Stinky Bandit, I’m Pregnant! - Chapter 6:

Chapter 6: She Really Jumped into the River

The scene remained silent, with only the faint sound of the river flowing.

Xiao Lingshuang furrowed her brows once more. In her heart, she wondered what kind of ridiculous thing this “credit” system was, that it could scare these young men and women into such a state.

“My Lord, you’ve read them both. Please give us some feedback—just tell us whose poem is better.”

Gu Fei glanced again at the two unsigned poems, then smiled and said, “Since neither of you signed your names, my evaluation will be even more impartial.”

“First of all, both poems have their own strengths.”

This also indirectly proved that neither of them had been slacking off in the academy. Gu Fei was pleased by this.

He gently placed the papers back onto the stone table. “The first poem describes the lotus flower’s elegance and purity. The imagery of a gentle breeze and clear water is quite fitting. The phrase ’emerging like a lotus from the water’ carries an ancient charm, and the final line, ‘Only the pure reflection remains facing the sky,’ is the finishing touch. It reflects a serene, self-contained lotus, untouched by the secular world.”

Hmm… this Gu Fei guy, his commentary was sharp and precise. And his final comment revealed his literary depth. Xiao Lingshuang couldn’t help but view him in a new light. Had she misjudged him again?

Her beautiful eyes secretly glanced at Gu Fei.

Ye Anlan, standing nearby, caught the look on her face and noted it all. Inwardly, she thought, if she’s really just a merchant from the capital, why the suggestive glances?

Gu Fei paused briefly, then turned to the second poem. “As for the second one, the first two lines use ‘green leaves stretch to the sky’ to set the scene, and ‘fragrance fills the sleeves, carrying emotion’ creates strong emotional resonance. It feels like the charm of the lotus flows straight into one’s heart. The last two lines move from the suffering at the flower’s core to its outer beauty. Though the diction is plain, there’s depth hidden within, revealing the endurance and hardship behind beauty.”

“My Lord, between these two, which one is better?” Xu Hui and Song Yan asked almost simultaneously.

Gu Fei frowned deeply… Damn, this really was hard to judge.

Seeing his troubled expression, the two girls knew that both their poems had impressed him. Their hearts were immediately stirred with excitement.

One on each side, they hooked onto Gu Fei’s arms and said sweetly, “My Lord, don’t feel pressured. You don’t know who wrote which anyway—just say which one you prefer.”

Xiao Lingshuang was shocked. These two girls… had no sense of propriety?

Gu Fei felt the soft pressure on both arms and was silently frustrated. Damn it, could you two ease up a bit? This lord’s heart can’t take it.

He subtly slipped his arms out from theirs and smiled. “Both poems are excellent. But if I have to choose, the second poem edges ahead slightly—it carries a broader sense of meaning.”

“Haha… Xu Hui, you lost!” Song Yan beamed with joy and was visibly excited.

Gu Fei frowned slightly and turned to give the overly proud Song Yan a serious look. Then he gently comforted the clearly upset Xu Hui, “Xu Hui, your poem isn’t bad at all. In my eyes, you’ve improved significantly. Keep working hard next time.”

“My Lord, you don’t need to comfort me…!” Xu Hui cried out and ran away like a madwoman.

Her face was covered in tears, her chest tight with sorrow. The world before her eyes blurred.

She ran toward the river like she’d lost her mind, eyes filled with grievance and despair.

“My Lord only said I’ve improved? Doesn’t that mean I’ll never be better than her?” Xu Hui bit her lip, her mind consumed by shame and unwillingness.

She had spent so many days and nights preparing for this moment, all to gain his approval and to suppress Song Yan’s arrogance.

But she still wasn’t good enough.

Gu Fei watched her running toward the river, then glanced at Ye Anlan in the crowd.

Ye Anlan instantly understood and chased after her.

Seeing the situation, Ye Anlan hurried forward, shouting loudly toward the running girl, “Xu Hui, stop right there!”

But Xu Hui had already jumped into the river. The icy water swallowed her in an instant.

Gu Fei’s expression changed drastically.

“Damn! She really can’t handle losing…”

He looked around at the others and shouted, “What are you all standing around for? If you can swim, get in there and save her!”

This river was a branch of the River Li, and its current was strong. As soon as Xu Hui jumped in, she was swept away.

Gu Fei noticed some of the boys still hesitating and was so enraged that he quickly took off his outer robe and tossed it to Xiao Lingshuang. Then he sprinted to the riverbank and dove in without a second thought.

He moved so fast that Xiao Lingshuang didn’t even have time to react.

All she saw was Gu Fei’s figure chasing after Xu Hui’s bobbing form through the rapids.

His swimming speed stunned her. She had never seen someone move through water so fast. In her heart, she thought, A man called a county magistrate would actually risk his life and take the lead to save someone?

At that moment, Xiao Lingshuang felt that this man might not be as detestable as he appeared.

She silently thought, “If the ministers at court had his ability and courage, perhaps Beiheng wouldn’t be in such chaos.”

She sighed deeply, unsure how much more of a mess the capital had become. Her illegitimate younger brother, the Second Prince Xiao Yang, must be thrilled right now.

She was filled with worry. What was she supposed to do from now on?

Meanwhile, Xu Hui had no intention of living. She didn’t even try to tread water or struggle.

Gu Fei was still seven to eight meters away when her body sank beneath the surface.

“Shit… not good!” Gu Fei’s heart nearly exploded as he watched her disappear beneath the water.

The crowd watched as he too sank out of sight.

Ye Anlan, still on the shore, saw Gu Fei suddenly vanish beneath the surface as well and grew frantic. In her heart, she prayed nonstop, “Gu Fei, you absolutely can’t have anything happen to you… If something happens to you, what will happen to the people of Shangyuan County… What about me?!”

Xiao Lingshuang, snapping out of her thoughts and seeing that Gu Fei hadn’t resurfaced for a long time, felt a slight tremble in her chest. “That bastard better not have really died… I still have so many questions to ask him!”

Second after second passed.

Everyone’s hearts began to sink.

Da Ya and Er Ya had already started crying out loud.

Ye Anlan was flustered and filled with regret. She choked out, “Why didn’t I stop that guy? If someone had to save her, it should’ve been someone else! Always acting tough… Might as well die, so I can leave all this behind too.”

But the next second, her heart silently added, “No… You absolutely can’t die!”

The people on the riverbank were close to losing their minds, all shouting for their lord…

Underwater, Gu Fei felt like his lungs were about to burst. He had searched several times but hadn’t touched Xu Hui at all. His heart sank.

He was filled with regret. If he’d known this would happen, he’d have just exaggerated her poem’s praise—or at least called it a tie.

Xu Hui couldn’t die. Her father was a well-known merchant in Shangyuan County. If she died, it would deal a heavy blow to Xu Jinheng, and Gu Fei still had a lot of tasks planned for him.

If Xu Jinheng found out his daughter had drowned herself because of something Gu Fei said about her poem, he might hold a deep grudge.

But as if the heavens were still watching over him, just as his lungs were about to give out and he was ready to give up…

His fingers suddenly brushed against the corner of Xu Hui’s clothing. His heart surged with joy, and he grabbed her tightly, then kicked hard, propelling them both toward the surface.