Chapter 144: Life and Death
The man sealed all her doubts and anxieties with a deeper kiss.
The entanglement of lips and tongues reveals undisguised possession and deep-rooted attachment.
In the interval, his hot lips pressed against her earlobe, and his voice was low and hoarse, "Good Ning'er...stay in Prince Chen's Mansion...wait for me to come back."
…
Ever since Xie Jinglan went to Cangwu Pass, Wen Ning's mind seemed to be tied to that distant borderland.
She plunged into medical books and texts on removing miasma, detoxifying, and treating rheumatism and bone pain.
The herbal medicine shop that Xie Jinglan gave her also began to purchase and prepare large quantities of medicinal herbs and prescriptions suitable for areas with damp and hot malaria.
Until more than a dozen large wooden boxes were carefully sealed and sent to Cangwu Pass in the name of "Prince Chen's Palace supporting the border troops."
Wen Ning breathed a sigh of relief, but she didn't dare to be idle, because she would miss him if she was idle.
So she began her riding training in the royal horse farm.
The autumn wind is howling, and it is inevitable to feel embarrassed when you first learn.
The rough reins rubbed her slender and tender knuckles until they bled, and every bump made her feel like she was falling apart.
She lost her balance several times and nearly fell off her horse with a gasp of shock. The secret guards hiding nearby were so frightened that they suddenly tightened their breathing and almost showed up to protect her.
She pursed her pale lips, suppressed the tears that were about to burst out and the pain all over her body, and climbed onto the tall horse's back again and again.
She clearly remembered the Marquis's grace when he rode his horse, as swift as a meteor and as steady as a mountain.
She didn't want to be the weak woman standing on the ground forever, needing him to hold the reins and bend down to save her.
She longed to be by his side, or at least not be a burden to him.
Day after day, as autumn turns to winter, a thin layer of white snow quietly covers the withered and yellow pastures in the gardens.
When she was finally able to control the reins steadily, urging the steed beneath her to gallop freely across the silent and vast wilderness, the emotions that had been accumulated for too long burst through the dam at this moment, and she shouted into the empty distance:
"My Lord, I can ride a horse now! I can ride a horse now!"
The wind carried her cries far away, but they disappeared lonely in the wilderness.
She buried her face in the horse's warm, undulating mane, and could no longer suppress her sobs.
"Xie Jinglan... I can ride a horse now... Please come back soon... Come back and see me... Xie Jinglan..."
Before he finished speaking, a deep male voice sounded behind him without warning.
"My royal sister is in such a good mood. Even in this icy and snowy place, she's still diligently practicing riding for the distant Marquis Xie. Her love and affection are truly profound and touching."
Wen Ning was startled and turned around suddenly, only to see the prince standing with his hands behind his back, and he didn't know how long he had been watching.
The Crown Prince took two steps closer, his gaze sweeping across the wilderness, as if genuinely sighing, "Guarding the border is tough, like a Cangwu winter, damp and cold penetrating the bones, malaria lurking everywhere, medical care and medicine scarce, and the barbarians lurking around like ghosts. Marquis Xie's journey this time... I'm afraid it's extremely dangerous. Imperial sister," he looked at her, his tone a comforting one, but a curse, "you must prepare early."
Wen Ning quickly wiped away her tears and suppressed the fear and disgust in her heart.
She pulled the reins of the restless horse, and pierced the prince with a cold gaze.
"Your Highness is the crown prince of this nation. You should be careful with your words and actions. The soldiers at the border are fighting bloody battles, yet Your Highness is here, making irresponsible remarks about the commander's safety, and even... cursing the pillars of this nation with such ominous words. This action will only chill the hearts of the soldiers guarding the border and make them the laughing stock of the world!"
Upon hearing this, the crown prince raised his lips to a cold arc, "I didn't expect that the imperial sister, who usually looks gentle, is actually quite sharp-tongued."
He added sinisterly, "Marquis Xie is truly a military talent rarely seen in a century... It's a pity he's on the wrong side. I'm only here to kindly remind my sister that this biting cold wind... doesn't bring any good news."
Then he sneered, turned around and left, leaving only a cold atmosphere.
Wen Ning sat stiffly on the horse's back. The calmness and sharpness he had just forced himself to maintain disappeared in an instant. He felt a chill running from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his limbs were frozen stiff.
At this moment, a eunuch from Prince Chen's palace hurried over and knelt in front of the horse, panting. "Your Highness! The princess is about to give birth! The prince has specially sent this servant to invite you over!"
Wen Ning's heart tightened, and he immediately turned his horse around and whipped it towards the palace.
Outside the delivery room, Xiao Jinyu, who was usually calm, was a little confused and could only pace back and forth.
When he saw Wen Ning coming, he was like seeing a savior, and hurriedly said, "Ning'er, you're finally here! Shu'er has been in pain for an hour. Please go in and see her. I can feel at ease with you inside!"
Wen Ning nodded, immediately washed her hands, changed her clothes, and went into the delivery room.
Shen Yunshu's hair was soaked, his face was pale, and he was biting on a piece of cork, enduring waves of severe pain.
Wen Ning stepped forward quickly, held her hand tightly, and together with the midwife, comforted and encouraged her.
Seeing Wen Ning coming, Shen Yunshu seemed to have grabbed a life-saving straw and cried out, "Ning'er...it hurts...Why does giving birth hurt so much..."
"Sister Shu'er, look at me, look at me... Yes, breathe in... Don't be afraid, I'm here with you.
"The prince is waiting outside the door. He is looking forward to having a child just like you...
"Yes, that's it, use more force..."
"Good sister, you will be well soon, and you will see your baby soon..."
After a heart-wrenching cry, a loud baby cry finally broke the tense atmosphere!
"It's a little prince! Mother and child are safe!" The midwife happily reported the good news to Xiao Jinyu.
Wen Ning breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from the forehead of the almost exhausted Shen Yunshu, and a relieved smile appeared on her face.
But then I heard a hurried report from outside.
"Report! Your Majesty! Urgent military report from Cangwu Pass, eight hundred miles away! Great victory! Our army has won a complete victory! The main force of the barbarians has retreated a hundred miles!"
Wen Ning's heart was instantly filled with this immense joy. Cangwu had won! He was fine!
However, the messenger's next words were like a bolt from the blue, instantly freezing all her joy.
"But...Xie Hou..."
"What's wrong with him!" Xiao Jinyu's voice suddenly turned cold.
"Marquis Xie pursued the remaining enemy forces, advancing alone deep into the misty ravine, encountering miasma and an ambush... Tragically, he was in danger! Now...now his whereabouts are unknown, and his life or death is uncertain! The remaining troops have returned, and several search and rescue teams have been searching for days, but to this day...still no trace of the Marquis has been found!"
The messenger's voice was like a thunderclap, striking down fiercely.
The smile on Wen Ning's face froze instantly, and the blood color faded away completely.
She suddenly felt her vision go dark, the world was spinning, and she staggered and fell backwards. Fortunately, she was supported by the quick-eyed and quick-handed maid beside her, and she managed to stand steadily.
A tearing pain came from her heart, so painful that she could hardly breathe.
No! She doesn't believe it!
He told her to wait for him to come back!
Wen Ning suddenly broke free from the maid's support and rushed out of the delivery room like a madman.
"Follow the princess! Quickly! Make sure to protect her!" Xiao Jinyu's face changed drastically and he shouted at the guards beside him.
Wen Ning pretended not to hear anything and ran straight to the stable, then swiftly jumped onto her newly trained horse!
With a shake of the reins, the horse rushed out of Prince Chen's Mansion like an arrow!
She had already recited every official road and every post station from Cangwu to the capital city in her mind thousands of times!
Judging from the time, the vanguard of the triumphant army should be entering the capital by now.
She wanted to go meet them, she wanted to ask the soldiers who had returned from his side in person what had happened to her lord!
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