Everyone waited to see Shen Zhi make a fool of herself, as they simply did not believe that an orphan girl could play the zither.
Yet, the moment Shen Zhi began to play, she left them all utterly shocked. Even Liu Yan’s beautiful, willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly. Isn’t she just a common orphan girl? Why can she play a piece like “Fisherman’s Song at Eventide”?
No wonder His Highness made an exception to take an orphan girl as his concubine; it turned out she actually possessed some capability.
Liu Yan sneered, then tapped her fingers lightly twice against her armrest.
Her personal maid, Lianxin, understood immediately. Side Consort Liu was about to put her plan into motion. Lianxin signaled for a low-ranking maid behind her to step down.
Once Shen Zhi finished the piece, she slowly stood up and bowed slightly to the crowd.
“This concubine has finished her performance,” Shen Zhi said, preparing to walk back to her seat.
But at that exact moment, a black cat suddenly leaped down from the pavilion roof. The moment the cat hit the ground, it let out a wretched shriek, coughing up blood as it began to run around frantically.
How could these young ladies, who had lived pampered lives since childhood, have ever witnessed such a scene? Those sitting closest to it panicked instantly.
“Ahhh—don’t come over here!”
“Help!”
“Has this beast gone mad?!”
The maids and serving eunuchs tried everything they could to protect their mistresses, but the cat dashed all over the place with no intention of stopping. This made the magnificently dressed mistresses grow even more frantic. Not only that, but several maids had already been scratched by the cat. Five distinct claw marks marred their fair skin, causing the concubines to grow even more terrified.
Because of this mad cat falling from the pavilion, the entire flower-viewing feast was thrown into utter chaos. Pastries and tea spilled all over the ground, and even the beautifully blooming potted flowers were knocked over.
Amidst the confusion, Shen Zhi sought to distance herself from them, backing away until she was quite close to the lotus pond. Just when Shen Zhi thought she was safe, someone shoved her hard from behind.
With that push, coupled with the slippery ground, Shen Zhi lost her footing entirely and fell straight into the lotus pond.
“Someone fell into the water!”
“Someone fell into the water—”
Unsure of who was shouting, the chaotic scene finally quieted down. They looked toward the person flailing in the lotus pond. Realizing it was Shen Zhi, some looked anxious while others felt triumphant.
Meanwhile, in the water, Shen Zhi felt as if someone was firmly gripping her ankle, making it impossible for her to swim back to safety. Moreover, the hand holding her was applying immense force, as if determined to drag her under the water and drown her alive.
Shen Zhi struggled, yet she remained unable to break free. Seeing herself drift further and further from the shore, her physical strength was slowly depleting, and the oxygen in her lungs was diminishing. Everything was developing in the worst possible direction. Yet, the hand gripping her ankle still refused to let go, tightly entangling her like a water ghost.
Leaning over the edge of the lotus pond, Suwen watched her mistress flailing out there, but not a single person around them went down to rescue her. No matter how she cried out and begged for help, not a single person present paid her any mind. These people simply watched in silence as Fengyi Shen struggled in the water, waiting for her to die in this lotus pond.
Suwen, who didn’t know how to swim very well, gritted her teeth and cried out, “Fengyi Shen, I am coming to save you!”
With that, she leaped straight into the lotus pond, using a dog-paddle stroke to make her way toward Shen Zhi bit by bit. She swam incredibly slowly, and because she wasn’t skilled in the water, she even choked on several gulps.
Shen Zhi watched Suwen swimming toward her and saw the people on the shore waiting for her to die. Liu Yan even wore a triumphant smile on her face. This is the consequence of trying to steal my Prince.
Shen Zhi understood. This so-called flower-viewing feast was actually a trap set specifically for her. This woman was just as cruel and venomous as before.
Withdrawing her gaze just before losing consciousness, she called out to Suwen, “Go back…”
Her voice wasn’t very loud, but Suwen heard it. Her determination to save her mistress grew even more urgent. She kept paddling the water, cursing herself in her heart for not learning how to swim better from the villagers when she was a child.
Just as Shen Zhi gave up struggling and accepted the reality of her death, Pei Lianyuan and Yuan Qing rushed over in a hurry.
Seeing Shen Zhi about to sink into the lotus pond, he cast aside all concern for the present concubines and Liu Yan. Losing his usual composure entirely, he leaped straight into the lotus pond and swam toward Shen Zhi.
It was originally just a farce, but with the Crown Prince personally going down to save someone, the nature of this farce completely changed.
When Liu Yan saw her Prince personally go to save another woman, she was beside herself with rage. Jiang Nanxi gripped her maid’s wrist so tightly that her long fingernails dug deep into the flesh. Yet her maid could only endure it silently, not daring to utter a single peep.
Not only were their expressions unsightly, but the other concubines looked the same way. They twisted their handkerchiefs so hard out of jealousy that they nearly tore them apart. What a seductress; it would be best if she died right in that pond.
Unfortunately for them, Shen Zhi did not die. She was rescued by Pei Lian. Yuan Qing and Qingxue stood waiting on the shore with robes in hand.
Seeing her mistress successfully rescued, Suwen let out a complete sigh of relief.
After Pei Lian carried the unconscious Shen Zhi ashore, he laid her flat and covered her directly with a robe.
Pei Lian’s voice rang out freezing cold at this moment, “All men close your eyes. Whoever dares take a look, this Palace shall gouge out his eyes.”
With the Crown Prince giving the order, the eunuchs and imperial guards immediately shut their eyes.
“Where is the imperial physician?” Pei Lian turned to question Yuan Qing.
“Replying to Your Highness, someone has already been sent to summon the imperial physician,” Yuan Qing hurried to respond.
Pei Lian withdrew his gaze. He knew it would take some time to travel from the Imperial Academy of Medicine to the Eastern Palace; even if a secret guard were sent, it would still take time. Yet Shen Zhi’s vital signs were growing weaker and weaker. No, he had to save her life. In this lifetime, he absolutely had to ascend to that ultimate position.
Suddenly, Pei Lian recalled a method Shen Zhi had taught him in their past lives.
Under the bright and clear daylight, Pei Lian directly pressed his lips against Shen Zhi’s mouth.
Shen Zhi, the method you described had better work!
This single action caused the concubines present to nearly lose their minds with jealousy. For an orphan girl like her to actually receive such affection from His Highness, and for His Highness to actually perform such an indecent act with Shen Zhi in broad daylight! They all averted their gaze, yet they couldn’t help but peer back using their peripheral vision.
Among them, the angriest person was none other than Liu Yan. This flower-viewing feast was originally meant to claim Shen Zhi’s life. Yet in the end, not only did she fail to end Shen Zhi’s life, but she also had to watch her Prince kiss that dying wench with her own eyes. This caused her to hate her even more.
After delivering air into her, Pei Lian hurriedly pressed down on Shen Zhi’s chest—once, twice, and a third time.
After repeating this two or three times, Shen Zhi suddenly coughed up a mouth full of water, and her consciousness slowly returned.
Slowly opening her eyes, Pei Lian’s handsome face filled her vision.
She… wasn’t dead.