of water and the glow of lanterns swayed with the current, came Aman’s urgent voice.
Jiang Si grasped Aman’s outstretched hand, using her strength to nimbly board the boat.
Seeing Jiang Si dripping wet, Aman couldn’t help but complain, “Miss, you’re too reckless. You scared this servant to death!”
“What is there to fear? Didn’t we already arrange everything with Old Qin?” Jiang Si glanced around. “Is the Second Young Master alright?”
Old Qin had hired this small covered boat, disguising it as a fruit seller’s vessel, blending inconspicuously among the countless boats on the Jin River.
Aman pointed to the cabin. “The Second Young Master is inside. He hasn’t woken up yet, but Old Qin says he’s fine.”
They had been following the pleasure boat closely. When Jiang Zhan fell into the water, they rescued him immediately. However, because Jiang Zhan had drunk too much, he was in a deep sleep.
Hearing that Jiang Zhan was safe, Jiang Si felt slightly relieved.
By now, the pleasure boat was completely engulfed in flames. The fire soared into the sky like an angry dragon, illuminating the surrounding river surface in a bright red glow.
Screams and cries for help were incessant. The boats around had been alerted and were slowly approaching the pleasure boat to rescue people.
“Help, help—” A faint cry for help came as a hand grasped the gunwale of Jiang Si’s small boat.
Soon, a wet face appeared.
Aman let out a low cry of surprise and looked towards Jiang Si.
This person seemed to be one of those who had boarded the pleasure boat with the Second Young Master.
Old Qin remained silent, still holding the oar as if he hadn’t seen anything.
He would only listen to the young miss’s orders. If she told him to save someone, he would extend his hand. If she didn’t speak, he wouldn’t act on his own.
Saving someone was indeed a task requiring strength.
Jiang Si looked down coldly at the face.
The person seeking her help was Yang Shengcai.
At this moment, Jiang Si felt that heaven was indeed fair. She had originally planned not to leave immediately but to find Yang Shengcai. She didn’t expect him to deliver himself to her doorstep.
Jiang Si smiled at Yang Shengcai, who was looking up and begging for help.
At this time, because she had been in the water, the makeup on her face had started to melt, forming murky droplets that ran down her cheeks, looking particularly comical. Fortunately, this appearance made it even harder to discern her true features.
Yang Shengcai, in his struggle, suddenly saw this face. However, he had no time to be afraid. One hand clinging to the gunwale, he stretched out his other hand desperately, “Save me… I’m the grandson of the Minister of Rites. If you save me, I’ll give you a lifetime of wealth and glory!”
Jiang Si lowered her head, her face devoid of any unnecessary emotion, her voice as cold as ice: “What I want, you’re not willing to give.”
Although Yang Shengcai was a wastrel, he wasn’t stupid. In this life-or-death moment, his quick wit was aroused. By now, he had realized that Jiang Si was the one in charge and immediately said, “You… what do you want? I’ll give you anything…”
Jiang Si curved her lips slightly, smiling gracefully, “Naturally, I want your life.”
After saying this, she forcefully pried Yang Shengcai’s hand off, grabbed a bamboo pole from the boat, and pressed it down on Yang Shengcai’s head.
Yang Shengcai had learned to swim, but he was very unskilled. After falling into the water, he struggled desperately to swim towards other boats for help. However, his luck was bad. His original destination was a pleasure boat about ten zhang away, but midway, seeing this covered boat, he clung to it like a lifesaving straw, unwilling and unable to swim any further.
Yet, he never imagined that this lifesaving straw was a death warrant.
His entire body was submerged in the water. No matter how he struggled, he couldn’t surface. The bamboo pole pressing on his head became increasingly forceful, causing his body to sink bit by bit.
Finally, Yang Shengcai stopped struggling. The river bottom’s weeds slowly entangled his ankles. Strings of bubbles escaped from the corners of his mouth, gradually rising to the surface before bursting.
Jiang Si, expressionless, withdrew the bamboo pole and placed it back in the boat. She ordered Old Qin, “Let’s go.”
Old Qin’s expression barely changed as he immediately quickened his rowing pace.
Many boats had already approached, but because the pleasure boat was burning too fiercely, they couldn’t get close. They could only try their best to rescue those who had fallen into the water.
All this chaos and panic were left behind by the small covered boat as it headed towards the shore.
Aman hadn’t recovered from the shock of witnessing her mistress kill someone so cleanly and efficiently. Her voice trembled as she said, “Miss, Miss, just now—”
Jiang Si glanced at her and said calmly, “What are you afraid of? Just now, I was saving people.”
Wasn’t the death of such an inhumane beast indeed saving people?
She looked back. The fire behind them reached the sky, making the Jin River seem even more dazzling.