Xiao Xun's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't noticed the sharpness in Xin Yunzhou's words. He looked at Xin Jiuwei, his gaze sweeping over her slightly furrowed brows and pale lips, his tone calm yet unquestionable: "It's windy outside, Miss Xin shouldn't stand for too long. Xin Kui, help your young lady back inside."
"Yes, Your Highness." Xin Kui quickly replied, carefully supporting Xin Jiuwei.
Xin Jiuwei glanced at her brother, then at Xiao Xun. The air between them seemed to freeze; an invisible aura clashed silently. She opened her mouth, but ultimately only whispered, "Brother, I'll go back to my room first. I'll talk to you later." She didn't want to see her brother and Xiao Xun clash here.
Xin Yunzhou pressed his lips together, watching his younger sister, supported by Xin Kui, slowly walk towards the warm pavilion. Her frail figure weighed heavily on his heart. He turned to Xiao Xun again, his gaze heavy: "Your Highness, my sister..."
“Miss Xin saved my life.” Xiao Xun interrupted him, his voice not loud, but clear and distinct, like the clash of metal, carrying a resolute weight that instantly silenced all of Xin Yunzhou’s unspoken questions and complaints. “I will remember the suffering and dangers she has endured. General, you can rest assured that as long as she is in the Prince’s residence, I will protect her.”
The words "life-saving grace" struck Xin Yunzhou like a thunderbolt. He abruptly looked up at Xiao Xun, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. He only knew that his sister was seriously injured while trying to obtain the antidote, but he had no idea that Xiao Xun had been saved by his sister. This was completely different from the fragmented information he had received!
Xiao Xun offered no further explanation, only giving Xin Yunzhou a deep look, his gaze seeming to say: There are some things you don't fully know. He then said, "General, you have come from afar and must be weary from your journey. A guest quarters have been prepared in the manor for you to rest. The situation in the Northern Border is urgent, and the Ministry of War has important matters to discuss. I will take my leave now. We will discuss this further later." With that, he nodded slightly, then, without lingering, led You Ye and a group of guards straight out of the manor. His dark figure quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor, leaving only his undeniable authority and the weighty phrase "life-saving grace" echoing in Xin Yunzhou's mind.
Xin Yunzhou stood rooted to the spot, gazing in the direction Xiao Xun had disappeared. His tall figure appeared somewhat stiff in the cold winter sunlight. His clenched fists slowly loosened, then tightened again, his eyes a complex and unfathomable mix. Anger, doubt, shock, and a forcibly suppressed cautious assessment of the situation intertwined within him. This Sixth Prince, Xiao Xun… was far more unfathomable than he had anticipated. His feelings for his sister… seemed to extend beyond mere exploitation?
Xin Yunzhou's arrival was like a boulder thrown into the relatively calm lake of the Prince's residence. He did not linger in the guest courtyard; after settling his entourage, he went straight to the warm pavilion. Inside, Xin Jiuwei sat on a soft couch, and Xin Kui was carefully feeding her ginseng soup.
"Brother." Xin Jiuwei put down her spoon when she saw Xin Yunzhou come in.
Xin Kui tactfully took the bowl and left.
Xin Yunzhou strode to the bedside and sat down, his gaze fixed on Xin Jiuwei's face. He cut to the chase: "Weiwei, tell me what happened? Why did Qi Huaiyu want to kill you? And why...did you save the Sixth Prince?" Xiao Xun's words "life-saving grace" were like a thorn stuck in his heart.
Xin Jiuwei knew she couldn't hide it any longer, and she had no intention of doing so. She took a deep breath and recounted Qi Huaiyu's story, as concisely as possible, about the grudges from their past lives.
Even so, Xin Yunzhou's face turned extremely ugly after hearing this, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. "Qi Huaiyu... what a treacherous and vicious beast!" he roared, slamming his fist heavily on the low table beside him, making the teacups clink. "He deserves to die! He deserves to be torn to pieces!"
Then, he looked at Xin Jiuwei, his eyes filled with lingering fear and indescribable complexity: "So... it really was you who saved the Sixth Prince?" He could hardly imagine that his seemingly weak sister, whom he had cherished since childhood, could unleash such amazing courage and decisiveness in that situation.
Xin Jiuwei nodded gently, a hint of weariness flashing in her eyes: "I can't watch him die. If he dies, Qi Huaiyu will succeed, and the Zhongyong Marquis's Mansion, the Xin family, and... you, brother, may all be doomed." This was one of her most immediate thoughts at the time.
Xin Yunzhou fell silent. He understood the logic in his sister's words. If Xiao Xun were to be killed while protecting Xin Jiuwei, regardless of the truth, the Xin family would be implicated and would inevitably face the Emperor's wrath. Furthermore, Qi Huaiyu, having escaped, would seek revenge without restraint. His sister's actions, seemingly impulsive, were in fact a desperate attempt to create a glimmer of hope for everyone.
However, the price of this desperate act was too high. Looking at his sister's still pale face and barely concealed weakness, his heart ached unbearably. He reached out and gently ruffled Xin Jiuwei's hair, his voice low and hoarse, filled with a profound sense of helplessness: "Silly girl... don't ever risk your life like that again! Even if the sky falls, your brother will hold it up!"
Xin Jiuwei's eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded vigorously, "Yes." She knew that no matter how strong she became, in her brother's eyes, she would always be the little sister who needed protection.
"Then the Sixth Prince..." Xin Yunzhou hesitated for a moment before asking, "What about him...?" He recalled Xiao Xun's words about "saving his life," and the calm yet focused look in Xiao Xun's eyes when he looked at his sister. He felt that something was different.
Xin Jiuwei's heart skipped a beat. Avoiding her brother's probing gaze, she whispered, "Your Highness... treats me fairly well. If it weren't for his protection, I'm afraid I would have already..." She paused, then changed the subject, "Brother, is the situation in the Northern Border... really that urgent? You just got back."
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