The mid-August water already carried a distinct chill.
In her previous life, the Imperial Grandson had been rescued unconscious and nearly died, later contracting severe cold that left him frail and delicate after recovery.
The Emperor had fallen gravely ill from grief, thereafter losing his grip on imperial court affairs, triggering a chain of consequences.
To stabilize the imperial court for the Emperor, Zhao Bingyu had resorted to widespread executions.
This time, she entered the water earlier and swiftly rescued the Third Imperial Grandson.
She glanced back at the two attendants who had jumped in before her—they were still circling helplessly in place.
Their feet seemed entangled by something, leaving them trapped.
On the shore, Wan Qingdai was still shouting urgently.
People nearby came running upon hearing the commotion.
Instead of climbing ashore at the nearest spot, Huo Ningyu swam away from where the child fell, heading toward where she had entered the water.
The path she swam was unobstructed, indicating no issues beneath the surface.
As she reached the bank, a large, well-defined hand extended toward her.
Huo Ningyu looked up and met the sight of a Zhong Kui mask.
It was Zhao Bingyu.
With him present, others stepped back, not daring to approach.
“Waa waa…” The Third Imperial Grandson continued to wail.
He was terrified.
“Give him to me.” Zhao Bingyu’s voice was commanding yet tinged with relief.
Huo Ningyu held onto the bank with one hand while lifting the child as high as she could with the other.
There was still some distance between the water surface and the bank.
Unable to reach immediately, Zhao Bingyu lay prone on the ground and took the child.
He handed him to Yu Zheng behind him: “Quickly take him to the nearest Linshui Palace and have hot water sent immediately for the Imperial Grandson to bathe and change.”
Yu Zheng took the child, swiftly removed his own outer robe to wrap around him, and dashed away.
“Give me your hand.” Zhao Bingyu reached out to Huo Ningyu, who was still in the water.
“Lord Zhao, let me.” Seeing Zhao Bingyu’s action, Wan Qingdai couldn’t allow a man to pull her friend ashore.
Men and women should not touch each other.
Yet, Zhao Bingyu remained unmoved, his outstretched hand showing no intention of withdrawal.
Seeing his serious and determined expression, Huo Ningyu slowly raised her left hand.
Before jumping into the water, she had removed her Bei Zi, leaving both arms completely exposed.
As her smooth, jade-like arm emerged from the water, nearby onlookers stared wide-eyed at the flawless, pale limb.
“Shougongsha!” someone suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
The red dot on Huo Ningyu’s left arm stood out strikingly in the August evening sun.
Rumors about Huo Ningyu had recently spread like wildfire.
And now, that symbol of a woman’s chastity—the Shougongsha—abruptly confronted the eyes of the crowd.
The previously rampant rumors instantly crumbled.
“So Da Xiao Jie Huo and the eldest son of the Zhongyi Bo Fu had nothing between them before marriage.”
“We all misunderstood her, thinking she was truly a barren hen and that was why the Xie Family called off the engagement.”
“Someone must have deliberately spread rumors to tarnish Da Xiao Jie Huo’s reputation.”
…
Chen Fangli and Huilan County Princess, who also saw the Shougongsha, glared with resentment.
“Hmph, daring to bare her entire arm in public—shameless. Even if she’s pure, being seen by so many men today is no different from losing her virtue,” Huilan County Princess twisted her handkerchief and snorted coldly.
“The County Princess speaks wisely,” Chen Fangli agreed wholeheartedly.
Huo Ningyu had only surfaced for a moment before Zhao Bingyu grasped her hand and pulled her forcefully out of the water.
But her clothes clung tightly to her body, revealing her graceful figure and curves all too clearly.
Just as Wan Qingdai was about to drape the Bei Zi in her hands over Huo Ningyu, Zhao Bingyu moved faster, swiftly removing his own outer robe and covering Huo Ningyu with it, obscuring everything from view.
“Thank you, Lord Zhao.” Huo Ningyu shivered as she expressed her gratitude.
Earlier, due to nervousness, the sensation hadn’t been so obvious, but once out of the water, the gentle breeze made her feel bitterly cold.
“Follow me.” Zhao Bingyu spoke three words before turning and walking ahead.
Wan Qingdai immediately supported Huo Ningyu and followed.
They left behind a crowd of noble sons and daughters buzzing with discussion.
At that moment, a squad of Imperial Guards came running, dispersing the onlookers and securing the scene.
Such a major incident had occurred—the Third Imperial Grandson was the Crown Prince’s only heir.
How precious he was.
In a short time, the news spread throughout the entire palace.
When the Crown Prince and Crown Princess received the news, the Crown Prince fainted on the spot, while the Crown Princess, not even caring about the Crown Prince, hurried to Linshui Palace near the Imperial Garden.
Upon hearing the news, the Empress was so startled she overturned the teacup in her hand.
That was her only legitimate grandson.
Emperor Qiande was in the Imperial Study, scolding his own brother, Prince Jing, Zhao Zhan.
“How long are you going to keep this up? Your Jing Wang residence is neither legitimate nor illegitimate—what kind of propriety is that? What am I to say to you?
Bingyu is such a fine child, yet you refuse to even look at him properly.
So many years have passed; his mother has been dead for over a decade. Why must you torment a child?”
For Zhao Bingyu’s sake, Emperor Qiande had admonished Prince Jing countless times.
But Prince Jing always turned a deaf ear.
Sometimes, when the Emperor pressed him too hard, Prince Jing would retort: “I should have drowned that brat in a chamber pot back then.”
“Imperial Brother, you’re already in your fifties—worry less about your subject brother’s affairs.” Zhao Zhan’s ears were calloused from hearing it.
“Your Majesty, it is Lingzhe, the Heir from the Eastern Palace, who has fallen into the water.” Chief Eunuch Lin Dequan rushed in, disregarding decorum, to urgently report.
Emperor Qiande stood up in shock. “What happened?”
“Heir Lingzhe was playing Cuju with two other Imperial Grandsons and several young masters. While retrieving the ball, he slipped and fell into Qiongyu Lake. Fortunately, he was rescued promptly and has been taken to Linshui Palace to bathe and change clothes.”
“Let’s go and see.”
Huo Ningyu followed behind Zhao Bingyu and entered Linshui Palace.
“Lord Zhao, could you please send someone to fetch a set of clothes for me from outside the palace gate? Thank you!” Huo Ningyu’s body trembled slightly, her voice quivering.
“Don’t worry, someone has already gone to fetch them.” At that moment, countless thoughts raced through Zhao Bingyu’s mind.
Was this a coincidence or deliberate?
How was it that Da Xiao Jie Huo happened to rescue the Third Imperial Grandson so conveniently?
Only two attendants were nearby at the time.
Those two had entered the water but couldn’t save the Third Imperial Grandson—he had already guessed that something must have entangled them underwater.
Who was behind this?
As the Imperial City Envoy, this was also his dereliction of duty.
Although the palace had its own Imperial Guards, he could still intervene.
It seemed he hadn’t done enough.
Hot water was quickly delivered, and a palace maid volunteered to assist Huo Ningyu with her bath.
Wan Qingdai also accompanied her nearby.
“Ningyu, you’re truly brave. I was terrified.” Wan Qingdai had only just calmed down; the earlier tension had been overwhelming.
“At that moment, I wasn’t thinking about anything except saving people. You did very well too, shouting loudly. Didn’t you see those children were so frightened they didn’t even know to call for help?”
“I was worried about you, that’s why I cried out without hesitation.”
Wan Qingdai had genuinely been concerned about Huo Ningyu at that time, not about the Imperial Grandson.
This was because she wasn’t entirely clear about Huo Ningyu’s swimming ability, and there were already two attending palace servants who had jumped into the water.
“Shh, you mustn’t say that. You were worried about the Imperial Grandson.” Huo Ningyu glanced at the palace maid assisting with her bath.
“This servant didn’t hear anything.” The maid was quite perceptive.
She was also doing both young ladies a favor.
Wan Qingdai immediately realized – they were both daughters of officials, so of course they should prioritize the imperial family. Moreover, this was a great opportunity to earn merit.
If today’s incident received imperial recognition from the Emperor, her reputation in the capital would naturally be elevated.
“Ningyu, don’t you think it’s strange? How could Lingzhe, the Heir possibly fall into the water?”
“I saw the stone he stepped on fall into the water with him, which means the stone was loose. How could such a major oversight occur in the imperial palace?”
Wan Qingdai was no fool either. After calming down, she had begun to notice the problem.