The banquet that was difficult to endure for Chen Yi was quite different for the other noble ladies.

Eating and drinking, lively and bustling, with beautiful clothes and exquisite jewelry all having their place, and being able to exchange confidences and gossip with friends—how could it be boring?

After they had eaten their fill, Tang Wei suggested with a smile, “Princess, didn’t one of the sika deer in Bamboo Garden just give birth to a fawn? Take us to see it.”

Little Princess Qi Qiong instinctively frowned slightly.

She and her second brother were twins. Today was her birthday and also her second brother’s birthday. She was entertaining the noble ladies with a banquet in Jade Garden, while her second brother was hosting the young gentlemen in Bamboo Garden.

The prince’s mansion’s Jade Garden and Bamboo Garden were separated by a long wall with a moon gate passage. Going to Bamboo Garden to see the deer would be very convenient, but there was a possibility of running into people from her second brother’s side.

The Great Zhou’s social customs were open, and young men and women socializing together wasn’t considered improper, but in her own home, Qi Qiong naturally preferred to avoid unnecessary complications.

Tang Wei’s suggestion undoubtedly aroused the interest of the assembled ladies.

“A newborn fawn? That must be adorable.”

“I also want to raise a few fawns, but Mother won’t agree.”

Tang Wei held Qi Qiong’s hand. “Princess, take us to see it.”

Seeing the anticipation in everyone’s eyes, Qi Qiong smiled. “Then everyone, please follow me.”

The ladies looked excited as they surrounded Qi Qiong and headed toward Bamboo Garden.

Lin Hao was eating yangmei when Lin Chan pulled her up.

“Elder Sister, can’t we not go?”

Watching fawns wasn’t as good as going home to see Lin Xiaohua.

Lin Chan glanced at her sister. “Everyone is going. There’s no point in us staying behind. Let’s go.”

Watching fawns might not be interesting, but in situations like this, going with the flow was the safest approach.

Chen Yi, who had been sitting dazed, was also pulled up by her two friends. In the blink of an eye, the lively Jade Garden became deserted, leaving only the blue-robed maids silently clearing the messy tables.

Passing through a moon gate, they entered Bamboo Garden.

Bamboo Garden was considerably larger than Jade Garden. Looking around, bamboo groves stretched in every direction, with sounds of conversation and laughter faintly audible.

Qi Qiong led the ladies along a green stone path through the forest. After emerging from this bamboo grove, they came upon a sizable artificial lake. The lakeside was covered with lush grass, and several free-roaming sika deer were leisurely walking about.

“Look quickly, over there!” A noble lady pointed excitedly in one direction.

A small fawn stayed close to its mother. Seeing people approaching, it shyly hid behind her.

“The fawn is actually shy!”

“Princess, can we feed it?”

Qi Qiong smiled and shook her head. “The fawn was only born a few days ago and is still nursing. You can feed the adult deer.”

Several noble ladies broke off tree leaves to feed the deer.

Qi Qiong watched with a smile, waiting for the ladies to lose interest before returning to Jade Garden.

Tang Wei quickly lost interest and pulled Qi Qiong toward the lakeside. “Let’s take a walk. I ate too much just now.”

Qi Qiong lowered her eyes in agreement, concealing the mockery in them.

She knew it—Tang Wei’s intentions were elsewhere. Coming to see the fawn was false; hoping to encounter her elder brother or second brother was the real reason.

The reason she mentioned both brothers was because Qi Qiong was quite confused about which one Tang Wei actually liked.

Earlier when Second Miss Lin had fallen over the wall in front of her elder brother, Tang Wei found Second Miss Lin disagreeable in every way. Just now, hearing that her second brother had brought their cousin to the capital, she showed no pleasant face to the cousin either.

She was jealous of young ladies who had any connection with either brother—it was utterly bewildering.

Could she possibly like both brothers?

Thinking of this possibility, Qi Qiong’s expression changed slightly, her disgust for Tang Wei nearly showing through.

Seeing they were about to circle around to the other side of the lake, Qi Qiong decisively turned back. “Let’s walk back. Going too far is tiring.”

She thought Tang Wei would find reasons to object, but unexpectedly Tang Wei smiled and agreed.

“Princess, in a few days let’s go boating on Lake Moyou.”

“All right.”

The two chatted and laughed as they walked back, with Cousin Sun Xiuhua following silently behind.

Tang Wei suddenly looked back at Sun Xiuhua and said coolly, “Why is Miss Sun following behind? Those who don’t know might think you’re a little maid.”

Sun Xiuhua’s face showed embarrassment, but she didn’t dare say anything.

She could see that even her noble cousin tolerated this Miss Tang in many ways—where would she get the confidence to confront her directly?

Sun Xiuhua silently walked forward several steps.

By a weeping willow at the lakeside, Lin Chan finally had a chance to ask Lin Hao, “When did you start having dealings with Miss Chen?”

Lin Hao played with a willow branch and glanced in Chen Yi’s direction. “One day on the street I had a small misunderstanding with Miss Chen. I just went to explain and clear it up.”

“I see.” Lin Chan smiled. “No wonder you two chatted by the roses for so long.”

“Don’t worry, Elder Sister. I have a sense of propriety in dealing with people.”

The two sisters were talking when several screams suddenly rang out.

“Someone’s fallen in the water!”

Lin Hao looked in that direction. Many people had already gathered there, and a pink figure was struggling in the lake.

Lin Hao and Lin Chan exchanged glances and walked over.

“Who is it?” Many noble ladies asked.

Qi Qiong was already so anxious that sweat beaded on her forehead. “Quickly, someone save my cousin!”

The one who had fallen in was actually Sun Xiuhua.

Hearing the commotion, maids hurried off to call for help.

Those present watched the person bobbing in the water, anxious yet helpless.

These girls born and raised in the capital, including the prince’s mansion maids, didn’t know how to swim.

With no other choice, the ladies could only call out loudly, “Come quickly, Miss Sun has fallen in the water!”

It was still necessary to make clear who had fallen in the water to avoid implicating themselves.

“Save… save me…” Sun Xiuhua called out once before the water covered her head.

Qi Qiong stamped her foot anxiously, leaning forward and stretching out her hand with effort. “Cousin, grab my hand!”

Sun Xiuhua’s two hands flailed uselessly, only making her drift farther from the shore.

“Why hasn’t anyone come yet?” Qi Qiong’s face turned pale, her heart burning with anxiety.

Her cousin had just arrived in the capital. To say they had deep sisterly affection would be a lie, but if she drowned before their eyes, it would be impossible to face either the consort mother or her own conscience.

Qi Qiong was about to cry from anxiety, yet could only watch helplessly as Sun Xiuhua drifted farther and farther from shore.

“She’s going under, she’s going under!”

The ladies cried out, with the more timid ones covering their faces, unable to watch.

It seemed Miss Sun wouldn’t be able to wait for someone who could swim to come rescue her.

Lin Hao also confirmed this point. Sighing inwardly, she quickly removed the hairpins she was wearing and stuffed them into Lin Chan’s hands.

“Younger Sister, what are you going to—”

Before Lin Chan could finish, Lin Hao pushed through the surrounding noble ladies and leaped in.

The noble ladies covering their faces instinctively released their hands when they heard the splash of someone entering the water, only to see another person now in the lake.

Several screams shot toward the heavens. “Oh no, Second Miss Lin has also fallen into the lake!”

“Younger Sister!” Lin Chan immediately lost all reason and was about to rush into the lake.

A noble lady beside her held her back. “Miss Lin, don’t be impulsive!”

“Let go, I need to pull my sister up!” Lin Chan cried as she pushed away the person blocking her.

“But Second Miss Lin seems to know how to swim…”

Lin Chan’s crying paused. She stared blankly at the figure nimbly swimming toward Sun Xiuhua.

Before the ladies could recover from the shock that Second Miss Lin knew how to swim, they heard Qi Qiong’s voice rise in a startled cry that changed pitch. “Elder Brother!”

On the other side of the lake, the Heir of Prince Jing rushed over and dove headfirst into the water.