Thorns of Love

Chapter 5

The nights that followed were filled with a confusing mix of emotions for Xunlei. Every time Jiaxin vanished for a moment, a wave of worry would wash over him.  Whenever she wandered away, he'd be gripped by a fear that he might never see her again.  He couldn't deny the growing pull he felt towards her, a feeling he couldn't quite understand or control.

Three days later, Jin arrived at the village, accompanied by a contingent of soldiers. The Third Prince had sent a signal for their return, the war escalating at the border.  After bidding farewell to the villagers, Xunlei and Jin set off.

"I'll head straight to the camp. The war has intensified. Jin will take you home first, but before that, let's have lunch at the camp," Xunlei said, his voice laced with a hint of urgency.

Jiaxin nodded, her heart heavy with a sense of foreboding.

They reached the camp in time for lunch.  They ate in silence, the awkwardness of their recent encounters lingering between them. Jiaxin avoided his gaze, her mind filled with a thousand unspoken anxieties.

After lunch, Jin prepared a carriage for Jiaxin, waiting outside Xunlei's tent.  Xunlei sat on his horse, facing away from the tent, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.

The two emerged from the tent.

"Take good care. We'll wait for your return," Jiaxin said, her voice barely a whisper. She turned to step into the carriage, but Xunlei pulled her back, his lips meeting hers in a sudden, unexpected kiss.  Jiaxin froze, her heart pounding in her chest.  She couldn't move, her senses overwhelmed by the unexpected intimacy. He held her close, his arms wrapping around her.

"Wait for me. There are things I need to tell you," he said, his voice husky with emotion.

She hugged him back, her heart filled with a mixture of fear and hope.

"Come home alive," she whispered, her voice filled with a desperate plea.

She stepped into the carriage, her gaze lingering on Xunlei as it pulled away. He smiled at her, a smile of assurance, his eyes filled with a depth of emotion she couldn't quite decipher.

Jiaxin arrived safely at the Prince's Mansion. She stepped out of the carriage, Jin guiding her towards the entrance.

"Go back to the camp and make sure you both return alive," she said, her voice laced with a quiet urgency.

Jin nodded, but his gaze lingered on Jiaxin's white hair. She noticed his scrutiny.

"Focus on the war," she added, her voice firm, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

Days turned into weeks, filled with a mixture of anxious anticipation and quiet worry. Jiaxin waited by the door, her heart heavy with concern.  News from the border was increasingly grim, fueling her anxieties.  She began writing letters to Xunlei, and to her surprise, he responded. This was the tenth letter she had received.  She read the words aloud, a smile spreading across her face.

"We won. I'm coming home."

Relief washed over her. They had won the war. She let out a sigh, her shoulders slumping with the weight of the tension finally lifted.

A week later, Jiaxin stood at the city gate, waiting for Xunlei's return. Ying, the butler, and the nanny stood beside her, their faces filled with anticipation.  The townspeople gathered, their eyes drawn to Jiaxin's white hair, but her beauty was undeniable.

After an hour, the soldiers arrived, led by the General. Xunlei, clad in his armor, rode at the front. Their eyes met, and she smiled at him. To her surprise, he smiled back, dismounting his horse. Jiaxin ran towards him, throwing her arms around him. He hugged her back, his embrace filled with a warmth that surprised her.