章 3: Drowning
"Young Master, look!"
In the quiet night, the excited and shocked voice echoed in the air. The boy in purple, who was standing with his back turned, suddenly turned around.
On the branches, red silk hung, and the lights sparkled. The blood-gray pebbles reflected a silvery glow in the moonlight. A girl, beautifully crafted like a porcelain doll, lay on the ground with pale lips and weak breath. She was soaking wet, her snow-white clothes clinging to her body. This girl was the Xianyue who had just fallen into the water.
The boy in purple looked in the direction pointed out by the person who shouted. Suddenly, the girl lying on the ground radiated golden light, as if the sunset glow was slowly dissipating in the sky, then concentrating at her waist, resembling the rising sun breaking through the clouds, brilliant and blinding.
From his stature, the boy in purple seemed to be about the same age as Feng Jiulan. He had fair skin, long black hair, and elegant features, with a gentle and amiable smile that inspired affection. As soon as his hand touched Xianyue's waist, the dazzling golden light suddenly disappeared.
The thin fabric clung to her body, water droplets trickled down, creating a dripping sound, accentuating her snowy skin, which gradually transformed into a phoenix in flight. The red hue resembled flowing blood, only as big as a thumb. If one did not look closely, they would think it was just a simple birthmark.
The boy in purple opened his palm, smiling like a flower, suddenly taking out a purple pill from his bosom and placing it in Xianyue's mouth. He gently patted her cheeks, but the unconscious Xianyue had no reaction, the purple pill still resting in her mouth without being swallowed.
"What should we do?"
A boy in gray crouched down, staring at the pill in Xianyue's mouth, looking up at the boy in purple.
"Turn around."
The silent man behind the boy in purple quickly turned away. The boy in gray, kneeling on the ground, hesitated for a moment but was forcibly pulled away by the quiet man.
The boy in purple picked up the unconscious Xianyue, letting her lean on his knee. He pinched her nose with one hand while pressing his other hand on her philtrum, but after a moment of this, Xianyue showed no signs of waking up.
The boy in purple withdrew his hand from Xianyue's philtrum, gripping her chin with his fingers. The unconscious Xianyue's mouth instinctively opened, and her fingers that were dangling on the ground twitched slightly.
Without hesitation, the boy in purple's gaze was fixed on the purple pill on her tongue. He leaned down, about to invade Xianyue's lips and tongue. Just then, Xianyue, who had been unconscious, sensed the approaching heat and suddenly opened her eyes wide, staring blankly at the enlarged smiling face in front of her, momentarily taken aback.
The smile on the boy in purple's face froze, seeming a bit taken aback.
What is happening? She almost got kissed by a stranger!
Wasn't she drowning and unconscious? Why is she awake now?
The two stared at each other, and Xianyue, being held by the boy in purple, suddenly closed her eyes and screamed, "Ah!"
Her chubby little hands hit the boy in purple's body and face without hesitation.
The two people who had been sent away by the boy in purple rushed over upon hearing Xianyue's scream. "What happened? What happened?"
"Who allowed you to kiss me?"
Xianyue's little face turned red as she pointed at the boy in purple, filled with righteous indignation.
The boy in purple raised an eyebrow, glancing at her. With his lips pressed together, in the dark of night, his face was tinted with an unknown blush, but his smile remained calm, unfazed by the accusation.
"You think our Young Master wants to kiss you?"
The gray-clad boy was furious. If not for someone holding him back, he would have already rushed up to Xianyue, pointing at her nose and arguing fiercely.
"Leian, step back."
The purple-clad youth stopped the gray-clad boy and walked in front of him, looking down at the unconscious Xianyue lying at his chest: "The princess fell into the water; it was I who saved you."
Her eyes, like black onyx, turned as she realized that someone had deliberately pushed her into the lake. She was only four years old and didn't know how to swim. The lake wasn't shallow, and there was fusang grass; if it got tangled around her, she wouldn't survive. Those people wanted to take her life.
Who could be so cruel as to not spare a four-year-old child?
"My master saw you unconscious and kindly gave you a resurrection pill. You were unaware, and my master—"
As he spoke, the gray-clad boy shot a knowing glance at the purple-clad youth, his voice tinged with amusement. But Xianyue was lost in thought, completely oblivious.
She had never seen this purple-clad youth in the palace before. Judging by his attire and demeanor, he was clearly a prince from another country. If that was the case, shouldn't he be in the Feng'an Hall? Why was he here? Where was Ningxiang?
Xianyue raised her eyes and looked around, but she didn't see Ningxiang anywhere. She couldn't help but feel puzzled. With such a commotion from her falling into the water, didn't she hear it? Did her brother know she had fallen in?
Brother—
Xianyue furrowed her brow, her heart pounding in a panic. She had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but she couldn't articulate it. She just felt that something was about to happen. Her lips unconsciously pressed together, and her brows tightened as she sprinted towards the spot where she had fallen into the water.
"Hey, you still haven't thanked my master!"
Leian shook off his companion's hand, pointing at Xianyue, and stubbornly chased after her.
"Don't follow her."
The purple-clad youth turned around and gently called out, causing the gray-clad boy to stop in his tracks.
"Indeed, there's a deep sibling bond."
He said lightly, with an indescribable envy, mixed with a touch of melancholy.
Xianyue halted, propping her hands on her knees, gasping for breath. Suddenly, the lakeside was filled with people. It was pitch black at night, and from a short distance away, she couldn't make out their expressions. The air was thick with a heavy, sorrowful atmosphere that made her heart clench.
Xianyue released her hands from her knees and stepped towards the crowd. Her heart felt like it was being tugged by a rope, restless and anxious.
Upon seeing Xianyue, the palace servants quickly parted, and in the dim light, Xianyue finally saw the expressions on their faces—sad and solemn. As she got closer, she could even hear the sounds of suppressed sobs.
She wanted to quicken her pace to rush in, but for some reason, her feet felt as heavy as if they were filled with mercury, and she couldn't move fast.
"Princess, what are you doing here?"
Ningxiang, standing nearby, rushed over in a panic, grabbing Xianyue's hand and checking her from head to toe. Seeing she was unharmed, she breathed a sigh of relief, but her palm felt frighteningly cold.
"Princess."
Seeing Xianyue unresponsive, pale, and staring blankly at the lakeshore, Ningxiang couldn't help but call out in worry.
"Princess, it's getting late; let's go back to the palace."
Ningxiang cautiously observed Xianyue's face as she spoke, squatting down to try to lift her.
"Go away."
Xianyue pushed Ningxiang away suddenly, and with such force that Ningxiang staggered back a few steps and fell to the ground. In the instant of regaining her senses, Xianyue had already thrown herself past her.
"Princess!" Ningxiang shouted, hurriedly getting up from the ground and chasing after her.
"Boom!"
In that moment, Xianyue felt as though she had been struck by lightning. Her mind went blank, as if she had been placed in an ice cellar. Her face felt cold, and when she touched it, she realized it was covered in tears.
On the ground lay a tall figure, his face as pale as paper, surrounded by flowing droplets of water, lying still as if he had stopped breathing. Just moments ago, he had been eating the longevity noodles she made for him, laughing and talking with her. How could he end up like this? Who had harmed her brother like this? Who?
"Princess."
Ningxiang walked over to Xianyue's side and called her gently, unsure of what to say.
The bond between the princess and the prince was deep; what could be done now?
"Princess, the prince is just asleep; he will wake up soon. Let's go back to the palace."
As Ningxiang spoke, tears fell from her eyes. She tugged at Xianyue, but Xianyue didn't even lift her eyelids. The face that usually carried a smile looked so naïve, as if she were just a four-year-old child, easily deceived.
"Brother, Yuer is here."
"Didn't you say you would share the love of Father and Mother with me and always protect me?"
"Brother, please wake up."
She shook the unconscious Feng Jiulan vigorously, slapping his face with both hands.
Those around her couldn't help but shed tears at the sight of Xianyue's desperate attempts.
"Wretched girl!"
Xianyue hadn't had time to react to what was happening when a large hand flew towards her, knocking her to the ground. Her face felt fiery hot, and a sticky liquid, tasting of iron and salt, seeped from the corner of her mouth.
She looked up to see Feng Xuanling, furious, glaring down at her. Biting her lip, she remained silent. Meanwhile, Ningxiang, terrified, hurriedly knelt on the ground, saying, "Your Majesty, the princess is still small; if you must punish someone, punish me instead."
The princess was only four years old; how could she withstand a blow from the ruler?
"Useless servant, I want your head."
Ningxiang knelt there, her face pale and unable to speak. Ever since the late empress passed away, the ruler's temper had grown increasingly volatile.
"Is it not enough that you caused your mother's death? Now you wish to harm your brother?"
Xianyue looked at Feng Jiulan lying on the ground, her heart heavy with an indescribable pain. She felt cold, her teeth chattering, her whole body trembling as if she might freeze to death. How could she pay attention to what Feng Xuanling was saying?
The difficult childbirth was not something she could control. But now, if it weren't for her, why would her brother be lying on the cold ground?
Struggling, she pushed herself up and crawled over to Feng Jiulan, resting his head on her knee. The icy temperature made her heart race with fear and unease. She placed her fingers near his nostrils and couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
"Where is the imperial physician? Where is the imperial physician?"
Her eyes scanned the surroundings. In the Imperial Medical Bureau, the elderly doctors, usually boasting and debating, all lowered their heads under her clear yet sorrowful gaze.
"Ningxiang, quickly go find another physician."
She looked at Ningxiang, crying and pleading.
"Princess."
These were the best doctors in the Feng Kingdom, and if they couldn't help, what use would another physician be?
"Hurry!"
Ningxiang crawled closer to Xianyue, joining her in tears.
"Princess, the prince has already lost his breath."
She leaned in close to Xianyue's ear and whispered. Although she knew she shouldn't say such things, seeing the princess like this left her with no choice.
"You're lying."
Xianyue screamed, her voice hysterical. The tension in her heart snapped in an instant, like the last petal falling from a branch in spring, leaving only an infinite desolation behind, as if she had lost all attachment.
"Brother."
"Brother."
She clung to Feng Jiulan, refusing to let go, no matter how much the others urged her. They could never have imagined that a four-year-old girl like Xianyue could possess such strength; they couldn't pull her away no matter how hard they tried.
Feng Xuanling, unable to bear the blow, was persuaded by others to leave. The remaining palace servants, seeing Xianyue in this state, dared not act rashly. The night was silent, save for her frail sobs that pulled at the heartstrings.
"I can save your brother."
In a daze, Xianyue seemed to hear someone speaking to her. Could they really save her brother?
Through her tear-filled eyes, she vaguely saw a figure clad in pure white, even the hair was silver. But that face looked as young as a blooming girl.
"As long as you come with me, I will wake your brother."
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