Ping followed behind Sui'er, while He'er followed her mother with a look of disapproval.

Seeing Miao'er with that wilted flower, He'er scolded in a low voice, "Miao'er, this isn't our own home. How can you be fooling around with your third sister?"

Miao'er ignored He'er's scolding and said with a smile, "Oh, big sister, when you come out to play, you should always be happy. I think our Sui'er really likes me, that's why she gave me this flower. Besides, big sister, look, there's such a big patch over there, what's wrong with picking a couple?"

He'er was surprised that Miao'er would refute her like that. Her face turned red and her eyes reddened. Although Ping was exchanging pleasantries with Madam Chen, her attention was always on her own children. Seeing He'er's expression, she knew that she had been angered by her younger sister again. She shook her head and said helplessly to Miao'er, "Miao'er, you have to listen to what your older sister says."

Miao'er answered crisply, took the other flower from Sui'er's hand, and tucked it into He'er's hair. She smiled and said, "Big sister, Sui'er picked two flowers so that one can be given to each of you, right, Sui'er?"

When Miao'er asked her, Sui'er quickly nodded in agreement. He'er knew that her two younger sisters had always been very fond of her, but she thought that she couldn't be laughed at for picking someone else's flowers in such a situation, so she said a few words to Miao'er.

Seeing that the three children were alright, Ping Shi turned her attention to listening to Madam Shen talking to her.

Xu Zhi's attention was focused on the three children of the Feng family, and she didn't notice what Madam Chen was saying. Suddenly, she heard a commotion in the distance. Looking up, she saw that someone had fallen into the water far away.

The pond was quite deep. Several ladies stood by the pond, sending people to search for their children while discussing how deep it was. The owner of the garden had several boats in the pond, each with a skilled female boatwoman, so there was no need to worry about anything happening. However, for young women, not only was the water quite cold, but their summer clothes were also very thin. If they fell into the water, their figures would be fully exposed, and if a man saw them, it would tarnish their reputation. Wasn't Shen Mingwan a prime example? She was pushed into the water, and the Third Prince, a member of the royal family, had to rescue her. Everyone knew what he was up to, but it was a very practical method. How many women had to reluctantly marry because of such accidents?

Hong Gu leaned close to Xu Zhi and whispered, "It's a girl from the second branch of the Yun family. Shi Liu has already gone to rescue her."

Xu Zhi looked at Hong Gu in surprise. Hong Gu nodded and said, "Just now I saw several men over there. I was afraid something might happen, so I sent Shi Liu over to check. With Shi Liu's skills, saving people is a piece of cake."

Xu Zhi glanced at Madam Shen, who was standing anxiously by the pond. Perhaps sensing that someone was watching her, Madam Shen turned around and Xu Zhi could see schadenfreude in her eyes. For a moment, Xu Zhi lost interest. Madam Shen was probably taking revenge because the Yun family had not sided with the Third Prince as she wished.

Ping pulled He'er into her arms, leaned close to Xu Zhi, and said with a look of fear, "How could such a thing happen? The pond is very deep, and the bottom is full of water plants. If a young girl were to fall in, she would be so frightened and scared. How could she bear it?"

Xu Zhi nodded and said, "If another outsider comes to the rescue, the girl's reputation will be tarnished. Then people will insist on her marrying him, and she might have to reluctantly agree to it."

"No way?" Ping looked at Xu Zhi in surprise and said.

Xu Zhi sneered twice and whispered, "Sister-in-law Feng, these are common tropes. Although there are no swords or spears in the power struggles within the inner quarters, they kill without shedding blood. You'll see soon enough."

Soon, the boatwomen steered several tour boats over, picked up a few people, and headed towards the flower hall, where a waterfront platform had been built, which was also where several tour boats usually moored.

Ming Shi was being helped out of the flower hall by her personal attendants, stumbling along. She must have known that the one who fell into the water was her daughter. Xu Zhi had heard Ping Shi mention that Ming Shi had a thirteen-year-old daughter who was currently being looked after by a potential husband.

When the boat docked, a flower maid on board called out loudly: "Please help your young lady get two changes of clothes, Second Madam of the Yun family. Madam who rented the garden today, please come aboard. My steward has important matters to discuss with you."

Ming and two maids carried two large bundles of clothes to the bed. Madam Shen followed and boarded another boat. Ping said anxiously, "I wonder who saved the Yun family's daughter. The Yun family's daughter has such a good nature. Ninth Sister, do you think there really was a man from another family in the garden?"

Xu Zhi gently waved the round fan in her hand, raised her chin at Madam Shen who had already boarded the flower boat, and said, "See? She was invited onto the boat by the garden manager, wasn't she? I guess a man has sneaked in. Otherwise, shouldn't the manager come over and apologize to Madam Shen in person?"

Ping nodded, and after a while, she saw a rather weak figure being helped off the boat by two maids. Ming followed behind. She did not go into the flower hall, but went straight to the garden gate. When she got to Xu Zhi, Ming bowed deeply to Xu Zhi and said, "I will personally visit to thank you for saving my life, Madam, another day."

Xu Zhi quickly helped her up and said with a smile, "Since Shiliu didn't tell anyone about her, it means she doesn't want outsiders to know about her saving people. Madam, you should go home quickly. I think your young lady is frightened. You should comfort her properly."

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