The woman in the water wore a tender yellow dress, the most fashionable style in the capital, with layer upon layer, like a yellow peony.

Only the woman was struggling too violently, making the yellow peony rise and fall quite pitifully.

Xiao Xun knew that girl was extremely afraid of water. He had experienced it the last time. Last time was just about rescuing someone with no other intentions, so he had immediately lifted her up. But this time, Xiao Xun was determined to teach this girl a lesson—let her drink a few mouthfuls of water.

After all, she wouldn’t thank him for saving her life anyway.

It was like that last time, and it would surely be the same this time. Xiao Xun was very clear about this in his heart.

It didn’t matter. Last time he didn’t want her to thank him for saving her life, and this time he didn’t either.

He just wanted everyone to see that he had saved her, that was all.

He sat in the spot Chu Lan had arranged, closest to the drowning location, watching with his own eyes as that girl and another girl walked over—the steward beside him said she was their eldest young lady.

“Miss Ah Tang is most reliable in her work,” the steward said with some pride. “She’s already coaxed Miss Ah Zhao into obedient compliance.”

Obedient? Xiao Xun felt those two words simply didn’t exist in that girl’s heart.

However, no matter how bad-tempered someone was, they still liked being coaxed. As long as one coaxed with care, they could always succeed.

The two girls walked past chatting and laughing. Not long after, a scream was heard, followed by someone falling into the water—

It had begun.

Xiao Xun stood up at the same time. Tie Ying grabbed his arm, leading him to jump down from the high pavilion, then flung him. Xiao Xun borrowed the momentum to fly into the lake water.

At that moment, Chu Lan’s steward was still standing in the pavilion, not yet reacting.

The yellow peony had already sunk down. Only then did Xiao Xun dive underwater. He reached out and caught the sinking girl—

Just like before, suddenly grasping at a lifeline, the girl coiled around him like a water snake.

Xiao Xun raised his hand and punched. The girl leaned back, her hair flying, revealing her face.

Underwater, Xiao Xun’s eyes widened instantly.

Her!

……

……

Chu Tang’s eyes were wide open, suffocation making her face flush red.

She had no way to make a sound. Her mouth was tightly covered by one hand, and she couldn’t move either, because another hand pressed her into a crevice in the artificial mountain.

Chu Tang heard a splash from outside, heard A’Le’s shrill scream, heard the clamor of voices, followed immediately by another splash.

Everything was as she had imagined.

The difference was that in her imagination, she should be in the water right now, not pressed by Chu Zhao into a crevice in the artificial mountain.

She hadn’t even had time to react to what was happening.

She and her parents had discussed it—she would lure Chu Zhao over so she could know the drowning location her parents had arranged.

After Prince Zhongshan arrived and received the signal, she would call Chu Zhao over—have her tripped beside the drowning location, then she would walk to the drowning spot and it would be her who fell into the water instead.

To be absolutely certain, she had deliberately worn the same dress as Chu Zhao underneath.

But after handing the account book to Chu Zhao for her to look at here, then making an excuse to fetch something, unexpectedly as soon as she turned around, she was grabbed by Chu Zhao, dragged under the artificial mountain, and stuffed into the crevice.

Though shocked, Chu Tang wasn’t confused. In an instant, she understood—Chu Zhao knew everything.

I was wrong! She shook her head, making muffled sounds.

Chu Zhao actually understood and smiled at her, removing the hand covering her mouth.

Chu Tang gasped for breath, but besides gasping, she didn’t shout, didn’t cry out, didn’t speak. She listened to A’Le’s shrill shouts from outside.

“Miss—”

……

……

Standing by the lakeside, A’Le stamped her feet in panic. After the first shout of “Miss,” the rest were just cries for help and incoherent sounds, until the woman who had fallen into the water was lifted to the surface by someone.

Crowds surged over from all directions in the garden. Everyone’s gaze was concerned and anxious. Seeing this scene, they all let out cheers.

A’Le shouted “Miss” again, but this time she wasn’t looking at the water surface—she was looking behind her.

“Miss—” she shouted. “Linlong has been rescued—”

The onlookers were stunned for a moment. Linlong?

Who was Linlong?

Wasn’t it Chu Zhao who fell into the water?

Everyone’s gaze followed A’Le’s to look behind, seeing Chu Zhao emerge from behind the nearby artificial mountain, still holding an account book in her hands, her expression shocked.

“What happened?” she shouted loudly. “Ah Tang and I were checking accounts. Didn’t I tell you to go watch the arena first?”

“We were just going!” A’Le shouted at the top of her voice. “Because we were too anxious and afraid of delays, we walked especially fast. Linlong accidentally stepped into empty space and fell into the lake.”

Chu Zhao had already rushed over, standing by the lakeside, looking at the person who had fallen into the water being supported to shore, and at the rescuer.

“Fortunately, someone saved Linlong,” A’Le shouted again from behind. “I don’t know who this hero is!”

Since it wasn’t Chu Zhao who fell into the water, the onlookers all relaxed considerably. Moreover, the maidservant who fell in had already been rescued, so everyone’s attention turned to the rescuer.

Who was it?

Such quick reactions.

Such decisive entry into the water.

Clearly an excellent swimmer, lifting the person up in just a few moves.

It was a young master. His brocade white garments floated in the water like clouds. His jet-black hair drifted behind him, revealing a smooth forehead and a high-bridged nose. He pressed his lips together, deep dimples appearing on his cheeks, like an immortal from the Luo River.

So many people came and went through Chu Garden, and anyone with outstanding talent and appearance had already been remembered by everyone. Yet this young man was being seen for the first time.

Which talented young master could this be?

Chu Zhao stood on the shore, looking down at the person in the water, her expression surprised: “Your Highness!”

Your Highness?

The people around were stunned upon hearing this.

The Da Xia Emperor’s line had always had few offspring. There weren’t many who could be called “Your Highness,” and even fewer in the capital. Could it be—

“Prince Zhongshan!” A’Le immediately shouted loudly after Chu Zhao, her voice loud enough for everyone in Chu Garden to hear. “It’s actually you!”

Prince Zhongshan! It’s actually Prince Zhongshan!

Prince Zhongshan came to Chu Garden!

Chu Garden erupted in commotion.

……

……

The clamor flew over walls and buildings into Chu Lan’s study. Chu Lan, who had already retreated to the doorway, took another step backward.

The steward was panicked, and Jiang Shi was also at a loss.

“Master, please go over quickly,” they urged.

“At this point, what would I go over there for?” Chu Lan murmured.

Things had happened as arranged, yet were completely different. The one who fell into the water wasn’t Chu Zhao, and Xiao Xun, who should have been watching from the sidelines, had actually gone to rescue someone.

“No matter what, Your Highness saved someone. As the host family, we should go thank him,” Jiang Shi said. “Treat him as an honored guest.”

Though Chu Lan still hadn’t figured out exactly what went wrong, he also guessed that something was wrong with the entire affair. He flung his sleeves: “I know nothing. Just say I’m ill and cannot see anyone!”

……

……

However, even without Chu Lan and his wife appearing, Chu Garden could handle things appropriately.

After Chu Zhao identified the rescuer, she had servants immediately pull Xiao Xun from the lake, then sent him indoors where a physician examined and treated him.

On the first day Chu Garden opened for literary gatherings, they had invited physicians to handle situations like brawls or people harming themselves after losing or going mad after winning—these situations had never occurred, but finally the physician was put to use.

Chu Zhao then had A’Le “invite” the steward over—Chu Lan could hide, but the steward couldn’t escape.

After the steward arrived, he was forced to acknowledge: “Your Highness came to observe the literary gathering, not to arrest anyone or assign blame. He has already met with the Master. The Master knows about this.” This reassured everyone.

Yes, everyone calmed down. If Prince Zhongshan had been ordered to arrest people, why would he care if someone from Chu Garden fell into the water? Let them drown—it would be their just deserts.

No one fled Chu Garden, and the panic subsided. Everyone discussed with curiosity and excitement, looking toward where Xiao Xun was, waiting to see him again.