Falling into the water
Yao Suran was always generous and polite, and rarely lost her composure like this. Hearing her shouts, everyone hurriedly rushed out of the boat.
Because it was a royal family traveling, there were already many agile guards standing guard on the ship. So when the accident happened, several guards had already jumped into the lake and rescued the person who had fallen into the water.
Yao Sha was soaked to the bone; his luxurious silk robes were completely drenched, dripping water. His usually arrogant and domineering face now looked utterly disheveled.
Lin Xu, who was also rescued later, was soaked to the bone. Although the weather was getting warmer, the lake water was still icy cold, making her fair face appear even whiter, and her lips were red from the cold. Her whole body was rosy-cheeked and white-toothed, and her simple white dress made her look elegant and pure. Now that she was soaked, she looked as beautiful as a lotus emerging from the water.
Her already rather loose clothes became even more revealing after being soaked. Her previously tied double buns were now loose, and her smooth, black hair fell from her shoulders and neck. Because she was not adorned with any floral decorations, and with the glistening water in her eyes, she had a jade-like and ethereal beauty comparable to a woman emerging from a bath.
Her already thin clothes were now dripping with water droplets, the pale pink and elegant clothes clinging to her body, which made her figure appear even more delicate, revealing the hazy curves of a young girl. Anyone who saw her would be captivated by her beauty, and would feel pity for her because of her cold and sorrowful expression.
A maidservant who had been attending to Lin Xu handed him a clean and loose cloak. The Third Prince also came over at some point and stood at the head of the crowd.
His gaze, which had been fixed on the two soaking wet people, finally shifted to Yao Sha, who was now in a very disheveled state, with a faint question in his eyes.
Yao Suran was clearly still shaken; her voice was still filled with worry and panic as she said anxiously:
"Just now I only saw my younger brother and Xu'er chatting here. They looked very affectionate. Before I knew it, they both fell into the lake!"
The unspoken message was that Lin Xu and Yao Sha had secretly met here behind everyone's backs, and their intimate words confirmed to everyone that they had a secret relationship...
Yao Sha has always been infamous. In Mu Jing, he had entanglements with many noblewomen. Among them was Zhang Zixu, the daughter of Marquis Wencheng, who was still infatuated with him, but was unfortunately rejected by Yao Sha.
Sure enough, as soon as Yao Suran said this, Cao Yuan and the others looked at Lin Xu and Yao Sha with a more ambiguous and unclear gaze.
The two women just fell into the water, making a huge commotion. It seemed like an accident, but who could know what they had been doing behind everyone's back? If they had a clear conscience, why would they have come to this secluded place while everyone was enjoying music on the boat?
Lin Xu is the daughter of Lin Youcheng. She is usually calm and self-controlled, but it is unexpected that she would hang out with a playboy like Yao Sha behind the scenes. It seems that her usual dignified and self-controlled demeanor is just an act.
As the Fifth Prince's study companion, Cao Yuan naturally acted with extreme caution in Zhiqiong Hall. Compared to other imperial relatives, his family background was not considered noble, so he always consciously kept a distance from the high-ranking Princess Kunrou and the Yao sisters. Lin Xu had always been aloof and gentle in the academy, and he had once thought she had an outstanding temperament. Now, seeing her doing such a thing with a playboy in public, he couldn't help but feel a little contempt for her.
After all, Yao Sha was known among the scions of noble families in Mujing for his dissolute and playboy ways. How could the woman he was entangled with be a reserved person?
Lin Xu put on the cloak handed to her by the maid. The large, soft satin fabric wrapped her up tightly, and only then did she feel her body gradually warming up.
Her slender, delicate body appeared boneless beneath the cloak, and the elegant hem of her dress fluttered in the lake breeze. Yet, the woman's eyes beneath the cloak were filled with bewilderment and desolation.
Looking at this classmate whom he rarely paid attention to, the Third Prince was reminded of the sika deer that would flee in panic from the jungle during each hunt.
Those eyes were also wet.
Yao Sha's hair was damp and fell on his forehead. Seeing that everyone's eyes were on him and Lin Xu, the anger between his brows disappeared completely, leaving only a little embarrassment.
He has always been powerful and influential, relying on his family's power to run rampant in Mujing. When has he ever been so disheveled?
He had been angry when he fell into the water, but now, seeing the commotion attract everyone on the boat, and with the people around him looking like lotuses emerging from the water, his anger gradually subsided. He forced a smile and said self-deprecatingly, "Today is the Shangsi Festival, so it's kind of like a purification ritual by some twist of fate."
These words were vague, glossing over the fact that the two had fallen into the water. The tone was relaxed and indifferent, so even if others were curious, they could not ask any more questions.
The Third Prince glanced at Lin Xu again. He saw that she was dressed in thin clothes, and her black hair was cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall. It was even smoother after being soaked in water and shimmered with a faint luster in the sunlight.
Lin Xu parted her lips slightly, her voice as soft as the most exquisite water droplet on a lotus leaf, concealing a cool and serene demeanor.
"Just now, Sister Su Ran and I were talking outside the cabin. Young Master Yao probably also wanted to talk to his sister. I was worried about disturbing their peace, so I stepped aside. Who knew that the stern of the boat was even more rocking than the inside. I lost my balance and slipped. Fortunately, Young Master Yao was kind and fell into the lake while saving me. Lin Xu should thank Young Master Yao for saving me."
Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this, not expecting Lin Xu to explain the reason why the two had fallen into the water so clearly in just a few simple words. Yao Sha was also surprised, but then he showed a look of realization and hurriedly replied with a smile: "Miss Lin, you are too kind. I, Yao Sha, am embarrassed."
Everyone suddenly realized that it was just a common occurrence of rescuing someone from the water. The Third Prince's expression was calm, but also gentle, as he said, "It's good that you're alright." He then looked at Yao Sha and smiled, "You've always been so frivolous, but now you've managed to play the hero and save a damsel in distress."
Since the Third Prince laughed, everyone quickly followed suit, and the matter was considered closed.
Yao Suran's gaze was fixed on Lin Xu, who was wrapped in a cloak. At this moment, Lin Xu had slowly walked over from the stern of the ship. Song Jiaoling was beside her, drying her hair. A gust of wind blew, and the cloak on Lin Xu was blown open, revealing the plain, wet skirt.
"Miss Lin, you still need to be careful. The lake breeze is quite cold; be careful not to catch a cold." Song Jiaoling was always polite, and although she didn't interact with Lin Xu much, she always greeted her with a smile whenever they met. Lin Xu returned Song Jiaoling's gentle smile.
"This is......?"
Suddenly, Yao Suran's questioning voice rang out beside her.
Everyone's eyes followed her voice and looked towards the source of the sound. They saw a dark red ribbon embroidered with delicate ruyi patterns peeking out from the hem of Lin Xu's clothes. Following the ribbon upwards, there was a royal blue sachet-like object.
Yao Su'an, who had been standing quietly in the crowd, suddenly changed her expression when she saw the sachet. She glanced quickly at Yao Sha and Lin Xu, her eyes showing disbelief, but after a moment's hesitation, she bit her lip and said:
"This is my younger brother Shan'er's personal sachet. How could it, how could it be on Xu'er?"
Cao Yuan was taken aback. Thinking back, he remembered that when he was drinking tea and chatting with Yao Sha earlier, Yao Sha did indeed have a bright blue sachet tied around his waist. Because of its striking color, he had even taken a closer look. Now, it was indeed very similar to the blue sachet that had been visible at Lin Xu's waist...
Yao Suran strode forward and gently pulled on the ribbon. At the end was indeed a sapphire blue sachet, embroidered with lingzhi patterns, and the gold threads shimmered in the sunlight.
Yao Suran exclaimed in surprise, "This is indeed my brother's personal sachet. Even the pattern is the unique embroidery of the embroiderers in the Duke's mansion. How come it's now hanging on Xu'er's body? Could it be..."
She didn't finish her sentence; the last part, revealing a hint of speculation, abruptly ended, leaving the others with inscrutable expressions.
Scented sachets are traditionally personal items. If Lin Xuzhen and Yao Sha were not related, how could Yao Sha's personal scented sachet suddenly appear on Lin Xuzhen's body?
Unless the sachet was a gift from Yao Sha to Lin Xu, then the relationship between the two is quite unusual. In addition, their previous accidental fall into the water was also quite suspicious, so Lin Xu's explanation in front of everyone seemed like a lie to cover up the truth.
Lin Xu's mind flashed through the various scenes after boarding the ship today. He sneered inwardly. Yao Suran was indeed vicious. Did she have the intention to scheme against him from the very beginning?
She thought that Yao Sha's sudden appearance was just the philandering playboy's own blatant act, and that Yao Suran was merely playing the role of a bystander who turned a blind eye. But in reality, she had long harbored the intention of letting Yao Sha take advantage of her.
Yao Sha has always had a bad reputation. If I can't explain the matter of this sachet clearly today, then in front of everyone in Zhiqiong Hall, I will be confirmed to have secretly conceived a child with Yao Sha. Not to mention how the students will view me, even if this matter spreads throughout Mujing, my reputation will probably be worse than that of the Miss Wencheng, who was played and disliked by Yao Sha.
She hadn't publicly accused Yao Sha of having ulterior motives, using the rescue incident to dispel suspicion about their falling into the water, precisely to clear her name about their relationship. Now that Yao Suran had said this, everyone probably thought she had deliberately lied to cover up her affair with Yao Sha...
But how exactly should this situation be resolved?
Her heart pounded wildly, and she fell silent for a moment. Even Song Jiaoling, who had been affectionately holding her arm, now showed a hint of doubt in her eyes.
Just as everyone was panicking, a cold female voice suddenly rang out from the crowd:
"So this sachet belonged to Yao Sha?"
Princess Kunrou's expression remained calm and undisturbed. She slowly stepped out from the crowd, looked at the sachet in Yao Suran's hand, and said coldly:
"I found this sachet on the deck of the ship just now, but I don't know who it belongs to. Lin Xu was sitting next to me inside the ship, so I gave the sachet to her for safekeeping. I originally wanted to ask everyone after we had tea and enjoyed the music, but things were in a hurry just now, so I put it aside until now."
Upon hearing this, the Third Prince's expression flickered with a hint of uncertainty. Just now, inside the boat, he had been quite engrossed in the music after it ended, which was why he had allowed the courtesan to play several pieces. Now, hearing Kunrou's words, he naturally couldn't refute her, so he could only nod slightly.
Princess Kunrou then looked at Lin Xu and said slowly, "Now that the owner has been found, you should return the sachet to its owner. Young Master Yao saved you from drowning, and now that you are returning the lost item, the matter is settled."
From beginning to end, Liao Yan only glanced at Lin Xu and never even glanced at Yao Sha.
Seeing that Princess Kunrou's expression and voice were both extremely cold, Yao Sha naturally knew that he couldn't afford to offend this arrogant princess, so he quickly forced a smile and said:
“Your Highness is absolutely right. It was just a small favor, and Miss Lin didn’t need to mention it. Now I have to thank Your Highness and Miss Lin for finding my lost sachet. It is thanks to Your Highness’s thoughtfulness that I was able to get it back. I am truly fortunate.”
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