My Mother Was Murdered… So I Seduced the Emperor’s Sister for Ultimate Revenge!
Chapter 20 - Fan Ruoruo, the Fan Family’s Legitimate Daughter

Chapter 20: Fan Ruoruo, the Fan Family’s Legitimate Daughter, Instantly Becomes Li Changsheng’s Little Admirer!

The sound of footsteps grew clearer at the mouth of the alley.

Haphazard.

Urgent.

Accompanied by the frantic shouts of servants.

“Young Miss Ruoruo!”

“Where has the young lady gone?”

Fan Ruoruo’s small face had completely drained of color.

She clutched Li Changsheng’s sleeve tightly.

Her tiny hands were ice-cold, her knuckles white from the force of her grip.

Her body trembled uncontrollably.

Huddled in the shadows of the alley corner, she felt like a rabbit cornered by hunters, nowhere to run.

Behind her was a cold, unyielding wall.

Ahead, the footsteps drew nearer.

Despair crept onto her young face.

Li Changsheng looked down at the panic in her eyes.

Those large, watery eyes held nothing but fear now.

He spoke calmly, his voice quiet yet clear.

“Do you want to leave?”

Fan Ruoruo’s head snapped up to look at him.

Then, instinctively, she glanced back at the towering wall.

No dog hole.

No gaps.

A dead end.

Her small face twisted with helplessness, on the verge of tears.

Li Changsheng didn’t ask again.

He bent slightly.

With a light motion, he scooped up the petite Fan Ruoruo.

His movements were gentle but carried undeniable strength.

Fan Ruoruo instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

A tiny gasp caught in her throat.

The next moment,

She felt weightless.

Wind rushed past her ears.

The scenery before her blurred.

The alley’s ground.

Then the top of the wall.

And finally, the view on the other side.

It happened too fast to process.

She didn’t even feel a jolt.

Li Changsheng landed on the opposite side as lightly as a feather, still holding her.

Another quiet alley.

Fan Ruoruo was stunned.

Her small mouth hung open, her round eyes wide and unblinking as she stared at the boy carrying her.

H-how did he…?

The wall was so high.

Yet he had just jumped over it.

While holding her?

Her little mind buzzed with questions.

The suffocating fear from moments ago was instantly replaced by sheer awe.

From the other side of the alley, the servants’ voices carried over.

“No one here! Check over there!”

The footsteps hurried away.

Just like that, the danger was gone.

Li Changsheng gently set Fan Ruoruo down.

She wobbled slightly, still dazed.

Tilting her head up, she stared at Li Changsheng.

Her eyes shone with gratitude, and something else.

Unbelievable admiration.

“Thank you!”

Her voice was bright, brimming with relief.

“Big brother, you’re amazing!”

Li Changsheng studied her sparkling eyes.

The fear had vanished, replaced by pure curiosity and joy.

He only smiled faintly.

“No need.”

Then he asked,

“Why did you run away?”

At this, Fan Ruoruo’s face fell.

She pouted, kicking a pebble at her feet.

“It’s boring inside.”

“Father always makes me read and write. So stuffy.”

“I wanted to play outside.”

Her tone dripped with grievance.

Li Changsheng watched her.

A four-year-old, at the age where play was everything.

The Fan family’s strict rules had clearly stifled her nature.

Something stirred in him.

“Want me to take you out?”

Fan Ruoruo’s eyes lit up.

Like the sun breaking through clouds.

“Really? Really?!”

She nodded vigorously, as if afraid he’d take it back.

Her small frame even bounced a little.

“Big brother, you’re the best!”

She grabbed his sleeve again.

This time, not out of fear.

But pure excitement and trust.

This big brother who had saved her and promised fun, he must have been sent by the heavens!

Li Changsheng glanced at the small hand clutching his sleeve.

He didn’t pull away.

Turning, he walked toward another wall.

“Keep up.”

Fan Ruoruo hurried after him.

Facing yet another wall, she blinked in confusion.

Are we climbing again?

Before she could ask,

Li Changsheng leapt up effortlessly, one hand catching the wall’s edge as he flipped over.

Smooth. Flawless.

He landed and reached back for her.

Fan Ruoruo didn’t hesitate. She dashed forward.

Li Changsheng took her hand and lifted lightly.

A strange force tugged at her, and suddenly, she was airborne,

Over the wall.

Then down.

The world before her exploded with life.

Noise. Movement. Color.

A bustling street stretched out, packed with people, carts, and stalls.

Vendors shouted. Food aromas wafted. Laughter rang.

A stark contrast to the quiet alley.

Fan Ruoruo’s face glowed with wonder.

Her head swiveled left and right, trying to take it all in.

Li Changsheng held her hand, guiding her through the crowd at a steady pace.

His steps were sure, effortlessly navigating the flow.

His gaze landed on a candied hawthorn vendor.

Glossy red berries glistened under the sun.

He approached.

“One stick.”

The vendor took the coins and handed over the largest skewer.

Li Changsheng passed it to Fan Ruoruo.

Her eyes turned to stars.

She accepted it reverently.

“Wow!”

A small bite.

Sweet and tart flavors burst on her tongue.

Instant bliss.

Chewing happily, she mumbled around the treat,

“Thank… bro’er!”

Her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk’s.

Li Changsheng’s lips quirked at her joy.

After a few bites, Fan Ruoruo suddenly paused.

She looked up, her big eyes serious.

“Big brother, what’s your name?”

“Li Changsheng.”

Simple. Direct.

Fan Ruoruo tilted her head.

With her sticky lips, she sounded it out carefully.

“Li… Chang… sheng…”

Repeating it twice, she nodded firmly.

“I’ll remember!”

Then she released his hand, patting her little dress.

From a pocket in her pink coat, she pulled out a palm-sized notebook.

And a short piece of charcoal.

She crouched, spreading the notebook on her knees.

With intense focus, she began to write.

Li Changsheng peered down.

The characters were crooked but legible.

“[Date]… Sunny… Met… Big Brother Changsheng…”

“Big Brother Changsheng… took me… over wall…”

“Ate… candied hawthorn…”

“So sweet…”

She wrote slowly, pressing hard.

Her face was a picture of concentration.

Li Changsheng watched.

Knowing the future, he was aware of the brilliance this little girl would one day possess.

But right now, her earnestness was…

Adorable.

Fan Ruoruo blew on the page, dusting off charcoal flakes.

She carefully tucked the notebook and charcoal back into her pocket.

Standing, she grabbed Li Changsheng’s hand again, beaming.

Li Changsheng’s gaze drifted toward a distant glimmer,

A river, its surface dancing with light.

“The spring river is warm today,”

He said softly.

Fan Ruoruo blinked, not quite understanding.

Li Changsheng continued,

“Let’s go fishing.”

“Fishing?!”

Her eyes went round with delight.

“Really?! Really?!”

She cheered, bouncing on her toes.

“I want to fish! With Big Brother Changsheng!”

Meanwhile.

Back in the alley.

Yan Xiaoyi appeared.

He scanned the empty lane, brow furrowed.

The air held the faintest trace of energy fluctuations.

But the boy?

Gone.

Li Changsheng, that six-year-old, had vanished.

He inspected the walls.

No climbing marks.

No disturbed footprints.

As if the child had simply flown away.

Yan Xiaoyi rubbed his temples.

How?

Even with talent, no six-year-old could disappear so completely under his watch.

Unless…

A possibility dawned on him, his expression darkening.

That boy was far from ordinary.

Their brief clash earlier had already hinted at power beyond reason.

Now, this inexplicable movement technique…

“Troublesome,”

Yan Xiaoyi muttered.

How would he explain this to the Princess Royal?

That he lost his target?

Or that the target flew off?

A headache brewed.

This assignment was proving far trickier than expected.

He took a deep breath, forcing down his frustration.

No matter what, he had to find him.

Sharpening his focus, Yan Xiaoyi searched for any trace, then vanished down the alley, resuming the hunt.