481 Sisters Falling Into The Water (Part 2)
As Zhang Shuangshuang’s fiancé, he did not save his fiancée first. Instead, he saved his fiancée’s sister. Now that the weather was hot, women were wearing thin clothes that stuck to their bodies as soon as they touched water. In order to save her, he naturally had to hug her. If he touched her body, he had to marry her. It was as simple as that!
At this moment, Zhang Yufei moved and opened her eyes. Her eyes turned red almost instantly. Her hand that was holding the maid, Qing Li, trembled as she said, “Go home, let’s go home.”
Qing Li replied angrily. “Miss, this is no small matter. We can’t leave. Quickly explain to the princess and ask her to help you.”
Xia Qiluo’s expression was cold. “What happened?”
She was instantly in a bad mood that such an unpresentable thing happened during her birthday banquet.
Zhang Yufei wrapped her cloak tightly around her body and trembled. “Princess, please forgive me. Don’t punish Second Sister for this. She… she didn’t do it on purpose…”
Qing Li hugged Zhang Yufei and cried. “Miss, you’re too nice. At this time, you’re still speaking up for Second Miss. Why don’t you think for yourself?”
Qing Mei was so angry that her face turned pale. However, she was not in a hurry to argue. Instead, she shook the unconscious Zhang Shuangshuang. “Miss, please wake up.”
Zhang Shuangshuang was still unconscious. After Zhang Yufei told her version of the story, no one would believe anything Zhang Shuangshuang said when she woke up.
Qing Mei was so anxious that she cried. Zhang Shuangshuang wasn’t showing signs of waking up, and the imperial physician had yet to arrive.
Xia Qiluo’s face was ashen. “What do you mean she didn’t do it on purpose? Did she push you down? I hate scheming people the most. Explain it properly.”
Zhang Yufei lowered her eyes and said slowly, “When I was picking the lotus seeds earlier, I… I saw that a lotus seed was extremely good, so I stood up and wanted to pick it. Second Sister also wanted to pick the lotus seed. I don’t know if Second Sister bumped into me, but I couldn’t stabilize myself. In a moment of desperation, I grabbed Second Sister and fell into the lake with her. It’s my fault. Please forgive me, Princess.”
Qing Li said with her cheeks puffed out, “You only have Second Miss with you. If Second Miss didn’t do it on purpose, she wouldn’t have bumped into you at all. If she hadn’t bumped into you, you wouldn’t have fallen into the lake and you wouldn’t have pulled her.”
Qing Mei’s eyes were red as she defended Zhang Shuangshuang. “No, Second Miss will never push Eldest Miss.”
Zhang Shuangshuang had not woken up yet. Everything Qing Mei said was unconvincing.
Qing Li responded angrily and coldly. “If she didn’t push, why would such a thing happen?”
After Qing Li finished speaking, she knelt down and kowtowed to the other young ladies. “Please bear witness. I believe that some of you have seen it when it happened.”
The two young ladies who were on good terms with Zhang Yufei stood up and said, “I saw it. Zhang Shuangshuang pushed Yufei. She must have thought no one would notice it, but I did.”
The others shook their heads and said that their attention was on the scenery and they did not notice.
Xia Qiluo’s expression darkened.
Qing Mei was extremely anxious. “My Miss hasn’t woken up yet. Princess, please investigate.”
The people present either said that they did not see anything or stood on Zhang Yufei’s side. They did not care if Zhang Shuangshuang was awake or not. Qing Mei was extremely anxious, but she was too powerless.
Xia Qiluo’s expression was cold. She turned around and shouted at the palace servants. “Is the imperial physician here yet?”
Before the imperial physician arrived, the empress brought a group of noble ladies along with the crown prince, the third prince, and the others.
The palace maid replied carefully. “Princess, please calm down. The imperial physician will be here soon.”
When the empress came closer, the other women moved to the side and bowed. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
The Empress only waved her hand. “There’s no need to bow.”
The Empress was not in a good mood to have such a thing happen at such an important time.
A beautiful woman pounced out of the crowd with a worried expression and tears in her eyes. She pounced in front of Zhang Yufei and asked. “Yufei, what exactly is going on?”
Zhang Yufei leaned against Madam Zhang and sobbed aggrievedly. “Mother…”
Before she started talking, big drops of tears fell.
Qing Li told Mrs. Zhang everything.
Qing Mei hurriedly tried to explain. “No, Second Miss won’t push Eldest Miss. Second Miss hasn’t woken up yet. We’ll know the truth when Second Miss wakes up.”
Qing Li snorted. “If it wasn’t Second Miss, who else could it be? Would Eldest Miss frame Second Miss?”
Qing Mei was speechless. She wanted to say that Second Miss was really framed, but it wasn’t her place to make this bold statement.
The empress’s expression was solemn. “We’ll ask when Second Miss Zhang wakes up. We must investigate this matter thoroughly and not wrong anyone.”
So many people present saw Li Jing hug Zhang Yufei. This marriage was set in stone. Who framed who and who benefited in the end? The empress knew very well that sometimes, the truth of the matter was not important. What was important was the person.
The empress looked at Li Jing sternly. Li Jing was also drenched. When he saw the empress looking at him, he hurriedly knelt down and said, “I acted too rashly, but I definitely won’t shirk my responsibility. After this matter is thoroughly investigated, I, Li Jing, will go to propose marriage to Miss Zhang.”
Everyone was in an uproar.
Madam Zhang wiped her tears and said, “It doesn’t matter if you marry her or not. I only hope that Her Majesty will uphold justice for my daughter and clear my daughter’s name. If my daughter has to remain unmarried for the rest of her life, I’m willing to accompany her forever.”
Although she was happy, she could not show it.
The Empress nodded. “I will do my best.”
Qing Mei’s tears fell drop by drop, and she said with a strong nasal voice, “Miss, please wake up.”
The imperial physician came and examined Zhang Yufei and Zhang Shuangshuang.
Zhang Yufei was awake and felt a little cold.
Zhang Shuangshuang did not regain consciousness. Her face was pale. The imperial physician reached out and pressed on Zhang Shuangshuang’s abdomen. Zhang Shuangshuang spat out a few mouthfuls of water. The imperial physician inserted some silver needles in her body. Zhang Shuangshuang spat out some more water and started coughing.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked at the worried maid in front of her. She said with difficulty, “Qing Mei.”
Qing Mei cried and replied. “Miss, you’re finally awake. You scared me to death.”
Zhang Shuangshuang felt weak.
The imperial physician removed the silver needles and said, “Second Miss Zhang drank too much lake water. She needs to rest.”
Zhang Shuangshuang gradually regained her senses. She took a deep breath and felt some pain in her lungs. She coughed a few times and looked at the empress. “Your Majesty, I was pulled down by my sister.”
The empress’s expression was stern. “I already know. You just have to tell me the truth. Why did you push your sister?”
Zhang Shuangshuang shook her head. “I didn’t push her.”
Her lungs hurt, her head hurt, and her body was cold. However, she knew very well the seriousness of this matter. She looked at Zhang Yufei who was in the arms of her stepmother as well as the others. When her gaze landed on Li Jing, a sad look flashed across her face.