Chapter 67 Being pushed into the water
Early the next morning, Qin Xiaoning went to the private school. When she passed by the main house, she saw Lu Ji coming out of the house.

He stopped her and asked, "Are you going to a private school?"

The two quarreled for several days. Qin Xiaoning didn't know how to face him for a moment. She nodded meekly and went out with her school bag.

In the morning, the old gentleman taught the girls calligraphy, and in the afternoon they had piano lessons. It was the nice early summer season, so Mr. Su simply took the girls to the lake.

The grass is lush, the birds are singing, the water is rippling, and the girls are happily practicing new songs in the pavilion or by the lake in groups of three or four.

During the break, Fang Silan took Qin Xiaoning to squat on a big rock by the lake to watch the fish, and whispered in Qin Xiaoning's ear: "Sister Qin, starting tomorrow, I will not come to the government private school."

"To be honest, I haven't been with you for long, and I really don't want to leave you." Fang Silan turned her head to look at Qin Xiaoning, her innocent eyes flashing.

Qin Xiaoning asked: "Why don't you come?"

Fang Silan looked shy: "I'm engaged, and my mother said that I can't come out casually from now on."

Qin Xiaoning was quite surprised when she heard this: "How old are you? Are you engaged so early?"

The Sixth Miss is fourteen years old this year, and Fang Silan is one year younger than her.

Fang Silan pouted: "It's ordered by my family. I have to listen to my elders. But I can't go out all the time. It's annoying."

"Who is the man? Do you know him?" Qin Xiaoning asked.

When Fang Silan mentioned this, two sweet dimples appeared on her round face: "I recognize him, he is my uncle's youngest son, my ninth cousin."

Then, she smiled shyly and whispered in Qin Xiaoning's ear: "Every time I go to my grandmother's house, my ninth brother always plays with me."

Qin Xiaoning looked at her shy little appearance and teased her with a smile: "So, you have already liked her."

"No, I just treated him as my brother. My ninth brother was willing to climb trees to get bird eggs for me, and he could tell me stories, including biographies of heroes, strange stories, and fairy tales." He smiled shyly and whispered in Qin Xiaoning's ear, "My eldest sister-in-law told me that after I get married in two years, I can listen to my ninth brother telling me stories every day."

Childhood sweethearts, as the youngest in the family, do not have to bear the burden of responsibilities and can devote themselves to their love.

It can be seen that the Fang family really loves Fang Silan. They do not seek power or wealth, and they only want her to be happy in the future when choosing a husband for her.

"Yes, your ninth brother will be a good husband."

Qin Xiaoning teased her deliberately, "If the prince played polo, would you still go to watch?"

Fang Silan blushed when she mentioned this: "Sister, don't mention this anymore. My sister-in-law told me that since we are engaged, we are not allowed to talk about this anymore. She also said that if this gets to my ninth brother's ears, he will be unhappy."

"I don't want to upset him." said the little girl, covering her face shyly.

"Mr. Fang, what are you planning here?"

The two were whispering intimately here when they heard a sarcastic voice from behind them. They both turned around at the same time and it was none other than Princess Huayang.

Fang Silan snorted at Huayang and replied rudely: "I'm talking to Sister Qin, it's none of your business." Princess Huayang cast a disdainful look at Fang Silan: "Don't think I don't know what you are up to. You just want to get close to Lu Ji, but you don't even look at your family background. Your father is only a second-rank official, and you still want to climb this high branch? Oh! You really overestimate your own abilities."

This humiliation made Fang Silan's eyes red immediately: "What are you talking about?"

"Why, are you so angry because I said it right?" Huayang rolled his eyes at Qin Xiaoning beside him and said, "And you, a lowly servant, are so blind that you don't want to take shelter under the big tree of this princess, but insist on being seduced by this low-class girl from the Fang family. You are really a piece of shit that is not worthy of being on the stage."

Qin Xiaoning was not good at arguing with others, let alone swearing. She was stunned by the sight of a princess throwing a tantrum in public.

After holding it in for a long time, Qin Xiaoning retorted: "Are you sick?"

"She's not just sick, I think she's simply insane." Fang Silan cursed Huayang, then pulled Qin Xiaoning and said, "Sister Qin, let's not stand here and argue with a mad dog, let's go."

The two were about to jump off the rock and leave, but were stopped by Huayang. Without waiting for their reaction, she pushed Fang Silan fiercely. Fang Silan was caught off guard and was about to be pushed into the water. In desperation, Qin Xiaoning took the opportunity to pull her, but the rock was slippery, and with a "splash", Fang Silan fell headfirst into the lake. Qin Xiaoning staggered and struggled twice, her feet slipped, and she fell on the rock. She felt a piercing pain in one of her knees, and then her body tilted and she stepped into the water.

Seeing this, the fifth and sixth girls who were not far away ran over quickly. Seeing the two people falling into the water, the usually timid fifth girl was so scared that she burst into tears. However, the sixth girl rushed straight over and pushed Huayang into the water without saying a word.

The water by the lake is not deep, but it is still early summer, so it is still cool.

Compared to Fang Silan and Huayang who were pushed into the water and their clothes were soaked, Qin Xiaoning did not lose her dignity. She just stepped in the water and got her shoes and socks wet, but one of her knees hit a stone and it hurt a lot.

Hearing the noise here, the other girls and servants came running over and hurriedly pulled the three people ashore.

Hua Yang angrily yelled, "Lu Wanqing, why did you push me?"

The Sixth Miss gritted her teeth in anger: "Why did you push Sister Qin and Fang Silan?"

Seeing that the two were about to quarrel, Mr. Su rushed over and ordered people to help Fang Silan and Huayang, who were soaked, to change clothes. He also asked Qin Xiaoning with concern: "What's wrong with your legs?"

Qin Xiaoning shook her head and replied, "I got hurt, it's okay, I'll just go back and apply medicine."

As he spoke, he was supported by the Fifth and Sixth Girls and returned to Qingsong Garden.

The little woman cried so hard yesterday that Lu Ji was still worried about her. After the morning court session, he returned home first. As soon as he entered the house, he saw the maids busying around Qin Xiaoning.

"What's wrong?" Lu Ji pushed aside the crowd and strode over.

"Sister Qin was pushed into the water by Princess Huayang and hit her knee." The Sixth Girl said angrily.

"Let me see." Lu Ji lifted up Qin Xiaoning's skirt and saw that one of her knees was bruised and swollen.

Lu Ji frowned tightly, looked at Qin Xiaoning, and asked, "What happened?" Seeing that the little woman hung her head and said nothing, he turned to look at the Sixth Miss and said in a deep voice, "Who did it?"

"Princess Huayang is the daughter of Prince Xian. She studies in our private school. Today, when we were playing the piano by the lake, she pushed Sister Qin into the water and scolded her." The Sixth Miss replied.

(End of this chapter)