Su Yuze knelt down respectfully and kowtowed three times, saying, "Greetings, General."
"Get up quickly," Zhao Xian said. "Hey, why be so formal? The old man doesn't have time to prepare a red envelope."
Su Wan forced a smile and said, "Grandfather, you don't need to be so polite. You can give it to me when you've recovered."
Zhao Xian spoke a few more words with Su Yuze, and Zhao Xiyue, who was standing next to him, waited for them to finish speaking before excitedly saying, "Grandpa, let me tell you. Guard Lin told me that Brother Jin suddenly appeared on the city wall, and several hundred enemies were so frightened that they fell off. Now they have all fled back to the camp."
After saying that, Zhao Xiyue put her hands together in front of her chest: "Brother Jin is back. The enemy is terrified. Xiping Pass will definitely be defended."
Zhao Xian laughed and said, "Xi Yue, I'm really not a good enough grandfather."
Zhao Xiyue couldn't understand at all and asked in confusion, "Grandpa, what are you saying? Has someone said anything bad about you? I think you are the best grandpa in the world."
The door opened again, and Wei Jingzhuo strode in.
His gaze first fell on Su Wan's tear-streaked face, then shifted to Zhao Xiyue's smiling face, and finally to Zhao Xian's blanket. He strode to the bedside and said to Zhao Xiyue, "I need to speak with my maternal grandfather. You take Su Yuze and go out first."
Zhao Xiyue basically obeyed Wei Jingzhuo's words without question. She stood up and said with a smile, "Brother Jin, you want to talk to Grandpa about military affairs, but you leave your cousin-in-law behind. Isn't that unfair?"
Wei Jingzhuo remained silent, only waving his hand.
Zhao Xiyue knew that Wei Jingzhuo was always cold and aloof, and she was used to it. She smiled and said to Su Yuze, "Yuze, let's go back. I'll continue telling you that story."
Su Yuze glanced at Su Wan, and seeing that she nodded slightly, he said to Zhao Xiyue, "Alright."
After Lin Qingfeng escorted the two away, Wei Jingzhuo whispered to Su Wan, "Grandfather..."
Su Wan shook her head. A trace of sadness flashed in Wei Jingzhuo's eyes as he took off his helmet and knelt down on one knee by the bed.
Zhao Xian laughed and said, "Look at you two, what kind of expressions are those? It's a blessing for a general to die on the battlefield, wrapped in a horse's hide. Jinzhi, you're also a general, how come you can't even see this?"
Wei Jingzhuo said, "Grandfather, it is my fault that I am useless and unable to protect you."
“What does it have to do with you?” Zhao Xian smiled. “You managed to break through the encirclement of the Southern Chu army and rescue the old man, allowing him to say goodbye to his loved ones before he died. That’s enough.”
Wei Jingzhuo lowered his head and remained silent.
Zhao Xian paused for a moment, then said, "The old man originally had both a son and a daughter. His son died on the battlefield, and his daughter-in-law died of grief, leaving only this granddaughter. The old man has felt guilty all these years. Jinzhi, promise me you will take good care of Xiyue. This is the old man's last request."
Wei Jingzhuo said, "Grandfather, rest assured, I will take good care of Xiyue."
“She lost her parents when she was young, and I neglected to educate her. She’s still quite naive,” Zhao Xian sighed. “I feel guilty towards her parents and towards her.”
He closed his eyes and paused for a moment, then said to Wei Jingzhuo, "Let me turn over; I cannot turn my back on the heavens."
Wei Jingzhuo was about to get up when Su Wan stopped him, saying, "Don't move, if you move..."
Su Wan's warning stemmed from a doctor's instinct. Zhao Xian's injuries were severe; he could only speak thanks to painkillers, and if he were moved, he might not survive.
Wei Jingzhuo glanced at her, gently moved her hand away, lifted the blanket, bent down to pick up Zhao Xian, and whispered, "Open the door."
Su Wan understood, and with tears in her eyes, she walked to the door and opened it.
Wei Jingzhuo carried Zhao Xian out of the house and into the snowy wilderness. They walked step by step toward the Xiping Pass city wall, with Su Wan following behind.
"Jinzhi, what's that sound from the west?" Zhao Xian asked groggily, gazing at the starry sky. "I hear a lot of horse hooves. Is the Southern Chu army coming?"
Su Wan did not hear any sounds from the west, nor did Wei Shaojun attack the city; she only heard the footsteps of herself and Wei Jingzhuo.
"Someone, bring me my armor... Strange, where has everyone gone... Why is it suddenly dawn?"
Zhao Xian's voice gradually faded until it fell silent. Only the howling wind blew through the entire Xiping Pass.
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