Yu Wenqian’s gray-blue eyes flickered slightly.

He said, "No."

Although Shang Ruyi anticipated his answer, upon truly hearing these two words, her eyes couldn’t help but dim, as if the candle of hope in her heart had been extinguished yet again.

She said, "Elder brother is so worried about Feng Chen’s illness, I thought you might have brought him some medicine this time."

Yu Wenqian replied without revealing any emotion, "I came to Fufeng as soon as I received the battle report."

"..."

"And the first battle report only mentioned Feng Chen falling ill, without detailing the illness."

"..."

"Sister-in-law wouldn’t forget that, would she?"

Shang Ruyi looked at his calm eyes and said nothing.

Indeed, she nearly forgot that on the first day Yu Wenye fell ill, no one, not even she or He Wenzhu, could identify the true cause of the illness. It was only on the second day when Song Yu rashly left the city, and Yu Wenye went out to save him and engaged in a fierce battle with Xue Xian that the true symptoms emerged.

So, Yu Wenqian’s explanation was flawless.

Yet, when Shang Ruyi looked up at this Heir of the Duke, she couldn’t suppress a persistent suspicion in her heart—though she hadn’t figured out who knew more than she did, since Yu Wenye set out for Fufeng, he had been ensnared in a trap focused on his downfall.

Plague, the city stripped of medicine, fierce battles outside the city, and the recent fire.

Someone knew Yu Wenye would fall ill and seized this opportunity to aim for his demise.

What role Yu Wenqian played in all this, Shang Ruyi couldn’t discern yet, but she never believed he was the savior he portrayed himself to be.

Yu Wenqian also looked at her.

His expression remained calm: "Sister-in-law, is there anything else you want to ask me?"

Shang Ruyi thought for a moment, then silently shook her head.

Yu Wenqian said, "Then, are you willing to leave here with Feng Chen?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi remained silent for a moment, then shook her head again.

Yu Wenqian’s brow furrowed immediately.

He said, "Sister-in-law, I know you’ve sacrificed a lot to protect Feng Chen, but I just examined Feng Chen’s condition—at most, he has three days left."

"What?!"

"Although I don’t know why Feng Chen contracted such a terrible disease, I’ve traveled widely over the years and have seen many people with this illness. I have some understanding of it. With Feng Chen’s condition, he could have held on longer, but this fire—his breathing was obstructed, his condition worsened, he can hold on for at most three more days!"

Shang Ruyi’s face changed suddenly, and she hastily tried to get out of bed.

Yu Wenqian, however, stopped her and said in a deep voice, "Listen to what I have to say first!"

"..."

"From Fufeng to Daxing City, with fast horses, it’s only a two-day journey at most. As long as you take Feng Chen back to Daxing immediately, there are better doctors there, and the supplies are more complete than in a small county like Fufeng. Feng Chen may still have a chance."

"...!"

Shang Ruyi’s body stiffened.

She slowly turned her head to look at Yu Wenqian and suddenly said, "Does elder brother know that the medicine in Daxing City that can treat this terrible disease has already been completely taken?"

Yu Wenqian’s eyes widened in shock as he looked at her: "You... How could you?!"

Staring at his face, Shang Ruyi couldn’t tell whether his shocked expression and words were because of the medicine being plundered, or because she knew about it.

She said heavily, "I just know."

"..."

"So, does elder brother still think I should take Feng Chen back?"

"..."

Yu Wenqian didn’t immediately say anything, he just looked at her deeply. The face that showed a hint of surprise returned to its usual calm. After a while, he spoke in a nuanced tone, "Maybe, there will be by the time you return."

Shang Ruyi said, "Does elder brother want me to gamble with Feng Chen’s life? But I can’t do that."

After speaking, she tried to get out of bed again.

This time, Yu Wenqian did not stop her. He just stood by the bed, quietly watching her endure the pain in her body, biting her lips as she stood up and dragged her heavy steps out.

Yu Wenqian said, "Isn’t doing this a gamble too?"

Shang Ruyi didn’t speak, she just gritted her teeth and kept moving forward, but her body hurt too much, and her staggering steps could hardly support her weight; she was about to fall.

At this moment, a pair of hands reached out from behind and firmly grasped her thin shoulders.

A deep voice sounded in her ear—

"Careful!"