And since she had drowned, she could no longer carry out the old lady's scheme.

It wasn't that she was unwilling, but that she was powerless to do so!

Marquis Zhongyong used this tactful way to show that he did not want to fall out with the old lady.

Cui Yihuan was relieved that she hadn't revealed her identity.

The scoundrel still cared about his mother as much as ever. Thinking of this, Cui Yihuan was so angry that she swallowed hard...

None of the three men on the shore moved!

To make things easier, the old lady gathered the maids and servants in the main courtyard and the kitchen, leaving the three of them alone by the lake.

Han, the son-in-law invited by Xie Tingzhou to be his guest, asked, "Aren't you going to save people?"

It was at least a human life.

Xie Tingzhou hesitated, "She's a young woman; if I save her, I have to take responsibility."

Han Zijin, who had intended to make a move, hesitated.

The prince consort is not allowed to take concubines. If he insists on taking one, Empress Kangle will maintain her magnanimous image and agree, but it is hard to say whether the other woman will survive in the princess's residence.

He shrugged, indicating that he should stay out of trouble.

Xie Tingzhou then looked at Marquis Zhongyong and said, "They're here as guests, are you really going to watch them drown?"

Marquis Zhongyong seemed about to leave. "I'll go call for help," he said.

Tinglan knows how to swim; he personally taught her.

The one currently in the water is struggling but hasn't sunk, which shows it has some skill.

Xie Tingzhou pulled him back and said quietly, "By the time you call for help, you'll only be saving corpses."

The three men's indifference greatly worried the servants who were following Cui Yihuan.

If Cui Yihuan drowns, wouldn't the old lady's plan fail?

But he couldn't rush in to save her. Just as he was wondering whether to inform the old lady, the Marquis of Zhongyong went into the water and soon brought the girl ashore.

Perhaps she had choked on water, because the girl was unconscious when she was rescued. Zhongyong Hou, being a good person to the end, pressed on her chest to help her!

The servant finally made a decision; he had to report to the old lady.

It seems that Miss Cui is not going to make it.

Even if it were possible, after being saved by the Marquis like this, he could only become the Marquis's person.

As the old lady was leading her guests toward the banquet, a maid ran up and said, "Old lady, the lady fainted while copying scriptures in the Buddhist hall."

Everyone then became concerned about what had happened to Madam Liu.

The old lady sighed, "My daughter-in-law has worked hard for the Marquis's mansion for half her life and is exhausted, but she just can't sit still."

Knowing that she was anxious for her eldest grandson's marriage, she insisted on going to the Buddhist hall every day to pray for Tingzhou, despite her illness.

I got up really early this morning; I must have been exhausted again.

She said apologetically, "Ye Zhen has already gone to the kitchen to make arrangements, so please go to the banquet first, and I will go and take a look."

Everyone praised Madam Liu and urged the old lady to hurry up and leave, telling her not to worry about them.

The old lady then instructed the servants, "Go to the study and tell the Marquis to go and see the lady as well."

She had been keeping an eye on things. Xie Bang had been in his study all morning. With her giving the order in public, Xie Bang had to go to Mianmian's place even if he was just pretending.

The servants, upon receiving the order, hurried to the study, while the old lady went to the Buddhist hall.

Originally, Lady Liu was confined to the Buddhist hall, and even the old lady was not allowed to visit her. However, the old lady devoted herself to Xie Tingzhou's affairs, which moved the Marquis of Zhongyong.

The old lady took the opportunity to plead for Liu, and only then did the Marquis of Zhongyong relent, and the guards were not as strict as before.

Liu was unconscious on the prayer mat. When she saw her coming, she secretly opened her eyes.

The old lady glared at her, and Liu quickly closed her eyes again, pretending to faint. The old lady ordered, "Someone, the lady has fainted. Take her back to her own courtyard to rest."

The old woman guarding the Buddhist hall was worried that something might really happen to Liu, so she didn't dare to stop her.

As soon as Liu entered her room, she opened her eyes and asked anxiously, "Mother, will the Marquis come?"

The old lady wanted her to win back the Marquis's heart today; this was her chance, and she really didn't want to go back to the Buddhist hall.

But she was also worried that the Marquis wouldn't come.

The old lady looked her over and said, "Take care of yourself, especially your face."

Since Xie Yunzhou's death, Liu has not taken care of herself, and now she looks much older.

But men all love pretty women.

He then gestured to the barbarian servant to put the incense into the incense burner and instructed Liu, "Have someone light it when he arrives."

The old lady said in a deep voice, "Mianmian, this is your last chance. Don't mess it up."

She now harbors resentment towards Lady Liu, but since Marquis Zhongyong refuses to take a concubine, the old lady thinks that Lady Liu is, after all, his wife. If anything happens, given Marquis Zhongyong's soft heart, he will not treat her coldly as before.

Liu was busy making various guarantees.

After arranging everything here, the old lady left Madam Liu's courtyard.

The servants who had been following Cui Yihuan finally found her. "Madam, things have changed..."

After hearing the servant's report, the old lady's face darkened.

How could someone suddenly fall into the water? Wasn't Xie Bang in his study? How did he end up by the lake? And when did Prince Consort Han arrive?

When the old lady arrived at the lakeside, full of doubts, a large crowd had already gathered there.

After the Marquis of Zhongyong rescued the person, he ordered his men to notify the Cui family. When the others learned that Cui Yihuan had fallen into the water, some of them came to watch the spectacle.

Seeing this commotion, the old lady felt inexplicably uneasy. "They fell into the water, why didn't they go to change their clothes immediately? What are they doing here?"

She asked the servant in a low voice.

The servants had been searching for the old lady, but knew nothing about what had happened behind the lake.

He shook his head blankly.

Unable to count on him, the old lady walked into the crowd and saw Cui Yihuan kneeling on the ground, soaking wet, with a cloak draped over his shoulders.

Marquis Zhongyong's face darkened. "Why would you be so afraid of me that you would fall into the water? If you don't tell the truth, I will have no choice but to hand you over to the authorities."