Chapter 390: Chapter 378 Argument
"You were lying there, barely clinging to life. Heaven knows how I restrained all my impulses to leave you alone in the quarantine zone. When I left, I kept thinking—if you were really going to die, I would have to take your place. So I went to handle the military affairs in Yangzhou City, preparing for the worst. Even if I died, the situation in Yangzhou would remain stable. But my second brother... thinking about him makes me miserable. Thinking about the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry fills me with despair. I know I failed my brother, and I failed the Iron Cavalry. I thought... if you survived under my identity, you could manage the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, and as the commander, all you’d need to do is deploy the troops. With my brother by your side, strategizing, you would certainly be able to lead them to the Capital City. I... I failed my brother!" Xie Xun spoke with deep sorrow, the kind of decision that tore him in two. No matter what he chose, despair was inevitable.
"Xie Zhixu, what makes you think I could live well in your place if you were dead?" Fengyu stood up coldly, looking down at him with a piercing gaze. The anger she’d suppressed since their time in Yangzhou finally erupted. "You failed your second brother, you failed the Iron Cavalry, and you failed me!"
"Ayu!" Xie Xun hurriedly tried to explain, but Fengyu slapped his hand away with a cold expression and entered the cabin. When Xie Xun tried to follow, Chunlu stopped him. "Your Highness, the young lady wishes to rest."
Neither Nuanyang nor Chunlu dared to intervene—Fengyu was truly furious.
She had suppressed her anger in Yangzhou because so many things were more important than her own feelings, so she held it in. But this time, Xie Xun had to learn his lesson. Otherwise, he’d dare to do it again next time!
Fengyu argued with Xie Xun—or rather, Fengyu unilaterally announced a cold war with him. Xie Xun stood at the door, trying every gentle word he could, but Fengyu didn’t respond to a single one.
Nuanyang and Chunlu still didn’t dare to intervene.
"Young lady, it’s just three days until New Year’s Eve. This year, we’ll be spending it on the river." Chunlu sat on a low stool, embroidering. From Yangzhou to Jiaozhou, the water journey took five days. But with the bad weather, cold winds, and icy terrain, the farther north they went, the slower the ship moved. The plan was to arrive in Jiaozhou on the second day of the new year; whether they’d make it on time remained uncertain.
Fengyu was reading, occasionally coughing. The epidemic had hollowed out her body, leaving her in need of proper recuperation. She still drank her medicine daily. Chunlu thought to herself, "If only Qiuxiang were here—Qiuxiang is the best at making the young lady laugh."
"Why hasn’t Master Miao Yun sent any word at all?" Fengyu looked down at the Soul Suppressing Pearl on her wrist, contemplating how to resolve its matter.
Xie Xun’s chances of saving her were far greater than her chances of saving him!
She couldn’t allow Xie Xun to risk himself again.
"Young lady, Master Miao Yun has been out of touch for so many years. Could she have already passed away?"
"I don’t know either."
It had been many years since she’d received any word from her master.
"Your Highness is still waiting outside the cabin."
"I won’t see him!" Fengyu said. "I’m a bit tired and wish to sleep. Put out the light."
"Understood!"
Chunlu extinguished the light and lay down on the small monk bed. From outside, Xie Xun saw her snuff the light. His gaze dimmed. Ayu was truly angry—she wouldn’t even utter a word to him. From Salt City to Ningzhou, it had been him cold-warring the whole way. Now, the tables had turned.
He was wrong!
But if time rewound, what would he have done?
Suppressed coughing came from the cabin, and Xie Xun, heart aching, wanted to knock on the door but feared disturbing her rest, pacing anxiously outside. With New Year’s Eve approaching, his thoughts turned to Xie Jue.
His second brother must be furious!
He had planned to return to Ningzhou by New Year’s Eve, but now it was impossible!
His brother, if he knew Xie Xun had gone to Yangzhou alone and risked himself, would surely break his legs. After all, his brother was unbearably hypocritical, allowing himself to venture to Zhongzhou but forbidding his younger sibling from heading to Yangzhou.
Classic double standards—privileged tyranny at its best.
He couldn’t placate Ayu, and now he was utterly alone. Xie Xun sighed heavily, reflecting deeply on his mistakes before decisively apologizing to Fengyu, swearing emphatically to never let it happen again.
Fengyu laughed coldly, "I heard from the Second Young Master that in your childhood, whenever you made mistakes, you’d eagerly apologize but never truly change. You’ve sworn more oaths than you’ve passed gas!"
"Don’t listen to my brother smear my name. That’s absolutely not true."
"I trust the Second Young Master!" Fengyu glared at him icily. "Don’t come near me. You’re an eyesore."
Xie Xun: "..."
Nuanyang watched as her master got scolded, barely suppressing her laughter. She didn’t dare let it out, though, as Fengyu ordered Chunlu to shut the cabin door. From outside, Xie Xun said, "Then what will it take for you to forgive me?"
"Genuinely realize your mistake!"
"Would leaping into the Bei River count as sincere?"
Fengyu: "..."
Suddenly, a loud splash came from outside, as if something heavy had fallen into the river. Fengyu jumped in shock and hurried to open the door. "Xie Xun, are you insane?!"
In such freezing weather, the Bei River was bone-chillingly cold. Even a body of iron couldn’t endure it, let alone deliberately jumping in!
The moment the door opened, she bumped into Xie Xun, who was waiting there and pulled her into a tight embrace. Fengyu, furious, kicked him repeatedly in frustration. Xie Xun didn’t dare resist and obediently took her blows. Fengyu struck him several times—far more roughly than usual—with Chunlu wisely closing the cabin door, smiling knowingly.
"Let go of me!"
"I was wrong, Ayu. Don’t ignore me!" Xie Xun, adept at apologies, mumbled, "I swear... no, really, it’ll never happen again!"
"You only apologize with words, never changing your actions!"
"That’s not fair—you’re accusing me of something I haven’t even done yet! Humans ought to trust one another!" Xie Xun, clearly relishing the chance to hold her, was even more attached after almost losing her. His tenderness was practically dripping as he kissed her lips. "Ayu, trust me."
Fengyu’s heart softened somewhat but she still refused to fully acknowledge him. Xie Xun felt a stab of pain. "I truly was wrong."