Chapter 112: Panic Beneath the Calm
Xie Rong climbed onto the stone embankment with Wang Gege cradled tightly in his arms. Her body hung limply against his chest, her drenched robes dripping steadily onto the stone pavement while her face remained deathly pale, showing not the slightest sign of consciousness.
Although his eyes were concealed beneath the familiar black silk blindfold, every Xie guard present instinctively lowered their heads the moment he stepped ashore, a chill running down their spines for reasons they could not explain.
None of them had ever seen their Young Master in such a state.
Throughout the years they had served under him, Xie Rong had always been calm, composed, and frighteningly rational. Even when surrounded by assassins or gravely wounded, he had never once allowed his emotions to surface.
Yet at this very moment...
The suffocating pressure radiating from him was enough to make it difficult for everyone present to breathe.
Then his voice exploded across the courtyard.
"What have all of you been training for?!"
The furious roar struck like a clap of thunder, causing every servant and guard to tremble involuntarily.
"A residence full of trained guards, yet not one of you could rescue my furen?" His grip around Wang Gege unconsciously tightened as his voice grew colder with every word.
"Tell this Young Master... "If even a single defenseless woman could not be brought out of a mere lotus pond, then what purpose do I have in keeping all of you?!"
The guards’ faces turned ashen. One after another, they dropped heavily to their knees.
"This subordinate deserves punishment!"
"This subordinate failed in his duty!"
Not a single person dared offer an excuse.
Because they knew... Everything their Young Master had said was true. Had he arrived even a moment later, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Never before had they witnessed him lose his composure like this and never before had they heard him raise his voice in fury.
It was only then that they realized, the Young Madam had unknowingly become the one person capable of shattering the Young Master’s unshakable composure.
Xie Rong drew in a slow breath before forcing himself to suppress the turmoil in his heart.
The guards could be dealt with later.
Right now, nothing mattered more than Wang Gege.
He immediately knelt beside her, gently supporting the back of her neck before lifting her into his arms once more.
Her body felt frighteningly limp.
"Furen..." His voice had lowered considerably, yet the concern within it was unmistakable.
There was no response.
He carefully brushed aside the strands of wet hair clinging to her face before placing two slender fingers lightly against the side of her neck.
A pulse.
Weak... but still there.
His tense expression eased only slightly, "Gui Lin."
"I am here, Young Master." Gui Lin immediately stepped forward before kneeling beside them. "She has swallowed too much water."
Gui Lin’s expression turned solemn after examining Wang Gege’s condition. He immediately motioned for the physician to step forward.
The physician hurried over before kneeling beside Wang Gege. After checking her pulse and breathing, he cupped his hands respectfully.
"Young Master, this humble physician must first expel the water from the Young Madam’s body."
Xie Rong gave a slight nod and carefully laid Wang Gege upon the stone pavement.
The physician immediately adjusted Wang Gege’s posture before placing both hands below her chest, applying steady pressure to force the water from her lungs.
At that sight, several kneeling guards instinctively exchanged glances. Their expressions gradually changed.
The physician... was touching the Young Madam. Yet the Young Master said nothing.
One of the guards subconsciously tightened his fists. Young Miss Xie’s gentle voice echoed uncontrollably in his mind.
"Ah... it will be difficult for all of you to rescue Sister-in-law. To bring her ashore safely, someone will inevitably have to hold her."
"I truly worry for all of you... I still remember a guard once accidentally touched Sister-in-law, and Elder Brother was so enraged that he had the man sent to the punishment courtyard."
"If the same thing were to happen again today... what if Elder Brother misunderstands?"
"Who among you could bear his anger?"
That was the very reason the rescue had been delayed.
Fearing they might offend the Young Master, the guards had hesitated, each being overly cautious not to touch the Young Madam.
Now, as they watched the physician freely examine her while the Young Master said nothing, their expressions subtly changed.
Had they... been deceived?
"Young Master, the Young Madam is no longer in immediate danger," the physician reported, his voice drawing everyone’s attention back to Wang Gege.
"However..." The physician’s expression remained grave. "Although the water has been expelled from her body, Young Madam has yet to regain consciousness."
The physician withdrew his fingers from Wang Gege’s wrist before answering solemnly.
"Her pulse has gradually stabilized, and her breathing is no longer in danger." He paused briefly. "However, this one believes, Young Madam must have suffered an immense shock after falling into the pond. It is not uncommon for one who has narrowly escaped death to remain unconscious for a period of time."
Upon hearing those words, the crowd finally released the breath they had been holding.
Only Xie Rong remained silent. His fingers gently brushed away another damp strand of hair that had fallen across Wang Gege’s face.
She looked unusually quiet.
The vibrant woman who would chatter endlessly beside him every morning now lay motionless in his arms, her complexion so pale that it made his chest tighten.
The physician hesitated before speaking again.
"Young Master... it would be best to return the Young Madam to her room at once. Her clothes are completely soaked, and if the cold enters her body, it may bring about another illness."
Xie Rong remained silent, his gaze never leaving Wang Gege’s pale face.
’Poor Host...’ Mini’s tiny wings slowed. ’Mini is sorry... Mini couldn’t protect Host...’
Feeling guilty, the little bee drifted closer, hovering cautiously above Wang Gege as though wishing it could somehow make her wake up.
Then, Mini instinctively glanced toward Xie Rong.
For a fleeting instant... Mini froze.
Although the Young Master’s eyes remained hidden beneath the black silk blindfold, his head had tilted ever so slightly.
It was almost as if... He was looking straight at it.
Mini’s tiny body stiffened.
’Eh?’