After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

It was Lin Qingyue who spoke.

With a smile on her face, she sat on one side of the courtyard, looking at Xie Xing, and said gently, "Little sister Xing'er, did someone teach you these things in the countryside?"

"That's surprising. My maid said that poor families struggle to even have enough to eat, so where would they find the leisure to learn such refined things?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the ladies from prominent families around her all covered their lips and chuckled softly.

Xie Xing looked at her, her eyes crinkling: "It's just a whimsical idea I had as a child. What, Sister Qingyue, don't you know how to do it?"

"If we were to compare Qingyue with the princess, would she win or would she disgrace our Great Chu?"

As she spoke, Xie Xing covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

"you!"

Lin Qingyue stopped laughing and glared angrily at Xie Xing.

Seeing this, Xie Mingzhu smoothed things over, saying, "Qingyue, don't be angry. Your sister is just being unreasonable."

Lin Qingyue snorted coldly, "Mingzhu is the most reasonable one. If I were you, I wouldn't have come to this palace banquet to make a fool of myself."

Xie Xing laughed and said, "Sister Qingyue, are you so jealous of me because you're so hostile?"

"Even His Majesty praised me, but you said I was a disgrace. Could it be that Sister Qingyue's standards are higher than His Majesty's?"

Lin Qingyue: "..."

She was always aloof and superior. Which noble lady was not reserved and demure? Even if she were spoken to like that, she would be ashamed and angry and dare not speak.

Xie Xing not only retorted with every word, but also left everyone speechless.

"How dare you talk back to me?" Lin Qingyue was furious and raised her hand to slap Xie Xing.

Xie Xing didn't move, but her eyes turned cold: "Sister, be careful. What will be the consequences of this slap? Can you bear the responsibility?"

Lin Qingyue's hand froze in mid-air.

It's unacceptable to those above, and it would be a loss of face for those below.

She bit her lip, her anger towards Xie Xing growing stronger.

The reason Lin Qingyue targeted Xie Xing was because she had long coveted the position of the Third Prince's consort. Before she could even get a marriage proposal, His Majesty bestowed Xie Xing upon the Third Prince.

Lin Qingyue was on the verge of a breakdown.

Thinking this, her eyes hardened. The slap was already on the way; she had no choice but to strike.

"I'll hit you, what are you going to do about it?"

As she spoke, Lin Qingyue reached out to slap him.

Xie Xing naturally wouldn't just stand there and let her hit her, so she dodged it. "Sister Qingyue wants to hit me, so I'll just let you?"

Lin Qingyue missed her slap and gritted her teeth in anger: "If you're so capable, then don't dodge!"

Xie Xing looked at her as if she were an idiot.

"Should I not dodge so you can hit me?"

"Ah!" Lin Qingyue was furious and was about to chase after him when Xie Jiaojiao quickly stopped her, saying, "Qingyue, forget it."

"Fifth sister is still young, so please don't hold it against her."

"Get out of the way."

Lin Qingyue was furious and wouldn't listen to anyone's advice.

With a flick of her wrist, Xie Jiaojiao, caught off guard, was thrown into the pond.

With a "plop," he fell into the water.

Lin Qingyue was stunned.

Only then did the young ladies in the courtyard finally panic.

"Falling into the water!"

"Falling into the water!"

"Someone come quickly!"

Xie Mingzhu's watery eyes widened, and she gently covered her lips, "Jiaojiao!"

Lin Qingyue only realized the seriousness of the situation at this moment, and her face turned pale instantly.

"I...I didn't mean to," she said, her voice trembling.

Xie Jiaojiao couldn't swim, so she splashed around on the surface of the pool several times before finally sinking.

In ancient times, a woman's chastity and reputation were of utmost importance. If she were rescued by palace guards or servants, losing her chastity would be tantamount to ruining her life.

Xie Xing was extremely worried and immediately jumped into the pond to save him.

Another splash as someone fell into the water.

The crowd screamed again.

"what!"

Xie Xing could swim, so she sank into the water and immediately spotted Xie Jiaojiao.

Xie Jiaojiao's eyes widened, her hands thrashing in the water, on the verge of suffocating. Xie Xing immediately swam over, caught her, and breathed into her mouth.

Xie Jiaojiao: !

She stared at Xie Xing with a look of astonishment in her eyes.

Xie Xing, however, led her upstream.

The two of them broke out of the water at the same time.

By then, a large crowd had gathered around the pavilion. Xie Xing quickly led Xie Jiaojiao to hide behind the lotus flowers, and then called out, "All of you, step back!"

Xie Mingzhu was extremely nervous on the shore. She hurriedly said, "Sister, hurry up and get ashore."

"The water in the pool is incredibly cool; don't harm your health."

Xie Xing shouted, "Have them all step back!"

It was autumn, and although the weather wasn't particularly cold, it was gradually getting chilly. People soaking in the icy pool would turn their lips purple and shiver all over.

Xie Jiaojiao pressed herself against Xie Xing's chest.

Still shaken, she clung to Xie Xing as her only lifeline.

the other side.

Xie Yu and the others, who had just come out of the palace, walked together with Jun Lanjin.

The journey was silent.

Xie Ansheng then spoke up and asked, "Thank you for speaking up for my daughter to His Majesty today. May I ask what Your Highness thinks of my daughter?"

Xie Ansheng wanted to test Jun Lanjin's feelings towards Xie Xing.

Jun Lanjin put one hand behind his back and said, "I was only speaking up for Xie Xing because she saved me during the autumn hunt. General, please don't overthink it."

"Your Highness is too kind. My daughter is also grateful for Your Highness's hospitality."

As Xie Ansheng was speaking, he was suddenly startled by the commotion across from the pavilion.

He looked in that direction.

But no one was seen gathered on the shore, their expressions filled with anxiety.

Before he could react, Xie Yuhe asked urgently, "Are the people in the water Xing'er and Jiao Jiao?"

The expressions on their faces changed simultaneously.

What are you all doing gathered here?

Move aside, I'm freezing!

Xie Xing's distressing thoughts reached their ears.

Jun Lanjin's expression shifted slightly. He glanced at Hua An beside him and said coldly, "Have all the men leave."

Hua An nodded quickly: "Yes, Your Highness."

Jun Lanjin was very efficient, clearing the guards from the shore in no time. Seeing that there were no other men around, Xie Xing then led Xie Jiaojiao to the table.

Immediately, a maid came up with a blanket and wrapped Xie Xing and Xie Jiaojiao in it.

Xie Jiaojiao was still in shock and hadn't reacted when she heard Xie Xing's loud and energetic voice complaining:

"Father, Lin Qingyue tried to hit me and even pushed my cousin Jiaojiao into the river!"

"Your intentions are truly malicious!"

Xie Jiaojiao: "..."

Even though she was the victim, Xie Jiaojiao was still stunned by her blunt complaint.

"No, I didn't mean to," Lin Qingyue quickly explained, realizing she had made a huge mistake.

"Xie Xing deliberately angered me, I had no choice but to..."

Even Lin Qingyue felt that the explanation was weak and unconvincing halfway through her sentence.

In front of Jun Lanjin, Xie Ansheng suppressed his anger and turned to Lin Qingyue: "I will demand an explanation from Minister Lin regarding this matter!"

Xie Xing's hairpin had already fallen off, and she was in a disheveled state with a pale face. Upon hearing this, she reached her hand out from under the blanket and raised it high, saying, "Father! She looks down on our General's Mansion!"

"Just now she was mocking me in the pavilion. Father, I am your own daughter. Her mockery of me is also mockery of you!"

She said I was naturally vulgar; no wonder I'm the daughter of a general!

Lin Qingyue was surprised that this person was talking nonsense.

She immediately cried out in a shrill voice, "I didn't!"

Xie Xing retorted loudly: "You have it, you have it, that's exactly what you mean!"

Xie Jiaojiao: "..."

Xie Mingzhu: "..."

She glanced at Lin Qingyue, who was quick to anger; the Lin Qingyue of the moment was clearly not the same person as the elegant Lin Qingyue of the past.

She has a kind of Princess De'an vibe.

Princess De'an didn't get away with it last time in Xie Xing's place.

Jun Lanjin looked at the disheveled little girl and smiled slightly. "Xie Wu, are you a child?"

"A cool breeze is blowing right now. Instead of arguing here, why don't we find a royal physician to take a look?"