If not for the belt securing her to the branch, she would have fallen. Ji Yingying sat slumped against the branch, her face downcast. Yang Jingyuan carefully lifted her face – it was ice cold to the touch.

“Yingying.” He called to her softly. Ji Yingying’s eyelashes fluttered. Yang Jingyuan’s limbs went weak, nearly causing him to fall from the tree. He steadied himself and, without further delay, carefully untied the belt. Seeing the arrow embedded in the trunk beside her, he pulled it out before holding Ji Yingying close and leaping down from the tree.

As the wind rushed past his face, he thought silently: a twenty-zhang tall tree, how was she not afraid? It must have been because there were people below who frightened her even more. Who could they have been? Whoever they were, he would make them pay.

“How is she?” Sang Fourteen asked with concern.

Yang Jingyuan felt Ji Yingying’s wrist for her pulse. It was weak but stable. He looked at the arrow in her shoulder and said to Sang Fourteen, “She’ll be fine. Bring me my sword.”

After cutting off the arrow shaft, he handed both arrows to Sang Fourteen. “Hold these for me. Let’s return to the city.”

Horseback would be too jarring, but carrying her would be too slow. As Yang Jingyuan hesitated, a group appeared on the official road. He peered into the distance, his eyes brightening as he called out, “Xiangyou! Hurry over here!”

“It’s Third Young Master!” Xiangyou’s face was dejected as he directed Ji Fu to bring the carriage over.

The four Yang family guards were bruised and battered, while the rest were disheveled and dirty. Lingr, who had accompanied Ji Yingying home, had disheveled hair and swollen eyes from crying. Seeing Ji Yingying in Yang Jingyuan’s arms, Ji Fu and Lingr both turned pale, asking in unison, “Did those people catch up with the Young Madam and Young Master?”

“We’ll talk later.” Yang Jingyuan had no patience for details now. He carried Ji Yingying into the carriage, carefully cradling her to avoid touching the arrow.

Seeing this, Sang Fourteen kept the two arrows and said, “Back to the city!”

The Yang family carriage was spacious and comfortable, and the official road was smooth, making for a stable journey. Ji Yingying lay softly in his arms, showing the docile manner Yang Jingyuan usually loved. But he felt no joy now, holding her carefully, afraid of causing her any pain.

He stared at the arrow in her shoulder, his heart aching. It was all his fault – how could he have been so confident that the world was peaceful, that she would be safe?

“Young Master, would the Young Madam like some water?” Lingr asked worriedly, kneeling beside them.

Yang Jingyuan snapped to attention, extending his hand: “Pour a cup.”

Lingr poured water and passed it over. He drank half before lowering his head to kiss Ji Yingying’s lips.

As water filled her mouth, Ji Yingying swallowed instinctively, her brows furrowing at pain from an unknown source.

“The Young Madam is awake!” Lingr exclaimed joyfully, seeing her expression.

Yang Jingyuan raised his head, wiping water from the corner of her mouth with his finger. His throat felt stuffed with cotton, swelling when it met water, unable to form words. Ji Yingying hadn’t truly awakened, her brows still tightly knitted. Unable to bear watching, Yang Jingyuan covered her forehead with his palm. His lips moved, but it took a while before he could speak: “How far are we from the city?”

Lingr lifted the carriage curtain and saw the city gate tower: “We’re about to enter the city.”

Sang Fourteen’s voice came from outside: “Third Young Master, shall we go to the physician’s or return to the Yang residence?”

Sang Fourteen rode up beside the carriage, tilting his head to peer through the raised curtain. Seeing Yang Jingyuan’s stern face, he smiled slightly: “If we go to the physician’s, we’ll have to move her again later…”

“Return home.” Yang Jingyuan said these two words, then lowered his head.

“Xiangyou, straight back to the residence.” Sang Fourteen smiled brightly, winking at Xiangyou.

Xiangyou gave him a grateful look before whispering something to one of the guards. Understanding, the guard borrowed a horse from Sang Fourteen’s servant and galloped into the city.

The carriage finally stopped before the Yang family gates. Yang Jingyan had been waiting at the entrance. Seeing Yang Jingyuan carry Ji Yingying out of the carriage, he was overwhelmed with emotion, barely managing to call out: “Third Brother!”

Both brothers had lost weight in the months apart. Yang Jingyan’s eyes reddened at the sight of his brother’s gray hemp clothing: “It’s good you’re home.”

This wasn’t his home anymore. Yang Jingyuan turned his face away: “Has the physician arrived?”

“Quick, help the Third Madam onto the sedan chair. You brothers can catch up later. Third Brother, we’ve already sent for Imperial Physician Gu.” The First and Second Young Madams stood nearby with a group of maids and servants, directing people forward to help with Ji Yingying.

“Thank you.” Yang Jingyuan nodded to everyone before quickly carrying Ji Yingying inside.

Watching him enter the Yang family gates, the First Young Madam murmured, “What should have been a simple homecoming, how did it turn into this?”

“Let’s go. Mother is waiting.” Yang Jingyan said, following them inside.

Yang Jingyuan carried Ji Yingying straight to Mingyue Residence. Looking at the broken arrow shaft in her shoulder, he closed his eyes briefly before standing: “Cut open her clothes.”

He stepped back to watch Xiangr and Lingr work. Should he let Doctor Gu remove the arrowhead, or should he do it himself? Yang Jingyuan held his hands before his eyes – they trembled slightly, and he clenched them into fists.

As they cut open her clothes, the contrast of snow-white shoulder and bright red blood made both maids cry out. Xiangr began crying, sniffling.

Despite their gentle movements, Ji Yingying awakened. She opened her eyes and saw Lingr.

“Young Madam is awake!”

Yang Jingyuan stepped forward and crouched by the couch. Their eyes met, but Ji Yingying closed hers after a single glance. The indifference in her gaze sent a chill through Yang Jingyuan. Seeing a tear form at the corner of her eye, he forgot about the room full of people and bent down to kiss it away: “Yingying, I was wrong, don’t cry.”

Her eyelashes trembled, brushing against his lips as tears fell unbidden: “I hate you…”

Her voice was like a kitten’s, breaking Yang Jingyuan’s heart. He wanted to hold her but feared hurting her, awkwardly kissing her face while softly coaxing: “No, you don’t.”

“Go away! It hurts! I’m in pain!” Ji Yingying shook her head desperately, the movement causing pain that made her sob.

“Let me stay with you, alright?”

“No!”

“Third Brother, Imperial Physician Gu has arrived. Don’t upset your wife further.” The First Young Madam gently urged Yang Jingyuan.

She hated him. She didn’t even want to see him. Yang Jingyuan stood up silently.

Imperial Physician Gu entered with his medical chest. Seeing the crowded room, he instructed, “Everyone out. Two maids can stay. Third Young Master may remain if he’s worried.”

Yang Jingyuan looked at Ji Yingying, saw her eyes closed, refusing to look at him, and felt even more distressed: “I’ll wait outside.”

Leaving the bedroom, he saw his second brother Yang Jingyan sitting in the hall. Yang Jingyuan silently walked over and sat down, straining to hear what was happening inside.

After a while, a sharp, brief cry came from Ji Yingying in the bedroom, and Yang Jingyuan jumped to his feet.

The First Young Madam covered her mouth and smiled: “Look how worried Third Brother is. Fortunately, Mother brought your wife into the family early, otherwise, this young couple would have had to wait another three years.”

Catching his sister-in-law’s look, Yang Jingyan cleared his throat and said, “Third Brother, that day you misunderstood Mother.”

“I’ll go check on her.” Yang Jingyuan knew what they wanted to say and rose to go to the bedroom, leaving the First Young Madam and the Yang Jingyan couple looking at each other helplessly in the hall.