The Beloved Concubine of the Eastern Palace (book 2)

Chapter 236 - The Carriage Falls into the River

Elsewhere.

Fang Yun and Pei Yao returned to the tent and had just sat down when Pei Yao teased, "Feeling better?"

"Not really," Fang Yun pouted.

"I just annoyed them with words today, not nearly enough compared to how they've treated me. I'd rather not see them and ruin my walk."

Perhaps it was due to her pregnancy, but Fang Yun felt her emotions were unstable recently. Pei Yao's gentle care helped keep her calm, but encountering the Fang father and son riled her up.

In her case, time did not heal wounds; it just made her dislike them more.

Seeing her genuine displeasure, Pei Yao handed her a cup of milk.

"Don't let such people upset you. We'll be back in the palace in a few days. Then you can rest and focus on your pregnancy without worrying about other matters, including the Crown Princess."

"I'll still go to greet Her Highness daily," Fang Yun said proactively. "I'm still early in my pregnancy and capable of walking. Skipping such formalities is not proper. Later, when the pregnancy progresses or the weather worsens, I can rest more."

Pei Yao, after some thought, nodded.

"Alright, but don't strain yourself."

"Don't worry, Your Highness. I know my limits."

She smiled, though her heart felt heavy.

Unlike Hu Liangdi, who had a caring brother, Fang Yun had no supportive relatives. Besides her loyal maids, only Pei Yao showed her any kindness.

Her hand instinctively covered her belly.

At least with this child, she would have a true blood relative.

The hunt soon came to an end.

The night before their departure for the capital, a banquet was held. Unlike the arrival, Emperor Chengjing's mood was noticeably down, and Empress Li's demeanor was forced.

The Third Princess, seated beside them, kept her head down.

Injured Yin Changce had been sent back to the Marquis Jinrong's residence.

Though she had won her love, the process had been humiliating for the Third Princess, leaving her embarrassed.

When Pei Yao and Fang Yun arrived, the Third Princess's glare was full of venom. But with their imminent return to the palace, no one paid her any mind.

Her previous threats could only be acted upon outside the palace. Her reach didn't extend to the Eastern Palace.

With everyone's minds elsewhere, the banquet ended early.

Before dawn the next day, the grand convoy set off for the capital.

Fang Yun, feeling sleepy, stayed in the carriage, knowing the journey would take all day.

Around mid-morning, Pei Yao joined her.

Though there were no special accommodations for her during the hunt, Pei Yao's awareness of her pregnancy led to extra care.

Entering the carriage, he saw her still asleep and smiled.

He signaled Qingrong and Yanwei to step outside, then sat in the empty seat beside her.

With him present, the maids obediently left. Yanwei took the driver's seat while Qingrong rested in the maid's carriage.

As the carriage rocked gently, it slowed down after about half an hour.

Fang Yun was starting to wake up when she noticed Pei Yao sitting beside her.

"Your Highness?" she said in surprise, sitting up quickly. "You didn't wake me."

Pei Yao reached out to help her. "I was worried you might get motion sickness, so I came to check on you. You were sleeping soundly, so I let you rest. Have you slept enough?"

His gentle tone eased her surprise, and she nodded.

"What's happening outside? It seems we've slowed down."

"We're crossing a bridge. It's narrow, so only one carriage can pass at a time. Did you not notice this on the way here?" Pei Yao raised an eyebrow.

Embarrassed, Fang Yun blinked. "I was napping at this time on the way here."

Understanding, Pei Yao smiled and lifted a corner of the carriage curtain.

"This is the Xiang River. It's quite deep and fast, but the scenery on the banks is lovely and worth seeing."

Intrigued, Fang Yun leaned over to look.

Their carriage was on the bridge. The stone bridge wasn't short, adorned with carved mythical beasts, giving it a classic charm.

Below, the water flowed swiftly, likely due to the narrower section of the river. The banks were sandy, with pebbles of various sizes. Some locals were fetching water and washing clothes on the banks but bowed low as the royal convoy passed, not daring to look up.

As Fang Yun took in the scenery, a commotion arose behind them.

A horse suddenly neighed loudly, going wild and ignoring the driver's attempts to control it, causing chaos.

The mad horse's carriage was just getting onto the bridge, while Fang Yun's carriage was nearing the middle.

The frenzied horse pulled the carriage forward, causing chaos among the convoy still on the bridge.

"Watch out!" Pei Yao pulled Fang Yun from the window, holding her tight.

Before he could assess the situation, the carriage began to violently shake and roll. Outside, the horse neighed wildly, and there were shouts from the maids and guards.

Fang Yun barely had time to react before the carriage spun, her head and shoulders slamming against the walls.

"The carriage is flipping! Hold on to me!" Pei Yao strained to keep them steady, shouting.

Outside, Hong Zheng's voice called for the Crown Prince's protection.

But the crazed horse was beyond control, especially on the narrow bridge. The guards watched as the horse bolted, causing carriages ahead to try to speed up and avoid it. In the ensuing collision, two carriages, including Pei Yao and Fang Yun's, toppled off the bridge into the water below.

"Liangdi! Someone help! Our Liangdi is in the carriage!" Qingrong, bloodied, crawled from her wrecked carriage, rushing to the bridge edge, screaming.

Hong Zheng, thrown to some corner, staggered out, calling for help.

The guards, not hesitating, jumped from the bridge to rescue them.

However, Fang Yun and Pei Yao, submerged with the carriage, faced dire conditions.

Disoriented from the fall and collisions inside the carriage, the sudden submersion felt like icy knives stabbing their eyes, nose, ears, and throat, wrapping them in a suffocating grip.

Though Fang Yun could swim, she panicked.

Holding her breath, she fought the searing pain, opened her eyes to a crimson sight.

Amid the red, Pei Yao's hand reached out, pulling her towards the carriage window and pushing her out.

It was then she saw the blood staining the water came from a wound at Pei Yao's waist.