章 103: To Ye City
**To Ye City**
Xianyue led Lei Yun and Lei An directly to Lan Yixuan's room, where a dim light illuminated the space. The walls were not the bright white of new paint but rather a slightly aged, muted hue, making everything difficult to discern.
Xianyue leaned against the doorframe and gestured towards Lan Yixuan, who lay on the bed. Lei Yun and Lei An exchanged a glance before rushing over, especially Lei An, who called out loudly before even stepping inside, "Young Master!"
Lei Yun followed closely behind, his brow furrowed in concern.
Reaching the bedside, Lei An crouched down and threw himself into Lan Yixuan's embrace. The sobs he had just managed to suppress surged forth anew. Meanwhile, Lei Yun stood behind him, using the faint light to observe Lan Yixuan, whose face was pale on one side yet tinged with a hint of red on the other, his wounds tended to with remarkable care.
"Young Master, I finally found you!" Lei An's voice was choked with emotion, completely oblivious to Lan Yixuan's unusual state.
"Lei An, you're pressing on the Young Master's wounds!" Xianyue approached and gently patted Lei An's shoulder, pulling him away from Lan Yixuan's hold to stand before him.
Startled, Lei An jumped up and wiped the tears from his face. Only then did he truly register the unnatural stillness of Lan Yixuan lying quietly on the bed. Their Young Master had always been alert; in his excitement, he had forgotten that apart from Xianyue, he rarely welcomed anyone's closeness. Now, realizing that Lan Yixuan was unresponsive even when he had been lying on him, alarm finally dawned on Lei An. He knelt beside Lan Yixuan again, calling out several times, "Young Master!"
"Young Master!"
Still, there was no response from the figure on the bed. Lei An abruptly stood up and turned to Xianyue, desperation in his eyes. "Xianyue, what on earth is happening?"
Xianyue sat on the bed, silent. Lei Yun, typically impetuous, stormed up to Xianyue, his voice hoarse from crying as he shouted, "Xianyue, you're fine, so how could our Young Master be in such a deep coma?"
His low tone carried a heavy reprimand.
"Lei An, if Lan Yixuan is in this condition, you should know that Xianyue is suffering too," Bai Zhufeng interjected, stepping in front of Lei An to shield Xianyue. His brows furrowed deeply; it was Xianyue's heart that was truly shattered by Lan Yixuan's plight. While caring for him, she was also burdened with worry for Feng Jiulan. The stronger she appeared, the more guilt weighed upon her for shouldering everything alone.
Seeing Bai Zhufeng defend Xianyue, Lei An's anger flared, convinced that he harbored ulterior motives. Just as he was about to retort, Lei Yun pulled him back with a heavy voice. "Lei An, this was Young Master's own choice."
Lei An turned to look at Lei Yun, glancing briefly at Lan Yixuan lying on the bed, his eyes brimming with tears. "Lei Yun, I've never seen our Young Master like this."
Lei Yun nodded and patted Lei An's shoulder as if comforting a child. He understood Lei An's feelings; he felt the same pangs of sorrow. The two had always been inseparable from their Young Master, who had once donned royal purple robes, exuding grace and confidence, effortlessly guiding their paths. How could they not be distressed at the sight of him lying lifeless on the bed?
"This is Young Master's choice."
If he did not wish for it, who could impose? On that fateful day at the cliff, he had the opportunity to be saved, yet he had unhesitatingly leapt to grasp Xianyue's hand. His current state must surely be a sacrifice to protect her. Whatever transpired, he surely wished for Xianyue to fare well. There was no resentment, only an acknowledgment of their circumstances. If their Young Master were present, he would never condone such a situation.
Lei Yun cast a glance at Xianyue, who stood with her back slightly arched. As he looked upon his Young Master, his demeanor hardened yet softened with compassion. Perhaps it was for the best; after all, Young Master had done so much and had finally attained his deepest desire.
With a glare directed at Xianyue, Lei An's gaze turned wary as he fixed his attention on Bai Zhufeng. He huffed with disdain, "Xianyue, our Young Master is like this because of you; you must take responsibility for him."
He had not forgotten Bai Zhufeng's unsavory intentions towards Xianyue. With their Young Master in such a state, he needed to remain vigilant to prevent Bai Zhufeng from exploiting the situation.
Xianyue turned, rising from the bed to approach Lei Yun and Lei An. "I need to go to Ye City for a time. During my absence, please take good care of Lan Yixuan. Luo Cheng will remain here, and I'll return swiftly."
At her words, Lei An gasped, "Xianyue, our Young Master hasn't awakened yet, and you want to leave?"
Moreover, going to Ye City meant being in Bai Zhufeng's company, which left him deeply unsettled.
"Am I to do nothing simply because Lan Yixuan is incapacitated? The troops of Feng Guo have been stationed in Ye City for some time; they are likely to launch an attack before Xuanyuan's forces arrive. Xuanyuan is not to be underestimated. Am I to abandon my country and my brother? If I were such a person, what difference would I have from those who forsake everything for love? In that case, Lan Yixuan would have no reason to care for me. Do you wish to see Xuanyuan grow stronger, while when Lan Yixuan awakens, he can only watch helplessly as Xuanyuan seizes dominion? It was because of me that Lan Yixuan is in this state; before he regains consciousness, I will guard what is rightfully his. Tell him I await his proposal to Feng Guo."
Once she finished speaking, Xianyue turned her gaze to Lei Yun. "Time is of the essence; Bai Zhufeng and I will set out immediately. I have faith in you to care for Lan Yixuan. As for other matters, Luo Cheng will inform you. Additionally—"
Xianyue glanced at Luo Cheng and smiled. She believed that after Lei Yun and Lei An learned of everything she and Lan Yixuan had endured, they would no longer be plagued by unfounded thoughts. Xianyue had never been one to break her promises; she valued loyalty above all. Having vowed to marry no one but Lan Yixuan in this lifetime, she would never be swayed by other men, nor indulge in romantic entanglements.
Her gaze fell upon Lei An. "The people of this household, and all the residents of He Village, are benefactors of both me and Lan Yixuan; you should treat them with respect."
弦月 cast one last glance at the motionless figure of Lan Yixuan on the bed, her gaze lingering for a moment before she turned to the visibly displeased Bai Zhanfeng and beckoned him: "Let's go."
Leading the way, Xianyue was followed closely by Luo Cheng and the others, none of whom noticed the subtle movement of the little finger of the man lying silently in bed.
Outside, the sky gradually brightened. At the entrance, horses had already been prepared. Xianyue stood at the threshold, waving her hand at them: "You all should return. Lei Yun and Lei An, take good care of Young Master Lan. Spend time with him whenever you can, share words he would like to hear. Lei An, stop worrying about things that won't happen. Luo Cheng, I dreamed recently that Xiao Yu was pregnant. If you miss her, you can go back once Young Master Lan's condition stabilizes. I must leave now."
Having given her instructions, Xianyue was about to mount her horse when Luo Cheng grasped her arm. Turning around, she met his eyes, which sparkled with a mix of reluctance and playful mischief: "What is it, Luo Cheng? Are you reluctant to see me go?"
She smiled lightly, yet Luo Cheng recoiled as though burned, hurriedly retracting his hand, his somewhat delicate features blushing slightly in the morning light.
"Why do you still blush so easily?"
Xianyue's smile brightened further, and after a moment, she composed herself and asked earnestly, "What is it?"
Luo Cheng stepped back two paces, producing a bamboo tube from his hand, which he extended to Xianyue: "Here, take this. If you encounter any difficulties, use it to notify us; our people will arrive swiftly."
Xianyue regarded him for a moment, smiled, and accepted the item without hesitation, expressing her gratitude sincerely: "Thank you, Luo Cheng. I must be on my way."
With a swift and agile motion, she mounted her horse, giving the reins a flick. The horse neighed, kicking up a cloud of dust, and her pale silhouette soon vanished from their sight.
Throughout the journey, Xianyue, Bai Zhanfeng, and their companions rode swiftly, initially expecting to encounter those displaced by the war. However, the road remained strikingly peaceful, indistinguishable from the usual days, a sentiment echoed by Bai Zhanfeng.
After several days of travel, they arrived at a particularly remote town under the jurisdiction of Ye City. After crossing a mountain, they would need only half a day more to reach their destination. On the way, their supplies had run out, so Xianyue sought out a tea house. It was morning, and they ordered steamed buns and a steaming bowl of soup. The small establishment was bustling with patrons, each face adorned with gentle smiles, seemingly untouched by the ravages of war.
"Shopkeeper!"
Xianyue waved and called out. The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man in his forties, appeared to be quite the archetypal businessman, exuding an air of honesty.
"Shopkeeper, I heard that a war is breaking out between the Feng Kingdom and the Chu Kingdom in Ye City—"
Xianyue cast a casual glance at the patrons enjoying their meals: "It doesn't seem that way at all."
The shopkeeper sighed, a flash of anger crossing his honest face as he clenched his fists on the table, showing no hesitation: "Indeed, there is fighting in Ye City. I've heard it's all because of that Princess Chuxue; she caused the death of Princess Xihe from the Feng Kingdom. It's a grave sin. We only have such a princess in Chu. I also heard that the young master Bai favored Princess Xihe. It's clear that loyalty is unwavering; the Bai family has protected Chu for centuries. It must have been that Chuxue who caused the demise of others' beloved, or else the Bai family's army would be the one fighting, not the royal troops."
Perhaps due to years of running such a small shop, he seemed well-informed and gossipy. Xianyue gleaned from his words that, in Chu, the royal family's prestige among the populace paled in comparison to the Bai family's. Otherwise, in times of national crisis, if the Bai family had not resisted, the common people would have criticized them for prioritizing personal affections over loyalty to the nation. Yet now, it seemed everyone held the royal family at fault. It was a stark realization—there was little difference between the royal family of Chu and that of Zhou. In Chu, it was the Bai family that truly served the common people diligently.
As the conversation turned to the royal troops, the shopkeeper's voice brimmed with indignation.
"In the past, when the Bai family's army passed through our little shop, they would pay for everything, insisting on leaving coins with us. They never harmed the interests of the common folk; their discipline was strict. But the royal troops? They pass through without paying for their meals, and if they desire something, they simply take it. You haven't seen the residents of Ye City; those who could escape have already fled. The Xuanyuan army, like the Bai army, always pays for what they consume."
At the end of his account, Xianyue put down her teacup, her head snapping up suddenly, startling the shopkeeper, who took several steps back.
Xianyue stood up, her face paling, and Bai Zhanfeng followed suit, rising alongside her. She approached the shopkeeper: "Are you saying the Xuanyuan army has already arrived in Ye City?"
The shopkeeper nodded at her question. That day had dawned early, and he had just opened his doors when soldiers had rushed in, purchasing all his buns. While he couldn't be certain, he had been in this place long enough to understand that those men could only belong to the Xuanyuan army.
Xianyue furrowed her brow, cursing under her breath. In the midst of war between two nations, should a powerful third party emerge, the Feng Kingdom might still be unaware of Xuanyuan's arrival in Ye City. Xuanyuan Hao was undoubtedly poised to strike while the Feng Kingdom was unprepared. While her brother remained calm in all matters, he was uniquely agitated regarding her. Without a second thought, Xianyue dashed toward her grazing horse. Bai Zhanfeng glanced back at the table where several people sat, and they swiftly understood, producing a silver ingot from their belongings and tossing it onto the table before promptly following her.
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