SBCEJM -Chapter 39 Carrying the Third Princess in a Bridal Hold!

【Holy shit! It really is true! This is exciting!】

Everyone who heard the inner voice immediately turned to look at the maidservant.

It was one thing not to notice before, but upon closer inspection, “she” really did look like a man!

【Host, there’s something even more exciting… The reason these two came today is to find a husband from a wealthy family—preferably the sole heir!】

Feng Zexuan instantly understood.

【Let me guess. She wants “Chuntao” to marry into the family together with her, then get rid of the husband after securing a child, so the two of them can live a rich and happy life forever, right?!】

【Mm-hmm! Close enough. Except instead of getting rid of the husband after having his child, she plans to get pregnant with Chuntao’s child first… and then get rid of him!】

Everyone: Gasp… How vicious!

【Today they came specifically to pick out a husband with a good family background—easy to manipulate, preferably an only son. After marrying into the family, she plans to use her natal family’s influence and her own schemes to seize complete control of the household.】

【Then, once the opportunity comes, she’ll poison her husband to death, inherit the family fortune fair and square, and live happily ever after with her lover “Chuntao” as a wealthy widow and her “loyal servant”!】

A revelation like a thunderclap.

Zhang Qian, who had just been chatting and laughing with others, instantly turned deathly pale.

She looked around in terror, feeling as though countless eyes were stripping her bare.

Clang!

The teacup slipped from her hand and shattered on the ground. Scalding tea splashed across her skirt, but she didn’t feel a thing.

Beside her, “Chuntao,” who was noticeably taller and sturdier than ordinary maids, trembled violently and subconsciously stepped back half a pace. His Adam’s apple bobbed nervously, eyes filled with panic.

The gazes of the young masters and ladies around them changed instantly.

Disdain. Shock. Revulsion…

People quietly edged away from her as if she were some filthy contaminant, terrified of getting tainted even slightly.

And those young noblemen who had once entertained thoughts about Zhang Qian—especially the only sons of their families—felt chills run down their spines.

This wasn’t marrying a wife.

This was inviting a grim reaper into the household!

Not only did they mentally cross her name off the list forever, they also resolved to warn their relatives and friends not to fall into this massive trap.

Feng Zexuan gave a cold snort before shifting her gaze toward another girl who had mocked her brother earlier alongside the others—the eldest legitimate daughter of the Assistant Minister of Revenue, Qian Feifei.

【This one isn’t getting away either!】

【System, continue!】

【Ding! Qian Feifei, eldest legitimate daughter of the Assistant Minister of Revenue, has always been jealous that her concubine-born younger sister has a slimmer and more graceful figure.】

【Three months ago, in pursuit of a tiny waist, she tightened her corset so excessively that she actually fractured two ribs!】

【Even now, beneath her gorgeous robes, she’s wearing a specially made iron corset to keep the bones in place.】

【The reason she’s sitting so still today isn’t because she’s dignified—it’s because any movement sends piercing pain through her cracked ribs!】

Moments ago, Qian Feifei had still been wearing a smug expression while enjoying the gossip.

But the moment that voice started exposing her secrets, her smile froze.

She abruptly stood up.

The sudden stretch pulled at her ribs, instantly draining all color from her face. Fine beads of cold sweat formed on her forehead.

Her entire body curled inward, and she could no longer utter a single word.

After two explosive revelations in a row, everyone’s expressions became increasingly subtle. The way they looked at Scholar Feng now held not only curiosity, but deep wariness.

This Scholar Feng…

Could he possess some demonic art that allowed him to read people’s hearts?

Untouchable. Absolutely untouchable!

After finally finding her brother in the crowd, Feng Zexuan spread her hands and offered him the dates she had picked along the way.

“‘Sister,’ try these! These red dates are really sweet!”

Feng Zekai accepted the two large red dates, feeling delighted inside.

Xuan’er really did think of him whenever she found something good!

“Mhm, thanks.” In every sense of the word.

“Hehe, what’s there to thank me for? They’re just two—”

Before Feng Zexuan could finish speaking, the system’s urgent alarm suddenly rang out in her mind.

【Warning! Warning! Host! A level-one suicide mission conspiracy has been detected!】

【Lin Yu, heir of the Annan Marquis Manor, is planning to push the Third Princess into Lotus Pond!】

The Annan Marquis heir? Lin Yu?

Feng Zexuan’s gaze instantly turned icy.

Wasn’t this the same scumbag who had harassed her brother in the street before?

【That bastard never learns his lesson? Getting his face planted in muddy water last time wasn’t enough? And now he dares target the Third Princess!?】

Feng Zexuan burned with rage.

How could she allow anyone to bully the beautiful sister she had just made friends with?!

The system hurriedly explained:

【Host, Lin Yu’s hidden illness was exposed to the Annan Marquis by his ambitious concubine-born younger brother.】

【The Marquis is furious and preparing to petition His Majesty to strip him of his heir position.】

【Driven into a corner, Lin Yu came up with this despicable scheme—if he “rescues” the Third Princess after she falls into the water and creates the appearance of intimate physical contact, he can use that to request marriage to the princess from His Majesty.】

Feng Zexuan:

【Marry the princess? Him? Is he even worthy? What key does he think he fits? A toad dreaming of eating swan meat!】

【Host, he thinks that once he becomes the imperial son-in-law, the Annan Marquis won’t dare bring up stripping him of his heirship again for the sake of the imperial family’s reputation. That’s his plan to preserve his position!】

Feng Zexuan clenched her fists tightly.

For the sake of his own power and status, he was willing to ruin a young woman’s entire life.

Utterly vile and shameless!

【Host! The Third Princess knows nothing and is already heading toward the lakeside path where he laid his trap!】

Feng Zexuan’s heart tightened. She immediately looked around frantically.

Sure enough, the fiery red figure was nowhere to be seen among the crowd.

【System, location!】

【Third turn of the zigzag bridge. Moss grows beside the railing there—it’s extremely slippery!】

Feng Zexuan could no longer care about anything else.

“‘Sister,’ watch yourself!”

Before the words had even fully left her mouth, she shoved through the crowd and raced in the direction the system indicated.

Deep within the imperial garden, the Lotus Pond shimmered with emerald waves.

Xiao Mingyue stood at the corner of the zigzag bridge, admiring a pair of blooming twin lotuses with great interest.

She was in an excellent mood, still replaying “Feng Zekai’s” straightforward and passionate compliments in her mind.

Behind a nearby decorative rock, Lin Yu lurked in ambush, his lecherous eyes fixed greedily on her.

At that moment, a young eunuch carrying a tray “accidentally” slipped and crashed directly toward her.

“Your Highness, be careful!”

The eunuch cried out as the tray flew from his hands, wine splashing toward Xiao Mingyue.

Instinctively, Xiao Mingyue stepped backward to avoid it.

But her foot landed squarely on the slick moss.

“Ah!”

She cried out in alarm, losing her balance as she toppled toward the icy lake water!

Not far away, Lin Yu—who had already removed his outer robe, ready to leap in at any moment—revealed a vicious grin of certain victory.

In that split second—

Just as Xiao Mingyue’s body was about to plunge into the lake, a green figure shot forward like lightning!

Fast!

So fast that all anyone saw was a blur.

Using the bridge railing for leverage with the tip of her foot, Feng Zexuan moved like a swallow skimming the water. In midair, she stretched out one arm and wrapped it precisely around Xiao Mingyue’s slender waist.

Her arm tightened sharply, forcefully dragging the princess back from the brink of falling.

The tremendous momentum sent the two of them spinning across the bridge.

Taking advantage of the motion, Feng Zexuan simply swept the still-shaken Xiao Mingyue entirely into a bridal carry before landing steadily several steps away on solid ground.

The entire sequence flowed smoothly in one flawless motion.

A hero saving the beauty.

A princess carry.

Time itself seemed to freeze in that instant.