Chapter 9 Chapter Summoned by a Magnate

The engagement between the two families was broken. The eldest daughter of the Ningyuan army general did not guard her chastity. She had such a malicious heart that, pregnant with another man's child, she devised an evil plan for her younger sister to take her place in marriage.

The news snowballed as it spread.

Within half a day's time, the entire city of Jiangzhou was talking about it. In a matter of hours, the eldest Miss Qin despised, universally agreed to be the most shameful girl they'd ever heard of. Some even weaved her story into a ballads. When the news reached Qin Huaiyong, he quickly sent men to suppress the rumor, but it was impossible to completely stop people from talking. The Qi family was secretly protecting and spreading the story.

By now, the news had even spread far beyond Jiangzhou...

The Ningyuan army general was furious. Qin Yuru wailed and cried and even tried to commit suicide. She had shaken the foundation of her entire household.

As the rest of the house was in chaos, Qin Wanru still enjoyed some quiet in her grandma's house. However, Qin Wanru's heart was not at peace, although what was troubling her had nothing to do with Qin Yuru.

Frowning slightly, seated beside her grandma's bed, she wondered if she had been seeing things. Was it really him?

In her past life, she'd only had a glimpse of him.

But why would he be here? Considering his status, shouldn't he have been under house arrest, far away in the capital city right now?

Last time, she didn't remember seeing him here...

"Miss, there's a guard at the gates asking to meet you, but I've never seen him before." Qing Yue came into the room quietly to pass the message.

Qin Wanru took in a deep breath, trying to quiet the sudden racing of her heart.

"Where is he?" she asked, lifting her pale face.

"He's just outside the gates," replied Qing Yue.

"Let's go and have a look!"

Qin Wanru made sure old grandma was properly covered by her blanket before she stood up and turned to walk out of the room.

There was indeed a guard standing outside. He looked around seventeen or eighteen years old. He was smiling as he watched Qin Wanru approach.

"Second Miss Qin, my master had asked for you!"

"Who is your master, may I ask?" said Qin Wanru. She took a deep breath, balling her trembling hands into fists.

"You'll find out when you see him!" said the guard with a smile as he gestured where she could go. "My master is residing in Lanxiang Pavilion within your family grounds, but please don't be wary of my master. It was the Ningyuan army general himself who invited my master to stay here. However, please keep this a secret from others!"

After finishing explaining, the guard stood patiently, waiting for Qin Wanru's response.

It seemed she had no choice but to follow him.

Although the guard was polite, the request was quite assertive. Qin Wanru was in her own home, but she was still unable to find an excuse to turn the invitation down. She could only nod her head in agreement as she held on to her injured arm.

Lanxiang Pavilion directly to the right of Qin Wanru's room. The pavilion was the closest to the corner of the back garden wall. The pavilion was usually unoccupied because of its location, and few people visited it. It was because of this the current guests had been able to stay undiscovered.

Strangely, while Qin Wanru was within the family's grounds the entire time, she did not hear any news about this matter, so she supposed her father had kept this a secret deliberately.

She was puzzled as to why this man wanted to meet her since she had no business with him. It wasn't as if she was the one who invited him.

When they arrived, the guard went in to inform his master of their arrival while she waited outside the door. After a while, the guard emerged and politely invited Qin Wanru into the pavilion, but stopped Qin Yue from following her mistress in.

"Miss..." Qing Yue cried out anxiously.

Qin Wanru took a deep breath to calm her nerves, then turned to Qing Yue.

"You remain here and wait for me!" she said, trying to look confident so Qing Yue wouldn't worry.

A young man sat on a chair in the center of the room. He look just a bit older than Qin Wanru, fifteen or sixteen. The first thing Qin she noticed was his eyes. The pupils of his eyes appeared to be filled with tiny pieces of sparkling precious stones which emitted strange, mesmerizing lights. He was clad in a purple coat with dragons embroidered on the sleeves. Something about him emanated a peculiar charm.

His cascade of thick hair was tied neatly, topped with a purple crown. The young man was indeed stunning, but Qin Wanru could sense danger.

His face broke into a smile. Despite his eerie eyes, the warm smile almost set Qin Wanru at ease.

His face was exceptionally pale, lips far lighter than most people. He looked frail, but somehow there was beauty in his frailness. It gave him an air of elegance that suggested high status.

When Qin Wanru met him in her previous life, he was a grown man, but she could still recognize him now.

This was Chu Liu Chen, a boy who was once crown prince.