Chapter 45
Feng Jiao Xue’s pale figure lay motionless on the bed, her skin pale as paper and her cheeks gaunt, her limbs skin and bones. She looks as pitiful as she intended to be.
Mo Tianze watched the two before reluctantly going outside to let his master’s plow play out.
Feng Haoyang’s heart twisted with guilt and helplessness as he sat by her bedside, holding her hand. His usually carefree demeanor was replaced by a furrowed brow and clenched fists. As the fourth son, he was free to roam wherever the winds carried him, unshackled by the burdens of duty and responsibility. He grew up without much pressure since his big brothers excelled in almost everything and he never cared about that because he was loved by his family still. This only allowed him to do as he wishes.
Yet now, faced with his niece’s state, he found himself questioning everything.
"How could I let this happen?" he muttered to himself, his voice barely have any strength as he sound as broken as he felt. "How could I not have noticed?"he asked again softly, tears threatening to fall from his eyes.
Feng Jiao Xue may not have known but even if Feng Haoyang is barely at home, he had kept in tough with his family. The ’Feng Jiao Xue’ in his letters was lively, spoiled, and bratty but he had expected that much from a young miss of his family.
He reached out, brushing a lock of hair from her forehead. She felt cold to the touch, her skin devoid of the warmth that should have been there. Guilt clawed at his chest as memories of her once vibrant smile surfaced. Smiles that he had only witnessed when she barely reached his knees, pudgy and sweet, like that of a peach... his little peach always trottling after his father.
Feng Haoyang choked out a sob.
"Xun Yi!" Haoyang barked, his voice sharp and urgent.
From the shadows, a middle-aged man clad in plain black robes stepped forward. Xun Yi, his most trusted servant, inclined his head respectfully. "My lord?"
"Find the best healers in the city. Alchemists, mages, herbalists—whoever is capable. Bring them here immediately. I don’t care what it costs," Haoyang ordered, his tone brooking no argument.