Page 873

Having said that, she headed toward the lotus pond with a bounce in her step.

Lady Liangyuan’s lips curled into a smile, a trace of malice flashing in her eyes. She observed her surroundings; the autumn air was cool, and the wind strong today. This area was remote, with few people likely to pass by.

She followed with a smile.

Susu arrived at the lotus pond, hopping and skipping along the way. Seeing the boat nearby, she walked over, staring at it with her pretty, large eyes.

Lady Liangyuan approached and stopped behind Susu, urging her, "Susu, go on up."

Susu reached out to tug at Lady Liangyuan’s sleeve, looking up at her, "You come with me."

Lady Liangyuan yanked her sleeve back forcefully, suppressing her anger, "It was you who wanted to find mommy, so obviously you should go up yourself. Don’t you want to see mommy?"

Susu hesitated, "But grandpa said, little kids shouldn’t play by the water alone. It’s very dangerous."

Lady Liangyuan hadn’t expected such considerations from a child.

"Don’t you want to see mommy right away? Once you get on the boat, you’ll see her."

Susu knotted her fingers together, her brows furrowed in conflict, "Grandpa won’t let me go up alone. If I play by myself, he won’t give me good things."

Lady Liangyuan: "..."

Again, Susu reached for Lady Liangyuan’s sleeve, "If you come with me, grandpa won’t be mad."

Lady Liangyuan’s patience had long been exhausted. She looked around once more, saw no one, then focused back on Susu, her eyes suddenly filled with venom.

"Susu, blame your mother. She’s always monopolized the Crown Prince, otherwise, how could I have been in the palace for so many years and not yet served in the Emperor’s chambers?

If I had, I would have sons and daughters, smarter and cuter than you, and they would be beloved by the Emperor and Empress. "

"If you weren’t here, the Emperor and Empress would certainly be furious. It would be nice if your mother lost her mind from losing her daughter. Even if she doesn’t go mad, I’ll make her suffer."

Susu looked at Lady Liangyuan with confusion. Being so young, she didn’t understand a word she was saying.

After speaking, Lady Liangyuan hardened her heart and pushed Susu into the lotus pond.

With a "plop," Susu fell into the water, causing quite a splash.

Susu flailed her arms, her small body bobbing in the water, about to be submerged again in the next second.

She didn’t understand why Lady Liangyuan had pushed her into the water?

Seeing Susu fall into the water, Lady Liangyuan turned and walked away. Without anyone to rescue her, a small child would quickly disappear under the water.

When she was later found, it would merely seem like Susu had fallen into the water while playing, and nobody would suspect intentional foul play, least of all Lady Liangyuan.

Just then, suddenly, a tiger’s roar sounded, "Awoo!"

The sound was deafening, sending a chill down Lady Liangyuan’s spine.

Another roar followed, and Huai Xiang turned pale with shock, running and shouting at the same time, "The tiger is coming, the tiger is coming..."

Lady Liangyuan looked up in the direction Huai Xiang was gazing and saw a white figure racing toward her as fast as lightning.

Frightened, Lady Liangyuan turned pale, and when she tried to flee, she found her legs had gone weak and couldn’t move.

Dabai arrived quickly, knocking Lady Liangyuan into the lotus pond before jumping in after her.

"Plop."

Two large splashes erupted on the water’s surface.

Lady Liangyuan was delicate and couldn’t withstand the tiger’s charge, feeling as if her organs had shifted places. She was hit by a wave of intense pain before tumbling into the water.

Unable to swim, she struggled desperately, "Help, help!"

Dabai swiftly swam to Susu’s side, nudging her body with his huge head, trying to lift Susu above the water.

Susu had swallowed several mouthfuls of water, feeling dizzy. Her body floated to the surface, but she showed no response.

Dabai didn’t give up. He continued to nudge Susu’s body, his strong limbs paddling in a dog-like swimming motion, trying to push Susu to the shore.

Xiao Jinyu had some free time today and planned to visit the two little treasures when he suddenly heard the tiger’s roar. He halted and looked around, "Could Susu be nearby?"

The only place in the palace with a tiger was Hehuan Hall, where Susu’s Dabai was kept.

Another roar was heard. Dabai rarely roared; he usually just let out an "awoo" and that was it.

Xiao Jinyu had a bad feeling and without thinking twice, he dashed toward the direction of the roar.

By the time Xiao Jinyu reached the lotus pond, he saw Dabai pushing Susu onto the shore. He rushed to Susu’s side as fast as he could, seeing her completely drenched, her eyes tightly closed, his own legs going weak with fear.