Chapter 90 Our Xiao Family Has Wronged You

Yun Zhao was startled when he suddenly heard a voice and struggled to look in the direction of the sound.

In her hazy vision, she saw a tall figure relying on an extremely vague sense of direction. He raised one hand slightly, groped forward cautiously, and staggered towards her bed.

It was not until the figure was almost close that Yun Zhao recognized it by the vague outline and familiar posture - it was Xiao Jin!

She was horrified and immediately wanted to throw off the quilt and get up to pay her respects. However, her body was too weak due to the high fever and she was unable to move. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she felt dizzy and fell limply to the cold ground.

Although Xiao Jin's vision was unclear, he vaguely caught the blurry shadow suddenly getting shorter, accompanied by a suppressed muffled sound.

His heart tightened, and he immediately hurried forward following the sound. He squatted down and groped around randomly, and his fingertips soon touched her hot arms and thin pajamas.

He held the man in place, his voice filled with suppressed anxiety and anger as he whispered, "What are you moving around for?! You're so sick you can't even stand, yet you're still trying to be brave!"

Yun Zhao felt his head was as heavy as a mountain, his bones ached as if they had been broken, and his consciousness was floating in the boiling chaos.

She vaguely felt someone lifting her up, and then she fell into a solid and warm embrace.

Relying on his feeling and memory, Xiao Jin picked her up sideways. Every step he took was very steady yet revealed a hint of uncertainty. He slowly moved back to the edge of the couch, and with slightly clumsy but extremely gentle movements, he placed her back into the quilt.

Yun Zhao sank into the soft pillow, gasping for breath before regaining a sliver of strength. His voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible: "Your Majesty... why... are you here?"

Xiao Jin's hand still lingered on her shoulder. Hearing this, his tone was complicated, his heartache and dissatisfaction intertwined to the point of becoming tangible. "If I hadn't come again, were you planning to die quietly in this cold palace? You wouldn't call the imperial physician when you were sick, wouldn't take medicine, and wouldn't even light a charcoal fire. Is this how you treat yourself?"

"I... don't know..." Yun Zhao shook his head drowsily, his eyelids so heavy he could barely keep them open. "I just felt dizzy and cold all over... I didn't realize it was like this..."

Xiao Jin reached out and touched her forehead with the back of his hand. The scorching heat instantly made his brows lock together, and his anger intensified. "It's burning so fiercely! Your palace is as cold as an ice cellar, and you don't even realize it?!"

At this moment, Zhang Fuan quietly walked in carrying a basin of newly lit silver bone charcoal, dispelling the chill in the room. He whispered, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician is waiting outside the hall. I have ordered more candles to be lit."

Xiao Jin didn't even turn his head, but said in a deep voice: "Quickly call them in! Let them come in immediately!"

…

Yun Zhao was in a coma for three whole days due to his illness.

During this period, many people who heard the news and came to visit the patient were personally blocked outside the hall by Zhang Fuan.

On the morning of the third day, she finally felt a little better and had a better appetite, so she called Xiaotao in to serve her some porridge.

While carefully feeding her porridge, Xiao Tao whispered the news she had missed in the past few days: "Shang Gong, His Majesty has issued an imperial decree to grant a marriage. Miss Chen from the Chengshan Marquis's mansion has been granted marriage to our General Yun."

Yun Zhao nodded slightly; this was to be expected. She was more concerned about something else, so she asked softly, "So...what about His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin?"

Xiao Tao whispered, "The Princess of Jin has been betrothed to Lord Yu's granddaughter. His Majesty has ordered the Ministry of Rites to arrange the wedding within the next month, and they have already begun preparations."

Yun Zhao's heart sank slightly. "He actually agreed?" She couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness the Prince of Jin...has never disobeyed the order in public?"

"I haven't heard of it." Xiao Tao shook her head. "Your Highness was very calm when he received the order."

Yun Zhao was silent for a moment, feeling a strange mixture of emotions. She struggled to her feet and said, "Bring me my robe. My bones will become weak if I lie down any longer. Time to get out and walk."

As soon as he finished speaking, a clear voice from the eunuchs came from outside the palace - "His Royal Highness Prince Jin has arrived!"

Yun Zhao was startled and subconsciously wanted to stand up and salute, but Xiao Heng, who came in quickly, raised his hand and held him down lightly: "When you are so sick, why are you still going through all this formalities?"

He was wearing a dark-colored casual suit today, which made his face look a little thinner. When his eyes fell on her pale and haggard face, they unconsciously softened a little.

Yun Zhao leaned back on the pillow as he was told and forced a smile, "How did Your Highness find time to come here?"

Xiao Heng waved his hand, signaling Xiao Tao to leave for now. When they were alone in the hall, he took a few steps closer, his voice lowered, his concern evident. "You're so seriously ill, and you're still trying to hide it from me? Did you take the medicine I sent you a few days ago on time?"

Yun Zhao didn't want him to worry, so he said lightly, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. It's just a cold. After three days of rest, he's well again."

Xiao Heng stared at her and suddenly said, "You don't need to worry about me anymore. I have accepted the marriage arranged by my brother the Emperor." His tone was calm, even deliberately lighthearted. "A few days ago, by chance, I met Miss Yu. It seems... her temperament and appearance are quite dignified and decent."

Yun Zhao's heart seemed to be gently stabbed by something, causing a subtle and empty pain.

She lowered her eyes, her voice filled with genuine apology and concern. "Your Highness, marriage is a matter of life and death. If you are not truly willing, perhaps there is still room for negotiation if you speak to His Majesty and Chen Ming now. His Majesty and the Yu family... are not unreasonable people."

Xiao Heng shook his head, looking at her calmly, and suddenly revealed the truth: "No need. My brother said that this was your intention. If not, I might not have deserved such a happy ending."

Yun Zhao suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with surprise and a sudden surge of guilt: "Me? I'm not... Your Highness, I didn't expect it to be like this..."

Seeing her panic, Xiao Heng's eyes flashed with a hint of bitterness, which was then replaced by a gentle smile: "I'm not telling you this to make you blame yourself. I just want you to know that I am willing to do this, and you don't need to feel any more burdened."

He paused, his voice growing deeper and softer, his heart filled with obvious pity. "I see you trapped in the palace, with so much at your mercy. I only regret that I'm powerless to immediately free you from this cage. Seeing you suffering so much, my heart... is deeply distressed."

These words were straightforward and sincere, revealing his concern and helplessness without reservation.

Yun Zhao's eyes instantly turned red, and a strong bitterness welled up in her nose. She had never imagined that Xiao Heng's heart towards her could be so sincere.

"Your Highness..." She choked in her throat and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Xiao Heng smiled at her, his smile as carefree as ever, yet concealing a barely perceptible sadness. "If you still think of me as the boy who always followed you around, then call me 'Ah Heng' like we did when we were little. Otherwise, I'll feel even worse if we become so distant."

At this moment, another announcement came from outside the hall, saying that General Yunfeng had arrived.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Heng immediately suppressed his outward expression and stood up to say goodbye. "Rest well and take care of yourself. The most important thing is to take good care of yourself." He walked to the door and stopped again, his back to her. His voice was not loud but clear, "I will find an opportunity to speak to my brother the Emperor and find you... a marriage that truly suits your heart. Our Xiao family... has wronged you."