Chapter 183: Chapter 183 Prince Longevity (13)
 

In March, the grass grows and the orioles fly, with everything coming back to life.

Tender green willow branches droop over the water’s surface, causing ripples to shimmer.

All sorts of exquisite painted boats float on the water, reflecting charming images.

The sky gradually darkens.

One by one, the painted boats leave, until there’s only one left on the lake.

That boat, stationed by the pavilion in the center of the lake, also begins to depart after a while.

Prince Rong leans over the edge of the boat, shouting toward the pavilion in the center of the lake, “Sixth Royal Brother, sorry I forgot you. Why don’t you swim back? I’ll wait for you on the shore. Just don’t make me wait too long.”

Inside the central pavilion, Yan Gui is not the only person there—there is also a guard.

Upon hearing Prince Rong’s words, the guard promptly pushes Yan Gui towards the water.

Yan Gui is no match for the guard.

He staggers toward the edge of the pavilion.

Splash—

“Hahahaha…”

Prince Rong lies on the gunwale, laughing loudly.

The laughter spreads across the lake and seems eerie under the veil of night.

“I think Prince Rong is sick.” How long has it been since Prince Rong attacked the Emperor, and now he’s out causing trouble again? It seems the Emperor really does love this brother of his!

[I think so too.]

[Not you, Miss, but the Good Person Card seems like he can’t swim. Why are you still so cold-hearted and watching the show!]

“I can’t swim either.”

Chuzheng’s face is grave.

So grave that even the King’s Account believes her.

But it believes bullshit!

Chuzheng carefully unfolds the stationery on the table, her fair hand elegantly grasping a pen to write.

[…] Not you, Miss, your Good Person Card is about to expire, and you’re writing a letter! What are you writing?! Hurry up and save him! What a great opportunity! You can’t let it slip by! Even a beast wouldn’t let it go!

Ignoring the clamor from the King’s Account, Chuzheng finishes writing, folds the letter, and gestures for someone to deliver it to Juyuan Pavilion.

–

“Look over there!”

“What a beautiful painted boat!”

The lake surface reflects a brilliantly lit painted boat, surrounded by light veils that float and fly as it moves, creating a scene straight out of a dream.

Some of Prince Rong’s servants on the boat start to whisper among themselves.

Amidst their discussions, the brilliantly lit boat stops not far from the central pavilion.

Kerplunk—

Someone goes into the water.

Then someone is pulled out from the water, obviously being rescued.

At this moment, there’s only one person in the water.

Whom they’re saving goes without saying.

Prince Rong looks over darkly and orders a guard, “Head over there!”

Someone dares to save that bastard!

He wants to see who has the audacity!

–

“Cough cough…”

The youth coughs out the water from his lungs, his wet clothes clinging to his body, bringing chills that burrow into his flesh, and he can’t help but shiver.

The warm yellow light of the painted boat illuminates the youth’s pale yet stunning face.

A shadow descends, and a thick, warm cloak wraps around him.

The boy looks up slightly, his light brown pupils reflecting the brilliant lights and the girl with a cold expression.

Did she save him?

In the water, at that moment, he had harbored thoughts of death.

But he knew that Prince Rong wouldn’t truly let him die.

He wanted to see him struggle…

Yet unexpectedly, upon being rescued, he saw not Prince Rong but someone else.

Chuzheng helps him up.

The faint scent of medicinal herbs from the youth’s body drilled straight into Chuzheng’s nose.

Before she could steady herself, the entire painting boat made a muffled sound, and the vessel began to shake.

In the direction of the deck, a plank bridging to the boat, Prince Rong came over with a menacing presence.

“I was wondering who it was, turns out it’s Miss Cheng from the Prince Cheng Residence,” Prince Rong, though young, spoke arrogantly, “Prince Cheng is dead, Miss Cheng isn’t in the mansion mourning, but here to rescue someone? Could it be that Miss Cheng has taken a fancy to my Sixth Royal Brother?”

The youth’s cold hand gripped Chuzheng’s wrist, softly reminding her, “Hand me over to him and you should hurry away.”

“You’re not dead yet, what am I mourning for.” Chuzheng gripped the youth’s hand in return, her eyes and brows cool as she looked towards Prince Rong, showing not a hint of fear.

The youth’s long eyelashes drooped.

The girl’s hand was a size smaller than his, his hand could almost cover her entire palm.

The burning heat from her palm pressed against his skin, bit by bit entering his body.

After all, Prince Rong was young and took a while to react.

“Even if you died, I wouldn’t mourn you,” Chuzheng added icily before he could speak again.

“Cheng Chuzheng!” Prince Rong flared up, “What did you say, say that again!”

“Why should I?” You want me to say it, and I won’t, just to piss you off!

“Because I am Prince Rong!”

Chuzheng, supporting the youth, moved a few steps to the side and settled him on a soft chair, carefully pulling at the cloak to prevent the wind from penetrating.

The moment Chuzheng turned around, the guards behind Prince Rong simultaneously fell overboard, splashing into the water.

The wooden plank resting on the gunwale sank into the water, causing even Prince Rong’s own boat to retreat some distance.

Looking around, Prince Rong had yet to understand what had happened, how his own guards had disappeared.

Chuzheng walked up to Prince Rong, her bare hand raised slightly, gently pressing down on Prince Rong’s shoulder.

The wind swept across the surface of the water, causing Prince Rong to shiver suddenly.

The dark surroundings brought forth baseless fear and panic in his heart.

A mere servant girl, what’s there to be afraid of!

Prince Rong gritted his teeth and glared at Chuzheng, “What are you trying to do?! I’ll have you know, the Prince Cheng Residence is now just an empty shell, if you dare do anything to me, I won’t let you off!”

Chuzheng’s hand pressing on his shoulder exerted a slight force, and Prince Rong’s body tilted.

Before his anger could reach his eyes, his body uncontrollably flew up and plunged downwards.

Splash—

Chill water rushed in from all sides.

Prince Rong flailed his limbs but couldn’t surface no matter what he did.

Just as Prince Rong was choking on water, his body abruptly rose, the fresh air allowing him a moment to breathe.

But before he could take a few breaths, he was pressed down again.

This cycle repeated several times.

Just when Prince Rong felt he was about to die, the force no longer pressed him down.

With the light from the painting boat, he saw clearly the person pressing him down.

Chuzheng was squatting on the wooden board, looking at him with an ice-cold expression.

Their current position was between two painting boats, dark, cold, eerie…

The girl pressing him down, like a demon from hell, was frightening.

Prince Rong felt fear in his heart, yet he blustered, “I, I will have my Imperial Brother kill you! I’ll have the Prince Cheng Residence raided and your Nine Clans implicated.”

Chuzheng pressed him down again.

She let him come up again when he was almost unable to breathe.

“Cheng Chuzheng, you wretched woman, you won’t die a good death, I’ll kill you! Blub blub blub…”

“I will kill you… Blub blub blub…”

“I was wrong, I was wrong,” Prince Rong capitulated.

Chuzheng let go, and Prince Rong sank toward the bottom, hastily grabbing a hold of the wooden plank.

The girl slowly stood up, looking down at him from her higher position, her words ice-cold yet domineering, “If you dare to bully him again, your Imperial Brother will have to mourn you.”

The Good Person Card cannot be hurt.

The Good Person Card must be protected well.

Be a good person!

Prince Rong gasped for breath, the resentment in his eyes hard to hide, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell my Imperial Brother?”

“Did I injure you?” Chuzheng asked.

“…”

There in the water, he didn’t have a single injury on his body.