nycdaug Chapter 169 Synchronized Diving
Chapter 169 Synchronized Diving
Su Mowan gave Jiang Zhuo a reproachful look, without even saying hello!
Jiang Zhuo saw it, but did not react at all.
After traveling a while longer, the boat stopped when it reached a place with fewer boats and slightly less light.
On the left was the painted boat where Murong Jing was moored, and another small boat with only one boatman was moored far away on the riverbank.
The seventh princess cheered and ran towards the fireworks display.
He ran to the bow of the boat and then turned back to call out to Su Mowan, "Sister-in-law, come on over!"
Su Mowan refused and shook her head.
"These are just kids' toys, just do what makes you happy."
The seventh princess pursed her lips.
He started a fire on his own: "Fine, don't come if you don't want to. I didn't buy any for you anyway!"
Su Mowan was amused by the childlike innocence revealed by the Seventh Princess.
Seeing the surprise and envy in Shen Murui's eyes, she couldn't help but kindly suggest, "Mrs. Shen, would you like to give it a try too?"
Shen Murui was so startled by these words that she immediately looked away.
She smiled a little shyly at Su Mowan: "No need, I just like to look..."
Su Mowan knew that although Shen Murui said those words, the emotions in her eyes could not lie. She originally wanted to take her to join in the fun, but when she thought that Shen Murui seemed to be distant from her, she gave up the idea.
At that moment, Murong Jing's deep voice rang in my ears.
He was telling the Seventh Princess to be careful.
The Seventh Princess waved her hand dismissively, saying confidently, "Third Brother, don't worry! Would I blow myself up?"
Then silence fell over both pleasure boats.
They were just waiting for the Seventh Princess to finish setting off the fireworks so they could continue sailing.
To everyone's surprise, the Seventh Princess had just sworn that she wouldn't blow herself up, but the very first shot went wrong.
She doesn't blow herself up, but she blows up others.
The seventh princess realized something was wrong, screamed, threw down the tinderbox in her hand, covered her head, and squatted down to the side.
As the fireworks streaked diagonally toward the cabin, Su Mowan pulled Shen Murui, who was standing frozen in place, a few feet away, thus avoiding the trajectory of the fireworks.
Yinshuang reacted quickly and pulled Qinghe aside.
Fireworks shot diagonally through the cabin and exploded more than ten feet above the water. The pleasure boat rocked a few times from the movements of the people, and it took a while for it to calm down.
The candlelight inside the boat flickered a few times, but thankfully it didn't go out.
Shen Murui was clearly quite frightened.
Her small face was slightly pale, and Su Mowan could even feel her body trembling slightly.
Just then, Murong Jing asked if she was injured. Although he didn't specify who he was asking, Shen Murui wisely remained silent.
The seventh princess huddled at the bow of the boat, not daring to utter a sound.
Seeing the eerily quiet atmosphere, Su Mowan replied that nothing was wrong.
The seventh princess, who was squatting at the bow of the boat, felt a cold gaze sweep over her back and trembled with guilt.
Before Murong Jing could even reprimand her, the Seventh Princess stood up and ran into the cabin, urgently saying to Su Mowan, "Sister-in-law, are you alright? I was wrong, I was wrong! Please don't be angry with me! I won't touch those fireworks tonight!"
Su Mowan released Shen Murui and frowned, saying, "In the future, either find a secluded place, or watch others release her. What if someone gets hurt?"
The Seventh Princess nodded repeatedly, expressing her sincere remorse.
Su Mowan then turned to Shen Murui and asked with concern, "How are you, Madam Shen? Are you alright?"
Although Shen Murui's complexion was still not good, she nodded and said softly, "I'm fine. Thank you for your help earlier, Consort Su."
"It's alright, it was just a small favor."
Just when everyone thought they could continue on their way, they suddenly heard His Highness the Prince of Qin say calmly, "Jiang Zhuo, escort the Seventh Princess and Madam Shen back first."
Upon hearing this, the one who reacted the most was not the Seventh Princess, nor Shen Murui, but Su Mowan.
Su Mowan blinked.
She couldn't react.
Before leaving, the Seventh Princess had mentioned that Murong Jing had come out tonight specifically to accompany her for some fresh air and to relieve her boredom during the Autumn Festival. Since he had come out to keep the Seventh Princess company, and she had already seen him off, shouldn't Murong Jing also head home?
Before she could even voice her question, the Seventh Princess readily agreed, "I want to go back! I'm done playing, I'm going back right now!"
As she spoke, she suddenly grabbed Shen Murui and pulled her towards the bow of the boat.
Su Mowan was quite surprised.
The Seventh Princess didn't like Shen Murui very much, yet she was willing to reach out and pull her along.
The small boat with only a boatman had somehow circled around to the left of Murong Jing's pleasure boat. Feng Yue jumped onto the small boat, and then the Seventh Princess pulled Shen Murui onto the pleasure boat opposite.
Clearly, only Feng Yue remained; the rest were to escort the Seventh Princess back.
Su Mowan followed to the bow of the boat. She wanted to suggest that she go back with them, but before she could finish speaking, Murong Jing had already floated down in front of her.
The pleasure boat opposite had already started heading back.
Su Mowan's feelings were incredibly complicated at this moment. Murong Jing had left her behind alone, and she wondered what he was going to say next.
There were only four people left on the huge pleasure boat, and no one spoke; the atmosphere was uncomfortably quiet. What frustrated Su Mowan even more was that Murong Jing gestured with his chin, indicating that Qinghe and Yinshuang should go to the small boat where Feng Yue was.
The two glanced at Su Mowan, but obediently avoided her.
The small boat, carrying several people, sped away and disappeared into the distance.
This is even more awkward.
Su Mowan felt like she hadn't spoken to Murong Jing in a long time, even though it hadn't actually been more than a few days.
Murong Jing used his lightness skill to gracefully land in the cabin, and then slowly moved his wheelchair toward the table.
Su Mowan had no choice but to follow her inside.
"Does Your Highness have anything to say?"
She felt her attitude was good, and her humility was very appropriate.
Murong Jing glanced at the teapot on the table, his eyes flickering slightly.
A moment later, he looked up, his deep eyes staring straight at Su Mowan, his low voice sounding somewhat unnatural.
"Tonight, it was I who had Xiao Qi bring you here."
Su Mowan then realized why the Seventh Princess had slipped away so quickly; she had successfully made her way out of trouble.
But why did Murong Jing insist on having the Seventh Princess pull her out?
Is there anything that can't be said in the mansion?
Seeing that Su Mowan remained silent, Murong Jing reached out his hand to her, his well-defined knuckles holding a beautiful jewelry box.
"This is my birthday gift to you."
Su Mowan was a little taken aback.
Seeing that she didn't reach out to take it, Murong Jing raised his voice: "Aren't you going to take it?"
Su Mowan was taken aback by Murong Jing's act of giving her a gift.
When she took the gift and opened it, she was even more surprised.
This hairpin... how come it's exactly the same as the one Tang Minzhi gave her?!
Could it be that Murong Jing already knows something?
Is this a roundabout way of subtly criticizing her?
Or is it just a pure coincidence?
Su Mowan felt a little guilty, her mind was in a complete mess.
Just as she was pondering this, Murong Jing raised his hand, poured a cup of tea, paused for a moment, and then drank it.
Su Mowan felt that guessing was pointless and that it was better to just ask directly.
So she said cautiously, "Even if you wanted to give me a birthday present, you didn't have to come all the way here, did you? Is there anything else, Your Highness? Please just say it."
His Highness the King of Qin remained silent and drank another cup of tea.
Su Mowan received no response and sat down in confusion, reaching out to pour herself a glass.
In her eyes, Murong Jing was probably just having a temper tantrum. But it was just a tea-drinking contest, a contest of who could hold their temper longer.
This is not simple!
However, just as she picked up the cup, took a sip, and was about to swallow, Murong Jing finally spoke.
"Don't blame me for not warning you, there's an aphrodisiac in this tea."
"puff--"
Su Mowan spat out all the tea she was drinking.
She wiped her mouth, glanced at the composed Murong Jing, and glared at him, saying, "You drank it so happily after being given an aphrodisiac?!"
Murong Jing swept her away.
"I am willing."
"..."
Su Mowan blinked once, then blinked again.
She found the plot rather inexplicable, and concluded that Murong Jing was definitely not mentally sound.
But she couldn't say it directly, so she could only gently dissuade him: "Don't drink anymore, okay? If you do *that*, where am I supposed to find you a woman?"
His Highness the King of Qin glanced at her coolly, as if to say: Aren't you one?
Su Mowan shrank back under that gaze.
At this moment, she seemed to understand why Murong Jing had sent Feng Yue and Yinshuang away. Wasn't this premeditated?!
Just as Murong Jing was about to drink his third cup of tea, Su Mowan boldly grabbed his wrist.
"Be more considerate! You can talk things out calmly. There's no point in self-harming like this."
I've seen people drink alcohol like water, but I've never seen anyone drink aphrodisiacs like water!
After Su Mowan finished speaking, she felt that the wrist she was holding was a little hot, and she couldn't help but pull her hand back, but Murong Jing grabbed it even faster.
Murong Jing's eyes were dark and unfathomable.
This woman is so oblivious.
Do you really expect him to say something so cheesy?
Just as Murong Jing was hesitating about whether or not to say "I like you," he felt himself being embraced by soft but strong arms, and the words stuck in his throat.
"Puff-"
With a soft sound, water splashed.
The icy river water submerged the two people, and as they sank, strings of tiny bubbles rose to the surface.
As the two emerged from the water, embracing each other, Su Mowan's mood suddenly improved when she looked at their intertwined black hair.
His face was clearly visible in the moonlight.
Su Mowan spoke with a hint of mockery.
"Now you should calm down, right? Is your aphrodisiac still working?"
Murong Jing's hands, submerged in the water, tightly embraced her slender waist, water droplets flowing down his handsome profile.
Su Mowan tilted her head slightly, and the handsome face so close to hers made her heart skip a beat for a moment. His cool breath brushed against her forehead, creating a hint of ambiguity.
If she wasn't mistaken, Murong Jing was trying to make a move on her tonight...
Su Mowan's heart started pounding uncontrollably.
Then, Su Mowan saw that Murong Jing, under the moonlight, actually curled his lips slightly, as if he was smiling?!
His deep voice carried a hint of pleasure.
"I knew you would do this, and I was right."
Su Mowan: "..."
Does that mean he's just waiting to try out synchronized diving?