Chapter 72 Her Love and Protection

She paused, then looked up at him intently, her eyes filled with concern and reluctance: "The borderlands are windy and dusty, and the winters are bitterly cold. I've embroidered several pairs of thick knee pads and hand warmers, made from the softest wool, for Your Highness to use when riding. And..." Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her voice lowered, "...a few pairs of thick socks, with small pouches sewn inside the cuffs containing crushed mint, mugwort, and clove powder. They have a refreshing and invigorating effect, and can also repel snakes and insects. Your Highness, please remember to change them often; warm feet keep the body warm."

Xiao Jingzhan listened quietly, his heart burning. She spoke of them so casually, as if they were just ordinary objects, but how could he not know? They contained her deep worry, love, and unspoken protection.

He took the brocade pouch, still warm from her body, and clutched it tightly in his palm. He could even feel the outline of the medicine bottle and folded papers inside. He looked at her deeply, his phoenix eyes churning with a thousand emotions, which finally settled into a calm and resolute tenderness, as if he wanted to etch her image into his heart.

He leaned down and placed a solemn kiss on her smooth forehead, his deep voice carrying the coolness and determination of morning dew: "My dear, don't worry. I will return safely. You and the children stay in the palace and wait for me."

"Yes," Su Jingyu nodded emphatically, her eyes glistening with tears, but she forced them back, and a gentle smile bloomed on her lips. "Your Majesty, your concubine and the child are waiting for you in the palace. Your Majesty must be careful and prioritize your own safety in all things."

Xiao Jingzhan said no more, gave her one last deep look, then turned around abruptly, nimbly and steadily mounted his horse.

"Let's go!" he commanded, his clear voice echoing throughout the silent palace corridor.

The Xuanjia Guards solemnly acknowledged the order, and the sound of their horses' hooves rose in unison, like a black iron torrent, following closely behind the figure in black, disappearing into the distance at the end of the palace road, leaving only the dissipating dust in the morning mist.

Only when the figure was completely out of sight did Su Jingyu slowly withdraw her gaze. Her straight back relaxed slightly, as if all her strength had been drained away in an instant. A tear finally slipped down her cheek and disappeared into her clothes. She silently prayed: He must return safely.

Half a month later, in the northern border, at the Zhenbei Army camp.

The night was deep, but the main tent was brightly lit with candles. Xiao Jingzhan had just finished discussing matters with Zhou Feng, the general guarding the northern border, and several trusted generals, finalizing the next strategy for suppressing the bandits. The continuous days of running around and planning had left a trace of fatigue on his brow, but his eyes remained as sharp as an eagle's.

He dismissed the others, leaving him alone in the tent. He walked to the table, his gaze falling on the lake-blue brocade pouch with auspicious cloud patterns that he always carried with him. He had been too busy with military affairs for days to examine it closely. Now, with the cold wind howling outside and the candlelight flickering inside, he carefully untied the pouch.

Upon opening, the contents were neatly arranged: a folded amulet with elegant handwriting, emitting a faint sandalwood scent; several small jade bottles labeled "Qingxin Pill," "Yulu Detoxifying Pill," and "Jin Chuang Zhixue Powder"; a pair of finely crafted, soft-to-the-touch wool knee pads and hand warmers; and two pairs of thick cotton socks.

He picked up the thin letter, unfolded it, and the familiar, elegant handwriting came into view:

"Your Highness: It is as if you see me. The border is bitterly cold, with fierce winds and heavy frost. Please take good care of yourself, eat well, and dress warmly. My child and I are safe and sound in the palace, so please do not worry. I copy scriptures by day and pray to the stars by night, wishing only for your safe and early return. Enclosed are pills, carefully prepared according to ancient formulas, which may be useful in case of emergency. The Clear Heart Dew is a secret recipe made from morning flowers and night dew. If you feel restless, irritable, or suffer from miasma, you may take one pill to relieve the discomfort. The north is dry and infested with insects. The scented powder in your socks can repel insects and ward off evil, and the mint leaves can also soothe the throat. Your Highness is wise and insightful, but war is dangerous, and hidden dangers are hard to guard against. Please be cautious at all times and never take any risks. My child and I, deep within the palace, burn incense every day, longing for your return. Your Highness, written by Yu."

At the end of the letter, she still drew a simple double lotus flower, leaning on each other.

Xiao Jingzhan's fingertips traced the three words "longing for return," and his heart felt warm.

He picked up the jade bottle labeled "Qingxin Wan" (Heart-Clearing Pill), uncorked it, and a faint yet instantly refreshing medicinal fragrance filled the air. Just smelling it seemed to dissipate some of the fatigue from days of travel and the restlessness in his heart. This was no ordinary product.

Xiao Jingzhan carefully folded the letter and tucked it into the pocket of his innermost garment. He then retied the brocade pouch and placed it close to his chest. There, he felt as if he were instantly filled with warmth, carrying her temperature and tender love.

He walked to the tent flap and lifted the heavy curtain. The biting northern wind rushed towards him, and in the distance lay the vast darkness of night and the indistinct outlines of mountains. Those bandits lurking in the shadows, like venomous snakes, constantly harassing the border and harming the people... All warmth vanished from his eyes, leaving only a cold, sharp glint of killing intent.

"Pass down the order," he commanded the guards on duty outside the tent in a deep voice, his tone clear and cold in the wind, "Break camp at dawn tomorrow and proceed according to plan. This time, we must find the mastermind behind this, wipe them out completely, and leave no one alive!"

"Yes!" the guard replied sternly.

Soon, once these villains are eliminated, he will be able to return to her side as soon as possible.

The wind and sand were biting, and the battle was raging.

Crown Prince Xiao Jingzhan led his elite cavalry like swords drawn from their sheaths, traversing the vast grasslands and Gobi Desert. He did not simply launch brute force attacks, but combined meticulous intelligence with swift and decisive tactics, sometimes dividing his forces to lure the enemy, sometimes launching surprise attacks, and sometimes using the terrain to set ambushes, defeating and wiping out several of the most rampant and cunning border bandits one by one.

Battle reports kept pouring back to the capital, all of them reports of victory.

However, the battlefield is treacherous, and the borderlands are bitterly cold. Even with his superb martial arts and profound strategies, he could not avoid encountering ambushes and close combat. Once, while pursuing the remnants of the enemy into the mountains, he was caught in a makeshift poisoned arrow trap. Although he managed to parry in time and was not seriously injured, the arrowhead grazed his arm, and the venom instantly turned the area around the wound black, and the numbness spread rapidly.

The accompanying military medic's expression changed drastically. This poison was strange, and the antidotes commonly available in the army were barely effective. In the nick of time, Xiao Jingzhan suddenly remembered the brocade pouch in his robes. He dismissed everyone, leaving only Lu Chen by his side, took out the bottle of "Jade Dew Antidote Pills," poured out one, and swallowed it. The pill melted instantly in his mouth, and a cool sensation spread from his throat to his entire body. The numbness and burning pain in his arm wound subsided at a visible speed, and the black color gradually faded away.

In less than half an hour, only a light red scratch remained on the wound, and the remaining poison was completely cleared!

Lu Chen stared in disbelief, his admiration and gratitude for the Crown Princess overflowing. Xiao Jingzhan stroked the brocade pouch in his arms, a deep tenderness and longing flickering in his usually cold and stern eyes in the flickering campfire. His Yu'er…