Chapter 6: The Great Ghost's First Killer, He Yanli

Qiao Wanyan has taken good care of herself over the years. She has a slender figure and is very light in the water. At this moment, when He Zhiyu held her wrist, he felt that she was as fragile as a feather.

Qiao Wanyan, who had just had a well-behaved smile on her face by the river, gradually turned into a bewildered and confused look. At this moment, she fainted and no longer had any lively expression.

He Zhiyu pulled her closer with force, released her wrist, grasped her slender waist, and swam towards the surface of the water.

He Zhiyu has always been a person as cold and self-restrained as the day after the frost and snow have just cleared, but at this moment, as he embraced the unconscious Qiao Wanyan, he had only one thought in his mind.

The waist is so thin.

Are all women’s waists this thin?

They both floated to the surface of the lake. Ziyuan was anxious on the shore. Qiao Yihuan watched them come up and walked to the lake.

"Your Highness, are you okay?"

Jing Yuan was a man, and although he didn't like Miss Qiao in his heart, he knew that Miss Qiao must have been wet all over after she came up, and as a man and the prince's guard, he absolutely could not watch that.

He turned his back to the lake and observed his surroundings calmly.

He Zhiyu sent Qiao Wanyan to the lake and then went ashore.

Qiao Yihuan felt heartbroken. The lake water was so cold, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince might catch a cold if he went into the water like that.

The same goes for Wanyan. As soon as she recovers from a cold, she will be bedridden again.

Qiao Yihuan handed the cloak to He Zhiyu, "Your Highness, put it on quickly. If your noble body were to catch a cold, it would truly be a sin for our Qiao family."

He Zhiyu took it, but did not put the cloak on himself. Instead, he turned his eyes away, squatted down, and put the cloak on Qiao Wanyan.

The ground was still covered with a layer of snow. He Zhiyu picked her up and hid her whole body in his cloak. Then he helped her drain out the lake water that she had not drunk.

After coughing painfully a few times, Qiao Wanyan slowly opened her eyes.

With wet mist covering his eyes, he glanced around, his body trembling slightly due to excessive shock. After making sure that he was still alive, he buried his face in He Zhiyu's chest and burst into tears.

Qiao Yihuan frowned slightly, and an unknown emotion flashed in the depths of his eyes.

Zi Yuan looked worried about her master, but she was crying out in her heart.

Miss, you did a great job! Miss, you are awesome!

He Zhiyu's body was a little stiff, not because the temperature was too cold, but because Qiao Wanyan buried her head in his chest and cried pitifully and fragilely.

He was not surprised that the noble lady would cry when encountering such a thing, but she cried so pitifully in his arms. For the first time in his life, He Zhiyu knew what it meant to feel pity for someone.

He saw it clearly from behind the rockery just now. Although he couldn't hear their conversation, he could tell that Qiao Wanyan was not pretending in front of him.

Whether in front of him or not, her attitude and expression towards Yihuan were the same.

Instead, Xiaoying pointed at Qiao Wanyan and seemed to be scolding her for something, then pushed her away and pushed her into the water.

He guessed that maybe it was because Qiao Wanyan told the story about Buyao and Shujin that Xiaoying's lie was exposed and she became furious.

If such a maid stays with Yihuan, she will harm Yihuan sooner or later.

Her voice was a little hoarse from crying, and Qiao Wanyan suddenly turned around to look for Xiaoying.

After seeing her, she stretched out her white and tender jade finger and pointed at her, her tone was that of a young lady from a wealthy family, with undisguised coquettishness.

"If you dare to push me into the water, I will tell my mother to sell you out!"

He Zhiyu felt that such a domineering tone was reasonable.

His initial impression of Qiao Wanyan was that of a willful and spoiled young lady. Although she might not be the evil person that Xiaoying described, she definitely had a bit of a temper.

It was only natural for her to say such things when her master was bullied by his servants.

Qiao Yihuan immediately said, "Sister, it's all my fault. I didn't discipline you properly and made you suffer. If you want to blame someone, blame me. Xiaoying has been with me since she was a child. If she was sold out, I really don't know how I would live on."

Qiao Wanyan sobbed and spoke incoherently, "I don't want it! If she dares to push me into the water today, who knows what will happen tomorrow."

He Zhiyu looked at her anxious expression and said in a deep voice: "Yihuan, don't keep a servant like this who doesn't know the rules around you. Today I will find you a reliable person to serve you instead of her."

Qiao Yihuan's eyes widened, full of shock.

She fell to her knees and said, "Your Highness, Xiaoying and I grew up together. We are like sisters. I really can't watch her being sold out."

After she finished speaking, she continued, "Sister, if you are not satisfied, I will jump into the water now to make you satisfied. Is that okay?"

As he said this, he was about to jump into the water.

Ziyuan was so happy in her heart, jump, jump quickly, I wish you would freeze to death!

However, He Zhiyu let go of Qiao Wanyan, took three or two steps to stop her from jumping, with heartache and helplessness in his eyes.

Seeing this, Zi Yuan cursed in her heart, walked over and hugged her young lady tightly, wanting to give her some warmth in this way.

Qiao Wanyan cried, "Sister, why are you forcing me? I'm the one who's been wronged, why do you act like you won't leave anyone a way out?"

Her gaze was scorching, and Qiao Yihuan felt guilty and dared not look at her directly. For a moment, he didn't know what to do.

He Zhiyu lowered his eyes, "Miss Qiao Er has indeed been wronged, and a maidservant who disrespects her master must be punished. I will make the decision for you. Xiaoying, how about fifty strokes of the cane?"

He said that he was making the decision for Qiao Wanyan, but everyone present knew who he was making the decision for.

Qiao Wanyan bit her lip, her beautiful face, like a spring pear blossom, showed grievance and unwillingness.

But facing the crown prince, she didn't dare to refuse, so she could only look away and tears flowed down her face.

There was no sound of crying at all, but it was this kind of silent crying of grievance that was the most unbearable.

It seemed that without asking for details, one could tell that she had suffered a great injustice.

Jing Yuan felt helpless. It was true that Second Miss Qiao had suffered a great injustice, but it was also unfair for His Highness to be so partial to protecting First Miss Qiao.

"Ziyuan, I want to go home."

He Zhiyu said, "It will be bad for your reputation if you leave the East Palace like this. Stay in the East Palace and change your clothes. If you don't want to go to the banquet, I'll have someone take you back. If you're still in the mood to play, stay and wait for the banquet to end and leave with your eldest sister."

Qiao Wanyan didn't say anything and tried to get up with Ziyuan's help.

Jingyuan smacked her lips. She didn't respond to His Highness' words. Miss Qiao was indeed a spoiled and stubborn person. She was too bold.

But since His Highness had no intention of blaming him, he naturally wouldn't say anything more.

Qiao Wanyan sneered in her heart. Pretending to be obedient is important, but being blindly submissive and having no temper will only make men think that you are easy to control and can be treated casually without putting any thought into it.

"Miss, what's wrong with you?" Zi Yuan asked hurriedly when she saw her stagger.

Qiao Wanyan said softly: "My feet are numb, I can't walk."

At this moment, a low, magnetic, sarcastic voice sounded not far away.

"My feet are numb, not broken, so why can't I walk?"