"Huh? Weren't those people after you, Your Highness?"
Zhang Xinnian froze, surprise written all over his face.
With so many attackers, he had assumed whoever was behind it had grown desperate and made a move against his heir apparent.
Tang Ningshuang's expression changed as well.
She had also thought they were after Jiang Xiaobai, but now... apparently not.
"That's right."
Jiang Xiaobai nodded. "They were after someone else-the young woman who fell into the water with me."
"Who exactly is that young woman?"
Zhang Xinnian's eyes widened. "How did she attract an assassination attempt on such a huge scale?"
Every one of those black-clad men had been an expert. Even he had nearly been overwhelmed.
He had also seen the woman Jiang Xiaobai mentioned when they were out in the middle of the lake.
But he hadn't gotten a clear look at her face.
"No idea."
Sitting in the boat, Jiang Xiaobai raised his hand and wrung out his sodden sleeve. "She's deaf and mute. I couldn't get an answer even if I asked."
"Deaf and mute?"
Tang Ningshuang looked at Jiang Xiaobai, her brows drawing together slightly.
"Yes."
Jiang Xiaobai nodded. "The owner told me himself. And when I spoke to her, she really didn't react at all."
"Back on shore, I tried to explain that I'd saved her. I gestured for ages, but she still didn't understand."
At that, helplessness filled Jiang Xiaobai's face. "Anyway... it was quite a hassle."
"Still, if we want to know who she is, we can just ask the owner. Only that owner... he's as crafty as a monkey. Getting anything out of him might be difficult!"
Tang Ningshuang said nothing more.
Yet she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
After finishing, Jiang Xiaobai leaned against the side of the boat