Chapter 9
Chapter 9: I, Qin Rui, Will Follow You
Consort Xian saw Chu Tian Tian stay silent and grew even more pleased. She stepped forward, pointing at the boy sprawled on the ground.
“Ninth Princess, you still won’t admit it? Look at what you’ve done to Young Master Qin! So young and already so vicious—no wonder you came from the Cold Palace, you demon—”
“He’s not uncomfortable!” Chu Tian Tian suddenly lifted her head.
Her eyes were clear and bright, staring straight at Consort Xian.
And then, in a baby voice that was soft but shockingly crisp, she shouted with all her strength:
“You look uncomfortable! Your face is so red! You can’t breathe! You’re going to faint!”
Consort Xian’s smug expression faltered.
For a split second, something uneasy flickered across her face—like she’d been seen too clearly.
“Impudent—” she began.
Then she choked.
“Ghk!”
She clapped a hand to her throat.
It was as if an invisible hand had grabbed her windpipe and squeezed.
Her face went purple-red in an instant. She opened her mouth like a fish out of water, but no air came in—none at all.
“Hh… hhh…” Awful, wet sounds scraped out of her as black spots swam across her vision.
“Your Ladyship!” the palace maid screamed, grabbing for her. “Your Ladyship, what’s wrong?!”
Consort Xian’s knees buckled.
She toppled straight down in front of everyone—thud—stiff as a board.
Her fine robes hit the dirt, her hair ornaments scattered, and all her dignity shattered right alongside them.
Wu Ya and several junior eunuchs arrived just in time to witness the whole thing.
They stared, mouths open.
One sentence.
The Ninth Princess said one sentence… and Consort Xian really couldn’t breathe.
It was…
It was terrifying.
And at the exact same time—
The boy on the ground jerked.
“Cough—cough, cough!”
Young Master Qin suddenly sucked in air, huge, greedy gulps, like someone had finally released his throat. The bluish cast in his face faded rapidly. He was still weak, but his breathing evened out, stabilizing right in front of their eyes.
Above his head, the health bar—once flashing near empty—started rising.
Chu Tian Tian blinked.
Did little brother… get better?
And that bad woman… really couldn’t breathe?
[Beep. Word-spirit effect activated.]
[Target life crisis resolved.]
Consort Xian was carried away in disgrace. The junior eunuch who’d been sent to fetch people quickly scooped up the still-shaky Qin Rui and ran toward the Imperial Study.
Wu Ya swallowed down the storm in his chest, then hurried Chu Tian Tian into a new outfit—luxurious, delicate, and finally fitted properly.
When Chu Tian Tian returned to the Imperial Study, she hadn’t even stepped inside before a boy’s excited voice rang out like fireworks.
“And then! Little Immortal Maiden went whoosh and appeared—she was practically glowing! She yelled super fierce at the bad kitty, ‘Go away!’ and threw food to lure it off! Grandpa! She has to be the Little Immortal Maiden who came down to save me!”
Old General Qin listened with a deep frown. He knew exactly how lethal his grandson’s allergy was. If the child had truly been that close to cat fur, then the outcome could have been—
He didn’t dare finish the thought. He only assumed the boy had been frightened into babbling.
Chu Tian Tian entered and bowed properly.
“Greetings, Imperial Father. Long live Imperial Father—ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand, ten thousand years.”
Qin Rui’s eyes lit up. He jumped to his feet and pointed at her like she was treasure.
“Grandpa! It’s her! The Little Immortal Maiden who saved me!”
The Emperor’s gaze shifted to Wu Ya.
Wu Ya bowed. He omitted the Consort Xian incident—Old General Qin was present, and some chaos was better swallowed than served.
“In reply to Your Majesty, Ninth Princess Your Highness was indeed quick-witted. She drove away the cat that startled Young Master Qin and saved the young master.”
Old General Qin’s whole body jolted.
Cold sweat broke out down his back.
Qin Rui was the Qin clan’s only heir for nine generations. If anything happened to him…
The old general stepped forward and bowed deeply to a child not even as tall as his knee, voice trembling.
“This old minister thanks Ninth Princess Your Highness for saving my grandson’s life.”
“Old Grandpa, you don’t have to thank me!” Chu Tian Tian puffed out her tiny chest, speaking in a baby voice that somehow sounded very serious. “Mother said Tian Tian is Great Ning’s princess. Tian Tian should be like Imperial Father and keep the commoners in my heart! If little brother is in trouble, of course I have to help!”
Old General Qin sucked in a breath, stunned.
A three-year-old… with such words?
His beard quivered. “Your Majesty, Ninth Princess Your Highness has a heart as vast as the sea and carries the world within. She is a blessing to Great Ning, and a fortune to the royal house!”
The Emperor’s face practically shone with pride.
His daughter was perfect.
Outside, a voice announced, “Princess Ying Yue has arrived.”
At the doorway, Chu Jiao Jiao’s eyes flashed with something dark.
In her previous life, the Qin clan’s military power had been the key to bringing down Chu Tian Tian. She had to seize Qin Rui now—win him over, make him hers—so she could use him against the tyrant in the future.
The moment she entered, she burst into tears.
“Imperial Father! You must seek justice for Consort Xian! Consort Xian was fine in the Imperial Garden, but after meeting Ninth imperial sister she suddenly fainted and still hasn’t awakened! Even the imperial physician says it’s dangerous!”
She caught sight of Qin Rui trying to move closer to Chu Tian Tian and immediately barked, “Young Master Qin, stay away from her. She’s… she’s inauspicious. Nothing good happens when you’re near her. Consort Xian is proof!”
The Emperor’s brow furrowed. “Is that so? Wu Ya.”
Wu Ya’s scalp tightened. He bowed carefully. “In reply to Your Majesty, before Consort Xian fainted, she did accuse the Ninth Princess of startling her cat, which then startled Young Master Qin. The Ninth Princess spoke only to protect Young Master Qin…”
Qin Rui’s face went red with anger. He shot Chu Jiao Jiao a glare and shouted, “That’s not true! Princess Ying Yue, you’re lying! Consort Xian’s bad cat almost killed me! The Ninth Princess was saving me! She’s a hero! Don’t you slander her!”
Chu Jiao Jiao’s face went green. “What do you know? She’s weird! Being near her is never—”
“Enough.” The Emperor’s patience snapped.
He looked at Chu Jiao Jiao throwing a tantrum, then at Little Nine—small, steady, talking about commoners—and his expression turned visibly cold.
“Consort Xian is frail. It is likely summer heat. Stop spreading nonsense and dragging others into it.” He waved a hand. “Wu Ya, take the Ninth Princess and Young Master Qin to the Imperial Garden to play. I have matters to discuss with the old general.”
Once outside the Imperial Study, Chu Jiao Jiao immediately reached for Qin Rui, voice sugared.
“Young Master Qin, I have many military books and diagrams. Come play with me, won’t you?”
Qin Rui yanked his arm away like she’d smeared mud on him.
Then he shot forward like a little cannonball and planted himself in front of Chu Tian Tian, eyes shining.
“Ninth Princess!” he demanded, breathless. “You said your heart holds the commoners. When you grow up, you want to be a righteous heroine—really?”
Chu Tian Tian nodded hard. “Really! Tian Tian says it, Tian Tian does it!”
“Perfect!” Qin Rui’s whole face lit up.
He dropped to one knee like a tiny soldier, grabbed her hand with both of his, and declared loudly enough to shake the trees:
“Ninth Princess! I, Qin Rui, am willing to follow you! You be the heroine—I’ll be your first general! I’ll protect you! I’ll protect the commoners! Pinky swear!”
[Ding! Congratulations, Host.]
[Redemption mission—subdue Qin Rui: exceeded expectations.]
[Reward: blind-box gift pack x1.]
[Stored in the pocket space.]