Cheng Xiran summoned all her strength to drag him to the shore. But there she saw Xiao You standing by the pool, looking down at her. "Why are you all wet? Let me pull you up. Let me check if there are any other injuries on you."
Just then, a panicked cry came from not far away. "Sister Cheng! Sister Cheng!"
Xiao You's face changed abruptly. "Damn it, she's brought people here." Looking back, he saw a group of people approaching. He quickly took Cui Long and Cui Hu and ran away along the small path they had come from.
Cheng Xiran saw Helian Duo's figure among the group. All those who had been having tea in Nanyunzhai had come. Now her clothes were all soaked. If she went up now and was seen by them, the good reputation she had just regained might be ruined again.
She couldn't let others see her wet clothes.
Cheng Xiran struggled to drag Jiang Yulang up first, then suddenly dived into the pool and swam towards the other side. The water there wasn't very deep, and there were some weeds to hide in.
Chu Liyin spotted Jiang Yulang first and exclaimed, "Jiang Yulang!"
Helian Duo roared for everyone to get out of the way. But he only saw Jiang Yulang and didn't see Cheng Xiran. Didn't Chu Liyin say that Cheng Xiran was here too? Why wasn't she in sight?
The situation was urgent. Helian Duo first told the servants to carry Jiang Yulang back to Nanyunzhai for the imperial physician to examine. The other noble ladies also arranged for people to boil hot water. He then ordered to completely seal off Xuanshan Mountain and not allow anyone to go down the mountain.
Then came the chattering voices of the noble ladies, mixed with Chu Liyin's crying as she called for Cheng Xiran.
"I thought the mountain was sealed. How could someone still get in?"
"Exactly. Where's Cheng Xiran? Why can't I see her?"
"Maybe she was abducted down the mountain by that lecherous man long ago."
"Stop talking nonsense. Hurry up and send people to look for her." Xiao Qi quickly scolded them, but in her heart, she was praying that Xiao You and the others wouldn't be caught. If they were, it would be all over.
Cheng Xiran was hiding in the pool, shivering from the cold. Her whole body was stiff. "Why aren't these people leaving? If they don't leave soon, I'll freeze to death."
As the sky gradually darkened, the pool water became even colder. Cheng Xiran felt as if she couldn't feel her legs anymore, and her whole body was slowly sinking. She quickly grabbed the stone beside her and clung to it. A faint voice was getting closer and closer to her.
Could it be that someone had found her? She had hidden so secretly.
Just as Cheng Xiran was about to dive into the pool to hide, a strong hand grabbed her arm and pulled her up. The warm touch made her reluctant to let go.
She suddenly looked up and met a pair of cold eyes.
Helian Duo...
Helian Duo's throat tightened, and his breathing paused for a moment. He had just heard from Chu Liyin that she was here, but when he came, he didn't see her. The soldiers had also searched this area thoroughly but still couldn't find her. But just now, he heard a faint voice, so he dived into the pool to look for her.
Cheng Xiran looked up at him, tightly clutching Helian Duo's clothes, and shook her head slightly.
Helian Duo understood what she meant and why she was hiding here instead of going ashore. He turned back and shouted at the soldiers, "Go look over there. No one is allowed to stay here."
The soldiers glanced at Helian Duo, and then a large number of them withdrew towards the foot of the mountain. The noble ladies also felt cold and didn't want to stay any longer, so they all returned to Nanyunzhai.
But only Chu Liyin was crying miserably. She lay by the pool and refused to leave. "No, I'm going to wait for Sister Cheng to come back. I'm not leaving."
Xue Lianyu advised her seeing her like this, "They've already sent people out to look for her. Staying here won't help you. You might as well go back."