Chapter 109
"Xiyang fell into the water during the day and caught a chill—she's fallen ill," Feng Suige broke the silence after they had been sitting quietly for a while. "When we leave later, take extra care of her. The medical officer said her constitution is very weak and she mustn't get chilled again."
"Fell into the water?" Xia Jingshi frowned.
Feng Suige sighed helplessly. "To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what happened. Perhaps she had an argument with Yixiao... I was only gone for a short while, and when I returned, everything was in chaos. There's still some time now—would you like to go see her?"
Xia Jingshi remained deep in thought, showing no intention of getting up. Unable to hold back, Feng Suige added, "This time, she was indeed in the wrong first, but she was merely being used by someone..."
"I understand," Xia Jingshi interrupted him. "Let's go see her together."
Dazed and confused, Feng Xiyang felt as though she had been placed atop a blazing stove, her body burning hot. The next moment, she was thrown into the frigid depths of the Mystic Ice Pit, the cold seeping into her very bones. Between the scorching heat and the biting cold, it felt as though a thousand tiny knives were carving into every inch of her body.
Suddenly, a warm hand pressed against her forehead.
"How could her fever be this severe?"
Xia Jingshi!
Like a drowning person clutching at a willow branch skimming the water's surface, she had never felt such an urgent need to break free from this void. Yet, it was as if she were trapped in a pile of cotton—unable to move.
"The medical officer said her constitution is quite weak," Feng Suige's voice came from beside her. "After she recovers, she'll need a period of careful recuperation."
Xia Jingshi gave a noncommittal hum and withdrew his hand. "Once we're out of this predicament and settled, I'll make arrangements."
Footsteps began moving toward the door. Feng Xiyang wanted to call out, mustering all her strength, but the sound that escaped her throat was nothing more than a faint sob.
"Husband..."
"Xiyang!" Feng Suige rushed back from the doorway to her bedside, overjoyed. "You're awake!"
Feng Xiyang slowly opened her eyes and weakly called out, "Imperial Brother." Her gaze then drifted to Xia Jingshi, who stood by the door, and her eyes burned with fervor. "Husband... you... you've come back."
Xia Jingshi merely nodded in response. Even so, Feng Xiyang's eyes brimmed with joy. "Just as he said... he didn't lie to me."
Before Feng Suige could react, Xia Jingshi spoke. "No. We escaped the palace by taking the Holy Emperor hostage."
At these words, the smile in Feng Xiyang's eyes froze. "Hostage... why would you take him hostage...?"
"Xiyang," Feng Suige coughed awkwardly, "the Holy Emperor only wanted to use your hand to eliminate the King Who Pacifies the South. You were too trusting."
"That can't be!" Feng Xiyang struggled to sit up. "The Emperor assured me—he only wanted to eliminate the traitors Fu Yixiao and Ning Fei! He even gave me a Gold Medal of Impunity as proof!" Panting, she began frantically searching her person and the area around her pillow. "I've kept it with me all this time... where is it...?"
Seeing her ears flush red with desperation, Feng Suige couldn't bear it any longer. He stepped forward to support her and gently reassured her, "Lie down and rest for now. Perhaps the servants put it away when they changed your wet clothes. I'll find it for you later.""What's the use of finding her now?" Xia Jingshi, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke. "Given the circumstances, don't you think it's time to tell her?" Feng Suige paused in his movements and refused without turning his head, "We'll talk about it later. She's still ill and needs more rest."
"No, I don't want to sleep anymore," Feng Xiyang weakly clung to Feng Suige's arm. "Brother, I want to hear it."
Feng Suige sighed helplessly, helping her sit up and carefully wrapping her in the brocade quilt before murmuring, "Xiyang, you should still rest for a while. Once Yixiao returns, we'll need to find a way to leave the city."
"Fu Yixiao?" Xiyang gasped softly. "Brother, did I tell you? She conspired with Ning Fei to deceive everyone—they planned a rebellion..."
"Answer me first," Xia Jingshi's gaze fixed on her. "Why do you trust the Holy Emperor's words so much? What makes you so certain that Yixiao is the villain?" Feng Xiyang froze, struggling for a long moment before replying weakly, "The Holy Emperor is the ruler of the Brocade Dynasty—his word is law. Why would he frame a mere commoner? Besides, I saw the secret letters exchanged between her and Ning Fei. Though I don’t understand military affairs, those lists of generals prepared for the uprising were real evidence!"
Xia Jingshi smiled faintly. "Then, the newly forged weapons found in my camp—weren’t they also evidence? Does that mean the charge he pinned on me for privately manufacturing arms is also true?"
"That can't be true..." Feng Xiyang murmured dazedly. "That was just a tactic to force Fu Yixiao out. And... I believe my husband would never do such a thing."
Feng Suige's frown deepened, his lips parting several times as if to speak but hesitating. Xia Jingshi glanced at him before pressing further, "Then how do you know those so-called secret letters and lists weren’t the Holy Emperor’s tactics as well?"
"No!" Feng Xiyang suddenly burst out, her voice sharp. "You adore her, so of course you’d defend her! Why won’t you believe me?!"
"Xiyang!" Feng Suige suppressed a low growl. "Can’t you think clearly for once?"
"I am thinking clearly!" Feng Xiyang retorted, struggling slightly in his arms. "Brother likes her too, so you won’t believe me either, right?!"
"This isn’t about belief," Xia Jingshi sighed. "Since your brother is here today, I might as well speak plainly—I know you love me deeply. And I can guess that the Holy Emperor promised you he wouldn’t kill me, offering you a very tempting hope."
Feng Xiyang gradually stilled, leaning against Feng Suige’s shoulder as she listened quietly, tears glistening in her eyes.
"I also know you long for me to love you, to give you the beautiful life you desire. If there were countless reincarnations, I would spare one lifetime to accompany you as a good husband. But alas, in this life, I am Xia Jingshi." His voice was calm, his gaze deep and steady. "So, all I can promise you is stability in the latter half of your life—just as I vowed, you will be my only wife."
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