bestfiction Chapter 333: Rescuing People and Scheming
Chapter 333: Rescuing People and Scheming
Chapter 333: Rescue and Scheme
"Ah... um... this... Ning'er said she had some things to take care of at home and left a little while ago." Princess Xiangping looked at Shen Bin who had suddenly appeared, somewhat flustered, and spoke haltingly. After speaking, she tried her best to appear calm, smiled at Shen Bin, took his hand, and prepared to leave.
Shen Bin looked at Princess Xiangping, who felt a little guilty under his gaze. She lowered her head, staring at her toes, avoiding eye contact, her heart pounding with anxiety. Shen Bin looked at the lake Xiangping had been staring at and noticed what appeared to be clothing floating on the surface. Upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn't clothing, but rather a person.
He dared not think any further, shook off Princess Xiangping, and walked towards the lake. Princess Xiangping, who had been suddenly shaken off, panicked and hurriedly grabbed Shen Bin, saying, "Young Master Shen, it's dangerous by the lake, it's better not to go there."
Shen Bin turned around and saw Princess Xiangping, then noticed footprints in the mud by the lake. He recognized them; they were left by Zhao Ning'er. He forcefully shook off Princess Xiangping, rushed to the lake, and leaped in, the splashing water rippling across the surface. After a while, the lake returned to calm, and Shen Bin disappeared beneath the surface. The lake then returned to its tranquility.
Princess Xiangping, thrown off balance, fell to the ground, her eyes wide as she watched Shen Bin jump into the lake and slowly disappear beneath the surface. She frantically stood up, yelling at the top of her lungs, "Help! Help! Help!!" After a few shouts, a large group of guards arrived. As they prepared to bow to Princess Xiangping, she roared, "Go and save him! If you don't find him, you'll all come back with your heads!!"
Everyone in the palace knew Princess Xiangping was kind and gentle; they had never seen her angry or lose her temper. This was the first time, and the guards, terrified, stood by the lake and leaped in. Then they all disappeared into the lake.
Princess Xiangping stood alone by the lake, pacing back and forth. Looking at the calm lake, she was very worried about Shen Bin's safety, but at the same time, she also hated Zhao Ning'er. She really couldn't understand what was so good about her that made Shen Bin dote on her so much.
Not long after, a guard came ashore, soaking wet, and bowed to Princess Xiangping, saying, "Princess, we didn't see anyone in the lake." Princess Xiangping, who had been looking expectant, turned pale, drew the guard's sword, and held it to his neck. The guard looked at her in disbelief.
Princess Xiangping realized she had acted impulsively and threw her sword to the ground, coldly saying, "Go away." The guard immediately left. She looked at the lake, and seeing that she hadn't seen Shen Bin, she felt a little disappointed and worried that something might have happened to him. Her eyes never left the lake.
"His Majesty has arrived!" The voice of Eunuch Feng came from not far away. Princess Xiangping turned around and saw the person in the yellow robe. She was a little displeased, but she could only play along and bow to the person who came over, saying, "Your son greets Your Majesty."
"Get up. I heard there's a rescue going on here. I wonder who has fallen into the lake." The Emperor looked at the guards rescuing people on the lake. He had just finished the morning court session and was on his way back to the palace when he encountered a soaking wet guard on the road and asked him about it. He learned that Princess Xiangping was by the lake and that someone had apparently fallen in, so he rushed to the lakeside.
Princess Xiangping was somewhat angry and wanted to know which servant had leaked the information, but given the large number of people around, she couldn't easily cause a scene. So she simply said, "It was... it was Young Master Shen who accidentally fell into the lake. I will handle this matter. I hope Father won't worry so much about such a small thing." Her face was sincere, and her clear eyes seemed to tell a story without a hint of lying. She looked like a dutiful child. Princess Xiangping was, in fact, his only daughter, and he understood her thoughts best.
Although he didn't know why Shen Bin had been so careless as to fall into the lake, he knew that Princess Xiangping was definitely involved. So he said, "Someone, call a few guards who are good swimmers to go down and rescue him." After he finished speaking, he put his hands behind his back and glanced at Princess Xiangping's hesitant expression, knowing that things were not simple.
Not long after, guards carried two soaking wet people out of the lake and laid them flat on the ground. As soon as Princess Xiangping saw Shen Bin, she couldn't help but rush over and say, "Young Master Shen, are you alright? Wake up!" The people on the ground were not moving. Princess Xiangping hugged the cold-bodied Shen Bin, with a few tears in the corners of her eyes.
The emperor saw a woman lying on the ground. Although the lake water had wet her hair, he could still see her thin face, snow-white skin, and slender waist. He couldn't help but ask, "Who is this?" He was a monarch who had seen many women, but he was somewhat moved when he first saw the woman lying on the ground.
Princess Xiangping, seeing the infatuated look in the Emperor's eyes as he gazed at Zhao Ning'er, had a plan in mind and said, "This woman? I don't recognize her." Upon hearing Princess Xiangping's words, the Emperor said, "Guards, take her to my palace and summon the imperial physician." Just as he was about to leave, he glanced at Princess Xiangping and then saw Shen Bin in her arms, and scolded, "Hugging and embracing in broad daylight, what kind of behavior is this!" Seeing the Emperor's reaction, Princess Xiangping quickly released his grip.
Seeing the Emperor's departing figure, he couldn't hide the hatred in his heart. Thinking of Zhao Ning'er being taken away by him, he felt very excited. He ordered a guard to carry Shen Bin and said, "Return to the palace."
Lying in bed, Shen Bin kept frowning for some reason. Princess Xiangping held Shen Bin's hand, hoping he would wake up soon. Shen Bin was very restless in bed, tossing and turning. Princess Xiangping felt very sorry for him, but she didn't know what to do.
"Ning'er, Ning'er..." In the afternoon, Shen Bin lay on the bed murmuring. Princess Xiangping, who was sitting beside him, grabbed his hand and said, "Young Master Shen, Young Master Shen, wake up."
"Ning'er, Ning'er..." Princess Xiangping's ear was close to Shen Bin's mouth. Hearing Shen Bin repeatedly calling Zhao Ning'er's name, she became very angry, her hands clenching tightly. Thinking of Zhao Ning'er now in the Emperor's palace, her hands loosened slightly. She thought to herself, "Shen Bin, after tonight, Zhao Ning'er will be the Emperor's woman. There's no way you can be with her anymore. You're mine now." While thinking this, she smiled wantonly on the surface.
"Ning'er!" Shen Bin, who was lying on the bed, suddenly roared and sat up, startling Princess Xiangping. Upon waking, Shen Bin's forehead was covered in a dense layer of sweat.
He glanced around the room, saw Princess Xiangping, and got up, feeling dizzy, but still forced himself out of bed. Princess Xiangping saw Shen Bin swaying and went to help him, but Shen Bin pushed her away. Shen Bin said with a dark face, "What have you done to Ning'er?"