When Su Nansheng returned to the waterside pavilion with the maid Hongzhu, she saw that the corridor bridge ahead was crowded with people shouting and in complete chaos.
"Someone fell into the water! Someone fell into the water!"
"Quickly get a thin blanket!"
"Ginger soup. We also need ginger soup."
Su Nansheng immediately walked towards the crowd. Hongzhu, who was supposed to go back after delivering her, also followed after a moment of thought.
In the middle of the corridor bridge, two people were sitting there wrapped in thin blankets, shivering all over. Water was dripping from their hair buns and ears, soaking the wooden boards on the ground.
"Yao'er, how are you? You scared me to death." A noble lady rushed over and hugged Xie Yao.
"Ale, are you okay? How did you fall into the water?" Deng Shi asked anxiously, supporting Su Hele.
Su Nansheng raised her eyebrows. What had she missed?
"It's her. It was Su Hele who pushed me into the water."
Xie Yao stretched out her arm from under the thin blanket and pointed at Su Hele, then quickly retracted it.
Su Hele's face was as white as paper and she was also shaking non - stop.
She was just standing by the corridor bridge. When she realized that Xie Yao was grabbing her shawl, the latter had already fallen into the water.
She originally wanted to step away from Xie Yao, but unexpectedly, she was dragged into the water. Now Xie Yao was accusing her.
Su Hele looked up at the crowd. No one should have seen her actions just now. Xie Yao had no evidence.
Her eyes suddenly paused, and then she showed a wronged expression:
"Miss Xie has wronged me. How could I push you? Could it be, could it be..."
At this point, Su Hele looked at Su Nansheng:
"A Sheng, my dear younger sister, I know you were trying to protect me, but you shouldn't have..."
The crowd followed her gaze and saw Su Nansheng behind them. They immediately made way for her.
Su Nansheng walked up to Su Hele. "What are you talking about, sister?"
Su Hele shook her head helplessly:
"Just now Miss Xie and her friends laughed at me, saying that I was of low status and unworthy of attending this flower - viewing banquet. They were just joking. I didn't even care. Why do you take it to heart, A Sheng?"
"Who laughed at your low status!" Xie Yao quickly retorted and stole a glance at the Duchess of Anguo.
Su Hele's words were very clear. Su Nansheng had pushed Xie Yao to avenge her sister.
"A Sheng, how could you push Miss Xie? You even dragged Ale into this. You're so vicious!" Deng Shi immediately frowned at Su Nansheng.
Everyone looked at Su Nansheng sideways and whispered among themselves.
Su Hele wrapped the thin blanket around her nose, and a smile curled up on her red lips under the blanket.
Su Nansheng always protected her. She would surely take the blame for everything.
Amid the chaos, Chen Wanrong spoke up:
"The matter hasn't been clarified yet. It's too early to draw a conclusion. Moreover, I believe Nansheng is not a rash person."
Her words immediately silenced the crowd's discussion. Su Hele frowned slightly.
"Sister says it was me who pushed Miss Xie, but I say it wasn't. Mother, who do you believe?"
Su Nansheng looked at Deng Shi, her eyes as cold as autumn water.
Deng Shi felt a twinge of guilt. "If it wasn't you, could it be Ale? She's always been sensible."
Su Nansheng let out a soft laugh and looked down at Su Hele:
"Sister, did you see me push Miss Chen with your own eyes?"
Su Hele hung her head and said nothing, but she was shocked inside.
If it had been before, Su Nansheng would have been eager to take the blame, but now she was refusing!
What was wrong with her today? She seemed like a different person.
"It seems you didn't. To make wild guesses without seeing is no different from how one treats an enemy. Sister, I'm your own younger sister!"
Su Nansheng showed disappointment and a wronged expression on her face.
"If it wasn't you, then it was Su Hele. Mother, Su Hele wanted to kill me. You must stand up for me."
Xie Yao leaned against Mrs. Xie and sobbed softly.
Seeing this, Mrs. Xie looked at Su Hele with a fierce look in her eyes.
Su Hele immediately reached out a hand and grabbed the hem of Su Nansheng's skirt:
"A Sheng, don't be afraid. You were just avenging me. I'll share the punishment with you. It's my fault for not teaching you well."
Su Nansheng refused to admit it, but so what? She had sneaked out to play just now. No one could testify for her.
Su Nansheng looked at Su Hele's fair fingers and slowly pulled the hem of her skirt out of her hand:
"I've already said it wasn't me. Sister, are you deliberately trying to wrong me?"
Then she turned to Hongzhu, who had just accompanied her back:
"Please ask Miss Hongzhu to testify for me."
Hongzhu immediately bowed and said:
"Madam, Miss Su Er had been in the Willow Grove before. When I escorted her back, the two young ladies had already been rescued. The others in the Willow Grove can also testify."
As soon as she said this, Su Hele froze instantly.
A drop of water slid down her neck, like a poisonous snake winding down, filling her with fear and coldness.
She turned to look at Deng Shi, who immediately said, "Ale just misunderstood. Don't be so aggressive."
There was a coldness in Su Nansheng's eyes. She should have seen through it earlier.
"See, I said it wasn't Miss Nansheng." Chen Wanrong was very satisfied.
"I said it was you, and you even made your younger sister take the blame for you. Su Hele, you're so shameless!"
Xie Yao twisted her body and rushed towards Su Hele, but was held back by Mrs. Xie.
Su Hele gritted her teeth:
"My younger sister always loves to stand up for me. I just misunderstood. Who can prove that I pushed you? I was even dragged into the water by you."
"I've only had a conflict with you. If it wasn't you, who else could it be? Are you blaming me now?"
Xie Yao reached out her hand again, trying to hit Su Hele.
"All of you, shut up!"
The Duchess of Anguo's shout immediately silenced the surroundings.
"You're all young ladies from noble families. Don't make people laugh at you."
After saying that, the Duchess of Anguo looked at Chen Wanrong:
"Look, I've stolen the limelight from you, the hostess. I'm really getting a headache from all this noise."
"It's my fault as the host for not taking good care of everyone. It's scared the two young ladies. Someone, take the two young ladies to change their clothes." Chen Wanrong didn't mind at all.
Immediately, some maids came to help the girls. Just as they were leading Su Hele away, Concubine Li said softly:
"How did you fall into the water for no reason? Miss Su, I remember you were the only one beside Miss Xie at that time."
Su Hele paused for a moment and then quickly walked away.
She didn't dare to argue with Concubine Li. She didn't know if Concubine Li had seen anything, but she knew that if she angered Concubine Li, the latter would say anything.
"Humph, she's guilty." Concubine Li sneered.
Everyone looked at Su Hele's somewhat flustered back and then at Concubine Li, who seemed confident. They made their own judgments in their hearts.
...
Across the waterside pavilion, He Jin looked at Su Hele's back in the distance with a guilty look on his face.
"I heard that General He Xun of the Northern Border has requested to return to the capital. Why haven't I seen him at this banquet today?" The eldest young master of the Anguo Duke's Mansion came over to inquire.
General He Xun of the Northern Border was a well - known figure in the court. With his own strength, he had deterred the Southern Witch Kingdom in the north for several years, making him the strongest wall standing in the north of the Daqing Dynasty.
But this General He was always elusive. It was difficult to catch a glimpse of his true appearance, let alone make friends with him.
So when they heard that He Xun was returning to the capital and the Marquis Mansion was holding a flower - viewing banquet, the hearts of all the noble families were stirred.
Among so many noble young masters attending the banquet, how many of them were really here to court the young ladies? But they still hadn't seen He Xun. Everyone couldn't help but feel anxious.
He Jin composed himself and smiled:
"Elder brother has a cold personality and never likes to participate in such banquets. Don't worry about him. Let's continue."