Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 84 Losing Composure

Chapter 84: Chapter 84 Losing Composure

Xie Xun’s longsword swept through, slaying three men, blood dyed the snow and transformed into a trail of crimson water winding down the path. The young girl behind the door and the battered boy were both stunned at how swiftly and decisively Xie Xun had killed four members of the Kyoto Capital Guard.

Ordinary citizens had suffered oppression and harassment by the Kyoto Capital Guard for years, never once having anyone stand up for justice on their behalf. Two young women held each other tightly and broke into sobs.

Retracting his sword, Xie Xun clasped his fists in respect and said, "Ladies, it was my failure to discipline my subordinates that led to this harm. After the snow disaster ends, I swear I will ensure justice for you. Nuanyang, escort them to a safe place to take shelter from the rain."

"Understood!"

Nuanyang helped up the boy soaked in rain and guided the two young women to safety. Turning around, Xie Xun ordered, "Collect the corpses and issue a warning to all Kyoto Capital Guards: if anyone dares commit acts of oppression and abuse against the people, I will execute them without mercy."

Lin Xiao felt as though a chilly wind pierced his chest, his feelings for Xie Xun oscillating between admiration and fear. Xie Xun had killed four nobles boldly and swiftly, shaking the entire Kyoto Capital Guard with his actions.

Having just taken office as the Kyoto Capital Guard Commander, Xie Xun was still an enigma to these ruffians who had only heard his reputation but never met him. Not yet knowing his stern leadership style, they dared to commit such heinous acts. Today’s troublemakers included several noble sons, yet none had faced such consequences before. Some might resent Xie Xun’s actions, but none would openly defy him. Who would dare, in the midst of disaster relief, to exploit their status for debauchery? Lin Xiao himself acknowledged they deserved death, but if he had been in Xie Xun’s place, would he have demonstrated the same gall to kill without hesitation?

In the courtyard, Fengyu was organizing supplies. Medical herbs were almost depleted, and due to limited stockpiling this year, Fengyu could only rank the injured by severity. Those whose conditions weren’t critical would have to endure; priority would be given to the gravely ill. Xinxin rushed in from the second courtyard, her face pale, clothes drenched, and pulled Fengyu aside to whisper about the Kyoto Capital Guard’s assault on the girls.

"What?" Fengyu gasped in shock. Xinxin’s eyes brimmed with tears as she explained that Xie Xun had killed all the culprits and publicly claimed that they had broken into homes to rob and injured civilians—a move to protect the reputation of the two sisters. Xinxin had witnessed everything while tallying the damages under the eaves. Fengyu said, "This matter must remain buried; don’t speak of it outside. Their reputation is tied to their survival. If word got out, their lives would be over."

"Understood." Xinxin was thoroughly shaken. Fengyu’s heart raced uncontrollably. The Kyoto Capital Guard was nothing more than a gang of thugs, and with thousands of them involved in relief efforts, Xie Xun had yet to reform the ranks. Trouble was inevitable. She initially thought it might be minor squabbles among the guards, but she hadn’t expected anyone to be audacious enough to commit such atrocities during a natural disaster.

Unforgivable!

Just as Fengyu was preparing to send someone to look into the matter, Aunt Yang hurried in.

"Miss, Lady Liu is about to give birth. What should we do in these conditions? How can she possibly deliver?"

One crisis followed another.

Fengyu was stunned, momentarily at a loss. "She’s only eight months pregnant—how can she be in labor already?"

"She’s gone into premature labor due to fright," Aunt Yang replied, distressed. Fengyu, with no experience in childbirth, was flustered. "Do we have a midwife? I have no expertise in this. Aunt Yang, guide me through what needs to be done."

The courtyard was crowded, and a premature birth demanded shelter from the elements—a warm and clean room was imperative. Fengyu stepped outside to seek Xie Xun, asking him to gather young and able-bodied men to escort dozens of elderly and children to the neighboring repaired building so she could clear a space. Lin Xiao quickly brought dozens of Kyoto Capital Guards, carrying the elderly and children across to the other residence. Aunt Yang led people to hastily clean a room, set up a charcoal fire, and transferred the pregnant woman to the warm shelter. The woman’s water had already broken—a piercing scream of pain filled the air, heard even by the Kyoto Capital Guards taking shelter from the rain outside.

"I heard she’s in premature labor. Can the baby... survive?"

The Kyoto Capital Guards exchanged uneasy glances. Childbirth was as perilous as crossing the Ghost Gate, far beyond anything they could assist with. Xie Xun sent Feiying to fetch a doctor just in case.

The local matrons had all been through childbirth and, along with the midwife, maintained a semblance of order despite the meager conditions. Fengyu waited outside the room, not daring to add to the chaos, but her heart thumped heavily. The raging wind and blizzard couldn’t mask the tension and unease she felt. Childbirth was like walking through the realm of death—a genuinely dangerous ordeal.

"Chunlu, go find Zhang Da and ask him to invite Doctor Zhou here."

"Understood!"

The woman, giving birth to her first child, endured extreme labor pains, her agonized screams incessant. Younger children were ushered to the rear courtyard to avoid the scene. In the midst of the raging storm, all was eerily quiet but for the sounds of the wind and the woman’s harrowing cries. Fengyu sat in a corner, closed her eyes to rest, her face pale as snow, her trembling body betraying her fraught state.

Xinxin and several other women carried bowls of hot water into the room. Fengyu could faintly hear Aunt Yang’s sharp, urgent voice, and the cries grew increasingly desperate.

Elderly men recovering from injuries in the courtyard discussed among themselves, stating that first pregnancies were often the most difficult—this might take a day and night to complete. Besides waiting, there was little anyone could do.

In the courtyard, meat and vegetable porridge had been prepared. The Kyoto Capital Guards, who had been working non-stop without a bite to eat all day, took advantage of the diminishing rain to resume repairs. Fengyu had long ordered the cooking of porridge to offer them a simple supper. With childbirth taking place nearby, the guards, stepping in to collect their food, moved quietly, their steps subdued by the chilling screams, sending shivers down their spines.

Natural disasters were already terrifying enough—the sudden emergence of unforeseen emergencies like childbirth amplified the dread.

Suddenly, Fengyu rushed outside, gripping a railing as she vomited uncontrollably. Qiuxiang, busy brewing her medicine at the small stove, hadn’t noticed Fengyu had left her spot.

Having only eaten a few pieces of pastry all day, Fengyu retched until nothing but acidic bile came out. Her stomach emptied itself entirely, and in the end, even her gall fluids seemed ready to surge forth. Collapsing onto the steps, she clung weakly to the railing as the torrential rain drenched her cloak and hair. The usually immaculately groomed and radiant Third Miss now looked utterly disheveled as she sat in the storm, her eyes vacant.

A tall figure stepped forward, shielding her from the wind and rain with a single hand holding a sturdy umbrella. With his other arm, he scooped her up by the waist. Xie Xun’s voice, muffled by the rainstorm, seemed distant to her. Fengyu thought it might be a figment of her imagination—she saw his angry face, but his words were incomprehensible. Xie Xun carried her back under the eaves. Fengyu felt her stomach churn violently, yet nothing remained for her to vomit.

"Fengyu, wake up..." Xie Xun patted her face lightly. His hands were as cold as snow, and the icy sensation seemed intent on seeping into her skin. Fragmented memories blurred her perception as she saw Xie Xun’s alarmed and angry face. "What’s wrong with you?"

Fengyu clutched her chest, gasping for air. Cold surged from her throat to her abdomen, leaving her struggling for breath. Abandoning the umbrella, Xie Xun carried her into the firewood shed next door with force.

"Fengyu!" Xie Xun called urgently. Both of them were more drenched than soaked chickens; Fengyu’s chest pain eased slightly, her senses returning. Seeing the disheveled reflection in Xie Xun’s eyes, she came back to herself.

Xie Xun had never seen Fengyu so panicked—like someone trapped in horrific visions they couldn’t escape. The fearless Third Miss, who didn’t break down even under Yuwen Zhao’s threats and humiliation, had now, for a moment, lost all composure. When she broke the Soul Suppressing Pearl, she had still remembered to toss the dagger aside, but this was different. Fengyu had briefly lost her mind entirely.

"My Lord, I lost my composure," Fengyu murmured, leaning against the dry firewood, her head spinning.