No one expected Chu Qianli to attack Han Zhan.
Han Zhan himself was caught completely off guard.
With a *ci* sound, Han Zhan felt a sharp pain in his arm.
Glancing back, Chu Qianli had already spun around and returned to her original position, standing steady.
Her movements were swift and clean!
Her speed was unbelievably fast!
How could this possibly be the same Chu Qianli, the former good-for-nothing?
"Ah! Han Zhan, you're bleeding!"
Chu Huaiyu, standing with Han Zhan, exclaimed, her almond-shaped eyes wide as she stared at Han Zhan's arm.
Han Zhan's gaze, however, remained fixed on Chu Qianli, unable to pull away.
The Chu Qianli before him, her beautiful cloud-like eyes, held a chilling aura he had never seen before.
Her large eyes were filled with defiance and mockery.
So dazzling!
Yet so cool and proud!
Was this still the Chu Qianli he remembered, the one who was pretentious and shamelessly clung to him?
"Han Zhan, you're bleeding a lot, how are you?"
Chu Huaiyu's voice finally managed to pull Han Zhan's consciousness back.
He looked down and saw a not-shallow wound on his arm, his sleeve soaked with blood.
Only then did Han Zhan belatedly feel the pain.
"Sister!" Chu Huaiyu was terrified. This time, she fell to her knees with a *plop*.
"Sister, it's all my fault, every mistake is mine. Please don't hurt Han Zhan, he still likes you!"
"Huaiyu, what nonsense are you spouting?" Han Zhan's expression darkened.
Chu Huaiyu pleaded pitifully with Chu Qianli, but Chu Qianli remained expressionless, watching her coldly.
Chu Huaiyu's words pierced Han Zhan's heart with a pang of sourness.
"Huaiyu, get up quickly, there's no need to beg her. I'm not afraid of her revenge!"
Chu Huaiyu still looked mournful, "No, she is the Crown Princess now, her status is even more noble than before."
"Han Zhan, don't fight with her, we can't win against her."
Still kneeling, she shuffled two steps towards Chu Qianli.
Still looking pitiful, she begged, "Sister, Han Zhan only has you in his heart. He and I have no relationship at all, please don't misunderstand."
"I beg you, for the sake of his devotion to you, spare him!"
"Huaiyu, stop talking nonsense. I only feel disgust for this woman, not a shred of personal affection!"
Although Chu Qianli's transformation had momentarily dazed Han Zhan,
Looking at Chu Huaiyu's distress and Chu Qianli's indifferent face now,
Han Zhan's past disgust for Chu Qianli returned completely.
He pulled Chu Huaiyu, speaking softly, "Don't beg her! Get up quickly!"
"Han Zhan, we..." Chu Huaiyu looked up at him, her face filled with unease.
Han Zhan said in a deep voice, "I will protect you, don't be afraid."
"Han Zhan..."
"Enough, how long do you intend to put on this act in front of me?"
Chu Qianli sheathed her dagger, glanced at the two of them, snorted coldly, and turned to leave.
"Not good, she's going to report to the Prince of Xuan." Chu Huaiyu panicked completely at the thought.
She broke free from Han Zhan's hand and rushed forward.
With another *dong* sound, she knelt before Chu Qianli, blocking her path.
"Sister, this is all my fault. Please spare Han Zhan, he truly has you in his heart, please spare him!"
"A joke. Whether he has me in his heart or not, what does it have to do with me?"
Chu Qianli lowered her gaze, looking at the so-called sister who knelt and apologized at the slightest provocation.
She sneered, "No need to put on this act in front of me. Anyone who doesn't know would think I've done something heinous to you!"
"No, it's all my own doing. You can punish me however you wish."
Chu Huaiyu, with tear-filled eyes, suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Chu Qianli's leg:
"Han Zhan was the man you loved most before. Please, for the sake of your past affection for him, don't hurt him anymore, I beg you!"
Chu Qianli frowned, looking at Chu Huaiyu, who was clinging to her leg like a dog. Just as she was about to push her away,
Not far away, a voice, so familiar it made her heart tremble, carrying a hint of displeasure, coldly echoed: "The man you loved most before?"