Jiang Rongyin knew, of course, that Chu Qingyin was in poor health; everyone said she could be blown away by a gust of wind.
If I take her out and something happens, I’ll have to blame her.
Thinking of this, Jiang Rongyin shook her head slightly: “Father and the others should be arriving soon. If Miss Chu wants to go shopping, I’ll take you after the banquet.”
If she leaves early, Chu Qingyin won’t be able to find her and will be helpless.
Having spent so long in the palace, Jiang Rongyin always knew the importance of self-preservation.
Moreover, she was in a difficult situation and did not want to cause any more trouble at this critical moment of her escape.
“The banquet is still a while away, let me go for a walk with you.”
As soon as Jiang Rongyin finished speaking, she heard Jiang Xueping’s voice from behind her.
She turned around, her brow furrowed. Why was Jiang Xueping’s spirit so persistent?
With a smile on her face, Jiang Xueping walked to Chu Qingyin’s side: “After nightfall, you can’t see the flowers in the Imperial Garden clearly, Ninth Sister, don’t you think so?”
Last time, she and Jiang Rongyin fought at Xuezhi Hall.
She went to complain to her elder brother, the Crown Prince, crying and sobbing. She thought she would be punished, but to her surprise, the next day, the Crown Prince took her to the archery pavilion to practice archery.
This infuriated Jiang Xueping.
I still haven’t swallowed my anger.
Having overheard Chu Qingyin’s words at the door, Jiang Xueping had an idea. If Chu Qingyin was hurt by Jiang Rongyin, the Chu family would not let Jiang Rongyin off easily.
She wanted to see how Jiang Rongyin would escape.
Jiang Rongyin looked at the scheming in Jiang Xueping’s eyes and felt somewhat helpless.
Jiang Xueping really blatantly wears her motives on her sleeve when she does bad things, as if she’s afraid others won’t know what she’s thinking.
After waiting for a while without receiving a reply from Jiang Rongyin, Jiang Xueping spoke again: “Or is it that Ninth Sister has some thoughts in her mind and is unwilling to stroll in the garden with Miss Chu?”
What other thoughts could there be besides Qin Shiyan?
“good.”
Jiang Rongyin didn’t want Jiang Xueping to continue talking, lest it reach Jiang Yun’s ears.
He thought that he didn’t want to be alone with Chu Qingyin because of Qin Shiyan.
Even ten of her wouldn’t be enough for Jiang Yun to handle.
Seeing that Jiang Rongyin agreed, Jiang Xueping took Chu Qingyin’s arm and led her out.
“Precious silver…”
Jiang Rongyin gave Bao Yin some instructions before following in their footsteps.
The sun is shining brightly today, casting dappled shadows on the wisteria blossoms climbing the wall.
The pond water was clear and rippling, sparkling in the sunlight.
Jiang Xueping and Chu Qingyin walked in front, with Jiang Rongyin following behind them.
“Why is the Ninth Princess so far behind?”
Chu Qingyin paused, pulled her arm away from Jiang Xueping’s grasp, and turned to look at Jiang Rongyin.
“It’s a bit sunny here, let’s go sit over there.”
Jiang Rongyin frowned as she looked at Chu Qingyin walking by the dew-covered pond.
When the Dew Pond was first built, the railings were very low for the sake of a better view, so one could easily fall in if not careful.
And Chu Qingyin happened to be standing so close.
Jiang Rongyin felt uneasy and dared not approach Chu Qingyin, but she was also afraid that something might really happen to her in the Imperial Garden.
All I could do was suggest they walk towards the pavilion; surely they could rest there and nothing else would happen.
Jiang Xueping glanced at Chu Qingyin without making a sound.
“Ninth Sister, come here quickly!”
Listening to Jiang Xueping’s words, Jiang Rongyin felt as if they were a death warrant.
She took a step forward, and Jiang Xueping suddenly reached out and pulled her. In that instant, Chu Qingyin was knocked down by Jiang Rongyin and fell into the dew pool.
The sudden turn of events made Jiang Rongyin’s eyes widen. She pulled her hand away and fell into the dew pool with Chu Qingyin.
Jiang Xueping had no intention of saving them; she hoped Chu Qingyin would drown and Jiang Rongyin would die along with her.
Fortunately, when leaving Qinghui Palace, Jiang Rongyin had Baoyin make preparations. As soon as she heard cries for help, Baoyin led her people over.
Just then, the emperor, accompanied by Jiang Yun and Qin Shiyan, walked towards them.
Hearing the commotion, Qin Shiyan looked up and then rushed over in a panic.
Jiang Yun narrowed her eyes slightly and followed him over.
On the other side of the pond, everyone frantically pulled Chu Qingyin and Jiang Rongyin out of the water.
With Jiang Rongyin protecting her, Chu Qingyin didn’t choke on the water, but her body was too weak, and she looked like she was about to die as soon as she was pulled out.
He was on the verge of death, his breath barely audible.
Jiang Rongyin lay on Baoyin’s lap, coughing uncontrollably. Chu Qingyin was terrified and struggled, pulling Jiang Rongyin down.
The water that she didn’t choke on all went into Jiang Rongyin’s mouth and nose.
When Qin Shiyan arrived and saw this scene, he lifted his foot and was about to rush towards Jiang Rongyin.
“Rong Yin…”
“Young Master Qin, Miss Chu is over there.”
Jiang Yun, standing behind him, stopped him in his tracks with a shout of “Young Master Qin.” His face turned somewhat awkward, and he could only turn towards Chu Qingyin.
Before long, the Chu family members rushed to Qinghui Palace after hearing the news.
The crowd surrounded Chu Qingyin and led her to a side hall of Qinghui Palace to change clothes and see the imperial physician.
Jiang Rongyin, who had just regained consciousness, looked at this scene with a hint of envy in her eyes, but quickly concealed it.
“You did this?”
Just as Jiang Rongyin was about to get up, a coat was thrown over her head. She looked up, revealing her eyes.
The woman was soaked to the bone, and her graceful figure was truly eye-catching.
Otherwise, Jiang Yun wouldn’t have used clothes to cover Jiang Rongyin’s body.
“It wasn’t me. If I had done it, why would I have saved her? Besides, why would I have done it?”
Jiang Rongyin lowered her head, the bittersweet feeling in her heart becoming more and more pronounced.
It’s always the same. No matter who she argues with, Jiang Yun always feels that she started it.
Did he really hate her that much?
“Go change your clothes.”
Jiang Yun looked at her intently for a while before uttering those words.
After Jiang Yun turned and left, Bao Yin helped Jiang Rongyin up, draped the coat over her shoulders to shield her from many eyes.
In a side hall of Qinghui Palace, Chu Qingyin lay on the bed, while the imperial physician knelt beside her to take her pulse.
“Miss Chu only choked on a little water, and coupled with her weak constitution, that’s why she’s unconscious. I’ll prescribe some medicine for her, and she’ll be fine after taking it.”
The emperor, sitting in the outer hall, nodded as he listened to the imperial physician’s words: “Go.”
“Your Majesty, my poor daughter is already in poor health, and now she has suffered this calamity.”
Chu Yuansheng knelt down, wiped away his tears, and cried to the emperor that he cherished his daughter like a precious jewel, but who would have thought that just one trip to the palace would almost cost her her life.
The emperor frowned, but before he could speak, he heard Jiang Xueping’s words.
“Father, I saw it. Miss Chu was pushed down by Ninth Sister.”
“As you know, Ninth Sister and Qin… perhaps she held a grudge, which is why she pushed Miss Chu.”
Jiang Xueping stepped forward and spoke to the emperor. When she mentioned Qin Shiyan, she paused, leaving much to the imagination.
Jiang Rongyin had just arrived at the door when she heard Jiang Xueping say this. She really was going to great lengths to make herself die.
“Sixth Sister, are you trying to say that I was once engaged to Young Master Qin, and now I can’t stand seeing Miss Chu marry Young Master Qin, so I want to kill her?”
“How ridiculous! If that’s the case, then I was incredibly stupid to make a move in front of you, Sixth Sister, right here in the palace, under the watchful eyes of everyone. Was I afraid that Father wouldn’t be able to find me afterward?”