Jiang Jinyue couldn't believe her ears.
"Brother-in-law... You, you want me to jump into the Taiye Pool?!"
In an instant, the smile on Song Yinghuai's lips faded, and his eyes turned as cold as ice. Jiang Jinyue shivered from head to toe.
"Why?"
A hint of cruelty flashed across Song Yinghuai's face, his killing intent blatant. "You and I both know why."
Jiang Jinyue's hands and feet turned as cold as ice. Her legs went weak, and she staggered back a step, her face ashen. She quickly reached out to support herself on the stone railing of the bridge.
He knew, he knew everything!
Jiang Jinyue stared at him blankly, her nails digging deep into her palms. She complained unwillingly, "Brother-in-law! She's just a servant girl! I'm your cousin! In terms of family background and appearance, which aspect of me is inferior to Caiyu? Aunt likes me too. How could you ask me to jump into the Taiye Pool for her?"
She angrily raised her voice. "I won't jump! I'd rather die than jump!"
Song Yinghuai let out a low laugh. A dangerous aura spread across his handsome face.
"Rather die than jump? If cousin isn't afraid of death, why did you come to Yanjing? Just be a show girl obediently. If the emperor passes away, you'll be a sacrificial concubine. Your sacrifice would bring glory to the Jiang family. Isn't that great?"
A chill ran down Jiang Jinyue's spine. Before her was Song Yinghuai's calm and handsome face. She watched his sexy thin lips move, uttering words that sent shivers down her spine.
"Cousin, even if you don't think about yourself, don't you think about your aunt and younger brother?"
"Before cousin came to Yanjing, uncle must have told you about my capabilities. It'd be easy for me to destroy the Jiang family of Jiaodong."
Jiang Jinyue shook her head violently and stepped back. But Song Yinghuai pressed on, his eyes fixed on her.
"For the sake of my mother, I won't kill you. Today, if you just measure how deep the Taiye Pool is for your brother-in-law, I'll let the matter of Caiyu go. Otherwise..."
Jiang Jinyue's mind was in a whirl. Her ears rang with a shrill sound. It seemed as if there was a hazy devil standing in front of her.
She looked down at the bridge. The thin ice that sparkled like crystal now seemed as terrifying as hell.
"I... I..." Jiang Jinyue's legs trembled. "I'm too scared to jump..."
Today was the first day of the thirty-third year of Daye Yuanzheng.
People from all over Yanjing had gathered here. If she jumped, not to mention whether she could survive, but getting wet in full view of everyone, what would happen to her reputation?
Song Yinghuai definitely wouldn't marry her, and neither would other noble families!
"Brother-in-law! I know I was wrong!" Jiang Jinyue cried bitterly. "Forgive me this once, just this once... I'll never harm Caiyu again... You're a Buddhist! The Buddha is merciful. Can't you be kind to me just once?"
Song Yinghuai's face was as cold as iron. He remained unmoved. "I've given you chances. Ever since you entered the mansion, you've been scheming and manipulating. I've seen all your words and deeds, and I've reminded you many times. But you just refused to repent."
"Since even the Buddha can't save you from your evil, then let the evil retribution come. Let the cause and effect take its course!"
He raised his eyes and watched the grand parade approaching the bridge with gongs and drums blaring. He said to Jiang Jinyue with the gentlest smile,
"Hurry up. If you jump, your brother-in-law will write to your uncle and ensure you don't have to enter the palace."
The sky was filled with falling petals. The music was festive. The crowd was vast.
On this joyous day for the whole city, Jiang Jinyue choked with sobs. Her lips twitched involuntarily, and finally began to tremble. Tears welled up in her eyes like a flood breaking through a dam, streaming down her cheeks as she cried in despair.
Just as the statue of the handsome and glorious Grand Prince was being carried onto the Jin'ao Yudong Bridge, the crowds on both sides were boiling, and people on the city walls of Sijiu City were also surging. Everyone was craning their necks to watch as the divine statue was about to cross the most beautiful pool in their hearts.
"Splash!" A loud noise!
People saw a gorgeously dressed woman jump off the bridge in the middle!
In an instant, there were gasps of surprise. Countless people rushed towards the bridge and the pool. The statue of the Grand Prince almost toppled over!
Caiyu, who had just come to watch the excitement and was looking for someone, was also stunned.
She watched in disbelief as Jiang Jinyue, not far away, inexplicably jumped into the deep pool, smashing through the thin ice on the surface.
A huge splash of water shot up three feet high from the ice layer!
However, when she looked up again at Song Yinghuai, who seemed completely oblivious to the commotion, walking away with his hands behind his back, she seemed to understand something in an instant.
It turned out that she wasn't the only one who wanted to make things difficult for Jiang Jinyue!
Caiyu couldn't help but curl the corner of her lips. An idea came to her mind. She picked up a megaphone and shouted,
"Help! This is the third miss of the Jiang family of Jiaodong! The cousin of His Highness the Prince of Yan! Whoever jumps in to save her, the Jiang family will surely reward them handsomely!"
Xiangye: !!!
Caiyu's skill in adding insult to injury was truly amazing.
Song Yinghuai, who had already walked down the bridge, paused slightly when he heard this familiar voice. He looked up.
Caiyu's cry for help was like adding fuel to the fire.
Originally, Jiang Jinyue was from the North Sea of Jiaodong and was a good swimmer. The Taiye Pool was an artificial pool, only about five feet deep, just enough to cover one's head.
Jiang Jinyue was just temporarily frozen when she jumped in, but she could swim to the shore with some effort.
However, as soon as Caiyu shouted, the men who rushed forward instantly jumped into the pool like dumplings to save her!
People weren't very familiar with the Jiang family of Jiaodong, but they knew the Prince of Yan well!
The cousin of their prince must be from a wealthy family!
If they saved her, it might even lead to a marriage!
Even if the Prince of Yan and the Jiang family wanted to hush things up, the reward would surely be generous!
For a moment, the not-so-big Taiye Pool was filled with men, emerging from the water like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, rushing towards Jiang Jinyue!
The cold weather couldn't stop people's enthusiasm for saving others.
Jiang Jinyue had just regained her senses from the intense cold and surfaced when she was shocked to see countless men rushing towards her from all directions in the water.
She panicked instantly. "Help, help..."
The crowd shouted, "Don't be afraid, Miss Jiang. We're here to save you!"
Caiyu burst into laughter, almost doubling over. She and Xiangye covered their stomachs, tears streaming down their faces.
Although she didn't know that Jiang Jinyue had joined hands with Dong Yurong to plot against her, she would do everything in her power to make this woman who had repeatedly framed her lose her reputation and be sent back to the Jiang family!
"Is it really that funny?"
Just as they were laughing and wiping away their tears, Song Yinghuai's cold and clear voice came from behind them.
Caiyu's laughter stopped abruptly. She quickly turned around.
Song Yinghuai had somehow appeared behind them, with Han Fen following closely behind.
Song Yinghuai was as tall and straight as a pine tree. His face was refined, and his eyes were cold in the cold light. He was quietly and intently looking at her.
Caiyu quickly stopped smiling and politely bowed to Song Yinghuai. "Your Highness, it's not funny... That..."
Caiyu pretended to have just arrived at the scene. She pointed at the Taiye Pool innocently and anxiously.
"Your Highness, the young lady has fallen into the water! Shouldn't we go and save her quickly?"
Han Fen, who was following behind, curled his lips.
Who was the one laughing so uncontrollably just now, without any ladylike manners?
When it came to acting, if Miss Caiyu claimed to be the second, no one would dare to claim to be the first!
Song Yinghuai seemed to be in a good mood. He didn't expose Caiyu but instead said,
"There are many people in the pool to save her. Don't worry about her."
"Oh." Seeing that he was about to leave, Caiyu quickly asked, "Where are you going, Your Highness? Do you need this servant to follow and serve you?"
"Back to the mansion."
Since Song Yinghuai was going back to the mansion, Caiyu naturally had no interest in staying outside.
As she was leaving, she glanced at Han Fen and said to Xiangye,
"I suddenly have a craving for the donkey roll from Chaxiangji. Ask Guard Han to go with you and buy some to bring back!"
Xiangye nodded and left.
Han Fen looked up at Song Yinghuai. Seeing that he didn't say anything, he grinned and followed quickly.
Caiyu was about to follow Song Yinghuai back when she saw Nanny Yu walking through the crowd with an empty bamboo basket on her wrist. Her heart sank!