The rain was heavy and dense. Ye Chutang couldn't see Qi Yanzhou's face clearly, but she recognized his voice.
She immediately grasped his fair and slender hand and, with the help of his strength, jumped onto the deck.
Qi Yanzhou instantly moved the umbrella over her head and led her into the cabin.
Then he handed her a dry piece of clothing.
"Wipe the water off your face," he said.
After that, he poured her a cup of hot tea to warm her up.
There were several men in the cabin, all of them middle - aged or older.
Seeing Qi Yanzhou take the risk of exposing himself to help Ye Chutang, they exchanged glances with each other.
It seemed that the young prince had fallen for this girl.
Ye Chutang quickly wiped her face with the clothing and then took the hot tea and took a sip.
The summer rain and lake water were not cold. She drank the tea just not to let Qi Yanzhou's kindness go to waste.
After drinking, she asked, "Was it you, Your Highness, who shot the arrows to help me just now?"
Just as Qi Yanzhou was about to answer, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
His internal injury hadn't healed yet. He had forced himself to use his internal energy when shooting the arrows, which made his injury worse.
Ye Chutang immediately took out a pill for treating internal injuries from her space and handed it to Qi Yanzhou.
Qi Yanzhou looked at the black pill in her palm, and a look of confusion came over his face.
The first time they met, she suddenly took out a pill to suppress the fire poison.
Now, she just happened to have a pill for his internal injury with her.
It was just too much of a coincidence.
Ye Chutang noticed Qi Yanzhou's suspicion and fished out a bottle of pills from her soaked sleeve pocket.
"I originally planned to go to your mansion to give these to you after Jun'er's birthday. Here, take them," she said.
Qi Yanzhou picked up the pill in Ye Chutang's palm, swallowed it, and put away the bottle of pills.
"Thank you," he said.
Although Ye Chutang's explanation seemed reasonable, he still felt something was off.
Ye Chutang asked, "When did you come to Yunyin Lake, Your Highness? How much did you see? Do you know where my second brother was taken?"
Qi Yanzhou had come to Yunyin Lake much earlier than Ye Chutang.
The men in the cabin were all former generals of the Qi Family Army.
Back then, after the Qi family handed over their military power to the late emperor, these generals were transferred away or demoted by the late emperor under various pretexts, and some were even framed with false charges.
Some of them didn't want to suffer the humiliation and resigned from office.
Some just muddled along in the officialdom.
The Qi family had always maintained secret contact with these generals, not for the purpose of forming a clique for selfish ends, but out of old - time affection.
Of course, it was also a precaution.
For example, the current emperor was incompetent and the eunuchs were misleading the country, and the common people were suffering.
Given the current situation, a change of dynasty was just a matter of time.
To prevent neighboring countries from taking advantage of the situation and to prevent the common people and the army from becoming victims, Qi Yanzhou had been preparing for a long time.
However, when he went to the southern border for two years, his plan to secretly regain the military power of the Qi Family Army to prevent a civil war was forced to be put on hold.
After returning to the capital, he was closely watched by the emperor, and it was not until today that he had the time to meet with the former subordinates of the Qi family.
He had only been at Yunyin Lake for a short time when Ye Chutang arrived and got into trouble.
But he couldn't show himself. If it hadn't been for Ye Chutang being in danger, he wouldn't have shot those two arrows.
Fortunately, the heavy rain came in time to cover all his traces.
Qi Yanzhou knew that among Ye Chutang's three questions, she was most concerned about the whereabouts of her younger brother.
He said, "I've sent Nan Xiao to follow them. He'll send a signal as soon as they reach the shore."
Just as he finished speaking, a signal flare exploded in the rain curtain.
Seeing it, Ye Chutang anxiously grabbed Qi Yanzhou's arm.
"Your Highness, please take me to the shore."
Swimming was much slower than rowing a boat.
Qi Yanzhou looked at the sky outside the cabin. Knowing that the rain wouldn't stop for a while, he nodded.
"Yes, but I can't take you directly to the place where the signal came from. It'll be a bit off - course. Please understand."
Ye Chutang knew that Qi Yanzhou, who should have been recuperating from his injury, must have some unknown secrets for being here.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I'll pretend I didn't see you today."
The flower boat quickly rowed towards the shore.
When the boat was about to dock, Qi Yanzhou, who had been silent all this time, spoke up.
"Miss Ye, there are no absolutes in this world. Using yourself as bait is a very unwise thing to do."
He knew very well that with Ye Chutang's ability, if she had gone all out to kill those people without leaving any alive, she would never have been surrounded so embarrassedly.
Ye Chutang knew Qi Yanzhou meant well and nodded.
"I know, but taking the initiative is better than just defending passively."
Qi Yanzhou continued, "When danger strikes, staying alive is more important than leaving a live witness."
"Your Highness, today's plan of getting myself involved was to leave a live witness so that I could find out who was behind this and completely solve the hidden danger," Ye Chutang said.
After saying that, she left the cabin, lightly tapped the deck with her toes, and flew onto the shore.
Although she knew who had sent those people.
But to bring down the Kong family and the Anwang Mansion, she couldn't just rely on her words. She needed evidence!
After landing on the shore, she quickly ran towards the place where the signal had been sent.
After the heavy rain came, there was no one left by Yunyin Lake.
The tourists who had come to the lake for a boat ride had all gone to the restaurants of the merchants to take shelter.
Ye Chutang found Jun'er, who was being held hostage by a martial - arts expert, behind a huge landscape rock.
Blocked by the rock, the strong wind was weaker and her vision was a bit clearer.
At this time, Nan Xiao had blocked the martial - arts expert.
He wore a black mask, only showing a pair of eyes as sharp as a hawk's.
Seeing Ye Chutang catch up, he immediately left.
Ye Chutang stood in Nan Xiao's place and coldly stared at the injured man.
He was holding Jun'er by the top of his head with one hand and a dagger across Jun'er's neck with the other.
Any sudden movement would cost Jun'er his life.
Ye Chutang wasn't sure if she could save Jun'er without him getting hurt.
"Let Jun'er go and tell me who is behind this. I'll spare your life," she said.
The man looked at Ye Chutang, whose beauty was still evident even though she was soaked to the skin, and showed an evil smile.
He kicked a ceramic bottle at Ye Chutang's feet.
"If you want to save this brat, Miss Ye, you should take the medicine first and then go to the restaurant naked."
The first part was the employer's requirement, and the second part was his own addition.
Such a beautiful woman, even if he couldn't have her, it would be nice to feast his eyes on her!
Hearing this, Jun'er trembled with anger.
"Elder sister, don't mind me!"
The sharp dagger cut through his delicate neck, and the blood was washed into a pink color by the rain.
Seeing Jun'er injured, a strong killing intent flashed in Ye Chutang's eyes.
"I'll give you one last chance. Let Jun'er go," she said.
The man sneered. "I'll also give Miss Ye one last chance. I'll count to three. If you don't take the medicine and take off your clothes, don't blame me for being merciless!"
As he said that, he made the wound on Jun'er's neck deeper, and more blood flowed out.
Ye Chutang sensed something was wrong.
She was sure that if she didn't do as he said, this man would really kill Jun'er.
Kong Ru was worse than a brute. She didn't even want her own son!
"Three, two..."
Hearing the countdown, Ye Chutang quickly said, "Don't hurt Jun'er. I'll take the medicine and take off my clothes."
After saying that, she picked up the medicine bottle on the ground and poured out the pills inside.
"How many should I take?"
The man didn't expect Ye Chutang to be willing to take risks for a half - brother.
He didn't understand it, but he was very happy.
"Just one."
Jun'er struggled violently and cried bitterly.
"Elder sister, don't mind me. Please leave!"
"Don't be afraid, Jun'er. Elder sister won't let anything happen to you, and I'll be fine too."
After Ye Chutang said that, she picked up a pill, pretending to put it into her mouth but actually stashing it into the space.
Seeing that the task was accomplished, the man's taut nerves relaxed.
There was a lecherous glint in his eyes as he urged, "Hurry up and take off your clothes. This boy is bleeding profusely and won't hold on for long."
Ye Chutang met the man's direct stare and the corner of her mouth curled up, revealing a captivating smile.
"Okay, I'll take them off."
