Kong Shi supported Madam Zhang as she walked ahead, with Zhan Fei Yu and Bao Lian Er following behind. The others remained to guard Huang Li, who had fallen into the water and been rescued.
Every few steps, Zhan Fei Yu would look up and smile at Bao Lian Er. Though her expression was cheerful, it made Bao Lian Er’s face turn deathly pale.
"I need to drink some water to calm myself," Madam Zhang said, sitting in the pavilion. She felt a headache, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing.
As soon as she closed her eyes, the image of Huang Li’s disheveled appearance flashed in her mind, making Madam Zhang unable to catch her breath. A sharp pain lurked in her chest; her daughter-in-law was gone…
Bao Lian Er, who had already offended Zhan Fei Yu, quickly pushed Kong Shi aside and solicitously offered Madam Zhang water. She was afraid of retaliation from Zhan Fei Yu and could only cling to Madam Zhang, her lifeline, at this moment.
Kong Shi didn't mind. She sat down beside them and asked gently, "Xiao Yu, were you scared? You should sit down and rest too."
Zhan Fei Yu obediently sat beside Kong Shi and looked towards Huang Li. This was a case of reaping what one sows. She had intended to scheme against Madam Zhang but ended up harming herself.
On the other side.
"Madam Ming San, things have come to this. Your crying is of no use," Madam Qian, the Tongpan, said with some disgust. She had three bloody scratches on her right hand, inflicted by Huang Li when she was trying to help her earlier. It was no wonder Madam Qian's tone was unfriendly.
"Yes, Madam San. You should go change into clean clothes first," another madam chimed in. If Madam Zhang hadn't left, she wouldn't have bothered staying here.
Huang Li's reputation in Nanxuan Prefecture was not good. Even after getting married, she didn't live a proper life with Young Master Ming San. She would frequently stay at the Donghu Inn, and it was rumored that outside men often visited her secretly.
This was also because the Huang family of Xinglin and the Ming family of Qingya Academy had excellent reputations. Since their families didn't intervene, outsiders like them couldn't go and catch her in the act based on rumors. However, the madams of most families avoided associating with Huang Li for fear of ruining their own reputations.
Her clothes were still wet and dripping. Huang Li sat on the ground with her head bowed. After a bout of madness, she had finally calmed down. Her once proud and arrogant face was now filled with anger, unwillingness, and hatred.
It should have been that old woman Kong Shi who fell into the water! Huang Li clenched her fists tightly, her sinister and twisted gaze fixed on the hooligan being held by two servants nearby. This was a street thug she had specifically hired for Kong Shi. Originally, she had intended to find a dirty and smelly old beggar.
But most beggars couldn't swim, and their bodies were too weak. If they jumped into the water, they would likely run out of strength before even reaching Kong Shi. In the end, Huang Li had to settle for finding a ruffian who could swim and specifically instructed him to bring a blade. While rescuing her, he was to use the blade to cut the strings of her bodice.
Fearing it wasn't enough, Huang Li maliciously added, "Since you can swim, drag her underwater. When she's almost out of breath, give her a few breaths. This is also for the sake of saving her."
But Huang Li never expected that heaven's justice would be swift and sure. Her sinister and malicious scheme had failed to harm that old woman Kong Shi; instead, she herself was pushed into the water.
"I'll go rest in the pavilion," Huang Li said, struggling to stand up. She walked step by step towards the octagonal pavilion with her head down.
What? Madam Qian and the others exchanged glances, inexplicably feeling a bit of pity for Huang Li. Regardless of whether this was an accident or something else, she had lost her reputation, and her life was likely ruined.
What does Huang Li want to do? Zhan Fei Yu couldn't help but become more vigilant. Fortunately, only they were in the pavilion.
"Why are you… here…" Madam Zhang's breath had just stabilized, but seeing Huang Li again made her vision blur with anger. Madam Zhang disdained this woman who had lost her reputation, even as a maid for her son.
Huang Li suddenly looked up, her sinister gaze fixed on the dignified Kong Shi with a bloodthirsty glint, "It's you, you harmed me!"
"What does Madam San mean by that?" Kong Shi stood up, her gaze as calm as water directed at Huang Li, yet devoid of any sympathy. "Does Madam San suspect that your falling into the water was unusual? That's right, why would there be a snake on the Nine-Bend Corridor for no reason? Madam San can report it to the authorities and let the yamen investigate. Besides, only these few people are here, and that hooligan has been caught. It will be clear once he's interrogated."
Before Huang Li could speak, Madam Zhang cried out in panic as if her throat had been squeezed, "No!"
Kong Shi glanced at the guilty Madam Zhang with a half-smile, "Mother, are you worried that reporting it to the authorities will further damage Madam San's reputation?"
"Yes, the incident has already happened, so we must keep it quiet. How can we report it to the authorities?" Madam Zhang nodded repeatedly.
"Madam Zhang, do you think you can harm me and get away with it?" Huang Li laughed in extreme anger, her chin still held high with arrogance. She was not like those submissive fools. "You old hag, if I don't have a good life, neither will you!"
The moment she finished speaking, Huang Li lunged at Kong Shi like a madwoman, her ferocious expression clearly intending to kill Kong Shi.
Nearby, Madam Qian and the others gasped in shock, watching the frenzied Huang Li. Did Madam Zhang scheme against Huang Li?
But thinking of Kong Shi's usual behavior, Madam Qian and the others immediately dismissed the idea.
The Qin family had already declined, and the Ming family of Qingya Academy was now the most prominent scholarly family in Nanxuan Prefecture. Why would Madam Zhang scheme against Huang Li for no reason? Wouldn't that be making an enemy of the Ming family?
Kong Shi pushed away the lunging Huang Li and warned Zhan Fei Yu, "Xiao Yu, quickly dodge!"
Stumbled by the push, Huang Li fell directly onto Madam Zhang, causing her to cry out in pain. Fortunately, Bao Lian Er supported her, otherwise Madam Zhang's old bones would surely have been broken.
"If you don't help me, we'll die together!" Huang Li's sinister gaze fell on Madam Zhang, then on the delicate Bao Lian Er, "Don't you want to marry Prefect Zhang?"
Uh… Madam Zhang was enraged by Huang Li's threat, yet she also worried that Huang Li, in her desperation, would drag her down with her.
Bao Lian Er was stunned. Before she could react, Huang Li screamed again and lunged at Kong Shi, grabbing her hair tightly.
Huang Li, having lost her reputation, could not marry her cousin. If Kong Shi also met with an accident, Bao Lian Er's expression changed. Then, she too lunged at the struggling pair, her delicate voice ringing with concern, "Stop fighting…"
Madam Zhang looked at Bao Lian Er, who was clearly taking sides. Was this really going to happen? After a moment of hesitation, Madam Zhang also lunged forward, shouting, "All of you, stop! Stop fighting! Stop it all."
Three against one? Even though Zhan Fei Yu knew some people were shameless, she hadn't expected them to be so utterly brazen. This was clearly an attempt to kill Madam Zhang.
Kong Shi knew Huang Li's temperament, but she was truly disappointed that Madam Zhang, her mother-in-law, would also try to harm her.
"Brat, get out of the way!" Huang Li shrieked and raised her hand to slap Zhan Fei Yu.
Unfortunately, she underestimated the short Zhan Fei Yu. Although she was a young girl, she had… Her right hand accurately grabbed Huang Li's wrist. Zhan Fei Yu used the momentum to leap up and kick Huang Li in the knee.
Uh…
Madam Qian and the others, who were about to rush over to help, were stunned. They then saw the frenzied Huang Li being kicked to the ground by Zhan Fei Yu, struggling for a long time without getting up.
"Get out of the way!" Seeing Bao Lian Er pushing Kong Shi towards the water behind the railing, Zhan Fei Yu directly grabbed her hair and yanked it hard.
A painful scream erupted. Bao Lian Er felt as if her scalp were being torn off. She fell to the ground with a thud. But before she could recover from the pain, Zhan Fei Yu delivered a flying kick. Bao Lian Er, hit in the temple, swayed and fainted.
"Mother, how long do you intend to make a scene!" Kong Shi finally managed to grab Madam Zhang's hand, glaring at her. She had expected Huang Li to go mad, but Kong Shi hadn't expected her mother-in-law to be so vicious.
"I…" Madam Zhang, with her hair disheveled, was dumbfounded. Before, she could claim she was just trying to break up the fight, but now, with Huang Li lying on the ground like a dead dog and Bao Lian Er unconscious, her clinging to Kong Shi made no sense.
"Oh, I can't breathe…" Madam Zhang quickly sat down, leaning back and groaning.
But at that very moment, a cracking sound was heard. Madam Zhang felt the railing behind her shake, and then her body uncontrollably tipped backward. "Ah…"
Seeing this, Kong Shi immediately grabbed Madam Zhang's flailing arm, but her strength was not great. As Madam Zhang tipped backward, the force of the fall also pulled Kong Shi down with her.
"Be careful!" Zhan Fei Yu hadn't expected such a turn of events and immediately moved to help. But the downward force was astonishing. Before Zhan Fei Yu could react, she, along with Kong Shi, was pulled down by Madam Zhang.
A loud splash echoed as they fell into the water. For a moment after falling into the water, Zhan Fei Yu felt as unlucky as Ming San. Despite all precautions, she still couldn't prevent it.
Damn it! In the water, unable to speak, Zhan Fei Yu's eyes widened. Not far away, Madam Zhang, likely terrified, was clinging to Kong Shi like an octopus, her legs kicking wildly.
Kong Shi could swim, but Madam Zhang's relentless grip prevented her from breaking free. Kong Shi was dragged down, choking on several mouthfuls of water.
Zhan Fei Yu was about to swim over to help knock Madam Zhang unconscious, but a glance caught sight of someone hidden at the bottom of the water. At that moment, Zhan Fei Yu was truly stunned.
The assassin hidden at the bottom of the water probably hadn't expected three people to fall at once. His target was Kong Shi, but as he approached, Madam Zhang's wild, uncoordinated struggles prevented the assassin from reaching Kong Shi.
At this moment, the assassin also saw Zhan Fei Yu and immediately swam towards her.
With a splash, another sound of falling into water. After He Sheng jumped into the water, he immediately searched for Zhan Fei Yu. He hadn't expected Zhan Fei Yu to fall into the water in such a short time.
For a moment, the assassin, Zhan Fei Yu, and He Sheng formed a triangular standoff. The assassin, likely aware of He Sheng's identity, immediately closed in on Zhan Fei Yu.
No! With a look of terror, Zhan Fei Yu struggled as if trying to escape, but her small frame was no match for the assassin's speed.
In an instant, the assassin grabbed Zhan Fei Yu's wrist and pulled her forcefully to his side. As long as he twisted Zhan Fei Yu's slender neck…
Bubbling water, Zhan Fei Yu's hands pushed against him. At the same moment, the sharp blade in her right hand instantly slashed towards the assassin's neck.
Blood instantly dyed the surrounding water red. The assassin was momentarily stunned, then struck at Zhan Fei Yu's face with a palm, intending to take someone down with him even as he died.
Unfortunately, He Sheng had already swum over. He kicked the assassin away and quickly pulled Zhan Fei Yu to his side, fearing there might be a second or third assassin underwater.
Zhan Fei Yu tugged at He Sheng's arm and pointed to Kong Shi, who was almost drowning nearby. Entangled by Madam Zhang, Kong Shi couldn't break free and now lacked the strength even to surface.
He Sheng cautiously looked at the bottom of the water, then swam over with Zhan Fei Yu.
After knocking Madam Zhang unconscious with a palm strike, He Sheng grabbed her and pulled her to the surface. Zhan Fei Yu quickly pushed Kong Shi. Likely driven by a strong will to survive, Kong Shi, with a surge of strength, also surfaced.
Cough, cough! Zhan Fei Yu didn't care about getting dirty. She sat down on the ground, wiped the water from her face, and looked at Kong Shi, who had collapsed, laughing, "Madam, are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Kong Shi was too exhausted to even move a finger. She had planned everything, but she never expected Madam Zhang and Bao Lian Er to attack her. If not for Xiao Yu risking her life to save her today, Kong Shi knew she would have either drowned or been killed by the assassin in the water.
"Ah Sheng is quite clever," Zhan Fei Yu giggled, looking at He Sheng, who had landed on the shore on the other side.
Although reputation meant little compared to life and death, He Sheng had kept his distance. At least no one could criticize Madam Zhang.
Kong Shi turned her head and looked, then also smiled, "Today I've implicated you."
"You're too kind, Madam," Zhan Fei Yu replied indifferently. Her teacher and Madam Zhang's father were sworn friends, and Prefect Zhang had also taken good care of her. Zhan Fei Yu certainly couldn't stand by and do nothing. Moreover, she knew He Sheng was guarding in secret, but she hadn't expected there to be an assassin hidden underwater.
…
With one incident after another occurring at the Peach Blossom Gathering, no one was likely in the mood for matchmaking for their children.
Donghu Inn.
He Nuan looked at Zhan Fei Yu, who was drinking medicinal soup from a bowl, with self-reproach. The water in March was still quite cold, and she was worried Zhan Fei Yu might catch a cold, especially with the prefectural examination approaching.
"A Nuan, don't blame yourself. It was my carelessness," Zhan Fei Yu grinned. Judging by the bitter and astringent medicinal soup, she would never let herself fall into the water again.
"I should have stayed by Miss's side," He Nuan replied.
Next time, regardless of any rules, she would stay by her young lady's side every moment. If her young lady hadn't possessed some skill, the assassin might have succeeded today.
Qingya Academy on the other side.
Ming San, who had also received the news, was stunned for a long time before reacting. Looking at Headmaster Ming and Madam Ming, he rubbed his temples with a headache. When it came to doing practical things, Ming San realized that talent and intellect were utterly useless.
"Third Brother, this was an accident," Yin Yuanhui disliked Huang Li, his sister-in-law, on normal occasions. But in this matter, Huang Li was simply unlucky. If Third Brother decided to divorce her, Huang Li would truly have no way out.
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