si-mexico Chapter 332: Falling into the Water
Chapter 332: Falling into the Water
Chapter 332: Falling into the Water
Zhao Ning'er was probably too engrossed in playing and didn't notice Princess Xiangping's unusual behavior. Princess Xiangping looked at Zhao Ning'er with displeasure; seeing Zhao Ning'er pacing back and forth in front of her made her want to tear her to pieces. In her heart, she felt that Zhao Ning'er had no redeeming qualities other than a pretty face.
She was neither well-mannered nor knew anything about manners, and seemed like a country woman who had never seen the world. Princess Xiangping clenched her hands as she thought about it. In her heart, she hysterically cried out, "What is it about Zhao Ning'er that makes me inferior to that vixen?"
She stood up and pulled Zhao Ning'er away, saying, "Ning'er, stop making a fuss. Let's enjoy the beautiful scenery of this lake." Zhao Ning'er was pulled back by Princess Xiangping and turned around. Seeing the ruthlessness deep in Zhao Ning'er's eyes, Princess Xiangping felt a chill run down her spine. Zhao Ning'er sneered inwardly.
"Sister Ning'er, isn't the lake in the palace beautiful? You haven't seen it before, have you?" Zhao Ning'er said, covering her face and smiling sarcastically at Zhao Ning'er.
"It's alright. Father took me to see the river in the mountains before. It was so clean, and the water was sweet." Zhao Ning'er said, looking at the calm lake. Xiangping, who was standing next to her, was filled with jealousy as he looked at Zhao Ning'er's profile. Hearing Zhao Ning'er say this, he was even angrier. On the surface, he could only pretend to be calm and said, "How can the river in the mountains compare to the one in the palace? Sweet? Have you drunk from it before? Oh dear, it's so dirty. Aren't you afraid of getting sick, Ning'er?"
Zhao Ning'er wasn't stupid. She had noticed from the moment she arrived that Princess Xiangping was targeting her, but because Princess Xiangping was a princess, and angering her would definitely implicate Shen Bin, she could only smile amicably and then lower her head. Princess Xiangping, however, could only snort inwardly. Looking at the calm lake, she was making plans in her mind. Seeing something by the lake, she pulled Zhao Ning'er towards the shore.
Zhao Ning'er's eyelids kept twitching, sensing that something was about to happen. She let go of Princess Xiangping's hand, rubbed her temples, and looked at the calm lake water, feeling uneasy.
"Ning'er, what's wrong?" Princess Xiangping asked, feigning concern as she noticed Zhao Ning'er's unwell appearance. Zhao Ning'er waved her hand, indicating that she was fine.
"Then let's go to the lakeside and take a look. I heard the scenery is beautiful." Princess Xiangping took Zhao Ning'er's hand again after she said she was alright, and they walked around the pavilion to the lakeside. Zhao Ning'er looked at the calm lake water warily, her heart pounding like a drum, sensing that danger was approaching.
"Princess, let's leave here. I'm afraid... afraid of water." Zhao Ning'er didn't know what was wrong with her. She had never been afraid of water since she was a child. Although she couldn't swim, she had never been so afraid as she was today. Princess Xiangping laughed inwardly when she heard Zhao Ning'er's words. Afraid of water? Today I will make you perish here.
“Why would Ning’er be afraid of water? What’s there to be afraid of? There are hidden guards all around,” Princess Xiangping said, patting Zhao Ning’er’s hand. Zhao Ning’er stared blankly at Princess Xiangping as she spoke insincerely. She sensed that Princess Xiangping seemed to have some kind of scheme, but dared not expose it. Mustering her courage, she went along with Princess Xiangping’s wishes and smiled faintly.
“Oh, Ning’er, look! It’s already autumn, but there are still flowers by the lake. Could you pick some for me? I love those flowers more and more.” Princess Xiangping pointed to a corner of the lake with her delicate fingers. Zhao Ning’er looked in the direction Princess Xiangping was pointing, and her heart skipped a beat.
It was a pale pink flower, swaying precariously in the gentle breeze, yet it stubbornly persisted. The flower was ordinary, but what was unusual was that it grew in the soil by the lake, on the inner side, close to the surface.
Zhao Ning'er glanced at Princess Xiangping's gloating expression and tried to deflect the question, saying, "Princess, this vast palace has all kinds of flowers. Why bother with the flowers by the lake?" She was timid, but she would always remember her father's teachings. Before he died, her father called her to his bedside and said, "Ning'er, no matter how humble your life may be in the future, you must always remember that living is the only hope."
Princess Xiangping's actions clearly indicated an intention to kill her, leaving her with no choice but to retreat step by step in hopes of escaping safely. However, she clearly underestimated Princess Xiangping.
“Those flowers in the palace can’t compare to that one. It grows so resiliently. If you pick it for me, I will definitely ask my father to reward you handsomely. If you can’t pick it, I will go and pick it myself.” Princess Xiangping said, smiling at Zhao Ning’er.
Zhao Ning'er bit her lip. If something happened to her on her own, no one would care. But if Princess Xiangping went, and something went wrong, it wouldn't just be Shen Bin and herself who would be implicated. She felt like she was in a dead end, caught between a rock and a hard place. With no other option, she could only grit her teeth and walk towards the lake.
"Ning'er, you must be careful." Zhao Ning'er walked towards the lake without turning her head. Behind her, Princess Xiangping looked smug, her hands clenched tightly as she thought to herself, "Hmph, just a bitch, she dares to fight with this princess. She doesn't even look at her own seductive appearance. She's disgusting."
Zhao Ning'er walked step by step toward the lake. The closer she got to the lake, the heavier her steps became. The path became wet and muddy. As Zhao Ning'er slowly approached the lake, she saw the flower, which was swaying precariously in the wind. She squatted down and reached out to pick the flower, but she couldn't reach it no matter what she did. She moved her feet forward a little, but it was still no use.
She took another step forward and just touched the flower, realizing that her feet were only a step away from the lake's surface. She leaned over and picked the flower, and just as she was about to stand up, she felt someone push her from behind. She tried to turn around to see who it was, but instead, she leaned forward and fell into the water, splashing water everywhere.
Zhao Ning'er coughed incessantly as she choked on the lake water, clutching the flower tightly in her hand and splashing the water with all her might, trying to swim to the shore. Finally, her head left the water, and Zhao Ning'er opened her mouth wide to breathe. When she opened her eyes, she saw Princess Xiangping standing on the lake shore, watching Zhao Ning'er struggle in the water without any emotion.
Gone is her previous enthusiasm; she coldly stares at Zhao Ning'er. Zhao Ning'er had initially wanted to cry out to Princess Xiangping for help, but seeing the deep mockery in the princess's eyes, she realized how foolish she had been. Princess Xiangping wanted her to die in the lake. She wanted to shout, hoping someone would come to save her, but she couldn't bring herself to speak.
She didn't know why hot liquid was sliding down her face. She looked at Princess Xiangping, gave up struggling, and stopped slapping the water. The water started to submerge her chin, then her nose, and then the top of her head.
Zhao Ning'er lay in the water with her eyes closed. She felt so cold, hugging herself tightly, afraid to open her eyes. She was afraid that if she opened her eyes, she would find that she was already dead and had nothing left.
"Princess, why are you here alone? Where is Ning'er?" Shen Bin came to the pavilion to look for Ning'er as soon as the morning court session ended. But from afar, he saw Princess Xiangping standing alone by the lake, looking at the water. Although he didn't know why he hadn't seen Zhao Ning'er, he felt uneasy for some reason. So he ran over and asked Princess Xiangping.