Chapter 63: Death from Illness

Feng Bai Su did not take Feng Bai Kuan’s matter to heart.

After the rest day, she still reported to the guard camp on time as usual.

Just as October began, Fengling City welcomed several continuous heavy rains.

The gloomy weather was desolate and dreary, making people’s moods sink along with it.

Feng Bai Su stood under the carved wooden window looking out at the pouring rain outside, falling like a curtain of water along the dim eaves. Large raindrops beat against the mud under the eaves, bringing waves of earthy scent.

She gazed at the overcast horizon in the distance, where dark clouds blocked the sky, making one feel inexplicably suffocated.

After watching for a while, Feng Bai Su couldn’t help but frown, feeling somehow uneasy today.

When Wei Jing Mo walked over from the distant rain with an umbrella, he saw Feng Bai Su standing lost in thought by the window from afar.

He walked under the eaves, folded his umbrella, and entered the room.

He walked slowly behind Feng Bai Su and said softly, “What is Your Highness thinking about? So absorbed?”

“Nothing.” Feng Bai Su immediately came to her senses, closed the window and turned around, “What were you just doing? The rain outside is so heavy, what matter was so important that you had to go personally?”

As she spoke, she put her arm around his shoulders and walked to sit on the couch.

Wei Jing Mo allowed her to lead him by the shoulder to sit down. Hearing her words, he said softly, “The autumn begonia that my sixth sister’s husband gave me had an accident. It was growing well, but somehow the flowerpot suddenly cracked!”

Speaking of this, he became somewhat distressed: “This perfectly good begonia rolled into the mud, its petals scattered by the rain. I was really worried, so I went to check on it.”

Hearing this, Feng Bai Su said thoughtfully, “Perhaps it’s because the air has been too humid from the continuous rain, so the flowerpot cracked.”

“Maybe.” Wei Jing Mo agreed.

The sky outside gradually darkened, but the rain fell heavier. The rain pattered noisily against the eaves, making it difficult for one to calm down.

At some point, a north wind seemed to pick up outside. The howling gale swept the pouring rain across the land unrestrained. Threads of cold rain vapor seeped through the cracks of the wooden windows into the warm, quiet inner room.

Just as Feng Bai Su was drowsily about to enter dreamland, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.

Before Feng Bai Su could fully wake up, the door was forcefully knocked.

Cong Bai’s anxious voice came through, “Your Highness, something bad has happened! The Sixth Princess is in trouble!”

In an instant, Feng Bai Su jolted awake, sitting up sharply in bed.

“Your Highness?”

Wei Jing Mo sat up groggily, seeing her quickly get out of bed, grab a robe and walk out.

Hearing movement behind her, Feng Bai Su paused her steps.

She turned her head to look at Wei Jing Mo and said softly, “You go back to sleep, I’m going to the Sixth Princess’s mansion.”

With that, she strode out the door with disheveled hair, not even having time to put on an outer robe.

—

In the depths of night in Fengling City, every household was pitch black, having already entered dreamland. Only the rain continued to ravage the muddy ground.

On the silent, empty streets, Feng Bai Su rode a swift horse through the heavy rain towards the Sixth Princess’s mansion.

At this time, the Sixth Princess’s mansion was brightly lit, with servants hurrying back and forth along the corridors. It indicated the turmoil inside.

After jumping off her horse, Feng Bai Su didn’t wait for the servants welcoming her to catch up with umbrellas, but strode anxiously inside.

Just as she stepped into the courtyard where Feng Bai Jiang lived, she saw the Sixth Princess’s husband leading Feng Han out.

His eyes were red and swollen, with tear stains still on his face that he hadn’t had time to wipe away.

Seeing Feng Bai Su enter, he took out a handkerchief to wipe the tears on his face. His lips trembled as he said hoarsely, “Seventh Imperial Sister, go in… go see her one last time…”

As he spoke, his voice choked up again, and he began to cry softly, suppressing his emotions.

Seeing his distraught appearance, Feng Bai Su’s heart immediately sank.

She stood frozen for a long while before finally clenching her fists and stiffly uttering a word: “…Alright.”

Feng Bai Su walked into the room, where only Feng Bai Jiang was present.

She lay quietly on the bed, her eyes half-open with some weakness.

Seeing Feng Bai Su, she instinctively tried to pull up the corners of her mouth to smile at her.

“Little… Seven… you’ve come?”

Seeing her struggling to speak, Feng Bai Su’s throat tightened, and her nose immediately began to sting.

After a long pause, she finally suppressed the lump in her throat and called out in an extremely hoarse voice: “…Sixth Elder Sister.”

“Don’t stand… sit down.”

Feng Bai Jiang slowly raised her arm and pointed to the chair beside her.

Seeing Feng Bai Su sit down slowly, her brows furrowed and clearly suppressing herself,

She laughed lightly and said slowly, “Life and death are fated… Little Seven, don’t grieve for me. In these last days… I’ve been very happy, and… I’ve even seen the red maples falling. I should be content…”

But Feng Bai Su gripped her hand tightly and said in a low, hoarse voice, “Don’t say anymore, Sixth Elder Sister…”

“It’s alright, Little Seven, your Sixth Elder Sister can hold on a bit longer.”

Feng Bai Jiang took a weak breath, and even had the mood to joke.

Feng Bai Su immediately pressed her lips tightly together, unconsciously tightening her grip on her hand.

At this time, Feng Bai Jiang continued speaking: “…Although my life hasn’t been the best, it hasn’t been too bad either. I married my husband and had a daughter, and I have you as a close sister. It’s just a pity I can’t accompany you all to the end of this journey… I only hope you’ll all be well in the future, and also…”

She suddenly gripped Feng Bai Su’s hand back, “Take care of Yun Ling and Han’er for me…”

After saying these last words, Feng Bai Jiang seemed to have used up all her strength, clutching her chest and coughing violently.

“I’ll go call the doctor in!”

Feng Bai Su’s expression immediately changed, and she stood up to walk out.

Just as she turned around, she was called back by Feng Bai Jiang behind her, “Cough cough… no… no need.”

She held onto Feng Bai Su’s hand, raising her head to smile at her, “Little Seven, be good…”

Feng Bai Su’s footsteps instantly stopped, and her eyes involuntarily reddened.

Feng Bai Jiang patted the back of her hand, speaking weakly, “…One last wish, help me call your Sixth Brother-in-law and Han’er in. I want to see them one last time…”

As she finished speaking, her lips curled up slightly, smiling somewhat calmly.

Seeing this, Feng Bai Su clenched her fist tightly.

Struggling to suppress the grief in her heart, she responded in an extremely low voice with a “mm”, her lips trembling as she uttered a “Alright.”

Only then did Feng Bai Jiang release her hand, the faint smile still on her lips, “Then thank you, Little Seven.”

But Feng Bai Su didn’t look back at her again, instead striding out and pushing the door open.

As soon as she walked out, she saw Yun Ling standing to the side and said, “Go in, Sixth Elder Sister is waiting for you.”

Hearing this, Yun Ling immediately pulled Han’er and quickly walked in.

Feng Bai Su stood alone for a moment, then walked down the steps and rushed into the rain.

She stood in the courtyard and slowly raised her head, large raindrops instantly pelting her face, forehead, and eyes. Then they slid down from the corners of her eyes…

The servants on both sides of the corridor anxiously tried to dissuade her, but Feng Bai Su seemed not to hear, still standing motionless in the rain.

Until two cries came from inside the room, and the servants also pushed open the doors to enter.

Feng Bai Su still stood in the rain, but the rainwater sliding down from the corners of her eyes accumulated more and more.

Suddenly, the rain above her head stopped. A yellowish folding umbrella sheltered over her head.

Feng Bai Su turned her head in a daze, and saw Wei Jing Mo silently standing behind her, holding up the umbrella and calling softly, “Your Highness.”

She was stunned for a moment, then suddenly hugged him, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

Her arms around his waist were so tight that Wei Jing Mo even felt pain.

But he didn’t voice any objection, only using his free hand that wasn’t holding the umbrella to hug her back.

Feng Bai Su spoke hoarsely, almost in a murmur, “Jing Mo, Sixth Elder Sister is gone… She’s gone…”

As her words fell, Wei Jing Mo seemed to feel a warm wetness spreading on his neck.

His hand stroking her back suddenly paused, then resumed gently patting.

At this moment, no words were needed; all he could do was silently accompany her.

—

After news of the Sixth Princess’s death from illness spread, apart from causing some sighs among the city’s commoners and court officials, there was no other response.

Except for Feng Bai Su and the Sixth Princess’s husband who truly cared, it did not arouse any sadness or sorrow in anyone else.

The Emperor didn’t even show her face once!

Feng Bai Su had always known there was no true affection between royal family members, but actually experiencing it still left her feeling somewhat ridiculous and desolate.

After the funeral was over, Yun Ling and Feng Han were also arranged by Feng Bai Su to be taken back to Shu by the Gongyang King’s people. Everything seemed to have settled.

However, after sending off Yun Ling and Feng Han, Feng Bai Su shut herself in her study, ignoring Cong Bai and Wei Jing Mo’s calls outside the door no matter how they shouted.

Until two days later, just as Wei Jing Mo couldn’t stand it anymore and was about to find someone to pry open the door, she finally emerged, disheveled.

Seeing her come out, Wei Jing Mo immediately rushed over, his eyes reddening.

“Were you trying to worry me to death? Why didn’t you open the door?”

Feng Bai Su allowed him to throw himself into her arms without struggling. Only when she felt his emotions stabilize did she reach out to stroke his head, apologizing, “I was wrong, I made you worry. It won’t happen again.”

Hearing her words, Wei Jing Mo raised his head, seeing her peach blossom eyes once again tinged with laughter, restored to their usual casual and composed state.

His heart finally eased a little.

But he still emphasized, “Your Highness must not do this again in the future. We are wife and husband, don’t keep things bottled up inside. Talk to me too, alright? I may not be able to help you, but speaking it out is always better than keeping it to yourself.”

“Alright.”

Feng Bai Su responded gently, promising, “I’ll tell you if anything happens in the future.”

Feng Bai Jiang’s passing seemed not to have affected anything.

The Emperor even had a whim to visit Fengming Temple to worship Buddha in mid-October. It was just because that Taoist master Gao said: “Fengming Temple’s Buddhist atmosphere reaches the heavens, it can bless Your Majesty to comprehend the Dao of longevity!”

Hearing this news, Feng Bai Su’s eyes were full of coldness, but she only asked in an icy voice, “Has Master Gao’s background been investigated clearly? Is there any progress?”

Hearing this, Cong Bai’s voice lowered somewhat: “This servant is useless. I don’t know if the person behind is too cautious, but this Master Gao’s background is terrifyingly clean.”

“Then continue to keep an eye on the Fifth Princess’s mansion.”

Feng Bai Su didn’t seem disappointed.

If it were so easy to investigate, he wouldn’t have been able to so easily get close to the Emperor and be deeply favored by her.

The Emperor’s investigative abilities were far stronger than hers!

She pondered for a moment before speaking, “Be careful on this trip to Fengming Temple. His sudden suggestion to go there likely means he has some scheme. Everyone be cautious!”

“Yes.” Cong Bai responded in understanding.