The Villainous Classmate is My Lucky Star Chapter 248
Translated by Pure
Chapter 248 The Sky Has Cleared, Everything Will Be Alright
After multiple failed attempts to evade capture, including scaling walls and adopting disguises, Mu Yuan stormed into the palace, his expression sullen.
Finding Fu Sheng in discussion with the Emperor upon his arrival, Mu Yuan wasted no time in making his plea to travel to Yibei. With a flushed face, he engaged in a heated exchange with the Emperor.
Maintaining his characteristic composure, Fu Sheng interjected, "General Mu, please calm yourself."
However, Mu Yuan remained visibly agitated. "How can I remain calm?! My son's life is hanging on a thread, his illness grave! I am consumed with worry, wishing I could fly to Yibei!" he exclaimed.
His voice resounded loudly, akin to a trumpet blast, yet the Emperor and Fu Sheng remained unruffled, accustomed to his impassioned outbursts.
Fu Sheng's calm demeanor persisted as he posed a pointed question, "Does General Mu possess medical expertise?"
Mu Yuan paused, momentarily taken aback, before sheepishly scratching his neck. "No! But what does that matter?"
"Then why the urgent rush to Yibei?" Fu Sheng pressed on. "To merely sit by your son's bedside and offer moral support?"
Mu Yuan found himself unable to contend with Fu Sheng's words, his frustration mounting until he was visibly heaving with anger.
The Emperor chimed in, his tone firm yet filled with concern. "You're worried about your son, just as zhen is worried about Jingxi. However, with a plague raging in Yibei and the city under strict quarantine, your presence there would only add to the burden. Dozens of doctors have already been dispatched to Yibei. It's best for you to remain in Chaoge and await updates."
Mu Yuan acknowledged the logic behind the Emperor's and Fu Sheng's words, yet the thought of his son's illness ignited a raging inferno within him. His internal turmoil left him feeling as if he were spinning aimlessly, devoid of direction.
Throughout the night, the renowned doctors dispatched by the Emperor hastened their journey to Yibei. In the face of the plague, it was these healers, typically imbued with the scent of medicine, who held the power to combat the outbreak. Even a formidable general, invincible on the battlefield, stood helpless against the relentless scourge of the plague.
In the absence of a cure, the fate of defeating the disease rests solely in the hands of the people themselves.
Yibei City endured several consecutive days of rain, ranging from heavy downpours to gentle drizzles. Wen Yantong harbored a dislike for rainy days, exacerbated by Chi Jingxi's directive to remain indoors. Consequently, she had refrained from venturing outside since the onset of the rain.
The rainfall brought a welcome relief from the scorching heat, prompting the removal of ice buckets from the rooms. Lamps illuminated the interiors from morning till night, casting a warm glow throughout the household.
Servants only entered Wen Yantong's room solely to deliver meals. At other times, those on duty remained stationed outside her door, while those off-duty retreated to their own chambers.
Despite Chi Jingxi's directive for minimal movement, he made a point of visiting Wen Yantong daily.
Chi Jingxi refrained from entering, instead opting to gently knock on the window and request Wen Yantong to open it. Standing beneath the eaves, he engaged in conversation with her through the window.
Wen Yantong's countenance was clouded with gloom as she expressed her discontent. "Little Marquis, when will the rain stop?"
Observing Wen Yantong's despondent expression, Chi Jingxi felt an urge to comfort her, to alleviate the sorrow etched upon her brow. However, mindful of the ongoing epidemic, he restrained himself from any impulsive gestures. Instead, he offered reassurance, saying, "Don't fret, the rain will cease one day."
Wen Yantong gazed up at the gray sky and remarked, "This gloomy sky feels suffocating."
Chi Jingxi replied, "It's actually quite beneficial. This heavy rain is a boon for the farmers."
Wen Yantong rebutted, "But with everyone’s fear of the disease, who dares to farm now?"
Chi Jingxi recognized Wen Yantong's underlying fear of the disease, prompting him to pause briefly before speaking. "You haven't contracted the illness. If you wish, I can arrange for someone to escort you out of Yibei City..."
"No," Wen Yantong interjected firmly. "I want to stay here. I won't leave."
Chi Jingxi frowned but refrained from admonishing her. Instead, he offered a gentle smile and remarked, "You're usually timid. Why the sudden bravery?"
Wen Yantong expressed her concern, stating, "Whether I'm infected or not is all uncertain. Perhaps the disease has an incubation period. If I were to recklessly leave and spread the illness to others, wouldn't I be a sinner?"
After a moment of contemplation, Chi Jingxi replied reassuringly, "You won't fall ill, I'm certain of it."
Wen Yantong sighed softly before shifting the conversation, inquiring, "Have there been increases in the number of infected in the city?"
Chi Jingxi nodded solemnly. "The numbers are rising steadily each day. We're still probing the origin of this outbreak. Such a plague has never before surfaced in the Yibei region."
Wen Yantong paused for a moment before abruptly blurting out, "Qingyi..."
Chi Jingxi's gaze sharpened at the mention of the name. "What about her?"
"A few days ago, when Mu Yang visited the medical clinic, he encountered Qingyi. She boldly proclaimed that he would end up with red patches all over his body, and would die of the illness without hope of a cure," Wen Yantong revealed. "Do you think she knows something?"
Chi Jingxi's demeanor turned grave. "When did this occur?"
"Within the first few days of Mu Yang falling sick," Wen Yantong replied.
After a moment's consideration, Chi Jingxi addressed Wen Yantong, "I'll investigate this matter at once. You should rest and refrain from venturing out."
Wen Yantong nodded in agreement. "Please carefully investigate every detail and uncover the truth."
Armed with an umbrella, Chi Jingxi departed promptly. Within the hour, under his directive, guards stormed into Qingyi's residence amidst the downpour. With precision, they detained all occupants and escorted them to jail.
Meanwhile, Fu Zixian sprang into action. Detaining the city lord was no minor affair, and local soldiers in Yibei City were naturally resistant to such actions. Anticipating potential resistance, Fu Zixian navigated the delicate situation while conducting a thorough investigation within the confines of the prison.
Amidst his hectic schedule, Fu Zixian made time to visit both Mu Yang, who was ailing, and Wen Yantong, confined to her room.
Mu Yang's medication was entirely substituted with Wen Yantong's prescription, a change vehemently advocated for by Wen Yantong herself. Initially, some doctors expressed dissent, but Wen Yantong took the matter directly to Chi Jingxi, ultimately compelling the switch in Mu Yang's treatment.
The bitter medicine inflicted discomfort upon Mu Yang with each dose, administered thrice daily, always preceding meals. Over consecutive days, Mu Yang's appetite dwindled, and he began shedding weight once more. Frustrated and despondent, he lamented, accusing Wen Yantong of deliberate intent behind his suffering.
Fu Zixian paid a visit to Wen Yantong bearing sweet pastries, relaying her on Mu Yang’s complaints. While Wen Yantong felt a mixture of amusement and frustration, she instructed Fu Zixian to return a message to Mu Yang: he must consume every drop of medicine without leaving any residue behind.
The incessant rain over several days rendered the household exceedingly damp. Consequently, Wen Yantong struggled to attain restful sleep at night and constantly plagued by a multitude of dreams.
In her dreams, Wen Yantong envisioned Mu Yang swiftly recovering from his illness, Yibei decisively ending its conflict and ushering in an era of peace, and their eventual return to Chaoge together. However, upon awakening, her elation swiftly dissipated, replaced by a profound sense of disappointment. The dreary, unending drizzle and gray skies before her only served to exacerbate her melancholy, leaving her feeling profoundly disheartened.
As Chi Jingxi had foretold, every rainy day eventually gives way to clear skies.
One restless night, as the inhabitants of Yibei City tossed and turned, the relentless downpour ceased as quietly as it had begun.
Unaware of this development, Wen Yantong slumbered soundly until dawn. However, unlike previous mornings filled with the soothing patter of raindrops, she awoke to the sound of Mu Yang's urgent cries.
"Wen Yantong! Wen Yantong——!"
A piercing cry intruded upon her dreams, gradually rousing Wen Yantong from her slumber. As her eyes fluttered open, she immediately recognized the voice as Mu Yang's. With a sense of urgency, she sprang from her bed, neglecting even to don her shoes, and rushed to the window, pushing it open with all her might.
In an instant, sunlight flooded the room, and a refreshing warmth permeated the air, carried on the gentle breeze that followed the cessation of rain.
Mu Yang stood before her, resplendent in a smoky red brocade robe, his long hair swept high atop his head, illuminated by the golden rays of sunlight. A radiant smile graced his handsome face, his eyes alight with joy as he beckoned to Wen Yantong.
"Quickly, come outside! The sky is clear!" he exclaimed, pointing eagerly to the heavens above.
Wen Yantong hesitated, a flicker of fear coursing through her. Could this be just another dream?
She gazed at Mu Yang intently, absorbing every detail—the way his long hair danced in the wind, the warmth of his smile, and the transformation evident in his outstretched arms as his sleeves cascaded downward. Where once deep crimson patches marred his skin, they now faded to a gentle pink hue, while his pallor transformed into a healthy rosy flush. His lips, once pale, now bore a vivid redness, his teeth gleaming white, and his smile radiated with boundless brightness.
As emotion overwhelmed her, Wen Yantong felt a lump form in her throat, her eyes brimming with tears. Unable to contain her emotions any longer, she dissolved into sobs, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Observing her distress, Mu Yang's smile softened, his eyes filled with tenderness. He approached the window and extended a brocade handkerchief— the very same one Wen Yantong had given him to wipe away sweat during their recent excursion to the tower.
The brocade cloth, now pristine and neatly folded, was handed to Wen Yantong by Mu Yang. "Wen Yantong, thank you," he expressed earnestly.
Surprised by the sincerity in Mu Yang's gratitude, Wen Yantong found herself laughing through her tears, her emotions still overwhelming her.
The dense clouds that had loomed over Yibei for days on end were finally dispersed, making way for the gentle warmth of sunlight to cascade down upon the earth. As the radiant beams touched the ground, they dispelled the worries and anxieties that had gripped the land for so long.
Wen Yantong had envisioned such a moment in her dreams countless times, yet experiencing it firsthand far exceeded the joy she had ever imagined.
As the weather cleared, a revitalized Mu Yang emerged.
Wen Yantong adorned herself in her best clothes and stepped out of her room, embracing Mu Yang tightly.
"You see, I told you so," she sniffed, her voice tinged with emotion. "Everything will definitely be alright."
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The author has something to say:
[Little Easter Egg]
Mu Yang lay on the bed, clutching the letter, tears streaming down his face. "Brother Xi, will I never see my father again?"
Chi Jingxi regarded him with a profound look. "No, aren't you taking Wen Yantong's medicine?"
Mu Yang scoffed, "She's not a doctor, her medicine is useless!"
"It’s effective," Chi Jingxi asserted, "because she is a fairy."
Mu Yang: "Huh?"
(Mu Yang: I suspect Brother Xi is also sick, but I don't know how to tell him.)