Every night, Xunlei found himself awake long after the world had quieted, watching Jiaxin as she slept. He gently held her cold hands, caressing her silky white hair, a bittersweet comfort in the stillness of the night.
Memories of his conversation with Jin from the previous day haunted him.
"I inquired about her condition," Jin had reported, his tone grave. "The Prime Minister’s mansion is indeed cruel to her. They’ve been poisoning her, poison has now corroded her bones."
"What is the poison called?" Xunlei had asked, his heart sinking.
"It’s known as cold poison. It comes from the black market, and no one knows how to cure it," Jin replied, his voice heavy with concern.
A wave of helplessness washed over Xunlei. Thoughts of all that Jiaxin had sacrificed for him since their marriage only deepened his anguish. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, and her soft breath stirred her awake.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice laced with concern as she met his worried gaze.
"Nothing. Let's sleep," he replied, trying to reassure her.
"Are you sure?" she pressed, her eyes searching his.
He nodded, leaning down to kiss her forehead gently. "Sleep," he whispered softly.
Xunlei remained by her side, waiting until he could feel her breath steady and deep, signaling that she had drifted back into slumber.
"I won’t let you be taken from me," he vowed quietly to the night. "I’ll find a way to cure you."
As the darkness enveloped them, he finally succumbed to sleep, embracing her tightly, determined to protect the one he loved from the shadows that threatened to take her away.
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They moved from the residence to the camp, following Jiaxin’s suggestion.
“Stay here for a while; I’ll be back before lunch,” Xunlei instructed. “Nanny Lu, Butler Mu, and Ying, please take care of your mistress.”
“We will,” they replied in unison, their voices steady and reassuring.
“I’ll cook some dishes, so be sure to be here,” Jiaxin added with a smile.
Xunlei returned her smile and kissed her forehead gently before stepping out into the crisp air, his mind already shifting to the weight of his responsibilities.
_____________________________________
“What's the situation?” Xunlei asked Jin as he approached.
“The enemy camp is still quiet; there are no signs of danger,” Jin reported, his expression serious.
“Stay vigilant. Tell everyone to be ready for battle at a moment’s notice,” Xunlei replied, his voice firm. “Quietness often hides a greater threat; they could be planning something in silence.”
“I’ll inform them now,” Jin said, nodding before turning to relay the orders.
As Xunlei watched Jin leave, a sense of unease settled in his chest. The calm before the storm could be deceptive, and he knew they had to be prepared for whatever lay ahead.
______________________________________
Xunlei returned to the camp just as the midday sun reached its zenith, fulfilling his promise to Jiaxin. He found her in the midst of preparing a simple yet delicious meal, her movements graceful and efficient.
"No matter what happens, just stay here, okay?" he said, his voice laced with concern.
Jiaxin paused, her brow furrowed slightly as she looked up at him. "Is something wrong?" she asked, her tone quiet but steady.
"There's a chance war might break out again," he replied, his gaze fixed on her, his worry evident.
Jiaxin stopped eating, her chopsticks hovering above her bowl. "Then I'll help out by treating soldiers," she said calmly, though a flicker of worry crossed her eyes.
"That would be a great help," Xunlei replied, admiration shining in his eyes. "You're always thinking of others, even in the face of danger."
His words were a testament to the strength and compassion he saw in his wife, a strength that mirrored his own.
"We are here at the border, I am your wife, I know how dangerous your work are that's why I would rather help out that to be a burden to you," she said meeting his gaze
He smiled, he lean closer to her and give her a kiss on the lips.
"Thank you," he uttered
She smiled at him
______________________________________
The fortress stood silent under the cloak of night, the only sound the whisper of the wind through the battlements. Xunlei, his senses heightened, scanned the horizon, his gaze drawn to a flickering light in the distance. Danger.
"EVERYONE PREPARE!" he roared, his voice echoing across the courtyard.
The soldiers, already poised and ready, sprang into action, their movements practiced and precise. They gathered at the camp, their faces grim, their weapons gleaming under the moonlight. A shout, a guttural roar, pierced the night, echoing from the direction of the flickering light. The enemy was upon them.
"Jin, take command here!" Xunlei barked, his voice commanding. "The Twelfth Battalion, hear me! We meet them head-on!"
The gates of the fortress swung open, revealing a tide of soldiers surging forward, their battle cries a chilling symphony of aggression. Xunlei, leading the charge, his sword held high, met the enemy head-on, his heart pounding with a fierce determination. Jin, his voice calm and steady, directed the archers, their arrows raining down on the advancing enemy, a deadly curtain of defense.
The clash of steel against steel, the roar of the battle, the cries of the wounded – the night was consumed by the fury of war.
_____________________________________
The camp was a cacophony of chaos and pain. Wounded soldiers, their faces contorted in agony, were being carried into the makeshift medical tent, their cries echoing through the air. Jiaxin, her own body wracked with the relentless throes of the poison, pushed herself to her feet, her determination fueled by a deep sense of duty. She moved among the wounded, her hands swift and sure as she tended to their wounds, her brow furrowed in concentration.
The stench of blood, thick and cloying, filled the air, making her head throb in pain. Yet, she pressed on, her heart heavy with the weight of their suffering.
"Ying'er!" she called out, her voice strained.
Ying, her face pale with worry, rushed to her side. "What is it?" she asked, her eyes wide with concern.
"Cover his wound," Jiaxin commanded, her voice firm despite the pain that pulsed through her. "I'll be going to another tent to tend to the other soldiers."
Ying nodded, her hands trembling as she obeyed.
Jiaxin stepped out of the tent, her body wracked with a sudden wave of pain. The poison, ever insidious, was attacking her with renewed ferocity. She stumbled, a sharp cough escaping her lips as she spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground. Her body ached, her breath came in ragged gasps, and a cold sweat broke out on her skin.
Nanny Lu, her eyes wide with alarm, saw Jiaxin kneeling on the ground, her face contorted in pain. "Your Highness!" she cried, rushing to her side. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," Jiaxin said, forcing a smile, her voice weak. "Go and tend to the wounds." She pushed Nanny Lu gently toward a nearby tent. "Go."
Nanny Lu, unable to ignore the tremor in Jiaxin's voice and the pallor of her face, hesitated, but ultimately obeyed. As soon as Nanny Lu entered the tent, Jiaxin coughed up another mouthful of blood, her body wracked with pain. She reached for the small knife she always carried, her fingers trembling as she cut a deep gash into her palm, letting her own blood flow freely. Then, with a shuddering breath, she wrapped the wound and forced herself to her feet, her resolve as unwavering as ever. She had to help. She had to tend to the soldiers, even if it meant sacrificing her own well-being.
She stepped back into the tent, her body trembling, her spirit unbroken. The cries of the wounded, the smell of blood, the weight of her own pain – none of it mattered. She had to keep going. She had to help them.
______________________________________
The battle had ended, the enemy routed, but the air hung heavy with the scent of blood. A torrential downpour, as if mirroring the intensity of the conflict, descended upon the battlefield, washing away the remnants of war.
Jiaxin, her clothes soaked through with blood and rain, rushed towards the fortress gate, her heart pounding with anticipation. She waited, her gaze fixed on the entrance, her body trembling with a mixture of relief and exhaustion. The gate creaked open, and Xunlei emerged, his face etched with the weariness of battle, yet his eyes alight with a glimmer of triumph.
As soon as his gaze met hers, a smile spread across his face, a smile of relief, of gratitude. But the smile faltered, replaced by a look of alarm as he noticed that she is coughing up blood. He was at her side in an instant, his heart sinking as he saw her cough up a mouthful of blood. She crumpled to the ground, her body succumbing to the relentless poison.
"Jiaxin!" he cried, his voice raw with panic. "Wake up! Jiaxin!"
She could hear his voice, she could see him, but her strength was waning. Her vision blurred, the world around her fading into a hazy, indistinct landscape. She could only manage a weak smile, a silent farewell, before the darkness claimed her.
YOU ARE READING
Thorns of Love
HistoryczneShe had admired the Prince since childhood, harboring a secret dream of one day being with him. To achieve that dream, she had made herself a laughingstock, begging the Emperor for his hand in marriage. Now, she endured his harsh treatment, endurin...
