Chapter 79

The deep autumn lake water is already bone-chillingly cold.

After Li Qingluo made a few splashes, she bit her chattering teeth and swiftly swam toward the Southern Ping princess.

Close behind, a 'plop' sound came from the water behind her—it was the Zhuang family's maidservants finally hearing the noise and rushing over.

However, Li Qingluo got there first and already scooped up the Southern Ping princess who was about to sink.

She didn't have time to look at the other's face, pulling her along and quickly turning back to swim.

The ladies onshore watching the spectacle all held their breath, staring intently at them.

Until the maidservants swam over, took the already unconscious Southern Ping princess from Li Qingluo's hands, and she herself was helped to swim ashore.

"Miss!"

Que'er rushed over and draped her cloak over her.

Que'er painfully embraced Li Qingluo: "Miss, why wouldn't you let the servant go..."

Li Qingluo shook her head at her and whispered: "It's fine. As long as we can save the person, that's good."

Pei Nan Jia also led people over and asked: "You, you alright?"

Her shock had not yet faded, and what she thought in her heart was the same as what others were thinking at that moment: How could she be so bold and daring!? Moreover, a young lady who can swim and swim so well, so fast and so good—there aren't even five such people in all of Jinling! She truly is a remarkable person!

At this moment, Pei Nan Jia's gaze toward Li Qingluo carried some admiration.

Li Qingluo didn't have time to answer her before the Old Lady Pei, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, ordered people to wrap her in another two layers and quickly take her away.

Li Qingluo changed into a new set of clothes.

When she went out, she hadn't expected this to happen, nor had she any experience attending such a banquet, so she didn't even bring a change of clothes.

But Pei Nan Jia had heard about it and sent over the set of clothes she herself was carrying.

Fortunately, their builds were not too different, and Li Qingluo found the clothes fit her fairly well.

Only the color of the clothes was a bright peach-red smoke gauze that Li Qingluo had never worn before.

After changing into clean clothes, Li Qingluo wiped her hair and came out.

Pei Lao Furen and the Old Lady of Zhongyi Hou Fu were sitting in the small hall waiting for her; seeing her come out, Pei Lao Furen also said: "Quickly look at her? I originally brought her to attend your birthday banquet, also wanting her to see the world. But she ended up running to your mansion to save someone!"

"I finally persuaded her to tidy herself up nicely today, and yet she made herself look like this sorry state!"

"However, she is purely kind-hearted; don't therefore mistake her for being reckless, nor did she intend to show off in your mansion."

Li Qingluo's face flushed red as she walked over to pay respects to the two old ladies: "Li Qingluo has seen grandmother, has seen the old lady. Old lady, please forgive this junior's rash conduct today."

The Old Lady of Zhongyi Hou Fu looked at her, a smile on her face.

"It's fine, it's fine—don't listen to your grandmother's nonsense here. Your brave act today has been a great help to our Zhongyi Hou Fu; do you know who you saved?"

Li Qingluo: "Replying to the old lady, I heard that the person I saved seems to be the Southern Ping princess."

The Old Lady of Zhongyi Hou Fu's eyes flickered.

Does she know?

Is she scheming, or does she truly harbor good intentions and righteousness?

Pei Lao Furen, seeing the old sisters' looks, immediately patted her and said: "Let me tell you, my family's Luoluo is a straightforward girl; when she's wrong, she's wrong; when she's right, she's right; she won't even make up excuses."

"You don't know; sometimes when I see her make a mistake I originally wanted to forgive her, but she herself is an honest simpleton, always blurting out everything honestly."

"If she had those winding, twisting tactics, she would have already won her parents' hearts by now."

The Old Lady of Zhongyi Hou Fu then gave a 'haha' laugh twice: "What's wrong with that? Our family's people are also straightforward; we never get along with those who are good at scheming."

Li Qingluo: "……"

Old lady, you really can spout nonsense with your eyes wide open.

Who in Jinling City doesn't know that you get along well with the Old Lady of the Qu family, and Zhuang Wei is deeply devoted to Li Qingzhu.

The Old Lady of Zhongyi Hou Fu suddenly sighed: "The Southern Ping princess is the youngest daughter of the Xi Yue ***, just like you, she has only recently returned to Jinling. If something were to happen to her today in our Zhongyi Hou Fu, we would hardly be able to avoid responsibility, and the *** would surely pursue blame without end."

Although the maidservants would all jump in to save someone, without Li Qingluo being the first to go into the water and fish her out, it's hard to say how the Southern Ping princess would have fared.

The Zhongyi Hou Fu will naturally remember this favor.

The old lady asked Li Qingluo what she wanted.

Li Qingluo: "Replying to the old lady, I wish you and grandmother health and longevity, a hundred years without worry."

These words were something neither of the two old ladies had expected.

They laughed together happily; the wife of Zhongyi Hou Fu wiped the tears from her eyes and called Li Qingluo closer: "Good child, come over, let this old woman take a closer look."

"I see you've changed into this bright color; you look even better? Look at this little face—it really bears a few traces of your grandmother's youthful charm."

Li Qingluo walked over and let the Old Lady of Zhongyi Hou Fu take her hand.

A jade-green bracelet slid onto her wrist.

Li Qingluo looked toward her grandmother, overwhelmed by the favor.

Pei Lao Furen: "A gift from elders cannot be refused. Since it's the old lady giving it to you, just keep it."

Li Qingluo: "Yes, Li Qingluo thanks the old lady for her kindness."

The Old Lady of Zhongyi Hou Fu was very pleased with her composure in the face of favor or disgrace, and patted her hand: "Good child, I and your grandmother came just to see you. There's hot soup over there; go drink a few sips quickly, lest you catch a chill on the way home."

"As for your saving the Southern Ping princess, I won't forget it. If you ever want anything, just speak up to me—treat me as your own grandmother, understand?"

The Old Lady of Zhongyi Hou Fu's eyes were full of kindness and gentleness; Li Qingluo bowed her body: "Yes, old lady."

Seeing the two off, Li Qingluo picked up the hot soup and slowly drank it.

Que'er came over and said: "Miss, the old ladies have together gone to settle the Southern Ping princess's quarters; I heard the Southern Ping princess has already woken up."

Li Qingluo slowly let out a breath of relief.

In her previous life, although she had not been brought to this birthday banquet of the Old Lady of Zhongyi Hou Fu, afterward she also heard some details about the major events that occurred that day at the Zhongyi Hou Fu.

The first was that the Southern Ping princess had fallen into the water and nearly lost her life!

It is said that although she was also rescued, because the rescue was not timely, she ran a high fever and remained unconscious for a full seven days.

After waking up, from then on the person became somewhat foolish.