Xin Jiuwei quickly poured a cup of hot tea and placed it on the small table next to Xiao Xun. Xiao Xun picked up the teacup, his fingertips tracing the warm rim, his gaze falling on Xin Jiuwei as he watched her sit back down on the small stool, pick up her embroidery hoop, and continue her needlework. It was a plain handkerchief embroidered with several green bamboo stalks.
The warm pavilion fell silent for a moment. Only the soft bubbling of the medicine pot, the crackling of the burning charcoal, and the occasional soft sound of Xin Jiuwei threading her needle. Xin Yunzhou picked up his book again, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the two people sitting quietly opposite each other. Xiao Xun lowered his eyes and sipped his tea, his posture relaxed, seemingly enjoying this moment of tranquility. Xin Jiuwei lowered her head, focused on her embroidery, but a faint blush crept into her ears.
A silent, yet exceptionally harmonious warmth flowed quietly through the room filled with the aroma of medicine.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Xiao Xun put down his teacup and stood up: "I still have official business to attend to. You should rest well." He said this to Xin Yunzhou.
"Yes, Your Highness, please take care," Xin Yunzhou said.
Xiao Xun's gaze swept over Xin Jiuwei, lingering for a moment on the half-embroidered green bamboo handkerchief in her hand. Without saying anything, he turned and left.
Xin Jiuwei put down her needlework, walked to the medicine pot, extinguished the charcoal fire, and carefully strained the decocted medicine into a bowl. The medicinal aroma filled the air, but her thoughts drifted away. His natural actions just now, that moment of quiet companionship… all of these stirred a strange, warm feeling within her.
“Wei’er,” Xin Yunzhou’s voice rang out, tinged with inquiry, “The Sixth Prince… seems to treat you… quite differently.”
Xin Jiuwei's hand holding the medicine bowl trembled slightly, almost spilling some. She steadied herself, walked to the bedside, and handed the bowl to her brother, avoiding his gaze: "Your Highness... has been very good to me. He saved my life, and he saved yours too."
Xin Yunzhou took the bowl of medicine, looking at his sister's downcast eyes and slightly flushed cheeks, and understood. He silently drank the bitter medicine, asking no further questions. However, the scrutiny and wariness he felt towards Xiao Xun had subtly changed after witnessing these subtle interactions. This cold-hearted sixth prince didn't seem to be as unapproachable as rumored. At least, he was very different towards his sister…
Days flowed peacefully as Xin Yunzhou slowly recovered. Xin Jiuwei's life still revolved around her brother's injuries and caring for the old lady. Xiao Xun remained busy, but visiting Xin Yunzhou daily seemed to have become a habit. Sometimes he would only stay for a short while, inquiring about his injuries; sometimes he would bring some newly arrived official reports from the Ministry of War regarding adjustments to the northern border defenses for Xin Yunzhou to see and hear his opinions; sometimes he would simply sit quietly, watching Xin Jiuwei prepare medicine or do needlework.
The two still didn't talk much. When Xin Jiuwei served tea to Xiao Xun, he would say "Thank you for your trouble." When Xiao Xun left, Xin Jiuwei would softly say "Your Highness, please take care." But it was these simple, almost formulaic exchanges that, through day after day of repetition, had cultivated an indescribable understanding and... intimacy.
That evening, Xiao Xun arrived after finishing his official duties, later than usual. Xin Yunzhou had already taken his medicine and gone to bed. Only Xin Jiuwei was in the warm pavilion, sitting under the lamp reading a book. The dim light outlined her serene profile.
Xiao Xun pushed open the door, bringing in a blast of cold air. He took off his cloak and walked to the charcoal stove to warm his hands. His movements were somewhat slow, and a deep weariness lingered between his brows. Even the heavy dark circles under his eyes conveyed a sense of exhaustion.
Xin Jiuwei put down her book, got up, poured a cup of hot tea, walked to his side and handed it to him: "Your Highness, have some hot tea to warm yourself up."
Xiao Xun took the teacup, his fingertips brushing against her slightly cool fingers. He glanced up at her; in the lamplight, her eyes were clear and serene. He didn't speak, but simply lowered his head and slowly sipped the hot tea. The warmth slid down his throat, seemingly dispelling a trace of the chill.
Looking at his obviously haggard and tired face, Xin Jiuwei hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Your Highness... you look very tired. Perhaps... you should rest soon?"
Xiao Xun put down his teacup, rubbed his temples, and said in a hoarse voice, "These past few days in the capital... have been quite complicated." He didn't elaborate, but Xin Jiuwei could guess that it was related to investigating the Xin family's old cases and the numerous troubles left behind after Qi Huaiyu's death. Those deeply entrenched forces—how could they be so easily eradicated?
She was silent for a moment, then walked back to the table, picked up the book she had been reading, and sat back down under the lamp without opening it. She simply said in a low voice, "If Your Highness doesn't mind the noise, please sit here. It's quieter here."
Xiao Xun gazed at her serene profile under the lamplight. The only sounds in the warm chamber were the soft crackling of the charcoal fire and the occasional turning of pages. This tranquility was indeed more relaxing than the empty, cold study. He said nothing, walked to the chair opposite her that she usually sat in, leaned back, and slowly closed his eyes.
Xin Jiuwei picked up the book again, her gaze lingering on the words, but her thoughts drifted. She could feel the even, slightly heavy breathing coming from across the room. Was he asleep? She quietly raised her eyes and looked at Xiao Xun.
He leaned back in his chair, his head tilted slightly to one side, his hard features softening considerably in the dim light. His thick eyelashes cast small shadows beneath his eyes, and his tightly pressed lips relaxed, revealing a rare, unguarded weariness. He looked…very tired.
Xin Jiuwei's heart softened slightly for no apparent reason. She put down her book, picked up the thin blanket draped over the back of the chair, and tiptoed over to carefully cover Xiao Xun. Her movements were very gentle, as if she were afraid of waking him.
She pulled the blanket over herself, returned to her seat, and picked up her book again, but couldn't concentrate on a single word. Her gaze kept drifting to the sleeping man opposite her. She saw his slightly furrowed brows, which seemed not to have completely relaxed even in his sleep, and the dark circles under his eyes. An indescribable feeling, tinged with pity and…heartache, quietly began to grow in her heart.
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