Chapter 229 Nian Nian, I Love You

The situation is bad.

The leader of the guards sent by Pei Jian was called Lin Shi. Even though he took out the prime minister's token, the answer he got was still that he could not leave the city.

Because the city was surrounded by refugees, there were countless refugees outside the city. Once the city was opened, the consequences would be unpredictable.

Therefore, the government ordered the city gates to be closed.

Nian Xi and the others rushed to several other city gates. Without exception, more and more people wanted to leave the city, but every city gate was closed.

As a last resort, the group returned to the old house.

I don’t know how long the city gate will be closed, and the news can’t be delivered.

Nian Xi immediately ordered people to go out and buy a lot of food. They were just staying away from home, and there was not much rice and food in the old house. If the city was closed for a long time, their livelihood would be in trouble.

Fortunately, Nian Xi prepared in time. On the second day of the city lockdown, the prices of rice in all major rice stores had doubled.

But things are getting worse.

There are reports of deaths every day.

By the third day of the lockdown, Jinling was like a deserted city. People were dying one after another, and doctors could not diagnose the cause. If someone caught a high fever, they would die in a few hours.

No one dared to go out and wander around, and even the soldiers guarding the city died one after another.

Lin Shi and others have already moved into the house. Although the number of people they brought with them is not large, they are the best among the best. It is not completely impossible for them to break out of the city.

He came to ask Nian Xi whether to continue waiting or leave.

But the situation outside the city may be even more dire.

According to the information Lin Shi had gathered, more refugees died outside the city, and no one was collecting their bodies, so they were piled up on the roadside. The disease was very aggressive, and once infected, the disease spread rapidly, and people would die before they could get treatment.

Li is already old, and Nianxi is a girl, so the biggest problem is whether they can safely pass through the refugee camp outside the city where the disease is fierce.

And no one can guarantee whether anyone will be infected?

I am still confused and uncertain.

To be safe, I decided to wait and see for two days.

In the past two days, some people have been leaving the city one after another, and the soldiers guarding the city no longer block them too much.

But they were robbed by refugees just as they were halfway out of the city gate. They were all wealthy families with servants to protect them, so their wealth and food were saved, but that night, one after another people started to have fever, and before they even reached the ferry, the whole family, young and old, had died.

The remaining families saw that the official road was full of refugees and dared not go forward. They rushed back to the city gate, but the soldiers guarding the city refused to let them in. No matter how these people cried outside, they would never open the city gate.

At this moment, there is no safe place anywhere, inside or outside the city.

Li used to be a non-believer, but now he prays to God every day, hoping that the people in his family will be healthy.

After half a month of lockdown, there are no fresh vegetables in the house and we have to count the rice and grains.

Nian Xi asked people to go out to buy some more. Rice and flour were very expensive nowadays, but even if one was willing to pay, one could not buy even a few bags.

Since things from outside couldn't come in, the food supply in the city became increasingly depleted day by day.

But this is not the scariest thing.

Despite taking every precaution, including repeatedly disinfecting the house with mugwort, atractylodes, and boiled vinegar, Mother Li's grandson still developed a high fever.

The whole house became anxious.

Everyone knows that once you are infected with this disease, you will die.

Nianxi is now the backbone of this house. Although she is still afraid in her heart, she still makes a calm judgment. The old house is very large. She has allocated a remote courtyard in the southeast corner to Mama Li and her family. They usually eat and drink there.

The rest were separated from them.

There were no doctors left in the city now. Nian Xi knew that throwing Mama Li and her family into a corner was no different from leaving them to die.

But she had no choice, she had more people to take care of.

However, disaster never heard the prayers in people's hearts, and the servants in the mansion began to fall ill one after another.

Nian Xi had to separate all the people who had come into contact with him into the courtyard in the southeast corner.

At the same time, she asked Lin Shi to find another house in the city for those who had not yet developed the fever to move in.

It was not until this moment that she understood why Pei Jian was so busy every day.

Jingguo is so big, and he has to deal with major events concerning the lives of the people every day. A delay of a moment may cost countless lives.

Life is so fragile, any slight change can lead to a final farewell.

After searching for several days, Lin Shi finally found a secluded house with few people around.

Just as they were preparing to move in, Li developed a fever.

She refused to step out of the room again, covered her mouth with cotton cloth, and said to Nianxi in a low voice through the door, "Mom is fine, you guys move over first, and come back when Mom doesn't have a fever anymore."

She said, "Don't be afraid, Nian'er. I've counted the days and it's been a month since the city was sealed off. The court must have heard the news and someone will come to rescue us soon. Nian'er, I'm old, you have to live well."

What is the heart-wrenching pain?

About now.

It was she who insisted on going on the trip, and her mother was worried about her going alone, so she insisted on accompanying her. Otherwise, why would an old lady travel such a long distance? She was not really from Jinling.

All for myself.

She hurt the people who loved her the most.

At this moment, rationality, pros and cons, gains and losses, all are no longer important.

She is just a spoiled girl at her mother's knees, but she is also her mother's most beloved daughter.

Nian Xi wiped away her tears. Now that she had made up her mind, there was no reason to be sad. After all, they were inseparable as mother and daughter.

She calmly ordered Lin Shi, "You were ordered by Prime Minister Pei to protect me. Now I no longer need you. You leave immediately."

As for the servants in the house, those who are not sick can follow the guards and leave here.

Lin Shi naturally refused to leave, but Nian Xi didn't have the patience to listen to his moralizing any more. No matter how righteous the moralizing was, it was not as precious as one's life.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Is it a robbery?

Nian Xi and Lin Shi looked at each other.

The city was sealed off, bodies were everywhere, all laws and regulations were broken, and there were even cases of home break-ins.

Lin Shi strode out and shouted, "Who is it?"

The person outside answered immediately in a steady and powerful voice.

"It's me."

Nian Xi never thought that she would meet Pei Jian under such circumstances.

He no longer had the handsome look he once had, and looked extremely haggard. However, his eyes were bright, shining like obsidian, like a rising star in the sky.

His gaze passed through the crowd and fell accurately on Nian Xi. He looked at her deeply. After a few breaths, he strode over and held Nian Xi in his arms.

Tightly, refusing to let go.

Even though there were people all around, even though Nian Xi might be ill at the moment, he just held her, quietly, tightly.

Hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

Nian Xi had to admit that the moment she saw Pei Jian, all her fears and anxieties gradually dissipated, and she felt relieved.

Because it’s him, the omnipotent Pei Shizhang is here.

"Pei Jian, my mother is also sick."

Perhaps people really only show their vulnerability in front of those close to them. Just now Nian Xi was able to calm down and send away the servants, but at this moment she was already crying uncontrollably.

"I've brought the imperial physician here." Pei Jian stroked her head and comforted her, "It's okay, don't be afraid. It will definitely be cured."

Pei Jian did bring a lot of medicine and doctors this time.

He settled Nianxi beside him and began to arrange things in an orderly manner.

Pei Jian had been living in a miserable state for more than a month since he lost contact with Nian Xi. Now that he had finally seen Nian Xi, he still couldn't feel at ease. He had to see her with his own eyes to feel at ease.

The prefect of Jinling concealed the epidemic and did not report it, which led to the spread of the disease. Even in the prefectures along the Yellow River where the epidemic was first discovered, it was not as swift as the epidemic in Jinling City, and countless people died.

Pei Jian was not aware of the situation in Jinling at first. It was only when he failed to send the letter to Nianxi that he realized the seriousness of the situation.

Fortunately, doctors in the places where the epidemic was first discovered discovered herbs that could reduce fever and relieve symptoms. Except for Nanjing, the epidemic has been effectively controlled in other places.

Pei Jian had arranged all matters, and his subordinates were busy following their orders. It was already late at night.

Only then did he really stop and take a breath.

Nian Xi poured him a cup of hot tea.

Pei Jian took the tea, but held her hand tightly.

Both of them actually had a lot to say, but when they really met, they felt that there was nothing to say.

What to say?

It was still early autumn when we parted at Fengling Ferry, and it was already winter when we met again.

Nian Xi recalled that when he found something dropped in the Treasure Pavilion, his first reaction was to rush towards her and protect her under his body.

Self-protection is human instinct, but what about love?

Today, the city of Jinling is plagued by an epidemic. Although he is the prime minister, does he have to take the risk and come in person?

The answer is obvious.

Love can suppress people's instinct for life.

Pei Jian loves her.

He may find it difficult to accompany her because of responsibility, or he may be willing to risk his life because of his love for her.

This is Pei Jian.

This is Pei Jian.

She didn't know if it was because she had been too tense these days, but at this moment, his big hands were holding hers, and Nian Xi felt an endless supply of warmth. In such a quiet night, she actually felt a little sour in her nose.

"You've lost weight." Pei Jian was also quite gentle.

Nian Xi would no longer be so hypocritical as to ask him to live somewhere else. She missed him a little, and so did he.

He came for her.

In fact, he was the thin one. When he bent down and hugged her tightly, and she hugged him, the touch was very obvious.

But Nianxi still followed his words and said, "I haven't been eating or sleeping well these days, so I'm afraid I've lost weight."

Pei Jian stared at her face and said, "I heard from Lin Shi that you did a great job."

"Are you ill?"

Nian Xi looked at the dark blue and pale complexion under Pei Yan's eyes and said, "You don't look well."

Pei Jian relaxedly leaned back in his chair, slightly closing his eyes, but his hands were still unwilling to let go. "I was infected when I was settling the disaster victims outside the city. Fortunately, the imperial physician gave me medicine in time, and I am well now. If not, I would have been able to see you two days earlier."

Nian Xi's eyes were instantly moist, and her heart was filled with a thousand words, but in the end, there was only one complaint that sounded like concern, "Are you stupid?"

Pei Jian shook his head, "I'm just scared. If I were here, at least there would be someone to accompany you when something happens."

Nian Xi asked, "You don't want your power anymore?"

"I want it." Pei Jian opened his eyes again, his eyes deep under his thick eyelashes, "But you are my foundation and my home. Without you, even if I have unlimited power, it will be meaningless."

Nian Xi raised her eyes and looked at him.

"You can live well without me, even better than you are now," he said, "but I can't. My heart is too small and can only hold you."

"Nianxi, life is so fragile and time passes so quickly. Let's not be awkward anymore, okay? I want to be with you and never be apart again."

The surroundings were very quiet. Li had drunk the medicine and fell into a deep sleep. It seemed that all the suffering and sorrow had disappeared with Pei Jian's arrival. The whole world was so quiet that only the two of them were left.

Nian Xi sighed, "It took me a lot of courage to make up my mind to leave you."

"I know." Pei Jian looked at her tenderly, "This must be difficult."

"I really want to start a new life. I don't want to go back to square one at all."

"Nian Xi..."

"But when I learned that my mother also had a high fever, I decided to stay and take care of her. I thought of many people. All the past events flashed through my mind one by one. I realized that besides my family, the person who left me with the most memories was you."

Nian Xi's voice was very soft, like a whisper. Pei Jian couldn't help but stand up, walked to Nian Xi, squatted in front of her, and looked up at her.

Eyes met.

Nianxi's eyes gradually became moist. "If I still have any regrets at the last moment of my life, it is that I forgot to tell you that in my heart, I have never let you go."

Pei Shizhang, the greedy man who wants everything.

Pei Shizhang who can't say sweet words.

Pei Shizhang, who loved her more than his own life.

He would come to her when she was most lonely and helpless, hold her in his arms, comfort her tenderly, and everything would be fine.

She could also vent her emotions in front of him without restraint, something she couldn't do even with her parents.

They have been entangled for half their lives.

The fates have already intertwined.

Pei Jian was stunned.

He could feel Nianxi's contradictions and struggles, hesitations and doubts.

He hugged her waist and put his head on her soft waist, "Nianxi, it's okay, don't worry."

"I will always be here waiting for you."

"My heart will never change."

"Don't be embarrassed by my coming. It's okay. We have a lifetime together and you will always see my sincerity."

"I'll never make the same mistake again once."

"If you don't want to, I won't force you."

Nian Xi wiped away her tears and laughed softly.

This cunning and sinister man.

What you say and what you actually do are totally different.

"Master Pei, you have to give me some time, so why are you doing this now?"

Pei Jian paused, and the hand that was originally loosely wrapped around her waist began to tighten. He said shamelessly, "We will have to make peace sooner or later. I'll practice first so that I won't be unable to hug you when the time comes."

“Just think of it as an advance.”

Nian Xi lowered her head and looked at him deeply, then gently leaned over and hugged him.

Pei Jian was almost stunned.

He seemed to fall into a soft dream, fragrant and sweet.

He couldn't believe the reality of this moment.

He raised his head from her arms and stared at Nianxi for a long time, so long that Nianxi felt embarrassed.

Pei Jian finally spoke, his voice trembling, "I'm afraid it's all a dream."

In just a few words, Nian Xi could hear his surprise and excitement. She hummed and wanted to say something appropriate, but at this moment she was at a loss for words, so she could only say pragmatically:

“It’s not a dream.”

"Prove it."

Without waiting for Nianxi to ask again, Pei Jian boldly stood up, held the back of Nianxi's head with one hand, and kissed her deeply.

Sweet and fragrant.

His Nian Xi really came back.

Their lips and teeth were intertwined, and Pei Jian was deeply intoxicated by it.

"Nian Nian, I love you."

There is a lot of love in this world.

But Pei Jian's love is just a scoop of water from the vast ocean, just one of the countless roads.

Be persistent and never regret, and remain faithful until death.