CHAPTER 363: CHAPTER 325: WHAT’S LOST IS LOST

"Moreover, you, I to you—"

Before the words were finished, he suddenly felt a weight in his arms.

It was Shang Ruyi who had gone limp and collapsed into his arms, her face resting on his shoulder.

Yu Wenye was startled, instinctively holding her slender waist, only to find the breath brushing against his face was unusually hot. His heart jolted in alarm, and in the darkness, he urgently reached to touch her face, feeling skin that was indeed burning hot!

She’s, fevered!

Yu Wenye felt a wave of panic, hastily cradling her and softly calling, "Ruyi! Ruyi!"

At this moment, Shang Ruyi felt weak all over. Although she wished not to stay so close to him, her hands couldn’t muster any strength to push him away, only sensing Yu Wenye holding her tightly, his urgent cries piercing the tranquil night.

Soon, many footsteps sounded around them, and then the room lit up.

She dazedly opened her eyes a sliver, seeing shadows moving and many people busy, barely able to discern words like "fever" and "find a doctor" in the bustling noise. She hazily realized she must have caught a chill when she took off her wind cloak at the prow earlier that day. While it was fine during the day, fever had set in by night.

How frustrating...

Thinking this, she couldn’t help but bitterly smile inwardly.

Tushere had repeatedly warned her not to let the wind catch her, lest she get sick. She insisted she wasn’t that frail, yet unexpectedly, she quickly proved vulnerable.

The more she thought, the angrier she felt, but her mind grew increasingly hazy.

In the end, she couldn’t see the frantic figures around her, nor hear those urgent voices, sensing only the one tightly holding her, his arms still strong yet with a barely perceptible tremble. As Shang Ruyi’s consciousness nearly slipped into darkness, it seemed she heard him gritting his teeth, saying in a deep voice—

"Dock, get off the boat!"

|

Uncertain how much time had passed, amidst jolting, Shang Ruyi slowly awoke.

Her eyes hardly opened before the sound of rolling wheels constantly reached her ears, deeply aware she was in a carriage. Yet beneath her wasn’t the cold, hard floor or an ordinary seat cushion.

It was a familiar aura, enveloping her entirely.

Shang Ruyi slowly opened her eyes, meeting those familiar ones, now slightly dimmed by weariness.

Yu Wenye...

At the moment their gazes connected, a ripple seemed to stir in those eyes.

But his face remained calm and expressionless, even his breathing softened as he looked at her, as if afraid to startle her.

After a while, he softly asked, "Still uncomfortable?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi was silent for a while, lowering her head to glance at herself wrapped tightly in a thick wind cloak, held in his embrace.

No wonder, his presence was so strong.

So strong, it almost seeped into her dreams...

Shang Ruyi instinctively moved a bit, Yu Wenye immediately said, "Best to not move."

"..."

"We’re finding a doctor to examine you; your condition is very weak. If this continues, it could leave a lasting ailment."

"..."

"Hold your words until after seeing the doctor."

Shang Ruyi stayed silent for a while, then closed her eyes again.

At this time, she neither had room nor strength to say or do anything, feeling only the person holding her fall silent, those eyes seeming to linger on her still. After quite some time, she heard him sigh lightly, reaching to tighten her wind cloak a bit more.

Through this journey, neither spoke a word. Despite being so close, it felt like they were farther apart than when separated north and south...

The carriage rode on for a while, entering a city.

The surroundings gradually became lively, Shang Ruyi opened her eyes to see Yu Wenye lifting a corner of the window curtain, and immediately, sunlight and the busy sounds from outside surged into the quiet carriage like a tide.

There were people greeting loudly in the street, joking, and small vendors energetically shouting, along with other carriages passing by, horses trotting, wheels rolling.

The bustling atmosphere of life seemed closer.

However, as sunlight touched Yu Wenye’s chiseled face, his expression felt tense, even revealing a hint of anxiety.

Soon, a shadow flickered outside the window, seemingly Mu Xian, saying to Yu Wenye, "Second Young Master, we’ve already sent people ahead..."

Yu Wenye’s eyes flickered, he said, "Don’t reveal our identities."

Mu Xian responded, "Second Young Master, rest assured."

After speaking, he seemed to hurry forward again. Yu Wenye then lowered the curtain and upon looking down, met Shang Ruyi’s gaze again.

Silence fell upon them once more.

Then, he softly said, "This is Song State. I have no acquaintances here, so we must be careful and avoid exposing our identities."

Shang Ruyi said nothing, only lowering her long eyelashes.

Though now very weak, the mild fever leaving her in a haze, Yu Wenye’s words made clear—since the Emperor’s passing, chaos reigned, factions rivaled for power. With Yu Wenye’s status, he was bound to be targeted.

Moreover—

She looked down at her own slender body, wrapped in the wind cloak.

Although she had woken from the dream, the bloody scent from the nightmare seemed still real, lingering at her nose, left by that person on her, her hands, even her soul... the scent of blood.

She trembled slightly, wanting to clench her fist to give herself some strength, but at this moment, she had no energy even to move her fingers.

Just then, Yu Wenye’s deep voice sounded above her head: "You are very weak now, don’t move recklessly."

"..."

Shang Ruyi’s gaze flickered slightly, looking up at him.

Yu Wenye looked down at her and softly said, "I will protect you."

"..."

Shang Ruyi’s breath caught.

It seemed not only the subtle little movements hidden in the wind cloak were noticed by him, but even the touch of disappointment and thoughts in her heart were captured by him.

She avoided his gaze at this moment, merely saying lightly, "No need."

Yu Wenye was silent for a moment and said, "Whether you need it is your business, whether I do it is mine."

"..."

Shang Ruyi simply lowered her head.

Just then, the carriage swayed slightly and came to a halt.

It seemed they had arrived.

But Yu Wenye did not immediately get out, instead he took a silk handkerchief from his pocket, gently covering her face to conceal her appearance, only then did he carry her out of the carriage.

In front, was a medical hall.

The place wasn’t too crowded, mainly filled with people coming for consultations or medicines, and seeing a carriage parked by the door, people inevitably glanced over. After Yu Wenye settled, he quickly carried Shang Ruyi inside.

The shopkeeper inside had already come out to greet them.

Despite her face being covered by the handkerchief, Shang Ruyi could still vaguely see the situation outside. By the shopkeeper stood Tushere and two of Yu Wenye’s long-term followers, apparently sent ahead by Mu Xian earlier, but it’s puzzling why simply for a consultation, they needed to send people in advance.

However, there were advantages to sending them; while outside, people were still queued for consultations, the shopkeeper had already politely led Yu Wenye inside, evidently thanks to Silver.

Inside sat an elderly man, amiable and white-haired. Seeing Yu Wenye bring her in, he immediately said, "Is the consultation for this lady?"

Yu Wenye nodded.

The old man extended a hand, "Please sit."

Yu Wenye seated her in a chair but did not let go, just lifted the edge of the wind cloak and placed her hand on a soft cushion on the desk.

Shang Ruyi had no strength to resist, and chose not to waste energy, only peering through the layer of silk at the face of the old man as he gently pressed on her pulse, his brows gradually furrowing, becoming solemn.

Why was she so weak after all?

After the elder diagnosed her pulse for a while, his tightly furrowed eyebrows slowly eased, raising his head to say, "This lady’s long-term excessive worry and tremendous fright and shock have caused—"

Yu Wenye coughed lightly.

The elder immediately said, "Weak body, insufficient energy and blood. This time catching a cold and fever is merely the previous condition surfacing."

Yu Wenye asked, "What should be done?"

The elder replied, "This is not a serious matter. I’ll prescribe a medicine; once taken, it will heal. But the lady’s noble body cannot endure any more strain. Additionally—"

He looked at the veiled Shang Ruyi and softly said, "I hope the lady will ease her mind and think more openly about matters."

"..."

"What is lost is lost, worrying and reminiscing are pointless."

"..."

Shang Ruyi’s heart stirred slightly.

What is lost, is lost...?

Worrying and reminiscing are pointless?

For some reason, although his words were meant to comfort, hearing them brought forth a mysterious sourness in her heart, prompting Shang Ruyi to silently lower her head.

The silk handkerchief on her face was touched by a bit of moisture.

At this moment, the person holding her also fell into silence, after a long pause, he finally said, "Please prescribe the medicine. We need a one month’s supply."

The elder said, "Please wait a moment."

Although he was old, his actions were quick, soon the prescription was written and handed over, as Shang Ruyi raised her eyes briefly from behind the veil to glimpse at it.

Just then, Yu Wenye’s face suddenly darkened, his grip on her tightened abruptly.

The people noticed his change of expression, puzzled, yet saw Yu Wenye turn to look at the curtain hanging by the entrance, solemnly saying, "Why is there no sound outside?"

With these words, everyone seemed to snap back to reality.

Indeed, upon entering just now, the sounds of patients conversing were audible, but now, outside suddenly fell silent.

In the air, there lingered the distinct metallic scent of blades and swords.