A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

Jiang Muxin observed his expression and, seeing that her heartfelt confession had not stirred any emotion in him, she couldn't help but frown slightly.

But she didn't have time to think about it. She got up and walked out of the pavilion, step by step towards the frozen lake. She opened her arms, as if she had unloaded all her burdens and was filled with unprecedented joy.

"Brother Shaoyang, I'm so happy and relieved that Mother is getting better!"

She continued walking briskly, her skirt brushing against the remaining snow beside the pavilion, making a rustling sound.

At this moment, the dignified constraints of a noblewoman were completely shed, and her usual reserve and self-control disappeared from her eyes, leaving only the joyful heart of a young girl who was overjoyed that her mother's illness was about to subside.

Her eyes and brows were brimming with joy, and even the tone of her voice was tinged with a charmingly lightheartedness.

Chu Shaoyang stood by the pavilion watching her. He noticed that she rarely lost her composure like this, which made her seem unusually lively.

He thought that she had finally let go of the heavy burden that had been weighing on her heart, which was why she was showing such pure joy. He was genuinely happy for her, and a gentle smile appeared in his eyes.

She opened her arms and ran forward slightly, as if she were about to plunge into a brand new future.

But at that moment, something unexpected happened—the ice surface, which should have been frozen solid in the cold winter and safe for anyone to walk on, suddenly made a crisp "crack" sound, and a long crack spread rapidly along her feet!

Jiang Muxin panicked instantly. The joy on her face hadn't even faded before it was replaced by complete terror. Her feet just felt the ice slipping away, and before she could react, the ice beneath her feet shattered with lightning speed. With a "plop," she plunged straight into the icy lake water.

In the instant she fell, she cried out in a panic, "Brother Shaoyang, save me! I can't swim!"

The icy lake water instantly enveloped her, and a feeling of suffocation overwhelmed her. The biting cold pierced her bones, and her consciousness quickly became hazy, as if she were about to fall into endless darkness at any moment.

She knew this method was risky; she couldn't swim, and a slight mistake could cost her her life or leave her with a chronic illness. But she had no other choice!

With only three days left until her mother's surgery, the only way to get Chu Shaoyang to agree to the engagement in such a rushed situation, and to get Wei Susu and Jiang Lingyang to do everything they could for her, was to have physical intimacy with him. He valued propriety and responsibility so much that he would surely take responsibility for her.

Chu Shaoyang hadn't expected this sudden turn of events. He jumped up and ran wildly toward the lake.

At that moment, there was no time to worry about etiquette or rules; saving lives was the most important thing.

Just as he was about to plunge into the water, a black figure sped past him, and then a long black whip, carrying a sharp force, plunged into the water with a "whoosh".

The owner of the long whip channeled his inner strength, using the whip to lift Jiang Muxin from the water. With a slight effort, he scooped her out of the lake and flicked the whip, steadily throwing her back to the pavilion. From beginning to end, the newcomer never touched Jiang Muxin.

Chu Shaoyang hurriedly stepped forward to check, but heard a familiar yet unfamiliar voice say, "Make way."

It was Nie Qianqian; she used her own voice. Since there was no one around, and she knew Chu Shaoyang already recognized her, she made no attempt to conceal it.

The sound made Chu Shaoyang's heart flutter, and he couldn't help but turn around to look.

As expected of Doctor Qian, he was still wearing that mysterious black robe, which covered him completely.

Nie Qianqian quickly walked to Jiang Muxin's side and saw that she was unconscious with her eyes closed and her consciousness blurred. She reached out to check her breathing.

Fortunately, she arrived in time. Jiang Muxin had only been in the water for a few seconds and was unharmed.

Considering the importance of a woman's reputation in this era, and since she was disguised as an elderly man, Nie Qianqian did not touch her. Instead, she focused her strength in both palms and struck her abdomen from a distance.

Jiang Muxin vomited up the water in her stomach with a "whoosh" and coughed violently. She gradually regained consciousness, but she looked really disheveled.

Just then, Jiang Zheng'an returned.

He saw from afar the scene of Doctor Qian using a whip to save people, and couldn't help but admire his superb martial arts skills. He quickly walked to his sister's side, took off his fox fur cloak and wrapped it around her, and asked with concern, "Muxin, Muxin, are you alright?"

Jiang Muxin coughed for a long time before her consciousness slowly returned from the chaos. When she opened her eyes, she did not see Chu Shaoyang as she had expected, but Doctor Qian and Jiang Zheng'an!

Her heart pounded wildly, filled with doubt.

How could there be so many people? Did my plan succeed?

She wiped the water from her cheeks and asked, "What just happened? Who saved me?"

Seeing that although her face was pale, she spoke normally, Jiang Zheng'an was slightly relieved and replied:

"It was Doctor Qian who saved you. After he pulled you ashore, he forced the water out of your body with a single palm strike from a distance. How are you feeling now? Are you feeling any discomfort?"

Uncomfortable!

She was feeling very uncomfortable!

How could a flawless plan go wrong?

She deliberately drugged Jiang Zheng'an's teacup to send him away; it was freezing cold here and no one would pass by; it should have been Chu Shaoyang who came to save her...

How could it be Doctor Qian? She couldn't help but look up at Nie Qianqian, a flash of hatred crossing her eyes. Then she coughed a few times and said, "Thank you for saving my life, Doctor Qian."

Nie Qianqian accurately captured that fleeting hint of hatred, and she wondered: Why would this noble lady from the capital look at her like that?

Perhaps Jiang Muxin felt that being rescued by an "old man" was damaging to her reputation, which is why she harbored resentment.

Understanding the hardships faced by women in that era, she explained, "Just now, I used a whip to rescue you."

Jiang Zheng'an quickly stepped forward and thanked him again, "Thank you so much, Doctor Qian, for saving my life! I knew you knew martial arts, but I never imagined you could wield a whip so skillfully. It's truly admirable! If it weren't for you here, my life would probably be in danger today!"

Doctor Qian waved his hand, his tone calm: "Whoever falls into the water today, I will save them."

As he spoke, he looked at Jiang Zheng'an and said, "Quickly take her back inside. I'll prescribe some medicine for her later so she can take it, rest well, and expel the cold from her body. Otherwise, it could have adverse effects on her health."

At this moment, Huan'er and the other maids had rushed over and carefully escorted Jiang Muxin back to her room.

Jiang Zheng'an was worried, so he went along too. In the pavilion in the middle of the lake, only Chu Shaoyang and Nie Qianqian remained.

Nie Qianqian recalled the fleeting hatred in Jiang Muxin's eyes earlier, and slowly took a few steps forward, getting closer to the ice hole. She squatted down and began to examine it carefully.

Soon, she noticed something amiss: the edges of the cracks in the ice showed signs of being carefully chiseled by a sharp tool. Although they were lightly covered by snow, they did not escape her notice.

She instantly understood Jiang Muxin's intention, turned to look at Chu Shaoyang, and thought to herself.

If I hadn't come today, this person would be the one who got the short end of the stick.

Thinking about it this way, I realized that I had actually ruined Jiang Muxin's "good deed".

Nie Qianqian curled her lips into a cold sneer, inwardly regretting: If I had known this would happen, I would have been better off not saving her.

What a noble lady from the capital! She actually had such thoughts and used such methods to scheme for her own life!