Gazing at her beautiful reflection in the lake, Xi Hongrui’s anger completely dissipated, and even the chaotic memories from her past life faded almost entirely.
Once she freed herself from the resentment of her previous life and looked at the courtyard again, she suddenly felt that the flowers were lovely, the water was clear, and everything was perfect.
After all, this was a royal mansion—adorned with exotic flowers and rare stones, magnificent and imposing. What was wrong with her wanting to become its mistress?
Such immense wealth and a life of luxury—who wouldn’t want to claim it for themselves? What right did those wretched people have to gossip and pretend to be noble? Pah!
With her ambition rekindled, Xi Hongrui’s eyes sparkled as she remembered something else.
Swaying her slender waist, she gracefully made her way deeper into the flower grove.
The garden was bustling with busy maids and matrons, all familiar with Xi Hongrui. They exchanged a few casual remarks but didn’t hinder her progress.
Thus, Xi Hongrui moved unimpeded into the depths of the garden.
…
Supported by his eunuch, the Chongwen Emperor strolled leisurely through the newly built garden when a voice suddenly caught his attention.
A crisp, lively female voice drifted intermittently from among the flowering trees: “Pah… What nonsense… Basking in Dragon Qi… How could it compare to the True Dragon in the heavens…”
The True Dragon in the heavens: …
Pfft—
This young girl is quite amusing~
Although the Chongwen Emperor, in his position, had heard all sorts of flattery, overhearing someone secretly admiring him felt refreshingly novel.
Curious, he was about to move closer when a voice came from behind: “Your Majesty, please forgive me. I have failed to maintain proper discipline in my household, allowing a lowly servant to act disrespectfully in your presence.”
The Chongwen Emperor halted his steps and turned to see the pale-faced young man being supported, his temples glistening with fine beads of sweat. A wave of sympathy washed over him. “It’s of no consequence. Since you are unwell, Lan’er, there’s no need to accompany me further. You may retire.”
Ning Lan, forcing down his discomfort, replied with a pale face, “Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty. But as your subject, how can I leave my sovereign here…”
“Ah~” the Chongwen Emperor interrupted, raising his voice. “I came specifically to see you. If you persist like this, it will only trouble my conscience. Retire now. I shall wander a bit and then depart.”
Ning Lan seemed hesitant but eventually withdrew under the emperor’s insistence.
Helped into the wheelchair specially made by the Crown Princess Consort, Ning Lan’s expression grew calm. He turned to Pei San beside him and said, “Find out which household that indiscreet maid belongs to.”
Pei San acknowledged the order and left.
Seated in his wheelchair, Ning Lan glanced back in the direction the Chongwen Emperor was heading, his gaze steady and unreadable, then signaled his attendants to take him back to his chambers.
Distracted by this interruption, the Chongwen Emperor soon forgot the earlier incident.
Though the imperial clan in the capital was vast, the Chongwen Emperor held a special fondness for Ning Lan, the Shizi of Rui Wang, because Ning Lan’s legs had been crippled for his sake.
Years ago, when the emperor fell gravely ill and all remedies failed, a renowned physician declared that only a Fierce Medicine could cure him, but it required a blood relative to test the dosage.
Without an heir, the emperor had to seek a relative among the imperial clan. Upon hearing this, the princes and nobles hesitated and murmured nervously. Only Ning Lan, the Shizi of Rui Wang, stepped forward voluntarily.After his recovery, Ning Lan became permanently disabled in both legs due to testing the medicine. Whenever Chongwen Emperor recalled this, he felt a pang of guilt and thus showed Ning Lan exceptional favor.
Thus, when the Heir of Rui Wang was to marry, Chongwen Emperor personally granted him permission to establish his own residence and garden. One idle day, the emperor suddenly remembered this and decided to pay a visit.
Knowing the Heir had difficulty walking, Chongwen Emperor did not wish to trouble him further. He traveled incognito with only his personal eunuch and the chief guard, sparing the Heir the elaborate rituals of receiving the imperial carriage. Yet now, it seemed even this modest visit had proven too burdensome.
Just as Chongwen Emperor was about to turn back, he found himself captivated by the winding, secluded paths.
The garden’s designer must have been ingenious—though it lacked the opulence of imperial gardens, it brimmed with charm. Chongwen Emperor, who had always appreciated garden landscapes and unique rocks, decided to explore it thoroughly since he was already there.
Leaning on his attendants, he strolled slowly among the flowers and rocks. Just as he began to feel weary, the sound of a woman falling into water and cries for help reached his ears.
Startled, Chongwen Emperor immediately ordered his chief guard to investigate.
When his portly figure, panting heavily, caught up, he saw a dazzlingly pale figure flailing conspicuously in the water.
The chief guard hurried over to report: “Your Majesty! A woman has fallen into the water!”
Chongwen Emperor: …
“Report what? I’m not blind! Go save her!”
Guards of the imperial court dared not act without explicit orders. Hearing the emperor’s command, the chief guard responded with trepidation: “At your command!”
He removed his saber and plunged into the water.
What? You say he couldn’t swim?
When the emperor commands, what does it matter if he can swim or not!
This artificial lake couldn’t be that deep, right? No problem! No problem!
Splash!
Gurgle—gurgle—
Chongwen Emperor: …
The woman struggling in the water: …
Maybe she should just climb out herself…
Just as Bai Lian’er was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to continue her act, another figure leaped into the water.
A young girl in red, shedding her outer robe like a crimson carp diving into a lake, plunged in, grabbed Bai Lian’er by the hair, and hauled her ashore.
After pulling Bai Lian’er out, Xi Hongrui stared silently at the chief guard still floundering in the water. Who was this guy?
But with an audience watching, Xi Hongrui couldn’t just ignore him. She had to jump back into the lake.
The chief guard, unable to swim, looked even more awkward flailing in the water than Bai Lian’er had.
Xi Hongrui mustered all her strength to drag the deadweight man from the water. Thankfully, she was accustomed to manual labor, or she’d never have managed it!
After hauling the man ashore, Xi Hongrui was utterly exhausted, but she immediately remembered her role in the scene.
Just as Bai Lian’er was “slowly coming to” and about to subtly reveal a delicate shoulder or slender foot—
Xi Hongrui snatched the discarded gown from the ground, wrapped Bai Lian’er tightly in it, then turned her head toward Chongwen Emperor, exclaiming loudly: “Cousin! Are you alright!”
Forced to look, Bai Lian’er instantly saw that the man on the shore was a portly old man, not the dashing Heir of Rui Wang. She shrieked in alarm and, without any prompting, bundled herself up like a stuffed dumpling.
This was the scene from the story: the “white lotus” supporting female character, infatuated with the male lead, feigned falling into the water, claiming the Prince had seen her in disarray and thus compromised her virtue, leaving her no choice but to marry into his household as a concubine.But what she never expected was that the one who arrived wasn’t the male lead, but that old geezer, the Chongwen Emperor.
Bai Lian’er had lifted a stone only to drop it on her own foot, and could only be sent to the palace to marry the old emperor.
Thus, a beautiful white lotus was ruined by an old man, and the comments section went wild with laughter, mocking her: “Serves you right for competing with the female lead over a man!”
After being forced to marry the old emperor, Bai Lian’er became completely twisted, obsessively setting traps for the female lead. When the male lead eventually became emperor, he ended her life with a cup of poisoned wine.
Before her death, the male lead revealed that her entry into the palace had been entirely his scheme from the start. He had never felt the slightest affection for her—it was all her own delusion.
Upon learning the truth, Bai Lian’er descended into madness, while the comments section roared with laughter, praising the male lead for his cunning, devotion, and unwavering loyalty.
But Xi Hongrui saw things differently from everyone else. What she thought was—
Why cry over marrying the emperor?
On the shore, the Chongwen Emperor watched his guard commander flailing in the water like a drowning duck, his anger making his beard bristle.
He hastily ordered others to jump in and rescue his unfortunate guard commander.
But before anyone else could dive into the water like dumplings into a pot, a nimble red figure had already leaped in first.
The Chongwen Emperor stared, dumbfounded, as the girl in red swam skillfully through the water, pulling the guard commander up with ease.
When she reached the shore, just as he was about to get a closer look, the girl glanced over at him first.
Xi Hongrui looked at the plump old man on the shore—kind-faced, round, and no different from any other wealthy elderly gentleman.
But upon realizing he was the emperor, his rotund figure and snow-white beard suddenly seemed coated in an invisible layer of gold dust, sparkling and shimmering brilliantly!
Earlier, when she had been chatting and laughing with the maids, she had deliberately steered the conversation, all for this moment.
The True Dragon from the heavens was right here beside her!
Meanwhile, the Chongwen Emperor gaped at the young girl below.
The lake water had soaked her clothes, and with summer garments being thin, they clung tightly to her body, revealing her delicate curves.
A drop of water rolled from her eyelashes, fell onto the tip of her fair nose, and then vanished from sight.
When her bright, lively eyes suddenly swept in his direction, the Chongwen Emperor forgot everything else—
Whose lady is this, standing by the water?