"Help!"
Wei Xueming cried out desperately, struggling frantically in the river. She bobbed up and down, and soon sank beneath the water, disappearing from sight.
"Help! Someone, save our young lady! Princess Yongning pushed our young lady into the river!"
Seeing this, Juan'er, Wei Xueming's maid, immediately shouted at the top of her lungs.
Yun Xi stared blankly at the sudden change before her. She looked stupidly at her own hands.
Her mind was in a complete mess at the moment. Even she herself wasn't sure if she had pushed Wei Xueming in the heat of the moment.
"Don't talk nonsense! Our young lady never even touched her!"
Hongluo was also stunned by the sudden turn of events. However, upon hearing Juan'er's words, she immediately retorted.
Because she had seen clearly that her young lady had never touched Wei Xueming. It was Wei Xueming who had accidentally fallen into the river herself!
"Hongluo, go find a long branch quickly! Saving people is the most important thing!"
Yun Xi came to her senses. Without dwelling on Juan'er's words, she hurriedly ordered Hongluo and started searching along the riverbank herself.
Just then, a figure suddenly leaped into the river and rushed towards the direction where Wei Xueming had disappeared!
Fortunately, the Ling River was not in the flood season at the moment, and being in the lower reaches, the current was very slow. Soon, Wei Xueming was lifted out of the water.
"Xueming!"
After that, Wei Chengyang also rushed over in a hurry. He anxiously shouted at the two figures in the river.
Yun Xi watched Qi Rong carry Wei Xueming and step onto the shore step by step. She momentarily forgot about looking for a branch and stood there stupidly, watching Qi Rong place Wei Xueming on the embankment. Then he pressed on Wei Xueming's chest with both hands until she spat out the water in her stomach and regained consciousness.
"Xueming, how do you feel?"
Wei Chengyang took off his outer robe and covered Wei Xueming's delicate figure, which was highlighted by the soaked clothes. Then he helped her sit up and let her lean against him.
Qi Rong turned around and wrung the water out of his clothes. His eyes, however, were deeply fixed on Yun Xi. Just as he was about to walk towards her, his sleeve was suddenly grabbed.
"Brother Rong, please don't leave. I'm scared..."
Following that hand, Qi Rong's gaze fell on Wei Xueming's pitiful face. Her eyes were red and filled with tears, as if she had been terribly frightened.
"What on earth happened? How could you be so careless? How could an adult like you fall into the water?!"
Wei Chengyang looked at his younger sister with a reproachful look on his face. He was both distressed and couldn't help scolding her.
As soon as Wei Chengyang finished speaking, before Wei Xueming could say a word, the maid Juan'er pointed at Yun Xi angrily with a face full of indignation and said,
"Sir, it's not our young lady's fault at all. It was Princess Yongning who pushed our young lady into the Ling River. I saw it with my own eyes!"
"What? There's such a thing?!"
Wei Chengyang's eyes widened in shock. He first looked at his younger sister. Seeing Wei Xueming silently shedding tears without answering, although he found it hard to believe in his heart, he didn't doubt it. Immediately, he confronted Yun Xi.
"Princess, shouldn't you give an explanation?!"
Wei Chengyang, who had always had a gentle face and smiling eyes, now had a cold look on his face. His eyes were cold as he stared at Yun Xi.
Just as he opened his mouth to question, a broad figure suddenly blocked in front of him.
"Who gave you the right to talk to her like this before the matter is investigated clearly?"
Qi Rong frowned, his black eyes were intimidating, which made Wei Chengyang's heart skip a beat.
He had known Qi Rong for many years. They could be said to be playmates who had grown up together since childhood, but he had never seen Qi Rong with such a cold and sharp look in his eyes.
"Tell them that you didn't do it."
Qi Rong walked straight to Yun Xi's side and faced the others together with her.
Yun Xi was surprised by Qi Rong's protection and trust in her. However, at this moment, she couldn't say a word.
Because she really couldn't figure out that since Qi Rong was willing to protect her like this, why didn't he tell her about her father and the Prime Minister's Mansion?
Did he think that by keeping it from her, he could completely cut off her relationship with the Prime Minister's Mansion?
She understood that the grudge between him and her father couldn't be resolved overnight, but had he also forgotten that she was Yun Xi, the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion?
This was a fact that couldn't be changed no matter how much he avoided it!
"Miss, please say something. The prince is willing to believe you!"
Seeing Yun Xi silent, Hongluo quickly tugged at Yun Xi's arm, signaling her to explain quickly.
"Humph! What else is there to explain? Is it because you have a guilty conscience?"
The maid Juan'er immediately retorted, but was silenced by a glare from Qi Rong. She was so frightened that her face turned pale and she immediately lowered her head, trembling in fear.
"Brother Rong, the facts are right in front of us. Are you still going to protect her?"
With the support of her brother, Wei Xueming managed to stand up. She looked at Qi Rong with a wronged expression.
"As long as you say a word, I can keep anyone from knowing about her evil deeds today. But I must let you know that she is not worth your protection at all!"
Wei Xueming walked up to Yun Xi. Her almond - shaped eyes stared coldly at Yun Xi.
"She somehow heard about the affairs of the Prime Minister's Mansion in the capital. So she invited me here to inquire about the truth. Because I had promised you, I didn't want to tell her. But she kept pestering me and even blamed you for keeping it from her.
"I just understood your good intentions and spoke up for you. She got angry and said that I was overreaching myself by trying to seduce you! But as long as I was willing to tell her the truth about the capital, she would allow me to stay by your side..."
At this point, Wei Xueming couldn't help but look indignant. Her eyes were full of admiration and pity as she looked at Qi Rong.
"Brother Rong, I do like you, but I also know that your heart is not with me. I originally planned to fulfill your wishes and withdraw voluntarily. However, seeing how she didn't cherish you and even wasted your sincere feelings, I was suddenly filled with anger and scolded her a few words. Who would have thought that she would suddenly push me into the Ling River!
"If you hadn't arrived in time to save me, maybe we would be separated by life and death now!"
Wei Xueming spoke sincerely, not hiding her admiration and love for Qi Rong at all.
As a young lady from a prominent family, it was undoubtedly brave of her to face and publicly admit her feelings so openly.
"Don't you have anything to say?"
Listening to Wei Xueming's words, Qi Rong's face became even more gloomy. His cold eyes stared at Yun Xi.
Everything in front of him was unfavorable to Yun Xi. He hoped that she could explain, but Yun Xi suddenly smiled. She thought the whole thing was really ridiculous.
"I have nothing to explain."
She should have thought earlier that with Wei Xueming's scheming, inviting her here would surely not be a simple matter.
Now she had fallen into the other's trap and was being falsely accused. She was in a situation where she couldn't defend herself no matter how hard she tried.
After all, who would have thought that Wei Xueming, the most talented woman in the capital, would stage a self - inflicted injury just to frame her, all just to create a rift between Qi Rong and her!
Such a heroic and even life - risking move was at least beyond her reach!