Why Does Mr. Xie Favor Me? Chapter 51
byChapter 51 Xueyuan is the same brother
One promise weighs a thousand, only the wind and snow can be heard
The wind and snow on the eighth day were more violent than the previous seven days.
Xie Heng leaned on the cold rock wall, looking at the snow outside the rock crevice that was rolled into a vortex by the strong wind, his eyes already a little distracted.Of his three thousand personal guards, less than a hundred are still standing.Most of them were suffering from frostbite, huddled in various rock crevices, relying on each other’s body heat and the last bit of willpower to hold on.
Xie Wu’s left arm started to turn black from the shoulder blade. If left untreated, the necrosis would spread to the chest and abdomen.But there was no medicine, no tools, and there was almost not enough firewood to burn the red knife.
“Master Lang…” Xie Wu struggled to speak, “leave me alone…the remaining firewood…will be used to keep the general warm…”
Xie Heng said nothing, but took off the last complete robe on his body and covered Xie Wu.He was only wearing a thin middle coat, and the old wounds on his hands had become red, swollen and ulcerated because the dressing had not been changed in time.
In the deepest part of the rock crevice, Xiao Jue’s high fever began to recur, sometimes his whole body felt hot, sometimes he felt cold and trembling.Xie Heng piled all the clothes he could find on him, unbuttoned his clothes, held Xiao Jue tightly in his arms, and used his body temperature to warm him.
“Water…” Xiao Jue murmured in a coma, his lips chapped and bleeding.
Xie Heng grabbed a handful of relatively clean snow on the edge of the rock crevice and took it into his mouth.The cold sting of the snow melting in his mouth made him sober up.He leaned over and pinched Xiao Jue’s mouth open, then slowly poured the warm snow water in. He had repeated this action countless times.
After feeding him water, he checked the wound on Xiao Jue’s left arm.The ulcers are finally showing signs of healing, but new flesh is growing slowly.He tore off the cuffs of his tattered undershirt, carefully soaked it with snow water, and gently wiped the edges of the wound.
“Master Lang…” a young guard said weakly, “your… hair…”
Xie Heng was startled and raised his hand to touch his temples. What his fingertips touched was not frost and snow, but gray and white hair that had lost its luster. But he was only twenty-four years old.
There was silence in the crevices, with only the howling of the wind and snow and the suppressed moans of the injured.
At this moment, there was an unusual sound coming from outside the rock crevice. It was not the sound of wind, but the sound of horses’ hooves trampling on the snow, and there were more than one of them.
All those who could still move tensed their nerves instantly, and Xie Wu clenched the knife in his hand with difficulty.
The footsteps were getting closer and closer, making a muffled crunching sound on the snow.
A tentative voice sounded: “Is there… anyone inside? Xie Pushe? General?”
Xie Heng raised his head suddenly, stood up with support on the rock wall, staggered to the entrance of the rock crevice, and lifted off the barrier that was barely covered by tattered felt and dead branches.
Outside the rock crevice, Chen Yu stood there with more than 20 cavalrymen. Everyone’s face was full of exhaustion. The horses were puffing out white air and everyone was frosty.The moment he saw Xie Heng, Chen Yu turned over and dismounted, but because his legs and feet were frozen, he knelt down in the snow.
He raised his head and looked at Xie Heng’s thin and sunken cheeks. This veteran who had followed Xiao Jue for many years actually burst into tears on the spot:
“Pu She! The last one…the last one is too late!”
Xie Heng stood at the entrance of the rock crevice, the cold wind making his thin middle coat rustle.He looked at Chen Yu who was kneeling in the snow, and after a long time he slowly spoke, his voice so hoarse that it was almost inaudible: “How many people did you bring?”
“Eight hundred! Eight hundred cavalry are at the foot of the mountain!” Chen Yu wiped his face, tears mixed with snow, “There are also medical officers, medicines, and food. The general has been looking for you for eight days… General…”
Xie Heng stepped aside and said, “He’s still alive, come in and help. Be gentle, he’s seriously injured.”
Chen Yu and his two soldiers carefully entered the crevice. When they saw Xiao Jue’s unconscious appearance, several of them had red eyes.The accompanying medical officer immediately came forward to check, and after a while he breathed a sigh of relief: “The burns are high and the lungs are damaged, but the pulse has improved. If medicine can be taken in time, there is still hope for a good life.”
Xie Heng closed his eyes and swayed slightly. Chen Yu quickly supported him, his tentacles were cold.
“Immediately escort the general back to Yunzhong City.” Xie Heng kept his voice steady and said, “Take all the wounded away together. Chen Yu, be careful on the road, barbarians may still be active nearby.”
“I will finally understand!”
With these eight hundred fresh troops, the return journey was much smoother.Chen Yu brought the sled and materials. Xie Heng personally placed Xiao Jue on the sled covered with thick fur, tucked every corner for him, then sat in front of the sled and held the reins himself.
“Pu She, let Mo come.” Chen Yu advised again.
“I’ll come.” Xie Heng said only two words.
The sleigh moved forward slowly on the snowy field, with eight hundred cavalry guarding both sides.Xie Heng looked back from time to time to check on Xiao Jue’s condition, moistening his chapped lips with warm water, and wiping his hot forehead with a cloth soaked in medicinal wine.
Five days later, the walls of Yunzhong City appeared in sight.
The city gate was wide open, and the defenders lined up to greet them. When the sleigh slowly drove into the city gate, the streets were lined with people.No one cheered, no one spoke, everyone stared in silence at the thin and pale figure on the sleigh and the dazzling gray on Xie Heng’s temples.
A white-haired old woman suddenly knelt down, clasped her hands together, and prayed softly.Then the second, the third… Soon, the whole street was on their knees.
Xie Heng sat on the sled and watched all this with no expression on his face but mixed feelings in his heart.
Xiao Jue was placed in the best room in the military camp. Three medical officers were on duty day and night, using precious medicinal materials brought by Chen Yu.
Xie Heng stood guard outside the door. He changed out of his tattered single clothes and washed himself, but the gray on his temples could never be restored.The wound on the hand was re-dressed and bandaged. The medical officer said that if it had been delayed for a few days, the hand might have become useless.
Chen Yu came to report every day, and his voice became heavier every time: “The food stored in the city, based on current consumption, can only last for twelve days.”
“The medicinal materials are only enough for half a month. There are too many seriously injured people and they are being consumed faster than expected.”
“The barbarians camped fifteen miles outside the city and patrolled day and night on horseback, completely cutting off our contact with the outside world.”
“There is still no news about the imperial court’s supplies. Three of the fifth group of people we sent to collect food came back yesterday. They said they encountered bandits on the road, the food truck was hijacked, and the escorting brothers… only escaped and returned.”
Xie Heng put down the pen in his hand. His wrist was still aching, but compared to the coldness in his heart, the pain was almost negligible.
“Eight Hundred Miles Expedited. How many days has it been since we sent it out?” he asked.
“It’s been twelve days. Normally… there should be a response.”
Xie Heng looked at the gray sky outside the window. In the winter in Yunzhong City, the sky was always so gloomy, like a gray cloth that could not be washed clean.
“Wait for two more days,” he said.
On the afternoon of the third day, the reply came.
It wasn’t reinforcements or food, but an imperial edict, delivered quickly by an unfamiliar eunuch with fifty imperial guards.
Xie Heng received the order in the main hall of the military camp. Under the hall stood Chen Yu and other generals, all wearing armor and looking solemn.
The eunuch unfolded the bright yellow silk, and his high-pitched voice echoed in the hall: “Zha Shangshu’s left servant shot Xie Heng. He left his post without permission and had no authority over the emperor. He tore up the imperial edict and was guilty of conspiracy. However, I remember that you are young and have made great achievements. If you return to Guzang immediately to plead guilty, you can be forgiven. If you stay in the north again, you will be severely punished.”
The imperial edict is very short, and every word is full of accusations.
As for Xiao Jue’s injuries and the war in the north… not a word was mentioned.
After the eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, he handed it over with a smile on his face and said, “Thank you Pu She, will you accept the edict?”
All the generals in the hall looked angry. Chen Yu’s hand holding the sword had blue veins popping out. He took a step forward, but Xie Heng raised his hand to stop him.
Xie Heng slowly stepped forward and took over the imperial edict.He didn’t thank him immediately, but unfolded the silk and looked at it carefully again.His fingers brushed over the gorgeous words and the emperor’s seal, as if confirming something.
Then he laughed, the laughter was very light at first, not a mocking laugh, but a smile that saw everything through.
Xie Heng looked at the imperial edict and murmured: “I see, what His Majesty never wants is peace in the north, not the life of the soldiers, or even the stability of the country… What he wants is just balance.”
Xiao Jue is a master of shock, so he must die, or at least be weakened to the point where he can no longer pose a threat.
Xie Heng and Xiao Jue joined forces. The civil and military forces were too powerful, so they had to be broken up.
As for the life and death of the people at the border, the importance of the national security, the injustice of the five thousand soldiers… in the balance of imperial power, they are just chips that can be discarded at any time.
The eunuch was so heartbroken by his laughter that he tried to maintain his momentum: “Xie Pushe, what do you mean? You still don’t want to thank me!”
Xie Heng put away his smile and slowly rolled up the imperial edict, as calmly as if he was sorting out the scroll.
He raised his eyes and looked at the eunuch calmly, “Go back and report to Your Majesty. I will accept the order.”
The eunuch breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak when he heard Xie Heng continue: “But the person lying inside is my lover. For the public, he is the pillar of the country, so there must be no loss. For the private, he is the one who is close to my heart, and there must be no loss.”
“I stay here, firstly, to protect the general and stabilize the border. Secondly, I want to fulfill my duty. Justice and personal feelings are not inconsistent with each other in this matter.”
“When he recovers from his injuries and the northern territory is stable, I will take him back to Guzang. When the time comes, I will be rewarded or punished, whether life or death, and I will share with him.”
The eunuch’s expression changed, “You…you are resisting the decree!”
“Your Majesty said that if you return to Guzang immediately to plead guilty, you can be forgiven.” Xie Heng said word by word, “If General Xiao moves now, he will undoubtedly die. If the general dies, the Northern Territory will be in chaos. If I return and ignore the Northern Territory, I will truly betray the Holy Grace.”
He paused and his tone turned cold: “Perhaps my father-in-law is willing to issue a military order to ensure that General Xiao is safe and sound on his way back? If the general makes a mistake, my father-in-law is willing to pay for it with his life?”
The eunuch choked. He looked at the eager generals in the hall, then at Xie Heng’s calm face, and finally gritted his teeth: “Okay… okay! I will definitely bring you if I shoot!”
“Send off guests.”
When the eunuch was invited out of the military camp, he was so angry that he was shaking all over, but he did not dare to act recklessly in the border town, so he could only leave with the imperial army in anger.
That evening, another group of people arrived at Yunzhong City.
The person who came this time was Wang Xian, the nephew of Wang Wangyuzong.He brought a mighty convoy, loaded with provisions, winter clothes, and medicines, with flags fluttering and a cloud of servants, saying that he was giving an order to reward the army.
Xie Heng stood on the city tower, watching the carts of supplies being transported into the city, without any joy on his face.
“How many people did Wang Xian bring?” he asked Chen Yu beside him.
“Five hundred personal guards, all of whom are private soldiers of the royal family, are well-equipped. There are also three hundred servants and servants, a total of eight hundred people.” Chen Yu whispered, “They asked to be stationed in the military camp in the west of the city, saying that they would help defend the city and observe the military situation.”
Xie Heng was silent for a moment and said calmly: “Let them come in, but all the grain and grass supplies will be put into the warehouse and our people will check and distribute them uniformly. Wang Xian and his entourage will be placed in the post house in the west of the city and are not allowed to go near the military points of the military camp. If his people want to leave the city, they need my order.”
Chen Yu hesitated: “Pushe, could this be…”
“Just do it.”
At the same time, it was already half a month later when Wen Boyan returned to Guzang City.
The injuries on his body have not fully healed yet, and there is a dull pain every rainy day.What’s more important is the hurt in my heart that lingers in my dreams every night.
Madam Zhou met him in a secluded side hall of the palace. The elegant fragrance of plum blossoms was burning in the hall, and the charcoal fire was warm. It was a completely different world from the ice and snow in the north.
Madam Zhou poured tea for him with her own hands and said in a gentle voice, “Even if Xiao Jue doesn’t die, it will be difficult for him to lead troops again. The military power in the north will soon fall into the hands of our people.”
Wen Boyan took the tea cup but did not drink it. He just looked at the tea leaves floating in the cup: “Zuo Yunci…he…”
Madam Zhou’s voice is still soft, but her words are as cold as ice, “I know you feel sad, but you have to think about your sister. She is living a good life in Jiangnan, and she asked someone to bring her a wedding veil a few days ago.”
She took out a plain silk handkerchief from her sleeve, embroidered with several poles of green bamboo, with fine stitches and lifelike bamboo leaves.
Wen Boyan took the handkerchief and rubbed the green bamboo leaves with his fingers. After a long time, he whispered: “Thank you, Madam Zhou, for taking care of me.”
“Between you and me, there is no need to say thank you.” Madam Zhou smiled and added more tea for him, “It’s just that right now, there is one more thing you need to do.”
Wen Boyan raised his head sharply.
“Although Xie Heng is in the north, the Xie family has deep roots in Guzang. Xie Nanqiao has been secretly contacting the old department these days, and Xu Shuhuai is also moving around. We need to cause them some trouble and keep them occupied, so as not to hinder the layout of the north.”
She paused and looked at Wen Boyan: “There is an old library in the east courtyard of the Xie Mansion, which contains many classics collected by the Xie family over the generations. If… the water accidentally leaks and those books are burned, the Xie family will be in chaos. By then, our people will take advantage of the chaos to do something, so as to eliminate some potential troubles.”
Wen Boyan’s hand trembled slightly, and the water in the teacup sloshed out, burning the back of his hand, but he felt no pain.
“What?” Madam Zhou’s voice turned cold, “Can’t bear it?”
Wen Boyan closed his eyes, his sister’s face and the small courtyard in Jiangnan flashed in his mind.
“No.” He opened his eyes and said in a calm voice, “I understand. When will we take action?”
Madam Zhou smiled, her smile still gentle, “Three days later, Zishi. I will arrange for someone to be nearby to meet you.”
“Yes.”
Three days later, Zishi.Guzang City has fallen into a deep sleep.Within the high walls of Xie’s Mansion, most of the courtyards have turned off the lights, and only a few corridors still have wind lanterns hanging, swaying in the cold wind.
Wen Boyan, dressed in black and with his face covered, climbed over the low wall in the backyard of Xie’s Mansion quietly.He is very familiar with the layout of Xie Mansion, and he has secretly investigated it more than once over the years.
The old library in the east courtyard is in the northeast corner of the mansion and is relatively secluded.It was even more deserted at this time.Wen Boyan used a dagger to unlatch the door and ducked in.
The library is filled with bookshelves filled with densely packed classics.The air is filled with the smell of aged paper and ink.He stood at the door, watching all this, and did not move for a long time.
Zuo Yunci’s voice seemed to ring in his ears again: “Bo Yan, you already knew…right?”
He tightened the fire stick in his hand and lit the nearest bookshelf.The dry books ignited immediately when exposed to fire, and the flames quickly sprang up and licked the wooden bookshelf, making a crackling sound.
Wen Boyan retreated outside the door and watched the fire spread.According to the plan, he should leave immediately and let the fire burn naturally.But by some strange coincidence, he waited a little longer.
Just at this moment, something happened.
The fire spread faster than expected. When the night wind blew, sparks splashed onto the adjacent bookshelf, then the window lattice and beams.In just a moment, the entire library was in flames.
To make matters worse, the wind is blowing in the wrong direction tonight.The fire took advantage of the wind and spread to the courtyard next to the library, which was the west courtyard where the female family members of the Xie Mansion lived.
“It’s gone—”
The servants of Xie Mansion discovered the fire and sounded the gong.In an instant, the entire Xie Mansion was in chaos.The servants were running around carrying buckets and shouting, and the female family members screamed one after another.
Wen Boyan secretly screamed, and was about to pull away when he saw a familiar figure rushing out from the west courtyard.
Xie Nanqiao had obviously just woken up from his sleep. He was only wearing a robe, his hair was messy, and his face was full of panic.But she didn’t run to safety like other female relatives. Instead, she shouted in the direction of the fire: “Yuan’er! Yuan’er is still inside!”
A maid cried and shouted: “The door to the young master’s room is locked from the inside, and you can’t open it!”
Xie Nanqiao’s face turned pale, and she rushed towards the fire without thinking. The two women held her tightly: “Young lady, you can’t go! The fire is too big!”
“Let me go! Cousin Yuan’er is inside!” Xie Nanqiao struggled, and she didn’t care if her robe slipped off during the tugging. She could only see the burning house.
Wen Boyan hid in the dark, watching this scene and clenching his fists.According to Madam Zhou’s instructions, he cannot hurt anyone, let alone kill anyone.
At the critical moment, another figure rushed in from outside the hospital.
Xu Shuhuai hurried over, his robes were messy and he had a rare look of panic on his face.Behind him were two guards from the Xu family.They were ordered to secretly monitor Xie’s mansion, but they didn’t expect that something like this would happen.
Xu Shuhuai saw Xie Nanqiao being pulled by his mother-in-law at a glance. Without hesitation, he sternly shouted to the guard behind him: “Stop her!”
Under everyone’s shocked gazes, Xu Shuhuai grabbed a bucket of water and poured it over his head, soaking his whole body. Then he tore off a piece of his clothes to cover his mouth and nose, and rushed into the fire.
“Xu Shuhuai——” Xie Nanqiao shouted piercingly.
The fire became more intense, the beams groaned under the weight, and burning wood fell from time to time.There was so much smoke that it was almost impossible to see what was going on inside.
Xie Nanqiao struggled like crazy, finally broke free from his mother-in-law’s hand, and rushed into the fire.Wen Boyan no longer cared about hiding, rushed out from the darkness and grabbed her: “Thank you, madam! You can’t go in!”
“Let me go! Yuan’er and Shuhuai are both inside!” Xie Nanqiao screamed, tears mixed with soot, leaving two marks on his face.
A moment later, Xu Shuhuai held the unconscious Xie Yuan in his arms. His clothes had been burned to pieces by the fire, and his face and hands were covered with black ash and burns.He staggered out of the fire scene and handed Xie Yuan to the maid who came up to him, but he staggered and almost fell down.
“Xu Shuhuai!” Xie Nanqiao rushed over to support him.
Xu Shuhuai stood firm and was about to speak when his expression changed.He saw Wen Boyan behind Xie Nanqiao.
Wen Boyan felt a chill in his heart, knowing that he had been exposed.He made a quick decision, turned around and ran away, disappearing into the night after a few ups and downs.
Xu Shuhuai didn’t chase. He just held Xie Nanqiao’s hand tightly and said in a hoarse voice, “How are you? Are you injured?”
Xie Nanqiao shook his head, tears flowing uncontrollably: “I’m fine… What about you? Your hands…”
The back of Xu Shuhuai’s left hand was burned by the fire, and the skin and flesh were rolled up, which was shocking to see.He himself didn’t seem to feel any pain. He just looked at Xie Nanqiao and wiped away the tears and ash from her face with his uninjured right hand.
This action stunned both of them.
Their eyes met, Xu Shuhuai’s eyes were complicated and unspeakable, and he was both afraid and happy.
The fire is still burning, the servants are trying their best to put out the fire, and the chaos remains.But in this corner, time seems to have stood still.
Xu Shuhuai suddenly lowered his head and kissed a teardrop on Xie Nanqiao’s cheek.The kiss was very light and short, but it was like a thunder that exploded between the two of them.
“Don’t be so stupid in the future.” His voice was hoarse and filled with indescribable emotions, “Don’t… rush into the fire again.”
Xie Nanqiao was stunned. She looked at the fire in Xu Shuhuai’s eyes and her panicked reflection. Her cheeks turned red, like the most gorgeous sunset in the evening.
After Xu Shuhuai said this, he seemed to realize what he had done. He suddenly let go of his hand, took a step back, and turned his face away: “I…I’ll go see the fire.”
He turned around and walked towards the crowd putting out the fire, his back a little flustered.
Xie Nanqiao stood there and raised his hand to touch the place where he had just been kissed.There was still a warm touch there, and the friction on his lips that was slightly rough due to dryness.
Her heart was beating fast, her face was hot, and her mind was blank.
In the distance, Wen Boyan stood in the shadow of the alley outside Xie’s mansion, looking at the sky-high fire and the chaotic crowd inside the mansion, and did not move for a long time.
The person arranged by Madam Zhou appeared quietly behind him: “Captain Wen, it’s time to go. News came from the palace that the fire in the Xie Mansion has been set ablaze at the right time.”
Wen Boyan took one last look at Xie’s mansion, turned around and disappeared into the night.
In the wind, his inaudible words came to him: “I’m sorry…”
I don’t know if I’m talking to Xie Nanqiao, or to myself who once had a sincere heart but now has filthy hands.
After the fifteenth day, Xiao Jue finally woke up.
When he opened his eyes, it was late at night.There was only an oil lamp lit in the room. Xie Heng leaned on the chair next to the bed, holding a volume of paperwork in his hand, but he had already fallen asleep.The candlelight flickered, reflecting his tired profile and the dazzling gray on his temples.
Xiao Jue looked at him for a long time before calling softly: “Aheng.”
Xie Heng woke up suddenly. When he saw Xiao Jue’s open eyes, he was startled, and then held his hand: “You’re awake. How do you feel?”
Xie Heng immediately stood up and poured water, carefully helped him up, and fed him little by little.The water temperature is just right, not hot or cold.
After drinking the water, Xiao Jue took a breath and then asked: “Where…are we?”
“Yunzhong City.” Xie Heng briefly talked about the situation these days. When he heard the content of the imperial edict, Xiao Jue fell silent.
After a long time, he looked at Xie Heng: “What are your plans?”
Xie Heng did not answer directly, but asked: “What about you? After you recover from your injury, what are you going to do? Go back and apologize? Or…”
Xiao Jue smiled, and there was no warmth in that smile, “What’s your crime? Your crime is winning the battle? Your crime is regaining lost territory? Your crime is that five thousand soldiers followed me out of seclusion, but less than a hundred came back alive?”
His voice was very soft, “Aheng, I always felt that as long as I was loyal enough and worked hard enough, I could defend this land and be worthy of my brothers who died in battle, worthy of the soldiers who trusted me, and worthy of the people in the north.”
“Now I understand. In the eyes of some people, loyalty is worthless, and working hard is what you deserve. What they want is not to protect the land and the people, but to be obedient, to be controllable, and to never threaten the balance of that chair.”
He stretched out his hand and held Xie Heng’s hand. The hand was shaking slightly because of the serious injury, but he held it tightly: “If you don’t want to end up like a dog, if you don’t want these five thousand soldiers to die in vain, and if you don’t want the people in the north to experience another war…”
Xie Heng took over his words first, “I can only overturn this table.”
Xie Heng looked into his eyes. Ten years have passed. The boy has grown up and has seen through it.
“Have you thought about it?” Xiao Jue asked softly, “Once you step on this road, you can’t turn back. If you take one step forward, you will be a traitor and a traitor, and you will be doomed.”
Xie Heng interrupted him and said word by word, “In today’s court, five thousand soldiers died in vain and no one cared about it, the border towns were in danger, and the emperor only cared about the balance of power…”
The room fell into a long silence.The candlelight danced, casting the shadows of the two people on the wall, leaning against each other.
Xiao Jue nodded slowly: “Okay.” It was just one word, but it seemed to carry a huge weight.
Xie Heng raised his eyes in surprise: “You…”
Xiao Jue took his words and raised the corner of his lips with a slight arc, “I will go to hell with you.”
Outside the window, the north wind blew across the city, blowing the broken battle flags and making hunting sounds.
In the post house in the west of the city, Wang Xianzheng told his subordinates: “Keep an eye on Xie Heng.”
In the room of the barracks, the candles were not extinguished all night long.
Thousands of miles away in Guzang City, the fire in Xie’s Mansion was finally put out.The library in the east courtyard was reduced to ashes, and most of the west courtyard was burned down.Xie Yuan was frightened, but nothing serious.The burn on Xu Shuhuai’s hand was carefully bandaged, and he insisted on staying in Xie’s Mansion to help with the aftermath.
In the dead of night, Xie Nanqiao came to the door of Xu Shuhuai’s temporary guest room, lingered for a long time, and finally raised his hand and knocked lightly.
The door opened and Xu Shuhuai looked at her with complicated eyes.
“I…I’m here to change your medicine.” Xie Nanqiao lowered his head, holding the medicine box in his hand, and his ears were red.
Xu Shuhuai turned sideways to let her in. The two sat opposite each other under the candlelight, neither of them daring to look at the other.
Xie Nanqiao carefully untied the bandage on Xu Shuhuai’s hand, and when he saw the hideous burns, his eyes turned red again.She gently applied the medicine to him little by little.
The ointment irritated the wound, and Xu Shuhuai frowned slightly in pain, but did not make a sound.
Xie Nanqiao’s tears fell and dripped on the back of his hand.
Xu Shuhuai suddenly raised his uninjured right hand and gently wiped the tears from her face.This action is so natural, as if it has been done thousands of times.
“Don’t cry.” His voice was hoarse, “It doesn’t hurt.”
Xie Nanqiao raised her tearful eyes to look at him. The candlelight danced in her eyes like two small clusters of flames.
After a long while she asked softly: “Today…why?”
Xu Shuhuai looked at her for a long time.He stretched out his hand and gently took her into his arms.
The hug was gentle, but it made Xie Nanqiao’s tears flow even more fiercely.
Xu Shuhuai whispered in her ear, with a tenderness that sounded like resignation, “Because I found that some things are more important than weighing the pros and cons.”
Outside the window, the long winter night in Guzang City has not yet passed.But some fires, once lit, can never be extinguished.Some paths, once chosen, can never be turned back.