The new emperor's first decree upon ascending the throne was to forcibly take his cousin as his

Ruan Xianrong came to her senses. Xie Chengming had a stern face and looked fierce, someone you shouldn't approach.

She pursed her lips, a little embarrassed, and handed over her roasted sweet potato. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, I was presumptuous. Please accept this as an apology."

Xie Chengming's attendant couldn't help but chuckle.

Xie Chengming glanced at him and he immediately shut up.

Ruan Xianrong was embarrassed. She wasn't a lecherous person, but... it must be the setting in the book that influenced her. She couldn't help but take a second look at good-looking people.

"I just think the Second Prince is very good at fishing, that's all."

There was really no other meaning behind it.

Xie Chengming was taken aback, his face darkened, and he glared at her.

Ruan Xianrong's heart skipped a beat; she had seen that expression before when she was a child.

At that time, she was studying in the palace, and Xie Chengming was sitting behind her. She accidentally dropped her pen on the ground and bumped into him while picking it up. That was the expression she had at the time.

After that, Xie Chengming would avoid her whenever he saw her, and would even roll his eyes at her when no one was around.

Tell me, aren't you petty?

He's remembered this little thing for so many years and is still wary of her.

Surely not...

He handed the remaining food to his attendants, lost interest in fishing, and quickly fled the scene.

The attendant said only after the person had walked away, "Your Highness, Miss Ruan is a very nice girl. Please don't always be so harsh with her."

Xie Chengming stared at the sweet potato without saying a word. After a long while, he finally asked, "Am I fierce?"

The attendant nodded a few times, his expression more than just fierce; it was terrifying.

Fortunately, Miss Ruan and His Highness have known each other since childhood. She is of noble status and has seen many princes and princesses. Most girls would be scared away by His Highness's appearance, no matter how good-natured they are.

Xie Chengming seemed to be genuinely considering his words, his gaze returning to the sweet potatoes.

"Does Your Highness wish to keep it?"

Xie Chengming remained silent for a long time before finally humming in agreement.

Ruan Xianrong went to sit in a corner, and then Shen Qinghe arrived.

"Ah Rong, why didn't you leave me any of your roasted sweet potatoes?"

Ruan Xianrong didn't speak. Shen Qinghe, feeling uneasy, stepped forward and tugged at her sleeve. "Arong, what's wrong? Did I... do something to make you angry?"

The boy was thin and cautious, his face was terribly pale, and even his lips were bloodless.

His eyes were red and swollen, like a puppy abandoned by its owner.

Ruan Xianrong's heart softened instantly. Oh well, what did it have to do with him? He was just a child.

"Alright, what's there to be upset about? If your brother sees this, he'll think I'm bullying you."

Shen Qinghe quickly covered his face and wiped his eyes haphazardly, stubbornly saying, "I'm not wronged, it's just..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ruan Xianrong chuckled: "How old are you? Still crying? It's just a few roasted sweet potatoes. I'll have someone roast some more for you."

Upon hearing this, the boy in front of him turned his head to look over.

"Ah Rong, you..."

Could you please stop ignoring me from now on...?

He was in pain.

The thought of Ah Rong being angry and no longer speaking to him felt like a hole had been punched in his heart.

I know I shouldn't get close to her, but I just can't help it.

I want to see her more often, because I'm afraid I won't be able to see her again.

Ruan Xianrong patted his shoulder, "Don't overthink it, I'm not angry. I'll still protect you from now on."

Shen Qinghe then stopped crying and smiled, "You mean it?"

"Of course, didn't you say when you were little that you wanted to travel all over the country with me, to see all these beautiful landscapes? Wait..." She paused, then changed her words, "Wait until the time is right, until you've recovered, and then we'll set off!"

Shen Qinghe's eyes reflected the shimmering lake water. He nodded and said, "Really? It's a deal." He then extended his little finger.

Ruan Xianrong also extended her little finger and hooked it with hers, "It's a deal."

Before the light in Shen Qinghe's eyes had faded, several short exclamations and the clatter of cups falling to the ground could be faintly heard from the other end of the pleasure boat.

Ruan Xianrong instinctively turned her head to look, but before she could see clearly, she heard a heavy splash as someone fell into the water. Immediately afterward, someone shouted at the top of their lungs, "Someone has fallen into the water! Help!"

The music and laughter inside the pleasure boat abruptly ceased, and chaos erupted. The servants and maids cried out for help, but no one dared to disembark.

As Ruan Xianrong hurried down to the lower level, she saw Prince Yong rush past her, his robes billowing in the wind, as if he were about to climb over the railing to rescue her.

Xie Chengli grabbed him, saying, "Nonsense, why are you going down in the water if you can't even swim?"

"She belongs to my household; if I don't save her, who will?"

Xie Chengli's expression turned grim. He forcibly dragged the man back and shoved him into Xie Chengming's hands. "You're a prince! What kind of behavior is this? Do you want to die with her?"

Prince Yong looked anxious, but he couldn't break free from his second brother's restraints and could only worry helplessly.

The servant brought a long stick, hoping someone could grab it, but the person who had fallen into the water couldn't swim, and he tried several times without success.

Ruan Xianrong then realized it was Miaoyin!

Her heart tightened, and she glanced around. "None of you can swim?"

Everyone shook their heads; they were all landlubbers.

The person in the water struggled and cried for help, and was about to sink into the water.

With no other option, she steeled herself, took off her coat, and prepared to jump.

Before she could climb out, Ruan Zhaolin pulled her back and instructed Yinque, "Take good care of your young lady."

Without hesitation, he jumped down.

When Ruan Zhaolin was a child, his younger sister urged him to learn to swim, and today that skill has finally come in handy.

Because the Ruan family is the female lead's maternal family, they all belong to a dangerous group. In order to reduce the risk of death for everyone, she forced the whole family to learn to swim.

The parents were unwilling to learn, but the eldest brother and younger brother both knew how.

I never expected it would come in handy today.

Ruan Zhaolin quickly dragged the person up, and Prince Yong immediately stepped forward to check Miaoyin's breathing, his face turning pale.

It's... it's out of breath.

"Quick, get to shore! Call a doctor!"

No one dared to approach; a dead person was considered bad luck.

These were all ladies from noble families; they had never seen a corpse before. They screamed in fright and took a few steps back.

Ruan Xianrong went to see her elder brother first. Fortunately, summer had just ended and the lake water was still warm, so he was alright.

Looking at Miaoyin again, she was lying stiffly with her eyes closed, her pretty little face completely devoid of color.

He quickly went over and squatted down, listening to her chest. In full view of everyone, he began to make some strange movements.

"What are you doing?" Prince Yong asked, puzzled.

Xie Chengli pulled his fourth brother up without disturbing him. At this moment, Ruan Xianrong's expression was serious and intimidating.

The carefree, clueless girl from before is now saving lives.

Ruan Xianrong used to read novels where the female protagonists always used modern knowledge to thrive in ancient times, and this often included first aid knowledge. She never imagined that she would use it herself one day.

Although it was my first time rescuing someone and my movements were clumsy, perhaps it was instinct; I did it without thinking.

I pressed on Miaoyin's chest for fifteen minutes, but she showed no signs of waking up.

"Silver Sparrow!"

Upon hearing this, Yinque stepped forward and knelt down. "Miss."

"Follow my movements from just now, and keep pressing in rhythm with me."

Although Yinque didn't understand, she had clearly seen the girl's movements and copied her, pressing down one by one.

Ruan Xianrong checked Miaoyin's pulse and, ignoring the stares of the crowd, began to give her artificial respiration.

Everyone gasped. This...this is too much...

Even though Yinque had been by her side for many years, she couldn't help but be surprised.

What is the girl doing?

Xie Chengli was stunned, Xie Chengming frowned, Shen Qinglian was surprised, and Shen Qinghe was appreciative.

As expected of Ah Rong, she still managed to go up and save people in a situation like this. Anyone else would have collapsed in fear long ago.

The only sound on the boat was the gentle lapping of the water; no one dared to disturb it.

"cough......"

After an unknown amount of time, the person on the ground coughed lightly, spat out some water, and finally opened their eyes.

"He's alive! He's alive!"

Ruan Xianrong breathed a heavy sigh of relief, slumped to the side, and looked at Yinque, who was also covered in sweat, and couldn't help but laugh.

Silver Sparrow's hands were too weak to move, so she slowly approached. "Miss, are you alright?"

She shook her head. "I'm fine. Thank you for your hard work."

The young maid shook her head, "I'm not tired. It's my honor to be able to help you save people, Miss."

The boat had just docked when Miaoyin was carried off the boat. Shen Qinghe ran over first, "Arong, are you alright?"

"I'm just a little tired."

Ruan Xianrong looked at her eldest brother, who was slumped on the other side, and saw that he seemed to be in a daze, staring blankly in the direction of Miaoyin.