Finest Servant

Chapter 471 I'm Dead

Her body was delicate and soft as she fell into the arms of Guo Junyi and Lin San, the three of them tightly huddled together. A warm sensation instantly enveloped them all.

"Yushuang—" Madam Xiao cried out sorrowfully, tightly hugging her. Tears poured down her face like a floodgate had opened. The Second Miss held Lin San with one arm and her mother with the other, sobbing so hard she couldn't catch her breath, a truly touching scene.

Lin Wanrong, wounded all over, felt pain surging through every part of his body from the pressure. Seeing the two women crying heartily, he couldn't help but give a bitter smile. "Second Miss, let's save the idle talk for later. I really need some sleep."

Hearing this, Madam Xiao suddenly remembered something and quickly wiped her tears away. "Yushuang, get up quickly. He's seriously injured; don’t press on him."

Second Miss nodded, somewhat embarrassed, and lifted her head. She saw Madam Xiao almost clinging onto Lin San, both covered in blood. Startled, she noticed that Qin Xian'er had already rushed over. Seeing Lin Wanrong's state, she let out a sob and embraced him, "Husband, Husband, how are you?"

Lin Wanrong nestled into her chest, nudging his head forcefully. The depletion of both his physical and mental energies had drained him completely. The soft, comfortable feeling made him utterly relaxed. He gasped for air; his consciousness blurred and his vision foggy. He muttered, "Xian'er, save the Madam first. She’s frail; I fear she won’t last long."

Tearfully, Qin Xian'er nodded and with great effort lifted Madam Xiao from his arms, dashing out. Guo Junyi looked back at him and saw Lin San’s face weak and tired, but still managing a smile for her.

"Big Brother—" Ning'er and Qiaoqiao ran over frantically, navigating through the ruins. Xiao Yuruo, supporting Xiao Qingxuan, followed them, her eyes shimmering with tears.

"You all came?" He grinned with chapped, pale lips. His voice was so faint it was almost mosquito-like. An overwhelming sense of exhaustion flooded him. As he looked at their teary yet beautiful faces, his mind gradually clouded over and darkness closed in. An indescribable exhaustion overcame him, and finally, he couldn't resist anymore. He lay in the Second Miss's arms and fell into a deep sleep...

...

"Little Brother, what are you doing? Why haven’t you come to find me these days?" An Biru moved gracefully toward him, laughing softly. Her mature, voluptuous figure lightly quivered like waves. She pressed her cheek to his chest, her voice clear and melodious, yet tinged with an indescribable melancholy.

"Sister An." Lin Wanrong was overjoyed and quickly grabbed her hand. "How did you get here?"

"You heartless little thing." An Biru feigned anger and annoyance, tapping him gently on the forehead with her jade-like finger. "If you don't come looking for me, am I not allowed to come looking for you? Be careful, I might tell Xian'er you've bullied her master, and bullied her badly at that. I'm still hurting!"

Hearing this, Lin Wanrong felt a warmth in his heart. He pulled her into his arms and chuckled, "Look at what you’re saying. Even if I dared to bully everyone in the world, I would never dare to bully you, Sister."

"Really?" An Biru giggled flirtatiously, casting a seductive glance at him. "So, it's alright for you to bully my senior sister? Don't forget, she is the master of Qingxuan!"

Fairy Sister? Lin Wanrong was stunned for a moment. An Biru's fox-like cheeks momentarily transformed into Ning Yuxi's extraordinarily beautiful face. Fairy Ning smiled softly, her expression melancholy. "You scoundrel, have you forgotten me? Why haven't you come to pick me up from the mountain?"

"Yuxi—" He called out in a daze, gripping her hand tightly. "Wait for me, I'll be right there!"

"Really?" Ning Yuxi's face grew colder. "You speak to Junior Sister An in the same way, don't you? Men who are unfaithful are all the same. It seems I misjudged you."

A faint, desolate smile appeared at the corners of her mouth. She turned away, her skirt fluttering, floating away like a feather-light immortal.

"Fairy Sister—" Lin Wanrong cried out in desperation, reaching to grab her sleeve, but grasping nothing but air.

A gentle voice sounded in his ear, "My Dear, My Dear, what's wrong? Were you having a nightmare?"

Lin Wanrong slowly opened his eyes to find Xiao Qingxuan's fairy-like face before him. She looked somewhat pale, her eyes red and swollen, as if she had been through much, but this did not diminish her breathtaking beauty. Instead, it added a touch of vulnerability that invited compassion. 𝐑𝘈Ɲ𝔬฿ĚŠ

He blinked, swallowed, and took a few deep breaths. "Qingxuan, where am I?"

Seeing his confused state, Xiao Qingxuan’s eyes brimmed with tears. She wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and cheeks with her sleeve, softly saying, "Fool, you're in our home, of course. Don’t you see, this is Ning'er’s chamber?"

"Big Brother, I won't forgive you." Luo Ning nestled beside Xiao Qingxuan and burst into tears of joy upon seeing him awaken. "You don’t even recognize Ning'er’s room. You've really angered me. Once you're better, you're staying in my room for a full month. If you don’t memorize every inch of it, I won’t let you leave."

Ning'er's chamber? So, both An Biru and Ning Yuxi were just figments of a dream? He glanced quickly around the room; the furniture, curtains, embroidered quilts, and bed all felt familiar. They had been handpicked by Ning'er and Qiaoqiao when they decorated the bridal chamber. The three had even shared an intimate moment here; how could he forget? Seeing Luo Ning's face wet with tears of joy, her beautiful smile blooming like petals, he couldn't help but laugh. "How could I forget? I was just a bit groggy from sleep. This is our haven."

Luo Ning blushed, softly responding with a hum. "You've slept for quite a while. Big Brother, were you dreaming earlier? Why did I hear you calling someone else's name?"

"Really? Whose name did I call?" Lin Wanrong was shocked and quickly glanced at Xiao Qingxuan. Miss Xiao took his hand and smiled gently.

"It sounded like some ‘fairy,’ some 'sister.' I was too far away to hear clearly. Sister, did you hear it?" Luo Ning chuckled and leaned over, carefully tucking in the corner of his quilt.

"I was just half-asleep; how could I have heard clearly?" Xiao Qingxuan shook her head slightly. She looked at him with concern and gently said, "My Dear, you're injured. You shouldn't leave your bed. You need to rest more. Ning'er and I will stay here to keep you company."

Upon hearing that he was injured, Lin Wanrong suddenly remembered and hurriedly looked down at his body. He was completely unclothed; layers of gauze were wrapped around his chest, back, and legs. He had been turned into a giant dumpling of sorts, with a faint smell of medicinal herbs emanating from the wrappings. Hastily stretching his leg, he winced and let out a cry of pain.

Xiao Qingxuan's heart ached for him. She quickly grabbed his hand. "Don't move around. I just changed your dressing; the medicine is still taking effect." She paused, and then softly sighed, "I don't understand how this could have happened. You're usually so agile. How did Madam Xiao come out unscathed while you ended up like this?"

Seeing that Luo Ning was looking at him eagerly, he realized that this girl and Xian'er were similarly cruel. Not daring to reveal that he had been injured while saving Guo Junyi, he awkwardly chuckled without saying a word.

Miss Luo seemed to have guessed his thoughts and pouted. "Big Sister, I think Big Brother was injured so badly because he was trying to save Madam Xiao. You saw it too. When we found Big Brother and Madam Xiao, they were tightly embracing each other. Madam Xiao used to be a renowned beauty—"

"Ning'er, don't talk nonsense," Xiao Qingxuan lightly scolded, helpless against Luo Ning's straightforwardness. "Madam Xiao has shown great kindness to My Dear. Without her, we wouldn't have had a good relationship with him. If he got injured while saving her, it just means he's an honorable man, repaying kindness with kindness. We should trust the character of both My Dear and Madam Xiao, and not make baseless speculations."

Ning'er made a face but said nothing. Lin Wanrong wanted to recount his ordeal under the ruins with Guo Junyi, but considering it could tarnish the Madam's reputation, he stifled the impulse. Smiling, he said, "I'm a well-known gentleman. Don't you know that, Ning'er? What I want to know is, who took off my clothes? Did anyone take advantage of me?"

"I certainly didn't take advantage of you," Luo Ning said with a gentle smile, her eyes filled with tenderness. She slowly rested her head on his leg, her cheeks flushing. "You are my husband. If I want to take advantage of you, I don't need to do it covertly. I would do it openly."

Miss Xiao lightly tsked, her ears turning red. Seeing Lin Wanrong resuming his usual jovial interaction with Ning'er, she felt a sense of joy as if something precious had been regained.

Lin Wanrong laughed for a while, but the laughter brought a new wave of pain to his body. Though it was considerably milder than before, it was still agonizing. Luo Ning tenderly wiped the sweat off his face and asked tearfully, "Big Brother, does it still hurt?"

‘Pain in the leg is a good sign; it means the nerves are functioning normally,’ Lin Wanrong sighed. "The pain is a minor issue. The real problem is that the army is soon to depart to resist the nomad invaders, and here I am with a broken leg. Bone and muscle injuries take a hundred days to heal. By the time I recover, the war at the front would likely be over."

"Why are you worrying about those matters when you're injured like this?" Miss Xiao looked at him with concern. "Last night, Father came to visit you in person. I've already mentioned to him that you're injured and need to recuperate. You won't be going north this time."

"How can that be?" Lin Wanrong cried out anxiously, "A man's worth is in his word. Had I not promised, that would be one thing, but I've already given my word to Xu Wei and General Li, as well as Du Xiuyuan, Hu Bugui, and all those old brothers in Shandong who are counting on me. How could I not go? I would never be able to face them again."

Xiao Qingxuan was a woman of great wisdom. She knew that although her husband was often playful and jovial, he took his promises extremely seriously. He could be flippant about many things, but when it came to keeping his word, he was steadfast. This was the foundation upon which he conducted himself.

Seeing Lin Wanrong's worried expression, Ning'er lightly laughed, "Silly big brother, Sister was just teasing you. While it's true that bone and tendon injuries require a long time to heal, have you considered who she is? The Emperor has sent numerous precious medicines, and the elixirs I use are far from ordinary. With daily treatment to improve your blood circulation and overall health, you should be up and about in less than ten days, and as agile as ever in about twenty."

"Really?" Lin Wanrong's eyes lit up with joy.

Xiao Qingxuan shook her head helplessly and smiled, "I didn't tell you this because I was afraid you'd think these were minor injuries and act recklessly in the future. You saved Madam Xiao this time, but who knows who it might be next. My husband, you are now the pillar of our family." Tears began to fill her eyes as she snuggled against him, weeping silently.

A feeling of both sweetness and sorrow filled Lin Wanrong's heart. Having married such a gentle, virtuous, and intelligent wife, he felt that he must have accrued good karma over multiple lifetimes. Gazing at Xiao Qingxuan's weary face, his heart ached. "Qingxuan, I promise you, once I return from the north, I'll stop gallivanting around and will spend my days happily with you and our family."

Getting him to settle down was no small feat—arguably as difficult as asking for his life. Xiao Qingxuan was touched and softly hummed in response.

Grinning, Lin Wanrong took her hand and pulled her into bed, "Qingxuan, you must be tired too. Come, rest for a while. And let's not forget about our son."

Xiao Qingxuan blushed deeply, "Don't be ridiculous, you're still injured, and Ning'er is here."

Ning'er giggled, "Sister, why be formal with me? You've been busy all night without a moment's rest. Let big brother take care of you."

They were sisters, after all; there was no need for propriety. Besides, considering Lin Wanrong's injuries, it's not like anything inappropriate could happen. Qingxuan bashfully agreed and slowly took off her outer garment, nestling into his arms.

The faint scent of orchids filled his nostrils as he held his wife's soft body, feeling the pulse in her belly beat in unison with his own heart. Lin Wanrong's eyes gradually moistened. Being alive felt incredibly good.

United in love, Qingxuan seemed to sense the turbulent emotions stirring within him. The sensation filled her with an exciting tremor, wishing she could be by his side forever.

Noticing Ning'er looking at them enviously, Xiao Qingxuan's cheeks flushed as she softly invited, "Ning'er, come join us."

"Thank you, Sister." Luo Ning's face showed a trace of complaint. "But if someone doesn't invite me, I dare not come." She stealthily glanced at her big brother, Lin Wanrong, her eyes both tender and charming.

Lin Wanrong felt his heart soften at her look. Lifting the corner of the blanket, Luo Ning giggled and crawled in, tightly wrapping her arms around his neck. Although she was beaming, tears of happiness trickled down her cheeks.

"Hey, don't touch me randomly, I'm injured—" Lin Wanrong exclaimed. His hand was already caressing Luo Ning's well-endowed chest, shouting as if he was the victim. All three of them—husband and wives—laughed and cuddled into a ball.

"Hmm, where is Qiaoqiao?" Lin Wanrong wondered, suddenly recalling that since he had woken up, he hadn't seen her. He knew how close Qiaoqiao, Qingxuan, and Luo Ning were to him.

Luo Ning hesitated for a moment before gently speaking. "Big Brother, don't be anxious when I tell you this."

"How can I not be anxious hearing you say that?" Just as he was about to inquire further, Qingxuan softly placed her jade-like hand over his lips and sighed, "It's about Xian'er."

"Xian'er? What happened to Xian'er?" Lin Wanrong asked, puzzled.

Luo Ning huffed in annoyance. "I just don't understand. Both are princesses, real sisters. Why is there such a big difference between Miss Qin and Sister Xiao? After rescuing you the other day, she's been holding onto you. Apart from the sisters from the Xiao family and Qiaoqiao, she won't allow anyone else near you. She only reluctantly agreed to let us take shifts taking care of you, because Sister is carrying the Lin family's bloodline. Qiaoqiao has it the hardest. She's close to both us and Miss Qin, so she's mediating between the two sides. She didn't want you to feel uncomfortable when you woke up and saw this situation, so she's over there persuading Miss Qin."

Lin Wanrong's head started to ache. He knew full well the matters between Qin Xian'er and Xiao Qingxuan. Given the current situation, this was to be expected.

Xiao Qingxuan softly spoke, "Luo Ning, you don't understand her temperament. My sister is not a bad person; she's just a bit willful. Her affection for my husband even surpasses mine. My Dear's rapid recovery is due to her spending all her spiritual energy to stimulate his vitality. When I entered the room, she was lying on him, crying. It really touched me."

At that, Lin Wanrong felt his heart soften. He couldn't bring himself to blame Xian'er. In the end, any grievances between Qingxuan and Xian'er were unintentional results of other people's conflicts.

Through the gauze window, a faint light heralded the dawn. Lin Wanrong, cuddling the soft bodies of Qingxuan and Luo Ning, inhaling their gentle fragrance, couldn't fall asleep no matter what.

"Qingxuan, what did you say? Last night?" Lin Wanrong suddenly felt alarmed and asked urgently.

"Yes," Luo Ning cuddled his arm and softly spoke, "Big Brother, you've been asleep for a whole day and night. We've already changed shifts with Miss Qin twice."

"This is not good." Lin Wanrong gritted his teeth, attempting to sit up but was met with a body full of aching pain. Luo Ning hurriedly helped him lie back down. Xiao Qingxuan said with a pained expression, "Tell me what you need. You just had your medicine changed; don't move recklessly."

Lin Wanrong groaned in pain, "Qingxuan, send someone to summon Xu Wei quickly. Tell him that I am dead."

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