Chapter 210 Sister, Let’s Run!
“Why… why is that?” Qin Wanru was shocked and suddenly sat up straight.
Although she knew things were not as simple as they seem, she did not expect such a disaster.
“The emperor doesn’t like it!” Rui’an Great Elder Princess wasn’t vague this time. She looked at the curtains and whispered, brief yet concise!
Qin Wanru did not expect this answer. She thought about many kinds of possibilities, but none of them matched this answer. The emperor did not like it. The emperor of a country stands high above the masses, and his usual concerns should be matters of the nation. How could it be? How could he concern himself with ladies’ clothing!
“What about this jewelry set?” After the shock, Qin Wanru stopped asking and pointed to another gift box instead!
Since Rui’an Great Elder Princess did not explain, she would have her reasons not to!
The secrets of the royal family were not told easily. Few knew that this matter was related to the emperor, and even if they did, they dared not spread it.
Seeing Qin Wanru had stopped asking, Rui’an Great Elder Princess’s eyes showed a trace of appreciation. This child was indeed smart and knew her position well.
She put down the clothes, then picked up the jewelry and looked at it. She said unenthusiastically, “This is fine! But do not wear the clothes.”
Knowing that Rui’an Great Elder Princess was helping her, Qin Wan nodded hastily.
“Sister, sister, I have something nice to show you, please come take a look with me!” Shao Yuanhao, who had stayed in the background all this while, could no longer sit still. He pulled Qin Wanru’s sleeve and looked at Rui’an Great Elder Princess with his innocent eyes, “Grandma, I want sister to play with me!”
Seeing him twisting his body like a rubber band, Rui’an Great Elder Princess and Qin Wanru laughed.
“Well, go ahead, but don’t overdo it!” Rui’an Great Elder Princess smiled as she said the words.
“Okay, I will do as you say. I’m a good boy!” As soon as Rui’an Great Elder Princess agreed, Shao Yuanhao hurriedly jumped out of the chair and started pulling Qin Wanru along.
Qin Wanru stood up helplessly, bowed to Rui’an Great Elder Princess and left with Shao Yuanhao.
“Sister, let’s go, hurry up!” As soon as he went out of Rui’an Great Elder Princess’s sight, he became more active. He held Qin Wanru by the hand and led the way.
After passing through a few crooked paths, they came to a garden. “Sister, look, the flower is blooming, isn’t it beautiful?”
Shao Yuanhao said proudly as he pointed to a plum tree at the door.
The plum tree was majestic, and red flowers blossomed on its branches. Winter had just begun, and it was amazing to see such a beautiful plum blossom.
“It’s blossoming this early?” Qin Wanru held Shao Yuanhao’s hand and asked in surprise.
“Yes, only here at Maternal Grandmother’s place. It would not blossom this early at Paternal Grandmother’s place. I discovered this before. I had been waiting for you to come because I knew you’d like it.” Shao Yuanhao’s small face was white and chubby. Now he was pretending to be an adult. He seemed pleased with himself as he looked at Qin Wanru as though he expected her to praise him.
Qin Wanru smiled and reached out to ruffle his hair. No wonder Chu Liuchen used to like ruffling her hair, the soft hair felt really comfortable.
“I love it! You are really good to know I would love it!”
“Sister, there is more inside, let me take you in there!” When Qin Wanru praised Shao Yuanhao, he nearly jumped for joy. The adult look he put on immediately fell apart. He pulled Qin Wanru with him to the inner part of the garden.
Plum blossoms were everywhere in the garden, some flowers had blossomed, and some hadn’t. The trees were arranged accordingly. One section had red blossoms, and another had white.
Along the curved path, there was a pavilion ahead of them. A man was inside with his back toward them.
When she saw his back, Qin Wanru sighed helplessly. That was Chu Liuchen. She could not be mistaken. It was the same clothes that Chu Liuchen wore earlier.
“Sister, Prince Chen is here!” Shao Yuanhao stopped and lowered his voice.
When she saw Shao Yuanhao’s behavior, Qin Wanru couldn’t help laughing out. It was the first time she saw him looking scared. This child never seemed to be afraid of anything, but even he was scared of Chu Liuchen!
“What’s wrong, are you afraid of Prince Chen?” Qin Wanru lowered her voice and looked around. Weirdly enough, Xiao Xuanzi was nowhere to be seen.
“Yes, I am scared of him!” Shao Yuanhao nodded, looking tensed. He pulled Qin Wanru’s hand to retreat.
“Why are you afraid of Prince Chen?” Qin Wanru was intrigued. She smiled as she asked him.
“Prince Chen wanted me to read and hit my palm! It was painful.” Shao Yuanhao’s face was full of grievance, and he pulled at Qin Wanru’s hand.
He was terrified of Prince Chen.
In the past, he used to be the king in Duke Xing’s Mansion, and everyone gave in to him. Also, he was enticed to not learn reading. After Rui’an Great Elder Princess brought him back, she hired a teacher for him. However, he was too naughty, sneaking out to play every day instead of studying. His teacher had no choice but to complain to Rui’an Great Elder Princess.
Then Rui’an Great Elder Princess got him back and sent him to the study room.
However, Shao Yuanhao couldn’t sit still. That particular day, he sneaked out of the study room again and bumped into Chu Liuchen. Chu Liuchen’s guard caught him and hung him on a tree.
At first, Shao Yuanhao remained stubborn. After realizing no one was going to save him, he started crying. The moment Chu Liuchen freed him, he rushed to the study room. After this incident, whenever he saw Chu Liuchen, he was meek, not wanting to provoke Prince Chen ever again! After all, when Prince Chen got angry, even his grandmother couldn’t do anything!
“Come here!” The casual voice coming from before them shocked the two.
Shao Yuanhao looked pitifully up at Qin Wanru and lowered his voice. “Sister, let’s run!”
“You want to run? Would you like to be hung on the tree again?” The voice was gentle with a hint of a smile. Panicking, Shao Yuanhao hurriedly hid behind Qin Wanru and buried his head in her vest.
This was the voice Prince Chen used to command the guard to hang him on the tree no matter how much he cried.
Sensing the child’s fear, Qin Wanru helplessly held his hand and pulled him over. They then strolled toward the pavilion.
In the pavilion, the wheelchair had changed direction. Chu Liuchen leaned against the chair rail and cupped his head with one hand. His posture was relaxed and casual. He had an exquisite appearance with a gentle look, a smile was playing at the corner of his mouth. His gaze fell on Qin Wanru and then slowly on Shao Yuanhao.
Qin Wanru felt Shao Yuanhao shivering as he leaned heavily against her.
“Hao’er, you don’t like studying?” Chu Liuchen asked gently.
“I do, I want to study!” Shao Yuanhao’s small body shivered again before he straightened himself and shouted out the answer. Grandmother had said that Prince Chen liked children who were willing to study. He couldn’t let Prince Chen knew he hated studying.
“Do you want to read this book?” Chu Liuchen asked with a smile as he held up the book in his hand.
Shao Yuanhao took a step back, looking nervous, “I am still young and know only a few words. When I learn more in the future, I will be able to read such books!”
Grandmother had said that if he did not read the book given by Prince Chen, he will suffer a beating!
“So do you want to go and study now or read my book?” Chu Liuchen smiled lazily.
“I am going to study now. The teacher is waiting for me.” Shao Yuanhao felt he couldn’t stay any longer. He looked at Qin Wanru timidly and pulled her hand. When Qin Wanru bent down toward him, he whispered, “Sister, I am going to study now. Come look for me in the study room later!”
Then he apprehensively took a look at Chu Liuchen before he let go of Qin Wanru’s hand and rushed out.
An old maid behind him followed closely and said hurriedly, “Master Hao, be careful, slow down, don’t fall…”
The sound gradually drifted away, leaving Qin Wanru alone at the entrance of the pavilion feeling nonplussed.
Chu Liuchen laughed. At first, his voice was low, then it gradually got louder. He took the book in his hand and patted his chair rails. The book that seemed valuable was almost falling apart now!
“Prince, Hao’er is just a child!” Qin Wanru felt helpless as she reminded Chu Liuchen, who had lost his usual decorum.
Why would he get such a sense of achievement by scaring a kid?
Chu Liuchen stopped laughing suddenly and started coughing loudly, with one hand covering his chest.
Qin Wanru hurried forward and patted him gently on his back.
Chu Liuchen took a while to stop coughing. His pale face turned red because of the cough, showing an unhealthy look. However, the red made his delicate face even more beautiful. Lifting his watering eyes, he looked at Qin Wanru and his expression suddenly turned cold.
He pushed Qin Wanru away, his eyes sparkling as he said, “Do you think I am dying?”
“Prince…”
“Qin Wanru, if I am dead, what do you think will happen?” Chu Liuchen suddenly smiled.
Qin Wanru stepped away from him. This was the temperamental Prince Chen, “I… I don’t know!”
“Would anyone avenge me?” Chu Liuchen asked with interest as if Qin Wanru had misread the gloom earlier.
“You will definitely have a long life!” Qin Wanru did not understand what he meant as she replied cautiously.
“Long life?” Chu Liuchen looked as if he’d just heard a big joke. He raised his thin lips into a mocking smile. The sick yet beautiful young man looked so dispirited, “Others may have a long life, but not me!”
“If others can, you surely can!” Qin Wanru blinked her eyes as she said the words, not understanding what he meant.
“I can live as long as others? Qin Wanru, you are good at flattering!” Chu Liuchen smiled and seemed to be in a good mood, but Qin Wanru shivered. His smile was just at the surface, not the kind he had earlier on.
No, what was he hinting?