Embroidered Phoenix Chronicle

Liu Lian leaned out, gazing into the distance. Suddenly, someone struck her from behind. Before she could react, she fell into the water! Caught off guard, she swallowed a mouthful of water. Gong Jianyun pounced on her, but as he plunged into the river, his feet got stuck on the bank. He struggled for a few moments before falling in, swallowing several mouthfuls of water before regaining his composure and chasing after her.

Liulian actually knows how to swim. The children's welfare home where Liulian works is a property donated by a wealthy businessman, complete with artificial hills and small lakes. The director always believed that instead of constantly guarding the children for fear of them falling in and getting hurt, it would be better to teach them to swim. Therefore, every child in the welfare home, unless they were missing an arm or leg or mentally challenged, had to learn to swim. This did reduce the risk of accidental falls into the water, but increased the risk of intentionally going into the water. Later, the welfare home even created a special body of water and started an interest class, which successfully sent several promising swimmers to the province.

Liu Lian didn't particularly enjoy swimming, but she could manage to stay alive in the water. She quickly calmed herself and tried to swim to shore, but the embankment was steep and the current swift. Her swimming skills, honed in the pool, were lacking, and she was carried away by the waves. Gong Jianyun's ankle throbbed with pain, but he couldn't care less. For both personal and professional reasons, he couldn't just watch the Seventh Miss drown, so he struggled forward. Soon, the two disappeared. By the time the crowd stopped the dragon boats, explained the situation, and assigned manpower, several dragon boats went to the rescue. The two had already been swept more than ten miles away, finally managing to grab onto a tree root and struggle ashore in shallow water. Exhausted, they lay on the beach. After a while, Gong Jianyun chuckled, "I didn't expect the Seventh Miss to be able to swim!"

Regardless, it's always touching to see someone jump into the water without hesitation to save you when you fall in. Liu Lian hesitated for a moment—in ancient times, a woman knowing how to swim wasn't something to boast about—and then smiled, "I'm just lucky. If you hadn't pulled me out, I probably wouldn't be here anymore. Thank you so much, Officer Gong, for risking your life to save me! I won't thank you enough; I'll never forget your kindness in this life, and I'll repay you in the next!"

"Silly girl, how old are you? You talk like you're older than me! Get up and wring out your clothes, don't catch a cold!"

She had never been this tired in all her past and present lives combined. She was almost completely exhausted and could hardly stand up. Under the scorching sun, she could only roll over with difficulty to move to the shade. Seeing her shamelessness, Gong Jianyun could only smile wryly and say, "Seventh Miss, the people looking for us might be here soon. What kind of behavior is this! If people see you like this, will you still have any reputation? Stand up properly and tidy your clothes and hair."

"Ugh, you're so annoying! I'm exhausted, you can stand if you want, I can't stand!" Despite saying that, Liu Lian still sat up against the tree. Seeing that Gong Jianyun's posture was strange, with one leg stretched out unnaturally, she couldn't help but wonder, "What's wrong with your leg?"

"It's nothing, it's alright."

Liu Lian then moved closer to him, grabbing his calves with both hands as if to help him bend them. Gong Jianyun cried out, "Big sister, it's my ankle!" Liu Lian was about to grab his ankle when Gong Jianyun quickly stopped her, "It's a small problem, I can do it, my godfather taught me! Don't you trust my godfather more than me?"

"I believe it, I believe it, and actually I could accept it, but I can't right now!"

"why?"

"Silly girl, my leg is bad, so people can't just say whatever they want! The people looking for us should be here soon, I can bear with it a little longer!" Liu Lian had never thought of this before, and besides, she had no experience in bone setting. Old Man Huo hadn't taught her; it was just that in her previous life, a young man who had been her apprentice was a boastful fellow who showed off his family's bone-setting skills. He had taught her a few tricks, so she didn't insist anymore. A warm feeling welled up in her heart, sweet and tender, and she couldn't help but smile. Gong Jianyun also smiled foolishly.

As darkness fell, no one had yet come looking for them. Liu Lian gathered many withered branches and leaves, while Gong Jianyun took out a flint and steel and started a fire. The fire gradually grew stronger, and Liu Lian and Gong Jianyun sat down side by side. The flames danced in their eyes, and Gong Jianyun poked at the fire with a branch, making it burn even brighter.

"Me. My parents are gone, and my first wife died of illness without leaving any children. There are no maids or concubines in the house, only an old servant who guards the door and cooks."

"What? My ears are ruined from being soaked in water! I can't hear anything!"

Gong Jianyun reached out and put his arm around the little fox's shoulder. "How many times do I have to say it before you understand? Or should I say it a few more times?" Lingering without saying a word, she simply rested her head on Gong Jianyun's shoulder, letting that restless hand curl and curl her hair.

The rescue team searched along the embankment, following the firelight until nearly midnight. The leader sounded a gong to signal, and only after receiving a response did they begin their return journey. Gong Jianyun's ankle had been pushed back into place; his head throbbed with pain and he broke out in a sweat. He asked the boatman, "Have we caught the person who pushed Miss Qi into the water?"

The constable shook his head. "Everyone was busy watching the dragon boat. Who would pay attention to what's behind us? Without eyewitnesses, who would admit it? To catch a thief, you need stolen goods, right, Chief Gong?" Gong Jianyun scratched his head in annoyance. "It was clearly that widow Yang. I saw her right there!"

"Boss Gong, when catching a thief, you need the stolen goods! Widow Yang isn't breaking the law by standing there. Who saw her do it? There are so many people here, why are you only targeting her? Without evidence, she definitely won't admit it. If she says we bullied a widow, we brothers will be in big trouble!" Knowing who the culprit was but unable to catch them, Gong Jianyun was almost going crazy. "Forget it, that Widow Yang will get her comeuppance sooner or later. Seventh Miss survived a calamity; she'll surely have good fortune later." Liu Lian was helpless; she was so focused on watching the dragon boat races that she didn't even know Widow Yang was right next to her.

"Forget it, she's pitiful too. She lost her husband in her youth and her son in middle age. Let's not hold it against her." Liu Lian tried to appear magnanimous, but others wouldn't listen. Several people from Shiqiao were furious and started gossiping, exaggerating and embellishing the story to make the widow Yang seem extremely vicious.

Liu Lian understood that Widow Yang harbored deep resentment towards Liu Ye'er because of Da Niu's death, but she did not expect her to be so ruthless, and she secretly hated her.

The Huo family stayed up all night, and all their relatives and friends remained, anxiously awaiting news. Several workers guarded the dock, taking turns going back to report. In truth, everyone had already given up much hope, only offering each other comforting words. Therefore, when Liulian stood alive and well in the courtyard at dawn, the Huo family matriarch was overjoyed. She hugged Liuye, repeatedly pounding her troublesome child, weeping uncontrollably. Liulian was also deeply moved, hugging the lovely old woman tightly, her heart filled with warmth.