Jiang Yao’s heart violently pounded, and an indescribable sense of fear surged over her like a tide.
Although her heart continued to drum loudly in her ears, the sounds from the shore grew distant, as if swallowed entirely by the lake.
Her vision grew darker and darker until she sank into endless blackness.
“Help! Someone! Third Miss Jiang has fallen into the water!” A frantic cry shattered the lake’s tranquility.
“Quick! Go save her!”
“Anyone who can swim, get in now!”
The shore was a chorus of anxious shouts.
The commotion caught the attention of Xiao Wuheng and Jiang Ying.
By the time the two rushed over, they only saw Yuan Zheng standing there, his face panicked.
“Yao’er! Yao’er?” Jiang Ying called out anxiously, her voice trembling slightly.
“Where is your master?” Xiao Wuheng looked around, not seeing Xie Yunian, and asked.
“My master, he… he jumped in to save the Third Miss Jiang!” Yuan Zheng stammered.
The shore instantly descended into chaos.
In the sky, clouds rapidly changed shape, causing the light on the lake’s surface to flicker between bright and dim.
“Look! Quick, look! It’s Master Xie!” A guard shouted.
Everyone looked to where he pointed and saw a figure in the lake, faintly visible, struggling to swim toward the shore.
“Quick! Someone help!” Xiao Wuheng called out.
Xie Yunian reached the shore with the unconscious Jiang Yao. He, too, seemed utterly exhausted and fainted.
Jiang Yao’s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and her fingers trembled slightly, as if she were still struggling underwater.
In her dream, the sunlight filtered through the water, like scattered gold dust sprinkled onto Xie Yunian’s face, making the water shimmer.
His figure gradually approached, one ray of light coating him in a golden sheen. For a moment, Jiang Yao felt she glimpsed a trace of divinity on Xie Yunian’s face.
Then Xie Yunian quickly swam toward her and grabbed her constantly sinking waist.
The instinct for survival made her cling to Xie Yunian.
But the next second, a sharp pain struck the back of her neck.
And then… she remembered nothing else.
Jiang Yao’s eyelashes fluttered, her consciousness emerging from the haze.
She opened her eyes groggily, finding herself in an unfamiliar room.
The carved, hollowed-out bed canopy came into view. Every pattern was exquisite and complex, unlike anything in the Jiang manor.
Where is this place now…?
I haven’t transmigrated again, have I?
“Yao’er! You’re awake!” Jiang Ying, who was guarding her side, cried out in delight when she saw her move.
Jiang Yao coughed softly a couple of times, trying to relieve the discomfort in her throat. As she turned, she saw Chunlan’s worried face.
Chunlan’s eyes were red, clearly having cried recently.
Jiang Yao spoke softly, her voice still a little hoarse. “It was my own carelessness. I made you all worry.”
“It’s good that you’re awake, that’s all that matters.” Jiang Ying sighed in relief, seeing that she had no other problems apart from her pale complexion.
“Big Sister, where is this?”
“This is His Royal Highness Prince Jin’s separate residence on Ming Cui Mountain. It was sudden, so we had to bring you here first.”
“Who saved me?”
“It was Master Xie,” Jiang Ying paused, thinking Jiang Yao was worried about Xie Yunian. She added, “Don’t worry, Yao’er, there is a doctor here at the residence, and Master Xie is also fine. But due to the difference between men and women, it wasn’t proper for him to come over. He is resting in another room now.”
Where did a doctor come from in this remote mountain wilderness?
Jiang Yao remembered the sharp pain from her dream and instinctively clutched the blanket. “Master Xie saved me? Did Big Sister see it with her own eyes?”
Jiang Ying nodded. “When we arrived, Master Xie had already jumped into the lake to save you.”
This incident added a layer of approval for Xie Yunian in Jiang Ying’s heart. To think that even with his amnesia, he would sacrifice himself to jump into the lake to save Yao’er.
It goes to show that the instinct to love someone cannot be hidden.
Jiang Yao was stunned.
So the eyes in the dream belonged to Xie Yunian.
She opened her mouth, but ultimately chose silence.
That dream was truly strange. Even if Xie Yunian hadn’t lost his memory, if he jumped into the water to save her, why would he strike her underwater?
I must have been too frightened, causing my dreams to become confused, mixing up fantasy and reality.
Jiang Yao nervously rubbed her chest, still slightly disoriented.
The mere thought of those eyes she saw at the bottom of the lake sent a shiver of cold dread up her spine.
Those eyes were sharp and cold, like being stalked by a starving wolf, full of aggression.
Dreams are the opposite, the opposite…
Maybe it was just a random thought in a near-death state.
I’m only scaring myself.
Jiang Ying noticed Jiang Yao’s strange behavior and gently patted her back, asking softly, “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Yao shook her head slightly, forcing a smile. “It’s nothing, I just still feel a bit dizzy.”
“Then rest a little longer. It’s late now, so we likely won’t be able to return to the capital today. I have already sent a letter to Mother, and we’ll set off tomorrow.”
Seeing her state, Jiang Ying assumed she was just exhausted. She leaned down to tuck Jiang Yao’s blanket in before leaving.
Night fell, the stars appeared, and a scene of peace descended upon the residence.
Jiang Yao woke from her sleep, noticing a faint scent lingering around her nose.
She looked around and saw Chunlan still guarding the bedside.
“Chunlan, what time is it?”
“Miss, you’re awake?” Chunlan rubbed her aching eyes. “It’s already You Shi (酉時 – 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM). The Eldest Young Lady said that if you didn’t wake up soon, I should call you.”
“Mm, pour me a glass of water first.” Jiang Yao’s throat still felt dry.
While drinking the water, she remembered what her Big Sister had said: there was a doctor at this residence.
She was about to believe that the incident of her sister falling into the water in the original book had nothing to do with Prince Jin, but a doctor had been prepared beforehand in this remote mountain residence.
Prince Jin couldn’t possibly come here to see a doctor every few days himself, could he?
Jiang Yao had to suspect that Prince Jin really had planned something.
Only her presence had become an unexpected variable.
“What is that smell?” Jiang Yao sniffed lightly, detecting the faint aroma of roasted meat.
“It’s His Royal Highness Prince Jin. He said dinner would be barbecue (烤肉 – kǎoròu). He’s grilling it in the courtyard now.”
Prince Jin?
Barbecue?
Jiang Yao immediately felt like she must still be dreaming.
“Chunlan, help me go and see.” Jiang Yao said, intending to get out of bed.
Chunlan quickly helped her up, looking worried. “Miss, you fell into the water this afternoon. How about I bring the food in for you?”
“It’s fine. After a sleep, I feel much better,” Jiang Yao shook her head.
Seeing this, Chunlan had no choice but to help her dress and drape a cloak over her shoulders.
“The night is cold and the dew is heavy. If you feel unwell, please tell your servant, and we will return early to rest.”
Jiang Yao nodded and slowly walked out of the room.
The night breeze brushed past, bringing a chill, but also the warmth of the distant bonfire and the scent of grilled meat.
Jiang Yao’s gaze traveled across the courtyard, landing on the bonfire and the figure of Xiao Wuheng.
Xiao Wuheng had his back to her, focused on turning the meat skewers over the fire. The firelight illuminated the side of his face, outlining a slight smile.
His movements were skilled and relaxed, as if he did this often.
Surrounded by lush green trees, with rolling mountains in the distance.
Jiang Yao felt that sense of incongruity again.
Is the male lead really not OOC (Out of Character)?