Chapter 466: Chapter 450 Greed
The physician once again covered for Xie Jue, saying that after the recurrence of his eye condition, it would take a few days before he could see again and that he needed to apply medicine daily. The physician repeatedly assured that his eyesight would recover, and only then did Xie Xun let out a sigh of relief. However, an unease lingered in his heart—his Second Brother’s frequent relapses were becoming a concern. Would this condition ever be truly cured? The physician offered no guarantees; should anything happen to the Second Young Master in the future, the Prince would no doubt hold him accountable.
Fang Chuning, however, didn’t believe the physician at all. Xie Jue had deceived him too many times, causing him to develop an inherent resistance against his words. This was obviously another scripted excuse Xie Jue had instructed the physician to say. The injuries must be serious—serious enough to warrant all this pretense. Only someone as stubbornly trusting as Xie Xun would believe him.
After the physician left, Fengyu also led Xie Xun away. She could tell that Fang Chuning clearly had something he wanted to say to Second Brother, though Xie Xun was puzzled. "I still want to talk to Second Brother."
"Second Brother is tired and needs rest," she replied.
"He can’t see right now. Who’s going to take care of him?"
"Isn’t Brother Fang there?"
"Hah... He’s injured himself and needs someone else to take care of him."
"That’s none of your concern," Fengyu said, pulling him along with a somber expression. "Second Brother’s eyes need to be healed sooner rather than later. The physician’s evasive answers are likely part of a script he was instructed to follow by Second Brother himself to keep you from worrying. The poison from Beiman—could it only be neutralized by a Beiman person? Since the poison came from the Sixth Princess, could she be the one to cure it?"
"It’s residual poison that’s not fully cleared. I don’t know either. And Dugu Jing would never allow the Sixth Princess to come to Ningzhou to cure Second Brother. He’d wish for nothing more than for Second Brother to go blind." Xie Xun didn’t entirely believe that Xie Jue’s eyes were fine either. If they were truly fine, how could they relapse so often? "When spring arrives, let Second Brother recuperate well in Jiaozhou. The weather there in spring and summer is pleasant. As for matters in Ningzhou, I will handle them—I won’t burden him. You take charge of the affairs in the Twelve Prefectures so that he can focus on recovering his eyesight."
"I would like that, but who’s going to convince him? Certainly not me, and definitely not you," Fengyu said, her heart tinged with a dark premonition. Could it be that Second Brother knew all along his eyesight would deteriorate, which was why he was exhausting himself now to stabilize the situation in the Twelve Prefectures while he was still healthy? But Xie Xun would rather delay military campaigns for a few years than have his brother’s eyesight permanently impaired.
Xie Xun appeared thoughtful. Fengyu nudged his arm. "Why don’t you plead with Brother Fang? Maybe he can persuade Second Brother."
"Absolutely not!" Xie Xun rejected the idea outright. "How could Second Brother possibly listen to him?"
"How would you know without trying?" Fengyu soothed him. "I’m going to check on Junjun now. Think it over carefully—Second Brother’s eyesight is more important."
After the physician left, the room fell into silence. The attendants had already tidied up the chaos inside. Dinner was laid out, and Fang Chuning, after cooling his head in the wind and snow, returned to find Xie Jue seated by the dining table waiting for him. Xie Jue’s eyes were covered with a narrow strip of white gauze due to the applied medicine, making him appear frail and solitary.
Fang Chuning’s gaze unrestrainedly bore into his eyes.
"What did the physician say?"
"At most, two to three years; at best, one year." Xie Jue had lied to Xie Xun but never intended to deceive Fang Chuning.
Fang Chuning felt a searing sting across his face. "I’m such a fool to have believed you."
How could he have believed that Xie Jue had an antidote?
How could he!
Yet, it was also his fault—his incompetence—that he failed to protect Xie Jue back on Xiyanshan. He had promised the Marchioness that he’d ensure Xie Jue would leave unscathed, yet here he was, injured.
If only he had been stronger, he wouldn’t have been entangled with Dugu Jing, and Ting Feng wouldn’t have been left alone.
But regrets were useless now!
Xie Jue raised a hand, his palm resting on Fang Chuning’s hand. "Anning, this is not your fault. You’ve already done your best."
"I haven’t!" Fang Chuning responded in anguish. "It’s my own incompetence."
"It was my obstinance, my neglect of recovery. This has nothing to do with you. Or perhaps it’s Yuwen Jing’s fault. No matter whose fault it is, it’s not yours," Xie Jue said softly. "You don’t need to blame yourself."
Fang Chuning suppressed his emotions, scooping up Xie Jue’s favorite dish and bringing it to his lips. "Open your mouth. Eat," he said coldly.
"Leave it there, I..." Before Xie Jue could finish his sentence, a piece of beef was forced into his mouth. "The Sannan Royal Family has a secret remedy that cures all poisons. I’ll seek it out for you."
"The Sannan Royal Family?"
"When I was in Jiangnan, I searched for an antidote for you. My father once mentioned that the Sannan Royal Family possesses a secret remedy capable of curing your eyes. On the night before I was to set out for Sannan, I received a secret missive from Yuwen Jing and had to rush back to the capital."
Originally, Xie Jue’s eye condition had been of utmost importance to Fang Chuning.
But when he received Yuwen Jing’s order, revealing his intention to act against the Marquis Mansion, Fang Chuning couldn’t afford to continue searching for the cure. On the way back to the capital, he had only one thought—he must make it in time.
Unexpectedly, he was still one step too late!
"I’ll find Han Ziqi!" Fang Chuning said in a low voice. "Even if it’s a rare treasure, I’ll get it."
"Don’t go."
"Why not?"
"Because I can’t pay the price," Xie Jue said calmly. "And neither can you. Don’t go looking for him."
Fang Chuning angrily set down the bowls and chopsticks. Xie Jue’s words were true—they both knew the price Han Ziqi would demand. Offering themselves up was only inviting extortion. Han Ziqi was notorious for driving the price sky-high; he wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. His intentions were plain—neither Xie Jue nor Fang Chuning could afford the cost.
After the meal, Fang Chuning’s mood remained sour. Xie Jue didn’t attempt to console him. Fang Chuning would have to face the reality that Xie Jue would likely go blind; the sooner he prepared for it, the better.
Under the influence of the medication, Xie Jue grew tired and quickly fell into a deep sleep. Fang Chuning stayed by the bedside, studying his serene sleeping face. Xie Xun had said that Xie Jue’s relapses were caused by excessive stress or emotional strain.
His Ting Feng was always a man of sharp edges, too intelligent for his own good, and such brilliance inevitably led to pain. He could heal Xie Xun’s wounds, but Xie Xun could never console Ting Feng’s sorrow.
How could the pressure not be immense?
How could his heart not be laden with grief?
Fang Chuning’s thoughts drifted to the moment when Xie Jue had lifted his chin and asked him, "Do you recognize it? Do you miss it?"
"How did you recognize me?" Fang Chuning murmured. Back in Beiman, he had disguised himself as the daughter of the Beiman Imperial Court’s Youjiang, consuming a secret medicine that altered his voice and appearance. Even his father hadn’t been able to recognize him.
Fang Chuning leaned down, pressing his fingers lightly against Xie Jue’s lips, gently rubbing them. In slumber, Xie Jue’s pale lips were kneaded into a rich red. Fang Chuning closed his eyes, his breath mingling with Xie Jue’s. "Ting Feng..."
"You’ve known all along. Why did you still indulge me?"
A kiss as light as a feather, like snow falling delicately upon a plum blossom branch—thin, fragile, fleeting, and gone. "Don’t you know? Greed and ambition, they’re always born from indulgence."