Chapter 105: Falls into the Cold Pool

Chapter 105: Falling into the Cold Pool

"Let go, let go! Please, Your Highness, have mercy..." Qin Chaole's voice was panicked.

Qin Jiao remained steadfast: "I am not wrong. The Second Prince clearly has a bad reputation and flawed character, yet Your Highness falsely accuses others."

"Oh, Young Master Qin, keep quiet! Any more and you'll lose your head!" Miao Mao sighed wearily.

Begging for mercy, refusing to admit fault, pleading, and those about to teach a lesson—the hall erupted in clamor. As if the chaos weren't enough, the eunuchs sent to apprehend them, eager to earn merit, ended up tripping and falling into a tangled heap, plunging the hall into further disorder.

Somehow, in the scuffle, Qin Jiao and Qin Chaole were shoved toward the wide-open window. A mere lean forward allowed them to see the crystal-clear, cold pond below.

It was early afternoon, with gentle sunlight and a beautiful spring day. In a rest pavilion directly across from the Noble Consort Dowager's villa, a group of literati were competing at pitch-pot. Suddenly, a young gentleman's eyes widened as he pointed at the window of the Noble Consort Dowager's villa, exclaiming, "My God! Someone fell!"

"Two people! They fell into the pond below!"

"Help! Help! Someone come quick!"

Others noticed the commotion and began shouting for rescue, while some even rushed toward the pond.

Luo Yue, who had been waiting outside the hall, was drawn by the noise. He turned and saw a figure clad in a white silk cloak over an amber-gold feathered brocade robe, face down and sinking in the pond. Beside him, another person in purple brocade was struggling desperately.

Luo Yue was shocked—it was Qin Jiao and Qin Chaole!

"Young Master!"

Luo Yue felt the blood rush to his head. Without hesitation, he used the pear tree and rocks as springboards, using his lightness skill to leap to the pond's edge. Just as he reached for Qin Jiao, another figure moved faster.

"Qin Jiao, Chaole!"

It was Qin Yuanshan!

Without even taking off his official robes, he plunged into the water. Luo Yue followed suit.

The pond seemed small but was deceptively deep, and the spring water was bone-chillingly cold—a stabbing pain upon entry. Luo Yue was about to reach for Qin Jiao when Qin Yuanshan grabbed Qin Jiao's arm first.

Qin Jiao remained motionless, face-down in the water, as if unconscious. Since the pond had been accumulating water over the years, the bottom was thick with silt, covering Qin Jiao's clothes and hair with filthy mud.

"Guard Luo, please save Chaole! I'll take Qin Jiao ashore..." Qin Yuanshan pulled Qin Jiao close, then pleaded, his face pale.

"Get ashore first, quick!" With lives at stake, Luo Yue had no time to check on Qin Jiao and turned to haul Qin Chaole out, who had already swallowed several mouthfuls of water.

By the time Luo Yue managed to haul Qin Chaole ashore, a crowd had gathered around the pond. Qin Jiao was leaning weakly against Qin Yuanshan, his back to Luo Yue.

Qin Yuanshan patted Qin Jiao's back anxiously. "Qin Jiao, wake up! Qin Jiao!"

But no matter how Qin Yuanshan called, Qin Jiao remained unresponsive.

"Oh, what on earth happened!"

"Quick, get a blanket and a cloak!"

"How did the eldest and third young masters of the Qin family fall into the water?"

"Someone go fetch a physician!"

Some murmured in low voices, others asked concerned questions. The young gentleman who first noticed them took off his own cloak and wrapped it around the soaking-wet Qin Jiao.

"Cough, cough!" After being rescued, Qin Chaole coughed a few times violently before catching his breath.

"What happened to you two?" Qin Yuanshan's face turned white with rage.

"It... it was..." Qin Chaole hesitated. "Her Highness the Noble Consort Dowager punished us."

Furious, Qin Yuanshan grabbed the nearest thing, which was a small stone, and hurled it at Qin Chaole. "You two are... despicable!"

The stone nearly struck Luo Yue, who was coming to check on Qin Jiao. He paused, his expression changing.

"Father, cough, please take elder brother to see a physician."

Qin Chaole, already frail, seemed about to faint if he said another word after falling into the water. Qin Yuanshan was so angry he wanted to continue scolding him, but feared being criticized by the onlookers. "I'll settle the score with you later!"

With that, Qin Yuanshan bent to carry Qin Jiao to a physician. Luo Yue was about to say he would carry Qin Jiao, but suddenly Qin Chaole collapsed without control.

"Hey, you!"

Luo Yue caught him quickly, but in that brief moment of delay, the kind young gentleman who had lent his cloak helped lift Qin Jiao onto Qin Yuanshan's back.

"Guard Luo, please bring Chaole and follow me!"

After leaving that command, Qin Yuanshan walked off with Qin Jiao on his back. The wide cloak draped down, conveniently covering Qin Jiao's face.

"Young Master, Lord Qin, wait—oh, no..."

Luo Yue's heart raced with anxiety. He was worried about Qin Jiao but couldn't abandon the unconscious Qin Chaole.

"Hey, Qin Chaole! Oh no, someone help!"

In the end, with others' help, Luo Yue propped up Qin Chaole and chased after Qin Yuanshan.

Once the main figures had left, the crowd slowly dispersed. The window of the Noble Consort Dowager's villa stood wide open. A young maid handed a fresh cup of tea to the Noble Consort Dowager, who took it expressionlessly.

"Go tell the Second Prince: this is the last time." Consort Dowager Ying's voice was icy.

"I shall go at once," replied nanny Yan, before leading several eunuchs out of the hall.

A mountain breeze swept through. The pure white pear blossoms that had bloomed by the pond were now crushed into fragments by Qin Jiao and Qin Chaole's fall, floating pitifully on the murky water.

Spring flowers have short lives, and now trouble intrudes.

The pear blossoms that withered all too soon—like those who cannot control their own fate, small and insignificant...

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