"...Wei-mei! Disaster! A terrible disaster! Father-in-law... Father-in-law was inspecting the river embankment in the west of the city the day before yesterday when he was suddenly attacked by a group of masked bandits! Those people were extremely fierce and ruthless! His two loyal servants who were with him... died on the spot! Father-in-law... Father-in-law was stabbed multiple times while protecting me, bleeding profusely, and is unconscious! His life or death is still unknown!"

"After committing the crime, the ruthless bandit left behind a blood-stained black iron plaque with a ferocious 'hawk' character engraved on it! When the government officials arrived, upon seeing the plaque, they... showed fear, made excuses, and gave perfunctory answers! Rumors circulated in the city that my father-in-law had offended... offended someone he couldn't afford to offend! It was 'Black Hawk' who was taking his life!"

"My grandfather is forcing himself to take charge despite his illness, but... but he fears the thieves may not be gone and could return at any moment!"

"Wei Mei! Yun Zhou! Quickly save her! Yuncheng is in grave danger! Qi Huaihe weeps and kowtows!"

"boom--!"

Like being struck by lightning! Xin Jiuwei felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, and all the blood in her body rushed to her head, only to flow back coldly to her limbs in the next moment! She staggered a step, barely managing to stand by gripping the edge of the table, and the letter in her hand fluttered to the ground.

Father! Attacked! Severely injured and in a coma! His fate is unknown!

Ruthless bandits! A black "hawk" shaped token! The "Black Hawk" is here to take lives!

The government was terrified! Rumors were flying! The family was in imminent danger!

Overwhelming fear and utter despair washed over her like an icy tide! Her heart felt like it was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, the pain almost suffocating her! A tearing agony shot through the old wound in her chest, and her vision blurred.

"Father...Father..." she murmured absently, tears streaming down her face like a burst dam. Her mother was gone; her father was her and her brother's last hope and support in Yuncheng! If her father... she dared not think further!

"Miss! Miss, what's wrong? Don't scare me!" Xin Kui was terrified when she saw Xin Jiuwei's face turn as pale as paper and her body swaying precariously. She rushed forward to help her up.

Just then, the door to the warm pavilion was suddenly pushed open! Xiao Xun's tall figure appeared in the doorway, bringing with him a blast of cold air from outside. He had clearly heard the commotion and rushed over. When his gaze fell upon the letter fluttering from Xin Jiuwei's hand and her desperate, broken expression, his deep pupils suddenly contracted! He understood everything! The news… could no longer be kept secret!

"Jiuwei!" Xiao Xun rushed forward and firmly supported Xin Jiuwei's arms before she completely collapsed. His hands were large and strong, providing undeniable support, but Xin Jiuwei's body trembled violently and coldly, like a withered leaf in the wind.

"Your Highness...Your Highness!" Xin Jiuwei seemed to have grasped at the only straw, clutching Xiao Xun's robe tightly with her other hand. She looked up, her eyes blurred with tears, filled with extreme fear and pleading. "My father...my father...save him! Please...save my father! Save Yuncheng!" Her voice was hoarse and broken, filled with a desperate, heartbreaking grief.

Xiao Xun could clearly feel the coldness emanating from her fingertips and the bone-deep fear within them. He watched her tears fall like broken beads, saw the world crumble in her eyes in that instant. An indescribable dull pain and a raging rage churned in his chest! Xiao Jue! And that damned "Black Hawk"! He would tear them to pieces!

"Don't be afraid." Xiao Xun's voice was low and hoarse, yet it carried a strange, penetrating power that clearly reached Xin Jiuwei's ears. He helped her sit down on the soft couch, then knelt down, meeting her gaze at eye level. His deep eyes were like anchors, firmly locking onto her panicked and desperate look. "Listen, Xin Jiuwei."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word carried immense weight, uttering an undeniable resolve:

"I am already aware of the matter concerning Yuncheng."

“You Ye has already personally gone to Yuncheng three days ago with my royal token!”

"Accompanying me are thirty of my most elite Xuanjia Guards, as well as two renowned surgeons from the Imperial Medical Academy specializing in external injuries!"

"I have ordered the commander of the Yingzhou garrison to block all major roads in Yuncheng and to thoroughly investigate any suspicious persons passing through! A portion of the garrison has already been deployed to Yuncheng to assist in apprehending the culprit and to protect the Xin residence!"

"With the imperial physicians here, they will do their utmost to treat your father's injuries!"

"As for that 'Black Hawk'..." Xiao Xun's voice suddenly turned cold, like a blade tempered with ice, exuding a terrifying killing intent, "I don't care if it's human or ghost, if it dares to harm your loved ones, I will uproot it and grind its bones to dust!"

A series of clear and forceful deployments struck Xin Jiuwei's chaotic and desperate mind like a thunderbolt! You Ye had already left three days ago? With the imperial physician and the Xuanjia Guards? The garrison had already been mobilized? Yuncheng was under blockade?

So... so he knew all along! And without her knowledge, he had already launched a swift and decisive operation! Did he keep it from her because he didn't want her to suffer this overwhelming fear and worry?

The immense shock, lingering fear, and the indescribable sense of security and dependence that followed surged forth like a tidal wave, instantly shattering Xin Jiuwei's last line of defense. Looking at Xiao Xun, so close to her, and seeing the heavy, reassuring promise and ruthless decisiveness in his eyes, the emotions she had been holding back completely collapsed!

With a loud "Wah—", she could no longer hold back and threw herself into Xiao Xun's arms, bursting into tears! All her fear, worry, grievances, and lingering dread found an outlet at that moment. She clutched his clothes tightly, crying her heart out, as if she wanted to cry out all her helplessness and despair.

Xiao Xun's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. Warm tears quickly soaked through the fabric of his clothes. The girl's soft body, trembling violently and icy cold, nestled tightly in his arms, like a frightened little animal finally finding shelter. He had never been so close to anyone, much less been held so tenderly by a woman.

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