Ties of Love, Ruan Wan

Lou Qianyuan muttered to himself, "Could it be that it was left in the room and wasn't brought out?"

Ruan Wan shook her head. "Mengniang already said that they carry all their belongings with them at all times; they are very wary."

Ruan Wan looked at the pile of bundles and boxes beside her, and searched them thoroughly, but found no useful evidence.

Lou Qianyuan searched through the files again, while Ruan Wan looked down at Duo Muhe.

He would definitely keep something as important as a letter like this close to his body.

Ruan Wan looked him up and down; Lou Qianyuan practically wanted to strip him naked in front of her.

Suddenly, Ruan Wan's gaze locked onto the golden knife.

Ruan Wan picked up the golden knife, drew out the curved blade inside, and glanced at the scabbard; there was nothing inside.

I examined the handle again, but found nothing.

Ruan Wan tapped the gemstone scabbard with her knife. The sound was off; the scabbard's outer shell wasn't solid.

Overjoyed, Ruan Wan whispered to Lou Qianyuan, "I found it!"

Lou Qianyuan took the golden knife and used it to pry open the lining of the scabbard, revealing a letter hidden inside.

Ruan Wan and Lou Qianyuan exchanged a smile; it seemed their plan had succeeded.

Lou Qianyuan hurriedly opened it and was immediately stunned. Ruan Wan took it and saw that it was just a blank piece of paper with nothing on it.

Ruan Wan immediately took the white paper up to the candlelight and heated it, but there was still nothing there. She immediately thought, "Oh no, I've been tricked!"

Just as she was about to call out to Lou Qianyuan, she saw Lou Qianyuan running towards Ruan Wan, shouting, "Run! We've been ambushed!"

Lou Qianyuan pulled Ruan Wan back towards the screen, and suddenly a group of soldiers appeared at the door.

Then, looking at the ground, Duo Muhe Zhangming and the other two slowly got up and were smiling at Ruan Wan and the others.

The two of them took the cotton strips out of their noses and waved them in their hands.

Zhang Ming saw Lou Qianyuan at the Hundred Flowers Hall today and initially thought that his whereabouts had been exposed.

After observing for a while, Zhang Ming noticed that Lou Qianyuan was quite attentive to the man beside him. Upon careful consideration, Zhang Ming realized that his whereabouts must not have been discovered.

There were also unexpected gains.

They set this trap, even at the cost of revealing their true identities to Tamaki.

Zhang Ming laughed and said, "I haven't lied to Your Highness, have I? The woman before you is none other than the most beautiful woman in the capital, Miss Ruan Wan."

Duo Muhe nodded. "Excellent, excellent, truly a first-rate beauty. Guards, seize them! Don't let them harm my beauty!"

The people outside rushed in and surrounded Ruan Wan and her group.

Ruan Wan and Lou Qianyuan exchanged a glance; it seemed they were about to carry out their escape plan.

Fortunately, several escape routes had been carefully planned beforehand. Ruan Wan had asked Lou Qianyuan what to do if it was a trap, and it turned out to be a trap after all.

The two men went around to the back of the screen. The soldiers rushed forward, but Lou Qianyuan kicked the screen over, and the soldiers who rushed forward were pinned behind it.

Zhang Ming shouted from the back of the crowd, "I advise you not to resist; you have no way out."

Ruan Wan took the opportunity to open the window, and Lou Qianyuan immediately jumped back to the window. The two of them jumped down without hesitation.

Zhang Ming cried out in alarm and ran to the window, shouting, "Catch them!"

Ruan Wan and the others jumped onto the prepared haystack. Lou Qianyuan jumped down first, then lifted Ruan Wan onto the horse next to him, and then leaped onto the horse himself.

Ruan Wan blew on the tinderbox in her sleeve and threw it onto the haystack. The dry hay was very easy to ignite, and the fire quickly spread to the stable.

Lou Qianyuan whipped the horse a few times, and the horse began to run wildly, only to find that they were already surrounded.

Lou Qianyuan held the reins with one hand and suddenly wrapped the other arm around Ruan Wan's waist, forcefully yet gently, turning her around in mid-air and saying, "Hold me tight."

Ruan Wan didn't care about anything else and hugged him tightly. Lou Qianyuan sped up and didn't seem to stop even when they reached the human wall.

The soldiers didn't back down. Lou Qianyuan pulled on the reins, and the horse suddenly leaped over the wall of men.

As soon as he landed on the building, Qian Yuan whipped the horse a few more times, and the horse galloped away. There were no torches for light, nor moonlight, and it only knew to run desperately, but it didn't know where it was going.

Zhang Ming and the others mounted their horses and chased after them. Fortunately, when the stables were set on fire, most of the horses were startled and ran away, and only a few people managed to catch up.

Ruan Wan was facing backwards, which gave her a clear view of what was happening behind her.

A raging fire broke out in the Hall of a Hundred Flowers, and even in the darkness of night, the sky was filled with smoke and dust.

Xiao Tao had been waiting in the courtyard. When she saw that the stable was indeed on fire, she immediately ran into the room and rescued Meng Niang and Mu Dan.

Seeing the flames following closely behind, Ruan Wan knew they had caught up. Lou Qianyuan spurred his horse forward, with the pursuers hot on his heels.

Zhang Ming naturally couldn't let Lou Qianyuan and Ruan Wan escape. Once they returned to the capital, their treason would be exposed. Although there was no evidence, if they failed once, they would never have another chance.

He ran all the way from the city to the suburbs, and in order to evade his pursuers, Lou Qianyuan ran into the dense forest.

The tree branch hit Ruan Wan's back, but she was so tense that she didn't even feel the pain.

Suddenly, Lou Qianyuan pulled on the reins, and the horse neighed and stopped, looking at the firelight behind it.

Ruan Wan asked, "What's wrong? The pursuers are about to catch up."

Lou Qianyuan remained silent, a bad premonition rising in his heart. Could he really be that unlucky?

Lou Qianyuan jumped down, and after he steadied himself, he also carried Ruan Wan down. Ruan Wan turned around and looked at him, thinking, "Damn it, how come I'm so destined to be near cliffs in this life?"

Seeing Lou Qianyuan's apologetic expression, Ruan Wan smiled wryly, "Well, that's great. Didn't you always say you'd rather die than live together? Now your wish has come true."

Lou Qianyuan looked at the edge of the cliff, then walked up to Ruan Wan and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Wan'er, don't worry, I won't let you die. I checked, there's a river below."

Seeing his resolute expression, Ruan Wan was a little scared. "What are you going to do? I don't blame you. Death isn't scary at all, I really am..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lou Qianyuan grabbed Ruan Wan and held her tightly in his arms before jumping off the cliff.

Lou Qianyuan shouted loudly, "Wan'er, I'm sorry, I love you!"

The sound echoed through the valley.

At this moment, Ruan Wan just wanted to curse Lou Qianyuan, you big idiot! It's not like you're really desperate. You should have asked for other people's opinions before jumping.

Ruan Wan tried to break free, but he held her tightly, and she panicked.

The scene from many years ago is repeating itself. Ruan Wan is terrified, terrified that she will wake up again, just like she did back then, with her mother's corpse beside her.

Ruan Wan was afraid that Lou Qianyuan would die. Although there was water below the cliff, which was dozens of meters high, even a world diving champion could not guarantee that he would not be injured if he crashed into it at such a high speed.

Suddenly, Ruan Wan thought of something. In those few seconds, she struggled to pry open Lou Qianyuan's curled-up body and straighten his arms. He was very strong.

Ruan Wan whispered in his ear, "Trust me."

In the brief moment he lost focus, Ruan Wan used all her strength, her adrenaline surging, to fully open his body, and then the two of them plunged into the water.

The moment she entered the water, Ruan Wan felt as if her brain had been struck with a hammer.

Ruan Wan floated on the water, dazed for a moment, before being brought back to her senses by the splashing of the river.

Ruan Wan hurriedly searched for Lou Qianyuan, who was floating on the water not far from her, bubbles coming out of his mouth, blood gushing from his mouth and nose, and his whole body sinking.

Ruan Wan quickly swam over and pulled him up, dragging him out of the water.

Ruan Wan listened to his chest and heard a heartbeat. She breathed a sigh of relief and looked up to see the cliff lit up with torchlight.

They glanced at the riverbank that was closer to them, but just to be on the safe side, Ruan Wan dragged Lou Qianyuan slowly across to the other side.

Once ashore, Lou Qianyuan started bleeding from his mouth, indicating a ruptured lung. Fortunately, he hadn't drowned, or he wouldn't have been able to be saved.

Zhang Ming watched the two jump off the cliff from a distance, then quickly rode his horse to the edge, jumped off, and held a torch to shine into the cliff.

But it was too high; they couldn't see anything. They only heard a splash. Zhang Ming shouted to the people nearby, "Go into the river and search the banks! We need to find him alive or dead!"

We absolutely cannot let them escape, otherwise the Zhang family's efforts will be in vain.

Meanwhile, in the capital city...

The Seventh Prince's residence was brightly decorated, with the Emperor and Empress in attendance and officials offering their congratulations.

After the wedding ceremony, the emperor and empress returned to the palace. The bride was escorted to the bridal chamber, while Xia Changfeng received guests in the front courtyard.

He drank cup after cup, smiling as he accepted everyone's congratulations, as if trying to get himself drunk.

When midnight arrived and everyone had left, Xia Changfeng looked at the empty hall, his smile freezing on his face. He remained seated, drinking cup after cup.

But the more he drank, the more sober he became, and he could never forget that waiting for him in the new house was not Xiaozhu, but a woman named Linglong.

Xia Changfeng suddenly burst into laughter. Amu rushed forward, wondering if his master was going crazy because he couldn't marry the woman he loved.

Xia Changfeng pushed away Amu's hand, stood up, and said with a smile, "Let's go see my bride."

Linglong sat anxiously on the wedding bed, craning her neck to look around every now and then. Suddenly, she heard footsteps and quickly sat up straight. A maidservant stepped forward to arrange the veil and stood by with a scale in hand.

Xia Changfeng pushed open the door and went in. The maid bowed, handed over the scales and door handle, and then left.

Xia Changfeng held the scale and looked at the festive room. He glanced at the scale in his hand and the person on the bed. The scene he had imagined countless times was now truly unfolding before his eyes.

But Xia Changfeng just couldn't be happy.

Back then, for Xiaozhu's sake, I secretly practiced with the scale at night.

Xia Changfeng closed his eyes and stepped forward. With practiced ease, he used the scale rod to lift the veil, opened his eyes, and smiled at the person in front of him.

Xiaozhu was right in front of him; she was still his bride.

Linglong looked at her husband, who was gazing at her affectionately, and lowered her head shyly.

Xia Changfeng brought wine, and the two drank together. The curtains were gently drawn, and the red candles burned brightly. If this was a dream, then let the dream never end.

But dreams must eventually end.

On one side, red candles burn brightly, while on the other, life and death remain uncertain.

Ruan Wan huddled in the woods, the spring chill still lingering, and dared not light a fire, feeling unbearably cold.

Seeing Lou Qianyuan's face grow paler and paler, and knowing she couldn't move him, Ruan Wan could only hold him in her arms, trying to keep him warm.

The twinkling lights on the opposite bank of the river suggest they have no intention of wading.

It's likely that Zhang Ming and the others didn't expect Ruan Wan and Lou Qianyuan to survive.

Now that she was here, she wasn't afraid of them anymore. She was just too exhausted. Ruan Wan held Lou Qianyuan and fell asleep without realizing it.

Excessive fatigue, coupled with mental stress, leaves one feeling very tired.

The first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the trees that had not yet sprouted green leaves in early spring and shone on my face.

Lou Qianyuan opened his eyes, momentarily unable to distinguish whether what he was seeing was reality or the Western Paradise.

The moment he entered the water yesterday, he felt a sharp pain in his chest and thought he was going to die. But now he sees himself lying in Wan'er's arms.

Wan'er leaned against a tree, sat on the ground, and fell asleep with her head drooping. Such a beautiful scene made everything worthwhile.

Ruan Wan suddenly shuddered, startled awake from the nightmare. Looking down, she saw Lou Qianyuan looking at her and breathed a sigh of relief. "You're awake. Is anything bothering you?"

Lou Qianyuan was too weak to speak, and even shaking his head took him a long time.

Ruan Wan twisted her neck, which was stiff from sleeping, and helped Lou Qianyuan sit up against a tree. "Wait here, I'll go get you some water."

Lou Qianyuan smiled as he watched the person run away. This was the treatment his cousin received when he was injured. He looked at his own body and found that apart from a sharp pain in his chest, everything else was fine.

A thought popped into Lou Qianyuan's mind: it would be better if the injury was more serious.

Ruan Wan cautiously walked to the riverbank, looking around. There was no one on the other side; they had probably gone downstream.

It seemed that swimming to the other side was the right thing to do. Ruan Wan tore off the sleeve of her dance costume, tied it to a dead tree branch, and threw it into the water.

She looked around and, finding nothing to hold water, scooped up a handful of water and slowly walked back.

But all I saw was Lou Qianyuan grinning foolishly. Good heavens, has he gone mad from the accident?

Ruan Wan sat down next to him, holding a glass of water. "Drink this."

Lou Qianyuan just stared at Ruan Wan's hand, grinning foolishly.

Ruan Wan felt uneasy under his gaze and brought her hand to his mouth. "Young Master, let's not be so formal at a time like this."

Lou Qianyuan smiled at Ruan Wan and said, "No, no."

He then started drinking water, drinking it so thoroughly that he almost licked Ruan Wan's hands clean.

"Are you thirsty? I'll go get you some more."

Lou Qianyuan hurriedly shook his head, "Enough, enough!"

"Then let's go. Once Zhang Ming's men find us, we won't be able to leave."

Lou Qianyuan nodded. Ruan Wan got up and looked at their location, looking towards the direction of the sun. They were heading deeper into the woods.

That's fine too. Although it's a bit troublesome, for Ruan Wan, the deep mountains are much safer than people.

Ruan Wan helped Lou Qianyuan slowly into the jungle. Every step he took hurt, but he endured it, and his eyebrows almost grew together.

Ruan Wan had no other choice for the time being. It seemed that the injuries inside were very serious. She needed to find a place where he could hide and be treated as soon as possible.

Half a month later, inside the Third Prince's residence.

Xia Ziru grabbed the attendant who had just returned from Liuzhou and shouted angrily, "A bunch of useless trash! Didn't I tell you to protect her?"

The attendant hurriedly explained, "Master, with Young Master Lou by Miss Ruan's side, we servants dared not get too close. Besides, Young Master Zhang and the Second Prince of Dongyi were both present that day."

My cousin and Duomuhe of Dongyi? My maternal grandfather certainly has quite the ambition. "You stay there and search for them. If you don't find them, don't come back."

Just as the attendant was about to leave, Xia Ziru stopped him again, "Wait, when you leave, please inform the Seventh Prince that Lou Qianyuan is in trouble. Don't mention Ruan Wan's matter, and don't expose yourself."

This little girl is such a handful. I guess I need to bring her home and take care of her as soon as possible. I want to play with her a little longer.