Both Qian Qi Yue and Tang Ning were drenched, their hair and clothes soaked through. They were draped in outer garments taken off by the surrounding maidservants, looking utterly disheveled.
Tang Ning’s face, usually composed, was unusually grim, while Qian Qi Yue, pale as a ghost, kept her head lowered, coughing up water. Madam Wen Xin Hou and her daughter were both visibly anxious.
When Tang Ning saw that familiar faces had arrived, her expression slightly softened. “There was a commotion by the lake earlier, and Qian sister and I were accidentally pushed into the water,” she said, glancing at the people who followed Madam Wen Xin Hou but not mentioning the events in the lake. Instead, she downplayed it, saying, “Fortunately, I learned how to swim as a child, and the maidservants in the mansion rescued us in time. Qian sister only choked on the water.”
Qian Qi Yue, who had been feeling dizzy from exhaustion, had already recovered some after vomiting the water she had swallowed.
There were too many people around them, not only from Madam Wen Xin Hou’s household but also from Princess Le Yang and others. Onlookers had gathered as well.
Qian Qi Yue, trembling, recalled the events in the lake, faintly remembering the voices shouting "Save them," yet their actions were anything but clean. It was clear that they were targeting both Tang Ning and her, and the way they acted suggested an attempt to ruin their reputations by pushing them into the water.
Seeing that Tang Ning said nothing, Qian Qi Yue understood her hesitation. She lowered her voice, looking at the anxious Zhou Yu Chang, "Sister Zhou, I’m fine."
Princess Le Yang walked up with a concerned expression. "What happened? How did you two end up in the water? The lake is so dark, if anything had happened..." she trailed off, glancing at their wet clothes.
“You poor things.” She looked at the two girls, drenched, and ordered the people next to her, "What are you standing around for? Quickly help the County Princess of Yiyang and Miss Qian to rest and change clothes. Then send for a doctor right away."
"No need," Tang Ning immediately refused. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but our carriage is nearby. Qian sister and I will return ourselves."
Princess Le Yang’s face stiffened, clearly displeased at the refusal.
A young woman who had been standing beside her stepped forward, speaking gently, “Your Highness means well. It’s a bit far to return to the city south, and though it’s hot, the lake water is freezing. You two are young ladies—after such a disturbance, it might be too much to travel back right away, especially when you’ve been in the water. Why not allow us to take you to a nearby place where you can change clothes and rest, and we can call a doctor? If all is well, you can head back afterward. What do you think, County Princess of Yiyang?”
Tang Ning frowned slightly, feeling that the speaker seemed familiar.
Madam Wen Xin Hou, seeing her expression, softly said, “This is the wife of the Fourth Prince.”
Tang Ning’s frown deepened at the mention of the Fourth Prince. She had grown increasingly disenchanted with anything related to the Fourth Prince. She had met his wife once in her previous life at Fengxi Palace, but the encounters had been brief, and she didn’t have much of an impression of her.
She hadn't expected to run into Princess Le Yang and the Fourth Prince’s wife here.
Recalling the events at the lake and the sudden disturbance that occurred earlier, Tang Ning’s gaze swept over the Fourth Prince’s wife before she spoke softly, "Then I must thank the Fourth Prince’s wife."
She wanted to see what they were really up to.
Tang Ning and Qian Qi Yue were escorted by Yue Jian and others to the nearby Yue Lai Tower, not far from the lake. They were sent into a private room, and before long, maidservants from the Fourth Prince’s household arrived with fresh clothes for them.
With the faint scent of incense in the room, Tang Ning exchanged glances with Yue Jian.
Yue Jian whispered, "There’s nothing unusual in the room, and the clothes are clean."
Tang Ning nodded, relieved, and she and Qian Qi Yue changed into the new clothes. Yue Jian also changed into fresh clothes.
“Sister…”
Xue Ru, her eyes red from worry, had been terrified when Tang Ning and Qian Qi Yue had fallen into the lake. Knowing that the two of them had nearly met with disaster, her face was pale with fear. She quietly asked, "Sister, are you and Qian sister alright? Who exactly was trying to harm you?"
Tang Ning pursed her lips, "I don’t know." She looked at Xue Ru, asking, "Did you get hurt earlier?"
Xue Ru shook her head, "I’m fine."
"That’s good."
At that moment, Qian Qi Yue had also changed into dry clothes. Her personal maidservants, Rui Zhu and Qiao Xiang, were combing her long hair with a cloth. Tang Ning spoke in a low voice, "What happened tonight was no accident. We just don’t know yet whether the target was the Qian family or the Tang family."
"Although neither Qian sister nor I were taken advantage of in the lake, there were men who approached us. If word spreads, it could tarnish our reputations. I’ll have people look into this matter secretly. You all must keep quiet and not speak a word to anyone, understand?"
The two maidservants of the Qian family and Yue Jian all nodded immediately. "We understand, Miss."
Qian Qi Yue, having recovered somewhat, felt the coldness from the lake dissipate and her complexion slowly returned to normal.
Remembering the people outside, she lowered her voice, "Tang Ning, how did the Fourth Prince’s wife and the others end up here?"
She wasn’t familiar with court politics and didn’t understand the intrigues at play, but she knew about the Empress’s recent reprimand by Emperor An and the loss of her authority over the Six Palaces. She also knew about the Fourth Prince’s scandal, which had caused a stir in the capital. So how could the Fourth Prince’s wife be in the mood to come to Minghe Lake to admire the moon at this time?
And Princess Le Yang, Madam Wen Xin Hou, and that other silent Princess Lu, who had no connection to them, what were they all doing together?
Qian Qi Yue lowered her voice further, "Old Princess Lu is of higher rank than the Empress and rarely leaves her home. I didn’t hear that she was close with the Fourth Prince’s wife. How could she join them for moon-gazing tonight?"
Tang Ning’s frown deepened as she listened to the identities of those people. The Empress had ill intentions, Princess Le Yang wasn’t trustworthy either, and Old Princess Lu was known for her strictness and adherence to etiquette. She had been widowed young, but because her late husband had died in service to the country, she held significant influence in the royal family.
These people showing up together at the lake tonight, combined with the disturbance that had occurred, made Tang Ning suspicious. However, she had no evidence for now. Besides, Madam Wen Xin Hou had been supportive of her and her aunt in the past, and the Wen Xin Hou family had a close relationship with her aunt. Tang Ning didn’t want to make assumptions without clear proof.
"Stay alert. Don’t get involved with things you shouldn’t. We’ll greet them and then leave," Tang Ning whispered her instructions.
Qian Qi Yue’s heart tightened. "Understood."
Outside, the group had gathered around a table. A maid from the Fourth Prince’s household, who had been sent to check on Qian Qi Yue’s condition, returned and reported that Qian Qi Yue’s attendants had said she was recovering and wasn’t in serious danger, so they hadn’t allowed her to approach.
Princess Le Yang’s face immediately darkened. “You are doing this out of goodwill, and yet they act like this—who are they trying to guard against?"==================
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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