Chapter 2: 2 要命的试练

Accompanied by Qin Qin's magic incantation, a waterspout as thick as two people embracing rapidly took shape. Just as the many accompanying servants were still reeling from the unprecedented sight before them, the massive waterspout, laced with the roar of the ocean, slammed violently into Qin Su.

The enormous waterspout surged toward Qin Su, sweeping her into mid-air. The rapidly spinning currents pressed against her chest, making it feel heavy and stifled; the suffocating sensation of death drew near...

Suddenly, the pressure on her chest lightened as the magic failed. Qin Su flailed her hands as she fell from three meters in the air, collapsing into a curled ball on the ground. Her vision went black, and she lost consciousness.

"Sixth Young Lady!" Ming Yu rushed to her side. Seeing that Qin Su was unconscious, she cried out in tears, "Sixth Young Lady, please wake up! Don't scare Ming Yu!"

"What are you screaming for! Shut up, your shouting is annoying me!" Qin Qin scolded, her small face cold and frowning.

"Third Young Lady, I beg you, please, please call a doctor for Sixth Young Lady." Seeing that Qin Su showed no sign of waking, Ming Yu crawled on her knees to Qin Qin's feet, kowtowing heavily against the ground as she pleaded through her tears.

"Call a doctor for what?" A flash of panic crossed Qin Qin's small face. If she called a doctor, wouldn't Mother find out? She glared fiercely at Ming Yu, then, as if thinking of something, pointed at Qin Su and said to the maidservants nearby, "You two, go fetch a bucket of water and splash her awake." Hearing this, Ming Yu froze completely in place, even forgetting to cry.

The snow from last winter had gradually melted away with the approaching footsteps of spring, and the weather had warmed slightly. However, Ming Yu knew clearly that the well water in this season would turn one's hands numb the instant they were dipped in; even more so, any fool would understand the consequences of dousing a soaking wet Qin Su with a bucket of it. Seeing the maids fetching the water from a distance, Ming Yu glanced back at the unconscious Qin Su, wiped the tears from her face haphazardly, and took advantage of Qin Qin's distraction to flee the back garden, sprinting toward the front courtyard.

The bone-chilling cold water was poured over her head. Stimulated by the shock, Qin Su's brow furrowed tightly as she let out a groan, her incessantly trembling body curled into a ball.

The maidservant Xiao Cui had sharp ears. Hearing the commotion, she hurried to Jingyun Pavilion and reported to Qin Qin, who was waiting there for news, "Third Young Lady, Sixth Young Lady has woken up."

"Really?" Hearing this, Qin Qin stood up and slapped the stone table in excitement, saying with a hint of smugness, "Go take a look. I told you this woman wouldn't die so easily. That stupid girl Ming Yu actually dared to try and scare me! I won't let that master and servant duo off easy this time!"

Qin Su, curled in a ball on the ground, kept her eyes tightly shut. Though an occasional groan escaped her, she was still in a state of unconsciousness; she looked nothing like someone who had woken up. As a slight chill of wind blew past, Qin Su trembled even more uncontrollably. The excitement that had filled Qin Qin vanished in an instant, her expression turning grim.

Seeing that the situation was wrong, Xiao Cui immediately knelt to explain, "Third Young Lady, I really saw Sixth Young Lady wake up, just a moment ago..."

Displacing her anger, Qin Qin kicked over a nearby water bucket, interrupting Xiao Cui. "Go! Fetch more water! Keep splashing her until she wakes up!"

After several consecutive buckets of water were poured, Qin Su remained in her curled position, but those standing close could notice... she had stopped moving. She was no longer trembling; her entire being looked as if she lacked even a trace of breath.

The timid Xiao Cui began to feel afraid. Her hands, red and swollen from fetching water repeatedly, trembled uncontrollably. The bucket wobbled, spilling much of its contents along the way. As she approached Qin Su, she stumbled and fell to the ground along with the bucket.

The bucket rolled across the ground and came to a stop beside Qin Su. Xiao Cui's heart pounded wildly. She scrambled to get up to retrieve the bucket to continue fetching water, but just as her hand was about to reach for it, an icy palm—as if reaching out from hell—grabbed her hand.

"Ahhhhh!" The scream was shrill and desperate, startling the serving maids. In the pavilion, Qin Qin's hand jerked, shattering her teacup, and she hurriedly ran outside.