The icy pool water instantly engulfed Tian Yao.
[If I don't show my claws, do they really think I'm a sick cat?]
If she didn't teach them a lesson this time, they would probably become even more excessive.
The bone - chilling cold rushed in from every part of her body. The choking pool water frantically poured into her nose and throat, bringing a sharp, burning pain.
The instinct for survival made her want to struggle desperately and paddle upwards.
No!
[Calm down! He Ciyuan and the others will be here soon. This is the best opportunity!]
Tian Yao forced herself to suppress the amplitude of her struggle. She only let her hands flop weakly on the water surface, creating the illusion that she was about to drown.
She deliberately opened her mouth and coughed a few times, making sure that with each rise and fall, the people on the shore could clearly see her pale face and desperate expression.
"Help! Someone is trying to kill me! Who will save me..."
Actually, Tian Yao knew a bit of swimming. She was really just waiting for someone to come and save her.
There was nothing she could do. Some things were difficult for her to handle. Even if she tried, it would be hard to achieve her goal.
There was a slippery sensation around her ankle. It was waterweed.
This area of the river wasn't very deep, but it was just a bit troublesome.
She could climb out, but she couldn't just take this humiliation lying down. She had to let everyone know what she had suffered. Otherwise, she would be the big loser.
Tian Yao didn't kick the waterweed away. Instead, she let it wrap around her ankle more tightly, providing iron - clad evidence that she couldn't get out on her own.
In this way, she could make everyone believe faster that these people really wanted to kill her.
Since others were so disgusting, don't blame her for being a bit "green - tea" too.
[For the sake of survival, bowing one's head occasionally, what does it matter? Anyway, I don't care!]
If she didn't take action today, she would be doomed tomorrow.
"Help... hel...p..." Her calls came in fits and starts, her voice weak and faint.
Out of the corner of her eye, a group of figures finally appeared at the moon gate in the garden.
At the head was the old lady, and beside her was He Huaibi.
And at the back, in the wheelchair pushed by Mo Chen, that figure exuded an overwhelming sense of oppression even from afar.
They're here!
[The audience is in place. The show begins.]
[My thigh! Help me!!!]
Seriously, if they had come any later, she would have had to climb out of the water on her own, or she would really drown.
The show hadn't even started, and she would be gone first.
Shuang Yue on the shore seemed to just react. She let out an exaggerated scream, "Ah! Sister Tian Yao has fallen into the water! Someone come quickly!"
This scream successfully caught everyone's attention.
"Presumptuous! Screaming like this. What kind of behavior is this!" The old lady frowned tightly, her face full of disgust. She was obviously extremely displeased with this sudden change.
But He Huaibi had already seen the figure bobbing in the water. His face changed drastically.
"It's Tian Yao!"
How could a perfectly fine person suddenly fall into the water?
He didn't have time to think. While quickly taking off his outer robe, he roared at the servants behind him, "Quick! Save her!"
Before his voice had faded, he had already dived into the icy pool water.
"Second Young Master!"
"Second Young Master, you are of noble status!"
There was chaos on the shore. The screams of the maids and servants and the scolding of the old lady were all mixed together.
Only He Ciyuan sat quietly in the wheelchair. His dark eyes were like two bottomless ancient wells, showing no ripples at all.
He just watched the scene in the water as if he were enjoying a play that had nothing to do with him.
Tian Yao felt her consciousness being gradually stripped away by the cold and the suffocating feeling, but she held on, waiting.
Soon, He Huaibi swam to her side. He grabbed her waist and lifted her out of the water with all his might.
"Tian Yao! Hold on!"
The warm body temperature came through the wet clothes, but Tian Yao felt as if she had been burned. The moment she was lifted out of the water, her body suddenly stiffened.
[Damn it! Who asked you to save me!]
[What's wrong with Mo Chen?]
Why didn't they come to save her when one of their own had fallen into the water?
What was wrong with He Ciyuan? Didn't he know to come and save her at all?
He Huaibi finally managed to pull her onto the shore. Just as he was about to check on her, he saw Tian Yao suddenly curl up and desperately dodge to the side, as if his touch would bring some kind of disaster.
"Sir... young master..."
She turned her head, coughing violently. Her hair was messy and stuck to her pale face. Her whole body was shaking like a leaf in the autumn wind.
But those terrified eyes stared stubbornly and fixedly at He Ciyuan in the distance, over He Huaibi's shoulder.
In that look, there was the fear after a narrow escape, the grievance of being framed, and... a kind of shame, anger and helplessness as if being seen in an "embarrassing" situation by the most trusted person.
This scene fell precisely into He Ciyuan's eyes.
The indifference in He Ciyuan's eyes finally showed a slight change. He saw her undisguised resistance and estrangement towards He Huaibi.
Good. She was a smart one.
She knew he didn't like her to have anything to do with these people, so she also knew how to keep her distance.
The reason he hadn't let anyone rush to save her was to see what tricks Tian Yao was playing. After all, this shallow pond might not be able to drown a person.
Moreover, if she was really going to be drowned, things wouldn't be like this. So there was no need to worry. He just needed to wait and see the final situation.
"Sir, there should be a proper distance between men and women. Let the maids handle it." An old nursemaid stepped forward, trying to separate He Huaibi.
After all, there were taboos between men and women. And rushing to save a little maid like this really made people suspicious.
Only then did He Huaibi realize that his actions were a bit inappropriate. A look of embarrassment and worry flashed across his face. "How is she?"
"Cough... cough..." Tian Yao coughed out a few mouthfuls of water. She weakly propped herself up, and her eyes still didn't leave He Ciyuan.
[I can't just let this go. Shuang Yue must pay the price!]
[I want He Ciyuan to see with his own eyes who is trying to harm his people.]
While everyone was in a mess, either concerned about her or just watching the show, Tian Yao did something that no one expected.
She ignored everyone and used the last bit of her strength to crawl towards He Ciyuan on all fours.
Her wet skirt dragged a long trail of water on the grass. She was like a fish out of water, looking extremely embarrassed but with a clear goal.
"You..." He Huaibi stared at her in astonishment.
The old lady was so angry that her face turned green. "Tian Yao, in front of so many people, what do you want to do?"
Flirting with her skirt in public was a big taboo.
Tian Yao turned a deaf ear.
One step, two steps.
Finally, she crawled in front of the wheelchair.
Just before her consciousness completely faded into darkness, she stretched out her trembling hand. She didn't grab his hand or touch his leg.
She just humbly and gently grabbed the black hem of his clothes that was hanging by the wheelchair.