'Bravery'

Madam Yang was soon rescued, and brought ashore. As for Zhao Xing, Lu Man didn't really intend to have her killed here today, she just wanted to scare her, Lu Man people noticing she couldn't swim, though they didn't rush to rescue her first they did pull her out of the water in the end.

The place became a mess, there were those who noticed the people that fell into the lake, and those who saw the dogs from far away. All the ladies present were those who had been well protected since their childhood, when they saw the dogs from afar they lost their minds to fear. You could hear screaming, and see them running around, some almost fainting.

Thankfully, Lu Man wasn't silly. The road leading to them had long been blocked. Even if the dogs ran rampant they wouldn't reach them. In addition there were archers secretly lying in wait, to kill the dogs in case things went out of hand.

What happened today at her place may become the talk off the town for a few months, today she had given her all just to take her revenge and risked angering many, but how could she care.

Since everything had been well organized from the beginning, the place soon regained its peace. Before Xiao Qi, who had been chased around by the crazed beast, could truly expose herself by killing them with her hidden weapons, the dogs had already been taken care of.

Madam Yang's attendant closely held onto her, screaming, making her head hurt.

"Hey…you let go, the dogs have been shot."

Madam Yang's attendant slowly let her go as she cried bitterly. Just then she almost thought she would lose her life! But at that moment she also realized her mistress wasn't by her side.

She wasn't the only one who discovered this.

Xiao Qi heart dropped when she realized Zhao Xing was left alone in the pavilion.

When she rushed back, she couldn't fathom the scene before her eyes.

Zhao Xing lay on the ground coughing. Thankfully she came out in time if not she really would die! She had almost given up hope thinking Lu Man had wanted her dead that day.

"Zhao…Mistress!" Xiao Qi ran to her side. "Are you ok?" She had just gotten better from her illness, her master still cared a lot about her in spite of all the things she'd told him, if she got sick again, won't he blame her?

Zhao Xing waved her hand at her. She was soaked from head to toe. She looked really pitiful at the moment.

"Not dead yet, not dead yet…" Zhao Xing said while gasping for air. She looked back at the lake she had just been dragged form. She really had to learn how to swim.

Seeing her comical expression Xiao Qi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She expected to see her crying her eyes off by now. She was pretty calm for someone who had met with death.

Madam Yang was also in the same state, the ladies surrounded them murmuring amongst themselves, but didn't dare to go too close.

"Isn't it the noble princess and Madam Yang of the General's Manor?"

"How come they both fell into the water?"

"Don't you know…?"

Xiang Meilian had a delighted look on her face when she saw Zhao Xing's misfortune. She didn't even need to lift a finger yet she had someone avenge her, she was so happy.

Lu Man had long rushed to the scene and had her people take care of Madam Yang. "Madam Yang it was my fault, just now to have frightened you." Lu Man apologized. Madam Yang's attendant sat next to her master crying. She couldn't imagine what would have happened if her mistress hadn't been saved in time. She was so angry at Lu Man, it was her fault that all this happened in the first place.

Gu Anxi shook her head implying that she didn't mind. She held her attendants hand.

"Don't cry now, am I not fine?"

It was fine, she knew this trap wasn't for her anyway. Lu Man didn't know she and the Noble Princess were close, so of course she wouldn't expect her to meet up with Zhao Xing.

Madam Yang looked towards Zhao Xing not far from her. Compared to herself who was surrounded with attendants. She only had her maid with her and two other women that helped her up. "Zhao Xing…are you alright?"

Zhao Xing nodded. She looked at Lu Man standing next to Gu Anxi. Her eyes fiery. If not for this evil woman she wouldn't be soaking wet right now.

"Lu Man, right?" She spoke up.

Silence.

Lu Man heard her and was shocked. Her eyes narrowed.

It was fine, Zhang Zhengyang said he was going to protect her, but look what happened. It seemed she had to take matters into her hands, confront this woman before things got out of hand.

"It's a pity that your friend Chu Yin made such a silly decision just because of a man, but that doesn't mean you should childishly vent your frustrations on me! I only came after your dear Chu Yin had left, I didn't harm you in anyway, just because I'm slightly closer to the Crown Prince, it's my fault and I must pay?" She didn't worry about the consequences, though her rank wasn't high, but the Crown Prince was her backer!

Everyone: "…"

Lu Man couldn't believe her ears. it sounded really funny, how could this little girl talk to her in such tone!

"You're really brave aren't you?"

Zhao Xing smiled, "Same as Fifth Miss, Fifth Miss' bravery is one everyone should learn from, with such guts we could surely reach the sky!"

Lu Man's face changed. "You…" She never knew a day would come when someone would talk so rudely to her especially in public.

Madam Yang saw how daring Zhao Xing was, she didn't know whether to worry about her or not. Lu Man was as vengeful as a wraith.

At that crucial moment Tang Rongyi made her way through the crowd of women.

"Zhao…Zhao Xing." She had just turned her head around for a second and this happened! After all her cousin brother asked of her! How would she explain if anything happened to her?

Everything did happen too fast, within a few minutes things had gone hire wire. Of course if the incident attracted Tang Rongyi, it also attracted the two special guests, Second Madam Lu and Madam Tang.

Second Madam Lu turned to her daughter whose eyes had gone red form her anger, she quickly found out this was all part of her plan. She sighed inwardly.

"Who let those beasts run rampant?" She asked in an authoritative voice.

A few servants came forward and went on their knees.

"Second Madam, the dogs had been kept in the cage for a long time, but they hadn't tried to escape for some time now, who would have thought…they would break out of their cage at that moment and startle the guests…"

"On such a day when we have so many guests you should make sure nothing goes wrong, if it's just the dogs, you should watch them carefully so that they don't scare people in the future." Second Madam Lu scolded them, then sighed as she turned to the women present, as well as Madam Tang. "This time it is indeed our fault, we should have been more careful with the animals in our home, please let us head to the west wing, over there is much calmer, let the ladies refresh yourselves there."

Madam Tang looked at her daughter and then at the girl that had been soaked in water. She immediately recognized her.

"Eh, Second Madam Lu, isn't this the Noble Princess?"

Zhao Xing recognized her too and performed a curtsy. "Zhao Xing greets Madam Tang and Second Madam Lu."

Madam Tang smiled and nodded at her. "Quickly come inside, don't catch a cold." She added.

Seeing the way Madam Tang acted so agreeable with Zhao Xing, even those who were preparing to cause trouble decided against it in the end.

Second Madam Lu was quick to dissolve the situation, and made everyone calm down. And soon the crowd dispersed. Madam Yang and Zhao Xing were taken to a separate room to have a change of clothes.

What Zhao Xing had said left a deep impression on everyone. A wretched little girl from the mountains who had just gotten lucky, had dared to talk to the fifth Miss of the Lu Family like that. Not once but a few times!

They were sure that after today, even if there wasn't any actual feud between the two before, they were now enemies.