Chapter 40: Rescue at the Marquis’s Residence

"Princess, how is the eldest young master doing now?" the old Marchioness asked, inquiring about the condition of Shangguan Ziqi.

"Everything is as usual," the Princess replied, her smile fading slightly, though she showed no overt signs of sorrow.

"The eldest young mistress is clearly a sensible and well-bred girl. With her looking after the eldest young master, you must feel a great deal of relief."

"Indeed, Zheng'er is a good soul. Ever since she entered the household, Ziqi has been well-tended to every single day."

"Then I must congratulate you, Princess, on gaining such a fine daughter-in-law."

"Thank you, Marchioness. And tell me, where is the third young lady?"

"I shall have her come to pay her respects to the Princess at once."

A maidservant immediately left upon hearing this. Before long, a radiant young woman entered. Her pale pink dress made her look all the more lively and charming. With a delicate oval face, cherry-red lips, and bright, sparkling eyes, she was truly a beautiful blossom.

"Yue Yuying pays her respects to the Princess, the Crown Princess, and the eldest young mistress," Yue Yuying said, appearing somewhat shy.

In truth, she was a year older than Yu Yuanzheng. Frankly, Yu Yuanzheng felt it was a pity for her to marry Shangguan Zifeng, but in this era, marriages were dictated by parents.

"Come here, dear child," the Princess said, beckoning her over and presenting her with a gift.

"Yuanzheng, Zhaoyang, why don't you go play with the third young lady? We elders have matters to discuss." The Princess dismissed the two young wives. The business of betrothal gifts was meant for the adults; the two of them were merely there as decorum.

As the three left the main hall, Yue Yuying extended a warm invitation: "Crown Princess, eldest young mistress, shall we take a walk in the garden?" The weather was neither cold nor hot, perfect for a stroll.

The garden of the Marquis of Ning'an’s estate was grand, reflecting the deep heritage of a family that had been nobility for generations. As they walked along the shaded path in early May, the spring blossoms had yet to fade, and butterflies and bees danced all around.

"Third Miss Yue, what do you usually like to do for fun at home?" Yu Zhaoyang asked, hoping to build a rapport with her.

"There isn't much to do, really. I enjoy painting, reading, and occasionally some embroidery." Having two older sisters, Yue Yuying had not been under the pressure to be a perfect young lady, so she had grown up with more freedom. She was the fourth child, and the first son born to her mother.

Yu Yuanzheng had already learned these details from Nanny Ye the previous day. "Can you embroider as well, Third Miss Yue?" she asked with a smile.

"Yes. I find a great sense of accomplishment in the things I make. I once embroidered a headband for my grandmother, and she liked it so much, she praised my work endlessly." At the mention of this, Yue Yuying’s face flushed with pleasure.

Yu Zhaoyang, seeing the conversation veer toward embroidery, felt a surge of annoyance at being unable to join in. "What kind of books do you like, Third Miss Yue? I am particularly fond of romantic tales and poetry," she said, trying to steer the topic back to her own strengths.

"I have read a couple of romantic tales, but my mother forbids them, saying they are harmful. She says that in reality, noble young ladies rarely fall for destitute scholars. She believes those stories are just vulgar fabrications written by poor scholars who couldn't marry into noble families, intended to corrupt the minds of young ladies."

"Third Miss Yue is quite right," Yu Yuanzheng added, her words carrying a deeper meaning. "Those tales are merely the fantasies of poor scholars. One must live in reality; there is no point in coveting what does not belong to you."

"Precisely! The eldest young mistress shares my exact view," Yue Yuying said, feeling that Yu Yuanzheng was a person of great depth and forming an excellent impression of her. In contrast, she felt that Yu Zhaoyang was simply not in the same circle.

"Oh no! The fourth young master has fallen into the pond!" A sudden, sharp cry interrupted their conversation.

"What?" Upon hearing it was the fourth young master, Yue Yuying bolted toward the source of the sound. Yu Yuanzheng, lifting her skirts, followed, and Yu Zhaoyang was forced to follow as well.

They reached the center of the garden, where a small figure was struggling in the water. Two servant boys were swimming toward him.

"Hurry! Swim faster! My fourth brother is losing his strength!" Yue Yuying screamed in panic. Yu Yuanzheng noticed a high rockery nearby; the boy must have fallen from it.

The servants reached the child, worked together to lift him out of the water, and swam back to the shore. By the time they hauled him onto the grass, the boy was unconscious.

"Xiaojuan, go get the estate physician! Quickly!" Yue Yuying sobbed, and her maidservant sprinted away.

The boy appeared to be about eleven or twelve. His face was deathly pale, a sign he had been under for quite some time.

"Fourth brother, wake up... please, you can't be hurt! Mother had such a hard time bringing you into this world; if anything happens to you, how can she live? How can your third sister live?" Yue Yuying wailed.

"Third Miss Yue, I know a method that might save your brother. Waiting for the physician might take too long," Yu Yuanzheng said, stepping forward gently.

"Really? Then please, hurry!" Yue Yuying, desperate, immediately stepped aside.

"Second sister, don't act recklessly," Yu Zhaoyang interjected, blocking her. "You don't know medicine. If you make the fourth young master's condition worse, you won't be able to bear the responsibility."

Yu Zhaoyang didn't want Yu Yuanzheng to turn the Marquis’s estate against them. The fourth young master was far too important. If he died under Yu Yuanzheng’s care, the marriage would be ruined, and the Marquis’s estate would turn against the Prince’s estate. As the Crown Princess, she needed to maintain these alliances.

"Move," Yu Yuanzheng said coldly, her aura shifting completely. Time was life.

"Second sister, this is no small matter!" Yu Zhaoyang refused to budge. In her previous life, the fourth young master had fallen into the water but survived, only to suffer from a severe, lingering illness that left him frail. He had not died. There was no need for Yu Yuanzheng to act the hero. If something went wrong, no one could take the blame. It was better to do nothing than to make a mistake.

Yu Yuanzheng, who loathed being obstructed when doing what was right, shoved her aside with force, sending Yu Zhaoyang stumbling back three steps.

"Second sister, the fourth young master won't die! There's no need for you to worry!" Yu Zhaoyang shouted, preparing to block her again.

"Shut up!" Yu Yuanzheng snapped. "Ziyue, keep her back!"

Yu Yuanzheng knelt down, using her sleeves to shield her hands as she checked the boy’s pulse. His heart had stopped. She had to perform CPR immediately.

"Third Miss, listen to me," Yu Yuanzheng said sternly. "Your brother is in critical condition. His survival depends on our cooperation. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand," Yue Yuying replied, her voice choked with tears.

Yu Yuanzheng tilted the boy's head back to clear his airway. "Third Miss, take a deep breath, pinch his nose, and blow the air into his chest with force. Do it three times. Now!"

Yue Yuying froze. Although it was her brother, he was still a male, even at twelve.

"Hurry! Or he will die!" Yu Yuanzheng commanded.