She blinked, then blinked again, still shaken.

There really was such a thing as qinggong (lightweight martial arts) in ancient times!

Just now, to avoid being discovered and affecting her reputation, Long Jingyu actually carried her all the way back.

Sang Jiang didn't even have time to feel shy. By the time she realized what was happening, she was already standing steadily at the entrance of Jinghe Palace.

Seeing that Sang Jiang was standing blankly at the door without going in, Sang Ruo stood up, ran to the door, and pulled Sang Jiang inside.

"You all go outside and keep watch." Sang Ruo turned around and looked at the palace maids who were looking at her with curiosity.

"Yes." The palace maids responded and withdrew, leaving only Kou'er and Wanqing.

Sang Ruo looked at Sang Jiang and asked directly, "Are you alright?"

Sang Jiang blinked: "I'm fine."

Sang Ruo: ...

Kou'er: ...

Wanqing: ...

"Where did you go? Why did Shadow tell Kou'er that you were taken away by the Eighth Prince?"

"Oh, it's just a small matter. Eighth Prince, could you please help me out?" Sang Jiang said casually.

"Your clothes?" Sang Ruo pointed at Sang Jiang's clothes with an indescribable expression.

"Oh, so she fell into the water, but was saved by the Eighth Prince."

She dared not say that she jumped herself, otherwise she would be closely watched.

Upon hearing the words "fell into the water," Sang Ruo immediately became anxious: "How could you have fallen into the water? Are you sure you fell in by yourself? Are you injured?"

When Kou'er heard the words "drowned," she became anxious. She wanted to go forward to check on Sang Jiang, but seeing Sang Ruo there, she didn't dare to go forward.

Sang Jiang watched as she patiently answered her questions one by one: "I just slipped and fell. I'm sure I fell by myself. I wasn't hurt, you see?"

As he spoke, he spun around in front of Sang Ruo to show her.

Sang Ruo was relieved after confirming that Kou'er was alright. She then instructed Kou'er, "From now on, you don't need to do anything else. Just keep an eye on your young lady and make sure nothing else happens."

"This servant understands." Kou'er curtsied.

After Sang Jiang finished explaining, she yawned widely and said, "I'm going back to sleep for a while."

She hadn't slept all night, and after all that commotion, she just wanted to sleep and get back to work.

Seeing that she looked really sleepy, Sang Ruo simply waved her hand and told her to go back.

...

"Are you serious?" The Empress put away her hands that were applying nail polish and looked at the young palace maid who had just returned in disbelief.

The young palace maid nodded quickly: "This servant is certain. This servant has been watching the whole time. Sang Jiang did indeed jump into the lake, and then she was rescued by the Eighth Prince."

The Empress looked at Lin Mama beside her, her expression somewhat indescribable.

There was a hint of smugness, a touch of excitement, and a sense of calculation.

Lin Mama slipped a bag of loose silver to the young palace maid: "Well done. Keep an eye on them. Our Empress will not mistreat you."

The young palace maid didn't stand on ceremony; she accepted the bag of loose silver and knelt down to express her gratitude: "This servant thanks Your Majesty the Empress. This servant will certainly serve Your Majesty with utmost devotion."

"Go ahead." The Queen casually waved her hands twice.

"This servant takes her leave."

After the palace maid finished speaking, she immediately withdrew.

In a good mood, the Empress once again extended her hand to another palace maid who was doing her nails. Her hands were already extremely beautiful, but now, with the addition of bright red nail polish, they appeared even whiter and more delicate.

She looked at Lin Mama beside her and said softly, "Lin Mama, since our Fourth Miss and the Eighth Prince are so in love, why not let them be together?"

"Your Majesty is right." Lin Mama nodded and laughed along with the Empress.

...

Sang Jiang slept straight through until evening. When she woke up, she saw Sang Ru sitting next to her with a gloomy face.

She blinked, looking at Sang Ruo with a puzzled expression: "Why are you looking at me like that? Did I dig up your ancestral graves?"

Sang Ruo glared at her and said, "Isn't my home your home?! You still have the nerve to talk to me about this? Do you know what people outside are saying?"

Sang Jiang looked at her, puzzled: "What did you say?"