# Chapter 18 No Hope of Survival
Weiyang leaned against the desk in the sewing room, watching Xiuyi carefully paint peonies on an embroidered cushion while fanning herself. Yet no matter how much she fanned, she couldn't disperse the heavy, stifling air. Suddenly she heard Xiuyi say, "By the way, Jinyin will be back in a few days. When she returns, we sisters can gather together again—she's sure to like you!"
Weiyang nodded and smiled.
Xiuyi continued, "Mandu has been counting the days to see his sister these past few days. Mancheng must be eagerly anticipating it too... Sigh! When Jinyin left last year, those two brothers clung to their sister and cried their hearts out."
"Really?" Weiyang laughed incredulously. "I always thought General Xia was iron-hearted from leading campaigns in all directions!"
"Iron-hearted is Zhangzhou. I've never seen him shed a single tear. I think even if he lost the throne, he wouldn't shed one tear." Xiuyi suddenly laughed, clearly recalling something amusing. "But Mancheng as a child—you really missed out! He was restless every moment, mischievous and a crybaby, so adorable, like a little treasure, I just can't describe it! Don't you dare tell anyone I said this. Hehe... once was at my father's birthday banquet, he was going to present a gift, but took only a few steps before *thud* he fell. He was already thirteen, how embarrassing! No one dared laugh, but he himself burst into tears wailing."
Weiyang couldn't help but laugh as well.
"And also, another time Zhangzhou brought back this big strange bird. Its colors were bright and beautiful, with a sharp beak, a rope tied around its feet. It was Mandu's first time seeing one, so excited he rushed over. The bird flapped its wings and pecked and clawed at him. Mandu was so scared he forgot to run, crouched on the ground covering his head and crying loudly. Hahaha..." Xiuyi wiped away tears of laughter, getting more and more carried away. "After a few months, the bird still broke the rope and flew away. Mandu cried again! For several days he kept practicing that bird's call in the courtyard, hoping it would come back. Hahaha... I used to love teasing him, so every time we met I'd ask: 'Has your bird come back?' He'd turn red immediately..."
The two women were doubled over with laughter inside when they heard the servant girl at the door say, "Your Highness, General Xia has arrived." No sooner had the words fallen than Mancheng's footsteps could be heard. Xiuyi and Weiyang exchanged a glance and quickly covered their mouths to stop laughing.
Mancheng entered, and seeing her, smiled. "Oh, Aunt is here too!" He sat down as well.
Xiuyi said in surprise, "Has the sun risen from the west today? Our Supreme Commander General actually came to us seeking scolding?"
Mancheng gave an apologetic smile. "I missed my sister."
"Tch!" Xiuyi retorted. "I go see you at least every other day to check on Mandu. If you missed me, just don't hide from me."
Mancheng blinked, unable to retort, so he changed the subject, pointing at the flowers in Xiuyi's hand and singing flattery: "Wow, Sister is truly a celestial craftswoman, so beautiful! When you're done, give it to me."
Xiuyi tapped his finger with her brush, scolding. "Go beg from other women! Don't change the subject. What do you want from me this time?"
When Xiuyi bent her head down, Mancheng cast a gentle glance at Weiyang. Weiyang smiled, covering her mouth.
"Sister Xiuyi, I'm leaving again in a few days."
Xiuyi looked up. Before she could ask, Weiyang blurted, "Where are you going?"
"There are frequent uprisings in Huinan. Suppression has repeatedly failed. If the Yuanliao army doesn't go to suppress and cleanse them, Huinan will slip from our control..." A faint worry appeared on Mancheng's face, but his voice remained calm as water. "I probably won't make it in time to see my sister."
Weiyang was deeply disappointed, staring at him in a daze, when she heard Xiuyi say, "Just get Zhangzhou to send someone else. What uprising is so important that only you can handle it?"
Mancheng smiled broadly though. "Zhangzhou hasn't said anything yet, but I know this time I'm going whether I like it or not. Mandu has seemed very listless lately—please spend more time with him. When my sister returns, talk with her more..."
Xiuyi was about to say something when Peng Hong pushed open the door and entered. Seeing Mancheng, she couldn't help but freeze, then a kind smile spread across her face. "Mancheng,难得你今天过来，留在这吃饭吧。"
Mancheng said coolly, "No need. Mandu is waiting for me to go back."
Peng Hong knew she couldn't persuade him, so she could only smile graciously and say to Xiuyi, "Go see your son. That rascal is making a fuss about not wanting to study, rolling on the floor!"
"That child is out of control!" Xiuyi frowned, putting down her brush. "You two sit here and wait, I'll be right back." With that she rose and followed Peng Hong out.
Mancheng saw her leave. With only him and Weiyang remaining in the room, he boldly took her hand. "When I'm gone, will you miss me?"
Weiyang didn't pull her hand away, worry clouding her brow. "You just returned, how can you be leaving again?"
"Who says Yuanliao can't do without me." Mancheng leaned down and kissed her hand, his eyes fixed on her, smiling wickedly. "Take care of your body. Don't mistreat my obedient child."
Weiyang's face grew hot, her heart racing. She tried to pull her hand back, but Mancheng held it even tighter.
The two were still tangled when the door suddenly burst open. Weiyang was startled, jerking her hand back. Mancheng was about to scold when Lan Xing rushed in, stamping her feet and crying, "Found you, General! It's bad! The young prince is vomiting blood!"
The Zhongbi residence was thrown into chaos. From Mandu's courtyard came sharp, mournful wails.
Mancheng listened to this sound that made his hair stand on end, too frightened to take a step. Walking from the main hall to Mandu's room was like walking into a dark whirlpool—fearful and hopeless.
Mandu suddenly bit down hard on his lower lip, stopping his cries—he saw that swaying figure appearing at the door, his relative, and a glimmer of hope ignited in his heart.
"Brother... brother..." He gritted his teeth, spitting out these two words, reaching his hand toward the door.
Mancheng rushed over and embraced him with all his strength. Tears couldn't help but pour out.
"Brother... is there anything, anything that can stop the pain?"
"..."
"Brother... you must have a way."
"..."
White as paper, Mandu's face had blue-purple veins standing out. He unclenched the teeth that had nearly bitten through his lip—blood gushed from between them—
"Ah----"
The sky collapsed.
This thin little body in his arms struggled desperately, like a可怜的小动物 trapped in a snare bristling with steel needles, desperately seeking a way out. Yet the more it struggled, the more it suffered; the more it struggled, the more hopeless it became.
"Ah----"
Mandu bit into the shoulder of the person holding him. That person was his support, his pillar, yet in the end couldn't help him.
Such pain!
The person holding him seemed not to feel a thing, letting his teeth sink deep into his flesh, letting his cries tear at flesh and blood in his heart.
What was he苦苦支撑着的 life for? Was it just to endure such pain?
"Brother, save me, I beg you—why—why—" The agonized screams permeated the air, then vanished.
Yet the entire Yuanliao city fell into a strange, gloomy fear. From top to bottom, every household tightly closed their doors, unanimously taking down all festive decorations and colored lanterns.
The bustling market streets became like the underworld—no figure stirred anywhere.
The ruler of Yuanliao abandoned all state affairs, standing in this small courtyard day after day.
Everyone remaining in this courtyard were the most noble and prestigious people in the entire kingdom, those who could call the wind and summon the rain.
Yet not a single one could help him.
Near midnight, Mandu finally eased somewhat, lying motionless on the bed.
His thin, gaunt face was ashen white, without a trace of color. His lips were purple, cold sweat continuously dripping.
His red-rimmed eyes scanned emptily around, his lips moved: "Where is my brother?"
Zhangzhou turned to look, discovering Mancheng was indeed gone. He released Mandu's hand and walked outside.
Mancheng sat in the cool pavilion in the courtyard. His back view was so desolate, so grieving.
"Where is my brother?" Mandu asked again.
Zhongshan kept wiping the bloodstains from his delicate face, but only smeared his fair skin even more. "He went to find you a doctor. Don't worry." The words came out, but the heartache was like a rising tide, impossible to contain. Tears fell uncontrollably.
Xiuyi pulled Mandu into her arms, constantly stroking his forehead and cheeks, tears blurring her vision until she could barely see.
Weiyang sat in the corner chair, face deathly pale, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. The heavy blood smell in the room made her head swim, nauseous but unable to vomit.
Peng Hong walked to the door. In the distance in the pavilion, that supreme emperor knelt beside Mancheng, embracing him around the waist.
The door opened. Mancheng walked in, a bowl of medicine in his hands.
Weiyang asked, "This medicine..."
Mancheng didn't even glance at her, walking straight to Mandu's bedside, speaking softly: "Mandu, the doctor said if you drink this medicine, you won't be in pain anymore."
"Really?" Mandu's eyes immediately filled with hope.
Mancheng's tears were in his eyes as he nodded. "Really."
Mandu leaned against the person bringing him hope, eagerly drinking down the medicine.
After a moment, Mandu's breathing gradually steadied. He grabbed Mancheng's hand, his voice hoarse: "Brother, where did you go just now? I couldn't see you, I was so scared."
"I went to find you a doctor... Don't be afraid, brother will always be here with you."
Mandu bared his blackish lips in a smile. "Brother, is today over?"
"Yes."
"Then in eight more days, sister will be back."
Mancheng held back his tears, his voice even lower. "Yes."
Mandu closed his eyes, speaking weakly: "Indeed the pain is not as bad... Brother, I love you most..."
Mancheng's tears fell in streams...
"Brother, I've been having a dream lately. I dreamed about when I first arrived in Yuanliao. You said the fireworks in Yuanliao were the most beautiful, so you bought so many, so many. We set off fireworks all night... You accidentally knocked over a bundle of fireworks, we were so scared we hid from the sparks everywhere, our clothes got singed... Sister grabbed you by the ear and scolded you..." The voice grew fainter and fainter. Gradually, the room became as silent as suffocation.
After a long, long time, Xiuyi suddenly seemed to wake from a dream, lunging madly to embrace Mandu, wailing. "Mandu... Mandu..."
Weiyang pushed herself up, took a few steps, feeling like she was walking on cotton. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen and couldn't help but cry out.
"Weiyang!" Zhangzhou hastily caught her, urgently asking, "What's wrong?"
Weiyang clutched her belly, big beads of sweat rolling down her face, too pained to speak.
Zhangzhou swept her up in his arms, shouting: "Imperial physician! Imperial physician!"
Mancheng raised his tear-filled eyes to watch as Zhangzhou had already rushed out the door carrying Weiyang.
Peng Hong's lips moved, but in the end no words came to call him back.
Mancheng lowered his eyes. Turning back, he lay down on Mandu, quietly closing his eyes.