Chapter 449 Isn't what you're doing a gamble?

Yuwen Qian's bluish-gray eyes flickered slightly.

He said, "No."

Although she had anticipated his answer, Shang Ruyi's eyes still dimmed upon hearing those two words, as if another candle of hope in her heart had been extinguished.

She said, "Brother, you're so worried about Fengchen's condition. I thought you would bring him some medicine this time you came."

Yuwen Qian said calmly, "I rushed to Fufeng the moment I received the battle report."

"..."

"The first battle report only mentioned that Feng Chen had fallen ill, without mentioning the nature of his illness."

"..."

"Sister-in-law won't forget this, will she?"

Shang Ruyi looked into his calm eyes and remained silent.

Oh right, she almost forgot that when Yuwen Ye fell ill on the first day, no one, including her and He Wenzhu, could find out the real cause of his illness. It was only on the second day, when Song Yu rashly left the city and Yuwen Ye followed him out to fight Xue Xian, that his true symptoms were revealed.

Therefore, Yuwen Qian's statement was without flaws.

When Shang Ruyi looked up at the Duke's heir again, she couldn't help but feel a little suspicious. Although she hadn't figured out who the person who knew more than her was, he had been caught up in a siege focused on killing him ever since Yuwen Ye set out to conquer Fufeng.

The plague, the looted medicine, the fierce battle outside the city, and the recent fire.

Some people knew that Yuwen Ye was ill and took this opportunity to kill him.

Shang Ruyi couldn't quite figure out what role Yuwen Qian was playing in all of this, but she never felt that he was the savior he portrayed.

Yuwen Qian was also looking at her.

His expression remained calm: "Does your sister-in-law want to ask me anything else?"

Shang Ruyi thought for a moment, then silently shook her head.

Yuwen Qian asked, "Then, are you willing to leave here with Feng Chen?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi paused for a moment, then shook her head again.

Yuwen Qian's brow furrowed immediately.

He said, "Sister-in-law, I know you have sacrificed a lot to protect Fengchen, but I just saw Fengchen's condition—he has at most three days left."

"What?!"

"Although I don't know why Feng Chen contracted such a terrible disease, I've traveled around for many years and seen quite a few people suffering from it, so I have some understanding of the illness. With Feng Chen's health, he could have held on for a while longer, but this fire just now—his breathing was obstructed, and his condition worsened. He can only hold on for three more days at most!"

Shang Ruyi's expression changed instantly, and she hurriedly tried to get up and get out of bed.

Yuwen Qian stopped her, saying in a deep voice, "Let me finish what I have to say!"

"..."

"From Fufeng to Daxing City, even at full speed, it should only take two days at most. If you take Fengchen back to Daxing immediately, there are better doctors there, and the medicinal herbs are more readily available than in a small county like Fufeng. Perhaps Fengchen will still have a chance."

"...!"

Shang Ruyi froze.

She slowly turned her head to look at Yuwen Qian and suddenly said, "Brother, do you know that all the medicines in Daxing City that can cure this kind of disease have already been looted?"

Yuwen Qian's eyes widened in shock as he stared at her in astonishment: "You... how could this be?!"

Looking at his face, Shang Ruyi couldn't tell for a moment whether his astonished expression and words were due to surprise at how someone could have looted all those medicinal herbs, or surprise at how she knew about it.

She said in a deep voice, "I just know."

"..."

"So, does my elder brother still think I should take Fengchen back with me?"

"..."

Yuwen Qian didn't say anything immediately, but looked at her intently. The look of surprise that had just crossed his face returned to its usual calm. He was silent for a while, then said in a subtle tone, "Perhaps, it will come when we get back."

Shang Ruyi said, "Does my elder brother want me to gamble with Feng Chen's life? I can't do that."

After saying that, she tried to get out of bed again.

This time, Yuwen Qian did not stop her. He simply got up and stood by the bed, quietly watching her endure the pain, grit her teeth, stand up, and drag her heavy steps out.

Yuwen Qian said, "Isn't what you're doing a gamble?"

Shang Ruyi didn't say anything, but gritted her teeth and continued walking out. However, her body was in too much pain, and her staggering steps could hardly support her heavy body. She looked like she was about to fall.

Just then, a pair of hands reached out from behind and grabbed her thin shoulders.

A deep voice sounded in my ear—

"careful!"

Shang Ruyi trembled all over.

Even though she was about to fall, she gritted her teeth and struggled with her last bit of strength: "Let go!"

The hands stiffened slightly, as if subconsciously about to let go, or as if lingering on something, hesitating about something. Just as they were hesitating, a cautious voice came from outside.

"Young Madam?"

It is lying in the snow.

It turned out that she had been outside the door the whole time, and only after hearing her soft gasp did she muster the courage to speak.

Shang Ruyi raised her head and immediately said, "Woxue, come in!"

The hand behind her trembled again, finally letting go just before the door was pushed open. As soon as Shang Ruyi swayed, Wo Xue rushed in and grabbed her. However, she was a little too rough and pressed down on Shang Ruyi's already burning skin, making her tremble with pain.

Yuwen Qian, standing behind her, instinctively reached out again, but seeing Shang Ruyi avoiding him, he hesitated for a moment before lowering his hand.

He let out a deep breath and then said, "When you're supporting her, be gentle."

"..."

"Although she had no visible injuries, she was actually in more pain than someone who had been burned. She was also afraid of pain."

"..."

“No matter what happens these days, you’d better take good care of her.”

Wo Xue looked at him with some surprise and said softly, "...Yes."

In fact, ever since Yuwen Qian appeared, brought Shang Ruyi to this room, and dismissed everyone else, Wo Xue had been guarding outside. She came from the palace and, although young, she was well aware of the complexities of a noble family and understood how complicated and dangerous the relationship between the Duke's heir, the second son, and the young mistress was after experiencing a broken engagement and remarriage.

That's why she spoke up immediately after hearing Shang Ruyi's soft cry, to prevent anything irreversible from happening.

She never expected that the young master would care so much about the young mistress.

Could it be that he—

But at this moment, there was no time for her to think more. Just as Yuwen Qian had said, Shang Ruyi was trembling all over in pain, her eyes were red, and she was almost in tears. Wo Xue supported her but dared not touch her. While hesitating, Shang Ruyi asked urgently, "Where is the general now?"

Wo Xue's face still bore some scratches and soot marks from her struggle to survive the fire, making her look rather disheveled. However, her expression became even more dejected after hearing Shang Ruyi's question.

Seeing her like this, Shang Ruyi became even more anxious.

"Speak quickly!"

Wo Xue finally said softly, "The General just vomited again, but he's still unconscious. He almost choked on his vomit, but luckily someone was watching and cleaned it up. But—"

"But what?"

"But the blood that the general spat out seemed to be rusty red."

"..."

"Doctor He still hasn't woken up. Lord Yin and the others have sent people to invite several more skilled doctors from the city to watch over the general, but they all seem to be—"

Every word she said felt like a heavy stone pressing down on Shang Ruyi's heart.

In the end, even before she finished speaking, Shang Ruyi was already on the verge of collapse.

But she gritted her teeth, enduring the excruciating pain, and stood up. She took a deep breath and said, "Quick, take me to see him!"

"……yes."

Wo Xue glanced up at the back of Shang Ruyi again. The Duke's heir, who had suddenly appeared in Fufeng City and astonished everyone, now had an indescribable, somewhat bewildered expression on his face. He was looking at them, or rather, at Shang Ruyi. But Shang Ruyi was completely unaware and hurriedly walked away. Wo Xue didn't dare to say anything and helped her turn around and leave.

|

As soon as she stepped out of the room, Shang Ruyi realized that this was also the backyard of the government office, only it was some distance away from the courtyard where they had stayed before.

As Wo Xue helped her walk forward, she said, "Although that house wasn't completely burned down, it's no longer habitable. Lord Dai and the others have already arranged another courtyard for the General, which is not far ahead."

Shang Ruyi nodded.

As she walked forward, she sorted out some of her thoughts and said softly, "When you went out to look for someone, was it because everyone in the government office went to welcome the young master that you were delayed?"

Wo Xue looked at her with some surprise: "How did you know, Madam?"

"I guessed,"

Shang Ruyi let out a deep breath. Although she felt it was too coincidental, since it was a coincidence, there was nothing she could say. She simply said, "Thank you for your hard work."

Wo Xue hurriedly replied, "This servant dares not complain of hardship."

"..."

"When I went out, there was no one outside. I was almost frantic, so I rushed to the front hall and bumped into the young master. Fortunately, he didn't hold it against me and immediately brought people to the back courtyard."

Shang Ruyi frowned: "There's no one outside?"

Wo Xue shook her head: "No."

"..."

Shang Ruyi's brows furrowed even more.

She had originally hoped that when Wo Xue went out to seek help, she could also find something to use against the other party, because even if the windows were nailed shut when they weren't paying attention, the door must have been closed from the outside after she entered the room, and the fire was started after that.

Unexpectedly, it was still too late when Wo Xue went out.

It was probably because the other party thought that with a drug like Uncaria rhynchophylla that could cause unconsciousness, a big fire outside, and the setting sun shining brightly when the fire started, people in the distance wouldn't even realize that the house was on fire. No one cared, and the elderly, weak, sick, and women in the house had no way to survive.

That's why no one was left to keep an eye on things.

Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi was filled with anger, but she could only grit her teeth and continue walking forward. Before long, she arrived at the bustling courtyard. Because of her orders, no one dared to approach the courtyard where Yuwen Ye had been recuperating. But after the fire, Yin Changyue, Dai Junliang, and even Song Yu, Ma Xu, and others had all gathered here. Everyone was guarding the courtyard outside the door, and their expressions were solemn.

Upon hearing footsteps, everyone turned around and immediately bowed to her.

"The General's wife."

"Madam, what brings you here? You should be resting."

"The Great General—"

Upon seeing Song Yu and Ma Xu, Shang Ruyi's eyes, already red from the pain, turned even redder.

But at this moment, she gritted her teeth, suppressing the anger in her heart, and said in a deep voice, "I am fine. I want to see the general."

Dai Junliang stepped forward and said softly, "The general's attendants and personal guards are all inside, Madam, you can rest assured. We just brought over a few more doctors from the city, but—"

"Just what?"

"only,"

Dai Junliang hesitated for a long time, seemingly still unable to say those words. It was Song Yu who stepped forward and said solicitously, "The General's condition is not good, Madam, please be careful—"

Shang Ruyi glared at him with her bloodshot eyes.

For some reason, Song Yu was forced to take two steps back by that glare.

Yin Changyue, who was standing to the side, stepped forward with a frown and said, "Madam, please go in and take a look. We are also trying to find a solution."

Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and went to knock on the door. A series of heavy footsteps came from inside the room, as if someone was pounding the ground with a heavy hammer. Then the door opened, revealing a small face that was also a bit disheveled from the smoke and fire, with red eyes and a hint of tears.

He is a virtuous child.

Upon seeing Shang Ruyi, he immediately widened his round eyes in surprise: "Sister Ruyi! You're here!"

Shang Ruyi looked down at him. His face was still covered by a veil, the one He Wenzhu had used before. Looking up at the room, just like the previous one, a screen separated the inner and outer rooms. Mu Xian, Cheng Qiao, and the others were all guarding outside the screen, their faces also covered with veils soaked in medicine. Looking through the screen, they could vaguely see two people still busy around Yuwen Ye by the bed.

Shang Ruyi didn't have time to say much, she just nodded and was about to go inside.

Shan Tong'er hurriedly stopped her: "Sister Ruyi, you can't come in."

Shang Ruyi frowned: "Why?"

When Mu Xian and the others saw her, they hurriedly came over and bowed to her, saying, "Young Madam, the doctor just said that the General's condition has worsened. If you don't wear this veil, it's best for ordinary people not to enter this room, but we've just run out of veils."

"..."

"The young mistress is already in poor health, perhaps we should wait a little longer—"

Shang Ruyi's brows furrowed immediately: "No, I need to see Feng Chen!"

"Young Madam..."

Just as everyone was about to dissuade Shang Ruyi, a clear voice suddenly rang out from behind them, saying, "Use this."

"..."

Shang Ruyi felt another tingling sensation on her back.

She slowly turned around and saw Yuwen Qian standing behind her, extending a hand to her.

In his hand was a strange object, a rectangular piece of thick cotton cloth about half the size of a face, layered and sewn together countless times, with a cotton rope on each side, forming two small, crescent-shaped ears.

"What's this?"