Sun Xiuhua slowly blinked her eyes and looked toward Princess Consort Jing.

Princess Consort Jing held her hand and asked again.

Sun Xiuhua struggled internally for a moment before saying with embarrassment: “I don’t know how, but my foot slipped and I fell into the lake… I’ve troubled Aunt and Cousin.”

Why had she fallen into the water? Could it be that her cousin walking beside her hadn’t noticed anything at all?

But her cousin said nothing.

What else could she say? Should she tell them that Second Miss Tang Wei of Wuning Marquis Manor had deliberately tripped her, causing her to fall into the water, and ask her aunt to seek justice for her?

Sun Xiuhua laughed mockingly at herself in her heart.

What was she anyway—just an orphaned girl dependent on others’ charity. Would her aunt offend Wuning Marquis Manor, offend the Crown Princess, offend the Crown Prince for her sake?

If she spoke up, her aunt couldn’t do anything. Because of her powerlessness, she might even blame her for being inconsiderate instead.

She wasn’t so tactless.

Princess Consort Jing patted Sun Xiuhua’s hand: “How could you be troubling us? It’s a great fortune that you’re alright.”

“Aunt, I want to sleep for a while.”

Princess Consort Jing tucked in the blanket corners for Sun Xiuhua and gently instructed: “Sleep after drinking the cold-dispelling soup.”

Sun Xiuhua obediently nodded.

Only then did Princess Consort Jing feel relieved and left with Qi Qiong.

After exiting the door, Qi Qiong said: “Mother is much gentler with Cousin than with us.”

Princess Consort Jing glared at her daughter: “Don’t you see how much your cousin suffered today? I haven’t had time to mention—you were drinking at Jade Garden, so how did you end up running to Bamboo Garden?”

If they hadn’t gone to Bamboo Garden, there wouldn’t have been any incident of falling into the water.

Qi Qiong sneered coldly: “It was all Tang Wei’s doing—she insisted on going to Bamboo Garden to see the deer. So many noble young ladies had their interest piqued by her, I couldn’t very well refuse.”

Princess Consort Jing frowned: “This Second Miss of Wuning Marquis Manor doesn’t have a good temperament. Stay away from her in the future.”

Qi Qiong looked helpless: “I don’t want to deal with her either, but she always attaches herself to me, and I can’t offend her too severely.”

To outsiders, the Prince’s Manor seemed supremely noble, but she had long known that being in the capital was different from being in the northern territories.

There were some people whom even she, a princess, had to endure.

“So you’re saying Qiong’er doesn’t like Second Miss Tang?” Princess Consort Jing was somewhat surprised.

Second Miss Tang often invited her daughter to socialize together; she had thought the two got along well.

Qi Qiong curled her lips: “Looking across all of the capital, there are probably very few who truly like Tang Wei.”

There were also very few who truly dared to offend her.

Qi Qiong suddenly thought of Lin Hao.

Earlier at Jade Garden, Lin Hao had shown no courtesy whatsoever toward Tang Wei, and honestly, it had been quite refreshing to watch.

“Silly girl.” Princess Consort Jing looked at her daughter with some disappointment in her expression. “Why are you so straightforward? Not liking someone doesn’t mean you have to offend them.”

Qi Qiong blinked.

What surprising statement was Mother about to make now?

“For instance, if she likes Zhang San, you deliberately praise Li Si instead; if she likes touring mountains, you deliberately prefer playing by the water. Getting along becomes unpleasant yet beyond reproach, and over time she’ll stop attaching herself to you.” Princess Consort Jing instructed her daughter.

“Your daughter has learned well.” Qi Qiong thought for a moment. “But what if she likes Big Brother?”

Princess Consort Jing stumbled and nearly fell over.

“Mother, be careful.” Qi Qiong reached out to steady Princess Consort Jing.

Princess Consort Jing grabbed her daughter’s hand, as if she’d received quite a fright: “Which one does she like—your eldest brother or second brother?”

“Your daughter is just worried about this possibility…”

Princess Consort Jing deeply agreed: “Your worry is justified.”

She absolutely did not want Second Miss Tang as a daughter-in-law!

It seemed she needed to hurry up with her two sons’ marriage arrangements.

As mother and daughter talked, they had already arrived at where Lin Hao was temporarily resting.

At this moment, Lin Hao had just changed into dry clothes and was preparing to take her leave and return to the General’s Manor.

Seeing Princess Consort Jing enter, Lin Hao and Lin Chan both curtsied in greeting.

Princess Consort Jing stepped forward and grasped Lin Hao’s hand: “We owe Second Miss Lin such gratitude today.”

“Princess Consort is too kind. I happen to know some swimming, so rescuing Miss Sun was merely a simple task.”

Princess Consort Jing shook her head: “This was hardly a simple task. Even if one knows how to swim, going into the water to save someone carries risks, not to mention with so many people watching.”

Even without considering safety, for a young lady to jump into the water to save someone in public required courage.

For young ladies, there were always more things to be mindful of than men, and they bore more than men did.

“Prince Jing’s Manor will not forget Second Miss Lin’s good deed. If you encounter any trouble in the future, feel free to come find me.”

Hearing that Princess Consort Jing’s words weren’t mere pleasantries, Lin Hao smiled and nodded, then requested to take her leave.

“Qiong’er, see the two Miss Lins out on my behalf.”

After seeing off the Lin sisters, Princess Consort Jing went to Qi Shuo’s quarters.

“Mother, you’ve come.” Second son Qi Huan was also there, and upon seeing Princess Consort Jing enter, he hurriedly greeted her.

Princess Consort Jing looked toward her eldest son who had changed clothes. Seeing his complexion was still good, she finally felt relieved: “I heard you jumped into the lake to save someone—it gave me quite a fright.”

“I made you worry.”

Princess Consort Jing was still dissatisfied: “With so many people there, you weren’t the only one who knew how to swim. Why did you have to show off?”

It wasn’t that others could save but her son couldn’t—but Shuo’er had a heart condition!

Princess Consort Jing shot a glare at her second son: “Doesn’t Huan’er know how to swim? How could you let your elder brother go into the water?”

Qi Huan: “…” To be honest, compared to Big Brother, he always felt like he was adopted.

“Big Brother moved too quickly.” Qi Huan felt somewhat aggrieved. “Before I could react, Big Brother had already jumped in.”

He had even thought he’d mistaken someone—that urgent and decisive figure jumping into the lake was completely unlike his usually composed and calm elder brother.

“By the time we heard the commotion and rushed over, some time had already passed. I was worried that any delay would cause problems.”

This worry made sense, yet Princess Consort Jing still had some doubts in her heart: Everyone knew that prolonged time would cause problems, so why was only Shuo’er the one who jumped in without hesitation?

This showed that Shuo’er was the most kind-hearted—bah, the most anxious.

A suspicion flashed through Princess Consort Jing’s mind: Could Shuo’er have feelings for Xiuhua?

This kind of suspicion couldn’t be asked about directly. Princess Consort Jing decided to quietly observe for some time.

“By the way, why did the reporting maid say someone else rescued you?”

No one in the capital knew that both Shuo’er and Huan’er could swim, and swim quite well at that.

Qi Shuo’s face showed embarrassment: “After jumping into the lake, my leg cramped.”

“I told you not to show off!” Princess Consort Jing felt a wave of fear.

“I won’t dare do it again.” Qi Shuo smiled in acknowledgment and imperceptibly changed the subject. “How are Cousin and Second Miss Lin?”

“Your cousin is fine, and Second Miss Lin has returned home as well.”

Seeing that her eldest son was truly alright, Princess Consort Jing took her leave.

“Big Brother, I’ll head back too.” Qi Huan walked a couple of steps, then turned back. “Big Brother, did your leg really cramp?”

“What else would it be?” Qi Shuo raised an eyebrow.

Qi Huan chuckled: “If I had jumped into the lake only to remember there were two young ladies in the water, my leg would cramp too.”

Not saving them would trouble his conscience, but saving them would likely invite a whole mess of complications. He had only hesitated slightly at the time, and Big Brother had already jumped in.

“I didn’t think that much.” Qi Shuo closed his eyes, his expression somewhat weary.

At that moment, he had only one thought: he didn’t want to see her come to harm again.