Chapter 19

The fall into the water was so sudden that everyone froze for a moment. It wasn't until Nan Gongxuan strode directly into the water that they snapped out of it, screaming and shouting for help.
Although the water wasn't particularly deep, Yan Yiming was completely submerged. By the time Nan Gongxuan pulled him out, Yan Yiming was pale and unconscious.
Nan Gongxuan quickly climbed ashore. The terrified palace maids and eunuchs rushed over from a distance, hurriedly draping a cloak over Nan Gongxuan, who was drenched from head to toe. Instead, Nan Gongxuan took the cloak and wrapped it around Yan Yiming, holding him close. He called out Yan Yiming's name several times urgently, but there was no response.
Nan Gongxuan's heart, which had just settled, suddenly tightened again. Without wasting another moment, he picked Yan Yiming up and headed toward the nearest palace. The servants around him anxiously offered to take over, but Nan Gongxuan ignored them. Carrying Yan Yiming, he strode away, sternly ordering the eunuchs to summon the imperial physician.
The incident had happened so abruptly that no one had expected it. It wasn't until the Crown Prince had left that the silent scene gradually erupted into chaos. The young Lady Yang, who had just mocked Yan Yiming, calling her a discarded plaything of the Crown Prince, was now panicked and frightened.
She hadn't meant any harm but had accidentally bumped into Jian Yu'er while gesturing.
She never expected Yan Yiming to save Jian Yu'er, nor did she anticipate the Crown Prince and his entourage appearing at that moment. Most of all, she never imagined the Crown Prince would personally rescue Yan Yiming! Hadn't the Crown Prince always disregarded Yan Yiming? Wasn't Yan Yiming already involved with the Fifth Prince?
Why would the Crown Prince dive into the water for her without a second thought? And the anxiety and worry on his face just now had been unmistakable.
The young ladies around whispered among themselves, their thoughts aligning with Lady Yang's. Hadn't it just been said that the Crown Prince had abandoned Yan Yiming for Jian Yu'er?
It was then that they suddenly remembered the other key figure, Jian Yu'er. Turning to look, they found her standing frozen in place, her face pale and her expression dazed, as if lost in thought. The Eldest Prince, the Third Prince, and others had arrived with the Crown Prince. Now that the Crown Prince had carried Yan Yiming away, the other princes had to comfort the frightened young ladies.
The Third Prince, who had kept his eyes fixed on Yan Yiming from the start, watched as the Crown Prince left. His already somewhat gloomy features grew even darker. Yan Yiming came from a prominent family and possessed breathtaking beauty, it was only natural to be captivated by her. However, Yan Yiming had always been fixated on the Crown Prince, never sparing him a glance. As a prince, he had no intention of humoring someone who showed him no interest.
Recently, Yan Yiming had been entangled with the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince in ambiguous ways. A woman who toyed with the affections of two brothers, how could the Empress ever agree to let her marry the Fifth Prince? This presented him with an opportunity. Today, as the Yan family entered the palace, his mother had intended to speak with Dowager Duchess, but unexpectedly, such an incident occurred. Though falling into the water was purely accidental, everyone had witnessed the Crown Prince personally carrying her away.
No matter how rampant the rumors might be, such intimate contact had already declared Yan Yiming’s allegiance.
The Third Prince glared resentfully at Jian Yu’er. If not for saving this woman, Yan Yiming would never have fallen into the water.
The Eldest Prince’s expression shifted subtly, though he controlled his features perfectly. Unlike the Crown Prince, he always wore a friendly smile that made him approachable. After soothing the young ladies present, he sent someone to report the matter to the Empress at Kunning Palace.
Nan Gongxuan held the woman tightly in his arms, realizing as he walked how pitifully light she was. Perhaps due to the fall into the water, Yan Yiming seemed disoriented, clutching his sleeve tightly as her body trembled slightly. Her face was pale, and her usually crimson lips had lost their color. Wet strands of hair clung to her cheeks, and her delicate features were contorted in distress, making her appear even more fragile and pitiable.
The eunuchs had already prepared the nearest hall. Nan Gongxuan strode inside and laid her on the couch. Yan Yiming’s hand still gripped his sleeve tightly, her eyes too weary to open fully. When a faint glimmer of awareness appeared, as if she recognized who was before her, she called out weakly, “Your Highness.”
Nan Gongxuan’s eyes suddenly brightened. Was Yan Yiming calling out to him? Was it because she saw him... or because he was the one she most longed to see? He supported her back against his chest and whispered her name repeatedly in her ear.
But the next moment, Yan Yiming shivered violently, her teeth chattering as she murmured, “Cold, so cold... Fifth Prince... I’m so cold...”
Nan Gongxuan’s heart, which had just soared, instantly felt pierced and chilled.
His hands trembled slightly as he held her. A surge of fury made him want to shout at her, to remind her that it was he, not Nan Gongye, who held her now. But seeing her pitiful state, all his words melted into tenderness at his lips.
When the Empress, Dowager Duchess, and Duchess Yan arrived, they were stunned to see the Crown Prince holding Yan Yiming in his arms. Their expressions shifted through a spectrum of emotions. Duchess Yan, concerned for her daughter above all else, rushed forward to check on her, though she couldn’t understand why the Crown Prince was being so intimate with her daughter.
The Empress steadied her slightly swaying body and stepped forward to ask what had happened.
Just then, the imperial physicians hurried in. Before they could finish their bows, Nan Gongxuan dragged them to the bedside. After a hasty examination and knowing she had nearly drowned but didn’t seem in critical condition, they began to speak.
“Lady Yan accidentally fell into the water and has yet to regain consciousness. I have a few methods... bury her in warm ashes, submerging her head and feet completely, leaving only the seven orifices exposed. If she still doesn’t wake, then hang the patient upside down and pour fine wine into her nostrils, then into her lower body. Alternatively, vinegar poured into the nostrils may also work...”
Yan Yiming felt as if ten thousand alpacas had trampled over her heart. In modern times, there was such a thing as artificial respiration, but she never imagined that ancient methods for rescuing drowning victims could be so perverse, burying someone in ashes, hanging them upside down... With a shudder, she abruptly woke up.
She let out a soft cough and slowly opened her eyes. In an instant, everyone turned their gaze toward the bed. Lady Yan was so overjoyed she nearly shed tears. Yan Yiming weakly called out, “Mother,” and only then did everyone in the room breathe a sigh of relief. Only the Empress felt a sudden pang of regret.
The imperial physicians stepped forward once more to check her pulse. Afterward, they explained to the Crown Prince and Lady Yan, “Since Lady Yan has regained consciousness, she is out of danger. Her heart is warm and her qi is flowing smoothly. I will prescribe some medicine for her to take while she rests and recuperates. For now, she should change her clothes to avoid catching a cold.”
The Crown Prince could no longer stay. After the Empress exchanged a few words with the others, she left together with the Crown Prince.
There were far too many witnesses to today’s events, making it impossible to keep them under wraps. In recent days, the Empress had been entirely focused on the Fifth Prince and Yan Yiming. Only after today’s incident did she suddenly realize that the Crown Prince’s feelings toward Yan Yiming were not as indifferent as she had assumed. Initially, when her two sons were at odds, she had thought it was because the Crown Prince, like her, disapproved of Nan Gongye’s outrageous behavior. Little did she know it was all for Yan Yiming.
It was clearly a rivalry over a woman.
Utterly... utterly disgraceful! For a woman, brothers turned against each other; for a woman, he personally jumped into the water to save her, did he not value his life?
But then, Nan Gongxuan smiled faintly and said, “Your son is in good health and unharmed. I’ve troubled Mother to worry.”
The Empress was once again left speechless. She shot the Crown Prince a fierce glare before letting out a long sigh. “There were too many witnesses to today’s events. It’s not something we can simply cover up.”
Given the intimate circumstances between the Crown Prince and Yan Yiming today, any hope of Yan Yiming marrying Nan Gongye had vanished completely. As for the Crown Prince...
The Empress glanced at him and said in a low voice, “Since things have come to this, and Yan Yiming’s reputation has been compromised, after some time passes, allow her to enter the Eastern Palace as a consort...”
Before she could finish, Nan Gongxuan interrupted urgently. With a serious expression, he said, “Your son and A’Ming grew up together and have always been deeply attached. By a twist of fate, we’ve now had physical contact. Since I am about to come of age, why not choose an auspicious day to welcome A’Ming into the Eastern Palace?”
Welcome her into the Eastern Palace?
That clearly meant he intended to marry her as the Crown Princess!
The Empress was somewhat incredulous. “Then what about Miss Jian?”
Even though she knew the Crown Prince regretted letting Yan Yiming go, she never expected Nan Gongxuan would abandon Jian Yu’er outright for Yan Yiming’s sake.
“The Jian family already stands on my side. Marrying their daughter would merely be adding flowers to brocade. But if I can wed the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Ding's household, that would be like sending charcoal in snowy weather. Which is more important, Mother Empress knows well, and I need not elaborate. In today's incident, A’Ming was the most innocent. She disregarded her own life to save others, showing her benevolent heart, making her worthy of the position of Crown Princess. Even Father Emperor, upon learning of this, would surely agree with my thoughts. And as for the Duke of Ding's household, this would also give them a proper resolution.”
Nan Gongxuan had covered every angle, leaving the Empress speechless.
Privately, she had wanted Yan Yiming to enter the Eastern Palace as a secondary consort because, after today's events, Yan Yiming could only marry the Crown Prince. Even if the Duke of Ding's household was unwilling, they had no other choice. But as the Crown Prince had said, forcing their legitimate daughter into the Eastern Palace as a mere secondary consort would surely displease the Duke of Ding's household, and the marriage would lose its intended significance.
Moreover, if His Majesty learned of Yan Yiming's “self-sacrificing” act, he would undoubtedly praise her highly.
By preserving the Duke of Ding's household and cutting off her younger son's hopes, it was a two-for-one solution. The Empress had no further objections and turned to leave.