Dongfang Lingyun’s eyes fell upon Qingying, who was standing behind Mu Qianhua.

Mu Qianhua took the hint, so she asked Qing Ying and Xue Sha to stay ashore.

“But my lady…” Qing Ying was not sure if she should let Mu Qianhua leave with Dongfang Lingyun alone. This man was said to be moody, and Mu Qianhua knew nothing about martial art. What would she do if anything happened to her on the boat?

Mu Qianhua reassured her maid, “Qing Ying, General Dongfang invites me to have a tour around the lake. He will surely be responsible for my security. To a matchlessly valiant like him, decency always comes first. Am I right, general?”

“Certainly, Miss Bai,” Dongfang Lingyun answered while raising his eyebrow, “Miss Qing Ying, rest assured. Miss Bai will come back safe and sound.”

Given that Mu Qianhua had consented, Qing Ying had no other choice. “You must watch out, my lady,” she said.

Dongfang Lingyun boarded the boat swiftly. “Please, Miss Bai.” He turned around and made the invitation.

Mu Qianhua lifted the hemline and stepped onto the boat. Dongfang Lingyun was good at martial arts, which enabled him to land on the boat softly. While Mu Qianhua, a delicate girl, couldn’t keep balance when the boat was shaking, and fell into the arms of Dongfang Lingyun before she could ask for help. It was a warm hug. Her nostrils were filled with the fragrance of bergamot, making her feel relaxed and comfortable.

“Such a big hug. Let’s take it slow.” Mu Qianhua could hear Dongfang Lingyun’s chuckle, with a tinge of joking. She raised her head. His smiling face, as bright as the sunshine, was so near to hers. Mu Qianhua could hardly move her eyes away.

“…I must apologize for my rudeness.” Mu Qianhua got up at once and uttered in a flush of embarrassment.

“It is all right. I just didn’t expect Miss Bai likes groping men.” Dongfang Lingyun, seemingly knowing something, laughed out loud.

She never thought she’d fall into this gangster’s arms by accident. What a shame it was!

“My lady!” Qing Ying could see Mu Qianhua’s bitter face on the bank. She had been taken advantage of but found no way to make a complaint. Qing Ying wanted to dash to the boat but was stopped by Xue Sha.

“No worries, Qing Ying. Miss Bai will be safe with our general,” Xue Sha comforted her, and pouted his lips at the lake.

Qing Ying looked at the prow again. Dongfang Lingyun took Mu Qianhua’s hand, leading her into the gaily painted cabin. “Our general has always been frosty. It is so rare that he could be that gentle. Miss Bai must be a big shot, right?” Xue Sha was astonished. Qing Ying, with a grim face, turned her back on him.

Xue Sha didn’t mind her coldness. He was looking at this girl up and down. Half of her face was covered by a silver mask. A purple magnolia petal was falling to the ground, brushing her shoulder.

“What are you looking at?” Qing Ying’s blood breezed under his gaze.

Xue Sha laughed, revealing his glinting silver teeth. “I just want to know your age and home address. Do you have other relatives? What is your favorite food? What jewelry do you like… Hey, missy, no need to draw your sword!!

…

In the gaily painted cabin.

“General, please… let go of my hand,” Mu Qianhua, still feeling his strength through his hand, muttered in embarrassment.

It seemed that Dongfang Lingyun hadn’t been aware of it before her remind. He took back his hand after a pause and laughed, “I thought Miss Bai would never flush. Turns out you are as reserved as other girls.”

“I have always been shy.” Mu Qianhua made a dry cough.

“Really?” A hint of smile appeared on Dongfang Lingyun’s face. He lowered his head, staring at the snow-white hand he had touched, as if absorbed in thought.

Walking to the chair right opposite him, Mu Qianhua sat down and moved her eyes to the boundless rippling lake outside the window, trying her best to avoid the eye contact with Dongfang Lingyun.

“The scenery of Bibo lake in early spring is the most beautiful. I heard Miss Bai is not a local, I guess this is your first time visiting the lake,” said Dongfang Lingyun.

Watching the clear blue water and the mountains afar covered by the emerald luxuriant plants, Mu Qianhua, an experienced traveller, was even enchanted by this picturesque land. With the layers of ice totally melting, several migrant birds would occasionally fly over the glistening jade water, causing ripples on the surface. Purple magnolias in full blossom decorated the embankments on both sides of the lake. A new spring had come in Jiangnan area.

“You are right. I have never been here before,” Mu Qianhua said

Dongfang Lingyun was gazing at her face. Such a flower-like young girl, whose eyes were as bright as pearls, reflecting the scattering sunshine glittering on the lake.

Dongfang Lingyun gasped, longing to have a look at her appearance concealed under the veil. With such a pair of pretty eyes, she must be a beauty…

He, as if being cast a spell, went forward directly, and whispered to her ear, “May I call you Xiao’er in the future?” No sooner had he finished speaking, Mu Qianhua’s body felt stiff, as if intoxicated by his gentleness.

As if driven by an unknown force, Dongfang Lingyun suddenly reached out, intending to touch her veil.

Mu Qianhua realized his intention at the last moment. She leaned back unconsciously, totally forgetting the open window behind her, and fell into the lake before she realized it!

Flop!

“Bai Xiao!!” Dongfang Lingyun panicked, bending forward to look for her, his face turning pale.

Mu Qianhua was struggling in the water.

Seeing the accident, Qing Ying rushed to the lake instantly.

“Stop! She is at the lake center, the deepest part!” Xue Sha shouted.

“I must save her at once! She can’t swim!!” Qing Ying glared athim in anger.

Mu Qianhua fell into water once in her childhood. Although she never mentioned it again, Qing Ying knew it haunted her ever since.

Flop! Dongfang Lingyun had dived into the lake already.

Struggling in the lake, Mu Qianhua felt the icy water pouring into her mouth and nostrils. One would immediately draw back his hand once touching the freezing cold lake water, let alone falling into it! She exerted herself to remain floating, but her body kept sinking rapidly. Cold water kept flowing into her mouth, nearly choking her to death.

The memory of her accidental drowning at the age of eight flashed in Mu Qianhua’s brain. She was sinking, enveloped in despair and long-lost fear. She stretched her arms in daze, trying to seize the sparkling light on the lake surface

Qing Ying…

Suddenly, someone held her dangling hand, and pulled her out of the water.

“Bai Xiao! Breathe! You damn breathe! Don’t sleep!” A worried voice seemed to come from far away. Mu Qianhua opened her eyes and saw a handsome face. Anyone who set their eyes on it would never forget it.

“Dongfang Lingyun…” How could he be so bossy… Mu Qianhua put her head on his shoulder and lost consciousness again.

“Master! I am coming.” Xue Sha and Qing Ying rowed toward them. With a tap on the water, Dongfang Lingyun darted out and landed on the boat.

“Xue Sha, back to my residence!” Dongfang Lingyun, holding Mu Qianhua in his arms, walked into the cabin. He started a fire, took off his robe and put it on her body.

“My lady!” Seeing Mu Qianhua’s pale face, Qing Ying was in a total panic. She scolded Dongfang Lingyun harshly, regardless of his high status, “You have promised to take her back safe and sound! Are you aware of what you have done?!”

Dongfang Lingyun said nothing to her, but shouted to Xue Sha at the prow instead, “Keep rowing as fast as possible! We must hurry up!”

“Yes, master!” Xue Sha felt a gust of wind brushing his face before the boat hugging the bank. It’s until later that he found out his master had already left with Mu Qianhua for his residence on horseback.

On that day, all the citizens in the Dark Night City witnessed the Ping Yan General, soaked all around, rushing to the palace on a horse like crazy. In less than two hours, this news was well known.

To the servants coming out to serve him, their master, who had always been frosty, was more serious than before. What’s more, the woman in his arms seemed to be Bai Xiao, the boss of the Qian Jin restaurant, who rose to fame recently.

Dongfang Lingyun entered the gate in big stride, ordering his servants without looking back, “Quilt, hot water, clean clothes, and send for a doctor. Prepare all the things I mentioned and send them to the eastern chamber within ten minutes. Otherwise, you will be beaten to death!”

All the servants followed his order without a delay, because they knew the master meant every word he said.

Dongfang Lingyun put Mu Qianhua on the bed in the eastern chamber and called out a maid for help. She gave her a hot bath, changed clothes for her and covered her with the quilt.

Even after that, Mu Qianhua still had a high fever. Such a delicate girl, who never practiced martial art, certainly couldn’t stand the icy water. Mu Qianhua kept shuddering in the quilt with her pale face full of sweat.

Dongfang Lingyun asked the maid to get another quilt for her. Staring at Mu Qianhua’s pale face, he felt regretful about inviting her to tour on the lake.

“Where is the doctor? Why hasn’t he arrived yet?” Dongfang Lingyun was more fretful.

“He is, he is coming, master!” The butler ran into the chamber out of breath. He must finish the task as soon as possible.

The doctor came up in a tremble. “Ge…General, please allow me come closer and take this girl’s pulse.”

It was until then that Dongfang Lingyun had realized he was standing in the way, and he stepped aside immediately. After a moment, the doctor reported to Dongfang Lingyun, who seemingly intended to cut his throat open if he couldn’t cure the girl’s disease, “She has been terrified and suffered from coldness. It is very wise to change clothes for her in time. I will give her some herbal medicine. It is very effective in fending off the coldness stuck within her body. She will recover in a few days after sweating all over. However, her body is weak, and need a good aftercare in case she had a relapse.”

After getting the prescript, the butler paid the fee and see the doctor off.

Some servants went to decoct the herbal medicine.

Dongfang Lingyun sat beside the bed to look after Mu Qianhua. He ordered the servants to close the window and make the fire hotter, in case she felt cold.

“General, the medicine is ready”, said a maid stepping in after a moment.

“I will look after her by myself. You can leave.” Dongfang Lingyun took the bowl.

The maid was stunned and walked out of the chamber after regaining her conscious ness from the panic.

Mu Qianhua, dazed in the high fever, sat up and leaned on a mat under the assistance of Dongfang Lingyun. Her veil had already been removed in the bath, revealing her delicate appearance, but Dongfang Lingyun was in no mood to admire it.

He, holding the bowl, recalled the situation when his mother took a good care of him when he got ill, and put the spoon of liquid into her mouth after cooling it with a gentle blow. However, Mu Qianhua didn’t drink the medicine willingly. Feeding her medicine was more exhausting to Dongfang Lingyun than fighting on the battlefield.