Han Zhan truly couldn't understand this woman.
Just moments ago, she had been ferociously wild. Now, with that smile, those eyes… had she calmed down?
"You…" What trick was she playing?
Was the act over? What did this mean?
"You trust her so much, nothing I say will matter. I say she's a death-sworn assassin, and you still wouldn't believe me, would you?"
"Chu Qianli, you've gone too far…"
"That's why I said, you wouldn't believe me."
If he believed, would such a dramatic scene have unfolded?
Chu Qianli put away her short dagger and took a step forward. "It's almost time. Come, I'll take you to see the truth."
Han Zhan, however, simply stood in place, watching her retreating back, making no move.
Suddenly, a flicker of unease stirred within him.
What was this truth she spoke of? It could only be about Chu Huaiyu's true nature.
But should he really follow her?
If he followed, it would mean he believed her, and that he would suspect Chu Huaiyu alongside her?
But what if Huaiyu was entirely innocent?
How would he face the innocent Huaiyu, who had entrusted everything to him, in the future?
"What? Afraid to go?"
Chu Qianli, who had already reached the back courtyard entrance, turned back. She looked at his tall figure, her thin lips curling into a cold smile.
"That's why I say, people like you deserve to be deceived by women your whole lives!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Han Zhan clenched his fist, his emotions a tangled mess.
"Don't you even dare to take a look? Perhaps after seeing, many things will become clearer."
Chu Qianli considered the time and didn't want to get entangled with him here any longer.
"If you don't want to see, then so be it. Don't say I didn't give you a chance."
She stepped out.
After walking for a short while, the person behind her finally followed.
"Chu Qianli, if I find out you not only hurt her but also tried to frame her, I will never forgive you."
Han Zhan's heart was still in turmoil, wanting to go, yet not wanting to.
His feelings were incredibly conflicted.
Chu Qianli sneered, "If it weren't for your father, do you think I would have persuaded you to come with me?"
Han Zhan remained silent.
He knew that in her heart, he had never held any weight—
No, she had truly liked him once before.
But back then, he hadn't even been willing to spare her a second glance.
Later, after she transformed into a wise, calm, and intelligent Chu Qianli, so much so that it made people feel a sense of unease, he found his gaze often drifting towards her unintentionally.
But from that point on, she had truly lost all affection for him.
She treated him worse than she treated his father.
They spoke no more, walking together towards the back gate of the Duke's mansion.
Exiting through the back gate, Han Zhan immediately spotted a group of people not far away.
"Miss, Big Brother has gone after her," Fu Ning greeted them.
"He's alone?"
"Yes, Big Brother said Chu Huaiyu's martial arts are excellent. If there were more people, she would discover them."
Fu Ning was still a little worried.
Even though she knew Chu Huaiyu was injured, Chu Huaiyu was rumored to be a top-tier death-sworn, and she feared her Big Brother wouldn't be able to handle her alone.
"It's fine. I injured both her arms, which greatly affects her power. Tonight, she's definitely no match for Fu Long."
Even so, Fu Long was upright and righteous. If Chu Huaiyu played any tricks, Fu Long might not be entirely unharmed.
"Let's go, we'll follow and see."
"They've already gone far. How will we catch up?" Fu Ning's biggest worry was this.
She shouldn't have let Big Brother go alone just now. What if something happened?
"It's fine. I sprinkled fluorescent powder on her, quite a bit of it…"
"Is this it?" Han Zhan quickly noticed faint glowing specks on the grass at the entrance of the woods.
"Exactly. Hurry! Let's follow! Perhaps we'll find Zi Yue."
Chu Qianli immediately followed the faint fluorescent powder.
Han Zhan's heart tightened.
He had indeed seen some of this powder on Chu Huaiyu in Chu Qianli's courtyard earlier.
But at the time, because Chu Qianli had gone mad trying to harm Chu Huaiyu, he hadn't had a chance to look closely.
He hadn't expected this to be something Chu Qianli had sprinkled on Chu Huaiyu.
Could it be that Huaiyu had indeed entered the dense forest?
With such severe injuries, why would she go into the dense forest instead of returning to recuperate properly?
"Don't think too much. Follow them, and you might find the answer you're looking for."
Fu Ning, seeing his hesitation, said, "You can't judge a book by its cover. Many things aren't as they appear on the surface. Let's go!"
Han Zhan took a deep breath. Seeing Chu Qianli and Fu Ning entering the dense forest, he could only follow them quickly, resigned.
In truth, he felt a complex, indescribable emotion.
While he didn't want Chu Huaiyu to have any problems, there was also a sense of relief…
His feelings were complicated, a jumble of emotions he couldn't quite articulate.
He could only follow and see.
The fluorescent powder wasn't abundant along the way. Chu Qianli had designed it precisely, as too much would easily alert Chu Huaiyu.
However, she had also mixed in some medicinal powder with the fluorescent powder.
The scent wasn't strong and would generally go unnoticed outdoors.
But she was an expert in the scent of medicinal herbs.
Following the trail, she moved swiftly.
Soon, she caught up with Fu Long.
"How is it?" Chu Qianli stopped Fu Ning and Han Zhan, then slowly moved closer to Fu Long.
Fu Long lifted his chin. "She went into the small wooden hut."
Han Zhan narrowed his eyes and looked closely. This was the wooden hut they had played in as children.
Due to a fire, it had become quite dilapidated.
Could someone still be inside?
"No more waiting, let's go in!"
Chu Qianli suddenly stood up and leaped towards the small wooden hut.
The words Chu Huaiyu had spoken earlier, "Tomorrow, I will send Long Zi Yue's hand to her," kept echoing in her mind.
Chu Huaiyu had been inside for so long; Long Zi Yue must be held here, there was no doubt.
The longer it took, the more worried she became that Chu Huaiyu might do something detrimental to Long Zi Yue.
Seeing her move, Han Zhan immediately followed.
Before Chu Qianli could enter the wooden hut, he kicked open the dilapidated door, which was already on the verge of collapse.
Chu Huaiyu was indeed inside the wooden hut.
However, she seemed to be in a state of shock at the moment.
It was only when they arrived that she suddenly snapped back to reality.
The wooden hut was small, and there was no sign of Long Zi Yue.
"Where is the County Princess?" Fu Long swung his saber, aiming at Chu Huaiyu.
Han Zhan still felt a trace of unease. Seeing the saber about to fall on Chu Huaiyu, he instinctively wanted to protect her.
That was his responsibility!
Huaiyu was already his woman!
He deflected Fu Long's saber with his long sword, the clang echoing.
Chu Huaiyu glanced at everyone. Although unwilling, she seized the moment while Han Zhan blocked a blow for her, leaped up, and quickly departed.