Shen Lingzhen’s leap was certainly not meant to rescue Huo Liuxing.

Although she was a native of Bianjing with naturally decent swimming ability, she was still ultimately a sheltered young lady of a noble family. How could she have any experience diving into rivers? To fish out an adult man weighing nearly twice as much as herself in such poor visibility at night was simply absurd.

She understood this point, yet still jumped without hesitation because at the moment Huo Liuxing fell into the water, she suddenly comprehended all the elements of tonight’s events.

Though she didn’t understand the current situation at court, Shen Lingzhen had at least read many historical texts and somewhat understood the principle of achievements so great they threaten the sovereign.

The phrase “loving the people like one’s own children” was originally mostly used for those in positions of power. Yet tonight Zhao Xun said the common people of Qingzhou used it to describe Huo Liuxing’s father, elevating the Huo family to be revered by both man and god—clearly implying something.

Combined with her recent discovery of Huo Liuxing’s secret, she was especially attentive to this. Zhao Xun’s uninvited act of diagnosing him planted a seed of unease in her heart.

After that, touring the night market, seeing Zhao Xun voluntarily dismiss his attendants, entering the teahouse, then comparing the fighting situation between enemy and ally… in her view, his intentions were already abundantly clear.

Though unclear about the reasons behind it, Shen Lingzhen speculated that her cousin had gone through such elaborate trouble to stage an entire evening’s performance precisely to test whether Huo Liuxing’s legs were truly good or bad.

Only the medical examination didn’t work, the assassination didn’t work, leaving ultimately just one path—forcing Huo Liuxing into the heart of the river, triggering a person’s survival instinct.

Falling into water in haste, burdened by a soaking wet outer robe, with assassins threatening nearby—even someone originally skilled at swimming, if unable to use their legs properly, would absolutely have no easy way to turn themselves over.

One could imagine that if Shen Lingzhen stood by idly, the remaining assassins would certainly entangle Zhao Xun, Kongqing, and Jianjia, leaving them no time to rescue anyone.

Huo Liuxing would be forced into a corner, having to choose either death or exposure, confirming the crime of deceiving the sovereign.

But now everything had become different.

Shen Lingzhen remembered that before entering the teahouse, Zhao Xun had suggested she return to the mansion first. This indicated that her presence as his cousin perhaps hindered his plan to some extent.

And before that cup-smashing signal in the teahouse, he had specifically said—I’m fine, just make sure they don’t accidentally hurt my cousin.

This seemingly casual remark was more likely reminding the assassins lurking around to ensure her safety.

Zhao Xun dared not let anything happen to her. As long as she jumped into the river, he would either hint for the assassins to promptly withdraw so Kongqing and Jianjia could break through and dive in, or he would send hidden attendants to reinforce them. In any case, he certainly wouldn’t do nothing.

And as long as someone came to save her, naturally someone would also save Huo Liuxing. Otherwise, Zhao Xun would likely be unable to shirk responsibility.

Shen Lingzhen’s calculations were extremely clever. The moment she rushed out, she was full of confidence. Only heroes aren’t so easy to be.

Driven by a determination to repay a debt of gratitude, she rushed too urgently and quickly. When leaping down into the river, her ankle caught on the railing. Her graceful form was lost as she fell down all crooked and twisted.

The actual situation entering the river was also far from what she’d imagined. Plunging headfirst like this, she had no time to hold her breath before choking on water first.

After finally recovering somewhat and lifting her head up, her clothes had absorbed water, dragging her down so she could barely move her limbs. Forget finding Huo Liuxing in this pitch-black river—just thrashing about to keep herself from sinking already exhausted all her strength.

Even worse, after thrashing about for just a bit, her feet became entangled in underwater plants. As she struggled, foul-smelling river water poured mouthful after mouthful into her nose, wearing down her will.

Shen Lingzhen gazed hazily at the chaotic scene of people and horses tumbling on the shore, knowing in her heart she couldn’t hold on much longer.

Fortunately, her initial judgment hadn’t been wrong.

The cry of “husband” she’d shouted before rushing out had attracted everyone present’s attention in the first moment. Seeing the situation change, Zhao Xun quickly caused the fighting situation to reverse.

In her urgency, Jianjia kicked over two large men with one foot, desperately hacking and slashing before leaping into the river in a single bound. She swiftly swam to her side, supporting her head above water: “Young Madam!”

Having gained support, Shen Lingzhen clutched Jianjia’s belt tightly, gasping heavily: “Hus… husband, where is he…”

“Kongqing has already gone to rescue him.” Seeing her consciousness still intact, Jianjia breathed a sigh of relief, kicking her feet to gradually bring her toward the shore.

As soon as Shen Lingzhen was lifted onto the shore, she collapsed, retching violently at the railing until the world spun around her. When she finally recovered through eyes full of tears, she discovered that Zhao Xun’s attendants had already arrived and killed off the last few assassins.

Zhao Xun’s arm was injured. An attendant was treating his wound while also sending a cloak over to Jianjia.

Jianjia hurriedly wrapped it tightly around the soaking wet Shen Lingzhen.

The scene strewn with corpses was a complete mess. After a long while, Shen Lingzhen came to her senses, caught sight of a blood-drenched corpse at her feet, and vomited violently.

Seeing her wretched state, Jianjia probably wouldn’t care to show courtesy even if the Emperor himself came, let alone concern herself with Zhao Xun. Supporting her up, she made to leave.

Shen Lingzhen’s mouth was dry and parched, unable to speak. She pointed with her finger toward the riverbank, as if asking whether Huo Liuxing had been saved, but was shouted back by the anxious and worried Jianjia: “You should take care of yourself first!”

Shen Lingzhen refused to leave. Not knowing where the strength came from, she broke free from her and walked toward the riverbank. After just a few steps, she happened to see Kongqing emerge head-first from underwater, supporting Huo Liuxing’s arm and dragging him onto shore.

Seeing that Huo Liuxing was safe and sound, her tense heartstrings relaxed. Only then did she belatedly realize her ankle hurt terribly, as if swollen into a large lump.

Not knowing about it before, she could still bounce around caring about others’ fate. But once she became aware of her injury, heart-rending pain immediately spread throughout her body. Shen Lingzhen only felt dark stars gradually appearing before her eyes, dizzy and confused, half-unconsciously saying: “Jian… Jianjia, I’m about to faint…”

“Young Madam—!”

——

After surviving the calamity, Shen Lingzhen had another nightmare. In the dream was a dark underwater depth floating with dust and fine grass. She fell into an abyss, continuously sinking, desperately calling for help but unable to make a sound.

No one ever pulled her up.

When she startled awake after sinking to the very bottom, she only felt her entire body aching and weak as if falling apart, hurting everywhere.

Shen Lingzhen opened her eyes in confusion on the bed, first seeing a blurry halo of light, seemingly red candles burning. As her vision slowly focused, she could make out that it was a pair of eyes reflecting the candlelight.

These eyes gazed at her, the look in them as complex as if a hundred emotions were interwoven.

Shen Lingzhen couldn’t distinguish what it was.

In any case, it wasn’t tender affection like water, nor heart-wrenching worry. It wasn’t any kind she had imagined.

In their mutual gaze, it was instead she, the injured and ill person, who spoke first: “Husband… are you injured?”

Huo Liuxing sat in his wheelchair, brows knitted into a knot, and shook his head: “No.”

Shen Lingzhen breathed out a sigh of relief. Zhao Xun had been wounded, sacrificed so many men, yet in the end Huo Liuxing was completely unharmed instead.

She laughed in a hoarse voice: “I knew you were very capable.”

Huo Liuxing’s brows knitted even tighter: “Knew that, yet still jumped down?”

Seeing this posture as if he was about to scold her, she quickly changed the subject: “You’re so modest before the Fourth Prince, but the moment I praise your capability, you admit it? Is your modesty all an act?”

Yet unexpectedly, these words truly stumped Huo Liuxing.

What did he mean “only modesty was an act”?

His refined elegance like jade, his courteous manners, his cautious prudence—not a single thing was genuine.

For an instant, Huo Liuxing’s eyes held a desolation from who knows where, but very quickly recovered to an unperturbed appearance.

He said half-truthfully, half-falsely: “Yes, all an act. So don’t be foolish again in the future. I’m not so easy to kill.”

Even Shen Lingzhen could detect something amiss about tonight; how could Huo Liuxing possibly have had no precautions beforehand?

Zhao Xun thought his arrival was sudden, intending to catch him off guard. But in fact, as early as when the gatekeeper reported the Fourth Prince’s arrival, he had guessed his intentions and ordered Kongqing to seal his acupoints with needles for himself, passing through Lu Yang’s diagnosis.

After the teahouse attack, he was in control from beginning to end. That fall into the water was merely turning the tables.

He was certain Zhao Xun absolutely dared not truly take his life. When all was said and done, this performance was nothing more than a contest of who could endure better.

For him, every element of tonight had been within expectations. The only unexpected thing was Shen Lingzhen.

“But I think I was quite smart tonight…” Shen Lingzhen protested that phrase “being foolish,” muttering, “It’s just I’ve never had experience jumping into rivers before, so I didn’t do it very well. Next time…”

“There’ll be a next time?” Huo Liuxing raised his eyebrows, interrupting her.

She quickly shook her head.

With this shake, she noticed her head felt terribly heavy and dizzy, with something cool seemingly applied to her forehead.

Huo Liuxing extended one finger to press against her forehead: “You have a slight fever. This is a cooling cloth to drive out the heat. Don’t let it fall off.”

Only then did Shen Lingzhen remember her injuries. Trying to shift her legs, she discovered the ankle area seemed to have been medicated and bound with bandages, no longer hurting as much as before.

“Husband, my foot…”

“Fortunately it’s only a sprain, the bone wasn’t injured. Resting for ten days to two weeks should allow recovery.”

Shen Lingzhen’s eyes held a smile: “Did you treat my injury?”

Huo Liuxing said with amusement: “Yes.” When it came to treating injuries, naturally no one here had greater skill than him.

Shen Lingzhen was about to say something more when he stopped her: “It’s the third watch of the night. Sleep well, lest the fever rise.”

“Won’t you sleep?”

“The Fourth Prince was injured and is currently resting at the mansion. I still have some matters to handle.”

“All right.” Shen Lingzhen thought for a moment. “Then can you call Jianjia and Bailu in? I’m a bit…”

She didn’t say the word “afraid” aloud, but this was human nature—Huo Liuxing naturally understood. Yet he didn’t immediately summon the maids, but instead said: “I’ll leave after you fall asleep.”

Not daring to delay his important business, upon hearing this, Shen Lingzhen quickly closed her eyes: “Then I’ll fall asleep right away.”

She was originally exhausted. Before long she truly fell into a deep sleep. Only as Huo Liuxing was about to leave, he saw her hands suddenly begin waving about in midair, as if still struggling in water in her dreams.

Seeing that with one wave she was about to strike hard against the bed rail, without thinking further, he abruptly stood up from his wheelchair, caught her hands and tucked them back under the covers, gently patting her: “All right, you’re ashore now.”

Having done this, Huo Liuxing stood beside the bed looking down at his own legs, furrowing his brow.