She understood!
She was also awakened!
Seeing him on the verge of death, the powerless feeling in his gentle smile had made her sober up!
He was too foolish!
Watching Qin Yiqing's eyes grow clearer, Ji Rong's heart felt as if it were being tightly bound by something.
A desire not to leave, stronger than ever before, surged within him.
"Yun Shu, help me save Ji Rong, please save him!" Qin Yiqing tearfully pleaded with Yun Shu.
Yun Shu's back stiffened. Facing Qin Yiqing's plea, she turned and put her arm around Qin Yiqing's shoulder.
There was no answer.
Yet, it made Qin Yiqing understand instantly.
She had been by Ji Rong's side for so long; she knew what others didn't.
Others had a chance to defy fate, but he did not.
"It's unfair!" Qin Yiqing cried out in despair.
Ji Rong's cold fingertips gently wiped away Qin Yiqing's tears. "Everything is destined, Yiqing, do not cry."
His hand, devoid of strength, dropped down, his entire body seemingly drained of energy.
He could only look at Qin Yiqing with immense helplessness and reluctance.
Seeing that his hand could no longer be lifted, Qin Yiqing quickly reached out to grab it, wanting to hold his hand. But as soon as she touched it, she was shocked by its icy coldness.
His hand was as cold as ice.
"Do not cry."
He whispered softly.
Feeling his life slowly ebbing away.
Just then, a frantic knocking sounded at the door.
"Young Master, Young Master, something terrible has happened!"
Ruan Xi's eyes were already wet with tears. Hearing the commotion, he angrily kicked the door open, "What are you yelling about!"
"The Regent has suddenly arrived, saying he's here to catch a clandestine affair! He said, he said the Young Master is involved with the second daughter of the Yun family!" The servant's face was ashen with fear.
But the news he delivered was like a bomb exploding.
Ruan Xi, whose tears had not yet dried, was startled. "What? A clandestine affair?"
"Ah, yes! The Regent has brought people and is forcefully trying to break in. We servants tried to stop him, but he insists on forcing his way in. We don't know what to do!" the servant stammered, trembling with fear and panic.
His gaze flickered towards the room.
The smell of blood from within made the servant even more frightened.
He was terrified of angering his Young Master.
Ruan Xi was truly furious. "Does the Regent have nothing better to do than to stir up trouble?"
After speaking, he glanced back at Ji Rong on the bed.
He gritted his teeth and said, "Go and tell the Regent that whoever delivered this news is talking nonsense! Even the Regent cannot trespass into a private residence!"
The servant quickly hurried away.
Meanwhile, Yun Shu, inside the room, overheard the conversation between Ruan Xi and the servant.
Her gaze suddenly sharpened.
Her acquaintance with Ruan Xi had not yet become known in the capital. She hadn't expected Zhan Ming to target her!
"Yun Shu, what do we do? This is a tricky situation." Ruan Xi turned back to look at Yun Shu.
Just as Yun Shu was about to speak.
Qin Yiqing, embracing Ji Rong, cried out, "Ji Rong! Ji Rong! Don't close your eyes, quickly open them, quickly!"
Yun Shu withdrew her gaze and took out a silver needle, aiming it at Ji Rong's body.
She swiftly pricked several acupoints.
She knew her actions would likely yield no results, unable to save Ji Rong's life, but she still tried, hoping for even a sliver of possibility! To buy Ji Rong and Qin Yiqing a little more time.
They still had so many unsaid words.
"Save him... Don't let him leave. Yun Shu, I'm truly willing to exchange my lifespan for his! Really! I cannot live without Ji Rong. Without him, I am no different from a walking corpse!" Qin Yiqing pleaded frantically, her face pale, to Yun Shu.
She didn't know who else to ask.
Yun Shu was the only one she could appeal to.
"Ji Rong... you..." Ruan Xi exclaimed in shock, looking down at Ji Rong. "You haven't been in the capital for long, we haven't had a few drinks together, how can you... not keep your word! Ji Rong!"
Qin Yiqing's expression was dazed, her hand tightly gripping Ji Rong's ice-cold one.
Ji Rong remained motionless.
His face was terrifyingly pale.
Yun Shu seized the opportunity to feel Ji Rong's pulse. He was still breathing...
Still...
She continued with the acupuncture.
She didn't have time to answer Qin Yiqing.
However, the noise outside grew louder.
"Stop him! Stop the Regent!"
"Regent, you cannot trespass into a private residence!"
Ruan Xi, his eyes red, looked at Yun Shu and the others, then at the commotion outside. He gritted his teeth, pushed open the door, and strode out.
Seeing Zhan Ming, who had arrived with dozens of people, Ruan Xi's face turned cold.
He shouted, "The Regent is trespassing into a private residence?! Is there any law in this realm?!"
"I suspect the second daughter of the Yun family is colluding with you, so I must come and see for myself! After all, the second daughter of the Yun family is the Crown Prince's future consort. How can such behavior befit the royal family?" Zhan Ming's reply was righteous and grand.
His lewd eyes scanned the entirety of the Ruan manor.
While his words were impolite, Zhan Ming truly couldn't make a scene in the Ruan manor.
The Ruan family was not a weak and obscure family whose lifeblood could be easily squeezed.
Ruan Xi sneered, his posture carrying a hint of arrogance. "Who dared to spread such lies to the Regent? Bring them to me, let me see if their tongue should be cut out for slandering! The Regent has always been wise; has he been fooled by a babbling fool?"
As soon as these words were spoken.
Zhan Ming's face immediately turned ugly.
At the same time.
A cold, sarcastic voice echoed from behind, "Long time no see, Regent. Why do I see the Regent at the Ruan manor? What, has the Regent been deceived?"
Zhan Ming spun around abruptly.
Upon seeing, he nearly spat up a mouthful of blood.
It was Xie Jin.
But that was not important. What was important was that Xie Jin was pushing Zhan Tianye forward.
"Who spread rumors about Yun Shu?" Zhan Tianye's voice was cold, his gaze fixed on Zhan Ming as if containing a million years of frozen ice, an icy chill penetrating the skin.
Zhan Ming's expression grew even more grim, dark as water. "I am also unaware of who it was."
"Unaware? Without confirming if the news is true or false, the Regent has made such a grand entrance into my Ruan manor to search for someone? Is that not being too overbearing? Does the Regent dislike me, Ruan Xi, or is he dissatisfied with my Ruan family?" Ruan Xi retorted with a sneer.
He was extremely angry now!
And in no mood to deal with Zhan Ming.
Hearing this, Zhan Ming's face became even more clouded, devoid of any light. What an impudent Ruan Xi! He glanced at the tightly shut door not far away, then looked at Zhan Tianye and said, "Night King, why don't you push the door open and take a look?"
He hadn't expected Yun Shu to be involved with the Ruan family, enough to garner their protection.
Even less did he expect Zhan Tianye to be acquainted with the Ruan family!
"The Regent has trespassed into a private residence and slandered another. This violates the national law. What crime should he be punished with?" Zhan Tianye's voice was stern, his expressionless.
His imposing aura.
Infuriated Zhan Ming, "Ungrateful! I was afraid you would be deceived by Yun Shu!"