Chapter 26: Accidental Fall into Water, Rescue

The night in the Changle Palace's back garden was bathed in a cool breeze. The glow of palace lanterns filtered through the willow branches, casting tiny shadows on the blue brick floor. Yun Zhi, unable to bear the scrutiny and chatter in the hall, slipped in here under the pretext of getting some fresh air, hoping to find a quiet corner to stay for a while.

Just as she reached the willow tree by the lake, she heard soft footsteps behind her. She turned around and saw Su Yurou approaching with her skirt lifted, her usual gentle smile on her face: "Sister Yun, why are you here alone? It's a cold night, be careful not to catch a cold."

Yun Zhi was always on guard against Su Yurou and simply nodded: "Thank you for your concern, Concubine. I just want to take a breath."

"Sister, are you still upset about what happened in the palace just now?" Su Yurou took a few steps closer, her voice even lower. "Those noble ladies are just arrogant. Don't take it to heart. Actually... the prince has you in his heart. Didn't he teach Wang Xuan a lesson for you just now in the palace?"

Yun Zhi didn't respond. She didn't believe Su Yurou would truly comfort her. This woman seemed docile, but the calculation in her eyes couldn't be hidden.

Seeing that she didn't say anything, Su Yurou moved closer and reached out to pat her shoulder, her tone carrying a barely perceptible eagerness: "Sister, look at how beautiful the moonlight on the lake is..."

The moment her hand touched Yun Zhi's shoulder, she suddenly pushed hard!

"Ah!" Yun Zhi was caught off guard, staggered forward a few steps, and fell directly into the cold lake!

The lake water instantly enveloped her body like countless icicles, the biting cold seeping through her pores and into her bones. Unable to swim, she thrashed about frantically, the icy water choking her throat, causing her to cough violently and her consciousness to blur.

"Help... Help..." She struggled to stretch out her hand, trying to grab something on the shore, but she only touched the cold lake water.

Su Yurou stood on the shore, the gentleness on her face long gone, replaced by a sinister smile. She watched Yun Zhi struggling in the lake and turned to leave, but she didn't notice a dark figure rushing towards her from behind a willow tree not far away.

"Yun Zhi!"

Xiao Jin's roar was filled with unprecedented panic. He had just come out of the hall to look for her when he saw this horrifying scene. He didn't even have time to take off his outer robe before jumping directly into the lake!

The icy water also stung him and made him shiver, but he ignored the cold and swam hard towards Yun Zhi. Seeing her about to sink, he felt like something was gripping his heart tightly, causing him to feel a sharp pain.

"Hold on to me!" He grabbed Yun Zhi's wrist and pulled her into his arms. Yun Zhi was half-conscious, feeling only a pair of strong arms holding her. The familiar scent of ambergris mixed with the dampness of the lake water filled her nose.

Xiao Jin held her and swam as hard as he could to the shore. When they reached the shore, both of them were soaking wet. The cold wind blew, and Yun Zhi's teeth chattered with cold, and her body shivered non-stop.

Xiao Jin took off his outer robe, wrapped it tightly around her, and held her horizontally. The robe still carried his body heat, which slightly dispelled the chill. He looked up and saw Su Yurou trying to slip away. His eyes instantly turned sinister: "Who asked you to come here?!"

Su Yurou was so frightened that her whole body froze. She quickly knelt down and cried, "Your Highness, it wasn't me...it was Sister Yun who accidentally fell down. I just wanted to pull her up, and she sank..."

"Accidentally?" Xiao Jin sneered, the murderous intent in his eyes almost devouring Su Yurou, "I saw it clearly just now! You'd better pray that Yun Zhi is okay, otherwise, I will not forgive you!"

He didn't look at Su Yurou again. He carried Yun Zhi in his arms and hurried towards the palace gate. As he walked, he shouted at the palace servants who had rushed over: "What are you still standing there for?! Prepare the carriage! Call the imperial physician! If anything happens to Yun Zhi, you will all be dead!"

The palace maid was so frightened that she quickly responded and ran to find a carriage and summon the imperial physician.

Xiao Jin held Yun Zhi in his arms, his steps quick and steady, afraid to bump her off. Yun Zhi leaned against his chest, her consciousness gradually returning. She could clearly feel the warmth of his chest and his strong heartbeat, as well as the slight trembling of his arms as he held her - was he worried about her?

The carriage arrived soon. Xiao Jin carried Yun Zhi into the carriage and ordered the driver, "Hurry! Return to the palace! As fast as possible!"

The coachman did not dare to delay and whipped the carriage, and the carriage drove away from the palace quickly.

The carriage was covered with thick cushions. Xiao Jin placed Yun Zhi on the cushions and tried to let go, but she was so cold that she clutched his sleeve tightly, her body still shivering. He hesitated for a moment, then sat down, reached out and held her in his arms, using his body temperature to keep her warm.

Yun Zhi's face was pressed against his chest, and she could hear his strong heartbeat, "boom, boom," as if it was beating against her heart. His arms held her tightly, with a subtle stiffness, but very steady and reassuring.

The carriage was silent, with only the creaking of the wheels. Yun Zhi could smell the faint scent of ambergris on him, mixed with the dampness of the lake water, which gradually seeped into her nostrils, causing her heart to beat faster and faster.

"Cold..." She murmured unconsciously, her voice trembling.

"Be patient, we'll be at the palace soon." Xiao Jin's voice rang out overhead, a few notes lower than usual, with a subtle hint of tenderness. He tightened his arms around her, holding her even tighter. "Don't fall asleep. Talk to this prince."

Yun Zhi blinked, looking at the light stubble on his chin. A strange warmth welled up in her heart. She wanted to ask him why he was so nervous just now, why he jumped in to save her without hesitation, but she swallowed the words back. She was afraid the answer she would get would be, "You are my man, you can't die so easily."

"Your Highness..." she whispered, a hint of uncertainty in her voice, "You just..."

"What was that?" Xiao Jin interrupted her, his tone suddenly colder, as if he was trying to hide something. "I just don't want you to die in the palace and bring shame to me. If you die, I'll have to find a replacement, which is troublesome."

Another stand-in.

The warmth in Yun Zhi's heart instantly cooled. She lowered her head and stopped talking. She just leaned in his arms, feeling his body temperature, but she felt that the temperature was fake and would break at the slightest touch.

Xiao Jin watched her dejected expression, feeling inexplicably irritated. He was clearly worried about her, his heart clearly pounding when he saw her fall into the water, but the words still turned out to be hurtful. He didn't even dare to admit that he saved her not because of the "substitute," but because... he didn't want her to die.

The carriage returned to silence. Yun Zhi gradually felt less cold, and as she leaned against Xiao Jin's chest, she actually felt a little sleepy. She could clearly feel the rise and fall of his chest, hear his heartbeat, and smell his scent. All of this made her feel particularly at ease, even forgetting the grudges and estrangement between them.

Xiao Jin lowered his head, watching Yun Zhi, who was gradually calming down in his arms. Her hair was wet and stuck to her cheeks. Her face was still pale, but better than before. Her long eyelashes drooped on her eyelids like two small fans, and the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye looked particularly soft in the dim light.

His heart beat faster and he subconsciously tightened his arms, but he was afraid of hurting her, so his movements became extra gentle.

"Don't fall asleep," he said again, his voice softer, "We're almost at the palace. The doctor is still waiting."

Yun Zhi hummed softly, a little sleepy, but she really didn't fall asleep again. She just leaned in his arms, listening to his heartbeat and feeling his body temperature.

The carriage soon arrived at the gate of the palace. Xiao Jin jumped out of the carriage, holding Yun Zhi, and walked quickly towards her courtyard. Qing Zhu, who was guarding the gate, saw that they were soaked and rushed over in fear: "Prince! Miss Yun! What happened?"

"Stop talking nonsense! Prepare hot water quickly! Call the imperial physician!" Xiao Jin ordered coldly, and walked straight into the room holding Yun Zhi.

He put Yunzhi on the bed and reached out to untie her outer robe, but then stopped - it was not appropriate for men and women to touch each other, and he shouldn't be here.

"Please wait a moment. Hot water and the doctor will be here soon." He said stiffly and turned to leave.

Yun Zhi looked at his back, feeling a little disappointed, but she still whispered, "Thank you very much, Your Highness."

Xiao Jin paused, didn't look back, just waved his hand, and walked out of the room quickly.

After watching the door close, Yun Zhi slowly lay down. Her body still clung to the warmth of Xiao Jin's robe and the scent of ambergris, her heartbeat uncontrollably accelerating.

The way he jumped into the water to save her just now, the nervousness when he held her, the tenderness in the carriage, and the final stiff concern... were like a tangled mess, churning in her heart.

Did he really care about her, or was it just because she was his replacement, his possession?

Yun Zhi didn't know the answer, but she couldn't help but hold on to that tiny bit of hope, looking forward to a different result.

Xiao Jin, who was outside the door, leaned against the pillar, looking at the light coming from the room, his fingers unconsciously stroking the arm that had just hugged her - her warmth was still there, soft, and with a hint of trembling.

He whispered to himself, "I just don't want her to die. I don't want the trouble of finding a new replacement."

But the beating of his heart couldn't lie - his concern for this woman had long gone beyond the scope of "substitute" and "possession", but he was unwilling and dared not admit it.

Hot water quickly arrived in the room. Yun Zhi soaked in it, dispelling the chill from her body, but it couldn't dispel the throbbing in her heart. She knew that after tonight's events, her little hope for Xiao Jin had quietly resurfaced, even though she knew it was probably just an illusion.

At this moment, outside the side courtyard, Xiao Jin was still leaning against the porch pillar, not leaving. He was waiting for the imperial physician's news, to confirm that she was alright. However, he himself didn't know that this wait was no longer because of the "stand-in", but because of the heartbeat that he himself hadn't noticed.