CHAPTER FIVE

Bai Lang tumbled into the lake headlong, plunging swiftly beneath the surface.

The weight of her sodden clothes dragged her down, making it difficult for her to stay afloat.

Although she managed to resurface momentarily, she quickly found herself sinking once more.

Her legs grew weary, struggling to propel her towards the speckled sunlight above. Desperate for air, she tried to inhale, but her heavy garments hindered her.

Summoning a surge of extraordinary strength, Bai Lang broke through the water's surface again, gasping for the refreshing summer air and letting out a cry for help.

"Ge ge!"

Bai Lang scanned the lakeside but saw no one. However, just before she was pushed, she had sensed a presence behind her. As her strength waned and she began to sink, panic seized her heart, pounding relentlessly against her chest.

On the brink of losing consciousness, she heard a loud splash and felt someone yank her out of the water.

Bai Wen, engrossed in his book while basking in the sunlight, suddenly caught a faint cry and realized that Bai Lang hadn't returned from her stroll.

He dropped his book and sprinted towards the lake, his pace swift and determined. When he heard Bai Lang's cry once more, he knew he was near.

By the time he reached the water's edge, all he could see of Bai Lang was her head of hair barely above the surface. Without a second thought, Bai Wen leapt into the murky depths of the lake.

The darkness engulfed him, and his heavy robes weighed him down like a burden. As he struggled to swim, a glimmer of red caught his eye, and he grasped onto it with all his might, pulling both himself and the mysterious object to the surface.

Gasping for breath, Bai Wen's gaze fell upon Bai Lang, who lay beside him, her face pale but her chest rising and falling rhythmically. Relief washed over him, knowing that she was still alive.

Swiftly discarding his drenched robe, Bai Wen shifted his attention to Bai Lang. She looked like a soaked rat, her once lustrous hair now resembling strands of black seaweed clinging to her face.

"Young Master?" Bai Wen stared at her in disbelief. Lou Meng, the servant girl, was supposed to be with the carriages. He recalled Bai Lang instructing her to stay behind.

"What are you doing here?" he questioned, his voice laced with concern.

Lou Meng appeared stunned and, oddly enough, didn't inquire about Bai Lang, who remained in Bai Wen's arms.

A groan escaped Bai Lang's lips, alerting Bai Wen to the urgency of the situation.

"Stay here and await Sheng-ge. Inform him of what transpired.

I will take Xiao Lang back to the residence," Bai Wen instructed determinedly. "Yes, Young Master," Lu Meng whispered as she watched the second lord retreat into the distance.

Her fist clenched tightly, her gaze fixated on the two figures. One stumbled, while the other cradled them protectively. Lu Meng's eyes never wavered until they vanished from sight.

A glimmer flickered in her eyes as she turned and walked away, determination etched on her face. As Bai Lang slowly regained consciousness, her vision was greeted by a vast expanse of blue.

The hazy surroundings made her head spin, a mixture of smoke and incense lingering in the air. The last thing she remembered before awakening was being carried in someone's arms.

Bai Lang's fever was running high, leaving her disoriented and confused. She could only hear muffled voices and distant shouts before succumbing to unconsciousness once more.

Qu Rou Li hurriedly rushed to the little girl's side, immediately beginning to dry her off. "Quickly, fetch the doctor!" she urgently commanded a nearby servant.

As the other servants ushered Bai Kang and Bai Wen out of the room to facilitate Bai Lang's clothing change, Bai Kang found himself patiently waiting outside.

His eyes closely followed the doctor's arrival and the continuous movements of the servants.Curiosity gnawed at Bai Kang, unable to resist the overwhelming need for answers.

Turning to Bai Wen, he eagerly inquired, "Bai Wen, what on earth happened? How did our dear Xiao Lang end up in such a state?"

Bai Wen took a deep breath and began recounting every detail of the incident that had unfolded at the lake.

Bai Kang's face erupted in a fiery display of anger, causing Bai Wen to shudder in fear at his father's cold and motionless expression.

"Who accompanied you?" Bai Kang demanded, his voice laced with a menacing tone.

"No one else, Father. The guards remained inside the carriage. Sheng-ge and the sisters took their servants with them," Bai Wen explained, her voice trembling slightly.

The sound of Bai Kang's fist pounding against the door sent a jolt of fear through Bai Wen's body.

Bai Shen, Liu, and Nuo burst into the room, bombarding Bai Kang with their own set of questions.

"Father, is Xiao Lang alright?" Bai Shen anxiously inquired.

"How is Xiao Lang?" Liu added, concern evident in her voice.

"Has Xiao Lang woken up?" Nuo chimed in, her eyes filled with worry.

All eyes turned towards Qu Rou Li as she finally opened the door, revealing the answers they sought.

"The doctor mentioned that Xiao Lang has a minor fever. The water in her chest has been coughed out. Xiao Lang needs to rest in bed, and we will have someone stay with her throughout the night."

Qu Rou Li informed them, her voice soothing and reassuring.Bail Lang found herself in a foggy daze, her throat parched and her limbs weakened.

Her baby felt as if it were suffocating under layers of heavy quilts, causing her to sweat profusely. A sense of danger lingered in the air, and just as a shadow loomed over her, Bail Lang forced her hazy eyes open.

She stared intensely at the figure standing above her, then shifted her gaze to the folded quilt in her hands.

Bail Lang's misty eyes unsettled Lou Meng, filling her with unease. She couldn't help but ponder on the fact that this young miss was no longer the same person.

Something dark had taken hold of her body, and Lou Meng was afraid. The new young miss now emanated a cold and evil temperament, and she desperately wanted to rid herself of this third miss.

Upon returning to the main hall, Qu Rou Li dismissed the servants from the room before turning to her husband.

"Do you think Su Rou Xue is behind all of this?" Bai Kang shook his head, contemplating the question but ultimately dismissing the possibility.

"Impossible. Rou Xue is still a mother. She wouldn't do something like this. Perhaps Xiao Lang simply slipped and fell. After all, she was near the edge of the lake.

"Qu Rou Li remained silent, refusing to engage in conversation with her husband. Despite the fact that a lion can push its own cub off a cliff, it still remains a mother.

"Let's wait until Xiao Lang wakes up," her husband suggested, leading her out of the room. However, Qu Rou Li couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the little child.

Su Rou Xue had manipulated and exploited the child countless times before. She had been quick to create chaos and falsely accuse Bai Lang of being poisoned.

But now, when the child had fallen into the lake and nearly drowned, Su Rou Xue was nowhere to be found.

Surely, by now, the entire household must be aware of Bai Lang's accident, yet where was Su Rou Xue? Qu Rou Li clenched her fist tightly, vividly remembering that summer when Su Rou Xue first entered the Bai family's home and the events that unfolded.

If Su Rou Xue continued to cause trouble in the household, Qu Rou Li would not allow her to get away with it.