Little Cardamom

Chapter 4 – Falling Into Water

“Pfft – cough cough!” Hearing this, Zhang Huaiyu could not hold back his laughter, and sprayed a mouthful of wine, and was coughing from being choked.

But before he could get over it, his eyes suddenly shook, and then he felt a numbness in his neck, his throat was blocked. He wanted to open his mouth to speak, but he couldn’t make any sound.

Mute acupoint!

Although everyone in the room practiced martial arts, the only one who was able to do such a strike without any trace was the one next to him, who made the barbarians of the Northern Territory shudder, the king of Dongbei, Jiang Xu, Da Xian’s god of war.

Zhang Huaiyu glared, picked up a folding fan and pointed at Jiang Xu, with a face accusation.

Jiang Xu did not avoid, but raised his eyelids, and quietly looked at him.

Those eyes seemed to have sunk a lake of ice water, no waves, no ripples, dark and cold. For some reason, Zhang Huaiyu inexplicably felt a chill run down his back, and the next second he put down the folding fan.

Outside the window, lanterns on both sides of the river reflected on the water, sparkling and brimming with light. The warm pavilion fell back into silence, only the dangling pendant of folding fans on the table through the candlelight, long spikes lightly swaying.

“Minmin, did you hear something just now?” Ming Tan asked hesitantly.

“Sound, what sound?” Bai Minmin’s face was bewildered.

Ming Tan looked around, silent for a long time, and then shook her head: “It seems like someone was coughing……maybe I heard wrong.”

In fact, Tingyu Tower has always paid attention to the sound insulation. All of the people in the adjacent pavilion are practicing martial arts, so naturally, they can hear the movements outside. If not for the open windows tonight to watch the scenery, with Ming Tan’s hearing, she will not hear even half of it.

Maybe it’s because her heart is defensive, or maybe it’s because the important things have already been said, and the two of them are talking about some boudoir topics afterwards, nothing important.

When the official boat stopped in the middle of the river, the fireworks were ready to be set off.

Bai Minmin stood by the window very early, Ming Tan also put down her usual appearance of always paying attention to the dignity and reserve, lifting the hem of her skirt and stepping on the small steps by the window, holding the edge of the window with both hands, and could not help but poke her head out.

The New Year’s night in the capital is always lively and glorious, as the so-called exotic magic, songs, dances and hundreds of plays, all cut together.

On both sides of the Xiangjiang River, the lights are bright through the night, and the people gather around to wait for fireworks. The dock also drifted out a lot of blessing river lanterns, and from afar, it looked like a grand and prosperous scene.

Among the cheers of the people on both sides of the river, the official boat’s fireworks are finally rising into the air. The shore also has wealthy families lighting a fire and, for a moment, the whole night sky appeared to be illuminated by this brilliant light as if it were daylight.

Ming Tan and Bai Minmin come from a family that has seen many good things, but in the end, they are naive girls at the age of 15 or 16, and at this moment they are holding their breath and opening up their eyes wide, unwilling to blink for a moment.

“It’s beautiful.” Ming Tan cupped her face and looked into the night sky, sighing softly.

Bai Minmin nodded her head and said cheerfully, “I like the rabbit-shaped one the most, it’s so cute!”

“I like the one with golden sparkles spilled from time to time, the sound is fine and extremely pleasant, like……look, here it comes again!”

The young girl’s soft and spirited voice not only attracted her companion to look seriously, but also attracted several people in the next door’s warm pavilion to unconsciously look out the window.

Jiang Xu did not move, still pouring wine and drinking, but his seat was facing the window, when he tilted his head, the dream-like golden rain in the night was exactly in the eyes. He had a slight twinkle in his eye, and the jade liquid flowed through his throat cavity, and did not feel spicy.

The fireworks are extremely beautiful, but also short-lived. When the night sky returned to silence, Ming Tan stood by the window, and did not look away for a long time. There was even some inexplicable melancholy.

Fortunately, it was not too late, and Bai Minmin wanted to go to the South Royal River Street and encouraged her to go with her, and her melancholy was soon dispelled by the flower carts and lanterns in the street as implied by Bai Minmin.

Before that, Ming Tan had never been to the South Royal River Street on New Year’s Night. This long street along the river is very lively and chaotic, mixed with fish and dragons, and every year, there are often incidents of young women and children in this area, and the noble families do not like to let their girls set foot in it.

The two people carefully covered their faces with veils, and when they got off the carriage, the lights in front of them were glittering and the hustle and bustle was lush and lively, so Ming Tan had a momentary lapse of focus.

Bai Minmin is well adapted because she has sneaked in here for several years in a row. She looked around, not knowing what she found, and suddenly let out a “Hey”.

“What’s wrong?” Ming Tan asked.

“Nothing, it’s just that I think I saw Shu Er Gongzi.” Bai Minmin looked forward, looking a little curious.

Shu Jingran, the second son of the prime minister, is a graceful and brilliant man, and there are many women in the capital who admire him.

It is heard that he will also attend this year’s provincial examinations, and it is said that with his talent and appearance, Shu Er Gongzi would be the perfect candidate for this year’s scholarship.

Ming Tan also once looked at Shu Er from afar, he is indeed a gentle nobleman like a beautiful jade tree. If there is no such thing as a bad marriage with the Duke’s family, it is not bad to discuss marriage with the Shu family. In fact, it is only a matter of time before she withdraws from the marriage, and she should think in advance about how to find a good marriage again.

As Ming Tan was walking, Bai Minmin said with surprise: “I saw it right, A’Tan, look, isn’t that Lu Dianshuai? If he is here, the one with him must be the second son of Shu!”

Ming Tan followed Bai Minmin’s line of sight and looked at the tall man with a sword in front, with a scar on his left forehead that was not too deep and not too shallow that stopped at the end of his eyebrow. It was the former deputy general in charge of the palace who was known for his ruthlessness in the capital, Lu Ting.

It is a well-known fact that Lu Ting, Shu Jingran and Zhang Huaiyu are good friends. Before Ming Tan could see Shu Jingran who was with Lu Ting, Bai Minmin impatiently dragged her forward to find someone.

“Hey……Miss!” The servant girl behind her reacted and followed after her.

The two of them are very fast, but the street is full of people. Still, just a wrong glance, and the people who were there earlier have disappeared.

Not being able to see the beautiful man up close, Bai Minmin can not help but have some regrets. But she is very playful, and soon she was attracted by the various stalls set up along the river.

One moment she wanted to buy sweet cakes, another moment she wanted to buy fried chestnuts, and the trinkets she bought were carried around in her hands, and the food she bought had to be stuffed into Ming Tan’s mouth with her veil lifted.

Ming Tan has always been careful about food and clothing, and she did not dare to swallow these street snacks, so she was hiding from her, and the two of them were laughing and joking, but it was very interesting.

“How is it, this South Royal River Street is more fun than the colorful pavilion of the Great Duke Mansion or something, right?” After releasing the river lanterns at the pier, Bai Minmin proudly asked Ming Tan for a compliment.

Ming Tang was about to respond when someone suddenly raised a fan in front of her and shouted, “Sister Tan!” ?

For a moment, Ming Tan thought she was hallucinating.

–But the man quickly stepped forward and proved with his actions that she had not.

“Sister Tan, is this……sister Min?”

The person who came was a handsome looking man, wearing a jade white brocade cloak with exquisite patterns and a light gold crown, he looked like a nobleman.

After Bai Minmin saw who it was, she wanted to kick him. She angrily said, “Who is your sister?

The Duke of Ling’s Mansion is betrothed to the Marquis of Jing’an , but has no dealings with the Duke of Chang’s Mansion, and Bai Minmin refuses to acknowledge that. This “sister Min” is indeed too close. The visitor did not argue, and quickly bowed and cupped his hands to show his apologies for the abruptness.

Bai Minmin knows that this is not the time to break the face, but it is still difficult to ease the anger. She still wanted to stab him with the words. It was Ming Tan who pulled her, trying to keep her calm, and asked, “How did you recognize me, Shizi?” (T/N shizi “世子” here is a respectful way to address a prince.)

He laughed lightly and shook his fan and said in a warm voice: “Sister Tan is a glittering pearl, even if the veil covers her face, it does not hide her brilliance.”

Ming Tan’s face did not show, but in her heart, she wanted to slap him and tell him to speak like a human.

It’s weird, once she looked at this fiancé Liang Zixuan, who was also a talented, gentle and courteous man, compared to Shu Er, although slightly less elegant, but is also a rare and good husband.

But now looking at it again, she only felt that some years ago she was probably blinded by her own eyes, what kind of fan was she shaking in the cold! The words are also so frivolous and uncalled for! Greasy! Pretentious!

Perhaps vaguely feeling Ming Tan’s emotions are not right, Liang Zixuan smiled again and explained: “In fact, I saw this hairpin in sister Tan’s hair. Sister Tan seems to like this hairpin very much.”

Ming Tan didn’t answer the question.

Liang Zixuan paused for a moment, and to cover up the embarrassment, he went along with the conversation and talked by himself.

But today, somehow, no matter what he said, Ming Tan was indifferent, and the one from the Bai family even looked at him with a dagger eye from time to time.

Could it be the matter……

No, it can’t be. That matter has been concealed tightly, how could the Ming family and the Bai family know about it?

If they knew about it, how could the Lord of Chang with his eagerness to protect and quick temperament not find trouble with the Duke’s house and be quiet?

Thinking of this, Liang Zixuan was slightly relieved. But he also realized as an afterthought how important his mother’s explanations were.

He likes his cousin’s softness, but he has always considered Ming Tan as his bride. And the Ming and Bai families behind Ming Tan are a great help to his future career, so this marriage must not be dropped.

Thinking of this, when talking with his mother, the little “why so” of disapproval finally fell. He did not move his hands around, and the folding fan tapped his wrist lightly.

At the same time, as if nothing happened, he found another topic and continued to chat with Ming Tan all by himself.

Ming Tan was waiting for Lu’e and the guards to find her, so that she could get rid of Liang Zixuan’s pestering on the pretext of returning to the house. After waiting for a while, when she finally caught a glimpse of Lu’e, there was a sudden commotion in the distant crowd.

“Catch the thief!”

“The one in front! Don’t run!”

Ming Tan looked at the sound, and before she could see, there were two figures in the chaotic crowd rushing towards the pier, and before she could react, she felt a force pushing her–

“A’Tan!”

“Miss!”

The alarming cries of Bai Minmin and Lu’e who isn’t far away were accompanied by an unpredictable “plop” of falling into the water!

Liang Zixuan reacted quickly, shouted “sister Tan “, then looked anxious to take off his coat to save her.

Lu’e stepped forward, seeing that it was the future husband, it was like grabbing the straw that saved her life, nodding and urging: “Shizi, save my lady!”

Bai Minmin subconsciously pulled Liang Zixuan and shouted, “Don’t go!”

No matter how playful she is, she is still a young lady from a big family, no one understands better than her that if Liang Zixuan saves her, the rest of Ming Tan’s life will be over!

“Do you want to see her die?” Liang Zixuan questioned, and immediately flung away Bai Minmin in spite of the obstruction.

“Plop!” There was another fall into the water.

Bai Minmin instantly felt her hands and feet go cold. She knew Ming Tan best, if she was saved by Liang Zixuan in full view of the public, she might as well drown in the Xiangjiang River!

She stared at the river and forced herself to calm down, arranging for the escorting maidservants to come:

“You guys stop the people who are coming to see the fun, no one is allowed to come near!”

“You two go down and pull Liang Shizi away. And you two, do you know how to swim? Go down and bring A’Tan up for me!”

“I’m afraid we won’t be able to hold out for long, Lu’e, you go back now and bring more guards to help stop people!”

“Yes!”

It’s not yet spring, the river water is cold to the bone, and the wind is biting cold. Liang Zixuan went into the water but a few moments later, he found that saving people is not as easy as he thought, and not to mention saving, he didn’t even see where Ming Tan is.

Not only did Liang Zixuan not see, the guards and maidservants arranged by Bai Minmin went into the water to search for a long time, but they also did not see any figure.

The water at this pier is not very deep, it is not possible for someone to drown without a sound in such a short period of time. But they really did, not even half of Ming Tan’s clothes were in sight.

After spending about half an hour, the onlookers were forcibly stopped outside the pier. They only knew that someone had fallen into the water, but the reason was unknown.

Seeing this crowd of people blocking people, some idlers guessed that it was a lady from a big family. They are all rubbing their hands and making a fuss about going into the water, pointing out that they can’t be blamed for a chance to get a good marriage.

Seeing that it is nearly impossible to block, Bai Minmin’s heart is anxious and desperate. She hates her own bad idea to come to the South Royal River Street, and if Ming Tan has an accident, she, Bai Minmin, can never escape the blame!

At this critical moment, outside the crowd of guards, a green dressed woman suddenly raised a handkerchief towards Bai Minmin: “Miss Cousin, why are you still here? My lady cooked the dumplings herself today and is waiting for you to come over and try them!”

The green-dressed woman deliberately raised her voice.

But this voice sounded gentle, clear, and quite familiar.

Bai Minmin turned around and was stunned for a moment.

That was actually ……

The most trusted maid beside Ming Tan, Su Xin?

How come she was here?

And, what did she just say? Her…her lady?

Su Xin stepped forward and saluted Bai Minmin in an orderly manner, and repeated what her lady had said about inviting her over to try the dumplings.

When she saw Liang Zi Xuan, who was being carried up by the guards, behind Bai Minmin, she was slightly surprised and asked, “Has Prince Liang fallen into the water?”

Bai Minmin was a bit overwhelmed by the current situation and didn’t know what to say.

It was only when she glanced at the back of the room and saw Lu’e, who was still gasping for air, shaking her hand and saying “it’s okay”, that she suddenly understood what was going on, as if she had cleared the two channels.

She quickly said: “Yes, yes. Liang Shizi fell into the water, this…this lady just happened to meet him, so she sent her guards into the water to save him.”

“Hey, so it’s a man.”

“A big man fell into the water to be saved, what a loser!”

“So tightly surrounded, why bother.”

“Scatter, scatter, I thought it was an official lady ah!”

The onlookers waved their hands in a bored manner and quickly dispersed.

“What??”

Liang Zixuan was shivering from the cold, unable to speak, but his eyes were full of disbelief.