The moment Xia Zhi viciously lunged toward the stone, many of the wives and young ladies present were too shocked to speak.
Fortunately, among the masters and servants gathered there, there were at least a hundred people, if not two hundred. Two quick-witted older maids managed to pull her back just before her head hit the stone, saving her life.
However, she still scraped the skin on her forehead, and blood began to trickle slowly down her face, which looked quite frightening.
The incident happened so fast that some of the wives and young ladies were only now reacting, gasping and covering their mouths with their handkerchiefs, causing a stir.
“Just let me die… Only when I’m dead will I stop being a burden to others…”
Xia Zhi cried out, struggling desperately to end her life. Two more servants rushed over and firmly grabbed hold of her to prevent any further rash actions.
Everyone from the Dong family looked extremely grim. Today was supposed to be a happy day for a family wedding!
But it had nearly ended in a tragic death – it couldn’t be more unlucky!
To make matters worse, among the guests were the Prince of Qi and Sheng Mingzhu, the disciple of Master Dale… and both of them had also fallen into the water. The Dong family was simply out of luck, stuck with the fault of “negligent hospitality.”
At this point, they could only swallow their pride, endure this humiliation silently, and refrain from speaking out.
“Sixth Sister, Sister Xia Zhi is your own biological sister! She just saved your life in the pond – why do you keep belittling her and refuse to say a single word for her? Do you really want to force her to her death?”
Huang Yaning coldly questioned Sheng Mingzhu, putting on a righteous air of defending Xia Zhi.
“I… I’m not… I didn’t…”
Sheng Mingzhu shook her head and waved her hands in denial, tears streaming down her pale, paper-white face.
But inside, a small voice was letting out a piercing scream.
Xia – Zhi!
You bitch!
How dare she compete with her for a man, and even set a trap for her! Once she gets back to the mansion, she’ll make Xia Zhi’s life a living hell!
“Since you don’t, then say something for your sister and ask the Prince to take her in!”
“Yes, Sixth Miss Sheng, you haven’t spoken a single good word for your sister from start to finish. The Prince probably thinks you don’t want your sister to enter the Prince of Qi’s mansion – “
Sheng Mingzhu’s heart, liver, spleen, and stomach all ached.
Of course she didn’t want it!
How could she possibly help Xia Zhi compete with her for a man?
She couldn’t bring herself to say it!
Instinctively, she wanted to turn her head to seek help from Brother Sheng, but then remembered they were in public and forcibly restrained herself…
Sheng Mingzhu waited, waited for Brother Sheng to rescue her and personally reject Xia Zhi.
But after waiting for several breaths, she didn’t hear Brother Sheng speak, and her heart felt as if it were being cut with a knife.
At the same time, she felt the malice in everyone’s gaze growing rapidly.
It shifted from watching the show, to condemnation, to disdain, to mockery…
Some people even looked at her as if she were something dirty.
Those people hadn’t spoken, but Sheng Mingzhu felt as if she could hear abusive shouts coming from all directions.
“Ingrateful little slut – “
“The epitome of someone who kicks away the ladder that helped them rise – “
“A selfish, shameless wretch – “
Sheng Mingzhu felt as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on her.
It made her break out in a cold sweat, gave her an urge to vomit, and a violent headache began to pound…
“Sixth girl, Xia Zhi has sacrificed this much for you, willing to die rather than implicate you – one cannot be so utterly ungrateful!”
Sheng Minmin also began speaking to Sheng Mingzhu in a “motherly” tone.
“Mother… if the Prince is willing to accept… Xia Zhi… that would naturally be for the best…”
Sheng Mingzhu took a couple of deep breaths, her heart a mix of complex emotions, and spoke as if resigned to her fate.
These words instantly shifted the pressure onto Zhu Qisheng, and everyone’s gaze fell upon him simultaneously.
Zhu Qisheng had wanted to step forward and help his Mingzhu sister earlier, but the last time he did, Xia Zhi tried to commit suicide and nearly died… he really didn’t know what to say, so he remained silent.
Later, when Lady Huang said things like “utterly ungrateful,” he felt a flush of heat on his own face.
He knew very well how important a girl’s reputation was!
Of course, he could find Xia Zhi a husband, but he couldn’t guarantee whether that husband would later despise her or whether she could live a good life…
Thinking this, Zhu Qisheng instinctively looked towards Xia Zhi and saw that she was also looking at him.
That look in her eyes touched Zhu Qisheng.
She looked like a drowning woman, gazing at her last lifeline…
If he rejected Xia Zhi, she probably really wouldn’t survive.
Moreover, Xia Zhi’s expression and profile at that moment bore some resemblance to sister Mingzhu. Zhu Qisheng’s heart softened instantly, and he said,
“Don’t try to take your own life anymore. Come back to the Prince of Qi’s mansion with me…”
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd buzzed with excitement.
Everyone’s expressions were different, their thoughts varied.
As for Sheng Mingzhu, she couldn’t keep her footing and crumpled limply to the ground…
“Mingzhu sister…”
Zhu Qisheng’s face filled with anxiety. He hurried forward to help her but was beaten to it by Xia Zhi, who rushed over like a cannonball.
“Miss… Miss, wake up… Where is the doctor?… Miss caught a chill from falling in the water…”
Zhu Qisheng was also shouting loudly for the imperial physician and had people carry Sheng Mingzhu off to rest…
The servants were in a fluster, and the scene was chaotic.
For a brief moment, Sheng Minmin and Huang Yaning, amidst the crowd, couldn’t help but lock eyes.
They both saw a smile on the other’s face.
But in an instant, Sheng Minmin looked away.
Soon, Sheng Mingzhu was settled in a guest room. The previously summoned female physician and the imperial physician had both arrived.
The imperial physician said Sheng Mingzhu had been affected by some cold and prescribed medicine.
The female physician also examined Sheng Mingzhu for injuries, but her final conclusion shattered Sheng Mingzhu.
Because her skin was as white and smooth as jade, without any trace of bruising whatsoever…
At that moment, Sheng Mingzhu vaguely recalled her senior brother once mentioning that the Jade Beauty Cream had an excellent effect; if used consistently to moisturize the skin, the skin’s recovery ability would far surpass that of ordinary people…
So, she would have to endure this grievance in vain…
Not only that, she had actually enabled Xia Zhi to become Brother Sheng’s woman…
“Pfft – “
Sheng Mingzhu spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and fainted again.
Her previous faint might have been somewhat intentional, but this time was genuinely real.
Upon hearing the female physician’s words, the Dong family now resented Sheng Mingzhu.
They felt she was scheming and calculating, deliberately creating all this trouble to trap the Prince of Qi, turning their perfectly good wedding banquet into a stage show…
Therefore, the Dong family intentionally had their servants leak the results of the female physician’s examination.
Soon, everyone learned that Sheng Mingzhu hadn’t actually been injured at all.
People naturally concluded that everything by the lotus pond was Sheng Mingzhu’s deliberate act, just to latch onto the Prince of Qi…
Consequently, the sneers and ridicule towards Sheng Mingzhu intensified.
Both Huang Yaning and Zhu Qisheng were utterly shocked by this outcome.
Huang Yaning’s mouth almost cramped up from smiling so hard.
Zhu Qisheng, on the other hand, staggered, his gaze slowly growing dull and vacant.
