Chapter 6

Chapter 6

To show Ye Qing the consequences of provoking me, I had Zhao Yu organize an outing.

The location was his maternal grandfather’s estate, which featured a large fish pond filled with lotus flowers, perfect for boating and gathering lotus pods.

I lurked underwater, waiting for the small boat carrying Ye Lan and Ye Qing to reach the center of the pond. When the moment was right, I planned to find an opportunity to drag him into the water.

The boat arrived.

The boat stopped.

Ye Qing was lecturing Ye Lan, telling him not to associate with me. Ye Lan didn’t dare utter a word in protest, repeatedly nodding in agreement.

I silently swam to the bottom of the boat and gave it a forceful shove.

The hull rocked. Both men on board immediately crouched down, bracing themselves against the gunwales with their hands.

I set my sights on Ye Qing’s hand, lunged out of the water, grabbed it, and yanked with all my might.

“Zhou Xuesheng! What are you doing!”

Ye Lan cried out in shock from the boat.

I flipped myself over and pinned Ye Qing down, my knee pressed into his back as I shoved his head into the silt.

Ye Qing didn’t even react; there was nothing but a steady stream of bubbles.

Ha, try to fight me now.

I quickly swam up, grabbed the edge of the boat, and hopped on board.

Ye Lan was clutching the side of the boat for dear life, trying to keep it from rocking too much.

“It’s fine, it won’t capsize,” I reassured him.

He was frantic and terrified, craning his neck to scan the surface of the water. “Where’s my brother?”

I pointed over my shoulder at the rippling water.

“Underneath.”

“Zhou Xuesheng! Are you reckless or just stupid?! My brother can’t swim!”

Ye Lan screamed at the top of his lungs, looking as if he wanted to jump in and take his brother’s place.

Me: “!!!”

By the time I dived back down, Ye Qing was barely breathing.

I could practically see my own end-disregarding human life like this, even a beheading wouldn’t be enough to restore the Imperial Family’s reputation.

I hurriedly brought him to the surface, and Ye Lan helped pull him onto the boat.

Ye Qing was completely unconscious. His usual crystalline pale complexion had turned a deathly white.

Ye Lan paddled desperately with his hands, trying to reach the shore as quickly as possible.

In the rocking boat, I knelt on one knee and draped Ye Qing over my other leg, thumping his back hard.

Once the water he’d swallowed drained out, I laid him flat and began to breathe air into his mouth.

One breath, then another.

I was nervous too. If Ye Qing really couldn’t be saved, I was finished.

I worked even harder.

I took a deep breath, leaned down, and pressed my lips to Ye Qing’s just as he woke up.

His eyelashes fluttered, his eyes filled with confusion for a split second before snapping into sharp clarity and utter shock.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

My head was safe. My head was safe.

“Are you okay? Do you feel unwell anywhere?”

“…”

Ye Qing didn’t say a word. His gaze was fierce, yet he timidly avoided my eyes, raising his arm to cover his mouth…

Wait, no.

“Why is your face so red-”

Before I could finish, Ye Qing shoved me off the boat.

With a splash, I did a somersault in the water. I grabbed the edge of the boat, wiped the water from my face, and pushed my wet hair back.

“I’m sorry, Lord Ye. This junior didn’t know you couldn’t swim and nearly committed a grave error. I apologize. When I return, I’ll have my mother send an Imperial Physician to your manor to look after you. You can punish me however you like; it was my fault, and I’ll take responsibility.”

Ye Qing was soaking wet, his white robes clinging to his body in a sorry state. Though his face was pale, his cheeks were unnaturally flushed. His lips were pressed into a thin line, and his eyes were cold and deep, swirling with hidden emotions.

I thought he looked a bit… strange.

I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.

Deciding not to overstay my welcome, I moved to the stern, intending to help push the boat to shore. But Ye Qing suddenly spread his arms, used his internal power, and flew away.

He splashed a faceful of water on me in the process.

The droplets hit my face with a sharp sting.

Ye Lan and I stared at each other from the boat in silence.

Ignoring Zhao Yu and Li Jingsong, who were scolding me while telling the clueless Ye Lan to keep his mouth shut, I raced back to the manor on horseback and asked my mother to summon an Imperial Physician.

After my mother left, my father looked at me and sighed. “Sigh, it seems Lord Ye was right. Sigh, what are we going to do? Son, you really need to study hard. Education changes one’s destiny…”

Me: “…”