Bailiu thought she was going to die. But when she was rescued, she gasped for air like a fish out of water.
By now, her delicate appearance was completely ruined. Her wet clothes clung tightly to her body, revealing her frail figure.
What was even more crucial was that the thick rouge on her face had been washed away by the water, and her veil was floating on the lake. The hideous scars on her face were now exposed.
At this moment, the young ladies from the academy saw Bailiu's face so clearly that they all stared in disbelief with wide - open eyes.
Qi Huaiyi said bluntly, "So ugly! It turns out she's so hideous. Ugly people really do cause trouble!"
Bailiu, who had just recovered her senses, heard Qi Huaiyi's words. Looking at the men and women around her whispering while staring at her, she was so devastated that she let out a scream. Then her eyes rolled back, and she fainted completely.
"Master, Miss Bailiu has fainted," the attendant of Xue Mingxiao said to the approaching person.
Xue Mingxiao said coldly, "If she's fainted, throw her back to the Xue Mansion. If anyone from the Xue Mansion asks, tell them the truth!"
"Yes!" the attendant replied respectfully.
When Song Zhaoyang heard that her daughter was in trouble, the teacup in her hand fell to the ground in fright. The tea soaked her shoes, but she didn't have time to change them. She rushed to Yaoyao's courtyard in a hurry.
"Yaoyao!" Song Zhaoyang rushed into the room with a panicked expression.
When Xue Mingxiao and Shen Qingwan saw her, they immediately bowed to her.
Song Zhaoyang didn't care about the two of them. Looking at her pale - faced daughter, she reached out her trembling hand and touched her cheek.
"Your Highness, the imperial physician is here!" On the way back, Shen Qingwan had sent for the imperial physician in her name.
Seeing this, Song Zhaoyang immediately made way for the imperial physician.
After the imperial physician carefully examined Yaoyao, he said to the people present, "Miss Xue has an injury on the back of her head. She may experience discomfort such as vomiting, dizziness, and headache in the coming days. If it gets serious, please invite a doctor for diagnosis in time. There may be blood stasis in her head, and acupuncture must be used to dredge it in time."
Hearing this, Song Zhaoyang asked, "Can't we use acupuncture to relieve it now?"
The imperial physician shook his head and said, "It's best not to. If she doesn't feel severe pain or fall into a coma, it's better to take conservative treatment."
Song Zhaoyang nodded and looked at her daughter with heartache.
The imperial physician continued, "The wound on her neck looks deep, but it's not life - threatening. Apply some golden sore medicine, and after the wound scabs, use scar - removing medicine."
"Also, Miss Xue was frightened, and she may not sleep well in the next few days. I'll prescribe some tranquilizing medicine for her to have a good rest."
Song Zhaoyang said gratefully, "Thank you, imperial physician."
After seeing off the imperial physician, Song Zhaoyang looked at Xue Mingxiao with a solemn face and asked, "Xiao'er, what happened?"
Xue Mingxiao quickly told her what had happened today.
As Song Zhaoyang listened, her expression became even more gloomy.
They had been on guard, but they never expected these people to be so despicable!
Shen Qingwan said apologetically, "Mrs. Xue, it's all my fault for not considering things carefully. If we hadn't gone boating on the lake, my sister wouldn't have gotten hurt."
Song Zhaoyang looked at Shen Qingwan's self - blaming expression, reached out and took her hand, and said, "Your Highness, today's incident is not your fault. They originally wanted to plot against Yaoyao. Despite all our precautions, Yaoyao was still too careless!"
Shen Qingwan said, "Who do you think did this? Pei Shuling or Xue Bailiu?"
"By the way, when we got off the boat, Xue Bailiu slandered my sister's reputation. Maybe she knows something about this."
A flash of killing intent passed through Song Zhaoyang's eyes, and then she said, "We still don't know who the mastermind is for now, but no matter who did it, the Loyal and Righteous Marquis Mansion will never let her go!"
Shen Qingwan nodded, and a fierce look also flashed in her eyes. "Me too."
Seeing that Shen Qingwan was not yet married into the Xue family but was whole - heartedly protecting Yaoyao, Song Zhaoyang's expression softened a little.
She gently patted the back of Shen Qingwan's hand and said, "Stay for dinner tonight. Xiao'er, entertain Her Highness well. After dinner, send Her Highness back personally."
Hearing Song Zhaoyang's instructions, Xue Mingxiao replied respectfully, "Yes, Mother."
Seeing that Song Zhaoyang wanted to be alone with Yaoyao, Shen Qingwan then found an excuse and left the room with Xue Mingxiao.
After the two left, Song Zhaoyang sat by the bed, looking at her comatose daughter with red - rimmed eyes. Her heart seemed to be tightly wrung into a ball.
Ziying felt the same way. Yaoyao had grown up under her watch. In her heart, Yaoyao's status was as important as Song Zhaoyang's. Even the two brothers Xue Mingxiao and Xue Mingchen couldn't compare to Yaoyao.
She gritted her teeth and said in a voice suppressing killing intent, "Madam, if I knew who did this, I would surely cut these people into pieces!"
Hearing Ziying's words, Song Zhaoyang held Yaoyao's hand and said coldly, "Apart from Pei Shuling and Bailiu, there's another person we've overlooked."
Ziying had a sudden inspiration and then said, "Do you mean Princess Gaoyang?"
"Yes." Song Zhaoyang frowned. "Bailiu has also met Princess Gaoyang. We need to ask Bailiu whether she was involved in this. Send someone to interrogate Bailiu and get something out of her mouth!"
Ziying took the order and left.
—
The night gradually darkened.
The bedroom of Qi Yunshuang was brightly lit.
There was no servant in the room. Only Ji Hanyan was kneeling inside, and the bone - chilling cold came from her knees.
Qi Yunshuang was rubbing the Buddhist beads in her hand, with her eyes closed and silent.
Until the door was opened, and a man walked in. It was Ji Yifeng.
No!
It should be a man with Ji Yifeng's face.
He knelt on the ground.
"Master, the news from the Imperial Hospital is that besides the injuries on her head and neck and being frightened, Xue Lingrong is fine for the time being!"
Hearing this, a fierce look flashed in Qi Yunshuang's eyes. Then she looked at Ji Hanyan kneeling on the ground and said in a cold voice, "Useless thing! Several of our dead soldiers were lost, and you still couldn't ruin her! What's the use of keeping you!"
Ji Hanyan's face turned pale. Then she kowtowed and said, "It's my fault for being useless!"
A killing intent appeared on Qi Yunshuang's face, and she said, "I'll give you a chance. Go and get rid of Xue Bailiu! Don't let a word about me come out of her mouth!"
Ji Hanyan responded and got up from the ground. But because she had knelt for too long, her legs were a bit shaky, and she almost fell to the ground.
After Ji Hanyan left, Qi Yunshuang said to "Ji Yifeng", "Spread the news that Xue Lingrong's innocence was ruined by assassins and her reputation is gone! I don't believe that without her reputation, Xue Lingrong can still marry into our family!"
Hearing this, "Ji Yifeng" took the order and left.
—
In the Xue Mansion.
Bailiu was sent back to the Xue Mansion in a sorry state. When Wen and Little Wen learned what Bailiu had done, Little Wen was so angry that she went crazy. She directly ordered someone to beat Bailiu severely. After beating Bailiu until she was covered in blood, she was locked in the firewood shed.
Bailiu was all wet. Coupled with the beating, she was extremely weak in the firewood shed and had a fever that night.
She was lying on the straw pile, looking at the roof with a blank look in her eyes.
Just then, there was a rustling sound outside the firewood shed...