Chapter 47 (2/2): Confession, I actually like…

“Either release her and keep me, or release us both.”

Pei Huaian suddenly stabbed himself with the dagger.

“Will you let her go?”

Pei Huaian could not fight.

Qing Wu had some skill but was too weak from hunger to fight anyone.

Now, Pei Huaian could only gamble with himself.

If they refused to release Shen Youran, he would go down with her and force their hand.

Blood slowly flowed from the wound, soaking his clothes.

Da Dangjia only took him seriously when he actually stabbed himself.

They originally planned to abduct the Seventh Young Master’s wife, but got the wrong person.

The hundred thousand tael ransom now became uncertain.

Having the Seventh Young Master himself as hostage increased their chances of getting ransom.

He was the only son of the Pei Family’s third branch.

If he died here, not only would the ransom fail, but it would provoke the Pei Family’s vengeance.

“Bring that young lady here.”

“Yes.”

When Shen Youran was brought over, the youth with the half-hidden face followed.

Seeing the knife stabbed into Pei Huaian’s chest, Shen Youran was alarmed.

“Pei Huaian, what are you doing?”

“Come here,” Pei Huaian called weakly.

“Come to me.”

Shen Youran was firmly held by the shoulders, unable to break free.

Seeing this, Pei Huaian pushed the knife in deeper and shouted at Da Dangjia, “Let her come!”

Da Dangjia’s face turned pale.

He shut his eyes tightly and signaled the man holding Shen Youran to release her.

Shen Youran ran to his side, sheltered between him and Qing Wu.

She never expected Pei Huaian—usually carefree and reckless—to hurt himself just to save her.

“Lu Ge’er,” Da Dangjia said to his son, “we can’t keep this young lady. Big Dad will find you a better one later.”

Half his face hidden under the scarf, only his sharp black eyes stared fixedly at Shen Youran, unreadable.

Fortunately, he did not object aloud, just slightly lowered his eyelids.

“I’ll obey Big Dad.”

Da Dangjia then had them all taken away.

Pei Huaian took a few steps but collapsed from blood loss.

Shen Youran and Qing Wu supported him from either side.

“Pei Huaian, hold on…”

The dagger was still embedded in his chest.

No one dared touch it; pulling it out would only cause more bleeding.

The escorts thought they were moving too slowly and wanted to toss Pei Huaian onto a horse.

“No! He’s injured; he can’t endure the jostling!”

Shen Youran tried to shield him, but the bandit, whose arms were thicker than her legs, lightly shoved her to the ground.

He reached to pull out the dagger…

Suddenly, his body stiffened.

An arrow appeared at his back.

Then more arrows whistled through the air.

Along with the white-feathered arrows came dozens of officers dressed in black, brandishing swords, their Ya Pai jingling in the dappled forest light.

The bandits did not expect the officers to find their lair and immediately raised their blades in defense.

Caught off guard by the hidden arrows, several bandits quickly fell.

Da Dangjia reacted fastest, stepping forward to scoop up Shen Youran and shielding her and his son, ordering his men, “Retreat! Quickly retreat!”

They fled.

Pei Huaian lunged forward, grabbing Da Dangjia’s leg, trying to hold him back but was kicked away.

Da Dangjia threw Shen Youran onto his son’s horse, mounted another horse himself, and fled in a different direction.

Yet not far ahead, armored soldiers blocked their path.

Da Dangjia cursed.

No other route and unable to ride through, they abandoned their horses and hacked through the thorns with long knives, continuing on foot.

But no matter how agile, they couldn’t outrun the trained soldiers, especially dragging Shen Youran along.

Just as they were about to be caught, Er Dangjia suddenly grabbed Shen Youran from Lu Ge’er’s hands, holding a sword to her neck.

“Big Brother, Lu Ge’er, you go. I’ll hold them off.”

Er Dangjia was already injured and unable to ride.

Knowing he couldn’t escape, he chose to sacrifice himself to save the others.

“Second Dad…”

The youth hesitated, but Da Dangjia dragged him away decisively.

The rescuing soldiers soon caught up.

“Step forward and I’ll kill this young lady!”

The cold blade pressed heavily against Shen Youran’s shoulder.

She dared not move.

The soldiers were forced to stop.

In the dense forest not far away, Pei Huaijin, Xiao Ci, and Liang Xu stood together, their expressions grave as they watched the white figure held hostage.

Liang Xu was the Zhao Jian Ban’s most skilled archer, never missing a shot.

Yet now, seeing Shen Youran held so close, he tightened the bowstring but hesitated to release.

The man holding Shen Youran was constantly shifting.

Liang Xu adjusted his grip, unsure if the arrow would hit the bandit or accidentally pierce Shen Youran, who was used as a shield.

“Master Pei, Master Xiao, I…”

Liang Xu’s arm trembled, sweat beading his forehead.

“I can’t. I’m not confident.”

Pei Huaijin’s brows furrowed deeply, his face shifting in the forest light.

He looked at Xiao Ci.

“Brother Xiao, help me put on a show…”

Hearing the plan, Xiao Ci stepped out.

The blade at Shen Youran’s neck pressed a little closer.

Er Dangjia was cunning and knew skilled archers lay in wait.

That was why he stayed hidden behind her, tightly concealing himself.

But he knew his fate was sealed.

Once the others got far enough, he would die together with this young lady.

At that moment, a sharp reprimand rang from behind the soldiers.

“What’s going on? Weren’t you ordered to chase the bandits? Why are you standing here idly?”

The soldiers parted, and a cold-faced man in green official robes stepped forward.

One soldier explained, “Master Xiao, it’s not that we refuse to chase, but he has a hostage…”

“What hostage? Where is this hostage?”

Xiao Ci glanced at Shen Youran with indifference.

“The Pei Family said as long as the Seventh Young Master is safe, it’s enough. He’s already been rescued. Why aren’t you chasing those scoundrels?”

The soldiers stared in disbelief.

The man holding Shen Youran instinctively peeked out to see who spoke.

In that moment, an arrow whistled through the pine forest, piercing his forehead.

The man collapsed, the blade grazing past Shen Youran, clattering to the ground.

Shen Youran collapsed.

Behind her, the dying bandit twitched; before her, the soldiers ran past, continuing the pursuit.

Xiao Ci came forward and helped her up, explaining, “What I said earlier wasn’t true. It was a ruse to lure him out…”

The young lady before him was pale with tears streaking her cheeks, trembling uncontrollably, her expression vacant from fright.

Footsteps hurried behind them, and the young lady was suddenly pulled into a strong embrace.

Xiao Ci had succeeded and was retreating to handle the captured bandits.

Pei Huaijin supported the back of Shen Youran’s head, pressing her closer, wrapping his arms tightly—not with gentleness, but with overwhelming relief.

“Thankfully, you’re still here…”

Shen Youran’s cheek pressed against his chest, the familiar scent wrapping around her.

She could even hear the drumbeat of his heart.

Every night, she had fallen asleep held by him, hearing his heartbeat.

The accumulated terror, helplessness, and grievances of many days finally broke free.

Clutching his clothes, she cried without restraint.

“Why did you come so late? Why so late…”

Her voice was hoarse and near breaking, her hair loose and without ornament—every detail spoke of the suffering she had endured.

“I’m sorry. I came late again…”

Pei Huaijin stroked her hair, kissing her head repeatedly, unsure how to soothe her wounds.

Shen Youran wanted to cry freely but thought of Pei Huaian and quickly pulled away, sobbing incoherently, “Pei Huaian, how is he?”

Pei Huaijin noticed the dagger still embedded in his seventh younger brother’s chest.

“Let’s go back and see.”

He lifted her, treading over thorns on the way back.

Pei Huaian had fainted from blood loss and hunger.

Liang Xu checked the wound.

“No vital organs were hit, but he’s very weak…”

Then he ordered a door panel removed to carry Pei Huaian out.

With ample personnel today, Xiao Ci told them to take Pei Huaian to the doctor first.

He would handle the rest.

Liang Xu led some men and followed Pei Huaijin out of the forest.

During the carriage ride to the clinic, Pei Huaian briefly regained consciousness.

Leaning on Pei Huaijin’s shoulder, his voice weak and hazy, eyes half-open, he looked at both of them.

“Big Brother, Youran…am I dying?”

“Don’t say that. You’re not.”

“But why do I feel…cold all over…hands and feet too…”

His voice grew weaker with each word.

“I’m probably…AT…”

Hearing this, Shen Youran quickly took off her He Chang and covered him with it, tearful.

“Pei Huaian, you’ll be fine. We’re almost at the clinic…”

Seeing her cry like this made him believe he wouldn’t survive.

He held back words long kept inside, fearing no chance left.

“Big Brother, Youran…I have something to say…”

Pei Huaijin glanced down.

“Don’t speak. Save your strength.”

Pei Huaian, seeing his brother didn’t want to hear, spoke only to Shen Youran.

“Youran, I want to tell you…”

“Seventh Brother…”

Pei Huaijin guessed he was about to say something he shouldn’t.

“I like…”

“Seventh Brother, don’t…”

Pei Huaijin really didn’t want to hear his brother confess to his wife.

“I like your sister…”

Pei Huaijin: …Huh?

“I’ve liked her for a long time,” Pei Huaian slowly closed his eyes.

“Remember…to tell her for me…”