Chapter Twenty-Three: Those in Poor Health Should Go to Bed Early

Qin Wanru’s lips had always been vividly colored. Her grandmother used to say that it was precisely because of her striking lip color that she was given her childhood name: Zhuozhuo—Radiant. There was a shadowy gap in her memory, a time when her bold lips brought her trouble, earning her the scorn of all around her. Things had gone from bad to worse ever since. Yet the details eluded her; all she remembered was the uniform contempt of those eyes.

“What’s the matter? Is it really some secret health remedy you can’t teach me?” Chu Liuchen watched her pale face drain of color, pinched her cheek, and laughed. He didn’t hold back, and the pain brought tears to Qin Wanru’s eyes as she reached out to grab his hand—momentarily forgetting the ache at the core of her memory.

Before her hand could reach him, Chu Liuchen had already withdrawn, leaving her grasping at air. He burst into unrestrained laughter—a handsome young man’s laughter, infuriating in its arrogance.

Tears clung to the corners of Qin Wanru’s wide eyes, her hand pressed to her stinging cheek. She was certain her face would swell soon.

“Enough, I won’t hold your little secret against you. Let me borrow your medical manual, and in a few days, you’ll accompany me for a stroll. I haven’t explored this river district before.” Chu Liuchen finally managed to rein in his laughter and, seeing how aggrieved she looked, smoothly plucked the medical book from the table.

“Open the door, I’m leaving now.”

“The door?” Qin Wanru, still clutching her face, stared at him in astonishment, her cheek throbbing. “Your Highness intends to leave by the door?”

“Of course. Don’t tell me you expect me to climb out the window? I’m not in good health!” Chu Liuchen placed a hand over his heart and coughed softly, as if to prove his point.

“How did Your Highness get in here in the first place?” Qin Wanru blinked her dark eyes, gaze drifting toward the window.

“Two guards brought me in, but I sent them away after I got here.” Chu Liuchen watched her with amusement, tapping the medical manual impatiently against the table.

“What would it take for Your Highness to leave by the window?” Qin Wanru swallowed, biting her lip.

“If you want me gone, it’s not hard. I’ll just keep the seal for now. If I enjoy my time here, I’ll return it. If not...” Seeing her resigned expression, Chu Liuchen’s smile deepened. This was all within his expectations.

“Yes, Your Highness. Wherever you wish to go, I will gladly serve as your guide and see that you enjoy yourself.” Qin Wanru gritted her teeth; this Prince Chen was truly impossible to deal with.

“Is that all?” Chu Liuchen’s expression suddenly darkened, the chill in his eyes returning.

Qin Wanru’s heart skipped a beat. She had no idea what this unpredictable prince might do next. Cautiously, she said, “What would Your Highness have me do? I await your command.”

Sheltering under another’s roof, she had no choice but to bow her head. Whatever demands he might make, she had no right to refuse.

“You seem quite obedient now. Good, good. Girls should be honest.” The coldness vanished from Chu Liuchen’s face. He smiled gently and, impossibly handsome, reached out to pat her head. “You’re not stupid either. Alright, I won’t make things difficult for you. It’s late. I need my rest as well.”

With a light yawn, he slipped the medical manual into his sleeve and walked to the window, where two guards appeared immediately outside.

“Qin Wanru, don’t think you can fool me the way you fool others. That will not make me happy.” He twirled the seal by its silken cord, his brows lightly arched, a glint in his eyes. “I’m sleeping early tonight. Sickly people always turn in early.”

“Yes, Your Highness, you retired early. I never saw you, nor spoke with you,” Qin Wanru replied with quick understanding.

“Very good.” Chu Liuchen nodded in satisfaction, then pressed a hand to the windowsill and leapt gracefully outside. The two guards hurried to support him, but did not immediately leave. One gently patted his back.

From Qin Wanru’s vantage, she saw his face suddenly pale, his breathing labored. Clearly, his health was truly poor—just that small exertion had left him gasping.

She watched him silently until he caught his breath. Then he looked up with a gentle smile, waved to her, and vanished with his guards from the window.

By the time she reached the window, there was no sign of anyone outside. She shut the window, touched her still-throbbing cheek—sure it would swell by morning—and, seeing how late it was, climbed into bed. Lying there, her hand on her face, she drifted off, thinking drowsily that although someone was surely lying awake tonight, it ought not to be her.

But someone was indeed sleepless tonight. In Lady Di’s quarters, Qin Yuru had only just returned, and now lay sobbing at her desk.

“What? You were seen? What are we to do?” The room was brightly lit, and Lady Di paced anxiously beneath the lanterns. After several rounds, she stopped beside her swollen-eyed daughter, her voice filled with exasperation. “How could you be so useless! You were just supposed to see Qi Tianyu and explain today’s events. How did you manage to botch it so?”

“Mother, I... I don’t know how it happened. I’d almost managed to shift all the blame, but then some local ruffians started fighting and burst in. They saw me, and as I was coming down the stairs, my veil slipped off—” Qin Yuru sobbed so hard she could barely breathe.

“Useless... you can’t even handle such a simple task!” Lady Di pressed her hand furiously to Qin Yuru’s forehead.

“Mother, what do we do now? If cousin finds out, will he still marry me? What will I do?” Qin Yuru tipped her head back, clutching at Lady Di’s hand in desperation.

“Don’t panic, let me think.” Lady Di gritted her teeth and sat down across from her, brows knitted.

“Mother, cousin and I share a deep affection. He will look after me, won’t he?” Qin Yuru dabbed at her face with a handkerchief, voice urgent.

“Jiangzhou is far from the capital. Rumors won’t reach that far, and when they do, we can spin them as we please. Since you’ve convinced Qi Tianyu, even if he returns to the capital, he won’t say anything. As for anyone else, who would know?” Lady Di said through clenched teeth.

At this, Qin Yuru nodded eagerly. She had been terrified her hard-won engagement might be ruined, but now, reassured, her tears dried up.

“Then, Mother, quickly write to Aunt and have my engagement with cousin settled. I’ll write him a letter as well,” she said, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “When you send your letter to the capital, please include mine for cousin too.”

“That’s best.” Lady Di nodded. With the Qi family’s withdrawal, the match was still possible. “Don’t mention anything about Jiangzhou. If rumors arise, blame your younger sister. Your names are similar, so if anyone hears anything, we can say they misheard.”

“Yes, Mother, I understand. But what about that little girl? She ruined my plans—are we really going to let her off so easily?” Qin Yuru’s tone was resentful.

“Of course not. She’s so fond of consorting with that wretch—soon I’ll send them both to the ancestral temple, and when we go to the capital, she won’t come.” Lady Di sneered. “That little ingrate, raised all these years with no sense of gratitude, even dared to bite the hand that feeds her. Who would have thought such a seemingly docile girl could turn so vicious!”

Her daughter’s reputation was nearly destroyed; she would not let Qin Wanru go so easily.

She spoke as if Qin Wanru’s father hadn’t died saving Qin Huaiyong, leaving his daughter in his care. If it hadn’t been for Qin Wanru’s father, Qin Huaiyong would have long since perished, never becoming General Ningyuan.

“Not take her? Will Father agree?” Qin Yuru was pleased at the prospect, but doubted it would be possible.

“Why wouldn’t he? He made a mistake—does he not know how to remedy it?” Lady Di snapped. It had been her idea for him to drunkenly stumble into Shui Ruolan’s room, but she hadn’t expected Qin Huaiyong to truly want to take Shui Ruolan as a concubine. The thought made her sick with rage.

Another little ingrate, seemingly honest but now scheming with Qin Huaiyong.

“But… Father will never agree!” Qin Yuru shook her head, offering a word of caution. “Mother, if you refuse to take this one or that one, Father will not stand for it.”

“Then let him take that wretch, and leave the little girl here to tend to the old woman.” Lady Di slammed her hand on the table, still seething.

It wasn’t just the little girl who’d spoiled things, but the old woman as well.

“Father has always been filial. I doubt he’ll agree.”

“Then make sure she can’t go! She’s still under my control; as long as I’m in charge, she has no choice but to obey!” Lady Di’s eyes gleamed with malice.

The next morning, Qin Wanru woke late, her head throbbing dully. She touched her face as she sat up. Qingyue hurried in at the sound, and, seeing her mistress, cried out in alarm, “Miss, what happened to your face? Why is it so red and swollen?”

“Bring me a mirror,” Qin Wanru sighed.

Qingyue fetched a lead mirror from the dressing table. Qin Wanru took it and studied her reflection. Her complexion was even paler than most girls’, so the swollen, red mark on her cheek stood out starkly. Even after a night’s sleep, the mark had not faded—proof of how hard Chu Liuchen had pinched her.

“Miss, did you bump into something?” Qingyue asked, puzzled. She clearly remembered her mistress’s face had been unmarked the day before.

“I must have bumped into something by accident,” Qin Wanru replied helplessly, rubbing her cheek and handing back the mirror. She got out of bed.

Seeing that it was late, she knew she should go pay her respects to her grandmother.

Once Qingyue had helped her wash and dress, they hurried to the old lady’s rooms—only to find the atmosphere inside was sour.

Had news of yesterday’s events already reached Grandmother’s ears?