Chapter 85

Chapter 85

Princess Ruyi sounded overjoyed.

Xie Run saw Prince Jing pick up Princess Ruyi, carry her to the best viewpoint and hand her the rabbit kite.

The kites in the sky fluttered in the wind, dispelling the winter chill.

Princess Ruyi's happy cries and the chatter of the crowd reached her ears, carrying a hint of warmth.

Xie Run's attention, however, was fixed on Mirror Moon Pond. "Why hasn't the water frozen?"

Shiqie Han, standing beside Xie Run, said smiling, "We learned from Sister Yun that the water of Mirror Moon Pond never freezes, year after year, and even gives off steam in winter."

"Steam?" Shiqie An asked curiously. "Is the water hot, like a hot spring?"

Shiqie Han said, "I wouldn't know—no one's ever gone down to test it."

Prince Jing held Princess Ruyi for a while, then handed her to Shufei Yun and the Princess Consort. He went to the front courtyard himself, leaving Jing Wu and other guards to keep watch.

The Princess Consort was feeling a bit tired. She glanced around and asked, "Ruyi, do you want to play a bit longer?"

Princess Ruyi nodded. "I want to fly the rabbit kite with Rabbit."

With that, she told the maid holding the dog to put it down.

Seeing this, Xie Run's internal alarm bells went off. She quietly tugged on Zi Hu's sleeve and backed into an open space.

Xiaoshu also stood protectively beside her.

Xie Run's gaze involuntarily drifted to the side, meeting Wan Linlang's scheming eyes.

After a moment's thought, she shot a fierce glare back.

Wan Linlang: "..."

When Rabbit was first set down, it was still very well-behaved.

Just then, someone shouted, "The kite strings snapped!"

Everyone looked up at the kites in the sky, momentarily forgetting their surroundings.

One by one, the kite strings snapped, and the kites began to fall.

In the middle of winter, it wasn't really suitable for flying kites anyway.

With the strings broken, the kites fell rapidly.

Several landed directly on people's heads, causing many to stumble in a panic.

Rabbit suddenly started barking wildly, causing the crowd to step back in fear.

Princess Ruyi was also startled. "Rabbit, stop barking!"

But the little dog was out of control; why would it listen? Instead, it ran around wildly.

The scene instantly spiraled out of control.

Xie Run had been wary of those around her.

Whenever someone showed signs of approaching Xie Run, Zi Hu would reach out and shove them away.

She stood like a mountain in front of Xie Run, blocking anyone from getting near.

Unable to find a good opportunity to frame anyone, Wan Linlang gave in to a cruel impulse.

Taking advantage of the chaos, she scattered the sealed medicinal powder at random.

Many people got the powder on them.

Rabbit's barking grew more shrill, and it ran even more frantically, even biting people.

Screams and cries of alarm became a cacophony.

Suddenly, there was a splash.

Someone shouted, "Oh no! Oh no!"

"The princess fell into the water!"

Before anyone could react, another voice rang out, "Shiqie Lu also fell in!"

It was the Princess Consort who kept her composure and commanded, "Everyone stop right there! Nobody move!"

"Jing Wu, stop the dog!"

"Send a few guards to rescue them!"

Xie Run had actually wanted to get close to Jing Wu from the beginning.

As one of Prince Jing's men, he had guards with him, making it safer.

At the Princess Consort's shout, Xie Run looked up and was astonished to see Jing Wu holding someone.

It was Shiqie Han!

The guard beside him was pinning a maid down with the scabbard of his sword.

Shiqie Han's expression... was rather complex.

What had just happened?

Jing Wu tossed Shiqie Han to the guards behind him for safekeeping, saying, "Lady Han, forgive me!"

Then he rushed forward.

In a flash of sword light, a streak of blood flashed before their eyes.

Rabbit's head had already been severed.

The maid who had been bitten stared at the bloody scene and collapsed, speechless.

As soon as Rabbit was dealt with, everyone immediately fell silent.

Only then did everyone realize that the first person to jump into Mirror Moon Pond to rescue Princess Ruyi was actually Shiqie Lu.

Fortunately, Prince Jing had left his men, and the Princess Consort maintained order; the situation was quickly brought under control.

Both Shiqie Lu and Princess Ruyi were taken to the nearest courtyard, Autumn Maple Courtyard.

Several pregnant maids and those bitten by the dog were also sent along.

The Princess Consort did not allow the others to leave.

"A kite suddenly breaking its string, and a rabbit going mad and biting people—there must be some other reason for this!"

The Princess Consort swept her cold gaze across the crowd. "Jing Wu, escort everyone to the Autumn Maple Courtyard. No one is to wander off!"

"If anyone disobeys, tie them up on the spot!"

When everyone returned to the Autumn Maple Courtyard to rest, the Princess Consort asked first, "How are the pregnant ones?"

Shufei Yun replied seriously, "Thank heavens, the sisters are blessed and unharmed."

"What about Ruyi and Shiqie Lu?"

"Ruyi is fine, but Shiqie Lu seems to have caught a chill. She's been shivering nonstop."

The Mirror Moon Pool was not a hot spring; even if the water had steam rising, it was still cold.

In the middle of winter, falling in suddenly and getting soaked, then being pulled out, her whole body was chilled to the bone.

Coupled with Shiqie Lu being naturally very sensitive to cold, she shivered all the way back to the Autumn Maple Courtyard, barely conscious.

The Princess Consort first led a group to see Princess Ruyi, asking as she walked, "How did Ruyi fall into the pool?"

Shufei Yun gave a wry smile. "The rabbit-shaped kite broke its string and fell into the pool, and she foolishly ran forward."

"In a moment of inattention, she fell into the water."

The Princess Consort: "Was she pushed?"

The bluntness of the Princess Consort's question startled Shufei Yun.

But Shufei Yun quickly recovered and replied, "No."

The Princess Consort asked no more and went next door.

Seeing Shiqie Lu curled up in the quilt, her face pale, shivering and crying out that she was cold, she couldn't help frowning. "Get a couple of hot water bottles for Shiqie Lu and light a few more braziers."

The maids replied, "Yes," and immediately set to work.

Hearing the Princess Consort's voice, Shiqie Lu struggled to open her eyes, her teeth chattering as she spoke.

"Princess Consort!"

"This servant... has done a great service this time, hasn't she?"

The Princess Consort said calmly, "Yes. You saved Princess Ruyi, so naturally you have rendered a great service."

Shiqie Lu's body kept trembling, but she stubbornly said, "Then may this servant ask for a reward?"

Suddenly inspired, the Princess Consort asked, "What reward do you want?"

"Orange." Shiqie Lu gasped. "Can the Princess Consort assign Orange to be this servant's head maid?"

The Princess Consort looked at her with a complicated expression. "Yes."

The Princess Consort handled all household matters.

If Shiqie Lu had asked for something else, the Princess Consort might not have dared to agree, but for just a maid, it took only a single word from her.

Having said this, the tension she had been holding finally released.

She curled up in the bedding and went quiet.

Sensing something was wrong, the Princess Consort reached out and touched her face. "She's burning up."

"She's probably running a high fever."

Shufei Yun quickly called in the imperial physician.

After seeing Shiqie Lu, the Princess Consort went to the main courtyard and spotted Xie Run and Shiqie An, both heavily pregnant.

The Princess Consort: "How are you two? If you feel unwell, report it immediately."

Xie Run shook her head. "This concubine is fine."

Shiqie An also said softly, "This servant is fine too."

But she seemed frightened, her face deathly pale.

The Princess Consort frowned. "You don't look well. Go see the household physician first."

Shiqie An: "This servant thanks the Princess Consort."

Nearby, Shiqie Han, Shiqie Li, and Shiqie Wan were all fine.

Just as she finished asking, Prince Jing strode into the main hall, his dark brows furrowed in anger. "I was gone for only a moment, and such a big mess happens."

"Someone tell me—what exactly happened?!"

Seeing Prince Jing, the group immediately knelt to greet him.