The henchmen, naturally, dared not disobey. They carried him and rushed towards the hospital. Due to their speed, Gu Changqing was quickly rescued. However, not long after, his injuries suddenly worsened, and he passed away.
This is a later story. Returning to the present, after seeing Gu Changqing and his men leave, Zhang Liunian collapsed into Jiang Qingqing's arms. In a daze, he seemed to hear his wife's heartbroken scream, "Liunian, Liunian, you can't be like this, you can't be like this."
He would be fine. He would be fine. He still had to take good care of his wife and daughter. He had to live.
Perhaps it was this belief that sustained Zhang Liunian. After a day of rescue efforts, he finally pulled through the critical danger.
Meanwhile, the Gu family was in an uproar.
"What did you say? Changqing is dead? You're the one who's dead!" Gu Lou, upon receiving notification from someone in his study that Gu Changqing had died in the hospital, became enraged.
His son was only in his early twenties. How could he possibly die at such a young age? This was absolutely impossible.
These people had such audacity, to curse his son's death in front of him, wishing for him to bury his own son. This was unbearable.
"It... it's true. He died from blood loss. Zhang Liunian killed him. You must avenge the eldest young master!" The person below was trembling uncontrollably, never expecting Gu Changqing to die in such a manner.
Just yesterday morning, the eldest young master had arrogantly led them to settle accounts with Zhang Liunian, and then... it was all Zhang Liunian's fault. He was the one who harmed the eldest young master.
"Bang!" With a loud crash, Gu Lou slammed his large hand onto the desk. "Stop talking nonsense. My Changqing is only twenty. How could he possibly die? Say one more word, and I'll have you killed."
"..."
The person below shivered, not daring to speak further.
However, Gu Lou felt an inexplicable unease. He finally sent his own people to check. About half an hour later, the messenger returned with tears in his eyes, saying, "Master, the eldest young master is truly gone."
"Bang!" Upon hearing this, Gu Lou lost his balance and fell to the ground. His assistant and butler, who had been standing behind him, quickly helped him up. But even after a long time, Gu Lou remained seated on the ground, tears streaming down his face. "How could it be? How could it be? How could something happen to Changqing?"
"It was Zhang Liunian. He killed the eldest young master. He stabbed the eldest young master many times with a knife. That's why the eldest young master bled to death."
Hearing this, Gu Lou's face contorted into a ferocious expression. "Zhang Liunian, I want him dead!"
At the same time, Zhang Liunian, lying on the hospital bed, was wrapped like a mummy. Jiang Qingqing was cradling his head and quietly shedding tears. It was only when she felt a large hand fall on her head that she raised her hazy eyes. The next moment, her eyes widened abruptly, her expression shifting from sorrow to joy. "Liunian, you're awake! That's great, that's great."
After speaking, Jiang Qingqing threw herself into his arms, crying tears of joy.
Zhang Liunian smiled, reaching out to caress her hair gently. "I'm fine. Are you?"
"I'm fine too." Jiang Qingqing choked back a sob and looked up. Her small face flickered between happiness and worry, which pained Zhang Liunian.
"You've cried until you look like a little kitten. Don't cry anymore, it hurts me."
"It's all my fault, it's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been cut like this. If you couldn't live, I wouldn't live alone either. Wuwuwu..." Jiang Qingqing had intended to hold back, but hearing her man's words, she could no longer contain herself and burst into tears.
She had been truly terrified that day. The doctor had said that Liunian was too severely injured and might not be saved. She had been stunned at the time, feeling like the sky had fallen.
Fortunately, he had been rescued in the end, and Liunian had woken up. It was truly wonderful, truly wonderful...
"You are my woman. If I don't protect and love you, am I even a man?"
Zhang Liunian didn't dwell on what had just happened. A true man knows when to yield and when to stand firm. This was nothing major.
"I am too useless. If I were more capable, or if I had some martial skills like you, I wouldn't be a burden to you. I've decided. From now on, I won't follow you around. I'll stay at home and not cause you trouble. I will also find someone to learn some self-defense, so that if I am in danger, I can protect myself and not pose a threat to you." Jiang Qingqing had thought a lot that day, all about how she could avoid being a burden to Zhang Liunian in the future.
Zhang Liunian smiled upon hearing this. "You are never a burden to me. Do whatever you want, boldly pursue it. I'm here for everything!"
"Liunian, you truly scared me this time. I can't imagine what life would be like without you. You must promise me you'll never get into trouble again, okay?" Jiang Qingqing hugged Zhang Liunian's face, earnestly seeking a promise.
Zhang Liunian's eyes were filled with a smile as he gently stroked his wife's head and nodded, comforting her. "I promise I won't get into trouble. Please, don't cry anymore."
"I won't cry..." Jiang Qingqing tried to emerge from the grief of almost losing Zhang Liunian, but before she could finish speaking, she buried her face in Zhang Liunian's chest and wept.
"Alas..." Zhang Liunian sighed, continuing to comfort her.
After a long while, Jiang Qingqing finally emerged from her grief and fear, but she dared not let go of Zhang Liunian, holding onto his neck tightly with both hands.
Zhang Liunian didn't mind, but the nurse who entered saw this and made Jiang Qingqing get down, saying she would put pressure on Zhang Liunian's wounds.
Jiang Qingqing was startled and thought about slapping herself in frustration, but Zhang Liunian stopped her. "You didn't put any pressure on me."
"..." Jiang Qingqing didn't believe him, pouted, lifted Zhang Liunian's quilt, and checked him all over. She shed tears at any sign of blood.
Seeing her extreme remorse, Zhang Liunian pulled her closer. "Sit down. Let me look at your injuries."
His wife's neck and hands were bandaged. Zhang Liunian saw it and felt the pain in his heart.
"I'm fine. My injuries are nothing. Yours are much more serious. The doctor said you almost didn't make it and that you lost a lot of blood. I've asked Zhang to buy some pig's blood to nourish you. You need to eat more and recover your health quickly..." Jiang Qingqing sat down, allowing her man to examine her small hands, her mouth chattering incessantly.
Zhang Liunian didn't interrupt, quietly watching his wife's little mouth move.
Just then, Sun's father and son, along with Kang Dafu, arrived at the ward with gifts after hearing the news.
"Liunian, how did you end up like this?" If Kang Dafu hadn't met Zhang Qian, he wouldn't have known that Zhang Liunian was injured and almost didn't survive.
"Comrade Zhang, are you alright now?" Sun's father also stepped forward to show his concern. Their benefactor had been injured right under their noses; this was their dereliction of duty.
Zhang Liunian was somewhat surprised to see them there. "Thank you all for your concern. I'm fine now."
"Liunian, what exactly happened? How did you get so injured? I remember you were very capable. Who could have injured you to this extent?" Kang Dafu looked at Zhang Liunian, who was completely bandaged, and was truly shocked. He was also puzzled as to which expert had injured him so severely.
As Zhang Liunian was about to answer, Jiang Qingqing preemptively answered for him. "Liunian was injured like this because of me. Gu Changqing kidnapped me and threatened Liunian not to fight back, which is why he let his men cut him like this. It's all my fault. I was useless and dragged him down."