I Don't Want Him to Die Just Yet

“Please, Princess, keep your word and spare me…”

Before he could finish speaking,

Yang An, who had been holding on with sheer willpower until now, could no longer support his battered body and collapsed heavily onto the snow-covered ground!

Qin Guo’er, seated in the phoenix carriage, suddenly stood up.

Lan shouted loudly, “Dodge!”

The guards around the princess’s residence, as well as the palace maids and servants, all quickly turned their backs and lowered their heads at the warning.

Princess Anle lifted the curtain.

Her face cold, she stepped down from the phoenix carriage and approached Yang An. The moment she drew near, her eyes caught the exquisite dagger embedded in Yang An’s waist.

It was her dagger.

“Could it be that he’s been carrying it on him all along?”

Qin Guo’er’s heart stirred slightly.

Lan followed behind her, smiling as she said, “This hunter is already so badly wounded, Princess need not trouble herself to finish him off. Rest assured, once the body has cooled, I’ll have the guards behead him and bury him. There will be no chance for him to fake his death and escape.”

Qin Guo’er: …

Ignoring Lan, she looked at Yang An and said quietly, “Is this man truly foolish, or just pretending? He actually came here to die for his family.”

Princess Anle asked Yang An, “Is the little hunter still alive?”

Yang An’s eyes remained tightly shut, without a hint of response.

“Could he really be dead?” Qin Guo’er reached out her delicate hand to pat Yang An’s cheek, but hesitated when she saw his face smeared with blood and grime.

Lan said, “Princess, this hunter’s body is covered in blood and filth. Your noble body must not be touched. Please allow me to do it.”

But just as she finished speaking,

Qin Guo’er wrapped her little hand in a plain white cloth and patted Yang An’s blood-stained cheek twice.

Lan: !

All the female officials: !

In the entire Princess’s residence, who didn’t know that Princess Anle was obsessively clean to the extreme? She would replace even the most exquisite tea sets after a single use. She would discard even the finest clothes after just one wear!

How could she possibly touch a man!

Especially such a filthy man! Even wrapped in a cloth, it was unthinkable!

Seeing this, Lan was utterly flustered.

All the other female officials behind Qin Guo’er, except Manman, were equally disconcerted.

Seeing that Yang An still did not respond, as if truly dead,

Princess Anle had no time to attend to them.

She hurriedly checked Yang An’s other vital signs. There was no pulse, but fortunately, he was still breathing—still alive, not yet passed.

Qin Guo’er breathed a sigh of relief.

She casually discarded the now dirty cloth and stood up, her voice calm and indifferent, “Such an interesting person. I do not wish for him to die just yet. I will save him, no matter the cost.”

Lan: ?

Princess! That’s not what you said just now! You said you’d let him die after killing him!

Qin Guo’er turned and walked back to the phoenix carriage, continuing, “Tell the imperial physicians that there will be a great reward if they heal him. But if even a single scar or trace of injury remains, all of them will be beaten to death.”

Though her tone was even,

it carried an unquestionable authority and icy coldness.

The palace maids and guards, who had turned away, knelt even lower, heads bowed further. Even Lan, who stood beside Princess Anle, felt a chill running down her spine.

No one dared utter another word.

Following Princess Anle’s orders, Lan commanded Chun’er and Xia’er, two female officials, to carry Yang An into the residence for treatment.

Clad in white robes, Chun’er and Xia’er stepped forward from among the accompanying female officials.

Just as they were about to touch Yang An’s body—

Qin Guo’er, who had already settled back onto the palanquin, flashed a trace of displeasure in her eyes. “Step back. Call two guards to carry him.”

Chun’er and Xia’er exchanged dumbfounded glances.

They wondered silently: what difference would that make?

Lan thought to herself that perhaps this little hunter was too dirty, and the princess didn’t want the palace maids to soil their hands. So she summoned two guards—each over nine feet tall, burly men.

They looked clumsy.

Lan warned sharply, “Be careful! This is the person the princess wants to save. If he falls or gets hurt, cutting off your heads won’t even be enough compensation!”

The two guards quickly acknowledged her orders.

Not forgetting to thank her, they said, “Thank you for the reminder, Sister Lan!”

As they cautiously prepared to lift Yang An—

“Wait!”

Princess Anle’s voice came again from the palanquin. Even through the curtain, she could see that the two guards were big and strong, but the little hunter’s body was already pushed to its limits and couldn’t withstand any jolting.

So she added, “Don’t I have several other palanquins? Bring one over for him to lie on.”

Lan: !

Princess! My princess!

Please say you’re sick right now! Or that some evil spirit has possessed you! When has anyone ever been allowed to use your palanquin?!

Lan was going crazy inside.

Meanwhile, the other palace maids and guards looked at Yang An with completely changed eyes. Where had this nobleman come from, to be so favored by the princess?!

In their eyes,

Yang An had become a golden nugget—shining bright and worth flattering!

No one dared to question Princess Anle’s orders.

Soon, a black palanquin was carried over. The two guards handled Yang An with the utmost care, more delicately than if they were tending to their own mothers, gently placing him on the soft couch inside the palanquin before quickly heading to Jingge Pavilion for treatment.

Meanwhile, Qin Guo’er rode the phoenix palanquin back to the warm smoke chamber of her bedchamber.

She sat back down at her dressing table.

Several palace maids continued to methodically help her fix her hair, while Lan stayed by her side, looking hesitant as if wanting to say something.

Looking into the bronze mirror, even without makeup,

she was as fresh and beautiful as a lotus emerging from the water—clear and graceful.

Qin Guo’er was in a good mood and asked Lan, “Tell me, do you think I look better with makeup or without?”

Having served Qin Guo’er for so many years,

Lan had long mastered the art of flattery. She replied, “Princess, you look beautiful no matter what! With makeup, you outshine all the flowers; without makeup, you are like jade and ice, naturally perfect. Manman thinks so too.”

Manman, who had just finished eating a meat pie and was now gnawing on a sesame cake, glanced at Princess Anle in the mirror and nodded vigorously.

Qin Guo’er picked out two hairpins from a pile of jewelry.

She raised her hand and placed them in their hair, happily saying, “Enough of this—everyone already knows plain speech. Before noon, I want to know who this little hunter is, where he’s from, and what his background is.”

“And who did this to him?”

“Understand?”

Lan responded promptly.

……

Black jade lotus has a miraculous effect on mending broken bones.

Medicines that normally take over a decade to heal even old, paralyzing injuries could be cured by it.

The black jade lotus Yang An had collected was at least a hundred and fifty years old, making its efficacy even greater.

At Wanshou Workshop, early this morning.

Li Yan awoke with a jolt from his sleep, a sharp, searing pain radiating through his legs, causing his mouth to twitch involuntarily.

He sat up straight on the bed.

Clutching his aching legs, he suddenly froze. Hadn’t his legs already lost all sensation? How could he feel them again—and worse, the pain was returning!?

He was terrified of becoming a burden to Yang Ning and Yang An.

These past days with his broken legs had been an unrelenting torment. And now, sensation was returning to them.

He could hardly believe it.

Afraid it was all just an illusion.

Holding his breath, Li Yan tried to wiggle his toes.

Seeing his toes curl slightly, tears instantly welled up in his eyes. His voice trembled as he called out to his wife beside him.

“Ah Ning! Ah Ning!”

“My legs… they’re getting better! I think I can stand again!”

Yang Ning had stayed up guarding Li Yan through the night.

Now, exhausted, she was jolted awake by his voice.

Rubbing her eyes, she gradually understood what he said and immediately snapped to full alertness. “Really?”

“Really!”

In front of her, Li Yan moved his toes once more.

Overcome with joy, Yang Ning burst into tears and threw her arms around him in a tight embrace.

Yesterday, when Yang An returned from the mountain,

Li Yan had been knocked unconscious by Wang Gou’er. Unaware that he had ingested the Black Jade Lotus, he had embraced Yang Ning for a moment and then wondered aloud, “Why are my legs suddenly getting better? Could it be some divine blessing?”

“There’s no such thing as divine blessings.”

Yang Ning lightly punched him, her heart aching as she said, “It’s thanks to my little brother, our second brother. He risked going into the mountains and picked the Black Jade Lotus—that’s what saved your life.”

Hearing this, Li Yan grasped Yang Ning’s hand tightly.

He tilted his head back, holding back his tears for a long moment before saying, “Thanks to Er Lang! Without him, I’m afraid I’d never stand up again in this lifetime. Marrying you and having Er Lang as my brother is the greatest fortune of my life!”

“Why talk about these things on such a joyful day?” Yang Ning wiped her tears and said, “I’ll go find Er Lang and share the good news with him!”

Yang Ning jumped out of bed.

She quickly ran to Yang An’s door, excitedly calling out, “Er Lang! Er Lang! Your brother-in-law’s legs are getting better!”

But there was no response from inside the room.

Thinking Yang An was asleep, she knocked hard on the door twice more. “Er Lang, are you awake?”

After a long moment, still no answer.

A sinking feeling of unease overwhelmed Yang Ning.

Seeing the door wasn’t fully locked, she pushed it open abruptly and rushed inside. The room was empty—completely deserted.

Only cold, rumpled bedding remained on the bed.

“Where on earth did Er Lang go so early in the morning?”

A strong sense of dread washed over her. Yang Ning searched every corner of the courtyard—kitchen, outhouse, everywhere—but there was no sign of Yang An anywhere.

Panic gripped her completely.

She hurried back to the bedroom. “Husband! Er Lang is missing!”

Hearing this, Li Yan’s face drained of color. He hurriedly sat up from the bed. “How could he just disappear?!”

“Could it be that Wang Gou’er and his men kidnapped him?” The thought made Yang Ning’s face turn pale.

“No.”

Li Yan said firmly, without hesitation.

He was calm and steady by nature. Although his heart was burning with anxiety at the moment, he still managed to analyze the situation with composure. “If it were Wang Gou'er’s doing, would he only have taken Yang An and left us untouched?”

“Besides, didn’t Yang An say that he was favored by a noble, and Wang Gou'er dared not bully us anymore? And we haven’t heard any commotion until now.”

“So, chances are, Yang An went out on his own.”

“An Ning, go check if my bow and arrows are still here. Maybe Yang An went back into Yunling Mountain again.”

Hearing Li Yan say this, Yang Ning calmed down a bit. Just as she was about to check the bow and arrows, there was a sudden knock at the door — “knock, knock, knock.”

The couple exchanged glances.

Yang Ning exclaimed with joy, “It’s Yang An! That troublesome boy must be back!”

Clutching her rolling pin, she hurried to open the door, planning to give Yang An a good scolding so he wouldn’t dare run off again.

But when the door swung open—

Yang Ning, who had already raised the rolling pin above her head, saw no sign of the long-awaited Yang An. Instead, standing outside was a woman dressed in a simple yet elegant white dress.

Her gown was as pure as snow, her figure graceful and poised.

Even with a veil covering her face, her unmatched aura was unmistakable. Behind her trailed a girl about eleven or twelve years old, cradling a jade flute that shimmered faintly in her arms.

Yang Ning had never seen either of them before.

She asked with suspicion, “May I ask who you are?”

The woman in white spoke coolly, “Is this the home of Li Yan and Yang Ning? I was sent to deliver something to them.”

“I am Yang Ning. Please come in.”

Though Yang Ning was filled with doubts upon hearing that the visit was for her and Li Yan, she still opened the door to let them inside.

Yang Ning asked, “What is it that you’re delivering?”

The woman replied, “I was instructed to give these to you and your husband. Where is your husband? He must be here to receive them.”

Yang Ning was at a loss.

She could only lead them to the bedroom.

The woman in white carried an imposing presence. The moment Li Yan set eyes on her, he sensed her cultivation was unfathomably deep.

A wave of caution instantly rose within him.

He carefully said, “Greetings, noble lady. I am injured and unable to rise from bed to pay proper respect. Please forgive me. May I ask the purpose of your visit?”

After confirming that both Li Yan and Yang Ning were present,

the woman wasted no words. She raised her hand and tossed several ingots of silver coins into their hands.

Seven or eight ingots.

Each ingot weighed fifty taels, amounting to a total of three to four hundred taels!

Who would give them so much silver?

And why?

What unsettled the couple even more was that the silver coins bore faint bloodstains in the fine details, as if they had not been wiped clean.

Li Yan asked, “Could you please tell us who sent this silver?”

The woman shook her head. “I do not know his name. I only know he is a young man who, judging by appearance, resembles your wife.”

“Yang An!”

“That’s my Yang An!”

Upon hearing this, Yang Ning suddenly grabbed the woman’s sleeve, her voice trembling with excitement, “Noble lady, you’ve seen Yang An? Where did you see him? Where is he now?”

Beneath the woman’s white veil, her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

With a subtle flick of her sleeve, a gentle breeze softly separated her from Yang Ning.

She then took a step back and said coldly, “I do not know. But I believe he is already dead.”

“Dead…”

“Dead?”

“You’re saying my Er Lang is dead?”

Yang Ning’s pale face twisted into a faint smile, disbelief written all over her.

Li Yan’s voice was steady as he said, “Please, noble lady, do not joke.”

“I don’t joke,” the woman in white said emotionlessly. “When he entrusted me to deliver the silver to you, he was already gravely wounded—his lungs pierced, multiple bones broken. Without help, there was no way he could have survived until now.”

Her words were like an ice knife.

They twisted deeper and deeper into Yang Ning’s heart. She staggered backward, shaking her head desperately, refusing to accept the terrible news.

“Impossible!”

“My Er Lang was perfectly fine just yesterday! How could he suddenly be dead?!”

Yang Ning’s eyes bloodshot as she glared at the woman in white.

She screamed hoarsely, “Who are you? Why would you curse my Er Lang?!” Then, as if driven mad, she grabbed the silver coins and hurled them at the woman. “Get lost! Take your silver and get out of here!”

But the woman didn’t even flinch.

A faint breeze stirred.

The silver coins splashed like ripples before the woman’s feet, falling to the ground one by one. Her expression remained unchanged, calm and detached as she said, “The facts are as I’ve told you. If you don’t believe me, you can ask my attendant.”

Keke stepped forward from behind the woman, clutching her jade flute, tears streaming down her cheeks as she sobbed, “Last… last night, Big Brother broke into the Wang family’s money house alone and killed many bad men…”

“He saved Keke… and many other girls…”

“Sniff… but he was ambushed by the bad men…”

“He was covered in blood… sniff…”

Hearing this, Yang Ning and Li Yan’s minds went blank. They stood there stunned.

Wasn’t Er Lang supposed to have met a noble benefactor?

Weren’t they supposed to be protected now?

Weren’t they supposed to no longer fear Wang Gou’er?

Why did he break into the Wang family’s money house?

Why did this happen?!

Gradually, a thought surfaced in their minds. Yang Ning and Li Yan’s breathing grew rapid, especially Yang Ning’s. She clutched her chest, struggling to breathe.

They had been deceived—betrayed by Yang An.

There was never any noble benefactor.

All those tales of the black jade lotus, the flesh of the ruthless eagle—they were all sacrifices Yang An made with his own life!

And last night?

He risked his life to fight Wang Gou’er again!

“Yes, sister, brother-in-law have worked hard all their lives. They deserve to live well,” Yang An’s words from yesterday echoed in Yang Ning’s ears.

Now she finally understood why Yang An didn’t bring her along.

When the pain became unbearable,

there are no tears left to shed. Clutching her chest that felt like it was about to burst, Yang Ning’s tears streamed down as she opened her mouth, silent at first, then finally letting out a long, agonized wail.

“Ah!”

“My little brother!!!”

With a heart-wrenching scream,

a crack appeared between Yang Ning’s brows, faint golden light flickering before she collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness.