After sending off the military doctor, Wei Zhong finally smiled and said: "Your Majesty, after the Yan Kingdom commander returned, he wanted to visit the Ninth Prince but was blocked by Yue Shi. However... since the Yan Kingdom commander wants to visit his own prince, itâs not good for us to always stop him. According to Your Majestyâs instructions, should we consider moving the Ninth Prince to the adjacent courtyard?"
"Letâs not move him for now, weâll decide after he wakes up!" Bai Qingyan sat by the bedside, gently holding Xiao Rongyanâs hand.
"Yes!" Wei Zhong responded.
At noon, Xiao Rongyan slowly opened his eyes.
The dull pain from the wound made him inhale sharply. He suddenly remembered Jiangzi City, covered the wound, and abruptly sat up, flinging open the bed curtains...
The thick drapery hanging from the beam was already hooked to the sides by copper hooks with engraved golden floral patterns. Through the mountain and water rosewood screen, Xiao Rongyan saw Bai Qingyan sitting in the main seat, giving orders to the Bai family guards. Seemingly aware that Xiao Rongyan had awakened, she glanced inside the screen and said to the Bai family guard, "Go!"
"Yes!"
The Bai family guard obeyed the order and retreated.
"Wei Zhong, bring the medicine in!" Bai Qingyan grabbed the hem of her dress and stood up, walking towards the inside of the screen.
Bai Qingyan went around the screen and saw Xiao Rongyan sitting on the bedside clutching his wound, his complexion still very pale, slightly hunched.
Standing by the screen, her mind was filled with the questions Xiao Rongyan asked before he lost consciousness. She unconsciously tightened her grip on her dress hem, showing a strained smile at Xiao Rongyan and walking toward him, "Does the wound still hurt a lot?"
Seeing Bai Qingyan safe and sound, Xiao Rongyan breathed a sigh of relief, only then remembering that he had already reached Jiangzi City and had sent Yue Shi to pursue the fleeing Xiliang soldiers.
"Itâs manageable." Xiao Rongyan replied hoarsely, then closed his exposed undershirt and fastened the strap, getting up to grab the frost-colored robe with cloud patterns placed on a nearby small embroidery stool and began dressing himself.
Bai Qingyan stood there watching Xiao Rongyan. Although he said nothing, she could sense his displeasure.
Xiao Rongyan, seemingly indifferent to his own injuries, asked, "Has Yue Shi returned? Did he manage to eliminate Xiliangâs main forces?"
"Captured some prisoners, but failed to catch General Cui Shanzhong. It seems General Cui Shanzhong will still try to resist either Zhou or Yan in the coming days." Bai Qingyan saw Xiao Rongyan trying to fasten his buttons with one hand and reached for his mask, taking it first.
"Thank you." Xiao Rongyan took the mask, thanked her, and continued talking to Bai Qingyan, "This time, Xiliang suffered heavy losses. Itâs likely that General Cui Shanzhong will need to regroup to guard Yunjing. For now, Jiangzi City is temporarily stable!"
His profound and deep eyes looked at Bai Qingyan, as he adjusted the maskâs straps, saying, "The Xiliang refugees, knowing that Zhou will shelter them, will certainly flock to the towns held by Zhou. Now that Zhou has a plan to accommodate Xiliang refugees, you neednât worry anymore! For the Emperor of Zhou to prevent any unforeseen complications, it would be best for you to return to Dadu early!"
After saying this, Xiao Rongyan proceeded to put on the mask.
Bai Qingyan gently grasped Xiao Rongyanâs hand holding the mask and stopped him from putting on the mask, quietly asking, "Where are you going?"
"To Gufeng..." Xiao Rongyan stared into Bai Qingyanâs eyes, "Previously, I discussed with the Zhou army the strategy for Yunjing. Itâs estimated that the Zhou army is just two or three cities away from Yunjing. I must lead troops to rush there quickly, perhaps... we can enter Yunjing earlier."
"Your injuries are quite severe, and youâve just recovered from a high fever. Are you trying to risk your life by taking a long journey now?" Bai Qingyan tightened her grip on Xiao Rongyanâs sturdy wrist.
Hearing this, Xiao Rongyan quietly looked at Bai Qingyan, as if trying to see through her heart.
Their eyes met, and Bai Qingyanâs palm tightened, unexpectedly feeling a kind of surprised guilt.
The manâs mature and deep voice carried a self-deprecating low laugh as his tall, imposing figure approached Bai Qingyan half a step, enveloping her in his shadow. He raised a hand to stroke her cheek, smiling slightly as he leaned his forehead against hers, speaking softly and smoothly: "You speak as if you care a lot."
Xiao Rongyanâs voice was gentle, but her heart felt like it was lightly stung by a scorpion.
She held Xiao Rongyanâs wrist tightly, not rushing to defend herself, but earnestly said, "A Yan, I do care!"
Xiao Rongyan responded with a perfunctory "Mmm," then gently kissed Bai Qingyanâs lips before letting her go, his thumb gently rubbing her lip corner as he calmly watched Bai Qingyan, pressuring his lips down again.
As their noses touched, Bai Qingyan saw Xiao Rongyanâs long, dense eyelashes half-lowered. The previous tension that had disturbed her was gone, but her heart felt a muffled pain.
Wei Zhong, who had been coming in with the medicine, vaguely saw the silhouette of the two standing together and quickly backed out, deciding to have the medicine simmered in the small kitchenâs fire.
She reciprocated Xiao Rongyanâs kiss, loosening her grip around his wrist, intending to embrace him but apprehensive of his injuries. Her hands could only rest on his solid shoulders as she stood on tiptoe.
Bai Qingyanâs response turned Xiao Rongyanâs restrained light kiss into a deep one. Her teeth were gently pried open, his breath dominantly invading her senses, making her retreat slightly step by step...
She cared about Xiao Rongyan. If she didnât care... how could they have become husband and wife?
She seemed to want to prove it with this kiss.
Their steps stumbled, and Bai Qingyanâs heel struck the footstool, her whole body tilting back as Xiao Rongyan swiftly encircled her waist with one arm, while the other braced against the carved wooden bedpost to prevent them from falling onto the bed.
Bai Qingyan, still shaken, looked up only to find Xiao Rongyan gazing deeply at her.
Just as she regains her balance to ask about his injuries, Xiao Rongyan cradles her face again, pressing his lips down once more, but this time the kiss is fleeting.
Xiao Rongyanâs thumb caressed her face as he softly spoke: "Iâm leaving. You should return to Dadu soon."
"A Yan, youâre upset..."
He nodded slightly, soothing Bai Qingyan with a gentle smile on his pale lips: "I understand. You donât need to explain. Weâve always agreed that getting angry would make me seem unreasonable! Youâre a girl with ambition, a heart for the world, smart and resourceful, sometimes even ruthless. But you care for the people, and more importantly, for the Bai family. You could sacrifice everything for your family, your younger brothers and sisters; I knew this when I first fell in love with you."
Always, Xiao Rongyan thought he and Bai Qingyan were the same kind of person.
But it wasnât until he heard that Jiangzi City was besieged, until he led the troops racing across the plains, with scouts continually reporting that Bai Qingyan had not yet lit the wolf smoke, that he realized he might not be like Bai Qingyan.
Once she sets her mind on a goal, she will not stop until she achieves it, possessing her own principles and persistence, and she will never compromise, not for him... not even for the child they havenât yet conceived.