Chapter 151: Sister Yue’er

But immediately, Qiao Yu’s charging figure was sent flying back even faster. With a sharp cry, she slammed heavily into a protruding rock behind her.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Lian Yue watched the tall back standing before her in a daze, suddenly feeling as though she had returned to the forest. Back then, he had been the same; whenever any danger appeared before her, he would always block it on her behalf.

A sweet, clear spring seemed to flow through her heart. With him there, Lian Yue felt exceptionally secure.

It was not just Lian Yue’s gaze fixed upon An Ming now. Qiao Zhi, Meng Chuchen, Qiao Zhi, and everyone else who had just intended to step in to protect Lian Yue were all staring at him, each gaze carrying a different meaning.

Meanwhile, the servants, who had been left stunned by An Ming’s display, finally came to their senses. After all, in their understanding, no one dared to strike a princess within the imperial palace.

"Why are you still standing there? Hurry and check on the Princess’s injuries!" Although Qiao Bin felt that Qiao Yu’s actions had brought this upon herself, she was, after all, his niece. "Send for the imperial physician at once!"

Prompted by his words, the servants finally accepted the reality before them. Nanny Li rushed to Qiao Yu’s side first. Checking her breath, she found she was still breathing—it seemed she had only fainted. She felt a wave of relief; it appeared the terrifying man who had struck her had shown some restraint.

With so many people watching, the Eleventh Princess was indeed in the wrong today. Having already provided the necessary warnings and advice, it was clear the Princess had brought this upon herself. Even if she weren't the Emperor's most favored daughter, she had offended this group today; even if the matter were brought before the Emperor, she would certainly not come out unscathed.

"Imperial sister..." A slender, fragile figure reached the final step, only to see the scene before her. She paused for a moment before crying out and rushing to the side of the unconscious Qiao Yu, tears streaming down her face.

Lian Yue recognized this person; it was the Tenth Princess, Qiao Ling, who had been with her earlier.

After parting ways with Lian Yue, Qiao Ling had been lost in thought, having separated from the groups of Han Liuyan and Shen Yemei. She had found a cool, shaded spot to ponder, and before she could sort out her thoughts, she saw a figure hurrying in one direction from afar. She recognized at a glance that it was Qiao Yu, who hadn't yet changed her hairstyle.

Knowing that Qiao Yu was in such a rush because someone must have told her that her sixth uncle was with Miss Yue, she feared Qiao Yu would make trouble for Lian Yue, so she hurried to follow.

She had chosen a secluded spot to think, so she was a bit out of the way. After seeing Han Liuyan, Shen Yemei, and the others under the rockery and gaining a brief understanding of the situation, she had climbed up only to witness this scene.

Perhaps it was her weeping that took effect, for Qiao Yu, who had just been knocked unconscious, slowly opened her eyes and woke up.

Upon waking, Qiao Yu felt as if every inch of her body was in pain. Recalling what had just happened, her heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife. Although she had lost her composure when she charged forward, she had clearly seen Qiao Zhi’s dangerous glare and his movement to intercept her. Yet, all those actions had been blocked by the sudden appearance of a dark silhouette. Qiao Yu still remembered that terrifying fanged mask and those cold eyes, like those of a soul-reaping demon.

Why, why, why did so many people protect her? What was so special about her? Wasn't she just a daughter from a noble family? By what right, by what right!

Qiao Yu struggled to sit up, her eyes gradually focusing on Lian Yue. Resentment, jealousy, and hatred tangled into a vicious glare as she cursed without restraint: "Slut!"

*Slap!* A resounding ear-slap nearly knocked the recovering Qiao Yu unconscious again. She looked at the person who had struck her in disbelief. It was him. Why was it him?

"The Princess is delirious. Take her back to the palace."

And that voice, devoid of a shred of warmth—it shouldn't be him. It shouldn't be him. He wasn't like this, it wasn't like this.

He should have been smiling, asking her gently if it hurt. He should have used his stunning peach-blossom eyes to scare away those who bullied her, and she should be lying in his warm embrace right now, being carried back by him.

Why had everything changed? Qiao Yu truly wished she were dreaming, but the pain in her body reminded her every moment that this was reality. An iron-clad reality: her sixth uncle no longer doted on her, all because of a woman—a woman he had only recently met.

Qiao Zhi had never expected that the niece who was once merely a bit clingy but otherwise decent would turn into this. She possessed none of the reserve expected of a princess. It seemed the rumors he had heard about her over the past two years were not just hearsay. He hadn't expected that his momentary pity would turn that little girl who used to cry alone into this state.

Qiao Zhi’s gaze swept over Qiao Ling, who was carefully tidying Qiao Yu’s hair. If he hadn't intervened back then, perhaps the Eleventh Princess would be more fragile, but she wouldn't be this twisted.

Lian Yue also felt a trace of sympathy for Qiao Yu, regretting her own actions. If she hadn't provoked Qiao Yu time and time again, perhaps it wouldn't have come to this.

"It is not your fault. Even if you didn't provoke her, given her relationship with Qiao Zhi, she would have come for you anyway."

The thought that had just arisen was crushed by the voice of her second brother echoing from the depths of her heart. Upon reflection, it was indeed true; after all, it was the Princess who had first berated her.

Having figured it out, the burden in Lian Yue’s heart vanished. When she looked at Qiao Yu again, there was not a ripple of emotion in her eyes, as if this matter had nothing to do with her at all.

Meng Chuchen nodded in satisfaction. At this moment, An Ming gave a subtle look to Yuwen Lingxi (Xiao). Yuwen Lingxi (Xiao) reluctantly stepped forward, looked at the vacant-eyed Qiao Yu, and said, "Move aside, let me see."

Qiao Zhi took one last look at Qiao Yu; she was his niece, after all. He stepped aside. "I’ll trouble you, Yuwen."

That single sentence was enough to make Qiao Yu’s dull eyes light up again. *My sixth uncle still cares for me, he still minds me.*

Sometimes, when a woman is foolish, even if a thing is entirely groundless, she can find a thousand reasons to believe in it firmly.

Yuwen Lingxi (Xiao) took a snow-white handkerchief from his sleeve and placed it on the wrist Qiao Yu obediently extended before resting his fingers upon it. It was only a minor internal injury; it seemed his eldest brother had shown great restraint.

Originally, Yuwen Lingxi (Xiao) could have simply produced a blood-ganoderma pill, which would have had Qiao Yu jumping about again within an hour. However, he felt that wasting such a life-saving medicine on Qiao Yu would be a disgrace, so he merely took out a few ordinary healing pills and handed them to Nanny Li.

"She will be fine after resting for ten days or a fortnight." Having delivered his cold conclusion, Yuwen Lingxi (Xiao) did not linger for a moment and turned to walk toward the pavilion.

"Your handkerchief," Qiao Ling’s soft voice sounded from behind.

"It’s dirty. Throw it away."

Lian Yue was so amused by his words she nearly laughed out loud. It was truly ruthless. Qiao Ling, however, had not yet grasped the meaning of his words, holding the white handkerchief suspended in mid-air.

Nanny Li hurriedly fed Qiao Yu the medicine and, taking the water cup handed over by Yong Chang, helped her drink.

From beginning to end, Qiao Yu remained like a wooden puppet, her hopeful gaze never leaving Qiao Zhi.

Qiao Zhi, however, acted as if he did not see her gaze at all. He instructed Nanny Li, "Nanny, take her back." He then turned to Lian Yue and said, "Miss Yue, please do not lower yourself to her level."

This was the first time Lian Yue had heard the address "Miss Yue" from Qiao Zhi, and she felt a bit unaccustomed to it for a moment. But being clever, she recalled what she had heard from Qiao Ling and the others that afternoon regarding the relationship between Qiao Zhi and Qiao Yu, and she understood what was happening. He was apologizing to her.

Lian Yue did not feel it was his fault at all. She said earnestly, "I still prefer you calling me Sister Yue'er."

Qiao Zhi’s peach-blossom eyes, which had looked frost-bitten, curved slightly once more. He said softly, "Sister Yue'er."

"That’s it!" Lian Yue’s face lit up with a smile. "Let’s leave today’s matter at that. Let us continue to enjoy the scenery."

A simple "Sister Yue'er" represented a form of acceptance; Lian Yue only allowed those she cared for to address her in such a way.

The Yue family knew this, An Ming knew this, and Qiao Zhi had heard it from Lian Yu as well.