Xiao Xun's promise of "I will arrive within three days" acted like a stabilizing force, temporarily calming Xin Jiuwei's shattered spirit. The immense fear and despair didn't disappear, but they were held aloft by a cold yet unwavering commitment, preventing an endless descent into despair. She returned to Jingyuan, no longer hysterical, yet unable to sit still. She forced herself to eat and apply medicine on time, but her gaze always involuntarily drifted north, as if she could pierce through mountains and rivers to see the northern military camp where life and death hung in the balance.
Time has never felt so slow and agonizing.
Every moment felt like an eternity. Xin Kui stood guard day and night at the entrance of Jingyuan, like the most vigilant sentinel, watching for any movement from the Northern Border. Xin Jiuwei, on the other hand, buried herself in medical books, repeatedly flipping through records about arrow wounds, high fevers, and festering sores, trying to find a sliver of solace and support in the cold words. She no longer shed tears, but the dark circles under her eyes and her tightly pressed lips silently spoke of the storm raging within her.
On Xiao Xun's side, all seemed to have fallen silent. You Ye no longer appeared daily, and the copies of the Northern Border military reports had ceased. Inside and outside Jingyuan, only the guards he had sent stood silently, like silent boundary markers. Xin Jiuwei knew he was keeping his promise. This silence, however, gave her a strange sense of peace—he didn't need her information, he didn't need her analysis; he was simply doing what he had promised. This powerful yet silent execution was exactly what she needed at this moment.
On the morning of the third day.
Before dawn, Xin Kui practically burst through Xin Jiuwei's door, her voice trembling with unbelievable joy: "Miss! Miss! The North! A letter from the North! Urgent! The Second Young Master... the Second Young Master... he pulled through!"
Xin Jiuwei sat up abruptly from the couch, her heart stopping for a moment before pounding wildly again! She didn't even have time to put on her shoes, rushing barefoot to the door and snatching the weathered urgent letter from Xin Kui's hand!
The handwriting on the letter was still messy, but it carried a suffocating hope:
"...General Xin's high fever subsided last night! The pus from his wound has decreased and its color has become clearer! Although he is still unconscious, his pulse is gradually stabilizing! The imperial physician sent by the Sixth Prince has arrived, bringing 'Bone-Healing and Muscle-Regenerating Powder' to treat him! He said...the general's fate is resilient, he has...he has already passed through the gates of hell! With careful recuperation, his life...should be safe!"
"There is no need to worry!"
These four words, like a timely rain from the heavens, instantly irrigated Xin Jiuwei's parched and cracked heart! She gripped the letter tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force, her body trembling uncontrollably. An overwhelming surge of joy overwhelmed her like a tsunami, shattering all her feigned composure! Tears welled up again without warning, this time not in despair, but in the immense joy of regaining what was lost and… an almost overwhelming gratitude!
"Brother...brother..." she choked, her voice broken and incoherent, her legs buckling and she almost couldn't stand. Xin Kui quickly stepped forward to support her tightly, her own face already streaked with tears.
“It’s alright…Miss! The second young master is alright! He pulled through!” Xin Kui repeated, sobbing uncontrollably.
Xin Jiuwei leaned against Xin Kui, letting her tears flow freely, soaking her clothes. The leaden weight that had been pressing on her heart, almost crushing her, finally shattered! Sunlight pierced through the thick gloom, illuminating her world once more, which had been on the verge of collapse. It was Xiao Xun! It was the imperial physician he sent, the life-saving medicine he delivered! It was his cold promise that had sustained her through this hellish torment!
She raised her head, her eyes blurry with tears, gazing towards the direction of the prince's residence. That cold-blooded man, that contractor who had treated her like a pawn, now held a completely different weight in her heart. This was no longer a cold transaction, but… an indescribable, complex emotion, a mixture of gratitude, dependence, and something deeper.
Her brother had survived, but his injuries remained severe, and he lay unconscious. The northern border was bitterly cold, lacking medical care and medicine, making recovery difficult. Xin Jiuwei's heart was still heavy, but a spark of hope had been ignited. She began to use every conceivable method to collect the best tonics and remedies for external injuries from the capital, even using her connections with Xin Kui and Lin Wanyi to acquire some rare medicinal herbs at high prices.
A few days later, another urgent military report arrived, the contents of which shocked Xin Jiuwei even more:
"General Xin's injuries are stable, but his vital energy has been severely depleted, requiring a long period of rest and recuperation. The northern border is bitterly cold, and he may not recover fully. By special decree of the Sixth Prince, arrangements have been made, and we will depart immediately to escort General Xin... back to the capital for treatment!"
Return to Beijing!
My brother is coming back!
Xin Jiuwei held the letter, her hands trembling uncontrollably. Overwhelming joy and the ensuing anxiety enveloped her once more. The journey back to the capital was long, and her brother, still recovering from serious injuries, couldn't endure the arduous travel. But the northern border was certainly not a place for recuperation. Xiao Xun's arrangement was undoubtedly the best choice. However… the risks along the way still kept her awake at night.
The wait became long and agonizing once again. Xin Jiuwei used almost all the money and connections at her disposal to inquire about the escort team's route and the conditions along the way. She even personally drew a route map, marking potentially dangerous areas and the best rest stops, and wrote down numerous precautions to be taken along the way, which she then delivered to Xiao Xun's desk again through You Ye. There were no requests, only statements. She knew he would understand.
This time, You Ye delivered a reply. It was only a thin slip of paper, on which were two powerful characters written in Xiao Xun's own handwriting:
"Peace of mind."
Upon seeing those two words, Xin Jiuwei's tense nerves inexplicably relaxed a little. He knew. He was in control.
One month later.
The biting winter wind was piercing. At the Shili Pavilion beside the official road on the outskirts of the capital, the snow remained unmelted. Xin Jiuwei, wrapped in a thick fox fur coat, stood in the pavilion, her gaze fixed on the end of the road. Xin Kui stood beside her, her face also filled with tension and anticipation. They had been waiting there for nearly two hours.
Finally, at the end of the official road, a group of people appeared. Dozens of elite cavalrymen escorted a large carriage covered with thick felt, which slowly approached. Beside the carriage followed several people dressed as imperial physicians.
Xin Jiuwei's heart leaped into her throat! Ignoring the cold wind, she rushed out of the pavilion and ran wildly towards the group of people!
"elder brother--!"
The carriage stopped in front of Xin Jiuwei. The guarding cavalry recognized her and silently made way for her.
Xin Kui stepped forward and, with trembling hands, lifted the heavy carriage curtain.
A strong smell of medicine mingled with the warmth of the stove wafted through the air. Inside the carriage, thick, soft cushions were laid out, and Xin Yunzhou lay quietly on them, covered with a warm brocade quilt. His face was still pale, almost translucent, his cheeks sunken, his eyes bluish, his lips cracked, and he was so thin he looked like he could be blown away by a gust of wind. But his chest rose and fell slightly, and although his breathing was weak, it was clearly audible. He was still alive!
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