Chapter Twenty-One: Another Secret Rendezvous

Qin Wanru walked to the desk, picked up the brush, pondered for a moment, and then began to draw on the rice paper. When she finished, she examined her work before putting down the brush. Carefully, she picked up the paper and brought it over to Chu Liuchen. “Your Highness, please look—this is the design.”

“Well done!” Chu Liuchen raised his handsome brows, gazing at the drawing with approval.

A wave of bitterness washed over Qin Wanru. In her previous life, after entering the capital, she had avoided all company, surviving only by her art. Her painting skills had advanced rapidly, but what use was talent? In the end, it was these very skills that led her to a tragic end—execution by waist chopping, with the sky twisting above her in agony. The blade fell, and yet she did not die instantly; only endless pain and despair remained.

“Tonight, I will bring you the seal,” Chu Liuchen smiled, but his expression turned chilling. “But you must not let anyone else know of this… Otherwise…”

“Rest assured, Your Highness. I have never asked you for help, and you have never done anything for me,” Qin Wanru replied earnestly, her delicate face tense and serious, perfectly obedient and sensible.

Little did she know how adorable this mature act appeared on her youthful, cherubic features, her soft, rounded cheeks adding a charming touch to her prettiness.

“Go on!” Chu Liuchen, satisfied, reached out and pinched her still-plump cheek with practiced ease, then waved her away as she stood stunned.

Qin Wanru left the room feeling both aggrieved and hurt, thinking this prince treated her like a little puppy.

She took a deep breath, bowed respectfully to Chu Liuchen, then turned and exited. Only after stepping outside did she finally exhale, feeling cold sweat down her back. Her clear eyes flicked wary glances toward the courtyard gate.

This Prince of Chen truly had many faces: sometimes as gentle as jade, sometimes cold and enchanting, and sometimes displaying the unruly temperament of a youth his age.

But one thing was certain—every side of him was dangerous.

Still, dangerous as he was, he was also a powerful ally, someone with bright prospects. Should she cling to this support or not?

It seemed, if the need arose, she ought to hold on—after all, she was still just a child!

With her mind made up, she relaxed and set off with Qingyue.

She returned directly to her own courtyard, but halfway there, she sent Qingyue off to gather news about Qin Yuru’s situation. Qi Tianyu was not someone to be trifled with.

Qingyue was quick to go and quick to return. Qin Wanru had barely sat down in her room when the maid came back.

“Miss, there’s nothing happening with the eldest young lady!” Qingyue wiped her brow as she spoke.

“Nothing? Is the eldest young lady planning to go out?” Qin Wanru was briefly puzzled, then smiled. Qi Tianyu hadn't acted? Not that surprising, she supposed.

“Yes, I overheard the eldest young lady’s maid say she would be going out tonight, and that her mother planned to inform the old matron at the side gate,” Qingyue reported. She had double-checked this at the gate for certainty.

Previously, the matron at the side gate refused to let anyone out.

Tonight, then? Qin Wanru’s lips curved in a clear and spirited smile. She fiddled with her handkerchief, then put it down, still smiling. As expected, Qi Tianyu couldn’t wait any longer—tonight would be quite a show.

She was rather looking forward to it.

Turning to her writing desk, she picked up a brush, thought for a moment, then began writing. Once the ink had dried, she slipped the letter into an envelope and handed it to Qingyue.

“Go find Nanny Yu and have Brother Feng deliver this to Brother Baiyu. He’ll understand. Then, follow him tonight and watch the excitement. Come back and report to me afterwards.”

Qi Baiyu was the second son of Magistrate Qi and the one Qi Tianyu accused her of being involved with. He was twelve now, clever and talented, though always looked down upon by Qi Tianyu.

When the Magistrate’s household and the Ningyuan General’s household traveled together, the similarly aged Qi Baiyu and Qin Wanru were often playmates.

In her previous life, it was Qi Baiyu’s help that allowed her, after her husband's death and universal scorn, to seize a rare chance and escape that suffocating mansion.

“Yes, miss! I’ll go right away!” Qingyue nodded, took the letter, and hurried off.

After supper, the old madam sent someone to check on her. Seeing that she was well, she simply instructed the nanny to remind her to mind her wound and then left.

When everyone was gone and she’d washed up, Qin Wanru didn’t go to bed. She lit a lamp, sat by the window, and casually flipped through a medical book.

She was waiting—for the seal.

She was also waiting—for trouble to find Qin Yuru.

That evening, Qin Yuru slipped out the back gate of the Ningyuan General’s mansion, heading for the restaurant where she and Qi Tianyu often met.

The two of them had frequently gotten together in secret, so the route was familiar, and Qi Tianyu always reserved a private room at that restaurant.

Qin Yuru wore a veiled hat as she left. When she entered the room, Qi Tianyu was already there, his expression cold as he watched her come in.

Her maid Meixue helped her remove the hat, then both she and Qi Tianyu’s servant stood quietly by the door, heads lowered.

“Tianyu!” Qin Yuru hurried to him, almost stumbling, then collapsed at his side, sobbing uncontrollably.

Qi Tianyu’s face remained stern, his gaze dark and fixed on her pale, lovely features.

“Why?” He finally asked, his voice hoarse.

“Tianyu, I really don’t know why this happened… The letters… I just saw them and was so frightened I tried to hide them. I don’t know where they came from! How could I not know, yet my second sister knows everything?” Qin Yuru wept, tears streaming down her pale face, looking utterly frail.

Seeing the woman he cherished weeping so wretchedly at his feet, Qi Tianyu’s heart softened. “So you’re saying you had nothing to do with this—it was all Qin Wanru’s scheme?”

“I truly don’t know. When I saw that box, I was so shocked I lost control… Tianyu, do you still not believe me? If I wanted to be engaged to my cousin, I wouldn’t have agreed to your family’s proposal in the first place!” Qin Wanru continued to cry, tears flowing endlessly.

“How did Qin Wanru know to put such letters on your dressing table?” Qi Tianyu frowned, still unconvinced.

“I don’t know… I don’t know why my second sister would do this… Or maybe it wasn’t her at all. She’s so kind and so young—how could she possibly do such a thing? But I really don’t know where that box came from!” Qin Yuru cried even more desperately.

Seeing her reduced to a pitiful, weeping figure, Qi Tianyu hesitated. He did not truly believe she would lie to him. They had grown up together, childhood sweethearts, and she was so gentle—how could she do such a thing, especially when she was defending her sister even now?

He reached out and gently wiped away her tears, asking again, “You’re not lying to me?”

“I wouldn’t lie! If I ever lie to you, may I meet a terrible end!” Qin Yuru swore earnestly, knowing she had to be convincing to win his trust.

“Are you sure you’re not lying to me?” Qi Tianyu pressed, almost fully convinced by now. He pulled Qin Yuru up from the floor, and she immediately threw herself into his arms, sobbing anew.

“Tianyu, what should I do? I might as well die and spare you from being tainted by all this!” Qin Yuru cried in panic, looking up at him with sorrowful eyes, then suddenly wrenched herself free and dashed toward the window.

The restaurant overlooked a fast-flowing river—jumping from here would be almost certain death.

Seeing her rush for the window, Qi Tianyu panicked and grabbed her by the collar. “I believe you, Yuru! Don’t do anything rash. We’ll find a way!”

“What way is left… It’s all over… the engagement is broken… what can be done?” Qin Yuru sobbed breathlessly, her delicate frame held tightly in his arms, a scene of utter misery.

“It’ll be alright, we’ll find a way. But how did your second sister manage to put the box on your dressing table?” Qi Tianyu comforted her, patting her back, though suspicion lingered in his heart.

He couldn’t quite make sense of it. Qin Wanru was just a mischievous child—how could she be so vicious? She was still so young and always seemed obedient and sweet.

“Maybe she was tricked too!” Qin Yuru now wished nothing more than for Qin Wanru to die, but she forced herself to defend her aloud, repeating the explanation she and Madam Di had prepared. “She’s always been close to Aunt Shui.”

Though Shui Ruolan usually kept to herself, the two households were friendly, and Qi Tianyu knew her as well. Hearing this, he suddenly felt it made sense. Qin Yuru had often whispered that Shui Ruolan, though serene on the surface, secretly coveted her father.

“It’s because of General Ningyuan!” Qi Tianyu gritted his teeth.

He was suddenly convinced. Qin Wanru might be too young to understand, but Shui Ruolan was an adult—perhaps she harbored a grudge against Madam Di and thus orchestrated such a malicious plot.

“Did you know, just a few days ago, she lured Father into her room. Mother has been quarreling with Father ever since. Maybe…” Qin Yuru, seeing that he believed her, added fuel to the fire through her tears.

“Shameless…” At this point, Qi Tianyu was completely convinced, his face dark with anger as he held Qin Yuru tightly.

Suddenly, the door was flung open and several people burst in, arguing and falling over each other—