Chapter Forty-One: Qin Wanru... You're Dead!

Her body involuntarily toppled to the side. Qin Wanru squeezed her eyes shut in panic, bracing herself for the pain of falling. Yet, after a heavy jolt, the sharp sting she expected did not arrive; it seemed only a slight shock, and there was something soft beneath her—not the hard ground she feared.

Disbelieving, she reached out to touch it and found it surprisingly warm.

"Qin Wanru... you're dead meat!" The suppressed voice came from beneath her. Qin Wanru snapped her eyes open in alarm, meeting a pair of eyes tinged with sinister malice—and they seemed vaguely familiar.

Her gaze slid to the thin lips, where a faint trace of blood lingered. It was Chu Liuchen. What was he doing here?

There was no time to ponder. She scrambled to her feet, instinctively pushing him away.

"Qin Wanru, are you looking... to die?" Chu Liuchen grunted, just starting to sit up when she forcefully pressed him back to the ground.

His threatening tone startled her; Qin Wanru's hand loosened, and she fell back down, pinning him once more. The two stared at each other, wide-eyed. His handsome eyes, framed by long, curled lashes, were so close she could see each one distinctly.

"Your Highness!" A sharp voice called out. The shrill sound made Qin Wanru shudder. Her hand was yanked aside, and Xiao Xuanzi darted over, quickly pulling her off Chu Liuchen and carefully helping the prince sit up, his own face paler than Chu Liuchen's.

"Your Highness, you mustn't have any mishap, please don't let anything happen to you!" Xiao Xuanzi, sweating in panic, pleaded as he gently patted Chu Liuchen's back.

Qin Wanru thought Chu Liuchen looked rather unwell. He sat there, head lowered so she couldn't see his expression, but his motionless posture made her anxious. She knelt beside him, reaching out to help Xiao Xuanzi gently pat his back.

"Your... Your Highness, are you all right?" she asked, her gaze falling on his hand resting atop his knee. He was clenching his fist tightly, and fearing he might hurt himself, Qin Wanru hurried to pry his fingers open. The grip was not strong; she managed to loosen it and slipped her hand inside, holding his firmly.

His hand was large but cold. Qin Wanru tried her best to warm it, wanting to bring heat to his palm.

"Your Highness, it's all right now, really, nothing's wrong!" She wasn't sure if she was comforting Chu Liuchen or herself.

Determined to warm his hand, she lowered her head and used both hands to cradle his.

That discomfort had already passed for Chu Liuchen. Now, he lifted his head slightly, his long lashes fluttering twice, brushing Qin Wanru's pale little face.

Her face was round, out of keeping with her slender frame, seeming fuller and more childlike. Her skin was snowy white, making her lips appear all the more blood-red, and her large, jet-black eyes were so dark they stirred the heart.

Her features were exquisite and enchanting.

She looked beautiful, with a subtle hint of allure despite her childishness. The faint charm mingled with innocence, making the porcelain doll before him inexplicably endearing.

His gaze dropped to her slender, white hands grasping his. They looked so fragile, almost as if a squeeze would break them. Though her hands were not warm, she was desperately trying to pass warmth to him, however slight.

"Enough, I'm fine now!" Chu Liuchen said impatiently, withdrawing his hand from Qin Wanru's grasp. Supported by Xiao Xuanzi, he slowly stood and coughed quietly twice.

"So, what are you doing here at this hour, meeting someone in secret?" Chu Liuchen looked down at Qin Wanru, still kneeling, his voice icy.

"I... I wasn't meeting anyone in secret. I just had something to discuss with Brother Bai Yu—about Qi Rongzhi," Qin Wanru replied, wiping sweat from her brow, and struggled to stand. Though Chu Liuchen had cushioned her fall, her waist still felt twisted and painful.

"You're close with him?" Chu Liuchen suddenly smiled, his tone lazy and gentle.

"We're fairly close. Brother Bai Yu is very kind and always looks after me," Qin Wanru silently lamented, uncertain how she had once again provoked the mercurial prince.

"Looking after you all the way to the back garden wall, Qin Wanru? Men and women, at eight years, shouldn't share the same seat. Do I need to remind you of this?" Chu Liuchen's smile carried an undeniable chill and authority.

"Brother Bai Yu isn't just anyone. We've known each other since before we were eight," Qin Wanru explained, biting her lip.

"So you mean I'm meddling?" Chu Liuchen raised his brows, still smiling as he slowly took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his lips. His smile was laced with icy menace.

Qin Wanru immediately realized that if she said yes, he would not let her off easily. Seeing his wiping gesture, she shook her head firmly. "If not for Your Highness, I'd have fallen to the ground. Thank you for saving me!"

"A life-saving grace," Chu Liuchen intoned darkly.

"Ah!" Qin Wanru looked up in surprise.

"Yes, a life-saving grace. From that height, are you sure you wouldn't have died?" Chu Liuchen tilted his chin, indicating she should look up.

Qin Wanru followed his gaze, glancing at the high wall, then pitifully at the overturned boxes nearby. She grimaced and nodded with difficulty, "Yes, thank you for saving my life, Your Highness!"

From such a height, she might have sprained her ankle or waist, but losing her life seemed unlikely. Yet under the prince's intense gaze, Qin Wanru knew that contradicting him would bring nothing but trouble. The blood-stained handkerchief he still held out seemed to accuse her.

"Remember my grace. It isn't so easily repaid," Chu Liuchen scrutinized her, then suddenly smiled.

"Whatever Your Highness says, as long as I can do it, I surely will!" Qin Wanru promised through gritted teeth.

"Good." Chu Liuchen coughed softly, turned and leaned on Xiao Xuanzi's hand, ready to leave. After a few steps, he turned back, pointing to the high wall. "Qin Wanru, there won't be a next time."

"Yes, Your Highness, rest assured—there won't be a next time!" Qin Wanru promised immediately. This prince was too troublesome; if she did not comply, he would never let her go. Seeing he had coughed up blood, she knew the injury was serious and genuinely feared for him.

The prince's constitution was far weaker than others; if anything happened to him, she could never make amends.

"Come here, take this and wash it," Chu Liuchen extended his hand again, holding the handkerchief.

"Yes, I'll wash it right away!" Qin Wanru, feeling guilty, hurried over, took the handkerchief from his hand.

"What's wrong with you?" Chu Liuchen noted her hand resting on her waist.

"I... I twisted my waist," Qin Wanru replied, blinking pitifully.

"You actually have a waist? A child like you has a waist? Barrel waist?" Chu Liuchen tilted his head, eyeing her figure with a mocking smile, seeming to be in a good mood.

Qin Wanru pouted, deciding not to argue. She had just caused him to bleed; as long as he was happy, she would endure—even if his words were hard to hear.

"Remember to wash my handkerchief clean!" Chu Liuchen smiled, but did not trouble her further. Leaning on Xiao Xuanzi, he turned and walked away, touching his lips and spitting once more. He had bitten his tongue, the pain nearly bringing tears. This little girl looked so thin, yet falling on him had not been light; his tongue still burned.

Qingyue encountered Qin Wanru halfway, and seeing her clutching her waist, hurried over. "Miss, what happened? You were fine before, how did you end up like this?"

Qin Wanru had earlier told Qingyue to wait outside Qin Yuru's courtyard.

"I slipped," Qin Wanru replied, rubbing her waist, her childish face full of misery.

"Where did you fall, Miss? How could you be so careless!" Qingyue saw that Qin Wanru was hurt, her gaze falling to the blood-stained handkerchief. Her face changed dramatically. "Miss, are you injured? You're bleeding!"

"I'm fine. This handkerchief isn't mine," Qin Wanru said, following Qingyue's gaze to her own hand. She realized Qingyue misunderstood, but couldn't help feeling uneasy—was Chu Liuchen really all right? His body was truly fragile.

"Whose is it? Why do you have it?" Qingyue pressed.

"I'm fine. Let's go back first. How did things go with eldest sister?" Qin Wanru shook her head, leaning against Qingyue. Qingyue, two years her senior and much taller, easily supported her.

"Miss, I discovered something, but..." Qingyue hesitated when Qin Wanru asked about earlier events.

"What is it? Tell me," Qin Wanru demanded.