Chapter 854 Water Calamity
Yuwen Qian looked at the official's wife.
In that instant, the image of Guan Yunmu's elegant and dignified appearance immediately appeared in Shang Ruyi's mind. Even though Guan Yunmu was already old when she married into the Yuwen family and had been bedridden for many years, looking haggard, Shang Ruyi could still imagine how beautiful and charming she must have been when she was young.
A mother with such a gentle demeanor, accompanying her child, is probably the most beautiful dream of every child's childhood.
That's why Yuwen Qian looked at them that way.
But what were his true feelings when he looked at the official's wife like that?
Thinking of this, she asked, "His Highness the Crown Prince must be very envious of you, or perhaps..."
She didn't utter the word "jealousy," but the emotion stronger than envy was jealousy. Hearing her words, Yuwen Ye seemed to have those two words in his mind as well, but he chuckled softly and didn't respond. Instead, he continued, "But at that moment, Jin Yun arrived."
"Aunt Yun?"
"Yes. My mother doesn't usually stay with me for that long. She waited for half a day before she felt something was wrong and came over. Then my mother woke up and told me to go play by myself, and then they left."
"And what about the Crown Prince?"
"He didn't leave. He stood outside and greeted my mother. Then he came in and took me to play by the lake."
Hearing this, it seemed like the end, but Shang Ruyi knew it wasn't.
In particular, the words "water calamity" that Yuwen Ye had uttered by the lake at the Crown Prince's residence had been subtly haunting her. Even now, when the lake was mentioned, Yuwen Ye's breathing almost involuntarily tightened. She immediately understood what was going on and asked, "What happened by the lake?"
Yuwen Ye took a deep breath and then said, "When we got to the lake, we did what we always do: laugh and joke around."
"..."
"While we were fooling around, I suddenly lost my footing and fell into the lake."
Shang Ruyi immediately stopped breathing.
Yuwen Ye's breath caught in his throat, as if he were trapped in the predicament he remembered. He seemed afraid to linger, and immediately continued, "Actually, it's not that I can't swim. I often go fishing in the river with him, so it's no problem for me. But that day, my leg suddenly cramped up."
"..."
"And the lake was much deeper than I had imagined. I couldn't stand up, and the more I struggled, the deeper I sank."
"..."
"So I asked him for help."
"..."
“I kept calling his name, but after only two calls, lake water poured into my mouth, along with water plants and mud, all of which were wrapping around me and surging into my mouth. I couldn’t breathe, so I could only stretch out my arms, hoping someone would grab me. Only he was there. At that time, he was the only one by the lake. I knew he would come to save me.”
At that moment, Shang Ruyi immediately understood the meaning of "water calamity." The suffocation made her chest feel tight, and her heartbeat was so heavy that it felt as if someone was swinging a heavy fist, punching her heart again and again. She said in a hoarse voice, "He... he didn't."
Yuwen Ye's Adam's apple bobbed: "Later, I couldn't struggle anymore."
"..."
"At that time, I was completely unconscious, and I didn't even have time to think about why no one answered when I called for help, or why no one grabbed me when I stretched out my hand. I used all my strength and gradually sank to the bottom of the lake."
"..."
"At that moment, I finally saw him clearly on the shore—he had been watching me the whole time."
"..."
"His eyes were cold, colder than the lake that swallowed me."
"..."
"I had never seen such an expression on his face before, nor had I ever seen such cold eyes, as if he wished me dead immediately, or as if he was already looking at a corpse."
Shang Ruyi gritted her teeth.
So, he really is—
He was indeed jealous. No, things had come to this point, he was no longer just jealous of Yuwen Ye, he was actually resentful of him!
The teachings of the Duke of Shenwu and Aunt Hui ultimately had an effect. Although he usually concealed it well, at such a crucial moment, he still revealed his true colors. He was jealous of Yuwen Ye and hated his second brother even more. Although he was the eldest son and the Yuwen family business should rightfully be inherited by him, he was still jealous and resentful that his second brother had a mother, even though this mother had never given Yuwen Ye even a little bit of warmth.
But before she could finish speaking, Shang Ruyi suddenly had a flash of inspiration and looked up to ask, "Then how did you—"
Yuwen Ye lowered his head in the darkness, seemingly glancing at her. His tone, which had been as cold as if frozen in ice, suddenly softened. He even unconsciously stroked her back with the hand that was around her, as if trying to soothe her anxious emotions—although at this moment, there was nothing to be afraid of, since he was right in front of her.
Yuwen Ye said, "Just when I thought I was going to die, he suddenly jumped into the lake and saved me."
"What!?"
Although his voice was right next to her ear, Shang Ruyi still thought she had misheard. She stared at him with wide eyes. Yuwen Ye nodded and repeated, "He saved me."
"..."
"Although he was five years older than me, he wasn't very tall. And when someone suddenly grabbed me, I almost went crazy. I desperately pulled at his clothes, his hands, and his legs, almost pulling him into the lake as well."
"..."
"But he never let go of me."
"..."
"In the end, he still managed to rescue me. After rescuing me, he carried me on his back and stumbled all the way home. I was almost unconscious at the time, but I still remember him breathing heavily, he was covered in sweat, and he cried and begged the adults to come and save me when we got home."
Shang Ruyi's brows were furrowed into a knot.
She didn't interrupt Yuwen Ye again, but in fact, she already knew and could imagine what Yuwen Ye was going to say next—"My mother and the others were terrified and quickly called a doctor to see me. Although I was saved, I still fell ill and had a high fever for three days and three nights. It wasn't until later, when they went to Dayan Temple to pray for blessings, that my fever subsided and I gradually recovered."
Shang Ruyi said in a hoarse voice, "But he wants to stay at Dayan Temple and not come back."
"Um."
"and you--"
Yuwen Ye took another deep breath and said, "After I recovered from my illness, my mother was very good to me during that time. She was unusually there, spending every day with me. But I, I must have my elder brother."
"Why?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com