Chapter 11

With a tremendous splash, someone came running this way.

The newcomer was dressed in fine brocade and elegant garments, pale-faced and slender—a wealthy young master raised in a secluded mansion, weak to the point of being unable to bind a chicken.

The affluent young master caught sight of the girl by the shore and was instantly captivated.

He could hardly believe such an exquisite beauty existed in the world—truly a maiden by the water like the moon, her jade-like skin as pure as frost and snow. He seemed rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed solely on that innocent-faced, lotus-like beauty.

The person struggling in the water fought desperately, each cry for help swallowed by the waves.

“Miss, may I ask—”

Jiang Si shouted, “Young master, my Fourth Sister has fallen into the water, but you can’t rescue her. You must leave at once and stay away. Please go find someone to help!”

Fearing her displeasure, the young master quickly retreated.

Just then, not far away, Zhu Ping and Jiang Gui’s maid, Liu Feng, ran over. Upon seeing their young miss struggling in the water, Liu Feng was so frightened her legs nearly gave out.

“Why are you crying? Hurry and fetch a bamboo pole!”

Hearing Jiang Si’s command, Liu Feng found courage as if grasping a lifeline and rushed off to find a bamboo pole.

By the time the bamboo pole arrived, Jiang Gui was still splashing in the water. But by now, in her panic, she had managed to find footing and realized the pond was not deep—barely reaching her chest.

Jiang Si extended the pole, signaling her to grab hold.

Hatred welled up in Jiang Gui’s heart, unmistakable in her gaze.

Though the water was shallow enough not to submerge her completely, the muddy bottom made walking difficult. Even an adult man would struggle; how could a delicate young lady accustomed to the inner chambers manage?

After nearly falling and choking several times, she reluctantly grasped the pole.

Jiang Si, Zhu Ping, and Liu Feng pulled together with all their strength. After half an hour, they finally hauled her out. At the same time, members of the Jiang family and the Hua aunt and niece arrived.

The affluent young master had not left. When asked, he eagerly recounted everything he had witnessed.

“Thankfully, this young lady called out loudly; otherwise, I might have rashly rushed in to save the drowning girl and caused scandal, damaging others’ reputations.”

Though he seemed fearful, in his heart he thought that if he had truly saved the girl in the water, he would have lost his chance with the beauty on the shore.

Even though the girl in the water was equally stunning when glimpsed briefly, his eyes belonged only to the one he had first set his sights on.

The more he looked, the more entranced he became, marveling that such a rare beauty existed in the world—one who not only acted decisively but remained calm in peril, exactly the woman of his dreams.

He vividly described to the others how Jiang Si had remained composed in the crisis, how she directed the maids to work together, and how they ultimately succeeded in rescuing the girl.

Madam Xie wore an expression of surprise and quietly asked Jiang Gui, who was wrapped in clothes, “What happened exactly? How could you be so careless?”

Jiang Gui looked at Jiang Si, who was surrounded by praise, her palms nearly bleeding from clutching her own hands.

“Mother, it’s—”

“Enough, we’ll talk later.” Seeing Madam Hua approaching, Madam Xie quickly stopped her.

She swallowed the words on her lips, knowing that if Jiang Gui insisted she had been pushed into the water, no one would believe her, and it would only sully her own reputation.

“Mother-in-law, what on earth happened? How did your daughter just fall into the water like that?” Madam Hua’s face was filled with exaggerated shock and fear.

Having remarried, her birth family held no prestige.

The reason she had caught the attention of Marquis Wei was simply that Lin Gao, having come of age, left no room in the household for a high-born second wife. Moreover, she had divorced her first husband due to being childless.

She was aware of her position and lowered herself in every way to reassure the Lin family. But years of restraint and caution had only bred resentment and narrow-mindedness instead of peace.

Madam Xie looked down on her, which she knew. So on the surface, she flattered Madam Xie, but behind her back, she was delighted to see her suffer. Now that she had such an opportunity, she was determined to vent her spite.

“This pond was just refurbished during the hot season—how could such an accident happen?”

The steward of the Marquis’s household was Jiang Shan, so this was a direct challenge to her competence.

Madam Xie took great pride in her eldest daughter and could not tolerate such slights. But since the one who had fallen was her illegitimate daughter, she found no words to rebut and was too angry to continue the argument.

Taking advantage of her upper hand, she pressed further, “Fortunately, your family’s daughter is sensible; otherwise, your Fourth Miss would have been disgraced. If a scandal had erupted, not only would your Jiang family’s reputation suffer, but the Lin family would be implicated as well.”

“How could your sister-in-law manage the household so poorly as to allow such negligence?” Hua Jin-niang chimed in. “Luckily, Fifth Miss Jiang is clever. Otherwise, if something had happened, where would the honor of the Jiang family and the Marquis’s household stand?”

Upon hearing the aunt and niece echo each other, Madam Gu’s face darkened—she knew someone was trying to use her as a pawn. She dared not look at the Prince of Fangye, known as the Heavenly Buddha’s Child, but shielded her daughter fiercely.

“Madam Marquis does not manage the household and cannot understand how difficult it is. She has never raised children and knows nothing of the hardships involved.”

That remark silenced Madam Hua effectively.

Madam Xie gratefully praised Jiang Si, “Fifth daughter, you did well today. Your eldest sister-in-law thanks you on behalf of your Fourth Sister.”

A cold wind blew, and Jiang Gui trembled all over. Overwhelmed by fear and unparalleled rage, she could no longer bear it and fainted.

The group walked on, encountering several others approaching.

Leading them was a man in splendid robes and a jade crown, handsome, upright, and bearing an extraordinary presence—it was Lin Gao, the heir of the Marquis’s household. Though he walked ahead, he frequently stopped to speak with the two men behind him.

When they drew closer, Madam Hua exclaimed, “It’s actually His Highness the Prince of Fangye and the Prince of Shenjun!”

Everyone was stunned and looked over. The two men were dressed in dark embroidered robes, exuding an ethereal grace and commanding presence, their sharp eyebrows and bright eyes unmistakable as the Princes of Fangye and Shenjun.

For a moment, everyone hurriedly bowed and greeted them.

Lin Gao’s face was solemn as he inquired what had happened.

The pale young master seized the chance to recount the incident once more, his words flowing wildly. At the end, his sharp gaze glanced toward Jiang Si.

Jiang Si hid behind Madam Gu, trying to diminish her presence.

Madam Hua, having just been rebuked by Madam Gu, was deeply displeased. She had also heard the rumors about the Jiang family’s clan school and did not want to miss this chance for retaliation.

“Your Highness, you don’t know—Fifth Miss Jiang is quite bold. If it were another girl, she would have been trembling with fear and forgotten how to save anyone. I hear she’s daring and outspoken—last time, she even reported the Prince of Fu right before Your Highness’s eyes. Truly admirable.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Su almost nodded in agreement.

Indeed, Fifth Miss Jiang was fearless. After all, he had never heard of any girl daring to say she wished to become a widow and keep a lover.

He looked at the delicate girl hiding behind others with growing amazement. How could such a contradictory character emerge from the Jiang family’s strict upbringing?

Madam Gu was mortified, unable to raise her eyes toward the Prince of Fangye, known as the Heavenly Buddha’s Child. She only shielded her daughter firmly.

“Your Highness, my daughter is still young and immature, so she may not always act perfectly.”

“No matter.”

Murong Fankong’s leisurely gaze swept over everyone, seemingly looking right through them.

Jiang Si felt as if she were seen through despite hiding behind others.

What did “no matter” mean?

Did it imply her immaturity was excusable, or that her imperfect actions were forgiven? Could this prince not be so laconic and leave everyone bewildered?

Shen Su quickly added, “Madam Jiang need not belittle herself. Your Fifth Miss is truly daring and responsible—a heroine among men, as Madam Marquis said. Truly admirable.”

Madam Hua was speechless.

Was that really what they meant?

With so many women present, it was hardly appropriate for the men to linger.

Lin Gao turned to Madam Xie, “Thank you, mother-in-law, for your efforts today.”

He preferred to entrust the aftermath to Madam Xie rather than Madam Hua, showing clearly his attitude toward his stepmother.

He was close with Shen Su, and through Shen’s message about some rare books belonging to his late grandfather, Murong Fan had come to visit. Such an opportunity was rare, and he did not wish for household troubles to disturb his esteemed guest.

The two parties parted ways, the sounds of chatter fading.

Shen Su remained thoughtful, with a hint of regret.

“Brother-in-law, was today worth it?”

Murong Fan glanced at him indifferently, giving no clear answer.

He knew it all along!

So his brother-in-law truly had feelings after all.