Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Yu Qizhi came back to her senses and saw Jiang Luoyi looking at her with concern.

Before Yu Qizhi could speak, Jiang Luoyi smiled politely and introduced herself.

"I've wanted to meet Lady Yu for a long time. Today, I finally have the chance. Let's go over there to talk."

Jiang Luoyi pointed towards the pavilion by the lake, which was empty and suitable for conversation.

Although Yu Qizhi was somewhat slow to react, she roughly understood Jiang Luoyi's intentions, which seemed to be related to Pei Jing.

In the crowd not far away, the maid who had handed her the note earlier was nowhere to be found. Yu Qizhi clenched her hand around the crumpled note and nodded slightly at Jiang Luoyi.

The two sat down in the pavilion, and Jiang Luoyi immediately began talking about Pei Jing.

Yu Qizhi's thoughts were still in turmoil.

Feng Qingling is still alive? He didn't die?

Then why, after all these years... has Brother Ling never come to find me?

Yu Qizhi's fingers continuously stroked the note in her palm. She thought that Brother Ling must have his reasons.

Yu Qizhi did not ask for much; knowing that Feng Qingling was still alive was enough for her.

"When the Crown Prince was young, his mother was strict with him. General Jin taught him martial arts very rigorously, even harshly. Once, I saw the Crown Prince wiping away tears alone after being scolded by his master..."

Jiang Luoyi's gentle voice continued softly in Yu Qizhi's ear.

"Lady Yu, are you listening?"

Noticing Yu Qizhi's distractedness, Jiang Luoyi frowned slightly and asked.

Yu Qizhi snapped back to reality and nodded.

"Where was I?" Jiang Luoyi asked in return.

Yu Qizhi wasn't quite sure: "You were talking about... the Crown Prince and your childhood friendship?"

Jiang Luoyi paused, realizing Yu Qizhi was clearly preoccupied. She decided to get straight to the point:

"Lady Yu, don't you think we look somewhat similar?"

This time, Yu Qizhi cooperated and carefully examined Jiang Luoyi.

"So, what is it you want to tell me, Lady Jiang?" Yu Qizhi asked.

Seeing that Yu Qizhi neither confirmed nor denied anything, Jiang Luoyi assumed Yu Qizhi understood but was unwilling to admit it due to pride.

Unexpectedly, Yu Qizhi asked so directly.

"Didn't I say it just now?" Jiang Luoyi felt a bit uneasy and raised her voice: "The Crown Prince once proposed marriage to me."

"If it's about this," Yu Qizhi said, "I have no objections."

"If you want me to step aside or divorce the Crown Prince, I can do that."

"Ah?" Jiang Luoyi was taken aback; she hadn't expected such a response.

She quickly concluded that Yu Qizhi was speaking out of anger.

During her stay in Chang'an, Jiang Luoyi had heard many stories about how deeply Yu Qizhi loved Pei Jing and rumors about how she had attached herself to him.

But Jiang Luoyi could also see that Yu Qizhi held some weight in Pei Jing's heart.

Hearing Yu Qizhi's words, Jiang Luoyi interpreted them as a display of arrogance due to favoritism.

Jiang Luoyi grew increasingly angry. Was Yu Qizhi flaunting Pei Jing's affection to her?

Regardless, for her own sake and for her child and the Jiang family, she needed to establish a connection with Pei Jing and the Marquis Mansion.

So, Jiang Luoyi suppressed her anger and softened her tone:

"Lady Yu, let's not say things that hurt feelings. The spring scenery is beautiful. Why don't we take a walk instead of sitting here?"

"No need." Yu Qizhi stood up to leave.

She felt she had already said everything she needed to say to Jiang Luoyi.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Luoyi followed her out of the pavilion, walking alongside her.

Unable to shake her off, Yu Qizhi let Jiang Luoyi continue.

"Lady Yu, what are you holding in your hand?" Jiang Luoyi asked curiously.

She had noticed the note Yu Qizhi kept clenching, even during their conversation.

Sensing Jiang Luoyi reaching for it, Yu Qizhi instinctively hid her hand behind her back and quickly put the note away.

Leaning towards Yu Qizhi, Jiang Luoyi lost her balance when Yu Qizhi pulled her hand back, stumbling and falling towards the lake.

With a splash, Jiang Luoyi fell into the scenic lake.

"Help... help me." Jiang Luoyi flailed helplessly in the water; she couldn't swim.

The lake was fed by a stream, and Jiang Luoyi's struggles pushed her further from the shore.

Yu Qizhi didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately jumped in after her.

The lake wasn't particularly deep, but in her panic, Jiang Luoyi had already swallowed several mouthfuls of water. Seeing Yu Qizhi approaching, she instinctively grabbed onto Yu Qizhi's body amidst her flailing.

Yu Qizhi was dragged down into the water by Jiang Luoyi.

In her panic, Jiang Luoyi had become incredibly strong. As she struggled, she pushed Yu Qizhi under the water, almost making her lose her breath.

Finally, when Jiang Luoyi's struggles subsided somewhat, Yu Qizhi managed to break free with great effort.

Yu Qizhi resurfaced and swam to Jiang Luoyi's back, supporting her shoulders and trying to bring her to the shore.

Although the pavilion was not crowded, it wasn't far from the crowd, and soon someone noticed the accident at the lake.

Seeing that the two who had fallen in were women, the people on the shore were torn between helping and not helping, only able to worry helplessly from afar.

"Commander Pei." "Crown Prince Pei." Someone in the crowd suddenly addressed the newcomer.

Pei Jing and the others hurried over. The crowd parted to make way for Pei Jing.

Yu Qizhi quickly saw Pei Jing's tall figure.

Pei Jing calmly surveyed both her and Jiang Luoyi, then without hesitation pulled Jiang Luoyi out of the water first.

Jiang Luoyi's clothes were completely soaked; wearing light spring attire, the fabric clung to her body, revealing her feminine curves.

Pei Jing quickly took off his outer robe and draped it over Jiang Luoyi.

Jiang Luoyi seemed to be truly on the brink of fainting, her face turning pale and slightly blue.

She slowly regained consciousness, coughing several times before gasping, "Madam Yu, I have no grudge against you. Why did you try to harm me?"

Jiang Luoyi's words caused an uproar among the crowd.

Yu Qizhi had just been pulled ashore by a kind person and defended herself, "I didn't..."

But before she could finish, Jiang Luoyi fainted again beside Pei Jing.

"There is a physician in the mansion," someone kindly offered.

Pei Jing checked Jiang Luoyi's weak breathing, "Please lead the way."

With that, he lifted the limp Jiang Luoyi and followed the person guiding him towards the physician, walking briskly towards the mansion.

The crowd parted slightly.

After rescuing someone from the water, Yu Qizhi was also drenched and fell exhausted onto the shore.

Water droplets clung to her cheeks, and her hair was slightly disheveled. Without makeup, she looked like a lotus emerging from the water, exuding a clear and elegant beauty.

However, her pale lips and bewildered expression revealed her current state was not good.

Weichuan, following Pei Jing's instructions, removed his cloak and wrapped it around the equally wet Yu Qizhi.

Seeing Pei Jing leave without looking back, the surrounding people couldn't help but show surprise.

Was his wife Yu Qizhi left behind?

This seemed to confirm the importance of Jiang Luoyi in Pei Jing's heart.

The onlookers speculated that the rumors about Pei Jing treating Yu Qizhi as Jiang Luoyi's substitute must be true.

Considering Jiang Luoyi's accusation that Yu Qizhi had pushed her into the water, whispers spread through the crowd.

"I heard she used despicable means to force Crown Prince Pei to marry her," one voice said arrogantly, tinged with disdain.

"Of course, how else could a daughter of a minor official ever match the status of Changning Marquis Mansion?"

"What use is it now? With Jiang Luoyi back, she's immediately cast aside. Such scheming, even trying to harm the rightful lady."

"Jiang Luoyi, being an orphan, might be taken back into the mansion by Crown Prince Pei, earning him a noble reputation."

"Hush, they can hear us."

Those whispering were emboldened by their location outside the mansion, and their voices carried, reaching most ears.

"Madam, let me take you back to the mansion," Weichuan approached Yu Qizhi.

Yu Qizhi was oblivious to the gossip around her.

She realized the note in her possession was gone.

It must have been washed away when she fell into the water.

Feng Qingling's existence, now lost, felt like a dream or snow. When the dream ends, the snow melts, leaving nothing behind.

Yu Qizhi's lost expression made her appear pitiful and disoriented to those watching.

Though some despised Yu Qizhi, seeing her abandoned by her husband in public while he carried another woman away, they felt a twinge of sympathy.

The few whispering under the gaze of others reluctantly fell silent.

...

When Yu Qizhi returned to the mansion, she seemed fine. However, by nightfall, she suddenly developed a fever.

In the dim light, Fang'er watched over Yu Qizhi, preparing warm water and a towel by the copper basin to wipe away her sweat and cool her down.

"I'll do it."

The man's deep voice sounded in Fang'er's ear.

Fang'er jumped, then saw Pei Jing motioning for her to be quiet.

Fang'er understood and silently closed the door as she left.

Yu Qizhi lay on the bed with her eyes closed, her cheeks flushed red, and her delicate lips now had some color, though marred by illness. She looked fragile and somewhat pitiful.

Her eyebrows were lightly furrowed, indicating that the fever was causing her discomfort. Pei Jing sat down beside the bed, dipped the towel next to the copper basin into warm water, wrung it out slightly, and tried to wipe Yu Qizhi's forehead to cool her down.

But the moment his fingertips touched her cheek, the person on the bed seemed to be on guard and immediately woke up.

Yu Qizhi's eyelashes fluttered lightly, and she quickly turned her face away, avoiding his touch.

It was clearly a gesture of resistance.

Pei Jing paused, then turned the towel around and placed it back in the copper basin.

"Did you take your medicine at night? Are you still feeling unwell?" he asked.

Yu Qizhi collected herself and sat up straight.

She organized her thoughts and spoke slowly, "Crown Prince, today by the lake..."

"Jiang Luoyi told me that the Crown Prince once sought to marry her." Her tone was calm, but her voice was weak from illness.

"Today's incident was just an accident," Pei Jing said, his brows slightly furrowed.

His voice was light and casual, easily defining Jiang Luoyi's fall into the water as an accident.

But that wasn't what she wanted to talk about.

Seeing Pei Jing deliberately sidestepping her words, Yu Qizhi felt a bit annoyed.

"It was I who pushed her into the water." Recalling Jiang Luoyi's statement after being rescued, Yu Qizhi decided to say it outright.

Pei Jing glanced at her and continued, "You're not that kind of person."

"Stop making trouble."

Pei Jing believed Yu Qizhi was merely being petulant again.

He reached out to hold her hand, but when he touched her warm palm, she pulled it back.

Pei Jing frowned. He suppressed his impatience and explained, "Jiang Luoyi has asthma."

Jiang Luoyi had had asthma since childhood, which is why everyone around her had always been cautious, fearing a sudden attack could be fatal.

The doctor had also stated that after falling into the water, Jiang Luoyi had been severely affected, and if delayed, it could have damaged her heart and threatened her life.

And Pei Jing needed Jiang Luoyi to stay alive.

He took a deep breath and made a concession: "What do you want? I'll make it up to you."

Yu Qizhi was silent for a moment. "Then, Crown Prince, bring her into the residence to take care of her."

A hint of surprise flashed across Pei Jing's eyes, and he frowned. "What did you say?"

"Jiang Luoyi is now a widow. Since the Crown Prince still has feelings for her, why not bring her and her child into the residence? It would be a win-win situation."

Yu Qizhi assumed Pei Jing must have heard her clearly, but she repeated patiently.

"Yu Qizhi, what exactly do you mean?" Pei Jing's voice turned cold.

Yu Qizhi still had a slight fever and was feeling tired and drowsy.

She didn't understand why, even after speaking so clearly, Pei Jing still asked what she meant.

"Whatever decision the Crown Prince makes, I will support. Whether it's divorce or separation, I won't cling on," she said.