The Villain’s Daughter is Four and a Half

Indeed, after her seventeenth birthday, her illness worsened day by day, leading to coughing up blood and fainting, to the point where she couldn’t even get out of bed. Her mother, Mrs. Yan, personally took care of her, crying until she became a tearful mess. How could she bear to see her daughter, who was born when she was over forty, die before her? Her father, Xu Xiangming, was also deeply grieved, searching everywhere for renowned physicians to save his daughter. Unfortunately, many famous doctors came, but all advised him to prepare for the inevitable. Xu Xiangming was gradually giving up hope until Jiang Boyuan, Xu Xiangying’s fiancé, came to visit. Initially, Xu Xiangming thought Jiang Boyuan was there to break off the engagement. The Jiang family was a scholarly and official lineage, and Jiang Boyuan, their only son, had passed the imperial examination at a young age with a bright future ahead, how could he marry a sickly woman? Especially one who seemed on the brink of death. But to everyone’s surprise, Jiang Boyuan didn’t mention breaking off the engagement at all; instead, he wanted to see his daughter. Xu Xiangying, looking frail and emaciated, was still in a coma. Jiang Boyuan opened the door, entered the room filled with the scent of medicine, and looked at his fiancée lying on the bed, her face pale and delicate, stirring his heart with pity. He sat by the bed, gently took her hand, and whispered, “Yingying, it’s me—” Miraculously, hearing his call, Xu Xiangying, who had been unconscious for two days, opened her eyes. She and Jiang Boyuan had been betrothed since childhood because their mothers were close friends, making them childhood sweethearts. When they were young, Jiang’s mother, who preferred girls, had taken her in for a few months, fostering an extraordinary bond between them. However, as they grew up, gender differences and Jiang Boyuan’s studies for the imperial examinations meant they saw each other less and less. “Brother Boyuan—” She missed him, and being ill made her heart even more fragile, her eyes soon turning red. “I’m afraid I won’t get better. Don’t wait for me.” At that time, girls were betrothed and married before they were fifteen, but the Jiang family, considering her health, had already delayed for two years. Jiang Boyuan was now twenty-three. “Don’t say silly things.” Jiang Boyuan wasn’t there to break off the engagement; he cherished her as a sister and even more as a wife. So he quickly changed the subject: “Yingying, don’t be afraid. I’ve heard there’s a miraculous herb and technique in Minnan; I will definitely find it for you.” Xu Xiangying, upon hearing this, was very excited, coughing for a while before stabilizing her breath: “Cough, cough, cough—No! It’s too dangerous there! You’re just a scholar, and you’re about to take up a position in the Ministry of Rites, don’t be reckless.” “It’s not recklessness.” Jiang Boyuan shook his head, holding her hand, “I’ve neglected you these past years. Yingying, I must do something.” He knew her condition; if he didn’t go to Minnan, he would never forgive himself. Xu Xiangying knew she couldn’t dissuade him; she was anxious, her coughs becoming more intense: “Cough, cough, cough, no, you can’t go—” Her breathing quickened, her face flushed, her body trembling violently. A maid nearby quickly handed her a handkerchief. Xu Xiangying covered her mouth with the plain white handkerchief, and after the coughing subsided, it was stained with a shocking amount of blood. She seemed unaware, her consciousness fading, and she suddenly collapsed backward. The blood-stained handkerchief fell to the ground, the white lotus on it turning a bright red. “Yingying—” “Miss, Miss—” “Help, the Miss has fainted again—” Servants screamed in panic. Jiang Boyuan was pushed aside as several doctors rushed forward, pinching her philtrum, feeding her medicine in a dramatic rescue effort, and finally, they managed to save her life. “Her time is limited, please accept this,” sighed the doctors, their words piercing his heart. Jiang Boyuan picked up the blood-stained handkerchief, gripping it tightly in his hand, then turned and walked out of the room. Outside, Mrs. Xu, upon hearing her daughter was in distress, was supported by servants as she approached, crying as she embraced her future son-in-law: “Boyuan, what can we do for our Yingying? She’s so young, oh, my poor child—” Jiang Boyuan hugged her back, his voice firm: “Madam, don’t be sad. I’ve heard there’s a miraculous herb and a skilled healer in Minnan; there must be a way to save Yingying. I’m leaving for Minnan now; please take good care of her, make sure she waits for me.” Mrs. Yan, with tearful eyes, said, “Is it possible? It’s so far. I’ve heard it’s near the border, it’s chaotic there. You, you shouldn’t go.” He was the only son of the Jiang family, with a promising career ahead, and her Yingying was already a burden to him… “I must go. Madam, just take good care of Yingying, make sure she waits for me. Promise me. Please.” He was afraid that the journey might be too long, and Yingying wouldn’t wait for him. Seeing his determination, Mrs. Yan selfishly agreed, “Alright. We’ll wait for you.” * Jiang Boyuan’s decision to go to Minnan met strong opposition from his parents. But the opposition was futile. On a day of continuous spring rain, Jiang Boyuan set off with two young servants. His parents initially wanted to delay a few days to find skilled martial artists to accompany him. However, by the time they found the renowned swordsman Zhou Linchuan through connections, their son had already left. Jiang’s mother, deeply worried about her son, asked Zhou Linchuan to catch up and protect him. Zhou Linchuan didn’t refuse; he mounted his horse and chased after them. Dressed in black, tall and strong, with a long sword in hand, he encountered mountain bandits attacking a caravan along the way. His path was marked by blood, showcasing the demeanor of a chivalrous hero. The rugged terrain of Minnan was filled with poisonous plants and insects, and even bandits were adept at using poison. Zhou Linchuan, while rescuing others, was unfortunately poisoned, though his life was not in immediate danger; it just delayed his journey. By the time he found Jiang Boyuan, he was already gravely poisoned. It turned out Jiang Boyuan had sought out a reclusive healer to save Xu Xiangying, agreeing to be his test subject. He didn’t know that this healer had a penchant for poison and had harmed many people with it. Now, those seeking vengeance had found them, killing the healer with a single stroke. As they were about to kill Jiang Boyuan, Zhou Linchuan arrived just in time to intervene. Fortunately, he managed to obtain a pill, which, as Jiang Boyuan spat out blood from the poison, he thrust into his hand: “Please, make sure she takes this.” Zhou Linchuan, moved by his true love, nodded: “Alright, I promise you.” He then took Jiang Boyuan’s body back. Riding at full speed, he headed towards Shenzhen. Sadly, he was too late. Xu Xiangying had passed away. White banners hung everywhere at the Xu residence, filled with mourning. Soon, the Jiang residence followed suit. Jiang’s mother, upon learning of her only son’s death, fainted on the spot and passed away within days. Jiang’s father, having lost both his son and wife, aged rapidly. He resented his son’s death for Xu Xiangying, but love, once given, is irrevocable; he couldn’t express his anger, and after arranging their funerals, he too passed away in sorrow. The Jiang family declined. This is a story for another time. Seeing Jiang Boyuan’s tragic death for their daughter, the Xu family, touched by their deep love, buried them together. Due to Xu Xiangying’s frail health since childhood and her rare outings, she longed for the beauty of the outside world. Therefore, she left a will after her death, wishing for a water burial. Thus, a small boat, carrying two people and a boat full of flowers, drifted away along the river amidst the mournful sounds of music. Zhou Linchuan also attended this water burial, recalling Jiang Baiyuan’s will—please, please make sure she takes it. So, even in death, she should take it. This was his promise. Zhou Linchuan pulled out a black pill from his pocket and placed it in Xu Xiangying’s mouth as the mourning boat set off—thus, fulfilling the promise. The breeze was gentle, and the summer rain was incessant. The mourning boat gradually faded into the distance, disappearing into the horizon. No one knew how far the mourning boat had drifted. Even less did anyone know that Xu Xiangying suddenly sat up from the boat, staring into the endless river, falling into a prolonged confusion. And when she turned her gaze back to the man beside her, who had a pale face and dark lips, a tear suddenly fell… She owed him a wedding, and she owed him a life…