chapter 21
Chapter 21
“Take a boat?”
Ye Piaoling hesitated for a moment.
Suddenly, she fixed her gaze on Ye Xiangxiang’s face, her eyes sharp: “Your expression isn’t right. You must be hiding something from me!”
Ye Xiangxiang was instantly terrified.
Ye Piaoling’s gaze was piercing, as if she already knew the whole truth.
Ye Xiangxiang was so flustered that she could barely speak, stammering: “I, I…”
Ye Piaoling suddenly burst out laughing and patted her: “Whatever it is, save it for when we get home! Since we’re out, let’s have some fun!”
Ye Xiangxiang: “…”
She was nearly scared to death, never expecting that Ye Piaoling was just joking.
After speaking, Ye Piaoling strode towards the pleasure boat.
Ye Xiangxiang was extremely nervous, trembling with fear and guilt.
She whispered from behind, “M-maybe we shouldn’t take the boat…”
“Why not? Come on, let’s have some fun!”
Ye Piaoling hopped onto the boat and turned to beckon her.
Ye Xiangxiang took a deep breath in secret.
She thought to herself, it was Ye Piaoling who got on the boat first, so I can’t be blamed…
With that thought, her sense of guilt was greatly alleviated.
The two sisters sat down in the boat, and the boatman began to row the little boat gradually farther out.
Ye Piaoling gazed at the lake. After the storm, the water was clear and pure, completely unpolluted-she could even see little fish courting among the weeds.
Before she knew it, the boat had reached the center of the lake.
Ye Piaoling was staring at the swimming fish when suddenly-crack!
She turned her head and saw that a large plank had suddenly fallen away from the bottom of the boat, and lake water surged in at once!
“Oh no!” cried the boatman. “The boat is leaking!”
As he spoke, the little boat had already begun to sink.
Ye Xiangxiang, terrified, stammered: “W-what should we do?”
The boatman no longer paid attention to them-he jumped into the water with a splash and disappeared.
Ye Xiangxiang’s face was deathly pale. She’d expected this all along, but still panicked.
In the blink of an eye, half the boat was already underwater.
Ye Piaoling frowned and looked at Ye Xiangxiang:
“I remember you know how to swim, and you’re pretty good at it, right?”
“I…”
Ye Xiangxiang didn’t dare to admit it or deny it. She just hurriedly moved back, trying to put more distance between herself and Ye Piaoling.
She was afraid that once they were in the water, Ye Piaoling would grab her and not let go.
Ye Piaoling said, “Since you can swim, then I’m not going to worry about you.”
With that, she took off her shoes and cloak, and jumped into the water, swimming with ease.
Back in school, she had competed in swimming and had almost won a prize…
Swimming was always her hobby-who would’ve thought that after crossing into another world, she’d still have the chance to swim!
Ye Xiangxiang was stunned: “…”
She could hardly believe her own eyes.
What was going on?!
Ye Piaoling was supposed to be afraid of water, and she couldn’t swim at all!!
Yet now, she was floating and swimming with various styles, not only able to swim but even switching techniques from time to time…
Seeing the boat sinking, Ye Xiangxiang hurriedly jumped into the water and swam toward the shore.
Ahead, Ye Piaoling had already left her far behind…
The spot where the boat sank was far from the lake shore.
Ye Piaoling, however, was not in a hurry. She took a deep breath and dove under the water.
Underwater, the scenery was wondrous-the shimmering lake sparkled like shards of glass and jade.
It was mating season again, and the fish and shrimp were all busy coupling up, swimming in pairs…
Suddenly, a single fish swam against the light, heading straight toward her.
Ye Piaoling reached out and caught it.
It was a black carp, only about the size of a palm-probably single because it was small and a bit odd-looking.
It flopped in Ye Piaoling’s hand, trying to escape.
Ye Piaoling laughed.
Ha, who would’ve thought she’d get a bonus catch from falling into the water…
Ye Piaoling held the single fish and swam to the shore.
The Prime Minister’s Mansion’s carriage was parked on the bank, and the waiting servants were shocked when the Eldest Miss emerged from the water.
“Eldest Miss, you…”
“I’m fine, and I even caught a fish. Quick, bring the fish basket!”
The servant dazedly brought the fish basket.
Ye Piaoling tossed the fish inside.
The carp was lively, thrashing around in the basket unwillingly…
Ye Piaoling looked at it and gave it a friendly smile.
Great fortune and prosperity, fish for dinner tonight!
Why is it that all the other fish and shrimp have partners, but you don’t?
The Calamity Heart Azure Dragon, now transformed into a carp, was on the verge of a breakdown.
It had just undergone Form Transformation into a fish, and its powers had not yet recovered. Just now, while in the water, it suddenly saw Ye Piaoling, an old acquaintance, and was momentarily stunned.
Taking advantage of its surprise-
Ye Piaoling grabbed it in her hand…
Ye Piaoling, carrying her fish basket, got onto the carriage.
After a while, Ye Xiangxiang finally swam over, panting and sweating from her forehead.
The distance was so far that she had exhausted all her strength and nearly didn’t make it.
The family servants hurriedly helped her onto the carriage.
Ye Piaoling had already wrung out her clothes and was sitting inside the carriage.
Ye Xiangxiang didn’t dare look at her. She didn’t know why Ye Piaoling had suddenly learned to swim, nor did she dare ask.
She could only sit beside her, trembling with fear.
The carriage moved slowly. Ye Piaoling remained silent, looking as if she was deep in thought.
When they were almost at the Prime Minister’s Mansion, Ye Piaoling suddenly spoke.
She said with certainty, “Actually, I’ve known for a while that today’s wrecked boat was your design. You knew I couldn’t swim and wanted to use the boat trip as an opportunity to kill me.”
Ye Xiangxiang was shocked, her face changing completely. “I…”
Ye Piaoling grabbed her collar and glared at her, saying, “The assassins who came for me a few days ago were also hired by you.”
“That really wasn’t me!” Ye Xiangxiang cried out.
“If that wasn’t you, then today’s sinking boat was, right?” Ye Piaoling raised an eyebrow.
“I… I…” Ye Xiangxiang instantly panicked, not knowing what to do.
Ye Piaoling sighed.
It was obvious that someone had tampered with the boat today. She hadn’t been sure if it was Ye Xiangxiang’s doing, since her younger sister was always timid and afraid of trouble.
She hadn’t expected that just a couple of probing words would make her slip up.
Ye Xiangxiang was so frightened that tears streamed down her face. She stammered, “This… this really wasn’t my idea…”
Ye Piaoling asked, “Then whose idea was it?”
Ye Xiangxiang wouldn’t say, only sobbing quietly.
Ye Piaoling sighed and let her go, saying, “Before we got on the boat, you tried to stop me. I’ll take that as a sign your conscience isn’t completely lost. If you tell me who’s behind this, I won’t hold it against you. But if you don’t, you’ll have to take the blame for someone else.”
Ye Xiangxiang’s face turned deathly pale.
After hesitating for a long time, she finally whispered, “It was Aunt Liu… She said if I invited you on a boat trip, she would let Fox Shadow come to me… I was confused for a moment and listened to her…”
Ye Piaoling understood.
So it was Aunt Liu’s scheme, using Ye Xiangxiang to plot against her!
As for the assassins last time, that was probably Aunt Liu’s doing as well…
Ye Piaoling was silent for a long while before saying, word by word, “Fox Shadow staying at Falling Petals Courtyard isn’t because of me. He has his own reasons. I’m in a good mood today, so I won’t hold this against you. You’d better watch yourself!”
Ye Xiangxiang’s lips trembled as she nodded repeatedly.
The carriage had arrived at Ye Mansion.
Ye Piaoling got off the carriage, and before leaving, she turned back and said, “By the way, I advise you to stay away from Aunt Liu. Don’t wait until she harms you before you regret it-by then, it’ll be too late!”
Ye Xiangxiang sat in the carriage, lost and pale.
…
Ye Piaoling carried her fish basket back to Falling Petals Courtyard.
Fox Shadow came up to greet her. “Eldest Miss, did you have fun today? I missed you so much!”
Ye Piaoling rolled her eyes. “I really don’t get it. Other than attracting trouble for me, what use are you?”
“That’s not true,” Fox Shadow said with a smile. “I’m useful in many ways. Which one would you like, Eldest Miss?”
Ye Piaoling snorted. “Actually, there are two things I need you to do right now.”
Fox Shadow: “Please instruct me, Eldest Miss.”
Ye Piaoling: “First, go find out what’s going on with Aunt Liu. See if there’s anything unusual at Wenxiang Courtyard lately.”
Aunt Liu had tried to harm her twice. If she didn’t retaliate, it would seem she didn’t know proper etiquette.
Fox Shadow smiled. “No problem. I’ll go chat with the maids at Wenxiang Courtyard. I guarantee I’ll find out everything before tomorrow night.”
Ye Piaoling nodded in satisfaction.
“Second, take this fish to the kitchen and have them make braised carp.”