An Xin squatted down, raised her hand and gently pressed down on her head, and she sank down again.
"If you dare to mess with me, you'd better be prepared to face the consequences." An Xin's eyes were as cold as an abyss. Then she raised her eyelashes and looked into the distance. After a fleeting glimpse of flowers and shadows, it seemed as if footsteps were slowly approaching.
An Xin casually picked up Fu Ruyue, quickly stripped her naked, threw her into the water, then picked up her clothes and turned to leave.
An Xin naturally wouldn't really kill her. In her past and present lives, she had faced many lifeless people, but she had never personally ended a person's life!
With a swift movement, An Xin dodged around the artificial hill, casually tossing the clothes into the flowerbed. Turning the corner, she saw Yan Zhen standing and talking to someone in the distance, so she ran over and, unusually enthusiastically patted Yan Zhen on the shoulder, laughing, "Let's go together?"
Yan Zhen glanced at her, a playful smile playing on her lips, then looked at the man in front of her and said, "You may leave now." The man immediately acknowledged and withdrew.
Yan Zhen laughed and said, "Did you do something bad?"
An Xin immediately raised an eyebrow: "What a joke! When have I ever done anything wrong!"
Yan Zhen looked at her smug face and chuckled softly, "It seems someone is calling for help behind the artificial hill. Let's go take a look."
An Xin hurriedly stopped him, saying, "The Empress Dowager is performing an exorcism, and the palace must be very busy. How can you leave it unattended, sir!"
Yan Zhen's smile deepened. It was rare to see her looking so guilty, yet for no reason, it stirred his heart. He couldn't help but lean down and peck at her lips, saying, "I love doing bad things, especially to you."
An Xin suddenly glared at him angrily, then turned and left.
"Quick, quick, quick! Someone's going to die at Huanliang Pool!"
"The Empress Dowager is performing an exorcism in the palace today; we can't afford any major chaos. We need to send more people to rescue them!"
...
A group of servants rushed over. An Xin's eyes darted around, and she suddenly stepped forward to stop them: "Eunuch, what's wrong?"
Upon seeing that it was An Xin, the young eunuch hurriedly said, "Miss An, you've come at the perfect time! We heard that someone has fallen into the Huanliang Pond and is about to drown. We servants are on our way to rescue them!"
An Xin said seriously, "A murder?! This is terrible. The murderer is probably still nearby. Your Excellency should send someone to notify the palace guards as soon as possible. If that person commits a crime, the higher-ups will blame us, and we'll be in big trouble!"
The eunuch's expression changed, and he hurriedly said, "Miss An is so thoughtful! Someone, quickly inform Lord Gu to search the palace as soon as possible!"
An Xin, suddenly in a good mood, pointed behind her and said, "The Right Prime Minister is here too. Why don't you all quickly pay your respects to His Excellency the Right Prime Minister?"
Most of the people had already seen the Right Prime Minister and were trembling with fear. Upon hearing An Xin's words, they hurriedly rushed over, knelt down, and kowtowed.
Yan Zhen said, both amused and exasperated, "Get up, everyone! Why aren't you hurrying to save them?"
Everyone hurriedly agreed and swarmed towards the back of the artificial hill.
An Xin raised an eyebrow, then turned around and said, "Since there's something interesting going on, let's go take a look." With that, she grabbed Yan Zhen's sleeve and walked towards the Huanliang Pond.
"Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer!" A scream rang out, and the crowd rushed forward in panic. Then came a collective gasp—beneath the shimmering pool, lotus leaves stretched out, but they couldn't conceal the spring scenery beneath: full breasts, fair skin, and thighs that stirred endless fantasies...
Fu Ruyue nearly fainted, feeling a chill in her heart far exceeding that of the water in the pool!
How could she ever face anyone again?! She absolutely hated An Xin!
"Princess?! What are you standing there for! Quickly save the princess!" An Xin shouted, and everyone snapped back to reality. Fu Ruyue, upon seeing An Xin, glared fiercely and gritted her teeth, saying, "An Xin! You'll die a horrible death!"
An Xin pushed through the crowd, stepped forward, and extended her hand, saying, "Princess, why are you arguing with me over such a trivial matter? Your health is important, please come up here quickly."
Fu Ruyue's eyes were bloodshot: "Get out of my way! You're the one who ruined me! You're the one who ruined me!"
An Xin lowered her eyelashes, a cold smile playing on her lips, but her voice was neither angry nor annoyed: "Princess, I did this to save you, why are you framing me? Everyone saw it. Ah, the Right Chancellor was by my side the whole time."
Yan Zhen's lips twitched slightly, a rare occurrence.
Fu Ruyue was shivering from the cold, but how could she climb up there naked?!
"What are you standing there for?! Hurry up and strip that maid's clothes off and hand them to me!?" Fu Ruyue roared.
Everyone was completely stunned, but who dared to step forward? The princess was naked! They, the eunuchs, had nothing to take responsibility for!
"Ruyue!?" A familiar voice came from behind. When Fu Ruyue saw who it was, her face turned pale.
Ling Xiyao rushed over and was startled when he saw the person in the water. Then he saw An Xin on the shore, who was reaching out as if to save Fu Ruyue, and he was startled again.
“Xiyao…” Fu Ruyue suddenly burst into tears. Ling Xiyao walked closer and saw that his face had become even more pale. He hurriedly took off his outer garment.
An Xin tilted her head and looked at Ling Xiyao with a smile: "Your Excellency, who is known for the taboo of men and women touching each other, have you seen the princess's body? A young lady values her reputation the most, so you must take responsibility!"
Looking at An Xin's smiling face, Ling Xiyao paused abruptly as he took off his outer robe, and couldn't help but say, "Xin'er..."
An Xin looked up at the sky and sighed, "I haven't heard this title in a long time... Hearing it now makes me quite nostalgic." Upon hearing this, Ling Xiyao suddenly froze.
Since the day she woke up, everything seemed to have changed. Her dependence on him turned into disgust. No, not disgust, but indifference, the indifference of a stranger. That indifference gave him a strange feeling, and this feeling lingered and wouldn't go away!
Fu Ruyue almost ground her teeth to powder, but said in a trembling voice, "Xiyao, I'm so cold..."
Ling Xiyao suddenly came to his senses.
An Xin asked, "How did the princess fall into the water for no reason?"
Upon hearing this, Fu Ruyue nearly vomited blood: "Isn't it all your fault?! You're the one who tried to harm me!"
An Xin looked innocently at Ling Xiyao and said, "Lord Chancellor, she's wronging me..."
Ling Xiyao suddenly darkened his eyes and looked at Fu Ruyue, saying, "Ruyue, stop fooling around and come up here quickly. What kind of behavior is this?"
Fu Ruyue was consumed by anger and despair: "Xiyao, believe me! She's the one who harmed me! She threw me into the water and stripped me naked!"
Ling Xiyao's expression grew increasingly grim: "Ruyue, you're being too willful! Since Xin'er wanted to harm you, why did she come to save you?"