"Lord, are you injured?"
"An assassin? Are they remnants of the Fire Clan?" The Left Guardian arrived after hearing the commotion, only to be greeted by a chilling scene.
"He... got away..." In the blink of an eye, frost spread across Nangong Huang's brows, and a mouthful of bright red blood trickled from the corner of his lips.
The two guards were stunned. The cold poison lingering in the Lord's body had reacted! The damned Fire Clan had taken advantage of the cold toxin to strike. Jun Mo Ran had warned them before—Lord was poisoned and could only use twenty percent of his strength. Otherwise, how could mere remnants injure him?
What terrible timing—both guardians had been away. Could it be… there's a spy among them?
Holding up the trembling body of their Lord, both knew that Nangong Huang's condition could not be delayed further. After a moment of hurried thought, the Left Guardian suddenly exclaimed, "There's someone who can resolve the Lord's critical condition!"
At this time, the flower boat drifted slowly toward the shore. On the deck, the passengers were still immersed in their romantic moment, unaware of the crisis behind them.
"Wanwan, His Highness must leave the capital tomorrow on an urgent mission. If you're willing, would you wait for my return and watch the lanterns with me?" Nalan Xiao looked at Yiren beside him, her cheeks tinged with pink. His voice was as gentle as the evening breeze.
"Your Highness, please take care of yourself. Wanwan will wait for you."
The atmosphere between them grew increasingly intimate. Just then, a voice shouted from behind, "Such a beautiful back. Who is that lady?"
Su Wanwan straightened her spine. Who else could deserve such praise but her? With a soft smile, she turned around, ready to dazzle the man with her elegance. But to her shock, the man was pointing somewhere else.
"Why the veil? Such a pity."
What?! Su Wanwan frowned, followed his finger—and almost spat blood.
He was referring to Su Yiyi? That shameless nympho?! Was this man blind? Absolutely unacceptable!
Feeling a sharp gaze on her, Su Yiyi glanced over and happened to lock eyes with the pair across from her.
Unexpectedly, Su Wanwan began walking toward her, exchanging glances with Nalan Xiao now and then, clearly trying to show off—as if afraid Su Yiyi didn't know they were about to be married.
"Ah!" The beautiful lady stumbled, and Nalan Xiao instantly caught her by the shoulders. "Wanwan, be careful."
His tender, caring eyes were a stark contrast to the cold, cruel gaze he had once used to scold Su Yiyi.
"With Your Highness by my side, Wanwan fears nothing." The lovely woman leaned into Nalan Xiao's arms, shooting a proud, arrogant glance at Su Yiyi as they passed.
"Careful, or your cucumber might fall."
The teasing remark sparked a fit of coughing among nearby spectators. Su Wanwan's face twisted with fury. Damn that nymphomaniac! She brought up that irrelevant topic on purpose!
Su Wanwan immediately stopped walking and pretended not to recognize her.
"Isn't that the girl from Room 32? Why didn't she recite a poem earlier? Didn't she answer the riddle quite well?"
Jiang Yunting stepped forward and shielded Su Yiyi behind him. He didn't want her hurt by Su Wanwan's provocations. "Congratulations, cousin, on winning first place. Since the cucumber is still fresh, please be sure to take it home and preserve it well."
"Don't mention cucumbers in front of me!" Su Wanwan couldn't help blurting out, instantly drawing everyone's attention. This was, after all, a gift from Master Bai—how improper of her to speak so brashly!
"I mean... Cousin will surely take good care of it. But why are you here, Cousin? And with a woman of... uncertain origin?"
"I'll have you know," Jiang Yunting replied coldly, "she is a friend of mine, not some woman of uncertain origin."
Su Wanwan arched a brow. Friend? Her expression was thick with disdain. That foolish nymphomaniac doesn't even know what she looks like in the mirror, and yet she dares seduce my cousin. Shameless!
"If your identity isn't dubious, why don't you show your face? Are you so ugly you're afraid of scaring people?"
Jiang Yunting's eyes blazed. "Cousin, please watch your mouth and do not insult my friend!"
What? Su Wanwan hadn't expected Jiang Yunting to turn against her. Just then, Nalan Xiao stepped forward. "Isn't this Young Master Jiang? Wanwan was only trying to advise you out of concern. There's no need to quarrel over someone insignificant."
With Prince Xiao backing her, Su Wanwan pretended to wipe away nonexistent tears. "His Highness understands me. I only spoke for Cousin Jiang's own good."
"Don't worry, I understand." He gently patted her shoulder in consolation. Her pitiful act left Jiang Yunting speechless.
He hadn't said anything too harsh, but his cousin now appeared victimized. Had she forgotten the awful things she'd once said to their other cousin?
"Don't argue with fools. Let's go," Su Yiyi said with utter indifference. These petty tricks no longer fazed her. She looked down on Nalan Xiao now. No amount of affection Su Wanwan displayed could touch her heart.
Jiang Yunting knew if he stayed any longer, his cousin would only seize the chance to flaunt her superiority. He quickly followed Su Yiyi to leave.
Suddenly, a fierce wolf howled, and the flower boat tilted sharply. Screams echoed from the deck.
A glint flashed in Su Wanwan's eyes. Taking the opportunity, she reached out and grabbed Su Yiyi's sleeve, using all her strength to shove her off the boat.
What?! A murder attempt?
Su Yiyi's eyes filled with cold contempt. She caught a glimpse of Su Wanwan's smug smile. Hah! Has she never heard the saying—if I die, I'll drag someone down with me? And besides, she wasn't the one who would die!
With half her body already outside the boat, Su Yiyi abruptly twisted and grabbed Su Wanwan's clothes. A loud rip tore through the air, exposing the noblewoman's undergarments. Before anyone could react, both women plunged into the lake.
"Cousin!"
"Wanwan!"
The churning river soon calmed, as if haunted by spirits. Amidst the cries of panic, the two women resurfaced in the distance—grappling and clawing like sworn enemies.
"You dare push me?!"
"Ha! Like I even know who started it!"
Su Wanwan no longer looked like a noble lady. Her clothes were torn by Su Yiyi, revealing glimpses of pale skin. Furious, she lunged to pull Su Yiyi's hair, only to receive a slap in the face.
"Ah—y-you…" Warmth spilled from her nose. She touched it, stunned. "Blood? You dare hit me?!"
Su Yiyi wasn't moved by the pitiful expression. "I'll hit you again!"
"Someone fell into the water! Why are they fighting?!" The deck was now packed with onlookers. Just then, two more splashes echoed—Nalan Xiao and Jiang Yunting dove in after them, cutting swiftly through the water.
Whether by accident or design, Nalan Xiao's foot slammed into Jiang Yunting's chest, sending the latter sputtering and falling behind in an instant.
"Wanwan!" Nalan Xiao caught her from the water, only to find her face bruised and swollen. He froze. "Wanwan… what happened to you?!"