“This is an old item from the old lady’s dowry, brought by Princess Zhao today.” Xiao Xun’s voice remained calm. “The old lady was lucid for a moment and pointed to this item, indicating that the princess should give it to you.” He paused, his gaze finally turning from the window to Xin Jiuwei’s surprised face, and added, “The princess said that the old lady said… this item is warm and smooth, and suits you.”
Gentle and warm, it suits you perfectly.
Xin Jiuwei held the cool, smooth jade hairpin, feeling a warm current instantly flow from her fingertips throughout her body, reaching her heart. Her aunt... even though she had just woken up and was so weak, she still thought of her, giving her such a precious personal item, saying... its smoothness suited her? This was not just a gift, but a heavy expression of affection and a silent affirmation.
Her eyes instantly welled up with tears. She lowered her head, her fingertips gently tracing the delicate patterns on the magnolia hairpin, as if she could feel the lingering warmth of her aunt's palm.
“My aunt…” Her voice was choked with sobs.
"It will be alright." Xiao Xun's voice sounded above her head, deep and certain. "Rest assured and recover. When you are fully healed, I will accompany you to visit you."
I'll go with you.
Xin Jiuwei abruptly raised her head, tears still clinging to her eyelashes. She looked at Xiao Xun, who was looking down at her, his gaze calm, devoid of much emotion, only a rock-solid steadiness and… a promise. He wasn't asking, nor was he being polite; he was stating a fact that was about to unfold.
In that instant, all the confusion, panic, and unease seemed to find their home in his calm gaze and those simple words, "I'll go with you." The raging storm in her heart, stirred by this "fellow traveler," gradually subsided, settling into a deep and gentle ocean. Inside the warm pavilion, sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting warm beams of light between them. Dust motes danced slowly in the light, creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
Looking at the tears glistening in her eyes and her gradually calming face, a barely perceptible tenderness flickered in Xiao Xun's deep eyes. He didn't speak again, but simply reached out and, with an extremely natural movement, gently brushed away the tear that was about to fall from her eyelashes with his fingertips.
The touch was extremely brief, carrying a slightly cool temperature from his fingertips, yet it felt like a faint electric current, instantly striking Xin Jiuwei's heart. Her body trembled almost imperceptibly, and two blushes involuntarily rose on her cheeks. She instinctively wanted to back away, but was frozen in place by the open and pure reassurance in his eyes.
"Don't cry." Xiao Xun's voice was low and had a strange, comforting quality, as if he were soothing a frightened child. He withdrew his hand, his fingertips still seeming to retain the cool touch of that teardrop.
Xin Jiuwei lowered her head, the heat on her cheeks lingering. She clutched the warm jade hairpin tightly, as if holding the most precious treasure in the world. The old wound in her heart seemed to no longer ache, replaced by a warm, aching feeling she had never experienced before, almost overwhelming her.
Silence fell once more in the warm pavilion. But this silence, like a stream after the snow melts in spring, carried a gentle warmth and flowed silently between the two. Sunlight shone on Xiao Xun's dark robes and Xin Jiuwei's pale white dress, casting their shadows long on the polished floor, as if they were intertwined.
When Xin Kui brought in the freshly brewed medicine, this was the scene she saw: her young mistress had her head down, her cheeks flushed, and she was tightly clutching a jade hairpin; while the Sixth Prince, Xiao Xun, stood quietly by the window, his gaze fixed on his mistress, and his eyes... were calm and gentle that she had never seen before, like a warm current quietly surging deep in the ice.
Xin Kui stopped in her tracks and quietly took a step back, not wanting to disturb this hard-won tranquility.
Xiao Xun stayed in the warm pavilion for a while longer until You Ye whispered a reminder from outside the door that there was urgent military business to attend to, at which point he turned and left. Before leaving, he glanced at the bowl of medicine in Xin Jiuwei's hand and left only one sentence: "Drink the medicine."
Xin Jiuwei held the bowl of still bitter medicine, but this time, she didn't frown. She sipped it slowly, and the bitterness seemed less unbearable. The sweetness of the jujubes seemed to linger in her mouth, while in her heart, the coolness of her fingertips brushing against her skin and the heavy words, "I'll go with you," lingered.
Life continued in a peaceful and subtle atmosphere. Xin Jiuwei's physical recovery was rapid; although the old wound in her heart still required careful care, her spirits were becoming increasingly vibrant. She began to try short walks in the courtyard, enjoying the cool winter sunlight.
Xiao Xun still came every day. Sometimes he would bring some newly available snacks, and sometimes a rare travelogue that he thought Xin Jiuwei might be interested in. He was no longer always silent; occasionally he would say a few words about the contents of the book or the scenery of the Northern Frontier. His words were still concise, but they were no longer cold instructions or assessments, but rather an equal exchange with a sense of sharing.
Xin Jiuwei gradually got used to this way of being together. She would listen attentively to him, pick out the snacks he brought that she thought were the best and hand them to him, and quietly do her needlework or read while he was reading. The warm room was usually quiet, but the air was no longer stagnant; instead, it was filled with a tacit understanding and a gentle warmth that needed no words.
That day, with Xin Kui's help, Xin Jiuwei walked around half the courtyard. Feeling a little tired, she sat down to rest on the stone bench under the plum tree. The warm winter sun felt very comfortable on her skin.
When Xiao Xun finished his official duties and arrived, this was the scene he saw: Xin Jiuwei, dressed in a moon-white velvet jacket and skirt, with a light blue cloak over it, sat quietly on a stone bench. Several old plum trees had gnarled branches, and deep red buds were beginning to swell on their tips. Sunlight filtered through the sparse branches, casting dappled shadows on her. She tilted her head slightly back, her eyes closed, as if feeling the warmth of the sunlight. Her long eyelashes cast small fan-like shadows on her fair cheeks, her expression serene and tranquil.
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