The Villainous Classmate is My Lucky Star Chapter 243
Translated by Pure
Chapter 243 An Unusual Ailment
Wen Yantong dipped a piece of brocade cloth into ice water. After wringing it out, she promptly dabbed Mu Yang's face and neck with the cool cloth.
As she wiped, Wen Yantong noticed a large red patch on the back of Mu Yang's neck. Raising her eyebrows, she gently tugged down his clothing to investigate further. To her shock, she found a cluster of dense red spots within the patch.
"What's this?" she inquired, touching the area with her fingertips.
Wen Yantong, after touching the area twice, noted that Mu Yang's skin was exceptionally hot, with heat radiating from it even before her touch. She sighed and remarked, "When will you learn?"
Mu Yang, wiping his face with a brocade cloth soaked in ice water, asked, "What did you find?"
"I'm not sure," Wen Yantong replied. "Could it be a case of miliaria?"
Mu Yang expressed, "I feel like my head is foggy. Maybe a heatstroke?"
Wen Yantong suggested, "It's possible. You lie down first, and I'll bring you some mung bean tea."
Given the scorching weather, there was always iced mung bean tea readily available in the house to provide relief from the heat. She helped Mu Yang lie down on the soft couch and stepped out into the blazing sun. As she emerged from the door, a wave of heat assaulted her face, prompting Wen Yantong to instinctively close her eyes.
There, she also noticed the small chair where Mu Yang had been sitting outside the door while she slept. It was difficult to fathom how he endured the scorching heat.
Truly, Mu Yang's perseverance could be quite remarkable at times.
Wen Yantong hurried to the dining room despite the oppressive heat and returned with mung bean tea in a chilled bucket. Upon reentering the room, she noticed that Mu Yang had his eyes closed and appeared to be asleep.
She hurried over to Mu Yang and gently shook him. Struggling to open his eyes, his face twisted in pain as he managed to speak, "My chest feels so tight... I can hardly breathe."
Wen Yantong hastily poured him a cup of mung bean tea and expressed concern, "It’s really a heat stroke."
Mu Yang reassured her, "It's alright, I'll just rest for a bit and I'll feel better."
Wen Yantong disagreed, "No can do."
Mu Yang was visibly parched, downing all the mung bean tea in his grasp. Observing this, Wen Yantong swiftly refilled his cup and hastened out to seek medical assistance.
While heat stroke wasn't typically dire, it warranted immediate attention.
Reflecting on Chi Jingxi's earlier insights, Wen Yantong had surmised that Mu Yang hadn't fully adjusted to Yibei's climate. Despite appearing relatively untroubled, any illness could escalate rapidly in this environment.
Upon receiving the prescription, Wen Yantong swiftly arranged for the necessary herbs to be procured and prepared as directed.
Meanwhile, Mu Yang had drifted into slumber on the couch, his complexion unnaturally flushed.
Sensing lingering warmth on his forehead, Wen Yantong persisted in moistening the brocade cloth with ice water, gently dabbing it across Mu Yang's face and hands to alleviate his fever.
Once the medicine had been prepared, Wen Yantong roused Mu Yang once more to administer the dose.
Mu Yang appeared visibly wilted, his usual vivacity replaced by a drooping posture and a lackluster demeanor.
As he held the bowl of medicine, a peculiar sound emanated from his throat, causing him to furrow his brow in discomfort.
"What's the matter?" Wen Yantong asked with concern, taken aback by the unexpected sound.
"I feel like I’m going to throw up," Mu Yang replied, his voice strained.
"This is a common symptom of heat strokes. Drink the medicine quickly and get some rest. When you wake up, you'll feel much better," Wen Yantong reassured Mu Yang, gently patting him on the back as one would comfort a child. "Drink it all at once and it'll be over."
Mu Yang frowned, hesitated for a moment, then tilted the bowl, gulping down the medicine in one breath, swallowing it with visible effort.
Placing the medicine bowl on the table, Mu Yang stood up unsteadily and headed towards the door. However, noticing his weak steps and swaying posture, Wen Yantong intervened, stepping forward to halt him. "Where are you going?"
"I... I want to go back to sleep," Mu Yang replied, shaking his head. "I can't sleep here with you."
Concerned, Wen Yantong called for the guards to assist him, staying by his side until he was safely settled back in his quarters before departing herself.
Earlier, in her frantic search for medicine for Mu Yang, Wen Yantong had been drenched in sticky sweat. Now, with a moment of respite, she indulged in a soothing bath and settled comfortably in her room, unwilling to venture outside.
As the enemy army descended upon the city, the streets of Yibei were eerily deserted. The oppressive heat deterred any unnecessary outdoor activity, leaving the city in a state of uneasy stillness.
Chi Jingxi and Fu Zixian stood firm on the city wall, facing down the advancing enemies. This wasn't their first encounter with such a scenario; they had weathered similar situations before. It wouldn't be entirely accurate to label it a siege; rather, it was more akin to a nuisance, with enemy troops attempting to stir trouble and hurling insults. Despite the city gate being wide open, the enemy lacked the audacity to breach its defenses.
The conflict extended beyond mere physical prowess; it was also a test of cunning and strategy. Both sides seized the opportunity to assess each other's tactics.
Under the command of Chi Jingxi, his forces successfully pushed the enemy troops back, driving them over ten kilometers away from the city's perimeter. However, aware of the potential for a retaliatory strike, the army remained vigilant, establishing a camp and maintaining a watchful guard over the area.
Subsequently, Chi Jingxi found himself able to return only once every other day. Each time he returned, he hastily changed his attire and allowed himself no more than six hours of rest before heading back to the camp.
Thus, it was only two days later that Chi Jingxi received word of Mu Yang's heat stroke. Rushing to Mu Yang's quarters, he found him lethargic, his face betraying the toll of the illness as he sat down to eat.
Chi Jingxi offered few words of condolence, advising Mu Yang to adhere to his medication schedule, prioritize rest, and refrain from overexertion.
Mu Yang, suffering from severe illness, experienced weakness in his extremities, tightness in his chest, and bouts of nausea. Aware of the agony of his condition, he complied with Chi Jingxi's instructions with admirable obedience.
After several days of recuperation, Mu Yang's energy began to return, prompting him to seek out Wen Yantong for a conversation. Despite the noticeable improvement in his complexion and the disappearance of heat stroke symptoms, Wen Yantong couldn't shake the feeling that he still lacked vitality. She reasoned that the healing process of illness was gradual, suggesting that Mu Yang had not fully recovered.
Unbeknownst to Wen Yantong, Mu Yang's illness was more complex than a mere heat stroke.
With the retreat of the enemy troops, the atmosphere in Yibei City lifted, resembling a victorious aftermath, and the streets bustled with renewed activity.
Concerned by Mu Yang's ongoing pallor, Wen Yantong decided to venture to the market herself to procure fresh vegetables, intending to cook a nourishing meal to boost his strength.
Despite her protests, Mu Yang insisted on accompanying her, his worry for her safety outweighing any objections she raised. Thus, the two of them ventured out together from their dwelling.
They began their outing with a leisurely stroll along the bustling streets, indulging in some of Yibei's renowned local specialties. Among these were the intricately crafted bracelets adorning the wrists and ankles of the local women. These bracelets came in various materials, from pure agate stone to colored glaze, and were notable for their delicate, lightweight nature, emitting a soft jingling sound with each step.
Despite Mu Yang's encouragement, Wen Yantong hesitated to select any of these bracelets for herself, ultimately deciding against acquiring them.
The young women of Yibei adorned their ankles with such bracelets, as their traditional attire often left their ankles exposed, which consequently resulted in a darker complexion in that area. However, in regions like Chaoge and Chang'an, where dresses were long enough to conceal the ankles, such accessories held little practicality.
As Wen Yantong meticulously perused the vegetable market, Mu Yang suddenly declared he needed to go somewhere. When questioned about the sudden change of plans, Mu Yang remained evasive, citing it as a matter pertaining solely to men and curtailing any further inquiries from Wen Yantong.
Reluctantly, Wen Yantong acquiesced to Mu Yang's insistence and allowed him to depart without pressing further, resigned to continue her task of selecting produce alone.
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T/N: Double release, so be sure to read the next chapter~
