Xiao Xun stopped in his tracks in the corridor. He gazed at her silently, his deep eyes swirling with complex emotions. There was scrutiny, there was inquiry, but more than anything, there was a kind of almost greedy gaze that even he himself was unaware of. As if he wanted to imprint this rare moment of peace, a moment of relief after a calamity, deep into his heart.
Xin Jiuwei seemed to sense his gaze, slowly opened her eyes, and looked over. Their eyes met, and a hint of surprise flashed in Xin Jiuwei's eyes, which then turned into a faint smile, like a pebble thrown into the center of a lake, rippling gently.
"Your Highness," she called softly.
Xiao Xun suppressed the turbulent emotions in his eyes and regained his usual composure. He walked over and sat down on the stone bench next to her. "You look good today." His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, his tone calm, yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible approval.
“Yes, Miss Lin said that after a few more days of rest, she can walk around.” Xin Jiuwei nodded, her gaze falling on the flower buds on the branches. “The plum blossoms… will be in bloom soon.”
"Hmm." Xiao Xun also looked at the deep red flower buds. "When they bloom, we'll pick a few branches and put them in a vase."
"Okay," Xin Jiuwei replied, her voice tinged with anticipation.
The two sat quietly under the plum tree, basking in the rare warmth of the winter sun, neither speaking. The air was filled with the crisp scent of earth and withered branches, the warm sunlight enveloping them. Xin Jiuwei looked at Xiao Xun's cold profile, which seemed to soften slightly in the sunlight, and felt a sense of peace. Those deep-seated hatreds, those heavy past events, seemed to have been temporarily dispelled by the warm sunlight.
At this moment, there are no princes and noblewomen, no contracts or exploitation, only two fellow travelers who have struggled back from the brink of hell and share a moment of peace after the catastrophe.
After an unknown amount of time, a cold wind blew by, swirling up a few withered leaves. Xin Jiuwei subconsciously pulled her cloak tighter around herself.
"Let's go back inside," Xiao Xun said, standing up in a low voice.
"Mm." Xin Jiuwei also stood up, supporting herself on the stone table.
Xiao Xun didn't leave immediately, but stood there, his gaze fixed on her. Xin Jiuwei looked up at him with some confusion.
Xiao Xun reached out and, with remarkably natural movements, untied the sash of her cloak, then tightened it again, making sure the gaps that might let in the cold wind were completely sealed. His movements were not skillful, even somewhat clumsy, but his expression was focused, as if he were doing something extremely important.
Xin Jiuwei froze on the spot, feeling his cool fingertips occasionally brush against her neck, sending a slight shiver down her spine. She could even smell his familiar, cool, pine-ink scent, mixed with a faint medicinal aroma, enveloping her entirely. Her heart pounded uncontrollably, like a deer in her chest, and her cheeks quickly flushed.
After fastening his cloak, Xiao Xun withdrew his hand, as if he had simply completed a mundane task. He glanced at her, his gaze lingering for a moment on her flushed cheeks, something seeming to flash swiftly across his deep eyes, too fast to grasp. Then, he regained his usual composure and turned to walk towards the warm pavilion.
"Keep up."
Xin Jiuwei stood there, staring blankly at his tall, straight back.
The winter wind seemed to soften, only the lingering touch of his fingertips and the re-tied cloak, with their undeniable presence, reminded her of everything that had just happened. She slowly raised her hand, her fingertips gently brushing over the ties he had touched, where a trace of his cool warmth still lingered.
A distinct and intense throbbing, unlike anything she had ever felt before, sprouted quietly in her dormant heart, like a tender bud breaking through the soil. Watching Xiao Xun's figure disappear around the corner of the corridor, she took a deep breath, suppressing the panic and unfamiliar throbbing in her heart, and quickly followed after him.
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