Chapter 398: Chapter 386: Wild Younger Brother
The young boy’s body was frail and thin. After being pushed aside by Xie Xun, he was brutally thrown to the ground, landing awkwardly in the snow.
"He’s still sick! Why did you push him?" Fengyu panicked, shoving Xie Xun away and rushing to help the boy up.
The boy propped himself up on the ground with his hands and retreated slightly. "Elder sister, I’ve caught the plague. Don’t come near me."
After he spoke, he pressed his fist to his lips and coughed violently. Lying there in the snow, he looked sickly and forlorn, a picture of vulnerability that tugged at the heart. Fengyu’s eyes instantly turned red.
"Xiaoqi..."
Xie Xun froze for a moment, the snowstorm dusting his shoulders in a layer of white. His gaze involuntarily shifted to Fengyu. His Ayu, who was always so restrained in her emotions, so sparing in her affection. Except for blood relatives, her feelings for others could be described as distant—very, very sparse. Back when there was an undeniable connection between them, Fengyu had never considered spending the rest of her life with him either.
It was he who held out his blazing heart, hoping she would turn back, just once.
When she rejected him, he never once thought of giving up. He knew Fengyu to be rational and reserved, prioritizing her sister Feng Shu above all else. She couldn’t bear to disrupt Feng Shu’s marriage prospects or cause her any trouble. And perhaps... she didn’t love him as much as he loved her.
When he was young, fiery passion coursed through him. Again and again, he expressed his love, steadfast in his resolve. What if, just once, she turned back?
If only she turned back, looked at him, and accepted his heart.
If he had faltered even slightly, if his feelings hadn’t remained so pure, their bond would have been severed in the Capital City. She wouldn’t have followed him out of the city either.
Because he understood Fengyu, seeing her gaze at a stranger with such deep affection triggered an overwhelming sense of crisis within him. He had never doubted Fengyu’s feelings for him—
But he was jealous... Jealous that Fengyu cared so deeply for a stranger, filled with worry and even anxiety, to the point that he seemed invisible to her.
Xie Xun was mad with envy!
"Bring him inside!" Xie Xun ordered in a low voice, struggling to restrain his emotions. Nuanyang and Feiying, already shaken, snapped back to their senses and hurriedly carried the boy into the medical hall. Fengyu lifted her foot to follow, but Xie Xun grasped her wrist tightly, holding her back with a grip like iron. Flustered and angry, she turned and exclaimed, "Let go of me!"
"What do you think you’re doing? Do you want to catch the plague again?"
"I’ve already had it. I won’t get infected again."
"And who can guarantee that?" Xie Xun’s emotions were slipping further out of control. He suddenly let go of her and, speaking without thinking, spat, "Fine! If you’re so eager, go! Go hold him, comfort him—after all, you’ve had the plague. If anyone’s going to die, it’ll be me!"
With that, he stormed away in fury.
Fengyu’s face turned as pale as snow. His words were like a thousand arrows piercing her heart. "Xie Zhixu, what are you saying?"
But he couldn’t hear her whispered pain. Watching his retreating figure, Fengyu suddenly realized he had misunderstood. Her heart pounded with a jarring thud. Given Xie Xun’s control and possessiveness, if she felt even the slightest pity for another, he would surely lose his mind with jealousy, perhaps even harbor murderous thoughts.
But she couldn’t leave Xiaoqi. She had searched for him for so many years with no news. Gripping Qiuxiang’s hand, she instructed, "Stay here, keep an eye on things, and ask the doctor about Xiaoqi’s condition. Then come report to me."
"...Understood!" Qiuxiang and Chunlu were both bewildered. Who was this boy, and why did their mistress seem to care about him so much?
Fengyu hurried off to find Xie Xun. She had known early on about his control over her—it was subtle, unconscious even, perhaps tied to the domineering nature of his personality. Yet she didn’t dislike it. After that fateful night in the Capital City, this control and possessiveness had reached their peak. Any minor disturbance would feel like a grave threat to Xie Xun. Even a simple compliment from her to Second Young Master would leave him sulking with jealousy for days. Fengyu often felt uncomfortable with his possessiveness but pitied him, accommodating him in everything, which only deepened Xie Xun’s obsession.
She didn’t know what to do. Fortunately, their hectic lives had created distance that diluted his need for control and nurtured their longing for each other, so conflicts had never truly erupted.
This time, because of Xiaoqi, Fengyu’s heart was torn apart. His words had been too cruel.
She wasn’t without fault either. Reuniting with someone she had believed lost forever, the joy had overwhelmed her, leaving her blind to Xie Xun’s emotions. But she wasn’t a goddess—how could she balance everything perfectly? She, too, had moments of elation and loss of composure.
Xie Jue, meanwhile, was leading Xue Yu in a discussion about expanding East Jiaozhou when they saw Xie Xun return in a storm of rage. He dismounted his horse without a word of greeting, heading straight to the back courtyard. Even in the icy snow, his retreating figure seemed ablaze with fire, as if Xie Jue and Xue Yu were utterly invisible to him.
Xue Yu frowned and asked, "Who has provoked the Prince?"
Hadn’t he gone hunting in the mountains? Did something terrible happen?
Nuanyang and Feiying came in, and Xie Jue asked, "What happened to him?"
The two exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison. With Xue Yu present, they obviously couldn’t say that the Prince had flown into a jealousy-fueled rage and had lashed out at their mistress. If Xie Jue knew the truth, his first reaction would undoubtedly be to give Xie Xun a good thrashing. After all, in Xie Jue’s eyes, their lord could be hit as one pleased, but Third Miss must be cherished like a treasure.
Understanding everything, Xie Jue said lightly, "Mr. Xue, let’s not concern ourselves with him. Let’s continue our discussion."
"Very well!"
Fengyu returned to find Xie Xun. He was sitting rigidly in his study, his expression cold and unyielding. The study wasn’t even heated, its chill even sharper than the winter outdoors. When Fengyu entered, she was met with the ruthless glint in Xie Xun’s eyes. In truth, he deeply regretted his earlier words to her and knew he shouldn’t have lashed out. But his anger, his uncontrollable jealousy—the image of that boy lying weak and pitiful as if *he* had been the villain—made Xie Xun seethe with rage. For now, his swollen pride kept him from apologizing.
Deep down, he was certain Fengyu wouldn’t abandon him for some boy who had inexplicably appeared in their lives. To put it plainly, he had grown complacent in her affection, spoiled by it. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t suppress his manic jealousy.
Why?!
Who was that boy? Why did Fengyu care so much about him?
Why did Fengyu hold him?
Why had she shoved him away for the sake of that boy?
For that stranger, why had Fengyu even gotten angry at him? When he had pulled the boy aside, her gaze toward him had been filled with reproach.
He had wanted to apologize, but the words that came out were, "Why are you here? Stay at the medical hall and take care of him. Why are you looking for me?"
Fengyu took a deep breath. She had been both furious and heartbroken while searching for him. She silently vowed not to indulge Xie Xun’s temper anymore. He might have grown mature, reliable in major events, skilled at handling complicated military affairs, and composed in public, but when it came to her, he lost all control so easily.
"Fine, then I’ll leave!" Fengyu turned sharply to go. But before she could take a step, a gust of wind swept in behind her, slamming the door shut. Xie Xun, his gaze dark and menacing, said coldly, "I dare you!"
He resembled a territorial beast, enraged by an intrusion, his blood boiling with fury, consumed by the desire to lay waste to everything. Fengyu’s heart gave a small jolt but quickly steadied. No matter how angry he became, she knew he’d never harm her.
"He’s my brother."
"The second branch of the Feng Family only has you and Feng Shu. How could there be any wild little brother?" Xie Xun sneered. What kind of sister would hold her brother so tenderly? Anyone unaware of the situation might think they were long-separated lovers reunited at last.