The eldest princess was so angry that her mouth was crooked. Lu Jinmi, who was more trouble than she was worth, was completely useless. She deserved to end up like this!
"Brother, given what has happened, why don't we just leave it at that for today?" the Third Princess said.
Before Zhu Dan could speak, the eldest princess smiled and said, "Third sister, that won't do. Today's plum blossom poetry gathering was requested by our grandmother and mother. You know why. If we end it hastily without a result, what if our grandmother and mother say they want to hold it again?"
"Besides, it's still early. There's really no need to take these small fry to heart. Once they've been dealt with, that's it. We should continue as usual. What do you two say, Your Highness and Fourth Brother?"
Just as everyone's attention was focused on Lu Jinmi and Xie Yun, she had already ordered someone to arrange another play.
Lu Xiaoyun didn't say anything. Anyway, this matchmaking event wasn't specially prepared for her, so she didn't care.
Zhu Dan thought for a moment and then said, "Then let's go and ask the Empress Dowager and the Empress Mother for permission."
He was dragged here early in the morning by the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, so he might as well see everything at once today. Otherwise, if he had to come a few more times, he wouldn't have a lot of things to do.
The Empress Dowager thought for a moment and said, "Now that this matter has been resolved, let the plum blossom poetry gathering continue."
She has already taken a liking to several young ladies, but she needs to observe them further.
Everyone then walked to their respective seats, with Miss Zhao, who had made things difficult for Zhu Yu half an hour earlier, walking behind him.
To get from the backyard to the front yard where the banquet was being held, you had to pass the pond. Although it was already the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, the weather was fine and the sun was shining warmly on us, so we didn't feel cold. Some of the young ladies weren't even wearing their cloaks.
The group had now arrived at the edge of the pond.
Miss Zhao stretched out her foot to step on Zhu Yu's skirt.
But to everyone's surprise, Zhu Yu suddenly lifted her skirt, jumped slightly, and cleared the small stone that protruded in front of her.
So when Miss Zhao's foot landed, it didn't step on his skirt, but instead stepped on a small protruding stone, and she slipped.
With a splash, water sprayed everywhere, and Miss Zhao fell into the pool.
Before anyone could react, a man suddenly jumped into the water and tightly embraced Miss Zhao, who was struggling in the water.
Miss Zhao drank several mouthfuls of cold water and was still in a daze when a man hugged her tightly.
At the same time, Lu Xiaoyun and Zhu Dan heard the sound of water and ran over.
Lu Xiaoyun was worried that the eldest princess would come up with another plan if her first one failed, so she ran away faster than Zhu Dan.
Zhu Yu saw Lu Xiaoyun rushing towards him, and then saw the eldest princess who had stopped in front of him, her teeth aching with anger. So he bumped into the eldest princess and "slipped."
"Ouch!" With a cry, he fell into the water with a splash.
This is a great opportunity; he has to seize it.
Lu Xiaoyun leaped into the water and pulled Zhu Yu into her arms.
Four splashes rang out in quick succession. Two girls had fallen into the water, and two men jumped in to rescue them, almost in an instant.
Even while in the water, Zhu Yu didn't forget to push Miss Zhao's head underwater. Miss Zhao struggled in the water for a while, but was held tightly by the man who rescued her.
This man was none other than You Zihui, the idle and incompetent playboy who was the Minister of Works. He had more than a dozen concubines in his harem and spent his days frequenting brothels.
He had long coveted the beauty of the Princess Zhenguo, and when the eldest princess sent someone to speak to him, he immediately agreed. That's why he had been waiting behind the artificial hill by the pond.
Hearing the splash, without even seeing who it was, he assumed it was Princess Zhenguo and immediately jumped into the water, grabbing the beauty in the water and ignoring her struggles, groping her all over in the water.
Miss Zhao was filled with shame and indignation, but she couldn't break free from the man's groping hands. Not only that, she was also forced to push her head into the water.
Lu Xiaoyun whispered in Zhu Yu's ear, "That's enough, pressing it any further will kill someone."
Zhu Yu reluctantly let go and obediently allowed Lu Xiaoyun to carry him ashore.
Jiang Chuan hurriedly handed over the cloak that Lu Xiaoyun had just taken off, and Lu Xiaoyun wrapped it tightly around him.
Zhu Yu huddled in Lu Xiaoyun's arms, trembling, tears streaming down her face: "Your Highness, why did you push me into the water? I didn't do anything wrong, I didn't offend you."
The beautiful girl in Prince An's arms was crying so hard she could barely breathe; she looked utterly pitiful.
Only then did You Zihui realize he had saved the wrong person. He threw Miss Zhao aside, climbed ashore, and pointed at the heartbroken Zhu Yu, asking, "Princess, weren't you saying she..."
"Outrageous! You Zihui, hurry up and rescue her! Are you trying to kill Miss Zhao?! Miss Zhao is the daughter of the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue!"
Startled by the shout, You Zihui didn't dare say anything and jumped back into the water to pull the person out.
Thrown into the water, choking on several mouthfuls of cold water, and nearly freezing to death, Miss Zhao was carried ashore in a bear hug and glared hatefully at the eldest princess.
The Third Princess was extremely distressed. This matter was not over yet, and she had to let her grandmother and the Empress Dowager know.
Immediately have hot water prepared and a warm room provided for the four of them to change clothes.
Zhu Dan looked at Yun'er and his fourth brother embracing each other, rubbed his temples, and his usually gentle face turned extremely cold: "The two things that happened today were not accidents. Originally, I would have turned a blind eye. But there are always people causing trouble one after another!"
His gaze swept across everyone's faces: "Do they really think I'm that good-tempered! Men, investigate this matter thoroughly and find out the truth behind both incidents today!"
"Your Majesty..." the eldest princess tried to stop her.
Zhu Dan shot her a sharp glare, and the eldest princess obediently shut up.
Qi Shaocheng accepted the order and led several imperial guards to investigate.
No one is allowed to leave; take them to the front hall of the Third Princess's residence.
Half an hour later, Lu Xiaoyun, Zhu Yu, and You Zihui also came out of their respective rooms and went to the front hall.
As for Miss Zhao, she was terrified and dared not come out of the house.
The Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager, who were sitting on the second floor, could no longer remain seated and came downstairs.
These two matters were not difficult to investigate. With the Imperial Guard Commander Qi Shaocheng personally conducting a thorough investigation, the truth was quickly uncovered.
At this moment, Qi Shaocheng was carrying a little maid in his hand. It was Yu Ying, the personal maid of the eldest princess who had shouted "Something bad has happened!" an hour earlier.
The eldest princess turned pale, but she forced herself to remain calm, her hands clenched tightly together. She could say that she knew nothing about the matter and that the maid was acting under someone else's orders.
Yu Ying's entire family is under her thumb, so she probably wouldn't dare to tell the truth.
Qi Shaocheng threw the person to the ground and cupped his hands, saying, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and Your Highness Prince An, this humble servant has found out that it was this little maid named Yuying who locked Miss Lu and Young Master Xie in the side room."
"Not only that, Yu Ying also put aphrodisiacs in the wine that Miss Lu was going to pour for Princess Zhenguo, and she also put aphrodisiacs in the tea that Young Master Xie was drinking. She originally wanted to ruin Princess Zhenguo's reputation by Young Master Xie."
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