Chapter 384: Chapter 372 Exchange Lives
After sunset, the cold seeped through her entire body, alternating between fever and chills. Soon after, uncontrollable vomiting began. Nuanyang, left with no choice, went to seek medicine from the physician. The physician, not daring to be indifferent, personally came to check her pulse and prescribe medication. After assessing her, his face grew solemn—Fengyu was gravely ill and had already lost consciousness. He quickly administered acupuncture to stabilize her heart and instructed Chunlu to prepare medicinal decoctions.
"Doctor, how is Ayu? Why hasn’t she woken up yet?"
"This..." The physician faltered, unwilling to speak further. If it were an ordinary citizen, he might bluntly suggest preparing for the worst. But with Fengyu, he dared not say such a thing; he held deep admiration for her.
Her body was frail, yet she possessed a resilience and wisdom that were beyond imagination. Fengyu primarily managed the allocation of medicine and food within Yangzhou City. The epidemic was fierce and overwhelming, and many physicians, fearing infection and a grim demise, initially chose self-preservation and refused to treat the sick.
Under Xie Xun’s governance, Yangzhou soon found stability. Fengyu gathered the physicians and persuaded them, one by one, to treat the townspeople. She further convinced experienced elders to assist in the epidemic zones. Through her meticulous dispatching of medicine and food, not even the slightest confusion arose. Every physician admired her greatly and desperately hoped she could be saved.
At midnight, Fengyu’s condition took a critical turn.
Nuanyang hesitated outside the tent. Fang Lingjun roared at him angrily, "Why are you just standing here? Go and inform Xie Xun!"
Clenching his fists, Nuanyang stared somberly at the vast stars above.
How cold the night was!
Was the young lady truly going to leave them?
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to the perimeter of the quarantine zone and sent someone to deliver the news to Xie Xun.
Xie Xun had not slept for four days. With countless responsibilities weighing on him, even a brief rest for an hour was a rare luxury. Upon hearing the news of Fengyu’s worsening state, he immediately entered the epidemic zone.
"Ayu..."
Fengyu lay frail and emaciated on the small bed, her hair and clothing soaked. Xie Xun gently cradled her in his arms while Chunlu and Fang Lingjun sobbed quietly nearby.
Nuanyang ushered everyone out of the tent, granting Xie Xun and Fengyu their privacy.
Bloodshot veins crept across Xie Xun’s eyes, rendering his gaze terrifying.
"Ayu, you won’t leave me, will you?" His soft kiss graced her brow, yet he felt her breath fading with every moment.
She was slipping away!
Separation in life allowed for eventual reunion.
But death severed their bond entirely, leaving no promise of meeting again.
"You’ll forgive me, won’t you?" Xie Xun’s voice rasped, hoarse and bitter. His throat ached with grief as his gaze, brimming with her image, held her unwaveringly. He clasped Fengyu’s hand, pressed it to his lips, and kissed it tenderly. "Ayu, forgive me."
Nuanyang lifted the tent’s curtain and entered, falling to his knees without daring to look up. "Master, I beg you to reconsider!"
He had already guessed Xie Xun’s intentions. In truth, he had sensed it when he had gone to find Xie Xun. It was this intuition that had made him hesitate, unsure whether he should deliver the news. Though he couldn’t let the master miss seeing the young lady one final time, he now realized his gamble had failed.
His master intended to sacrifice his own life to save hers.
"Nuanyang, my decision is made. You and Feiying must keep this secret. From now on, be as loyal to her as you have been to me!" Xie Xun commanded tersely, his tone leaving no room for objection. "Do you hear me?"
"Master, please reconsider!" Nuanyang kowtowed, already prepared to plead for death. But Xie Xun’s resolve was unyielding; no matter what Nuanyang did, it wouldn’t change his decision.
"Hide the Soul Suppressing Pearl. Tell them I destroyed it. Nuanyang, lift your head—this is my final wish." Xie Xun spoke with an icy determination, forcing Nuanyang to meet his gaze.
"Yes..." Nuanyang reluctantly agreed.
Xie Xun took one last look at Fengyu, removed the Soul Suppressing Pearl, and handed it to Nuanyang. The man concealed it swiftly as Xie Xun’s figure wavered. Suddenly, Fengyu regained consciousness within Xie Xun’s body.
"Zhixu... you..." Fengyu’s eyes widened and turned to Nuanyang. Nuanyang lowered his head as he replied, "Master... Master wished to trade his life for yours by destroying the Soul Suppressing Pearl."
"Give me the Soul Suppressing Pearl. Do you take me for a fool?"
"Master, please don’t force me. From this moment onward, you are my master." Nuanyang was torn, feeling as if he were plunging into an abyss. No matter the choice, someone had to be sacrificed.
Naturally, he wished for both Xie Xun and Fengyu to live safely. Yet it seemed fate demanded one must perish—a cruel inevitability. The one left behind would suffer most.
He lacked Fengyu’s brilliance and Xie Xun’s valor. All he could do was obey orders.
The command was absolute!
"Nuanyang!"
Nuanyang gritted his teeth and exited the tent. Fengyu struggled to rise, her eyes blazing with anguish. "Give it to me! Every second we delay puts Xie Xun at greater risk!"
Outside the tent, Fang Lingjun, Chunlu, and the sentries gathered. Chunlu seemed to realize something, while the rest exchanged puzzled looks, unsure why Xie Xun was forcing Nuanyang with red-rimmed eyes.
"Nuanyang!" Fengyu stared at him helplessly before snatching up the Longsword and aiming it at him. "Give it to me!"
The sentries froze in fear, falling to their knees. "Your Highness!"
Fang Lingjun watched the scene with growing confusion, while Nuanyang stood immovable, resolute against Fengyu’s demands.
Fengyu knew each passing moment added to Xie Xun’s peril.
She had once joked that if confronted with nine deaths and one chance of survival, she would use the Soul Suppressing Pearl to buy fate. Now, those lighthearted words had come true.
Fengyu considered kneeling to plead with Nuanyang; for the first time, she detested the existence of the Soul Suppressing Pearl. Everyone minded their own business, but her fate was hers to bear. She wouldn’t let Xie Xun die. She had known since her infection that this day would come, yet she hadn’t had time to alert Chunlu.
She was painfully aware of her frailty. The Soul Suppressing Pearl rested on her wrist, yet she couldn’t stop Xie Xun from fulfilling his grim resolve!
Zhixu...
Don’t torment me so cruelly!
"Master, I beg you, please don’t force me." Nuanyang knelt, bowing deeply. "This is... the young lady’s dying wish."
Fengyu’s Longsword pressed against Nuanyang’s neck, but he remained steadfast, ready to die.
Everyone stared in silent shock.
At this critical juncture, Zhang Lingzheng’s voice broke the tension. "What is going on here?"
Fengyu and Nuanyang snapped out of their confrontation, turning to face Zhang Lingzheng. In his eyes, they glimpsed a fiery determination—a radiant glimmer that burned deeply.
Zhang Lingzheng was dragged into the tent. Fengyu spoke in a low voice, "Zhang Lingzheng, save him."
The court’s resources—including food supplies, medicine, and Imperial Physicians—had finally arrived.
In times of epidemic, the Imperial Physicians stood as pillars of strength. Their unparalleled medical expertise and frequent heroism during plagues made them indispensable.
As Zhang Lingzheng examined Fengyu on the sickbed, his brow furrowed slightly. Fate was indeed ironic.
Once more, it was her!
Ever since arriving in Yangzhou, Zhang Lingzheng had been aware of Xie Xun’s presence here. The knowledge had both startled and worried him. Being affiliated with the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, he wished for its members to stay out of harm’s way. Ningzhou was far safer than this plague-ridden zone, fraught with uncertainty and danger.
Yet, a part of him swelled with pride.
In critical times like this, it always seemed the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion stepped forward, unflinching in the face of peril, offering true solace to the people.
He resolved to save Fengyu.
As Zhang Lingzheng treated Fengyu, she focused her sharp gaze on Nuanyang. "With Zhang Lingzheng here, I may now have a sliver of hope. Return the Soul Suppressing Pearl to me—your master has many matters to tend to."
Nuanyang wavered, uncertain whether Fengyu could truly survive. Ultimately, he pretended not to understand her request, leaving Fengyu furious and overwhelmed by despair. His loyalty to Xie Xun was unyielding, and it tore her apart.