"I beg the Princess... keep your word, spare..."
Before he could finish his sentence.
Having relied entirely on willpower to hold on until now, Yang An could no longer support his thoroughly broken body and crashed heavily onto the snow!
Qin Guo'er, sitting in the phoenix carriage, stood up abruptly.
A'lan shouted loudly, "Avert your eyes!"
Hearing the order, the guards, palace maids, and servants surrounding the Princess's estate all turned their backs and lowered their heads.
Princess Anle parted the curtains.
With a cold face, she stepped down from the carriage and walked up to Yang An. As soon as she got close, she saw the exquisite dagger tucked into his waist.
It was her dagger.
"Could it be he's kept it on him this whole time?"
A ripple of emotion crossed Qin Guo'er's heart.
A'lan followed behind her and smiled, "This hunter is so badly injured, there's no need for the Princess to kill him yourself. Rest assured, Princess, later when his corpse is completely cold, this servant will have the guards chop off his head and bury him. We definitely won't give him a chance to fake his death and escape."
Qin Guo'er: ...
Ignoring A'lan, she looked at Yang An and thought: Is this man truly stupid or just faking it? He actually came to throw his life away for his family.
"Is the little hunter still alive?" Princess Anle kicked him twice.
With his eyes tightly shut, Yang An didn't react in the slightest.
"He's not actually dead, is he?" Qin Guo'er reached out her small hand to pat Yang An's cheek, but seeing his face covered in blood and grime, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
A'lan said, "Princess, this hunter is covered in blood and filth, he's too dirty. Your body is too noble to touch him, let this servant do it!"
But just as she said that.
Qin Guo'er thought for a moment, wrapped her small hand in a plain silk handkerchief, and patted Yang An's bloody cheek twice.
A'lan: ?!
The female officials: ?!
In the entire Princess's estate, who didn't know that their Princess Anle was normally clean to an extreme? A teacup used just once, no matter how precious, had to be replaced with a new one.
Clothes worn just once, no matter how exquisite, would be thrown away!
How could she touch a man!
And such a dirty man at that! Even wrapped in a handkerchief, it was unthinkable!
A'lan was left disheveled in the wind.
Except for Manman, the other female officials were also completely bewildered.
Seeing that the little hunter still didn't react, truly looking as if he were dead.
Princess Anle checked his pulse and breathing.
His pulse had stopped, but there was still breath. He was still alive; he hadn't breathed his last yet.
Clicking her tongue.
Qin Guo'er casually tossed the soiled handkerchief aside, stood up, and said indifferently, "Such an interesting person, this Princess doesn't want him dead just yet. Save his life at all costs."
A'lan: ?
That's not what you said earlier! Didn't you say you'd kill him as soon as he arrived?!
Qin Guo'er walked toward the phoenix carriage. "Tell those imperial physicians, there will be a heavy reward if they cure him. But if there is even half a scar left on his body, or any lingering hidden ailments, they will all be beaten to death with staves."
Although Qin Guo'er's tone was flat.
It exuded an unquestionable majesty and icy coldness.
The palace maids and guards with their backs turned knelt on the ground, lowering their heads even further. Even A'lan, who attended Princess Anle closely, couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine.
Not daring to say another word.
Following Princess Anle's orders, she instructed two female officials, Chun'er (Spring) and Xia'er (Summer), to carry Yang An into the estate for treatment.
Dressed entirely in white, Chun'er and Xia'er stepped out from the accompanying officials.
Just as they were about to touch Yang An's body.
Qin Guo'er, who had already sat back in the sedan chair, flashed a hint of displeasure in her eyes. "Stand down. Call two guards to carry him."
Chun'er and Xia'er exchanged a blank look.
Puzzled in their hearts, Is there a difference?
A'lan thought to herself: Perhaps this little hunter is too dirty, and the Princess doesn't want the palace maids to soil their hands. So, she summoned two guards. Both were strapping men over nine feet tall, large and robust.
They looked quite clumsy.
A'lan warned, "Be careful! This is a person the Princess wants to save. If you drop him or hurt him, chopping off your heads won't be enough to pay for it!"
The two guards hurriedly acknowledged the order.
Not forgetting to express their gratitude: "Thank you for the reminder, Sister A'lan!"
Just as they cautiously prepared to lift Yang An.
"Hold on!"
Princess Anle's voice came from the sedan chair again. Even through the curtain, she could see these two guards had huge hands and thick arms. The little hunter's body was at its absolute limit and couldn't withstand being jostled.
So she added, "Doesn't this Princess have a few extra sedan chairs? Bring one over for him to use."
A'lan: !
Princess! My Princess!
What exactly is wrong with you! Have you lost your mind!! Since when has anyone been allowed to use your sedan chairs?!!
A'lan was going crazy internally.
Meanwhile, the way the other palace maids and guards looked at Yang An completely changed. Where did this nobleman come from? To be held in such high regard by the Princess!?
In their eyes.
Yang An had become a lump of gold! The shining, sparkling kind that absolutely had to be sucked up to!!
No one dared to question Princess Anle's orders.
Soon, a black sedan chair was brought over. The two guards handled Yang An with more care than they would their own mothers, gently placing him on the soft couch within the sedan chair, and quickly carried him to the Quiet Pavilion for treatment.
Meanwhile, Qin Guo'er rode the phoenix carriage back to her bedchambers, the Warm Smoke Pavilion.
Sitting back at her vanity.
A few palace maids systematically continued to help her with her hair and makeup. A'lan stood by her side, looking as if she wanted to say something but was holding back.
Looking at herself in the bronze mirror.
Even without makeup, she was far more radiantly beautiful than a lotus emerging from the water.
In a good mood, Qin Guo'er asked A'lan, "Tell me, does this Princess look better with makeup, or without?"
Having been by Qin Guo'er's side for so many years.
A'lan had long mastered the art of flattery. She immediately complimented, "No matter how you look at it, the Princess is beautiful! With makeup, your beauty outshines all others; without makeup, you still possess bones of jade and skin of ice, a natural, unadorned perfection. Manman thinks so too."
Manman, who had just finished a meat pie and pulled out a sesame cake to gnaw on.
Hearing this, she glanced at Princess Anle in the mirror and nodded her head vigorously.
Qin Guo'er picked two hairpins from a pile of jewelry.
She raised her hand, sliding them into her hair, and said cheerfully, "Enough of this empty talk that everyone already knows. Before noon, this Princess wants to know who that little hunter is, where he's from, and what he's been through."
"And also, who injured him to this state."
"Understand?"
A'lan acknowledged the order.
...
The Black Jade Lotus has a miraculous effect on reconnecting broken bones.
Usually, one with just over a decade of efficacy can cure old injuries that have caused paralysis for years. And the one Yang An picked was a full one hundred and fifty years old, its effects even more profound.
Wanshou Ward, early this morning.
Li Yan, deep in sleep, felt a sharp, intense pain shooting through his legs. The pain made the corners of his mouth twitch, and he jolted awake from his dream!
He sat bolt upright in bed.
Clutching his aching legs, he suddenly froze. Weren't my legs completely numb? How can I feel them again, and why are they starting to hurt!?
Afraid of becoming a burden to Yang Ning and Yang An.
During the days since his legs were crippled, Li Yan had suffered torment every waking moment. Yet now, sensation had actually returned to his legs.
He didn't dare to believe it.
Terrified that this was all an illusion.
Holding his breath, Li Yan tried to wiggle his toes.
Watching his toes curl slightly, his eyes instantly turned red. With a trembling voice, he woke up his wife beside him.
"A'ning! A'ning!"
"My legs seem to be getting better! I think I'll be able to stand up!"
Having watched over Li Yan for half the night.
An exhausted Yang Ning was awakened.
Rubbing her eyes, she was groggy at first, but upon hearing clearly what Li Yan said, she snapped wide awake. "Really?"
"Really!"
Right in front of Yang Ning, Li Yan wiggled his toes again.
Weeping tears of joy, Yang Ning hugged Li Yan excitedly.
Yesterday, when Yang An returned from the mountain.
Li Yan had already been beaten into a coma by Wang Gou'er, so he still didn't know he had consumed the Black Jade Lotus. After hugging Yang Ning for a while, he asked in confusion, "How did my legs suddenly get better? Could it be the blessing of the gods?"
"What gods."
Yang Ning patted him lightly and said with profound heartache, "It was my brother. It was our Erlang who risked his life going into the mountains and picked the Black Jade Lotus to save your life."
Hearing this, Li Yan grasped Yang Ning's hands.
Tilting his head back, it took him a long while to fight back his tears before saying, "Thanks to Erlang! If it weren't for him, I'm afraid I would never have stood up again in this lifetime. Marrying you and having a younger brother like Erlang is the greatest fortune of my life!"
"Why are you saying such things on such a joyous day?" Wiping tears from her eyes, Yang Ning said, "I'll go get Erlang and tell him this good news too!"
Yang Ning jumped down from the bed.
She ran quickly to Yang An's door and shouted excitedly, "Erlang! Erlang! Your brother-in-law's legs are healing!"
However, there was no response from inside the room.
Thinking Yang An was asleep, Yang Ning knocked heavily on the door twice. "Erlang, are you awake?"
After a long moment, there was still no answer.
Yang Ning felt something was wrong.
Seeing that Yang An's door wasn't fully locked, she pushed it open with a bang and rushed in, only to find the room completely empty, without a single soul.
Only cold bedding remained on the bed.
"It's early in the morning, where did Erlang run off to?"
A strong sense of unease welled up in her heart. Yang Ning searched everywhere in the courtyard—the kitchen, the latrine—she looked everywhere, but Yang An was nowhere to be found!
Yang Ning completely panicked.
She ran back to the bedroom anxiously. "Husband! Erlang is gone!"
Hearing that Yang An was missing.
Li Yan also paled in shock and hurriedly sat up from the bed. "How could he be gone?!"
"Could he have been kidnapped by Wang Gou'er and his men?" Thinking of this possibility, Yang Ning's face instantly turned deathly white.
"No."
Li Yan said with absolute certainty.
He had a calm personality. Although he was burning with anxiety right now, he could still analyze the situation rationally. "If it were Wang Gou'er's doing, why would they only kidnap Erlang and not attack us?"
"Besides, didn't Erlang say he was favored by a nobleman, and Wang Gou'er wouldn't dare bully us anymore? Plus, we didn't hear any commotion last night."
"So in all likelihood, Erlang went out on his own."
"A'ning, go check if my bow and arrows are still there. Maybe Erlang went into Yunling Mountain again."
Hearing Li Yan say this.
Yang Ning calmed down slightly. Just as she was about to check on the bow and arrows, Knock, knock, knock, a knocking sound suddenly came from the front gate.
The husband and wife exchanged a glance.
Yang Ning said joyfully, "It's Erlang! That boy makes me worry so much, it must be him coming back!"
She grabbed her rolling pin and trotted over to open the door.
Preparing to teach Yang An a good lesson so he wouldn't dare run around recklessly again.
However, after opening the door.
Yang Ning, who had already raised the rolling pin above her head, didn't see the Yang An she had been longing for. Instead, a woman dressed in an elegant white dress stood outside.
Her white dress was purer than snow, and her figure was graceful.
Even wearing a veil, it couldn't hide her peerless elegance. Behind her followed an eleven-or-twelve-year-old girl, holding a faintly glowing jade flute in her arms.
Yang Ning had never seen these two before.
Puzzled, she asked, "May I ask who you are?"
The woman in white spoke with an indifferent tone, "Is this the home of Li Yan and Yang Ning? I was entrusted by someone to deliver something to them."
"I am Yang Ning, please come in!"
Hearing they were looking for her and Li Yan, although full of suspicion, Yang Ning opened the door and let them in.
Yang Ning asked, "What is it?"
The woman in white said, "That person asked me to deliver the items to you and your husband. Where is your husband? I can only give them to you when he is here."
Left with no choice.
Yang Ning could only lead them to the bedroom.
The woman in the white dress possessed an extraordinary aura. At first glance, Li Yan could tell that her cultivation was unfathomably deep.
He immediately grew guarded.
He said very cautiously, "Greetings, Noble Lady. This lowly one is injured and cannot get out of bed to bow, I beg your forgiveness. May I ask what business the Noble Lady has with us?"
Seeing that both the Li couple were present.
The woman in the white dress spoke no unnecessary words. She raised her hand and tossed out a few silver ingots, which landed steadily in their hands. "Entrusted by someone, I hand these over to you."
Seven or eight silver ingots.
Each ingot was a full fifty taels. Added up, it amounted to as much as three or four hundred taels!
Who would give them silver.
And so much of it!
Especially since, in the fine crevices of the silver, there were uncleaned traces of blood, which made the couple instantly feel uneasy.
Li Yan asked, "Could the Noble Lady tell us who gifted this silver?"
The woman in the white dress shook her head. "I do not know his name. I only know he is a young man whose appearance bears some resemblance to your wife."
"Erlang!"
"It's our Erlang!"
Hearing this description, Yang Ning violently grabbed the white-robed woman's sleeve, asking excitedly, "Noble Lady, you've seen Erlang? Where did you see him? Where is he now?"
Beneath the white veil, the woman's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.
With a light flick of her sleeve, she sent out a gentle breeze.
It inconspicuously pushed Yang Ning away. Then, taking a step back, she said indifferently, "I'm not sure. But I imagine he should be dead by now."
"Dead..."
"Dead?"
"You're saying our Erlang is dead?"
A pale smile appeared on Yang Ning's face; she didn't believe it for a second.
Li Yan said in a deep voice, "Please, Noble Lady, do not joke."
"I never joke with people. When he entrusted me to deliver the silver to you, his internal organs were already damaged, and his bones and tendons were broken in multiple places. If no one rescued him, there is absolutely zero chance he survived until now."
The white-robed woman's emotionless words.
Were like a blade of ice.
Stabbing into Yang Ning's heart and twisting several times. Yang Ning stumbled back a few steps, shaking her head desperately, absolutely refusing to believe this tragic news.
"Impossible!"
"Our Erlang was perfectly fine yesterday! How could he suddenly die!!"
Yang Ning violently raised her head.
Her eyes densely webbed with bloodshot veins, she glared at the woman in white.
She screamed hoarsely, "Who exactly are you? Why are you cursing our Erlang?!" Then, as if gone mad, she grabbed the silver and threw it at the woman in white. "Get out! Take your silver and get the hell out!"
However, the other party didn't move an inch.
A wisp of a breeze brushed past.
The thrown silver ingots caused ripples to appear in the air before the woman in white, and they fell to the ground one after another. Her expression didn't change in the slightest as she continued indifferently, "Those are the facts. If you don't believe me, you can ask my maidservant."
Keke, hugging the jade flute.
Wiping her tears, she stepped out from behind the woman in white and sobbed, "Last... last night, big brother broke into the Wang Family Moneyhouse alone and killed a lot of bad guys..."
"He saved Keke... and saved a lot of other girls..."
"Waaah... but he was also sneak attacked by the bad... bad guys, and got severely injured..."
"Covered in blood... waaah..."
Hearing this.
Yang Ning and Li Yan's minds went completely blank, standing frozen in place.
Didn't Erlang say he met a nobleman?
Didn't he say the nobleman would protect them?
Didn't he say they never had to be afraid of Wang Gou'er again?
Why did he go break into the Wang Family Moneyhouse?
Why did it turn out like this?!!
Gradually, a thought surfaced in their minds. Yang Ning and Li Yan's breathing grew increasingly rapid, especially Yang Ning, who clutched her chest, nearly unable to breathe.
Deceived. They were deceived by Yang An.
There never was any nobleman.
The Black Jade Lotus, the meat of the fierce eagle—Yang An had traded his life for all of it!
And last night.
He went and traded his life again to fight Wang Gou'er to the death!
"Yes, Sister and Brother-in-law have worked hard for half their lives. It's time they lived a good life." The words Yang An had spoken yesterday echoed in Yang Ning's ears at this moment.
She finally understood why Yang An hadn't taken her with him.
When pain reaches its absolute limit.
A person cannot make a sound while crying. Clutching her chest that hurt so much it felt like it was tearing apart, Yang Ning's tears rolled down her face. She opened her mouth, wailing silently for a long time before the sound finally broke free.
"AHH!"
"MY BROTHER!!!"
Following a tragic scream.
Yang Ning's forehead seemed to split open as a faint golden light flashed, and then she collapsed to the floor, losing consciousness.