Chapter 383: Chapter 371 Shrew
Xie Xun helped her lie down slowly. He knew that Fengyu’s plight was all because of him. He had established the quarantine zone and strict order. He declared he would share weal and woe with Yangzhou City, but some malicious individuals wanted to shatter his order, destroy his image as a guardian in the eyes of Yangzhou’s citizens. They wanted to expose Xie Xun’s fears and weaknesses, telling everyone that he was just an ordinary man who would abandon his principles and bend the rules for Fengyu.
If he took Fengyu away, conflicts within the quarantine zone would erupt in an instant. The military garrison protecting the zone, with hundreds of thousands of healthy citizens behind them, would also become infected with the epidemic.
Yangzhou City would fall into chaos once again.
Xie Xun walked out of the quarantine zone. Chunlu didn’t see Fengyu and looked behind him in panic. "Prince, where is my lady?"
Xie Xun glanced toward Nuanyang. With just one look, Nuanyang understood his intention and knelt, saying, "Master, rest assured. I will protect her with my life."
Xie Xun handed his Longsword to Nuanyang. "Anyone who dares to harm her, kill them on the spot. If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility!"
"Understood!" Nuanyang accepted the Longsword. A few personal guards exchanged glances and willingly followed Nuanyang in to protect Fengyu. They had accompanied Fengyu all the way south and knew what she had done for the citizens of Yangzhou. Now that Fengyu was in danger and the quarantine zone was fraught with hidden peril, with people deliberately taking advantage of the chaos, they couldn’t just stand by idly.
"Go!"
"Yes!"
Chunlu brought along some dried food and fruit and followed Nuanyang and the others inside. Although Xie Xun hadn’t taken Fengyu away, he had at least arranged for her to stay alone in a tent, isolated from others, so she could have some semblance of peace.
Fang Lingjun felt reassured upon seeing Nuanyang and Chunlu. She feared that by herself, she truly wouldn’t be able to protect Fengyu. Xie Xun had thought things through more thoroughly than she had.
Fengyu lay in a daze, while Fang Lingjun and Chunlu stood guard outside the tent. The quarantine zone had both houses and tents. The houses had long since been occupied, and those brought in later because of illness mostly stayed in tents. Though the location was remote, it was well chosen—beside the right-hand side of a large, high-walled mansion. The alleys behind it led in multiple directions, providing many escape routes.
Xie Xun had already prepared for the possibility that if anyone dared harm Fengyu, Nuanyang could lead her away.
A few men were lurking in a corner, sneaking peeks. Nuanyang and the guards remained unperturbed. Fang Lingjun leaned wearily against Chunlu. Chunlu asked, "Why haven’t we caught the epidemic?"
Fang Lingjun said, "Maybe... we’re just in better health."
Both of them were physically stronger than Fengyu. Even a simple cold could be life-threatening for Fengyu, let alone an epidemic. Chunlu teared up. "My lady..."
Her lady caught a cold every winter without fail—how could she withstand an epidemic?
A muffled coughing came from inside the tent. Fengyu deliberately restrained her coughs. Fang Lingjun and Chunlu wanted to go in to help but were sternly stopped by Fengyu, who told them to stay outside the tent.
Nuanyang frowned and asked Fang Lingjun, "Miss Fang, do you recognize the man lurking by the corner of the wall? He keeps sneaking peeks in your direction."
Fang Lingjun looked up and, filled with rage, jumped up, ready to confront him. "Chen Hai, if you’re so bold, come here! Let’s see if I don’t beat you to death—it was you who dragged Fengyu in here!"
"Fang Lingjun, stop slandering me! I didn’t do it on purpose; it’s just your bad luck!"
"Pah! Don’t try to worm your way out. Let me tell you, you’d better pray I die of the epidemic. Otherwise, when I return to the Capital City, I’ll make sure you’re done for!" Fang Lingjun declared with unwavering resolve. "I always keep my word!"
Young Master Chen’s chest tightened; he felt a twinge of fear.
Nuanyang, too, looked slightly surprised at Fang Lingjun. She was a girl pampered by both the Eldest Princess and the Grand Marshal, one who got whatever she wanted since childhood. Her temperament was naturally innocent and benevolent. Even when arguing, she never threatened violence. She bore no grudges and forgot conflicts quickly. But this trip to Yangzhou seemed to have hardened her, making her more stern and somber.
"Don’t take your anger out on me! This was just an accident! I have no grudge against Fengyu—why would I drag her in here?" The Young Master huddled in the corner, defending himself.
"Your mother’s probably about to die!" Fang Lingjun sneered. "Princess Ying Lan is critically ill, and the city has no medicine. Xie Xun refuses to let you leave the city, so you hate him. That’s why you dragged Fengyu into this as revenge. Coward, spineless! If you hate Xie Xun, go kill him. Why involve Ayu? You’re just a pathetic bully who preys on the weak!"
Young Master Chen flushed with shame and yelled, "Fang Lingjun, don’t be so arrogant! Who’s better off here? We’re all just waiting to die in the quarantine zone. Are you any better than me?"
"Don’t compare yourself to me—I’m disgusted!" Fang Lingjun snapped. "Before I left the Capital City, Princess Ying Lan even visited my residence, saying that you wanted to marry me. A toad lusting after a swan!"
"You... shameless shrew! Who would want to marry you? That was just my mother’s wishful thinking!"
"Get lost! I better not see you around here!" Fang Lingjun spat venomously. "Go play the filial son by Princess Ying Lan’s deathbed. Once she’s gone, your Chen Family’s comfortable days will be over too."
Young Master Chen stormed off furiously while Fang Lingjun, initially looking weak and frail, became spirited after venting her anger.
Nuanyang understood now that Fengyu and Fang Lingjun had been cruelly dragged into this matter. It was a deliberate act to disgust and retaliate against Xie Xun’s impartiality and uprightness. Fang Lingjun’s criticisms weren’t wrong—these people truly bullied the weak.
Fengyu’s fever was dangerously severe. Fang Lingjun and Chunlu no longer cared about the risks, donning face coverings to enter the tent and care for her. Fengyu had been ill for so long that Chunlu was more skilled in caregiving than most doctors. With no medicine available, they resorted to cold compresses and rubbing her skin with alcohol to try to reduce her fever. But Fengyu’s condition fluctuated constantly, far worse than that of most infected with the epidemic.