Jingji, Bailiting.
This ancient post station, guarding the gateway to the capital, is now adorned with fluttering banners and gleaming armor. On the hastily cleared ground stand hundreds of weary yet spirited vanguard soldiers. Like unsheathed swords, their long journey has not diminished their vigor; their gazes are fixed intently on the end of the official road, awaiting their commander.
Under the tight escort of You Ye and dozens of elite guards, Xin Jiuwei's carriage sped along and finally arrived at Bailiting Post Station in the afternoon. Before the wheels had even come to a complete stop, she couldn't wait to lift the curtain with Lin Jingshu's help.
Before the post station, a figure in black stood like a pillar of strength. Xiao Xun was not wearing armor, but a black robe with dark gold cloud patterns, which made his posture appear even more upright and pine-like. The wind and frost of the frontier had etched some marks on his handsome face, making his jawline appear even more hardened, but his deep, abyss-like eyes were now filled with undisguised, burning longing and an eagerness to return home. He was talking quietly with Xin Yunzhou beside him, but his sharp eyes caught sight of a familiar carriage speeding towards them.
The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing the beautiful face he had been longing for. She was noticeably thinner, her face pale with fatigue from the long, bumpy journey, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, as if they held a sky full of stars. Her gaze swept through the crowd, instantly locking onto him. All her strength and composure crumbled at that moment, leaving only a torrent of tears and an endless mix of grievance, longing, and ecstatic joy.
"Your Highness..." A soft cry, tinged with tears, shattered Xiao Xun's composure like a stone thrown into a calm lake.
With a slight movement, almost the instant Xin Jiuwei was helped off the carriage by Lin Jingshu, he rushed to her side like a gust of wind! He opened his arms, ignoring all the astonished, joyful, and admiring gazes around him, and tightly, tightly embraced the slender figure he had been thinking of day and night, whose eyes were now filled with tears!
The force was so great, it felt as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones! His large, trembling hands pressed firmly against the back of her head, drawing her face into his solid chest. The familiar, crisp scent of her hair, mingled with a faint fragrance of herbs and ink, filled his nostrils. In his arms lay her soft, trembling body, and… that undeniable, subtle mound between his chest and abdomen, a testament to their shared blood!
Overwhelmed by the immense joy of regaining what was lost and an indescribable sorrow, Xiao Xun's defenses crumbled instantly! His Adam's apple bobbed violently as he let out a suppressed growl, like that of a wounded beast, and scalding tears streamed down his face without warning, dripping onto Xin Jiuwei's neck.
"Wei'er... Wei'er..." He called her name again and again, his voice choked with emotion, filled with the relief of surviving a disaster and endless pity, "I'm back... I'm back... I'm sorry... I made you suffer..."
All the grievances, all the fears, all the longing, all melted away in his arms as she felt his hot tears. Xin Jiuwei hugged his lean waist tightly, crying like a child in his embrace. All her strength and pretense crumbled, leaving only her most genuine vulnerability and dependence.
“Brother Xun…you’re finally back…I missed you so much…I was so scared…” she choked out, her words incoherent, tears quickly soaking his shirt.
Silence reigned. The soldiers of the vanguard bowed their heads in silence, and Lin Jingshu, her eyes red, turned her face away. Xin Yunzhou stood not far away, watching his sister cry uncontrollably in His Highness's arms. Seeing His Highness's undisguised distress and his burning tears, a hint of emotion and relief appeared on his usually hard face. He subconsciously glanced to his side. Xin Kui had dismounted at some point and was standing quietly beside him, her clear eyes gazing at the two weeping lovers, her own eyes glistening with tears, yet her lips held a warm, blessing smile.
After a long while, Xin Jiuwei's crying gradually subsided, leaving only soft sobs. Xiao Xun still held her tightly, unwilling to let go. He lowered his head and gently wiped away the tear stains on her face with his fingertips, his movements careful, as if handling a rare treasure.
"Don't cry, Wei'er, I'm back. I'll never let you worry alone again." His voice was deep and hoarse, carrying an absolute promise. His gaze finally fell on her slightly protruding belly, and his eyes instantly softened, filled with an almost devout joy and disbelief, like that of a new father.
Slowly, with a barely perceptible tremor, he reached out his large, calloused hand and gently covered the place where their flesh and blood were born. Through the fabric, he seemed to feel the vibrant life force within.
"Is he... alright?" Xiao Xun's voice was as soft as a whisper, filled with unprecedented caution.
Xin Jiuwei smiled through her tears, her face still glistening with joy. She took his hand and gently placed it on her lower abdomen, softly saying, "Very good. Very good. The imperial physician said his pulse is strong and powerful. Xun-gege, feel it... He seems to know Father is back..."
Xiao Xun held his breath, his palm pressed tightly against her abdomen. Just then, as if in response, a small, clear fetal movement, like a little fish blowing bubbles, gently nudged his palm!
Xiao Xun trembled violently! His pupils dilated sharply! An unprecedented, immense, and strange tremor instantly swept through his body! It was the connection of blood! It was his child! His and Wei'er's child! Greeting his belated father!
An overwhelming sense of joy and an indescribable sense of sacredness overwhelmed his soul! This prince, who once commanded armies with unparalleled might and ruthless decisiveness, was now so excited that he was at a loss for words, and his eyes welled up with tears again. He bent down, ignoring the gazes around him, and gently pressed his ear to her lower abdomen, clumsily and devoutly listening to the first sounds of life.
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