Chapter 85:- Your Highness, You’re Hurting Me

After speaking, Xiao Ji took a step back and ordered that no one was to approach Pei Chen.

Seeing Xiao Ji’s posture as if facing a great enemy, Pei Chen also thought of something and obediently stayed in place, keeping his distance from everyone.

Though Nanzhou had Pei Chen guarding against hidden dangers, there still weren’t enough physicians. Even Si-nan, who had gone to search for more, returned slower than hoped.

“Take precautions,” Xiao Ji reminded, subtly shifting away as he caught a scent carried on the wind.

Pei Chen twitched at the corner of his eye. Does His Highness have a dog’s nose?

The physician covered his face with a clean cloth before beginning the examination.

After a long while, pale-faced and hesitant, he finally spoke with difficulty:
“Your Highness, Marquis… this looks like… an plague.”

The words shocked everyone.

Only then did Xiao Ji notice: in this short time, Pei Chen’s complexion had changed from merely pale to faintly flushed.

The physician touched his skin. “The Marquis may already be…”

“Treat it. Investigate it!” Xiao Ji’s expression darkened.

Although Nanzhou had many people, they had done their best to keep things clean after the flood. Daily, decoctions to strengthen the body were distributed among the people, and ashes were sprinkled over places soaked with dirty water.

Xiao Ji did not believe the matter could be so simple.

“Clear out an area solely for those infected. Gather every physician in the city for council.”

Orders spread out of the courtyard one by one, swift and orderly.

And the investigation was shocking: Already, many in the city were burning with fever. After examination, those confirmed to carry the plague were all relocated to the special quarters.

Following the prescriptions, stoves were lit throughout the city. Preventative medicine was boiled constantly, ensuring the people could drink it daily.

Zhao Ying had already transferred herbs from surrounding cities; enough to relieve the urgent need.

Thanks to Xiao Ji’s sharp awareness and Zhao Ying’s thorough preparations, the spread was contained quickly.

But those already infected deteriorated with alarming speed.

That very night, Pei Chen lost consciousness.

“Your Highness,” Si-nan reported grimly, “I inspected the infected areas with my men. They spread… with Your Highness’s residence and the Marquis’s quarters as the center.”

—-

Nanzhou has an plague!

The news traveled to the capital at frightening speed. That night, the Emperor convened ministers for urgent council.

By dawn, imperial physicians were already boarding ships south.

The matter was grave.

The Emperor ordered secrecy.

Yet somehow, by morning, the news was already all over the capital.

Of course, Xie Yao could not be kept in the dark.

“Your Highness the Crown Princess,” Zhuxin looked at her with concern, “please don’t worry too much. The reports mentioned nothing of His Highness.”

“Surely His Highness is safe…”

But her voice weakened.

Xie Yao truly was worried. Worried Xiao Ji might simply die.

Against swords and arrows, she trusted him. But against an plague… this was beyond human strength.

Time was too short. She had not yet built enough power. If Xiao Ji truly fell, she and the child in her womb would be swallowed alive by the Noble Consort’s schemes.

“I must go to Nanzhou,” Xie Yao said firmly, her decision made.

Her body carried the rare gift of easy fertility. Her recovery was fast. Since childhood, she had almost never fallen ill.

Even in her previous life, despite Xiao Ning and Song Wenbo’s cruel torment, she healed swiftly; only encouraging those two perverts to abuse her worse.

“Your Highness!” Zhuxin immediately protested. “How can you? You are still—”

Zhuqing too opposed it.

After all, the Crown Princess was carrying a child.

“I will go myself,” Xie Yao insisted. She had confidence in her own body.

Both maids dropped to their knees in tears.

In the end, under their pleas, Zhuxin remained in the capital to guard the household. Zhuqing and Lin Xia would accompany Xie Yao.

She also brought the palace physician, many soldiers of the Eastern Palace, and carts of medicine. Under the protection of Princess Yongle’s household, they set off south.

His Highness’s condition was uncertain.

Pei Chen’s illness was fact. Princess Yongle herself had wanted to go but was personally stopped by the Emperor.

Instead, he dispatched her most trusted nurse to accompany them.

Boarding the ship, Xie Yao was startled to find another passenger; Xiao Ning.

She had already been organizing donations for the southern people. When Xie Yao declared she was going, Xiao Ning insisted on traveling too.

On the deck, the two women faced one another, smiles on their lips, but hidden rivalry flashing in their eyes.

—-

Three days later, the ships arrived safely in Nanzhou.

The city had been forewarned; people were already waiting at the docks.

Supported by Zhuqing, Xie Yao stood on deck and gazed forward. Her eyes locked immediately on the tall, slender figure by the riverside.

She let out a long breath.

His Highness was safe. She and the child were safe.

But along with relief came a faint, unexplainable joy; so sweet it made her dizzy.

As soon as the ship docked, she moved to disembark—

“Yao-yao, stay where you are.”

Xiao Ji’s voice carried across the wind.

Startled, Xie Yao lifted her gaze, her watery eyes fixed only on him.

Xiao Ji’s throat worked as he lowered his voice, gaze burning with longing. “Nanzhou is plagued with Plague. It spreads swiftly. You… must remain aboard.”

He could not bear his Crown Princess taking such a risk.

Xie Yao could see the genuine concern in his eyes.

But—

She stepped forward anyway, striding straight toward him.

Xiao Ji had meant to retreat, to keep his distance. But the boat rocked, and Xie Yao stumbled.

His body moved faster than his thoughts, catching her by the arm.

In the next instant, she threw herself against him.

She clung to his waist, refusing to let go, pressing her face into his chest. Her muffled voice was thick with grievance. “After all this time apart, does Your Highness truly not miss me?”

Xiao Ji’s throat tightened, his hand unconsciously tightening around her waist.

How could he not?

She filled all his dreams.

“Nanzhou is dangerous.” Thousands of words condensed into just four.

Xie Yao lifted her head, eyes bright as stars. “Then I will face it with Your Highness.”

The sun shone brilliantly that day, a gentle spring breeze rippling the river’s surface.

But in Xiao Ji’s chest surged a storm. His heart skipped a beat, and then pounded wildly, as if to break free.

In that moment, he only wanted to hold her tighter and tighter until she fused into his very bones.

“Your Highness…” Her voice was soft, aggrieved. “You’re hurting me.”