CHAPTER 509: CHAPTER 434 WHY DID I GET SICK?

The night, originally silent, turned chaotic once more.

Shang Ruyi immediately had Yu Wenye lie down on the bed and asked Wo Xue to fetch a cold towel. She intended to call for a doctor right away, but was stopped by Yu Wenye, whose breathing grew ever hotter.

He half-squinted his slightly reddened eyes from the fever and said drowsily, "At this time, don’t cause a fuss."

"...!"

Shang Ruyi was instantly angered—what did he mean by fuss?

He was clearly the one with the fever; what was wrong with calling for a doctor? Even though he usually could neglect small illnesses and pains, they were in Fufeng now, with Xue Xian lingering outside. As the Great General, how could he not care about his own body?

Just as Shang Ruyi was about to reason with him, Yu Wenye furrowed his brow and said in a deep voice, "I am the Great General, spreading the news now would be unfavorable."

"..."

Shang Ruyi paused and then seemed to understand.

Yes, he was the Great General.

Moreover, he had just achieved a great victory, repelling the tens of thousands of troops led by Xue Xian, and reestablished confidence for the soldiers and civilians of Fufeng. He was currently the spiritual pillar for everyone here; he was their hope!

If news of his illness were to spread now, it would give the enemies outside the city an advantage, and those inside the city would inevitably feel panic and lose confidence.

However—his illness could not be ignored.

Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and then turned to Wo Xue: "Go find Dai Junliang and tell him to bring a doctor—"

Upon hearing this, Yu Wenye frowned deeply. Although the low fever made him dizzy and weak, he still struggled to sit up to stop her. Before he could speak, Shang Ruyi said, "Tell them I am the one who is sick."

"..."

"Remember to tell them I caught a cold while beating the drum on the city tower. The doctor must stay at the official office for several days until my recovery."

Wo Xue replied, "I understand."

She then turned around and ran out.

Only then did Shang Ruyi look back at Yu Wenye, who was propped up on the bed with an increasingly pale complexion: "Now, are you at ease?"

"..."

Yu Wenye finally exhaled a long breath.

He lay back down on the bed.

Even with just that small movement, he seemed even weaker, the breath he exhaled was hot, and even though there was still a little distance, Shang Ruyi could feel the heat brushing against her face.

In just that short moment, he seemed to have worsened significantly.

So, she immediately took the towel that Wo Xue had brought, soaked it in cold water, wrung it damp, and started wiping Yu Wenye’s cheeks, his reddened neck, and his burning palms, speaking softly, "You know you are the Great General, with great responsibility. You should take care of your body. If you fall ill, who can the people of this city rely on?"

"..."

Yu Wenye said nothing.

The cold water towel brushed over his hot skin, and the sharp sting made the already weak Yu Wenye more uncomfortable. He could only grit his teeth and endure, remained silent for a while, and then spoke softly, "I just find it strange."

Shang Ruyi looked up at him, "Strange about what?"

"Strange that I would fall ill."

"..."

"Why would I fall ill at this time?"

Shang Ruyi felt amused and annoyed, and she went to soak the towel in water again, wringing it before wiping his palms, "People are bound to fall ill. Besides, you haven’t properly rested for days; today, besides the battle with Xue Xian, you also rode into the river, soaking wet."

"..."

"How could you not catch a cold this way?"

Though she said so, Yu Wenye’s brow furrowed even more, speaking deeply, "But I shouldn’t have fallen ill."

"..."

"In the past, I have faced times more exhausting, colder, and hotter than now, and I never fell ill."

Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but glare at him.

This man certainly had a robust body, but he was more stubborn in his beliefs.

And the more Yu Wenye spoke, the more he seemed unwilling to accept this; he began to move again on the bed where he had been lying. Shang Ruyi, anxious, dropped the towel, sat at the bedside, pressed his shoulders down with her hands, and bent down, pressing her forehead against his, pinning him down.

"...!"

Yu Wenye’s breath hitched.

Yet the heat radiating from his body was so intense that Shang Ruyi, close enough to feel it, felt her heart scorch, her face involuntarily flush slightly, observing his eyes, reddened at the corners from the low-grade fever and showing rare vulnerability, her gaze began to flicker.