Qing Lan's previous shouting had worked. By the time Li Zhengyu was back at the edge of the pond, a small crowd of the manor's servants had gathered. Li Zhengyu dragged the coughing Qing Lan up the bank and out of the water. Now that he had an audience, he could put on a very good show.
Li Zhengyu fell to his knees and made large, exaggerated coughs. Qing Lan howled and shoved at a man who was trying to help her up. She turned to Li Zhengyu and pointed at him.
"How dare you!" She screeched in a voice that was unlike the fake sweet smiles she used to give him.
"Qing Lan, do not point at the Young Master like that," shushed a middle aged man in brown work robes. He was He Zhang, the head butler. He'd been the man that tried to help her. He covered her hand with his and tried to pull her aside.
"What is all this commotion!?"
