Chapter 68: Heroic Leap Across the River

  In the Yuhua Courtyard, the lively and extraordinary laughter and joy were just like any other day. Li Zhi and Li Mingda listened to Qin Mubai's vivid storytelling of "Happy Sheep and Wolfie", bursting into giggles from time to time. The innocent and carefree laughter filled the air, putting Qin Mubai and a group of wet nurses and palace maids in high spirits, laughing together with them.

  At the corner of the entrance to the imperial garden, Princess Gaoyang watched from afar the scene in the pavilion, listening to this ear-piercing laughter, feeling an unprecedented strong sense of loss and defeat.

  She quickly plucked a flower and pinched it in her hand, tearing it apart with force until the petals flew and scattered all over the ground.

  "How hateful! Why does everyone only like those two ignorant little brats, Zhi Nu and Cuo Zi?! Father Emperor is like that, and that detestable stinky military school is also like that!" Princess Gao Yang muttered to herself in a low voice, as if cursing, "No one has ever refused me, but when I ask him to teach me how to play the pipa, he hesitates and makes excuses, and even goes so far as to say that I'm bullying those two little brats... It's really unbearable for an aunt like me!"

  A palace maid next to her whispered, "Your Highness, it's... 'What can be tolerated, what cannot be tolerated.' Last time, His Majesty already corrected you and issued an edict saying that the princess is not allowed to speak like that in the future, lest it damages the imperial family's dignity. And... ordered the servant girls to supervise from the side at all times."

  "Shut up!!!" Princess Gao Yang suddenly became angry. Now she had finally found a scapegoat, and with one hand, she grabbed the palace maid's ear and scolded her, "You think you're so capable, you think you're so capable! You have the same nerve as that dead military officer Qin Mu Bai, trying to coerce me and provoke my anger!"

  "Oh no... Your Highness, spare my life! I'll never dare again!"

  "Punish you by not allowing you to eat for a day, go back to the backyard and kneel!"

  The Princess Gaoyang scolded the palace maid away, still unable to dissipate her lingering anger. Looking from afar at Qin Mubai and others in the cool pavilion, a flame of jealousy burned fiercely in her heart.

  At this time, Qin Mubai's story had reached a turning point. Li Mingda clapped his small hands and chuckled for a while before curiously blinking his eyes and asking: "Village Chief, the 17th Princess wants you to teach her how to play the pipa, can you play the pipa?"

  "Really!" Qin Mu Bai replied.

  "Can you shoot as well as your father?" Li Mingda asked with a smile.

  "It's not as good as yours, Your Majesty." Qin Mu Bai smiled and said.

  "Why did Father say that General Qin's pipa skills are the best in history, and he is the greatest master of our time?" Li Mingda asked seriously, blinking his eyes as he looked at Qin Mubai.

  "This... is naturally Your Majesty's gracious favor towards me, and somewhat excessive praise."

  "What does 'mispraise' mean?"

  Qin Mubai was momentarily speechless and stunned, while the palace maids and wet nurses beside her couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  Li Zhi took over the conversation and said, "Sister, you said yesterday that you wanted to learn the pipa. When Mother returns from heaven one day, play it for her then! Let's learn together now!"

  "Great!" Li Mingda clapped his hands happily and exclaimed, "Village chief, teach us how to play the pipa!"

  "Alright!" Qin Mu Bai smiled and agreed, then turned to the palace maid beside him and said, "Go, bring me a pipa."

  In the distance at the entrance of the Imperial Flower Garden, Princess Gao Yang took all this in her eyes and ears, her anger finally reached a critical point, and she exploded!

  "Qin Mubai, you remember this for me! This isn't over!"

  This loud shout was not small, Qin Mubai and others looked at the gate of Yu Huayuan and saw that Princess Gaoyang's angry figure had run away, leaving behind a resentful back.

  Qin Mubai's heart skipped a beat: Got it, this time he really infuriated Princess Gao Yang. Rather offend a gentleman than a petty person, and even more so, Princess Gao Yang is such a fierce, barbaric, and cunning little woman... He must think of a way to appease her.

  In the morning, Qin Mubai taught Li Zhi and Li Mingda to play the pipa for a while. In the afternoon, he sent the two princes to read books again. This day went on until work was over, and Princess Gaoyang didn't appear again. When Li Shimin returned, everything seemed normal, it seems she didn't go to frame the emperor either.

  This made Qin Mubai feel a bit uneasy. Given Gao Yang Gongzhu's personality, if even the revenge tactic of reporting to the emperor didn't work, it meant she had thought of an even more clever method.

  What's worse than accusing the emperor?

  As he walked out of the Da Ming Palace, Qin Mu Bai was deep in thought. Now that the enemy was hidden and he was exposed, it was indeed a bit dangerous. Who knew what that reckless Princess Gao Yang would do next?

  As he walked to the edge of the imperial bridge, Qin Mubai stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowing involuntarily. The Princess Gao Yang stood by the river, leaning against the white jade lion statue on the imperial bridge with her back, her hands clasped together in front of her chest, her eyes coldly slanting towards him.

  She is alone.

  But those eyes... were truly resentful, hateful — and murderous!

  "Cough! Your Highness, aren't you waiting for me again?" Qin Mu Bai smiled casually and walked up to bow.

  Princess Gaoyang didn't say a word and still stared at Qin Mubai with that kind of gaze.

  Killing intent grew thicker.

  What's going on? Are you filming a martial arts movie?

  Qin Mubai couldn't help but laugh: "Your Highness, what are you trying to do? Even if your eyes are sharp enough to kill, they can't actually kill anyone."

  "Hmm..." Suddenly, the corner of Gao Yang Princess's mouth rose slightly with a strange and mysterious arc, followed by a cold laugh. Then, without warning, she jumped abruptly into the river!

  Plop!

  In an instant, Qin Mu Bai, who was still four or five meters away from her, quickly reacted and rushed to grab her, but only managed to catch the last corner of her clothes. The corner of her clothes made a sharp tearing sound as it broke apart in Qin Mu Bai's hand, but he failed to hold onto Princess Gao Yang, allowing her to fall into the river.

  "This little girl has gone mad!"

  The water in the river needs to be dredged and cleared of pollution every year, but it's deep enough!

  Without thinking twice, Qin Mubai plunged into the river — saving a life was urgent!

  After Princess Gaoyang fell into the river, she was indeed frightened and desperately splashed and shouted for help. It can be seen that she didn't know how to swim at all, and after falling into the water, she panicked and screamed loudly, but was choked by the water.

  Fortunately, Qin Mubai was not far from her and dove down quickly to reach her side. He swiftly moved behind her, with one hand supporting her chin and the other protecting her waist, and dragged her towards the shore while swimming backwards.

  At this time, several palace maids suddenly appeared from somewhere, scaring the three souls and seven spirits away, shouting loudly: "Save us! Save us! Someone is going to harm the princess, the princess has fallen into the water!"

  "Shut up, you lowly maid!" Qin Mu Bai angrily scolded. But scolding aside, saving people was the priority. So he continued to drag Gao Yang Princess towards the shore.

  Although Princess Gaoyang was trying to harm Qin Mubai, she herself became disoriented after falling into the water. As Qin Mubai dragged her along while swimming, her hands and feet still flailed about wildly, splashing up large amounts of water, and her cries for help were incoherent and nonsensical.

  "You stinky man, don't even think about taking liberties with me!"

  "Help! Ugh... I don't want to die!"

  "Shut up!" Qin Mu Bai was annoyed, and with a swift motion of his hand, he slapped the Princess Gao Yang unconscious.

  Several palace maids by the shore were suddenly frightened out of their wits and collectively stared with their mouths agape, "H-How dare this guy hit the princess?"

  "You don't know anything!" Qin Mu Bai shouted angrily while paddling hard, "If I don't knock her out, both of us will drown!"

  A person who falls into the water is extremely panicked, and the instinct to survive bursts out, with great strength. Often hands and feet are chaotic, even entangling and killing the rescuers. Qin Mubai led a hundred riders in training, and saving people from drowning was an important course - how could he not know this principle?

  After much difficulty, Qin Mu Bai finally managed to drag Gao Yang Princess to the shore. The four palace maids rushed over in a flurry, all of them crying from fright.

  "Scram, don't add to the chaos!" Qin Mu Bai shooed them away and carefully observed Princess Gao Yang. Her pulse was a bit disordered, her breathing was also somewhat rapid, but apparently she had only been frightened and was not seriously injured. However, from that chaotic struggle, it seemed like she had swallowed quite a lot of water. If a large amount of water had entered her lungs, it was possible that she would be left with serious aftereffects or even be fatal!

  "You little vixen, do you have to frame me like this?" Qin Mu Bai cursed a few times in hatred, and without hesitation, bent down to give him artificial respiration!

  "Heavens! Those palace maids went crazy, stomping their feet and shouting loudly: 'Someone come quick!'"

  A group of soldiers had already rushed to the scene, and upon seeing what was happening in front of them, they were all shocked - Qin Mubai was sprawled out on top of the unconscious Princess Gao Yang, his mouth pressed against hers, seemingly taking advantage of her!

  "General Qin, stop!" The soldiers no longer dared to hesitate and drew their knives, pointing them at Qin Mu Bai.

  "Hurry up and lift him! — The princess's chastity!" The palace maids were so anxious that they stomped their feet and shouted loudly.

  "Shut up!" Qin Mu Bai shouted, "I'm in the middle of an emergency rescue for Princess Gao Yang. If anyone stops me and anything happens to the princess later on, you'll be responsible!"

  Having said that, he continued his actions and kissed her again.

  "This..." The soldiers were stunned, and someone whispered, "General Qin shouldn't be so foolish as to publicly... humiliate the princess. I've heard that during the hundred riders' training, there was indeed some strange lifesaving technique, this mouth-to-mouth thing is called... artificial respiration!"

  "Then we... let's wait and see what happens next. Even if we have to take drastic measures, it won't be too late at this moment."

  "Whatever."

  At this moment, Princess Gaoyang, who had been unconscious all along, coughed violently a few times and spat out a large amount of bitter water, waking up.

  The moment she opened her eyes, she saw a blurry figure in front of her. Princess Gao Yang felt a sense of relief and joy at escaping death, but her heart was also filled with fear and shock. She suddenly let out a loud cry: "Ah! Ghost!" and pushed Qin Mu Bai away abruptly.

  "Wake up! Wake up!" The soldiers and palace maids all let out a sigh of relief.

  Qin Mubai was pushed by her and sat down on the ground with a thud, shouting loudly: "Haven't you had enough fun yet!"

  This angry shout was like a thunderclap on a clear day, and everyone present was stunned. Princess Gaoyang rolled her eyes several times, looking at Qin Mubai in front of her who was soaked from head to toe, and suddenly came back to her senses, thinking clearly about what was happening in front of her. Under the intense spiritual shock, she burst into loud wails.

  "What are you staring at? If you really think I'm being rude to the princess, then kill me now. Otherwise, get out of my sight!" Qin Mu Bai yelled at the soldiers, a surge of anger burning in his chest.

  "Uh... I'll take my leave..." The military school students saw Qin Mu Bai's expression, which was both righteous and furious, and they felt a bit intimidated. They also thought back to the scene earlier and even a fool would understand that it must have been Gao Yang Gong Zhu who was causing trouble. Moreover, no matter how foolish or infatuated someone might be, there was no one stupid enough to dare to be disrespectful to the princess in a place like Da Ming Palace. So earlier, Qin Mu Bai must have been saving someone...

  The soldiers left, and Princess Gaoyang remained sitting on the ground, crying uncontrollably. Several palace maids rushed forward to comfort her.

  "Comforting nonsense, let her cry." Qin Mu Bai scolded in a bad temper, "If she doesn't cry out after being frightened, it's easy to go crazy."

  Several palace maids lost their composure and could only stand aside, nodding in agreement.

  The Princess Gao Yang cried for a while and finally gradually stopped. Her mind also returned to normal, and she was filled with regret and fear in her heart.

  She had originally just wanted to use the jump as a scare tactic against Qin Mu Bai, but she hadn't expected herself to be more timid than she thought, and as soon as she hit the water, she completely lost her composure and almost really drowned.

  A wave of fear swept through her heart again, and with her whole body soaked in water, Princess Gaoyang shivered violently.

  "You're still standing there?! Can't you take off your own clothes and put them on the princess?!" Qin Mu Bai scolded.

  Those palace maids suddenly came back to their senses and busied themselves in every direction.

  When they paused for a moment, Qin Mubai walked up and sighed, saying: "Your Highness, what can't be said properly? Playing self-destruction is fun? Even if you have ten thousand dissatisfactions with me, why must you ruin yourself?"

  "I just can't accept it, I'm not willing to always lose to you! I want to personally subdue you and make you obediently surrender to me..." Princess Gao Yang whispered, wiping away the tears from the corner of her mouth, finally saying what was in her heart.

  "I never thought of competing with you for anything." Qin Mubai shook his head, a helpless bitter smile, "You are the master and I am the servant, I am the big man and you are the little woman, do I need to compete with you?"

  "But you're always picking on me!" The Princess Gao Yang was startled and her temper subsided a lot, she sobbed pitifully, "You made me, a princess, apologize to you and acknowledge my mistake, and you even bullied my maid - it's like beating the dog and scolding the master! Fine, I won't blame you for these things if they weren't your intention. But why did you so happily and willingly teach that servant and that kid how to play the pipa? I was so sincere in asking you to be my teacher, but you refused to teach me! Can I not feel resentful, can I not get angry?"

  "Huh, so you're sulking? Alright, I was wrong about this matter, I apologize to you. Can't I still teach you how to play the pipa in the future? At that time, I didn't say I wouldn't teach you either, it's just that you had to scare Duke Jin into tears and threaten me... Besides, is this really a big deal? Do you have to be so dramatic?" Qin Mu Bai wiped his face with water, unable to help but laugh.

  "Don't laugh!" Princess Gaoyang stomped her foot in embarrassment and urgency, suddenly bursting into loud sobs and running away.

  Those palace maids rushed to chase after her in a panic. Qin Mu Bai shook his head and laughed: This little girl, the jealousy she's eating isn't mine, it's Li Shi Min's, right? Seeing how well Li Shi Min treats Li Zhi and Li Ming Da, she feels insecure and uneasy. She wants to compete for favor and get the same treatment as them, but doesn't know how to go about it, so blindly sets her sights on me... Why am I so unlucky, getting entangled with this little troublemaker for no reason?