Just when Xia Ruqing thought she was certainly going to die, a figure, like a soaring eagle, skimmed over the water's surface and quickly rose again. He rescued Xia Ruqing, drenched like a drowned rat, holding her in his embrace. He then pulled off his own robe to drape over her, wrapping her small body tightly.
Xia Ruqing had swallowed water and was ice-cold all over, but she was still conscious. In a daze, she glanced up, and a face both familiar and strange surfaced in her memory.
"Brother?" she called out softly.
Xia Tingfeng looked down at her and tightened the robe around her even more. In a deep and rich voice, he spoke softly, "Sister, don't talk. I'll take you back!"
Meanwhile, Noble Concubine Shih, who had fallen, was also helped up. Just as she had straightened her clothes and hair ornaments, she witnessed this scene.
