Murong Jin's expression changed drastically as he instinctively leaped forward to rescue.
Suddenly, Feng Ying's maid shrieked, "Miss!!"
Turning his head, he saw Feng Ying in the pavilion, bending over as she clutched her chest in pain, her delicate brows furrowed.
Had her heart condition flared up again?
Murong Jin hesitated—and in that very moment, Chu Ruoyin tumbled into the lake.
Splash!
The water erupted in a great spray, the icy cold seeping into her bones, yet it paled in comparison to the agony in her heart.
Just moments ago, she had clearly seen him rushing toward her...
Those broad hands, which had once saved her from peril, had faltered at the cry of "Miss."
Miss... Feng Ying...
His A-Ying.
Chu Ruoyin closed her eyes in despair, surrendering to the frigid water flooding her mouth and nose...
On the shore, gasps erupted.
Seeing someone fall in, the Feng family immediately sent four or five maids who could swim, all diving in at once.
Chu Ruoyan's gaze turned frosty. "Cousin Jinxue!"
Feng Ying might deceive others, but not her—those maids held thin threads in their hands.
Of course, Feng Ying wouldn’t dare take Ruoyin’s life at her own banquet, but if something went wrong during the rescue—a scrape, a wound...
Especially since Second Sister’s hands had already been injured from playing the zither earlier!
If those threads tangled around them now, she might never play again!
Unfortunately, neither of the Chu sisters knew how to swim, leaving them to rely on the Jiang family.
Jiang Jinxue understood instantly, shedding her outer robe to dive in—but someone moved even faster!
Splash—
Water sprayed onto her face, and it took her a moment to cry out in shock, "Brother!"
Jiang Huaian had leaped into the pond before her!
Jiang Jinxue’s limbs nearly gave way from fright.
How could her brother dare?
This was the Qujiang Banquet, and Second Cousin was the future concubine of Prince Qin!
A royal consort, in full view of everyone—if her brother made physical contact with her...
"What are they doing? Why is rescuing someone taking so long?" Chu Ruolan’s voice snapped her back to reality. Jiang Jinxue looked up to see her brother tangled with the Feng family maids, the water’s surface in chaos.
She quickly waded in, slipping like a fish toward Chu Ruoyin...
"My, what impressive swimming skills!"
A noblewoman at the banquet praised, only for another to sneer, "So what if she’s skilled? She’s just a merchant’s daughter. If not for clinging to the Duke of Chu’s family, she’d never have stepped foot in the Qujiang Banquet!"
The words extinguished any lingering thoughts of marriage alliances among the guests.
Merchants.
What were they worth?
Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants—merchants sat at the very bottom.
Only the Duke of Chu’s household, with its lack of refinement, would bring such lowborn folk here...
By then, Jiang Jinxue had already pulled Chu Ruoyin to shore.
Nanny Zhou and Yulu helped haul her up as Bihe rushed over, sobbing, "Second Miss, Second Miss, wake up!"
Chu Ruoyin had lost consciousness, her already pale face now utterly bloodless.
Chu Ruoyan glanced at her fingers—thankfully, though swollen and white from the water, they bore no new injuries.
She handed Jiang Jinxue’s robe back to her. "Are you all right?"
Jiang Jinxue wrapped herself in the garment, teeth chattering. "I’m fine. Second Cousin likely just swallowed some water—nothing serious. But the lake was freezing. Best to have a physician check her, just in case."
Meanwhile, Jiang Huaian and the Feng family servants clambered ashore. A servant handed him dry clothes, but instead of wearing them, he draped them over Chu Ruoyin. "How is Cousin Ruoyin?"
The concern on his face went far beyond what was proper between cousins.
Chu Ruoyan’s brow arched slightly—until a cold voice cut through.
"My future concubine’s well-being is none of your concern!"
Turning, they saw Murong Jin approaching with Feng Ying, his expression dark.
The Chu family nearly laughed in disbelief. Chu Ruolan outright demanded, "Your Highness, you were the closest to Second Sister. Why didn’t you save her?"
"Ruolan!" Lady Jiang the Younger scolded before offering Prince Qin an apologetic smile. "Forgive my daughter’s impertinence, Your Highness. She’s just worried for her sister..."
Murong Jin nodded slowly as Feng Ying murmured, "It wasn’t His Highness’s fault. My wretched heart acted up again, and he was only concerned for me..."
Her gaze flickered to Chu Ruoyin’s hands.
A pity—such a perfect chance to ruin them, wasted!
Chu Ruoyan crossed her arms, nodding sagely. "Ah, how convenient. Not a moment sooner or later, but precisely when His Highness was about to rescue her. Miss Feng, your ‘heart condition’ truly obeys your whims, doesn’t it?"
A few young noblewomen stifled giggles at the jab.
Feng Ying’s face twisted in humiliation as Murong Jin snapped, "This has nothing to do with A-Ying. The fault is mine!" He bent to lift Chu Ruoyin.
"Your Highness!"
Jiang Huaian stepped forward, blocking him.
Murong Jin’s eyes turned glacial. "What? Shall I need your permission to take my own concubine to a physician?"
Jiang Huaian clenched his jaw, ignoring his sister’s frantic tugs on his sleeve, and bowed. "Your Highness, since Cousin Ruoyin is not yet wed, I must ask you to uphold propriety. Let us take her home for treatment."
"You—!"
Murong Jin sneered, flicking aside the robe Jiang Huaian had draped over Ruoyin. "My woman doesn’t need a merchant’s interference!"
With that, he unfastened his own cloak—a black, gold-embroidered mantle—and wrapped it around her.
Jiang Huaian’s eyes burned with fury when Empress Pei arrived. "Enough, Ninth Brother. Why quarrel with the Chu family? Aren’t you all acting in Miss Chu’s best interest?"
Murong Jin turned away with a scoff.
As a man, he recognized Jiang Huaian’s intentions all too well!
That reckless dive into the water? The scholar was no innocent bystander!
Empress Pei suppressed a smile. Weren’t you indifferent earlier? Now you’re suddenly possessive?
But judging by the Chu family’s stance, taking the girl today was impossible. She mediated, "Enough. Her health comes first. Take Miss Chu away for treatment. Ninth Brother, if you’re worried, follow them—but no more disturbances, understood?"
Murong Jin agreed, then ordered, "Changhua, take my token and summon Chief Physician Zhang from the palace at once!"
"Yes!"
"Also fetch warming tonics from the imperial stores—ginseng, deer antler—all charged to my account!"
"Yes!"
Servants scurried to obey.
Jiang Huaian’s fists tightened, resentment flaring at his merchant status—how could he protect the one he cherished when even this was beyond his reach?
Just then, a Feng servant announced the guest chambers were ready. Lady Jiang the Younger and Chu Ruolan carried Chu Ruoyin away to change, while the Jiang siblings, soaked through, followed.
Murong Jin, seeing Jiang Huaian leave, trailed after them—astonishingly, without so much as a glance at Feng Ying!
Feng Ying’s nails dug into her palms, drawing blood as the Second Madam Feng smiled brightly. "Now that this little incident is settled, let us all return to our seats for wine and delicacies!"
At her clap, servants brought forth fresh dishes and fine liquor.
Just as the musicians prepared to play, a clear, icy voice cut through.
"The Feng family’s troubles may be over, but what of my sister’s near-drowning? Shall we settle that account now?"
