Chapter 32 Calamity I know.

Chapter 32: Trouble

I knew it was coming.

The small boat circled on the river and slowly made its way toward Zhong Yao, soon reaching the waterside.

Zhong Yao had made her way down the stairs, holding the railing, and was now standing by the water's edge. She saw Xie Chi lift the gauze curtain and step out, followed by Xue Fang, who was sulking in the cabin.

For a moment, her curiosity pushed aside the unease the Fourth Prince caused. Zhong Yao asked curiously, "What's wrong with him?"

Xie Chi replied, "He's hangry."

He walked out of the cabin and stood at the bow. His broad frame blocked most of the cabin from view. Zhong Yao tilted her head to peek behind him, squinted her eyes, and said to Xie Chi, "You're not telling me the truth."

Xie Chi said, "So what if I am?"

Zhong Yao pouted and said, "Nothing."

After saying that, she whispered, "Everyone in your household is so weird. Getting mad for no reason is just normal for them."

Then she peeked at Xie Chi's expression. Seeing that he only shot her an annoyed look, Zhong Yao pursed her lips and smothered a laugh.

Xie Chi had never met a girl who would bad-mouth someone to their face.

Perhaps it was because she had already voiced her dissatisfaction with his grandmother back when she didn't know his identity, so now she held nothing back and dared to say anything?

If he had known she was so good at pushing her luck, he should have come clean about who he was immediately back then to teach her a lesson.

But no matter how much he regretted it, it was already too late.

He couldn't possibly beat her up just because of her muttered complaints, could he?

"Who's the one always getting angry for no reason?" Xie Chi retorted.

At that, Zhong Yao immediately felt a little embarrassed.

After they parted last time, she couldn't sleep because of what was going on with her second brother and had no one to share it with. So, in the middle of the night, she wrote a long letter gushing about Xie Chi and had it delivered to him at first light.

Not long after sending it, she received a reply, but the letter contained only a completely blank page.

Zhong Yao tried many methods—holding it over a candle, dampening it—and after repeated attempts, she had to finally admit it was just a blank page, not some secret message as she had thought.

Zhong Yao got angry and sent a letter to chew him out the next morning.

As soon the reproachful letter was sent, Shu Feng arrived at her residence, personally delivering a bottle of scar-removing ointment and instructing Zhong Yao to apply it daily.

Only then did Zhong Yao realize Xie Chi had been helping her find medicine.

Now, being scolded to her face, Zhong Yao felt a little embarrassed and grinned sheepishly.

In Xie Chi's eyes, this smile looked not only silly but also carried a cheeky, don't-blame-me quality.

Xie Chi didn't like it, but he had to admit she looked somewhat cute this way.

But immediately afterward, the image of Xue Fang wearing such an expression flashed in Xie Chi's mind, turning his stomach. He had to look at Zhong Yao several times before he could banish that image.

Those glances confused Zhong Yao. She cupped her face with both hands and asked, "Is there something on my face?"

"Beautiful," Xie Chi said.

Zhong Yao thought he was being sarcastic. After touching her cheeks, she smoothed her hair and straightened her dress.

Xie Chi was speechless for a moment. After she carefully checked herself over from head to toe, he stepped aside and said, "Get in."

Zhong Yao hesitated, looking around. She saw that both the riverbank and the viewing stands were bustling. On such a day, there weren't many restrictions, and many young men and women were taking in the festivities together. No one would think twice about her talking to Xie Chi.

But entering the cabin wouldn't be proper. Moreover, the Fourth Prince was still waiting to put his plan into action. Zhong Yao was afraid he might have someone tip the boat over, so she didn't dare to board.

Just as she was about to speak, Xie Chi, as if reading her mind, said, "The Crown Prince will be here soon. When the Fourth Prince sees him, he's likely to fly into a rage. Once he's in that state, it could be dangerous. You and Xue Fang stay safely on the small boat. With the guards and Shu Feng there, as long as you don't run around, nothing will happen."

Zhong Yao nodded and was about to board the boat when she remembered Chen Luoling.

"I'll have her come find you later."

With Xie Chi's assurance, Zhong Yao took Shu Feng's outstretched hand, gathered her skirts, and stepped onto the small boat.

Once on board, she was only a step away from Xie Chi. Zhong Yao whispered, "The Fourth Prince's plan..."

She had only uttered these few words when a loud "bang" echoed. The small boat floating on the river seemed to be pushed by something, lurching forward. It crashed into a thick pillar supporting the viewing stand and then jerked backward.

The impact was so great that Zhong Yao lost her balance. She stumbled and nearly fell into the water.

Fortunately, Xie Chi grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace, while Shu Feng quickly moved to block her from the side.

Protected by these two, Zhong Yao staggered several times but remained unharmed. However, a loud thump came from inside the cabin.

Once they finally steadied themselves, the boat that had rammed them from behind had already blended in with the other vessels and was indistinguishable.

Zhong Yao looked at the ripples on the river, glanced back at Xue Fang, who was scrambling up awkwardly inside the cabin, and turned to Xie Chi, saying, "This is his plan."

As soon as she finished speaking, they heard Xue Fang inside the cabin exclaim, furious and incredulous, "His plan was to make me fall?"

Zhong Yao: "..."

She looked up and saw the corner of Xie Chi's mouth twitch, then she laughed again.

Xie Chi noticed, guided her by the arm into Shu Feng's embrace, and let go. His gaze darkened as he scanned the direction of the stern and said, "It's nothing."

After that, he disembarked, leaving behind the instruction "Stay put," and strode toward the viewing stand.

The Fourth Prince's target was Xie Chi. Once he left, the small boat experienced no further collisions.

Zhong Yao had thought the Fourth Prince would come to urge her to get close to Xie Chi, but just as Xie Chi had predicted, within moments, a lavishly dressed young man appeared by the riverside under the escort of guards.

As soon as he showed up, a buzz swept through the crowd. No one was watching the dragon boats anymore. Only after this person ascended the viewing stand and disappeared from sight did the riverside settle down again.

"Is that the Crown Prince?" Zhong Yao asked.

"Go see for yourself!" Xue Fang said unkindly.

Zhong Yao didn't want to go. She had no interest in the Crown Prince and even less desire to see the Fourth Prince.

She was used to Xue Fang's unfriendliness. With Xie Chi around, she wouldn't be the one facing the consequences anyway. So, Zhong Yao lifted the gauze curtain and watched the dragon boats.

As she watched, she suddenly heard Xue Fang ask, "The Fourth Prince told you to get your hooks into my brother. Why didn't you do it?"

Zhong Yao turned her head and asked in puzzlement, "Why should I? Your household isn't exactly a great place."

Xue Fang retorted, "What's wrong with it!" "Your eldest brother is hard to please, you have a terrible temper, and your grandmother gets her kicks bullying people. Whoever becomes your family's daughter-in-law would have truly drawn the short straw."

This really got to Xue Fang again. He said, "That's perfect. In a few days, you'll return to your countryside, and my elder brother and I will go to our Misty Hidden Mountain. From then on, we'll have nothing to do with each other!"

Outside, cheers and the thunderous sounds of gongs and drums filled the air, creating an incredibly lively atmosphere. Zhong Yao was captivated by the commotion and didn't quite catch Xue Fang's words. She simply responded with an "Mm" and craned her neck to look outside.

Xue Fang, dissatisfied, raised his voice again, "My elder brother has been nice to you lately just to get through these last few days peacefully. Don't you dare overthink it!"

Zhong Yao turned back and said, "I know."

She had mentioned it before: regardless of whether Second Brother would be brought back from Misty Hidden Mountain by Xie Chi, Xue Fang would eventually resume living as a man. Once the bridge of their connection was gone, she and Xie Chi would return to being strangers.

Moreover, Xie Chi was determined to sever ties with her—he had already done so once before.

Zhong Yao understood that Xue Fang had disliked her from the very beginning. It was because of her that he had to disguise himself as a girl, so his resentment was understandable.

Though Xue Fang spoke harshly and even imitated a dog's bark to scare Zhong Yao, he had always helped when needed. Recalling his attitude over the past few days, Zhong Yao comforted him, "Don't worry, I won't try to seduce your elder brother. I'm a proper girl from a respectable family; I wouldn't demean myself like that."

It was too humiliating. No matter who the other person was, Zhong Yao would never do such a thing.

She emphasized, "My family's status is low. If I were to marry into a higher-ranking family, I'd surely be bullied. I've thought it through: if I ever discuss marriage in the future, I'll only consider families of lower status than mine."

"You're so unambitious!" Xue Fang retorted.

Marrying upward meant clinging to power and influence, requiring seduction and servitude—too degrading. Marrying downward seemed lacking in ambition, and families of lower status weren't necessarily good matches either.

Zhong Yao felt that arranging marriages was truly a difficult matter.

After a moment's thought, she said, "You're right. It's better to find a family with a decent background, at least to avoid hunger and cold... But I'm not ugly, and my personality is good. Perhaps in the future, my elder brother or second brother might befriend some influential families, and a noble young master might take the initiative to charm me."

At this point, Zhong Yao suddenly remembered that she had been charmed before—by Xie Chi.

During their time stranded in the wilderness, Xie Chi had attempted to win her obedience by seducing her.

But back then, his efforts had been half-hearted.

He was so handsome. If he had undone his clothes back then, taken her hand to touch him, and begged for her pity, she might have actually fallen for it.

Imagining this scenario, Zhong Yao's face flushed, and she let out a silly giggle.

She felt shy, after all, she had truly seen Xie Chi unclothed... He had the physique that Second Brother often praised as ideal for a fine young man...

"My elder brother would never seduce you!" Xue Fang's voice suddenly cut in, interrupting Zhong Yao's daydream.

Exposed, Zhong Yao blushed crimson and stammered, "I didn't say he should charm me. I meant someone else..."

Just as she was guiltily defending herself, a sudden "Boom!" echoed from behind, accompanied by terrified screams.

Inside the cabin, Zhong Yao and Xue Fang had limited visibility and could only see the distant dragon boats.

The guard who was rowing and Shu Feng outside had a broader view. One shouted, "Young ladies, hold on tight!"

The other ducked into the cabin, grabbing one in each hand, and said rapidly, "The viewing platform has collapsed. Many have fallen into the water. Hold on tight; we're moving away!"

The two couldn't see what was happening outside, only feeling the small boat sway as it quickly moved away. The sounds of gongs, drums, and cheers had ceased, replaced entirely by screams and cries for help—chaotic and panic-inducing.

Zhong Yao was stunned for a moment before frantically looking out. Xue Fang, meanwhile, lurched forward like a nimble monkey, trying to leap out of the boat, but Shu Feng swiftly grabbed him.

"The Heir has ordered that neither of you is to run off!"

Xue Fang angrily retorted, "Grandmother is still up there!"

Shu Feng replied, "With the Heir there, the Old Madam will be fine."

Zhong Yao came to her senses and hurriedly added, "Heir Xie mentioned there might be danger. Since he already suspected something, he must be staying by Old Madam Xie's side. She'll be safe. If you go, he'll have to split his attention to look after you."

Only then did Xue Fang calm down.

Their small boat had already been some distance from the viewing platform. The guard reacted quickly, rowing toward open water as soon as he noticed something amiss. Although the surrounding boats were congested, they weren't colliding with each other.

Zhong Yao finally got a glimpse of the riverbank. A section of the long viewing platform had collapsed in the middle, with many people struggling in the water. Nearby small boats were also affected—some smashed, others capsized—creating a scene of devastation as far as the eye could see.

The only consolation was that to prevent accidents, the authorities dispatched a large number of personnel for patrols every year during this time. Additionally, with the Crown Prince present—perhaps as a precaution—there were many accompanying guards. In just a short while, some people had already been rescued and brought ashore.

With so many people, Zhong Yao couldn't spot Xie Chi or find Chen Luoling. Feeling uneasy, she asked Xue Fang, "Does Heir Xie know how to swim?"

"Yes," Xue Fang answered. "He taught me."

"Then he must be fine."

"Definitely fine!" Xue Fang declared loudly, then grumbled, "How could the viewing platform collapse out of nowhere? Has this ever happened before?"

The waterfront viewing platform was specially built for noble families, inspected and reinforced every year. Having grown up in the capital, Zhong Yao had never witnessed such an accident in all these years.

She shook her head and asked, "What was that loud noise earlier? It sounded like fireworks or firecrackers."

Shu Feng couldn't answer either, but Xue Fang, wrinkling his nose and sniffing, said, "Smells like gunpowder."

Zhong Yao was startled, remembering Xie Chi's warning that the Fourth Prince might go mad, and once he did, it would be hard to control...

She didn't voice her thoughts, but everyone on the boat could guess, especially Xue Fang, who was already grinding his teeth in fury.

The festive celebration had turned into a disaster. The riverbank was in chaos. After what felt like an eternity, everyone in the water had been rescued, and the crowd on the bank had thinned somewhat. The guard seemed to receive a signal, informed the three in the cabin, and began rowing toward the riverbank.

Along the way, Zhong Yao saw many shattered wooden planks floating on the water, along with occasional scraps of torn clothing—likely ripped from someone during the chaos. A heavy feeling settled in her heart.

She was reminded of the servants and waiters in the inn who had been attacked by vicious dogs and slaughtered by bandits.

Why did some people always treat others' lives so cheaply?

"Elder Brother!"

Amid her wandering thoughts, Xue Fang beside her shouted. Zhong Yao looked up and saw their small boat was now close to the riverbank.

The riverbank was noisy and chaotic, with crowds bustling about, but two figures stood out the most.

One was a youth in luxurious attire—likely the Crown Prince—surrounded by several officials sweating profusely as they directed soldiers to calm the commoners.

The other was Xie Chi, standing by the riverbank speaking with guards.

Hearing the shout, Xie Chi looked up, his gaze quickly sweeping over the people on the boat. Then, he slightly lifted his chin before turning his eyes elsewhere.

Everyone on the boat breathed a sigh of relief seeing him safe and sound. Following his gaze, they turned and noticed another small boat had pulled up alongside theirs at some point. Looking closely, they saw a man with a sinister countenance standing on it—the Fourth Prince.

He was drenched, the scar on his face even more hideous and terrifying with water droplets clinging to it, like a malevolent spirit that had crawled out of the water.

His dark eyes fixed on Zhong Yao as he asked, "Why didn't you obey?"

Zhong Yao shuddered, taking a step back, and stammered, "I... I..."

"It's alright, don't be afraid," the Fourth Prince's voice suddenly softened. "There's still a chance. Xie Chi is right there on the bank."

Zhong Yao had never been so terrified of someone in her life.

Her breath quickened as she looked at the man before her, then at Xie Chi waiting on the shore, her palms breaking out in cold sweat.

"I-I understand," she stammered, just wanting to get ashore quickly.

"Glad we understand each other." The Fourth Prince showed no fear of Shu Feng or the guards beside Zhong Yao, standing at the edge of the boat as he said, "I can't stand people who don't listen. It's not easy to find someone with scars *and* a personality I like, so I don't want to..."

As he spoke, Zhong Yao's expression turned horrified.

Just as he said "don't want to kill you," the Fourth Prince lurched, his entire body crashing heavily into the water.

No one saw that coming. The guards beside the Fourth Prince panicked and prepared to dive in, while the small boat carrying Zhong Yao—propelled by the guards—drifted over. It not only came down right over the spot where the Fourth Prince had fallen but also slammed into his boat, pushing it away.

Afterward, the small boat swiftly rowed toward the shore and quickly docked.

Xie Chi, on the shore, reached a hand out. Seeing Zhong Yao's pale face and trembling body, he stepped onto the boat with one foot, extended his long arm, and carried her down.

Even after landing, Zhong Yao was still trembling, clutching Xie Chi's sleeve as she said, "The water... in the water, a hand!"

She had seen it clearly just moments before—while the Fourth Prince was speaking, a long, dripping hand had emerged from the water.

It was that hand that had grabbed the Fourth Prince's ankle and dragged him down.

"I know," Xie Chi said softly, then placed his hand on the back of Zhong Yao's neck and gently turned it, saying, "Look back."

Zhong Yao, letting him guide her, turned her head dazedly and saw only Shu Feng and the guards on the boat. Xue Fang was nowhere to be seen.

On the water's surface where the boat had just passed, a string of bubbles slowly rose and burst.