The program for the banquet was all arranged by Emperor Qi, so Qiao Zhen only needed to watch.
Lin Yuyun made an excuse to go out, and Qiao Zhen also asked Emperor Qi to let her go out for some fresh air.
Given Lin Yuyun's limited abilities, it would be extremely difficult for her to cause any trouble in the palace. However, Qiao Zhen is a kind and understanding girl, and she is willing to let Lin Yuyun frame her.
Seeing Lin Yuyun standing absentmindedly on the pebbly path, Qiao Zhen smiled gently and said, "Miss Lin, do you find this place dull? I remember there's a pavilion over there. Would you like to come with me for a stroll to clear your mind?"
Lin Yuyun bowed and said, "This humble woman greets the princess. Since the princess has invited me, this humble woman dares not refuse."
Qiao Zhen walked towards the pavilion first, and Lin Yuyun followed slowly behind her.
When they came across the arched bridge, Qiao Zhen dismissed the maids around her and approached Lin Yuyun. "Miss Lin seems a bit slow-witted. Father Emperor has been angry with Prime Minister Lu for months. If Miss Lin is truly in love with Young Master Lu, why not take this opportunity to have Lord Lin break off the engagement on your behalf? Lord Lu would have no reason to refuse."
Lin Yuyun tightened her grip on the handkerchief.
Qiao Zhen continued, "The reason I haven't made a move until today is simply to wait until your life is short, so as not to dirty my hands. Miss Lin, do you know that if you live a long life, it will harm the Lin family's fortune?"
If Lin Yuyun dares to occupy Lu Yuanchuan's fiancée position again, Qiao Zhen wouldn't mind making the entire Lin family pay for Lin Yuyun's delusions.
Lin Yuyun lowered her head, her eyes filled with resentment. "Princess, Young Master Lu is my destined husband. For you to covet my fiancé is to condescend to your own dignity. Moreover, as the ancients said, it is better to destroy a temple than to break up a marriage. Your words are truly shameful to me."
"Who do you think you are? If you weren't Young Master Lu's fiancée, this birthday banquet wouldn't be a place for a short-lived wretch like you. I'll see how long you live." Qiao Zhen's words were full of sarcasm towards Lin Yuyun and mockery of Lin Yuyun's frail body.
Seeing that no one was around and that Lu Yuanchuan and Lu Yuanliu were outside the banquet hall, Lin Yuyun suddenly reached out and pushed Qiao Zhen.
Qiao Zhen turned to the side, grabbed Lin Yuyun's arm to change the direction of Lin Yuyun's force, and with a "plop", Lin Yuyun fell into the lake.
From Lu Yuanchuan and Lu Yuanliu's perspective, it appeared that Qiao Zhen grabbed Lin Yuyun's arm and pushed the frail Lin Yuyun off the arched bridge.
"Help! Miss Lin has fallen into the water!"
Qiao Zhen frowned and called to the maids around her, while Lu Yuanchuan hurried to the arched bridge. He wanted to jump into the lake to save her, but Qiao Zhen grabbed him and said, "You are not allowed to go! If you save her and see her body, you will have to marry her whether you want to or not."
As Lu Yuanchuan watched Lin Yuyun sinking into the lake, he brushed away Qiao Zhen's arm and jumped into the lake.
Qiao Zhen gritted her teeth in anger. She was clearly creating an opportunity for Lin Yuyun and Lu Yuanchuan to break off their engagement, but Lu Yuanchuan was completely ungrateful. She glared at Lu Yuanliu, who was watching the show from the sidelines, and then jumped into the lake.
Lu Yuanliu was bewildered by the glare. He rubbed his nose and jumped into the lake.
Qiao Zhen was closest to Lin Yuyun. She shoved Lin Yuyun into Lu Yuanliu's arms, then forcefully pulled Lu Yuanchuan's arm and swam away from him.
But Lu Yuanchuan didn't go along with Qiao Zhen. He shook off Qiao Zhen's hand that was holding him, and his sliding arm splashed water in the lake. "No need for the princess to do this. My fiancée is still in my second brother's arms."
Qiao Zhen hurriedly stopped Lu Yuanchuan, "What do you mean? What's with that expression? Lin Yuyun is your fiancée, but what about me?"
Lu Yuanchuan lowered his voice and said, "Zhenzhen, I said I would marry you, and I will definitely marry you. Why do you have to make things difficult for Miss Lin?"
Seeing that Lu Yuanchuan believed his "seeing is believing" story, Qiao Zhen wholeheartedly began to play the role of a brainless supporting female character. "What do you mean I made things difficult for her? If she weren't your fiancée, she would have been executed along with her entire family long ago!"
Warm liquid streamed down her cheeks, but she couldn't tell if it was lake water warmed by the sun or tears from her eyes. She abruptly pushed Lu Yuanchuan away, "Do you think I, as a princess, have no real power and have to resort to such despicable means to deal with a lowly subject like me?!"
Lu Yuanchuan felt that Qiao Zhen was trying to mislead him, after all, Qiao Zhen had done similar mindless things before. He said expressionlessly, "Isn't that right?"
The coldness in his tone was so intense it could freeze into ice, making one feel even more chilled under the scorching sun.
Qiao Zhen floated in the lake with her arms outstretched. She took a deep breath and looked at Lu Yuanchuan. "Yes, when it comes to getting along, Lin Yuyun is closer to you. You are willing to believe her but not me. Lu Yuanchuan, I, Qiao Zhen, was blind. I was blind from beginning to end."
Her eyes were misty, and in the sunlight, they appeared somewhat indistinct.
In Lu Yuanchuan's view, Qiao Zhen had done something wrong, yet she still acted as if she was completely in the right. He turned and swam towards Lu Yuanliu, taking Lin Yuyun into his arms.
Qiao Zhen bit her lip and swam to the lake without looking back. When she saw the maid bring over a clean blanket to cover her, she immediately went ashore and wrapped herself tightly in the blanket.
Summer clothes are already thinner than usual, and Lin Yuyun's shapely figure was already on full display. What was even more infuriating was that Lu Yuanchuan was actually holding Lin Yuyun in his arms.
Qiao Zhen snatched the blanket that had been covering her earlier, strode up and pulled the limp Lin Yuyun from Lu Yuanchuan's arms, then threw the clean blanket over Lin Yuyun. She angrily said, "What are you all looking at? Wrap Miss Lin up properly and carry her inside. What are you all standing there for?! Summon the Imperial Physician!"
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