Jiang Susu extended her foot to trip her, but Jiang Ruan, as if completely unaware, continued to stand up. However, she inadvertently turned to the side, narrowly avoiding Jiang Susu’s leg. This sideways movement seemed unintentional but just happened to “bump” into Jiang Li beside her. Jiang Li couldn’t dodge in time and stumbled forward several steps, colliding directly with Jiang Susu. Jiang Susu was unprepared and immediately tumbled toward the water below the boat.
At this moment, Jiang Ruan cried out in alarm and grabbed hold of Jiang Li, who was about to fall into the river along with Jiang Susu. Only a “splash” was heard, and Jiang Susu on the boat had vanished from sight.
Jiang Ruan said to the still-shaken Jiang Li: “Third sister, are you alright?”
Jiang Li shook her head: “How did I stumble just now?” With many people on the boat and her back turned to Jiang Ruan, she naturally didn’t know who had bumped into her. Jiang Ruan shook her head, then suddenly remembered something and shouted loudly: “Oh no! Second sister has fallen into the river!”
At her shout, everyone looked toward the river. In the splashing waves, a person was bobbing up and down in the water—it was indeed Jiang Susu. At this moment, Jiang Susu was soaked through, with water constantly rushing into her mouth and nose. Disregarding all propriety, she shouted loudly: “Help! Save me!”
On the Qingsong boat were quite a few young gentlemen who could swim. Seeing a beauty in distress, they were all eager to try. However, if one were to truly fish Jiang Susu out from the water, it would be equivalent to ruining Jiang Susu’s reputation, and Jiang Susu would inevitably have to marry him afterward. But Minister Jiang was currently at the height of his power in court, and Xia Yan’s maternal family was also prospering. If someone truly wasn’t a suitable match, Minister Jiang might be unwilling to settle his daughter in such a way and might even decide to end it all.
With this thought, some calculating young gentlemen could only stand on the boat and watch.
But who was Jiang Susu? The capital’s foremost talented lady, who had been the capital’s greatest beauty since age seven. Naturally, there were well-matched legitimate sons from noble families who were devoted to her. Seeing the beauty’s strength failing and about to drown, they were ready to jump into the water to heroically save the beauty.
But just at this moment, with a “splash,” a figure suddenly leaped into the water from the opposite shore. Judging by his form, he was an excellent swimmer. He quickly swam to Jiang Susu’s side, supported her with one hand, and swam to the boat.
Jiang Ruan first helped everyone lift Jiang Susu up. After struggling in the water, Jiang Susu was already somewhat unconscious. Then, everyone turned their gazes toward the person who had saved Jiang Susu’s life.
He was a young man of seventeen or eighteen years, with dark skin and reasonably handsome features, but his eyes ultimately betrayed some shrewd intelligence.
Jiang Ruan stood in front of Jiang Susu and said gently: “Young master, thank you for saving Miss Jiang’s life. The Jiang family will send gratitude gifts when we return today.”
The man appeared very agitated: “What gratitude gifts do I want? Quickly see if she’s alright!” After speaking, he moved to step forward.
This behavior naturally led people to speculate endlessly. For a moment, everyone looked at this man with probing gazes. Someone on the Qingsong boat couldn’t restrain himself and couldn’t help asking: “Who are you?”
Jiang Ruan frowned and once again blocked Jiang Susu, saying seriously: “Young master, the Jiang family will always remember your life-saving grace. However, Miss Jiang is also an unmarried young lady. Your approaching her so closely truly breaks propriety.”
She was wholeheartedly thinking of Jiang Susu’s welfare, considering the bigger picture, and her words were appropriate and beautiful. For a moment, everyone around nodded in agreement.
The dark-skinned man became anxious: “She and I are mutually in love. What do you mean ‘approaching closely’? In the future, I will naturally marry her.”
Jiang Ruan smiled sweetly, her voice cold as frost: “What are you saying, young master? I respect your heroic deed, but this behavior makes me feel contempt. Miss Jiang conducts herself with propriety and is exceptionally talented. To speak bluntly, you might find it difficult to match her. You should know that the daughters of the Jiang residence are not for just anyone to marry!”
She wasn’t afraid of this strong and robust man. Actually, from the moment this dark-skinned man spoke these words, the people on the boat didn’t believe him. Someone of Jiang Susu’s caliber, with such high standards, could never, publicly or privately, take notice of such a rough man.
At this moment, Jiang Susu was lying flat on the ground, listening drowsily to everyone’s conversation, still not knowing what had happened.
The dark-skinned man seemed to be driven to anger. He furiously pulled out an embroidered handkerchief from his waist and waved it before everyone: “If you don’t believe me, see for yourselves! This is the handkerchief she gave me. I, Zhou Da, have been in the capital for so many years—would I lie?”
The handkerchief fell before everyone. On it was embroidered a secluded orchid that seemed to emit a faint fragrance, with an exquisite character “Su” embroidered in silver thread in the lower left corner.
Butterfly, Jiang Susu’s personal maid, was startled. She opened her mouth and exchanged glances with Dragonfly, both seeing fear in each other’s eyes.
Everyone fell silent. Although Jiang Susu and this Zhou Da seemed impossible to pair together, it was inevitable that beauties sometimes made mistakes, and moreover, Jiang Susu was still young. If she had been deliberately seduced, it was possible. Faced with evidence, everyone gradually began to waver.
Jiang Ruan said angrily: “What can one handkerchief prove? Perhaps you used some method to steal Miss Jiang’s handkerchief.”
Butterfly hadn’t expected Jiang Ruan to speak up for Jiang Susu. At this moment, she couldn’t care about anything else and immediately followed Jiang Ruan’s words: “Exactly! Our young lady’s handkerchief went missing a few days ago and was never found. So you stole it!”
Zhou Da was quite a character. Seeing this situation, his face flushed red with anger as he said furiously: “She’s an official’s daughter, and I’m just a commoner—how could I steal her handkerchief? Could it be that an official’s daughter mingles with the crowd like a common citizen, waiting for her personal handkerchief to be stolen by me?”
Jiang Ruan smiled slightly. This Zhou Da truly didn’t disappoint her—his adaptability was excellent. Unfortunately, the person Xia Yan had painstakingly found was being used against her own daughter. She wondered what expression Xia Yan would have when news of this reached the Jiang residence.
Zhou Da continued: “If you don’t believe me, then look at her waist. There must be a piece of my green jade there—it’s a family heirloom that I gave her as a token of love.”
Dragonfly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this: “Our young lady has no green jade. What nonsense are you spouting?”
Princess Rong Ya, who had been observing from the sidelines all along, rolled her eyes and walked to Jiang Susu’s side, her manner very concerned: “Why don’t I examine her to clear Miss Jiang’s reputation and leave this villain who wants to sully Miss Jiang’s name with nothing to say?”
Before Butterfly could reach out to stop her, Princess Rong Ya was already reaching toward Jiang Susu’s waist. Jiang Ruan’s charming eyes lifted slightly, a trace of amusement flashing in them. This Princess Rong Ya certainly knew how to handle situations, though it saved her considerable trouble.
Everyone curiously watched Princess Rong Ya, while Butterfly clenched her palms tightly. After a long moment, Princess Rong Ya raised her head, her expression somewhat strange.
She raised her hand, and at her jade-white fingertips dangled a string of green jade beads.
Everyone fell silent. The way they looked at Jiang Susu instantly became meaningful.
Jiang Ruan lowered her head slightly. Look—no matter how much time had passed, this world remained exactly the same as before, with rumors and suspicions, malice and slander. Only now, the one tasting this flavor was Jiang Susu herself.