Harem Daily Life

Chapter 1019 Tricked into Falling into the Water

He Min walked to the small garden on the east side of the princess's residence. There was a pond there, and summer lotus flowers stood on large lotus leaves, blooming brightly.

Qing'er went to invite Editor Xiao on her orders, while she took Sixi to the pond to escape the summer heat and feed the fish.

Suddenly, a jarring voice rang out, and Young Master Chen walked over, fanning himself with a fan.

"My name is Chen Bin. I greet the Third Princess."

He Min shuddered when she thought of what Yu Nuo had told her before—that Young Master Chen and Young Master Cheng were crying and embracing each other. She gave Sixi a look, and Sixi stepped forward to stop Young Master Chen: "Our princess does not like outsiders to disturb her. Young Master Chen, please go somewhere else."

Chen Bin's eyes darkened. He had come today for the Third Princess, and he had finally seized the opportunity to be alone with her. He didn't want to give up halfway.

Knowing that the Third Princess loved poetry and literature, he took out a collection of poems recently published by several scholars in the capital from his sleeve and presented it with both hands: "I am not talented. Although I love poetry and literature, I cannot write a single masterpiece. Today, upon learning that the Princess would be coming, I specially went to purchase a collection of poems, which I would like to present to the Princess."

He Min glanced at the poetry collection in his hand and said, "Why are you giving it to me? Do you need something from me?"

Chen Bin was taken aback: "Well, I've heard that the princess is fond of poetry, which is a similar interest to mine. I thought it would be difficult to find a kindred spirit, so I would like to become friends with the princess."

He Min's expression was indifferent as she looked at the lotus flowers in the distance: "This princess is careful in making friends. Young Master Chen, you should make friends elsewhere."

A fierce glint flashed in Chen Bin's eyes. He had come today specifically for the Third Princess and would not give up. He glanced around; only the three of them were there. A bold idea quickly flashed through his mind. As he put away the poetry collection, he said, "I apologize for my abruptness. I will take my leave now." But as he retreated, he deliberately lost his balance, swaying, "Oops, the ground is so slippery!" He reached out directly towards He Min, and in doing so, pulled He Min, who was just a step away, into the pond.

Si Xi was terrified. The Third Princess couldn't swim, and neither could she. This was a real danger!

"Help! Help! The Third Princess has fallen into the water!" Si Xi's exclamation reached Xiao Nan's ears as he approached. He ran past Qing'er and saw two people struggling in the pond. Without thinking, he jumped into the water with a splash.

He Min was being pulled by Chen Bin's arm and was about to fall into his arms when another figure quickly came to her side, pushed Chen Bin away, and pulled her towards the shore.

When Chen Bin saw someone coming to take advantage of him, he stopped acting and quickly chased after her. He was determined to make sure that it was he who fell into the water with the Third Princess and that he carried her ashore. In this way, the Third Princess would have had physical intimacy with him, and he was sure that she would marry him.

However, he underestimated Xiao Nan's swimming ability. Xiao Nan swam very fast while holding onto someone, and with the help of Sixi and Qing'er, she quickly rescued He Min and brought her ashore.

Chen Bin was too late and was filled with regret. He couldn't expose himself now, so he started thrashing about in the water, shouting, "Help! Help!"

As long as his shouts attract the crowd, everyone will know that he still fell into the water with the Third Princess, and that the Third Princess still has no choice but to marry him.

Xiao Nan glanced back at the person in the water, his eyes darkening.

"One of you stay here and keep an eye on him, while the other one comes with me to escort the Third Princess away." Si Xi stayed behind, Qing'er led the way, Xiao Nan took off his coat and wrapped it around He Min, picked her up, and quickly headed towards the backyard of the princess's residence.

Si Xi was furious. Seeing that Chen Bin was trying to get ashore after shouting a few times, she picked up the parasol she was carrying and stood on the shore, hitting Chen Bin with it.

"You brat, you dare hit me? Wait till I get up here, I'll beat you to death!"

"You beast! You deliberately dragged the princess into the water! Why don't you just die?! You harmed my princess, I will never forgive you!"

The exclamation earlier did attract some people. Hearing the footsteps approaching, Sixi gave Chen Bin a hard knock and ran away with her umbrella.

Chen Bin, who was quite angry, was pulled ashore and pointed in the direction where Si Xi had run away, saying, "The Third Princess fell into the water and was... I went into the water to save her. After I got her ashore, her maid took her away. You should go and see how the Third Princess is doing."

Upon hearing the news, He Yue and the others arrived, their faces pale. He Yanran whispered, "We can't let anyone go and see; we have to stop them." Otherwise, wouldn't He Min be going to discuss marriage with this Young Master Chen? This Young Master Chen has an ambiguous relationship with that Young Master Cheng!

He Yue naturally understood, so she strode forward and stopped those who wanted to go to the backyard: "Everyone, I will go and see for myself. You may return the way you came."

The princess's dignity was such that no one dared to overstep their bounds, but some busybodies chimed in, "If the Third Princess and Young Master Chen really did fall into the water together, then they must be engaged!"

"Exactly. Summer clothes are thin, and everything is visible once they get wet. If we don't arrange a marriage for her now, who will the Third Princess marry in the future?"

"That's not quite right. When we arrived, we only saw Young Master Chen in the water. We didn't see the Third Princess anywhere. You can't just make things up without proof!"

“I just saw that the Third Princess is indeed coming this way, and what Young Master Chen said does seem to be true.”

"Hmph, you don't believe me, do you? Just go in and see for yourselves!" Chen Bin was determined to go all out. He had just seen Xiao Nan rescue the person from the water, and everyone knew that Xiao Nan was a poor scholar who only held a minor sixth-rank official position in the Hanlin Academy. With the royal princess's noble status, why would she choose a lowly sixth-rank official over him, the legitimate son of a second-rank official?

Although he was furious that the sixth-rank official had seen the Third Princess's body, he was magnanimous and could barely accept the offer of being the princess's husband.

However, the royal dowry must be set high.

Later, he became brothers-in-law with Fan Tanhua and General Mo, and Chen Bin became a well-known figure in the capital.

While having this wonderful dream, Chen Bin took a step towards the inner courtyard.

He Yue's attendants quickly stepped forward and stopped the person.

"Qirong, how dare you trespass into my private quarters? Guards, escort everyone to the front courtyard. I will personally invite the Third Princess out for a face-to-face confrontation."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a familiar female voice came from the backyard: "Is my sister looking for me?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that He Min's hair was dry, her makeup was neat, and her clothes were dry. She had come to visit today wearing a pink gauze dress, and she was still wearing the same pink dress, as if nothing had changed. Only her close friends He Yue and He Yanran knew that although she was wearing pink, she had changed her clothes.

He Yue's mind went blank, and her eyes turned murderous as she looked at Chen Bin.

He Yue suppressed her anger and asked, "Sister, you didn't fall into the water? But just now this young master Chen was spouting nonsense, saying that he fell into the water with you and that he saved you."

He Min gave He Yue a reassuring look, then looked at the crowd with a puzzled expression and said, "Fall into the water? When did I fall into the water? Young Master Chen, you must be seeing things. It was clearly someone else who fell into the water!"