After paying his respects to the Empress Dowager, Song Yuxiu went to the male guests' side, while Shen Zhiyi sought out Wen Qing to speak.
"Who is that girl?" Wen Qing looked at Lin Yaoyao, who was not far away.
She was standing beside Song Ruoying, chatting with the ladies and daughters of prominent families. Her makeup was exquisite, and she was humble and kind. Everyone treated her with courtesy.
"My mother-in-law's savior now lives in the Marquis's mansion."
“No wonder she looks unfamiliar.” Wen Qing frowned. “She’s quite sociable. When Song Yuxiu left just now, her eyes were practically glued to him. You should be careful.”
Shen Zhiyi smiled and said, "Thank you, Sister Wen."
Having not seen each other for so long, we naturally had a lot to talk about.
While everyone else went to admire the pear blossoms, brew tea and wine, and compose poems, the two of them sent their maids away, seeking peace and quiet, and went to the pond to feed the fish.
Shen Zhiyi casually mentioned, "My brother is going back to Beijing in a couple of days?"
"Which brother of yours?" Wen Qing was feeding the fish with her head down.
"Big brother."
"..."
Wen Qing paused slightly in her action of pinching fish food, then smiled and said, "I heard that there was an earthquake in western Sichuan, and he saved many people. When he returns to the capital this time, His Majesty will surely reward him."
After that, Wen Qing was absent-minded. Shen Zhiyi called her a few times before she suddenly came back to her senses: "Hmm? Is something wrong?"
"What are you thinking about? You seem so lost in thought." Shen Zhiyi deliberately moved closer to her, lowering her voice: "Sister Wen, you wouldn't be...
"Which young master are you thinking of?"
Wen Qing's breath hitched, her face instantly flushed red, revealing her shyness. "Zhiyi, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"You're angry out of embarrassment? It seems so. Tell me, who have you taken a fancy to? Perhaps I can help you?"
"What nonsense are you spouting, you're a girl?"
"So, who do you like? Do I know them?" Shen Zhiyi knew perfectly well, and deliberately teased her. Although Wen Qing was older than her, she was still shy. She said she was thirsty and went to get some water, and left in a hurry.
Shen Zhiyi chuckled softly and continued feeding the fish.
In her past life, after she got married, she gradually drifted apart from Wen Qing, partly due to Song Yuxiu's instigation.
Because Wen Qing had never liked him, Song Yuxiu said that Wen Qing came from a high-class background and looked down on him, making him feel very pressured when he met her.
After a while, the two saw each other less and less.
I'm truly blind in both eyes and mind.
Just then, she heard footsteps behind her. She thought it was Wen Qing returning and her lips curled up slightly. But when she turned around, she found it was Lin Yaoyao, and her smile vanished instantly.
“Lady of the Heir Apparent…” Lin Yaoyao said, carefully dressed, “I am about to leave the Marquis’s residence.”
"You should have left long ago."
Lin Yaoyao choked, her hand clutching the handkerchief tightening suddenly. "It seems the young master's wife really dislikes me? I really don't know what I did to offend you so much."
"Judging from your gentle manner towards that Miss Wen, do you perhaps look down on my humble origins?"
Her pitiful and aggrieved appearance attracted the attention of people nearby who were looking in their direction.
Shen Zhiyi was too lazy to talk to her, so she put down the fish food and prepared to leave.
But as they brushed past each other, Lin Yaoyao grabbed his arm. "What are you doing? Let go."
"I'm leaving soon. Even if you don't like me, can't we put an end to our past grievances? I genuinely want to get along with you."
Chen Zhi remained silent.
What's gotten into her this time?!
So she frowned and said, "Let go!"
"Princess Consort, whatever happened in the past, consider it my fault, and I apologize to you..."
Shen Zhiyi clearly felt that the hand gripping her arm tighten gradually, causing her some pain. She instinctively wanted to shake her off, but Lin Yaoyao's body went limp and she was thrown away by her.
The ground around the pond was already slippery.
Lin Yaoyao lost her balance and fell straight into the pond. Shen Zhiyi's breathing became shallow, and before she could react, her wrist tightened. She only heard screams all around her.
Accompanied by a loud splashing sound.
Immediately afterwards,
Water from all directions instantly flooded my mouth and nose.
She choked on several mouthfuls of water and instinctively struggled, only to find that Lin Yaoyao was still holding her.
"Help, help—" Lin Yaoyao cried out for help, but Shen Zhiyi could clearly feel that her hand was pulling her down.
Shen Zhiyi was horrified:
she……
He wanted to kill himself!
Because Shen Zhiyi knew perfectly well that Lin Yaoyao was a fisherwoman, how could she not know how to swim, and yet she was shouting for help.
Underwater, she was enveloped by a suffocating feeling that came from all directions.
My limbs are weak and I can't breathe.
Shen Zhiyi experienced the feeling of being on the verge of death once again.
Then, someone jumped into the water—
"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and jump into the water to save them!" It was Wen Qing's voice.
Shen Zhiyi felt Lin Yaoyao let go of her, and she immediately splashed around. Her eyes fell on Song Yuxiu, who had already gone into the water, and he rescued Lin Yaoyao.
At that moment,
Even knowing he was a jerk, she still felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
What a despicable couple!
At this moment, guards had already rescued Shen Zhiyi.
“Zhiyi…” Wen Qing rushed over anxiously, “What are you standing there for? Quickly find a doctor.”
Shen Zhiyi had not lost consciousness. She choked on some water and felt much better after spitting it out. On the other side, Lin Yaoyao was soaking wet, clinging tightly to Song Yuxiu's clothes and coughing incessantly.
"Your Highness... I'm so scared."
"It's alright now." Song Yuxiu patted her gently to comfort her, his expression tense.
"I know the Crown Prince's wife doesn't like me, but I'm about to leave the Marquis's mansion, and I wanted to reconcile with her before I left. I didn't expect..." Lin Yaoyao stopped there.
Hearing this, everyone would probably have some doubts.
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