Chapter 22

The wide bathing pool was filled with water. Amid the damp, hot mist, Rong Yang had not taken off her clothes. Her thoroughly soaked upper body lay weakly against the edge of the pool, while her lower body was submerged in the water.

Her drenched clothes clung tightly to her figure, and from Su Yao’s angle, she could just happen to catch a faint glimpse of alluring spring scenery.

Mist filled the air, dreamlike and illusory. At this moment, Rong Yang was as beautiful as a mermaid.

She seemed to hear the sound of someone entering. Light footsteps drew closer and closer to her.

Judging by the sound, it was not Chunxi or Xiaqing.

Who was it?

Rong Yang struggled to open her eyes. She had originally been in the middle of the bathing pool, but after realizing in alarm that her body was growing weaker and weaker, she could only lean against the edge of the pool so that she would not drown without anyone knowing.

She lifted her eyes and looked upward. When she saw who had come, her eyes trembled.

Su Yao?

Why would she come!

The moment Rong Yang caught sight of Su Yao, she was shocked to feel that her heart seemed to stop for a second. Perhaps because she was somewhat agitated, her body gradually began to slip downward.

Rong Yang wanted to grab onto something, but there was nothing. Just like that, she slowly sank beneath the surface of the water.

Her eyelids were half closed. Above the water, Su Yao stood at the edge of the bathing pool, looking at her coldly.

She thought: Su Yao must really hope I die.

Then she thought: Am I going to drown just like this?

Would the mission fail?

Would this count as dying at the female lead’s hands, or as accidentally dying because of the punishment!

Her heart tightened again and again from losing oxygen, and the feeling of suffocation wrapped around her tightly.

This time had been stolen to begin with. Even if it was only one month, she had actually been quite happy.

I wonder what Su Yao will do after I die…

Su Yao watched Rong Yang sink down in the water. She seemed to have no strength left and did not even struggle.

With a splash—

A loud sound of breaking water rang out. Su Yao jumped into the pool.

No. Rong Yang, I will not let you die so easily!

If you die like this, the people outside will only think I was the one who did it. When the time comes, Father, Mother, and the Su residence will all be convicted.

That is not what I want!

Her arm was suddenly seized.

The hand gripping her arm tightly was even hotter than the water in the bathing pool.

Rong Yang wanted to open her eyes and see who was holding her, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not open them. At this moment, her eyelids seemed to weigh a thousand jin, leaving her trapped in darkness with no way to break free.

Under the dim light beneath the water, Su Yao saw that familiar face she found so hateful.

She held Rong Yang tightly in her arms and brought her out of the water in an instant, letting Rong Yang’s body lean against her.

Su Yao brought her to the edge of the bathing pool. Only then did she realize in shock that Rong Yang’s body was abnormally cold.

“Rong Yang,” Su Yao called.

“Rong Yang…”

She called several times in a row, but the person in her arms gave no response.

She restrained Rong Yang’s chin and kissed her without hesitation.

Rong Yang had lost consciousness. Without much effort, Su Yao pried open her lips and gave her air.

Time seemed to pass for a very long while, yet also seemed to be only a few short seconds.

Rong Yang gradually regained consciousness, and her hands naturally wrapped around Su Yao’s waist.

Feeling that she had woken, Su Yao hurriedly released her lips and turned her face away.

Rong Yang slowly came back to herself, coughing and spitting water.

The splashing sounds attracted Chunxi and Xiaqing’s attention.

When they came in, what they saw was the princess consort and the princess embracing each other…

Their faces reddened, and they silently withdrew again.

“You…” Rong Yang’s eyes were full of confusion. The person who had saved her was Su Yao.

Before she could finish speaking, she fainted in Su Yao’s arms. Her unfinished words were swallowed by the rippling pool water. Her head naturally drooped against Su Yao’s shoulder, and her shallow breaths scattered lightly over the back of Su Yao’s neck.

Su Yao lowered her eyes. Her gaze fell on the full lips of the person in her arms, watching them slowly change from bluish-purple to rosy.

“Rong Yang?”

Her breathing was steady. Had she fallen asleep?

There was no hatred on Su Yao’s face. Everything had happened too suddenly. Only panic remained in her eyes. She was like a helpless leaf blown by the wind, falling before Rong Yang in the direction of the breeze.

After a long while, Chunxi walked in. Through the curtain, she saw two overlapping figures and hurriedly lowered her head.

“Princess, Princess Consort, the water temperature is gradually cooling. We need to change it for fresh hot water.”

Su Yao’s gaze paused slightly. After a long while, she softly said, “Mm.”

The maids came in carrying water. When they accidentally caught a glimpse from the corner of their eyes of the princess and princess consort tightly embracing, their faces could not help turning red. No wonder Sister Chunxi had said at the door that once they entered, they must not look around.

After everyone withdrew, only the two of them remained in the bathing room.

Rong Yang had not woken yet. They could not keep holding each other like this forever. Where should she put her?

Su Yao furrowed her brows slightly and supported Rong Yang against the edge of the bathing pool, wanting her to continue maintaining a half-reclining position.

But when she tried to push the person in her arms, Rong Yang did not move at all.

At some unknown point, Rong Yang’s hands had tightly wrapped around her waist, treating her as a support. Her entire body leaned against Su Yao.

Even after Su Yao used strength for quite a while, Rong Yang remained completely unmoving.

Her red lips parted slightly, and she murmured to herself, “Madwoman…”

Only, no one knew whether this madwoman referred to herself or Rong Yang.

Dawn arrived, yet dark clouds still pressed overhead. It seemed today would also be a rainy day.

In the bathing room, no one knew how many times the hot water had been changed throughout the night. Rong Yang’s body also began to warm again.

A knock came from outside the door.

“Enter,” Su Yao’s low, hoarse voice sounded.

“Princess Consort, you called for me?” Chunxi stood respectfully outside the curtain.

“Her body temperature is normal now. Pull her away and send her back to the bedchamber.”

Su Yao had stood in the water for too long, and she had also been supporting another person. Her whole body had gone weak, and her limbs were soft. She truly no longer had the strength to push Rong Yang away.

“Yes.” Chunxi went out for a moment and called Xiaqing over.

The two stepped into the water and carefully pulled Rong Yang away. Touching her body temperature, which had returned to normal, they let out a slight breath of relief. At the same time, their respect for Su Yao grew even deeper.

The moment Su Yao left the bathing pool, a maid had already prepared a bath towel and draped it over her. Because her ankles had been soaked in the water for too long, they had become very pale. A string of water droplets pattered onto the ground, and she nearly failed to stand steady.