"A-Xue cannot be a concubine, so you must go to the underworld..."
On her husband and his beloved's wedding night, Xin Jiuwei, the original wife, spits blood and dies.
In th...
From her previous interactions, she knew that the other party meant her no harm.
In the past, Xin Jiuwei would not have placed her hopes on someone she didn't know, but today she had no choice but to take a gamble.
The carriage sped towards the Imperial Hospital. Xin Jiuwei's heart pounded like a drum, her hands were icy cold, and her nails dug deep into her palms. Never before had she felt the passage of time so clearly; every minute, every second, could be a countdown to her brother's death.
The Imperial Medical Academy was solemn and dignified. Xin Jiuwei revealed her identity and, ignoring the guards' attempts to stop her, went straight to the pharmacy where Lin Wanyi was on duty. She didn't even wait for an announcement and abruptly pushed open the door.
Lin Wanyi was weighing medicinal herbs at the medicine table when she was startled by the sudden intrusion and looked up. Seeing Xin Jiuwei's pale, bloodshot eyes and burning anxiety, she immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.
"Miss Xin? What happened?"
“‘Bone-Regenerating and Muscle-Regenerating Powder’!” Xin Jiuwei rushed to the medicine table, her voice hoarse and shrill with extreme urgency. “Miss Lin! I beg you! Save my brother! He’s in the Northern Border, severely injured, his life hanging by a thread! The military report says… he urgently needs ‘Bone-Regenerating and Muscle-Regenerating Powder’ to save his life! Please! Help me! No matter the cost!”
She spoke incoherently, her eyes filled with unfathomable despair and pleading, and tears finally streamed down her face uncontrollably. At this moment, she was no longer the calm and calculating Xin family girl, but simply a younger sister desperately pleading for the life of her loved one.
Lin Wanyi's usually cold eyes flickered with emotion. She put down the medicine spoon in her hand, quickly walked around the medicine table, and supported the swaying Xin Jiuwei: "Miss Xin, calm down! 'Bone-Regenerating Powder' is a special supply for the palace, and is extremely strictly controlled. The prescription and the finished product are personally managed by the Imperial Physician. Ordinary imperial physicians have no right to use it, let alone transfer it to other departments..."
"I know it's difficult! I know it's difficult!" Xin Jiuwei grabbed Lin Wanyi's arm tightly, as if grasping at the last straw. "But... but without this medicine, my brother will... Miss Lin! I beg you! Think of a way! Even just a little bit! Just a little bit!" She sobbed uncontrollably, her body trembling uncontrollably from immense grief and fear.
Looking at the almost shattering despair in Xin Jiuwei's eyes, feeling the coldness and trembling of her fingertips, Lin Wanyi's compassion as a healer and her sympathy for Xin Jiuwei's situation instantly overwhelmed all her concerns. She remained silent for a moment, her gaze becoming unusually firm.
"Wait for me!" Lin Wanyi released Xin Jiuwei's hand and quickly walked to a locked cabinet in the corner of the pharmacy. She took out the key, opened the cabinet door, and took out an inconspicuous, palm-sized small porcelain jar. She walked back and placed the porcelain jar into Xin Jiuwei's cold hands.
“This is not ‘Bone-Regenerating and Muscle-Regenerating Powder’,” Lin Wanyi lowered her voice and spoke very quickly. “This is ‘Golden Wound Life-Sustaining Ointment’ that I improved based on an ancient formula. Although its effects are not as potent as the secret palace medicine, it has remarkable effects on stopping bleeding, promoting muscle regeneration, and suppressing suppuration, especially on arrow wounds! This is the last bit of stock I have left. You… quickly find a way to send it to the Northern Border!”
Xin Jiuwei clutched the small porcelain jar, still warm from Lin Wanyi's body, as if grasping a glimmer of hope. Looking into Lin Wanyi's clear and resolute eyes, a thousand words choked in her throat, finally escaping only as a sob: "Miss Lin... I can't thank you enough!"
"Hurry up!" Lin Wanyi urged. "Don't let this matter be known! The efficacy of the medicine is recorded on the bottom of the jar. Go quickly!"
Xin Jiuwei clutched the porcelain jar tightly to her chest, bowed deeply to Lin Wanyi, and rushed out of the pharmacy. Time! Time was what she needed most right now!
The carriage sped along the road back to Jingyuan. Xin Jiuwei clutched the jar of life-saving medicine, her heart filled with anxiety. How could she deliver it to the northern border, a thousand miles away, as quickly as possible? Ordinary postal services were too slow! Should she find Xiao Xun? Would he have a faster way? But what if… what if he was also facing obstacles?
Her mind raced, weighing all the possibilities. Just then, the carriage jolted and came to a sudden stop.
"What happened?" Xin Jiuwei's heart jumped into her throat.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Xin Kui's anxious face appeared outside: "Miss, it's the Sixth Prince's carriage, blocking the way!"
Xin Jiuwei's heart skipped a beat! Xiao Xun? What was he doing here?
She lifted the carriage curtain to look. There, she saw Xiao Xun's familiar black carriage blocking the road at the intersection. Chen Qing stood beside the carriage, his expression grave. Xiao Xun himself hadn't gotten out, but the curtain was tightly closed, clearly indicating he was inside.
Xin Jiuwei disregarded everything else, grabbed the medicine jar, jumped off the carriage, and quickly walked to Xiao Xun's carriage.
"Your Highness!" Her voice was choked with sobs and urgency, "I have urgent business to attend to..."
The carriage curtain was lifted from the inside. Xiao Xun sat upright inside, dressed in black robes with ink-black hair, his face as cold and stern as ice. His gaze, almost tangible, instantly fell on Xin Jiuwei's still swollen eyes, her pale and thin cheeks, and the small porcelain jar she clutched tightly in her arms.
Xin Jiuwei felt a tightness in her heart when she saw his penetrating gaze, and subconsciously hid the medicine jar in her bosom.
Xiao Xun's gaze lingered for a moment on her clutching the medicine pot, then he raised his eyes, his unfathomable gaze locking onto her anxious eyes. His thin lips parted slightly, his voice low and steady, yet carrying a penetrating power that struck Xin Jiuwei's heart clearly:
"What you requested has been sent to the Northern Border. It will reach Xin Yunzhou within three days."
Xin Jiuwei froze on the spot! It was as if she had been struck by lightning!
He...he knew? He not only knew that his brother urgently needed "bone-regenerating and muscle-repairing powder," but...he had already sent someone to deliver it? He even promised that it would arrive within three days?
A tremendous shock and disbelief overwhelmed her! Looking at Xiao Xun's expressionless face and his deep, unfathomable eyes, an indescribable mix of ecstasy, bitterness, and near-exhaustion instantly shattered her carefully constructed defenses.
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