TNIBFT -Chapter 317 Love-Struck, Beyond Saving

“Yes?”

Just a single, casually spoken word, yet in Tao Ling’er’s heart, it was like an earthquake tearing through the mountains.

She felt her chest tighten painfully, a dull ache spreading through her.

The hall was silent. The dim candlelight flickered, and Ye Tian felt slightly awkward. He looked at the top of Tao Ling’er’s head, pressed his lips together, and said, “Ling’er, do you have other things to attend to?”

“It’s late. Your father must be worried. Should I have Old Yang take you home?”

Ye Tian had understood Tao Ling’er’s thoughts from the very beginning.

She was just a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl—Ye Tian had never thought of it that way.

Tao Ling’er lowered her head, her expression hidden.

Ye Tian sighed helplessly and rose to his feet. Just as he stepped forward, his right hand tightened—something soft grabbed it. Surprised, Ye Tian looked down and saw Tao Ling’er’s big teary eyes full of sorrow staring at him, her nose red, lips trembling as she said, “Brother Ye Tian, don’t go!”

“Please… don’t go, okay?”

Her voice quivered with sobs, shaking slightly.

She clutched Ye Tian’s right hand with both hands, head down, sniffling. Ye Tian froze, unsure what to do.

After all, Tao Lichun only had this one precious daughter. He was not only the eldest teacher but also a key labor force in Sifang City. This was tricky.

“I… I… I just like you, Brother Ye Tian.”

“Can you… not get married?”

Tao Ling’er lifted her face, crying with eyes like rain-soaked petals. As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she’d misspoken. Quickly, she shook her head: “No… if you truly like her, marrying her is fine.”

Tao Ling’er raised her hand and quickly wiped the tears from her face.

“I can be a concubine. I don’t need anything. Brother Ye Tian, I just want to stay by your side.”

Tao Ling’er’s words made Ye Tian’s eyes widen.

Is being love-struck really this intense?

She was even willing to be a concubine?

Ye Tian frowned. He struggled, trying to pull free from Tao Ling’er’s hands. But her small hands held on tightly, pleading again and again: “As long as you are willing, I’ll take care of the three children and never trouble you. From now on, I’ll only watch over the kids; you don’t have to worry about anything else.”

“Yun Ting and Xiao Xue would surely agree…”

“Brother Ye Tian, I’m willing to do anything for you, sob… just let me stay by your side.”

Tao Ling’er cried so hard she was inconsolable.

Ye Tian sighed helplessly. This love-struck brain was beyond saving. In this world, a concubine was no different from a servant—the man could dispose of her freely.

“Ling’er, actually…”

Ye Tian hadn’t finished speaking.

“What are you two doing?”

A voice rang from the door. Ye Tian and Tao Ling’er looked up simultaneously and saw Qiu Feibai standing there, a puzzled expression on his face.

Tao Ling’er quickly released Ye Tian’s hand and lowered her head, wiping the tears from her face.

Standing up, she said, “Brother Ye Tian, I’ll leave first.”

“If… if you agree, you can come see my father tomorrow.”

Having said this, Tao Ling’er turned and walked away, head lowered.

Passing by Qiu Feibai, she gave a graceful bow: “Divine Physician Qiu.”

Qiu Feibai nodded slightly, scrutinizing her carefully before stepping into the hall.

Ye Tian called out to have Old Yang escort Tao Ling’er home, then sat back down with Qiu Feibai.

Qiu Feibai’s eyes held a smile as he picked up a kettle and poured tea for Ye Tian: “I see, today your shop staff were dressed strangely—so it was all to win a smile from a beauty?”

“Don’t sit there and watch a show.”

Ye Tian had no words and took a sip of tea.

Qiu Feibai chuckled: “I see this girl is pure in appearance and well-grounded, quite good. But for some reason… something that should be happy seems to have made her cry?”

The ever-curious Qiu Feibai continued probing.

Ye Tian didn’t want to bother with him. “Has everything at the Apothecary Hall been taken care of?”

“Are the antidote herbs still enough?”

Seeing that Ye Tian didn’t want to speak, Qiu Feibai could only follow his lead. “The disciple says Miss Qin sent over a lot of herbs. By the way… who exactly is Miss Qin?”

“Looks like your foolish brother will need to prepare a gift.”

Qiu Feibai pretended to sigh.

Ye Tian looked toward the door. It was already dark, the herbs had arrived, yet the children’s mother hadn’t returned. Perfect timing for Qiu Feibai to catch a glimpse—so he could see what a true beauty looks like.

Outside.

The streets were sparsely populated.

In the north, the wind made it hard for people to open their eyes. Villagers walked along, shielding their foreheads with their hands. In the darkness, someone rode a tall horse, galloping straight toward them.

“Thump, thump…”

“Thump!”

The crisp sound of hooves clanging against metal.

Ye Tian’s heart leapt. He stood from his chair, while Qiu Feibai looked at him in surprise.

“City Lord!”

“Young Master.”

Zhu Heyu, accompanied by Zhu Zhongyi, dismounted and strode into the shop, clasping his fists in salute to Ye Tian.

Ye Tian was slightly disappointed but nodded. “Uncle Zhu.”

Zhu Heyu’s face was red from the cold, his eyes anxious and urgent. He was about to speak, but then his gaze fell on Qiu Feibai sitting nearby, and he hesitated a little.

“I’ll go find Xiao Jiang in the backyard first.”

Qiu Feibai rose, picked up the folding fan by his side, and with a graceful demeanor walked toward the backyard.

Zhu Heyu gasped, white mist puffing from his mouth. He frowned. “Young Master, the Dog Emperor has sent forces to attack Sifang City. They’re currently on the snowy plains outside the city. Our scouts only just discovered this today.”

“These people are too cunning. It seems like they’ve gathered soldiers from several different cities—their uniforms are all over the place.”

If nothing went wrong, it should be Xiao Xun’er’s eldest brother.

The cannon fodder from the original book, Xiao Tianchen!

In the original story, Xiao Tianchen, son of the city lord, was handsome and cold, a prodigious figure among the young generation. Princess Leyang had taken a liking to him and demanded the emperor arrange their marriage. At seventeen, Xiao Tianchen was helplessly betrothed to the princess he had never met.

It seemed like a tale of talented youth and lovely maiden—until he met Shen Jie.

The princess found her true love and, realizing it, constantly flirted with Shen Jie to pursue him. Xiao Tianchen was burdened with countless slanders, rebelled in frustration, and was easily taken down by Shen Jie, becoming nothing more than cannon fodder.

“Young Master?”

Zhu Heyu’s voice snapped Ye Tian back to reality.

Ye Tian frowned. Xiao Tianchen’s story shouldn’t unfold until later…

What year is this?

Xiao Tianchen actually came to Sifang City to die?

Chaos, everything’s thrown off! The plot is completely disrupted!

“In my opinion, these soldiers from Daliang are likely gathered from all over. Their combat power is weak, and they’re unaccustomed to extreme cold. With tonight’s temperature drop, why don’t we take some men and launch a surprise attack?”

Zhu Heyu suggested.

Beside him, the silent Zhu Zhongyi looked distracted, glancing around. He noticed large red wedding characters pasted on the windows and doors.

He bowed his head, clasped his hands together.

Finally… is she going to marry Ye Tian?

She should be happy, right?

A love he never confessed, buried deep in his heart, never to see the light of day.

“City Lord, I request permission to lead a night raid against the Daliang army!” Zhu Zhongyi clasped his fists and knelt on one knee before Ye Tian.

Ye Tian was taken aback. Had the father and son planned this before coming?

Zhu Heyu looked at his son’s head with a proud nod. After the last battle at Sifang City, Zhongyi had finally grown up!