Chapter 27: The Cry for Freedom
As soon as the door opened, Qin Chuan saw Zhu Zhuqing kneeling quietly at the threshold.
She wore plain black clothing, a stark contrast to her delicate, youthful frame. Her figure, though slender and graceful, seemed fragile—burdened by despair. Loose strands of dark hair framed her pale face, which was drained of expression. Her eyes, once bright, now looked dull and empty.
At this moment, she looked less like a noble girl and more like a wandering ghost. Lifeless. Hollow.
"Zhu Zhuqing, why aren't you resting in your room? Why have you come to find this prince?" Qian Renxue's voice rang out coldly, tinged with annoyance.
She had clearly heard Qin Chuan refuse these two girls earlier—Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong. Why were they still chasing after him?
Zhu Zhuqing raised her head. Two streams of tears trickled down her cheeks, silently pleading. The sight of her crying like that—normally such a composed and strong girl—was heart-wrenching.
"Excuse me, Your Highness… is His Majesty Qin Chuan inside?"
"No," Qian Renxue replied flatly.
She had no sympathy for such displays of emotion. That was the kind of sentimentality reserved for foolish men.
"But… I heard…"
Zhu Zhuqing faltered. She had clearly heard Rongrong say that Qin Chuan was here, so why was Qian Renxue denying it?
Seeing her hesitate only irritated Qian Renxue further.
"Stand up!" she barked. "Don't kneel at this prince's door—it's disgraceful. What if others saw you?"
Zhu Zhuqing quickly rose to her feet, wiping her tears in silence.
"What do you want from him?" Qian Renxue demanded, her tone sharp and impatient.
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head, staying quiet. There were things she couldn't say—especially in front of Qian Renxue, the prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. She couldn't let her know everything.
But her silence only piqued Qian Renxue's interest. With a cold smirk, she said, "If you won't speak, then don't expect to see him. I don't know what kind of absurd feelings you've developed, but shouting about following a man you barely know and wanting to marry him is just ridiculous."
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing.
She knew Qian Renxue was right, but what choice did she have?
After a moment, she took a deep breath and whispered, "Your Highness… I came to ask His Majesty Qin Chuan for help. Please… let me see him."
"Let her in."
Qin Chuan's voice echoed calmly from within.
"Hmph." Qian Renxue rolled her eyes, clearly dissatisfied. "Didn't you hear? He said come in."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Zhu Zhuqing tried to bow gratefully, but Qian Renxue quickly stepped aside with a frown.
"Don't thank me. I didn't want to let you in—so annoying."
Still, she moved out of the way.
Zhu Zhuqing stepped into the room and immediately saw Qin Chuan seated on the sofa. Without hesitation, she fell to her knees again.
This time, no one stopped her. Qian Renxue merely closed the door behind them and leaned against the frame, arms crossed, watching coldly.
Qin Chuan didn't speak or move to stop her.
If she was here to ask for help, she needed to show proper sincerity.
"Please, Your Majesty Qin Chuan… save me."
Her voice cracked with emotion, and she burst into tears again. For a girl like Zhu Zhuqing—quiet, proud, and strong—it was clear she must have been pushed to her absolute limit.
"What happened?" Qin Chuan frowned. He had a guess, but he wasn't sure.
"Please…" she sobbed, lowering her head to the floor. "Help me sever ties with the Zhu family of the Xingluo Empire."
Qin Chuan's brows furrowed further.
She pressed her forehead to the floor and choked out, "As long as Your Majesty is willing to help me… Zhuqing will repay you with her entire life. I will serve you faithfully—like a horse or an ox."
Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed.
"The Zhu family of the Xingluo Empire? Who exactly are you?"
Zhu Zhuqing lifted her head slowly. Her face was streaked with tears, her expression hollow.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince… I am the second daughter of the Zhu family, a noble house of the Xingluo Empire."
Qian Renxue's eyes widened in realization.
No wonder. She had felt that Zhu Zhuqing's martial spirit was familiar. The Nether Spirit Cat—an inheritance of the Zhu clan.
Her voice turned cold again. "Then what are you doing in my Heaven Dou Empire?"
Zhu Zhuqing answered quietly, only two words: "Seeking freedom."
"I want to live… and fight for a way to survive."
Qin Chuan finally understood.
Judging by the current timeline, the participating teams from the Xingluo Empire should have already arrived in Wuhun City.
Though the city wasn't very large, it was entirely possible for Zhu Zhuqing to encounter Davis and Zhu Zhuyun—her elder sister and fiancé—at any time.
After being let down again and again by Dai Mubai, and then witnessing the vast gap between their strengths, her heart must have shattered.
And now, clinging to the last hope she had left, she had come to him—Qin Chuan.
While Qin Chuan silently reflected, Qian Renxue pressed further.
"What do you mean by 'fighting for fate'? Speak clearly. This prince dislikes vague talk."
Zhu Zhuqing let out a bitter smile.
She glanced toward Qin Chuan, who remained silent but contemplative. Finally, she explained everything—about her arranged marriage, her engagement to Dai Mubai, and how he had abandoned her for years.
Qian Renxue's eyes flickered. "So… Dai Mubai is the third prince of the Xingluo Empire?"
Qin Chuan smacked his lips. That's what she focused on?
But then again, it made sense. An enemy prince living under their nose… that alone was full of political implications.
Still, Qin Chuan shook his head. "It's pointless."
"Even if you capture him, the Xingluo Empire won't trade anything for him. They'll just discard him and consider him a failure."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded softly. "His Majesty is right."
"The royal family of Xingluo follows the law of Gu cultivation—only the strongest prince becomes emperor. The rest are expendable."
Qian Renxue fell silent.
That kind of ruthless hierarchy reminded her too much of her own upbringing. She knew the political risks.
"If that's true," she said after a moment, "then capturing Dai Mubai won't help us. It would only expose our rivalry with Xingluo too early, which would harm the Heaven Dou Empire."
Her eyes narrowed again.
"So what you're asking… is for His Majesty Qin Chuan to personally travel to the Zhu family estate and, using his authority as a Titled Douluo, force them to sever ties with you?"
"To free you from that fate?"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded quickly. Her eyes were full of sincerity.
"Yes. Please, Your Majesty. If you help me… I will give you everything. I will never regret it."
Qin Chuan remained silent.
For someone like him, this request was simple. Hardly an effort at all.
But with Qian Renxue watching, things were more delicate.
Suddenly, she spoke.
"We can help you—and you don't need to sell yourself to do it."
Zhu Zhuqing looked up, surprised.
"But in exchange…" Qian Renxue's tone turned sharp and commanding. "You must take the seat of the Zhu family patriarch. Only then will you truly be free."