AMBTMS Chapter 19

“What’s going on? Why are you acting so anxious?” Li Cheng scolded in a low voice.

“Lord Prime Minister, Miss Lin, Miss Lin has been pushed into the water!” The servant took a deep breath, trying to steady his breathing.

“What happened?” Panic flashed across Li Cheng’s face, but he quickly suppressed it. He gestured around, “My apologies, everyone.”

“Hurry and lead the way.”

The Left Prime Minister’s mansion only had one daughter, and she has been doted on since childhood. Everyone understood Li Cheng’s feelings, so they waved their hands to show they didn’t mind. Miss Li’s safety was the priority.

“Father, I’ll go with you to take a look.” Li Shu didn’t want to stay here. Moreover, he wanted to observe how the plot unfolded.

Li Cheng frowned but didn’t explicitly refuse.

This time, the Lu Ming Banquet was held at one of the royal palaces, and the emperor gave permission for the venue to be divided into two, allowing officials or examinees to bring their families. The scenery here was excellent, and families could enjoy themselves in a separate area.

Li Shu followed Li Cheng through an archway and headed straight to the destination under the leadership of the servant. Along the way, the servant briefly explained the sequence of events. Li Cheng kept a cold face throughout, and the servant was so frightened that he didn’t say what he didn’t have to say.

After a few more steps, the sound of commotion reached them. A group of people had gathered, and, in the center, two young girls were in a confrontation.

When he got close, Li Shu realized Li Xinuo was not there. Li Cheng asked with a stern face, “Where’s Xinuo?”

The two girls confronting each other turned their heads simultaneously. One wore an expression of anger, while the other had a pale face with lingering tear marks.

“Miss Li went to change clothes,” knowing Li Cheng was Li Xinuo’s father, the girl who seemed angry softened her expression and grabbed the other girl’s arm, “At the time of the incident, I happened to witness the whole process. It was this girl who pushed Miss Li into the water.”

“I didn’t, I didn’t do anything.” The girl lowered her head, appearing more pitiful compared to the assertive girl holding her arm. However, in a place where others couldn’t see, a hint of resentment flashed in her eyes.

She did want to push that bitch Li Xinuo into the water. But how could she be foolish enough to do it herself? She hadn’t done anything yet and that bitch had already jumped in on her own. Why wouldn’t anyone believe her?

“Look at how you’re talking. Are you saying you didn’t do anything? Could it be that Miss Li jumped in by herself?” The assertive girl sneered, her expression filled with disdain. She couldn’t stand the girls in the capital, they all spoke one way and acted another.

“The county princess is right. Even though it is spring, the weather is still quite cold. When Miss Li was rescued, her lips were frozen blue.”

“Not only the county princess, we also saw you physically pushing her.”

“That’s right…”

[Host, the plot has deviated a bit.] 1314 cried.

[I know.] Originally, the female protagonist was framed for pushing Miss Rong Le, the daughter of the Rong family, into the water, and suffered countless grievances. Now, it has turned into the female protagonist being pushed by Rong Le, and Rong Le was the one facing accusations. In addition, the sudden appearance of the county princess…

[Princess Anning, a new friend of the female protagonist, later takes her father’s place in battle and becomes the first female general of the Great Zhou.]

Shortly after, Li Xinuo, who had changed her clothes, walked out with her mother. Seeing Li Cheng and Li Shu, she looked surprised. “Father, Big Brother, why are you here?”

At this moment, Mrs. Rong, who heard the news, rushed over. When she saw this scene, her vision went black and she almost couldn’t stand. Her son had just caused trouble and was taken away by Prince Qin. Now, her daughter had pushed the legitimate daughter of the Left Prime Minister into the water.

It’s over.

In a state of panic, she walked straight to Rong Le. Without waiting for her to speak, she slapped her and scolded, “Kneel down and apologize to Miss Li!”

Mrs. Rong was ruthless. Rong Le’s face was slapped to the side, and as she slowly turned it back, the handprint on her face was exceptionally clear, making people feel the pain just by looking at it.

Princess Anning had let go of her hand long before Mrs. Rong came over. At this moment, she was closer than anyone else and was well aware of how much force Mrs. Rong used with that slap.

Stunned by the slap, Rong Le dared not resist and knelt down obediently.

“I’ve spoiled this child. She acts without any rules, which has caused such great harm to Miss Li. Rong Le has made such a big mistake, the Li family can decide how to deal with us.” Mrs. Rong could no longer care about how aggrieved her daughter felt, she just hoped that the Left Prime Minister wouldn’t pursue the matter and hold the Rong family accountable.

Li Cheng frowned. After Mrs. Rong’s actions, it became difficult for him to handle this matter.

Li Xinuo obviously didn’t expect Mrs. Rong to react this way. In her previous life, Mrs. Rong had a distressed look after Rong Le jumped into the water to frame her. It seemed extremely ironic when she thought about it now.

She immediately spoke up. “I don’t need your family to compensate me for anything. Since Miss Rong pushed me into the water out of jealousy, she should jump in herself. Consider it even.”

“Alright, I’ll jump!” In the midst of the silence, Rong Le suddenly stood up, gave Li Xinuo a determined look, and calmly walked to the edge of the pool.

“Splash—”

Rong Le jumped in as she said she would. What was even more unexpected was that right after her, another dark figure also jumped in. In no time, that person brought Rong Le back up.

“I just came over, only to see Left Prime Minister Li forcing a weak girl to jump into the water?” In a black royal uniform, it was none other than Prince Yu, Qi Mingjue.

Li Cheng had caused him to lose several people with last time’s exam incidence, and he hadn’t settled that score with him yet.

“Prince Yu’s words are not correct. Clearly, it was this young lady who pushed my sister into the water first. We just wanted her to experience what my sister went through.” Li Shu spoke first, pulling Li Xinuo with him.

“Is that so?” Qi Mingjue scanned the surroundings, then looked at the girl in his arms with considerable gentleness. “Don’t be afraid. I will speak for you.”

Rong Le hid in Qi Mingjue’s arms, revealing the uninjured half of her face. She looked restrained, and her voice carried a sob. “Your Highness, I didn’t push her.”

As she spoke, a line of clear tears slid down her cheek, making her even more pitiful.

“Prince Yu, isn’t it inappropriate to openly favor the Rong family like this?” Li Cheng spoke in a deep voice. ‘You think the Li family is easy to bully? Since when?’

Li Xinuo was a bit stunned. She had tried to avoid such incidents, and this time, she didn’t resist the force from Rong Le and allowed herself to fall into the water. Yet, Rong Le was still saved by Prince Yu. Did this mean that those things she didn’t want to remember would happen again? What was the meaning of everything she had done?

Li Xinuo’s body unconsciously started trembling. Li Shu turned his head and asked softly, “Is there something wrong?”

“I’m fine, Big Brother.” Li Xinuo responded with a pale smile.

She was just feeling a bit lost about the future.

Seeing Prince Yu’s clear bias towards the Rong family, the onlookers remained silent, not wanting to offend either side.

At this moment, Princess Anning suddenly spoke up, which made people look at her.

“His Highness Prince Yu, even if you are a prince, you cannot distort the facts in public like this.”

Annoyed by the unexpected disruption, Qi Mingjue frowned. He was about to say something when a deep voice came from not far away.

“Fourth Brother, you are so protective of the girl in your arms, I’m very curious about your intentions!”

Prince Qin, who was dressed in a similar black robe, walked over briskly. First, he glanced in the direction of Li Shu to ensure no harm had come to him before retracting his gaze. “As a prince, is Fourth Brother’s way of doing things solely based on personal preferences?”

As soon as this was said, Prince Yu’s face darkened. “Prince Qin is responsible for the security of the Lu Ming Banquet. Why do you have the leisure to come over here?”

“I heard that the Left Prime Minister’s daughter was pushed into the water so I came to take a look. Fourth Brother, don’t forget, the Left Prime Minister is a first-rank official of Great Zhou.” Qi Mingxuan said things in his usual tone that made Qi Mingjue want to jump in anger.

“I know!” Prince Yu said through gritted teeth. Qi Mingxuan was warning him. If there was only the Left Prime Minister here, he could handle it in a way that made the Left Prime Minister suffer a secret loss. However, Qi Mingxuan wanted to intervene, he could only abandon this plan.

Setting the girl in his arms down, Prince Yu said coldly, “Since you’ve resolved this matter yourselves, I won’t interfere further.” With that, he turned and left. He couldn’t make a move on Li Cheng and Qi Mingxuan, and he also couldn’t deal with the child of the Left Prime Minister?

Rong Le stood there, feeling all kinds of eyes sweeping over her. Although she was draped in a cloak brought by a maidservant, she still felt a burning sensation all over her body.

Why? Why! Why did even Prince Qin stand on Li Xinuo’s side? What made Li Xinuo so much better than her, deserving the protection of so many people?!

Rong Le lowered her head and bit her lip tightly. She couldn’t accept it. She couldn’t accept it at all—

Prince Yu left, and Qi Mingxuan couldn’t stay much longer either. He briefly exchanged a few words with Li Cheng and left with his entourage.

Li Cheng couldn’t understand Qi Mingxuan’s actions. He and Prince Qin had no real connection, so why would he specifically come to help them out?

“Could it be because of Xinuo?” Madam Zhuo (his wife) handed the prepared tea to Li Cheng.

“Why do you say that?”

“When Prince Qin arrived, he glanced in Xinuo’s direction several times,” Madam Zhuo covered her mouth and chuckled. “Maybe he’s taken an interest in our Xinuo.”

‘Because of Xinuo?’

Li Cheng lowered his head, looking at the patterns on the teacup. If it was indeed because of Xinuo, a lot could be done here.