Chapter 159
Su Zhelan slept for a full day and night.
When he woke up, he felt as heavy as if his body was filled with lead, and every bone and muscle was screaming with soreness and fatigue. However, the extreme feeling of exhaustion, as if his soul had been emptied, had subsided considerably, and his confused mind had become much clearer.
He opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was the plain blue canopy above his head, and Master Su Yan sitting not far away under the lamp, reading medical books, but occasionally glancing up at him.
Seeing that he was awake, Su Yan snorted, put down his book, picked up the medicine bowl that had been kept warm, and walked over irritably: "Awake? If you're awake, hurry up and drink your medicine! Don't expect me to feed you!"
Su Zhelan didn't speak, but silently and laboriously propped himself up on his elbows. Gu Linzhao quickly stepped forward and placed several soft pillows behind him.
Su Zhelan took the medicine, tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp. She handed the empty bowl back to Su Yan, her voice still hoarse but much calmer: "Thank you, Master."
Su Yan glanced at him, seemingly surprised by his overly compliant attitude, but didn't say anything more, only muttering, "You're a smart kid."
He took the bowl and pointed to a bowl of light minced meat porridge on the small table next to him: "And this, eat it while it's hot. Your stomach has been empty for several days, so eat something if you don't want to die."
Su Zhelan's gaze fell on the bowl of porridge. After a moment of silence, she reached out again, picked it up, took a spoon, and began to eat earnestly, one small bite at a time.
His movements were somewhat slow, but without any hesitation or resistance, as if eating or drinking medicine were simply a task that had to be completed, a necessary step toward his goal.
Su Yan and Gu Linzhao exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of surprise and a deeper unease in each other's eyes. Su Zhelan was too calm, unusually so.
That frenzied, life-burning obsession seemed to have temporarily subsided, replaced by a cold, almost absolute focus—focus on the act of “recovery” itself.
In the following days, Su Zhelan became a "model" patient.
He no longer needed anyone to urge him; he would drink every bowl of bitter, nauseating medicine on time. He would silently and earnestly finish every meal that was served, regardless of its taste. He would also cooperate fully with the acupuncture and medicinal baths that Su Yan ordered without uttering a sound.
He remained mostly silent, either closing his eyes to rest or staring blankly out the window, as if sorting through the chaotic and complex clues in his mind. But the stubborn flame deep in his eyes never went out; instead, it settled deeper and became more resolute during his quiet recuperation.
Sheng Xuan would come every day, sometimes bringing rare foods that he had collected from outside, which were said to be able to replenish qi and calm the mind. Watching him recover his complexion little by little at a speed visible to the naked eye, his tense heartstrings relaxed slightly, but were replaced by another deeper worry - he felt that Su Zhelan was desperately accumulating every bit of strength for an unknown, perhaps even more difficult expedition.
Finally, after resting for about seven or eight days, Su Zhelan's complexion had improved a lot. Although she was still thin, the sparkle in her eyes had returned, and her pulse had become stable under Su Yan's careful treatment.
That evening, Xiao Qiyun's figure reappeared at the entrance of the pharmacy.
He had clearly rushed over after finishing his tedious military duties, and still carried a trace of travel-worn air. As he entered, his gaze immediately fell on Su Zhelan on the couch, carefully examining his condition.
Su Zhelan saw him too. Almost instantly, Su Zhelan's originally calm eyes suddenly lit up, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, rippling outwards.
He put down the herbal medicine atlas he was reading, sat up straight, and looked intently at Xiao Qiyun, his silent question and urgency almost overflowing.
Xiao Qiyun understood. He walked to the bedside, nodded to Su Yan beside him, and then looked at Su Zhelan, his voice steady: "It seems you've recovered quite well."
Without exchanging pleasantries, Su Zhelan cut straight to the point, her voice clear and calm, carrying an unmistakable determination: "Your Highness, I am well. Please keep your promise."
Su Yan frowned immediately, opening his mouth as if to say something, but Gu Linzhao gently tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to calm down.
Xiao Qiyun looked into Su Zhelan's unwavering eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly nodded: "Alright. Come with me to the study." He knew that this moment had finally arrived, and Su Zhelan's condition was barely able to withstand the conversation that was about to begin.
Upon hearing this, Su Zhelan immediately threw off the thin blanket, got out of bed, and put on his shoes. His movements still revealed a trace of weakness from recovering from a long illness, but his back was straight, his steps were steady, and his gaze remained fixed on Xiao Qiyun.
Upon seeing this, Sheng Xuan immediately stepped forward without hesitation and stood beside Su Zhelan, his tone calm yet firm: "I'll go too." His gaze also fell on Xiao Qiyun.
Xiao Qiyun glanced at them, said nothing, and simply nodded slightly: "Let's go."
The three walked silently through the courtyard toward Xiao Qiyun's study. Inside the study, candles were already lit.
Xiao Qiyun took out a slightly worn border map from a drawer under his desk and spread it out on the table. His finger landed precisely on a point in the northwest region.
"Youzi Cave," Xiao Qiyun's voice was calm and emotionless. "It belongs to the Chiyan City defense zone. Its specific location is 320 miles west of the city. It is a desolate rift valley area that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Three years ago, it was ordered to be cleared out by the then Chiyan City commander, who is also Sheng Xuan's father."
Su Zhelan's gaze was fixed on the marked point, and her breathing quickened almost imperceptibly for a moment.
“Hmm…” he murmured softly, his voice hoarse, carrying a sense of relief yet an immense weight of confirmation, “The latitude and longitude, the topographical description… and the marking habits on this topographical sketch they drew themselves after the war… everything matches up.”
He raised his head and looked at Xiao Qiyun, his eyes filled with complex emotions, but the previous frenzy and eagerness had subsided, leaving only a cold, almost weary certainty: "There's no mistake."
Sheng Xuan stood to the side, silently staring at the familiar yet unfamiliar place name on the map, his brows slightly furrowed. His father rarely mentioned the details of that battle, but now, listening to Xiao Qiyun's calm recounting it and seeing Su Zhelan's reaction, an indescribable heaviness welled up in his heart.
Xiao Qiyun put away the map and glanced at Su Zhelan and Sheng Xuan: "The location is confirmed, so what's next? What are you planning to do?"
Su Zhelan took a deep breath, straightened her body, and although her face was still pale, her eyes were unusually clear and firm: "I need to go there in person."
Sheng Xuan immediately said, "I'll go with you."
Xiao Qiyun looked at them, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded: "Okay. But you must wait until you are fully recovered. The place has been abandoned for a long time, and the situation is unclear, so it is not advisable to go there rashly."
Su Zhelan didn't argue anymore, but simply nodded slightly: "I understand." Having confirmed the location, it was as if a huge weight had been lifted from his mind. His tense shoulders relaxed slightly, but the obsession in his eyes did not disappear; it simply transformed into a more specific action goal.
Xiao Qiyun felt a slight sense of relief as he looked at the calming urgency in Su Zhelan's eyes and the renewed clarity tinged with weariness.
He raised his hand and placed it firmly on Su Zhelan's thin shoulder, his tone softening but still commanding: "Now that the location has been confirmed, there's no need to rush. You haven't fully recovered yet, so don't overexert yourself tonight. Go back and rest."
Su Zhelan looked up at Xiao Qiyun, then glanced at Sheng Xuan beside her, who also looked concerned. After a moment of silence, she finally nodded slowly.
Once his tense mind relaxed, the fatigue that had been forcibly suppressed surged back like a tide, making him feel dizzy.
Xiao Qiyun withdrew his hand and glanced at Sheng Xuan: "You take him back first, I'll be there shortly."
Sheng Xuan nodded emphatically: "Okay."
Sheng Xuan supported Su Zhelan's arm, and the two slowly walked out of the study, returning to Shuyu Courtyard along the way they had come.
Night had fallen, and the courtyard was silent except for the rustling of the wind through the bamboo grove and the faint sound of the water clock in the distance.
Back at Shuyu Courtyard, the candles in Su Zhelan's room were already lit, their warm glow dispelling the chill of the night. Sheng Xuan helped Su Zhelan to sit down on the couch, then turned to pour him a cup of hot water, but Su Zhelan gently tugged at his sleeve.
Su Zhelan looked up. Under the lamplight, his face was still somewhat pale, but his eyes were much softer than before, carrying a barely perceptible vulnerability that bordered on dependence. He spoke softly, his voice a little hoarse: "...Don't go."
Sheng Xuan was taken aback for a moment, then her heart softened, and she nodded without hesitation: "Okay, I won't leave. I'll stay here and watch over you."
Su Zhelan gently shook her head, her gaze drifting to the steaming hot spring pool outside the window, then slowly turning to Sheng Xuan, her voice soft: "...I mean, tonight...stay."
He paused, seemingly realizing his request was abrupt, and then added in a low voice, as if explaining, or perhaps talking to himself, "I don't want... to be alone."
Sheng Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly understood Su Zhelan's meaning. He didn't just need someone to stay with him; subconsciously, he was afraid to face this sudden, heavy confirmation and the potentially even more turbulent wave of memories alone. He needed company, to be surrounded by familiar presence, and to be assured that he wasn't alone.
"Okay." Sheng Xuan's voice was extremely soft, yet filled with utmost seriousness.
Back in the inner room, Sheng Xuan helped Su Zhelan take off her outer robe and change into soft, loose nightgown. His movements were careful, his fingertips occasionally brushing against Su Zhelan's slightly cool skin, a silent act of tenderness.
As he bent down and focused on tying the belt around Su Zhelan's waist, Su Zhelan quietly gazed at his profile, which was so close to hers and filled with worry and tenderness.
The lighting was soft, and the air was filled with the subtle scent of calming incense. Su Zhelan suddenly raised her arms and gently wrapped them around Sheng Xuan's neck. The movement was slow, carrying a hint of weakness from recovering from a long illness, yet it was exceptionally clear.
Sheng Xuan abruptly stopped tying her belt, her body stiffening slightly as she looked down at Su Zhelan with some surprise.
Su Zhelan did not avoid his gaze. Her pale face showed a complex expression, with lingering fatigue and deep-seated pain, but more than anything, a pure and tender dependence and gratitude.
He tilted his head slightly, his voice as soft as a sigh, yet clearly reaching Sheng Xuan's ears: "...Thank you."
Before he finished speaking, he closed his eyes and gently, with slightly cool lips, touched Shengxuan's lips tenderly. It wasn't a kiss filled with passion, but rather like a weary soul seeking solace and reassurance, filled with complete trust and a silent confession.
Sheng Xuan's breath caught in his throat, his heart pounding as if struck by something, a bittersweet ache. Almost without thinking, almost instinctively, he responded to the light touch with utmost tenderness, his arms instinctively encircling Su Zhelan's slender waist and back, holding him even closer in his embrace, as if to convey all his strength and warmth to him.
The brief kiss was fleeting, yet it seemed as if a thousand words flowed silently between the two of them.
Sheng Xuan stepped back slightly, but his forehead was still gently pressed against Su Zhelan's. His deep eyes gazed into Su Zhelan's eyes, and his voice was low and firm: "Yes, I'm here. I've always been here."
Su Zhelan nodded slightly, a faint blush appearing on his pale cheeks. He didn't speak again, but tightened his arms around Sheng Xuan's neck a little.
In this quiet and tender moment, steady footsteps could be heard outside the courtyard.
Xiao Qiyun appeared in the doorway, which was not fully closed. He had changed out of his military uniform and was only wearing a dark civilian outfit. His dark hair was slightly damp, as if he had just taken a bath.
He carried a small jar of warm wine that emitted a faint herbal fragrance. His gaze swept over the two people embracing in the room, and there was no surprise on his face. Only a very faint, almost imperceptible fluctuation flashed in his deep eyes.
"Why bring alcohol?" Sheng Xuan was the first to come to his senses, slightly loosening his grip on Su Zhelan, but still naturally supporting his arm with one hand. He looked at Xiao Qiyun, his tone carrying a hint of unease and confusion after being disturbed.
Xiao Qiyun walked in, placed the wine jar on the table, and said in a flat and emotionless tone: "It's a medicinal wine to calm the nerves and help with sleep. I brought it along on my way."
His gaze fell on Su Zhelan, and seeing that although his face was still pale, his eyes were much gentler than before, he felt a little relieved.
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