The young man’s vision gradually blurred as he clutched the flower petal tightly in his hand.  

“A’Ci…” Yan Shiyao, her dress stained with blood, dragged herself toward him.  

A’Ci barely managed to turn his head before a mouthful of blood surged up, and he fainted.  

“A’Ci…” Yan Shiyao’s lips turned purple. Trembling, she reached out her hand, only for it to drop weakly before she slowly closed her eyes.  

……  

Fafa: [Master, where did you get the money to buy so many pastries?!]

Wasn’t it’s master broke?  

Yan Yuning coughed lightly. [I borrowed it from Xuan Yanyu.]

If she acted a little coquettish, he’d lend her as much as she wanted.  

Fafa: […So you’re using Xuan Yanyu’s money to buy pastries for A’Ci. Does he know?]

[I said I borrowed it! It’s not like I’m not paying him back. It doesn’t count as using his money for A’Ci.] Yan Yuning glanced at the pastries in her hand. These should be enough for A’Ci to snack on during the journey.  

Fafa: […]

Inn.

Ye Jian, fearless of death, wrapped his arms around Xuan Yanyu’s waist from behind, pleading, “Your Highness, calm down! Stay calm! On the surface, the Qi Emperor forbade Qi Qingchen from using the Third Prince’s identity to demand the antidote from Luo Xuan—that’s only because Consort Li can still hold on for now.”  

“If we recklessly move against Luo Xuan and fail to open the secret chamber, we won’t get the antidote. If the Qi Emperor traces this back to us, the consequences will be disastrous!”  

The Crown Prince of Xuanzhao, lowering himself to come to Qilan—the Qi Emperor would inevitably grow suspicious.  

Xuan Yanyu shook Ye Jian off, suppressing the fury in his chest as he said coldly, “Then so be it.”  

Imperial Physician Wen quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands respectfully. “Your Highness, do you remember what His Majesty the Xuan King told you? You want to force Luo Xuan to open the secret chamber and hand over the antidote, but have you considered this—if the antidote is gone, how could the Qi Emperor not investigate? Would you really silence everyone in Taoyuan Manor who has seen you? Once the Qi Emperor starts digging, how can Your Highness remain in Qilan?”  

“Moreover, if Luo Xuan delays or refuses to cooperate within half an hour, is it worth risking exposing your identity?”  

Xuan Yanyu kicked over the table in frustration. The teacups rolled to the ground, shattering into pieces.  

Ye Chen and Ye Jian exchanged glances before lowering their heads, trying to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible.  

Imperial Physician Wen held the single antidote, his expression grave. “Your Highness, who should this antidote go to?”  

Ye Jian pressed his lips together. Last time, when he received the letter and brought the Manzhuxiang antidote from Xuanzhao, His Highness had ordered him to discard it, so he handed it over to Imperial Physician Wen. If he had known things would turn out like this, he should have brought a few more doses back then.  

Recalling how he and Ye Chen had found Miss Yan and A’Ci earlier—both lying in pools of blood—his anger flared anew.  

No matter what, Miss Yan was the Crown Princess of Xuanzhao. He and Ye Chen had carried them to the inn and summoned Imperial Physician Wen.  

The physician said the daggers and swords had been coated with poison. If Manzhuxiang was ingested orally, one might barely hold on for a while, but if applied to a blade, the victim wouldn’t last half an hour—there wouldn’t be enough time to fetch another antidote from Xuanzhao.  

They only had one dose left, which was why His Highness had wanted to raid Luo Xuan’s secret chamber for more. But if they fought the Qi Emperor for it, their identities would inevitably be exposed.  

Once Qi Qingchen retrieved the antidote and returned to the palace, he would make Luo Xuan pay for daring to harm their Crown Princess.  

Xuan Yanyu’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Give it to A’Yao.”  

Imperial Physician Wen nodded.  

Ye Jian glanced up and cautiously said, “Your Highness, even if the Second Miss Yan were here, she would choose Miss Yan. You don’t need to blame yourself.”  

If not for A’Ci’s close relationship with the Second Miss Yan, His Highness wouldn’t be so conflicted.  

Had it been the Second Miss Yan who was injured today instead of A’Ci, he didn’t dare imagine whether they could have held His Highness back at all.  

Suppressing the unease in his chest, Xuan Yanyu’s voice turned muffled. “Take A’Ci back to the village.”  

Ye Chen and Ye Jian stepped forward, supporting A’Ci from either side before carrying him out.  

……

With money in hand, Yan Yuning wandered around the town, looking here and there, dawdling for a long time before finally making her way back at a leisurely pace.  

As soon as she entered the village, she crossed the courtyard and headed straight for A’Ci’s room. She could already imagine how happy he would be when he saw all the pastries she had bought for him.  

A’Ci’s room was unusually lively. Xuan Yanyu and Qi Qingchen stood to one side, while Nuonuo supported Luo Xuan as they leaned against the door. Yan Shiyao, still injured, knelt before A’Ci with her head bowed.  

A’Ci lay peacefully on the bed, dressed in white robes.  

Yan Yuning frowned. [Why are they all gathered here watching A’Ci sleep?!]

Fafa: [Master, I don’t know.]

Suddenly, for no reason, her eyelids twitched. “Why are you all here?” she asked.  

Xuan Yanyu lowered his gaze, deliberately avoiding her eyes.  

“Second Miss Yan, you’ve finally returned,” Luo Xuan said, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief, feigning sorrow. “Miss Yan and A’Ci encountered assassins. They were poisoned with Manzhuxiang… A’Ci… A’Ci, he…”  

“He waited for you for so long… What a pity he didn’t make it,” Luo Xuan added.  

The pastries slipped from Yan Yuning’s hands. She bit her lip hard, her eyes trembling uncontrollably.  

“A’Ci…”  

The young man’s pale face still bore a faint smile.  

“A’Ci, didn’t we agree? After my sister’s wedding, I’d come home, and you’d wait for me there.” Yan Yuning knelt beside the bed, clutching his cold hand.  

Xuan Yanyu felt his throat tighten. It turned out he didn’t dislike everyone’s tears—at least not hers. Instead, his chest ached with an unbearable heaviness.  

“A’Ci, it’s all my fault.” Yan Yuning covered her mouth as tears fell in large drops.  

If A’Ci hadn’t come looking for her, this wouldn’t have happened.  

“Ningning.” Yan Shiyao pulled her into a tight embrace.  

“Big sister.” Yan Yuning’s voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible.  

Her mind was filled with memories of A’Ci.  

“Little Lemon, you can’t abandon me.” The young man pouted, looking utterly wronged.  

“I know, I won’t abandon you,” Yan Yuning replied absentmindedly.  

“Little Lemon, can you teach me how to write?” A’Ci leaned in with an eager smile.  

“What do you want to write?”

“Little Lemon.” He scratched his head.  

“I asked what you want to write!” Yan Yuning facepalmed.  

“Silly, even dumber than A’Ci. I want to write ‘Little Lemon’!” A’Ci giggled.  

Yan Yuning pretended to be angry and pinched his ear. “Who are you calling dumb?!”

A’Ci blinked. “Fine, A’Ci is dumb, okay?”

Yan Yuning let go, pursing her lips into a smile. “A’Ci isn’t dumb either.”

The boy repeated, “A’Ci isn’t dumb, A’Ci isn’t dumb at all!” Then, after a pause, his mood dimmed. “But everyone says A’Ci is dumb.”

Yan Yuning narrowed her beautiful eyes. “Who said that? Come on, I’ll teach them a lesson!”

“Miss Yan, both you and A’Ci were poisoned with Manzhuxiang. Why are you unharmed, while A’Ci…” Luo Xuan’s voice snapped Yan Yuning out of her memories.  

“Manzhuxiang?” Yan Yuning murmured.  

Last time, when she had asked Xuan Yanyu for the antidote for Sister Bai, he said he didn’t have it. This time, he saved her sister but left A’Ci to die.  

He had the antidote all along. He lied to her, coldly watching as Sister Bai and now A’Ci died.  

How could his heart be so cruel? No wonder, in the end, he would kill her too.  

Yan Yuning swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat. She tried to steady her breathing, forcing back her sobs. For the first time, she felt such intense hatred for someone.  

[Fafa, I want to go home.] The girl bit down hard on the back of her hand, muffled whimpers escaping her throat.

—

A’Ci’s death was so unexpected—I really thought he was a major supporting character with a mysterious background. He was so adorable, and now I’m just heartbroken. I honestly have no idea what the author is thinking.