Jiang Zhuoying abruptly raised her head. If she were in human form at this moment, she would practically want to kneel and bow in gratitude.
She and the Second Prince were complete strangers, yet he treated her with such kindness!
Whimper… She apologized for her earlier private complaints about him in her heart!
“This woman still has her uses. Keeping her alive might prove beneficial in the future.”
The red carp, who had been excitedly wagging its tail, suddenly froze: “?”
Chu Yixin bowed: “Rest assured, Master. This servant will go make arrangements immediately.”
“Hmm.”
The man waved his sleeve and turned once again to face the fish pond.
Only then did he realize that the red carp, which had been excitedly wagging its tail toward him earlier, had unknowingly swum to the corner farthest from him.
It was even facing away from him.
Jiang Zhuoying heard several calls of “Zhuozhuo,” but she turned a deaf ear to them.
She didn’t want to pay him any attention!
However, this indifference lasted less than an hour. When lunchtime arrived, the man came as usual to feed her.
Jiang Zhuoying swam toward him reluctantly, until Chu Yixin hurried over and said: “Master, Yu Ji has sent a message back.”
The latter lowered his voice, as if reporting extremely important secrets.
Jiang Zhuoying, afraid she might miss something, immediately accelerated and swam swiftly, reaching Qi Fan in just a few moments.
Such an obvious change caught the attention of both men.
“Master, Zhuozhuo might be hungry.”
The man glanced at the pond: “Feed her later.”
Chu Yixin followed his gaze. The fiery red carp in the pond had surfaced and was poking its head out, seemingly already impatient.
“What message did Yu Ji send?”
Hearing his master’s indifferent voice, he immediately snapped back to attention and focused on reporting.
“Master, according to Yu Ji, that Miss Jiang’s Pox disease seems somewhat peculiar.”
After speaking, he lowered his voice even further and leaned closer to Qi Fan: “Yu Ji says it doesn’t seem like Miss Jiang has Pox disease.”
The man’s expression tightened slightly. His gaze, originally fixed on Jiang Zhuoying, withdrew, and his voice suddenly took on a playful tone: “Not Pox disease?”
Chu Yixin bowed: “Exactly, but confirming it will require some effort.”
Jiang Zhuoying heard every word of this conversation.
Her heart raced—not Pox disease?
That was wonderful! Then she could survive!
The breath Jiang Zhuoying had been holding in her throat slightly relaxed.
“But even if it’s not genuine Pox disease, judging by Miss Jiang’s symptoms, it’s still dangerous. Whether she can pull through remains uncertain.”
Jiang Zhuoying: “!”
What did this mean? Then she still might not be guaranteed to survive?
Qi Fan remained silent for a few moments, then issued a low and deep order: “The Imperial Hospital personnel should be arriving soon.” Have them do their utmost.”
“This servant will go relay the message immediately.”
After Chu Yixin withdrew, the man turned and once again looked at the little plump carp in the pond.
He stared at the red carp’s back, slightly narrowing his eyes. His voice was so cold it made Jiang Zhuoying’s back prickle.
“Are you interested in Jiang Zheng’s daughter?”
Jiang Zhuoying stiffened all over. She hadn’t expected this Second Prince to be so perceptive!
Suppressing the panic in her heart, she swam in circles nonchalantly, pretending to know nothing.
The Second Prince was truly suspicious, even suspecting a mere red carp!
The man stood by the shore, silently watching the flustered little plump carp for a long time.
Until he watched as she plunged headfirst into the cluster of withered lotus flowers.
He let out a light scoff: “Come here.”
Jiang Zhuoying hid among the lotus seedpods. Was she supposed to go over just because he told her to?
Wouldn’t that confirm she could understand human speech?
She wasn’t that foolish.
“Tap, tap, tap~” The sound of footsteps gradually faded away.
He was leaving just like that?
Jiang Zhuoying waited a few more moments before cautiously poking her head out, only to meet those cool, profound eyes.
She even clearly saw the slight curve of his lips.
Jiang Zhuoying: “!”
How bored must this person be? To actually set a trap for a mere carp!
Jiang Zhuoying silently submerged back into the water. Soon, she heard a faint voice from the shore: “If I don’t see Zhuozhuo when I return with the food box, you won’t eat today.”
While inwardly cursing this person’s cunning and debating whether to let him succeed, she heard the man casually add another sentence.
“And no one will ever tell you anything about Jiang Zheng’s legitimate daughter again.”
Jiang Zhuoying: “!”
Coercion and temptation – that’s exactly the kind of person he was!
Moreover, he only used coercion, without any temptation at all!
After speaking, the man turned and left, his footsteps growing increasingly distant.
Jiang Zhuoying floated up slightly, peeking through the gaps in the lotus leaves to confirm that the Second Prince had truly departed.
This man was full of suspicion and truly difficult to fool.
After hesitating for a long while, Jiang Zhuoying dove deeper into the pond.
One incense stick’s time later, the man returned carrying the food box.
When he reached the pond’s edge and saw the scene in the water, a barely noticeable surprise flashed in his eyes.
During that incense stick’s time, Jiang Zhuoying had managed to dig up several sections of lotus root from the depths of the pond.
It was already autumn, and the lotus roots in the pond had long matured, yet no one had harvested them.
She had expended tremendous effort for these lotus roots!
The fiery red carp in the pond was pushing the lotus roots toward the shore with her head, continuously blowing bubbles in the water.
Qi Fan crouched down, looking directly at Jiang Zhuoying in the pond: “Is this lotus root specially gifted to me by Zhuozhuo?”
Jiang Zhuoying lifted her head from her flustered busyness: “Gurgle gurgle gurgle!”
Seeing her struggle so hard while this person stood by idly with a leisurely demeanor, not offering any help at all!
Though she couldn’t actually speak, the man raised an eyebrow: “Is Zhuozhuo blaming me?”
Jiang Zhuoying guiltily sank into the water, then pushed the lotus roots forward with her head again.
The lotus roots had reached the pond wall and couldn’t advance further…
Why was this man so oblivious!
Just as Jiang Zhuoying was at her wit’s end, the Second Prince finally reached out and collected the lotus root sections onto the shore.
Exhausted and panting, Jiang Zhuoying looked up at him, wondering if her carefully selected gift would be enough to gloss over the matter.
Qi Fan glanced sideways at the mud-covered lotus roots before turning his gaze to the little plump carp: “Zhuozhuo is truly clever and well-behaved.”
Jiang Zhuoying wagged her tail fin, watching as the man’s slender fingers opened the food box. It seemed he didn’t intend to bring up the previous matter anymore.
That was good…
She breathed a slight sigh of relief.
After the midday meal, the man left again with the food box.
Jiang Zhuoying looked around anxiously. She had been waiting for news from Chu Yixin and couldn’t completely relax.
Fortunately, this was a single-courtyard residence, with the fish pond located right in the yard.
If that eunuch entered through the main gate, no matter where he was going, he would have to pass through the courtyard where she could see him.
Jiang Zhuoying swam slowly around the fish pond, having lost count of how many circles she had made when she finally heard hurried footsteps in the courtyard.
She quickly poked her head out of the water—the visitor was indeed that flattering eunuch!
His strides were swift and purposeful, clearly heading toward the main chamber.
Jiang Zhuoying’s heart tightened—she had to stop him!
As for how to intercept him, she had long contemplated a method.
Gathering her strength, Jiang Zhuoying leaped out of the water repeatedly without pause.
The splashing sounds were bound to attract the eunuch’s attention.
Sure enough, when Chu Yixin reached the courtyard, he was immediately drawn by the commotion she created.
He promptly changed direction and walked toward the fish pond.
Seeing the red carp continuously jumping out of the water, he unconsciously furrowed his brows: “Oh dear, what’s wrong with Zhuozhuo again?”
Unable to speak, Jiang Zhuoying could only keep leaping out of the water, splashing droplets onto Chu Yixin’s cheeks.
He slapped his thigh and said in a shrill voice: “This servant will go fetch His Highness at once! Zhuozhuo, please stop jumping around!”
With that, he immediately turned and quickened his pace…
Jiang Zhuoying also ceased her movements—meeting the Second Prince was her objective all along.
She needed to hear the news brought back by the Second Prince’s personal eunuch!
…
The man arrived swiftly, yet he didn’t witness the scene Chu Yixin had described.
Chu Yixin wiped his forehead as he watched the plump little carp swimming obediently in the pond.
“Ahem, Your Highness, Zhuozhuo was jumping and thrashing about wildly earlier. This servant thought something serious had happened.”
“Perhaps now… she’s tired from all that jumping?”
The man crouched down with knitted brows, carefully examining the red carp in the pond.
Everything appeared normal, with nothing unusual.
Jiang Zhuoying stretched her head toward him and swayed it from side to side, her intention quite clear.
Understanding flashed in the man’s eyes as he reached out to gently stroke her head.
Chu Yixin watched in amazement, unable to help sighing: “Zhuozhuo’s temperament has changed quite noticeably recently.”
Though she had always been endearing before, she hadn’t been this lively and animated until lately.
Just look—she’s even started rubbing against Your Highness’s hand now.
“Mhm.”
The man’s soft acknowledgment indicated his agreement.
Jiang Zhuoying paid this no mind—changes in temperament were perfectly normal.
No matter what, these two would never imagine that inside this red carp dwelled a real human being!
…
Having verified the red carp was unharmed, Qi Fan felt slightly relieved. After playing with it briefly, he prepared to stand up and return to his chambers.
The moment Jiang Zhuoying noticed his intention to rise, she immediately pressed closer, unwilling to let him leave.
Chu Yixin clicked his tongue in wonder: “My, Zhuozhuo has become increasingly clingy.”
The scene before them was peaceful and warm, but after a moment of silence, he abruptly changed the subject.
“Your Highness, this servant came earlier to report about Miss Jiang.”
Upon hearing this, Qi Fan’s expression tightened slightly, and his gaze toward the red carp in the water shifted from leisurely to profound.
He casually tapped the red carp’s head.
The man’s fingertips were covered with thick calluses, and Jiang Zhuoying could feel their rough texture.
She grew extremely anxious—Speak! Continue!
Why stop halfway through?
Chu Yixin was waiting for his master’s response.
But Qi Fan remained silent, merely staring intently at the visibly agitated red carp in the pond.
“Your Highness?”
Chu Yixin felt somewhat puzzled. This matter was extremely important, yet the master’s attitude seemed rather indifferent.
The man remained silent for a moment longer before speaking slowly, “How is it?”
“Reporting to the master, according to the message from the Chief of the Imperial Hospital, it has been confirmed that Miss Jiang does not have the Pox disease.”
Upon hearing this, the man clicked his tongue lightly and said, “It seems the Duke of Rui has become senile.”