Chapter 101: The Overpowered Duo

Jade and Clear Moon exchanged a glance, both puzzled.

“So that way, she can handle everything in that one trip when there's a chance to go out!” Qin Wanru smiled slightly, a trace of amusement curling at the corners of her lips.

The harder it was to leave, the more urgent it became to settle all matters at once. The major affairs would require Aunt Zhou’s involvement, but smaller tasks could be entrusted to the other maids. Since Aunt Zhou was forbidden to go out, the younger maids could take care of errands like notifying someone or overseeing a seller.

Hearing that she was to be sent back to her family home, the Di family must have been anxious, hastily selling off their shops and, of course, reaching out to their kin in the capital for help.

“Yes, Miss, your servant will go at once!” Qin Wanru’s words instantly reminded Jade. She smiled respectfully, impressed by Qin Wanru’s foresight, and turned to find Aunt Duan.

Though younger than herself, the young mistress was undeniably clever, thinking of everything.

“Wait a moment, Clear Moon, go find Aunt Duan. After you speak with her, return to the courtyard. Jade and I will be going out for a bit! Also, give Jade a few of the pouches you have for rewarding the servants; we’ll need them shortly,” Qin Wanru suddenly called out.

Compared to Jade, Clear Moon was more familiar with the household staff.

The pouches contained silver coins meant as rewards for servants. Qin Wanru had just recalled an important matter that must be settled before leaving Jiangzhou.

This would be a great help to her from hereon.

Judging by the time, that person should still be in Jiangzhou.

“Yes, Miss, please be careful!” Clear Moon nodded, taking several pouches from her sleeve to hand to Jade, reminding her once more before departing.

“Jade, can you climb this wall?” Qin Wanru looked up, narrowing her eyes to assess the tall wall beside her. Leaving Jade behind wasn’t only because Clear Moon knew the household well.

“Well… that might be difficult. Though I’m strong, I’m afraid I can’t jump up that high!” Jade glanced up, gesturing at the height, feeling doubtful about her ability.

“What if the swing frame flies over? Could you jump up then?” Qin Wanru touched her hand, now fully recovered—there was no chance of mishap!

“Miss, what are you planning?” Jade looked at the wall and then at Qin Wanru, uneasy. After all, it was Master Qingqiu’s order for her to watch over the lady carefully. They had only just arrived, and the young lady was supposed to behave properly—why the idea of climbing a wall?

“I just want to take a stroll outside without anyone in the household knowing,” Qin Wanru said matter-of-factly. She had done such things many times before; the excuse carried no pressure.

“Is it dangerous?” Jade remained concerned.

“Not at all. It’s just a short walk. Even if someone comes looking for me, Clear Moon knows how to handle it,” Qin Wanru smiled.

Having been by her side so long, Clear Moon understood her intentions well, which was why she had cautioned her to be careful.

“How will you get up there, Miss?” Jade, clever herself, quickly guessed Qin Wanru had done this before and that it probably wasn’t dangerous. She looked again at the high wall.

“I jumped up myself from the swing!” Qin Wanru lifted her chin slightly, pointing to the wall’s top.

---

Measuring the height in her mind, Jade said, “If Miss can do it, your servant can follow your method!”

“That’s not guaranteed. Clear Moon can’t climb the way I do!” Qin Wanru recalled Clear Moon’s awkwardness and laughed.

“If Miss can, your servant will wait!” Jade replied confidently.

“Good, watch closely!” Qin Wanru’s smile brightened. “You stand back!”

Jade obeyed, stepping back some distance from the swing frame. Qin Wanru began to swing, pushing off a branch at the same spot each time, swinging higher and higher.

Her attention was fully on the swing, unaware that a young boy had appeared outside the wall, watching her with astonishment as she swung her body slightly over the wall’s edge—such a high swing!

On the last swing, at the highest point, Qin Wanru released her grip and, with practiced ease, landed on the wall’s top. She grasped the tiles, her body swaying slightly, which startled both the boy outside and Jade inside, who hurried down the wall, worried she might fall.

Qin Wanru steadied herself, turning back to look inside softly, “Jade, can you do it?”

Seeing Qin Wanru stable, Jade relaxed and nodded, “Miss, rest assured, your servant can do it!”

Though she hadn’t tried, watching Qin Wanru’s method made it seem manageable. Jade was more agile than most, and quite strong.

Sitting on the swing frame, she tugged the rope to feel its tension, then looked up at Qin Wanru perched on the wall, “Miss, you go down first or move aside. I’m afraid I might fall on you!”

“Oh, then wait a moment. I’ll go down first!” Qin Wanru glanced around, deciding it was safer to descend.

She stepped aside, hugging the branch that extended over the wall, and carefully slid down.

“Never seen a noble lady climb walls and trees before. Not bad, well done!” A voice spoke before she had even landed.

Startled almost to falling, Qin Wanru steadied herself and turned to see a young boy leaning against the wall, watching the spectacle with a mischievous grin.

Though he had a blade of grass in his mouth, his elegant robes and noble bearing marked him as no ordinary boy.

Behind him stood a small attendant, roughly his age, smiling as he too watched the show.

Qin Wanru pursed her rosy lips. She didn’t know who he was, but she could tell he was no commoner.

In her previous life, she had seen many noble sons, but this boy seemed born with an aura of nobility, far above the usual.

“Who are you?” Qin Wanru’s long lashes fluttered, her large black eyes wary.

“Why aren’t you afraid? Why didn’t you fall? I was ready to catch you just now!” The boy looked up at the tree and then at her, clearly impressed that she hadn’t fallen despite the risk.

“Who are you?” Qin Wanru asked again, displeased.

“And you? The second young lady of the Ningyuan General’s mansion?” The boy tilted his head, ignoring her question, instead sizing her up curiously.

---

Not only had he never seen a noble lady so daring as to climb walls and trees, but her appearance was striking—so young and yet so beautiful. He wondered what she might become when she grew older.

Earlier he had been too far to see clearly, but now he realized the girl before him was not only stunningly beautiful but had a fresh radiance. Her pink lips contrasted delicately with her jade-like skin, a blend of white and rosy hues, enchanting even as a child.

“Do you need something?” Qin Wanru’s gaze steadied, her long lashes flicking.

“I was just curious seeing you climb over the wall.” The boy tossed away the grass and strode over.

Qin Wanru cautiously stepped back, unsure of his intentions.

He approached the tree, grasped the trunk, tested his hold, then nimbly climbed up. Sitting atop the wall, he turned back with a proud smile, “How’s that? Impressive, right? No one climbs better than me!”

Before he could finish boasting, something heavy bumped into his back, and he began to fall. His attendant rushed forward to catch him.

The attendant was quick, and the boy managed to grab a branch to lessen the fall, so it didn’t seem too bad at first.

But once on the ground, he found he couldn’t get up immediately.

Falling in front of such a pretty girl was humiliating.

He struggled to rise, only to be pressed back down by the weight of someone else. The attendant on the bottom groaned dramatically, “Master… don’t move yet, if you press down again, I’ll be done for!”

Qin Wanru stared in astonishment at the tangled heap before her: three people piled up, all looking worse for wear. Jade was holding her waist, struggling to stand. The two beneath her wore twisted expressions, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

This unexpected turn was quite a surprise. How coincidental that Jade had managed to jump up too!

“Jade… are you alright?” Qin Wanru laughed as she stepped forward to help Jade, who was already supporting the young boy to stand.

“I’m fine… but who are these two? How did they end up falling beneath me like that?” Jade twisted her waist and, seeing no injuries, relaxed and then laughed at the pained faces of the two beneath her.

Feeling a sudden lightness and hearing Jade’s words, the boy finally realized he had also been used as a cushion. No wonder he couldn’t get up right away. He pulled himself up with effort, grimacing as he helped the attendant below.

The attendant also stood and stretched, confirming only bruises, no other injuries, then quickly turned to the boy, anxiously asking, “Master, are you alright?”

“I’m fine!” The boy rubbed his waist where the impact was worst, but moving now seemed no problem.

“Are you sure? Should we have the imperial physician examine you? If anything serious happened, it would be disastrous!” the attendant fretted.

“What’s there to fear? I’ve fallen before. The girl is fine, so what harm could I have?” The boy felt embarrassed being questioned in front of a girl. He patted himself off and brusquely pushed the attendant aside, then looked at the person standing behind him.

The sight made him freeze in place.