"Good heavens! He's going to poison all the carp in this pond!"
The Second Manager of Yanbo Tower had just rushed over to assess the situation when he witnessed Zhu Minghao falling into the water.
Dai Xu pinched his nose. "Hey, Second Manager, don't even talk about it! These koi will be lucky if they aren't poisoned to death; they'll definitely be stunk to death! Heir Zhu is covered in the filth spewed by his manservant."
The bystanders gagged. Just hearing the description was enough, and seeing Zhu Minghao gulping down the water made them think of the grime in there...
It was too much; they felt like retching.
People immediately stepped back a few more paces. What if they got splashed? Right now, that pond was nothing but a cesspool of foul water and filth. For a long while, not a single person moved to pull Zhu Minghao out.
"Help... me!" Zhu Minghao thrashed wildly. He felt as though he were drowning.
Zhou Ze was just about to order his guards to save the man when he heard the maid beside Lu Zhaoling scoff. "I say, just stand up already! This pond isn't even deep!"
Not deep? The crowd had forgotten. Hearing her words, they craned their necks to look. Indeed! It was originally just a decorative pond for lotus flowers and koi to amuse the guests; how deep could it have been dug?
Zhu Minghao also heard Qingbao's words and stood up abruptly. The water didn't even reach his waist. He stood there, soaking wet, looking like a waterlogged toad.
The onlookers couldn't help but burst into laughter. Heir Zhu was usually so arrogant and overbearing; who would have thought a shallow pond would scare him to the point of tears?
Seeing that he was out of danger, Zhou Ze waved his guards off. The Empress Dowager had been worried about Zhu Minghao. During the mourning period for the Retired Emperor,
she had vowed to stay in the Small Buddhist Hall to chant sutras for fourteen days, making it inconvenient to summon Zhu Minghao to the palace. Thus, she had sent Zhou Ze to check on him.
Her intention was for Zhou Ze to visit the Qingfu Marquis Mansion, and if he found Zhu Minghao had suffered any grievances, he was to help him vent and provide support.
Zhou Ze hadn't even reached the mansion when he received news that Zhu Minghao was at Yanbo Tower, so he followed him here. Looking at Zhu Minghao's behavior now, Zhou Ze felt a wave of distaste. He wanted to observe a bit longer, but a guard appeared and whispered something in his ear.
Zhou Ze glanced at Lu Zhaoling. Seeing she seemed fine, he sighed helplessly and turned to leave. He would investigate her identity later; it was clear Zhu Minghao intended to trouble her, and he needed to keep that in mind.
"Go tell the Second Manager not to help Zhu Minghao make things difficult for that lady," Zhou Ze instructed a guard before departing quickly.
As he turned to leave, Lu Zhaoling caught a glimpse of him. The Purple Qi was gone. She couldn't afford to feel regret; she'd better just focus on plucking Merit from Prince Jin instead.
Zhu Minghao stood in the water, his itching finally subsiding slightly. He glared venomously at Lu Zhaoling, his expression suggesting he wanted to skin her alive. This was the second time! Twice he had lost face, and it was all because of this wench!
"You're finished, I'm telling you!" He pointed at Lu Zhaoling, his eyes bloodshot with rage. "This Heir will never forgive you! Even if you jump down here and beg me now, it won't be enough!"
From his vantage point in the water, Lu Zhaoling looked like a graceful jade lotus, elegant and beautiful enough to make one's heart skip a beat. Indeed, he felt both hatred and an unstoppable attraction! This woman she had to be his!
Everyone else turned their eyes to Lu Zhaoling. The scene of her handing the broom to her maid earlier had left their hearts in their throats.
"Second Miss Lu..." Gu Qing whispered in shock.
"You're saying she's Second Miss Lu? The one betrothed to Prince Jin?" Sun Yingying and Lin Yiru were both startled, their curiosity toward Lu Zhaoling hard to hide. Recent rumors about her in the Capital had been spreading like wildfire, and they had all heard them.
"It's her."
"How could she hit Heir Zhu into the pond? That's... so fierce," Lin Yiru's eyes widened. She looked at the Heir shouting in the water and recoiled slightly. This was her fiancé. Seeing him so violent and yet so pathetic made her feel a surge of repulsion. The thought that she was to marry this man in less than half a year filled her with dread.
"How can you call that fierce?" Sun Yingying's eyes sparkled, clearly admiring Lu Zhaoling. "Didn't you see that Heir Zhu charged at her first? He was incredibly rude, covered in foul-smelling filth, and rushed right at a young lady. Anyone would want to sweep him away!"
Sun Yingying stopped abruptly, realizing that this was Lin Yiru's fiancé. She frowned and patted Lin Yiru's shoulder firmly. "You see that, right? Based on his performance today, he's no good match! Break the engagement; you should seriously consider breaking the engagement!"
Lin Yiru bit her lower lip.
On the other side, Lu Zhaoling addressed Zhu Minghao nonchalantly. "Has the water soaked into your brain and made you stupid? Why on earth would I jump in? Since we've crossed paths, let me give you a heads-up: I'm planning to report you to the authorities."
She had never intended to let Zhu Minghao off the hook. It was only because her body had been so weak and the Retired Emperor's funeral rites were ongoing that she had endured it. Now that she had run into him, she might as well handle the matter.
"Report me? You wench! Your maid is the one who shoved this Heir into the pond! You've injured me, and yet you dare report me?!" Zhu Minghao was so furious he slapped the water, sending it splashing toward her.
Those standing nearby scattered to avoid the spray. Qingyin and Qingbao shielded Lu Zhaoling as she stepped back. The other bystanders, who had been content to watch the drama without knowing Lu Zhaoling's identity, finally cried out at Zhu Minghao's indiscriminate attack.
"Heir Zhu, we didn't do anything to provoke you!"
"I'm wearing new clothes today!"
Sun Yingying stretched out her arms to shield Lin Yiru and Gu Qing. She shouted, "Heir Zhu, have you done something wicked again?"
"Bullshit!" Zhu Minghao roared. "It's this little wench..."
"Zhu Minghao, this is getting old. Everyone knows you're always acting like a tyrant; who would go out of their way to provoke you?"
Dai Xu looked at Lu Zhaoling with rising interest. Though she wore a veil, she clearly looked like a beauty! He naturally felt pity for a beauty, especially one who had a grudge against Zhu Minghao! A beauty who dared to strike Zhu Minghao was exactly his type! Anyone who couldn't stand Zhu Minghao was a friend of his!
After speaking up for her, Dai Xu beckoned Lu Zhaoling. "Miss, come over here. I'll protect you!"
Lu Zhaoling's gaze swept over and landed first on Sun Yingying. She froze when she saw a pair of bracelets on the girl's wrists.
Another pair of Green Jade Bracelets.
After a moment of thought, she began to walk over. Because Sun Yingying's group was in the same direction as Dai Xu, he was overjoyed to see Lu Zhaoling actually approaching. This girl was so obedient to his words!
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