Even stranger was that Mu Zhao didn’t seem to mind at all.

Yue Si Chao wasn’t unaware of the whispers around them; on the contrary, she desperately wanted to distance herself from Mu Zhao.

She deliberately slowed her pace, but the man in front of her seemed to be deliberately opposing her, also slowing down.

…So annoying, this man is like a leech, impossible to shake off.

Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore and said in a voice only Mu Zhao could hear, “Hou Ye, haven’t you noticed that many people are looking at us?”

Mu Zhao: “I noticed, but so what?”

“This Hou Ye is always the center of attention. You should get used to it.”

Yue Si Chao: ?

What was there to get used to?

She worriedly looked around, thinking about what excuse she could fabricate to escape, when she heard a “splash” from the edge of the pond.

Immediately afterward, a commotion arose, “Someone fell in! Someone fell into the water!”

Yue Si Chao stopped and looked towards the commotion.

She saw a young woman struggling in the water, her light clothing fluttering like a flower blooming on the surface of the pond.

On the bank, a richly dressed young woman was shoving a similarly well-dressed man, probably gesturing for him to go save her.

Yue Si Chao frowned.

Her mother had mentioned that all the women attending the banquet today were unmarried daughters of officials. The woman was wearing such thin and sheer material that, now wet, she was practically naked.

If she were rescued by this man in full view of everyone, she would likely have no choice but to marry him.

Otherwise, rumors would kill her.

The woman in the water struggled less and less.

People came and went on the bank, but no one jumped in to save her.

In a flash, Yue Si Chao quickly understood that this was a trap.

The palace was full of talented people. How could no one dare to save someone in such a shallow pond?

Unless this woman in the pond could only be saved by that man.

If so, it could be known that this woman and he were not in love, otherwise, such a despicable scheme wouldn’t be necessary.

The woman beside her suddenly took off her outer garment and walked towards the pond.

Mu Zhao reached out to stop her, pointing out, “She won’t die.”

His hand gripped her arm painfully. Yue Si Chao tried to break free, “I know.”

“Do you know who he is?” Mu Zhao’s gaze fell on the man on the bank.

“I don’t know.” She pursed her lips slightly, “But so what?”

Yue Si Chao thought she would need to struggle to break free from Mu Zhao, but unexpectedly, he released her hand.

Then, another “splash.”

The commotion on the bank stopped abruptly, but only for a moment before erupting again.

“Someone seems to have gone down to save her!”

“It seems to be a girl!”

The spring water was cold, instantly chilling the clothes.

When Yue Si Chao plunged into the water, the clamor around her gradually became blurry. She swam straight towards the woman who was struggling weakly and sinking, firmly holding her and breaking through the surface.

Although the woman was frail, she was also a young woman of eighteen or nineteen. Yue Si Chao had some difficulty pulling her up, but luckily Mu Zhao handed her a long spear taken from a guard.

Holding the spear in reverse.

He gave her the butt of the spear, while the sharp end, which was easier to injure someone with, was pointed towards himself.

Soon, Yue Si Chao brought the woman ashore and picked up the discarded outer garment to wrap her in.

Today she was wearing a cotton dress, which, when wet, not only didn’t become transparent but also deepened in color, making it perfect to cover the woman’s gauze skirt.

This way, her reputation would be preserved.

The richly dressed woman rushed over and patted the face of the woman who had fallen into the water, “Ningwu?”

“Ningwu, don’t scare your sister!”

Yue Si Chao, soaking wet, stood by the water’s edge. Hearing this name, she understood that the woman staging sisterly affection was Princess Huaining, Lin Ningen.

Before learning today that she had admired Mu Zhao for many years, she had heard of her.

Her aunt was the current Empress, her mother was the younger sister of the current Emperor, and in her forty-plus years, she only had one biological daughter.

In terms of family background, she was indeed a good match for Mu Zhao.

But her character wasn’t very good.

She had clearly done something wrong, yet she wasn’t honest enough, preferring to pretend.

After the palace servants bustled about carrying the unconscious Lin Ningwu away, the elegantly dressed woman looked at Mu Zhao, her eyes filled with shyness and just the right amount of panic.

“Ziyì gege, thank you for saving Ningwu.”

Ziyì?

That must be Mu Zhao’s courtesy name.

Yue Si Chao looked up at him, meeting his gaze.

“You should thank her.”

Mu Zhao didn’t give Lin Ningen a glance. His usually cold expression showed no emotion, his gaze fixed on the disheveled woman.

Before this, he hadn’t really taken her seriously.

The illegitimate daughter of a fifth-rank official was worlds apart from him. So many people admired him; she was just one of the many unremarkable ones.

But today, that desperate “I don’t know, but so what?” had allowed him to glimpse a bit of his own past self.

Lin Ningen glanced at Yue Si Chao, smiling and continuing to speak to Mu Zhao, “Ziyì gege, isn’t your maid acting on your behalf? Thanking you is the same as thanking her!”

Yue Si Chao: ?

She looked into Princess Huaining’s eyes and spoke first, “I’m not his maid.”

“I’m Yue Si Chao, the daughter of Yue Ting, a Hanlin Academy lecturer.”

Lin Ningen finally looked at her, but her gaze was cold.

“Oh, thank you then.”

“You’re welcome.” She said.

Lin Ningen subtly stood in front of her, blocking Mu Zhao’s view, “Ziyì…”

“Oh, and also,” Mu Zhao interrupted her, “Don’t call me gege.”

“We’re not that close. Your cousin is over there.”

Yue Si Chao followed the slender, jade-like finger and saw the man who had been shoved by Princess Huaining earlier.

So he was the Crown Prince.

Her expression was calm, and she wiped her face with her sleeve.

…She seemed to have offended a lot of powerful people all at once.

But it didn’t matter.  Her father wasn’t very capable; he entered the officialdom thanks to her uncle’s help, and his subsequent promotions all relied on his daughters marrying well.

If these high-ranking officials held a grudge against her for ruining their plans and had her father dismissed from office, it would be, in a way, ridding the world of evil.

Then she could legitimately do business to make a living.

Understanding the stakes, her heart relaxed a little, and she wiped the water from her face.

Princess Huaining was still clinging to Mu Zhao, saying something. The other palace people had their own business to attend to. After she was rescued, she felt superfluous.

If not now, when?

She casually wrung out her wet clothes and turned around silently, leaving quietly, intending to leave the palace.

Mu Zhao dealt with Lin Ningen while paying attention to Yue Si Chao. Seeing her leave without a word, her head down, his brows furrowed slightly.

Earlier, she had urged him to come to the Imperial Garden, but now she was unhappy seeing him talking to others.

Was she jealous?

Women are really troublesome.

When she jumped into the water, he had instructed Ling Chuan to find a set of clean clothes. After a long time, he finally saw him panting as he returned.

Mu Zhao took the clothes and said, “You’re so slow, two taels less from your monthly salary.”

Ling Chuan cried, “…Can I make up for it?”

“Such as?”

“Finding out where Miss Yue went.”

“Need you to find it? I can see the water stains on the ground, can’t I?”

Ling Chuan: …

He gritted his teeth and thought, if one day his Hou Ye ended up alone, it would be because of this mouth.

He deserved it!

Having gotten rid of Lin Ningen, the two left the Imperial Garden together, following the water stains to a secluded palace path, where they saw the disheveled Yue Si Chao lifting her skirt and walking towards them.

Like a mermaid who had lost her way, from the pure deep sea to the muddy world.

The master and servant stopped at the same time, Ling Chuan even wisely stepped back a little, standing behind Mu Zhao.

Ling Chuan thought, Miss Yue definitely deserves the title of beauty, fair-skinned and slender, with gentle eyebrows and eyes.

If Hou Ye, who is so stunningly beautiful, is compared to strong liquor, then she is a cup of clear tea, sweet at first sight, and only after a long time can one know its richness.

Especially when the two stand together, they are even more eye-catching.

Like now.

Yue Si Chao stopped in front of Mu Zhao.

Mu Zhao looked her up and down, and took the initiative to hand her the clothes, saying leisurely, “Are you not angry anymore? If you are, put this on.”

He was holding a woman’s clothes, probably borrowed from someone in the palace. Since she wouldn’t be coming to the palace often, why bother owing this favor?

Yue Si Chao refused, “No need.”

…It seems she’s still angry.

Mu Zhao frowned, “I only spoke to her for a few words, and those words weren’t very pleasant. What are you unhappy about?”

Yue Si Chao was bewildered, “What does it have to do with me that you talked to the princess? Why would I be unhappy?”

Look, she’s still saying she’s not unhappy.

Mu Zhao didn’t want to argue with her here, so he simply shook out the clothes, leaned slightly towards her, and draped them over her.

The distance between them was suddenly shortened by the outer garment. She could even feel his warm breath and the scent of tea rushing towards her. When she looked up at him, she inexplicably felt her face heat up.

…Was he caring for her?

Even forced care.

Her cousin’s words echoed in her ears: “You don’t understand, this is the most popular forced love in the capital.”