Light and Shadow

Chapter 19 - Yang Xiu's Plot, Pt. 1

--- Hello everyone, I apologize in advance for the weird ending of this chapter. I decided to divide the meeting into two chapters, since this chapter/part is already rather long. I hope that you enjoy the political drama that takes place in this chapter and the next! Feel free to comment improvements, suggestions, or anything else that comes to mind. Thank you for reading this! ---

After investigating Yang Xiu's residence for the letter under the cover of night, Xiahou Dun made his way back to Xun Yu's office to inform him that the issue was taken care of. He entered the man's office only to see Xun Yu laying on the floor, unconscious.

"Xun Yu? Xun Yu!" Xiahou Dun gushed as he rushed over to the man.

He grabbed the man and propped him up against his chest, shaking his shoulders as he did so.

"Come on Xun Yu. Open your eyes, damn it!" Xiahou Dun exclaimed with desperation in his voice.

He watched as Xun Yu's eyes slowly opened and gazed up at him with a look of confusion etched onto his face. He slowly sat up and rubbed the back of his head, which was sore from the impact.

"I'm sorry for worrying you General. I am okay now." Xun Yu stated.

Xiahou Dun frowned.

"You're ill. You need to rest." Xiahou Dun said gently.

"No, I feel fine." Xun Yu replied.

Xiahou Dun felt frustrated with his friend. He knew that he was still actively struggling with eating, and that the lack of rest didn't help him. Xun Yu was maintaining a scarily thin body, and it worried everyone around him who knew of his plight. Xiahou Dun could hold back his concern and frustration no longer, and he accidentally snapped on the man.

"How can you say that? Look at yourself, Xun Yu. You are barely more than a skeleton! Of course you are sick, and you passed out because of it." Xiahou Dun gushed.

He paused as Xun Yu averted his gaze to the floor, clearly affected by his words.

"I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that," Xiahou Dun said softly. "I just want to see you get better and healthy, like you used to be. This isn't easy on any of us, I know that it has to be even harder on you. Please, don't be afraid to reach out for help."

Xun Yu sat there in silence. He was full of conflicting emotions. On one hand he wanted to cry, on the other he felt somewhat annoyed by Xiahou Dun's words. He was not ready to "get better," as Xiahou Dun phrased it. He didn't want to imagine himself getting better; he couldn't imagine himself getting better. I don't want to, and I don't need to. There is nothing wrong with me. I feel fine. It was just one instance; it won't happen again.

"I... Thank you, General. Please, can we keep this between us? I don't want anyone else to know that you found me unconscious." Xun Yu stated meekly.

"Of course," Xiahou Dun replied. "I'm sorry for getting frustrated with you."

"It's okay, I am sorry for causing you any concern," Xun Yu said. He then switched subjects. "Were you able to find the letter? Did you encounter any issues?"

Xiahou Dun frowned. He knew what Xun Yu was up to as he tried to avoid the topic of his health; however, he decided that he would allow it, since he did just explode on the man.

"Yes, I took care of the letter, and I did not encounter any issues. I assume that this is related to the meeting tomorrow morning?" Xiahou Dun asked. Xun Yu nodded his head 'yes.' "I'm glad that our Lord asked me to attend the meeting tomorrow. I can't wait to watch you scholarly men duke it out."

"General, no one is going to 'duke it out' tomorrow. If anything, someone would sooner die from a plot or poison than exchange fists." Xun Yu replied calmly.