The news of Xin Yunzhou's awakening was like a ray of sunlight piercing through thick clouds, instantly dispelling the last trace of gloom that shrouded Xin Jiuwei's heart.
She almost staggered to the door of the warm pavilion, eagerly greeting the guard who had delivered the message.
When he heard the words, "The general has awakened, is still conscious, and the imperial physician said that with proper care, his life is not in danger," his body, which had been holding on, seemed to be drained of strength in an instant. He leaned limply against the door frame, and hot tears streamed down his face.
This time, it was pure, unadulterated ecstasy of something lost and found.
She couldn't wait to pick up her pen and write a letter to her brother.
A thousand words choked in her throat, but what finally landed on the plain paper were only simple words of repeated urging him to rest and recover and take care of himself.
She dared not ask for details, dared not revisit that harrowing moment, only wanting to confirm that he was alive, alive and well. The letter was soaked with tears, the ink smudged.
In the days that followed, Xin Jiuwei's recovery progressed significantly faster.
The huge weight on my heart was lifted, and the old wound in my heart seemed to be relieved as well.
She took her medicine on time every day, her appetite gradually improved, and with Xin Kui's help, she was able to spend more and more time walking in the courtyard.
She even started helping Lin Wanyi organize the medicine storeroom and doing some light chores within her capabilities, as if she wanted to fill the long time waiting for her brother's return with her busyness.
Xiao Xun remained busy.
Although the war in the Northern Border had reached a stalemate thanks to Xin Yunzhou's stabilization and the arrival of reinforcements, the subsequent logistics, the care of the wounded, the distribution of rewards, and the power vacuum left by Qi Huaiyu's death and the potential remnants' counterattacks all required his considerable effort to handle. He still visited the warm pavilion infrequently, and most of his visits were brief, inquiring about her health and glancing at the briefing on Xin Yunzhou's recovery from the Northern Border before hastily departing again. The weariness between his brows was evident, and the lines of his jawline grew increasingly hard and cold.
But Xin Jiuwei could sense something different. Each time he came, his gaze seemed to linger on her for a little longer. Sometimes it was just a few simple words about her recovery; his tone was still low and steady, but the deliberate distance was gone. He no longer mentioned the "contract," as if that cold word had long been burned away by the blood and fire they had shared.
That afternoon, a rare ray of warm winter sunlight streamed through the window into the warm room. Xin Jiuwei sat on a soft chair by the window, intently mending a plain-colored undergarment in the bright light. The sunlight outlined her lowered profile, her expression serene and gentle.
Xiao Xun's footsteps sounded at the door, seemingly lighter than usual. Xin Jiuwei looked up and saw his tall figure standing in the doorway, backlit, the edges of his dark robes edged with a faint gold trim.
"Your Highness." She put down her needlework and tried to get up.
"Sit down." Xiao Xun's voice came, slightly hoarse. He walked in and sat down on the soft chair opposite her. His gaze habitually swept over her face, lingering for a moment on her noticeably improved complexion, before settling on the needlework she was doing on her lap. "What are you doing?"
“Having nothing to do, I'm mending an old garment.” Xin Jiuwei’s voice was soft. She noticed the dark circles under Xiao Xun’s eyes were deeper than a few days ago, and the lingering weariness between his brows. “Your Highness… looks very tired. The situation in the Northern Border…”
"The situation has stabilized. Ashina Duobi has temporarily retreated and is waiting for spring." Xiao Xun spoke concisely, seemingly unwilling to discuss the trivialities of military affairs. He picked up the hot tea that Xin Kui had just served, but did not drink it immediately, only watching the rising steam. "Your brother's injuries are recovering well. He wrote the other day that he was able to walk for a short while. Once the weather warms up a bit and the roads are easier to travel, we can arrange for him to return to the capital to recuperate."
"Really?!" Xin Jiuwei's eyes lit up instantly, as if she had fallen into a deep pool of stars. This news was more uplifting than any tonic.
"Hmm." Xiao Xun responded, his gaze falling on her suddenly radiant face, a barely perceptible ripple passing through his deep eyes. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then slowly said, "The old lady of the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion is approaching her birthday. Princess Zhao has sent an invitation, hoping you can come to the mansion to keep the old lady company and share in the joy."
Xin Jiuwei was slightly taken aback. Her aunt's birthday... she had almost forgotten. Thinking of her aunt's kind face and her concern for her after waking up, a warm feeling welled up in her heart. "Yes, Wei'er understands. Thank you for informing me, Your Highness."
A brief silence fell over the warm pavilion. Sunlight streamed gently, and the air was filled with the faint aroma of tea and the scent of charcoal. Xiao Xun didn't speak again, but leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest, as if he had only come here to seek a moment of peace. His cold, hard profile seemed to soften slightly in the sunlight, making his heavy weariness even more apparent.
Xin Jiuwei looked at him, at his slightly furrowed brows and the faint shadows under his eyes. A strange emotion welled up in her heart. She hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly, "Your Highness... please take good care of yourself as well."
Xiao Xun's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly as he slowly opened his eyes. His deep eyes looked at her, filled with a hint of inquiry, a hint of surprise, and a hint of… indescribable complexity. He didn't respond immediately, but simply watched her quietly. His gaze was calm, yet it seemed to possess a thousand pounds of force, causing Xin Jiuwei's heart to race uncontrollably.
"Hmm." After a long while, he responded softly, his voice carrying a hint of weariness, yet also something else. He closed his eyes again, as if the brief eye contact had exhausted his strength.
Xin Jiuwei didn't disturb him any further, picking up her needle and thread again, her fingers feeling a little stiff. The words she'd just uttered carried a concern she herself hadn't even realized. His "hmm," and that brief exchange of glances, were like a pebble thrown into a still lake, creating subtle ripples in her calm heart. She lowered her head, pretending to focus on mending, but her ears were quietly warming.
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