Небо над реками и озерами очень чистое

Глава 93

A hazy light entered my eyes, and after a while, I could finally make out a clear image. I tried to prop myself up with my hands, but my body felt incredibly heavy.

The person beside the bed sensed the movement and immediately leaned over to press down on her shoulder.

A hint of tension flickered across her calm face, which surprised her slightly. Before she could figure out why, a weak and helpless panic overwhelmed her, and she instantly remembered everything.

My mind was instantly drained, and I had no strength left.

"Pianxian?" He helped her sit up, half-sitting and half-lying. Her pale, bloodless face was alarming, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. "How...are you feeling?"

Her dark eyes remained blank for a long time before finally turning slightly to meet his gaze.

It felt like an empty void, a chilling despair.

"………lightly."

His palms were wet and cold, and he clenched them even tighter.

She let him hold her hand, her expression blank, neither crying nor moving, neither sad nor happy, deathly silent.

"Fluttering!" Jun Suiyu's throat went dry, and she almost lost her voice.

In a hazy, confused state, a pair of anxious eyes floated before her eyes… Who was calling her? They seemed very worried, as if they were forcing her to say something.

"………water………"

She was so thirsty. Why did she feel so thirsty? It was like being lost in the desert and unable to find water. She was so thirsty that she was almost going crazy. If she hadn't drunk the blood of the gerbil, she would have turned into a dried-up corpse under the scorching sun. Was it a hallucination? Blood began to taste in her mouth. It was fishy and salty, so salty that it tasted bitter. Her consciousness became hazy.

"Don't bite!" Jun Suiyu gripped her chin, forcing her to release her grip. A trickle of blood seeped from her lips, a testament to her boundless fear. "Pianxian, relax, don't hurt yourself," he commanded sharply without turning his head. "Water! Quickly!"

That person... is usually so composed, how could they be so flustered...?

The celadon porcelain cup was held before her eyes. She instinctively reached out to take it, but the small teacup was surprisingly heavy. It was so heavy that she couldn't hold it and watched helplessly as it fell and rolled a few times on the thick, soft carpet, spilling all the water.

The room was deathly silent.

Her hand… stared blankly at her fingertips, which were wet with tea, and she uttered two words.

"go out."

The people around him froze for a moment, then picked up their teacups and silently signaled everyone to leave, closing the door behind them.

“Young Master…” Shuangjing protested, still uneasy.

Jun Suiyu, her face pale, shook her hand and held her breath to listen to the sounds coming from inside the door.

After a long while, a dull thud came from inside the room. Shuangjing almost rushed in, but Jun Suiyu stopped her.

"Miss, she..."

"She's testing her leg." Jun Suiyu stared at the lacquered door, as if she could see through the paper to the scene inside. "Don't go, she doesn't want anyone to see."

After a long while, there was no further sound.

He pushed open the door and went in alone, carrying the person lying on the carpet back to the bed; the weak body was curled up like a dead person.

For a full two weeks, she didn't utter a single word or show a single expression.

Doctor Fu Tian treated her with acupuncture every day to strengthen her pulse and regulate her blood circulation, so she no longer had to sleep all day, but all her vitality was extinguished. He would rather she scream hysterically than be in a state of despair without tears, without questions, without a single word of resentment.

"lightly."

She opened her mouth, swallowed a spoonful of soup, her dull eyes showing no reaction.

"Are you feeling any better today? Doctor Fu said your hand should be able to hold a cup now."

As silent as the past fifteen days.

"He said your condition is better than expected, and you can try walking in a few days."

His drooping eyes stared at his outstretched palm, and even with all his strength, he could only make a very shallow mark.

A pang of sorrow gripped his heart, but he steadied his voice. "Young Master Xie requests an audience every day, and yesterday we almost came to blows."

Her long eyelashes trembled slightly.

"He wants to see you; it seems he's getting impatient."

There was no response, so he continued, "In a while, we will inevitably have to force our way in, but even with Wu Shichao's extraordinary skills, it won't be easy for him to break in. I have already ordered a heightened level of vigilance."

After a long while, his empty eyes glanced at the southern sky and finally uttered his first words.

"...Send the message to Yangzhou, and the Xie family will find a way to get him back."

"I am very pleased that you have come to Xijing." The host raised his glass in a toast and began his remarks.

The man opposite him tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, expressing his sincere gratitude. "Thank you for taking such good care of her."

“She is my closest relative, it’s only right.” He put down the jade cup, his voice turning somber. “It’s a pity we found her too late. If only we had known she was in the Tianshan Mountains…”

After a moment of silence, Xie Yunshu sighed softly. "It's unstoppable. She decided to take revenge a long time ago."

“I’ve been thinking about whether or not I should let you meet.” Jun Suiyu rarely showed hesitation. “Her health is very poor, worse than you know. She’s been practically asleep for the past few years.”

“At least she’s still here.” Xie Yunshu took a breath and answered briefly. “I’m very fortunate about that.”

"How far are you willing to go for her...?" Getting to the point, Jun Suiyu's gaze became almost harshly critical. "Being the son-in-law of the Jun family isn't that easy."

"Anything is fine as long as it doesn't violate family rules." Xie Yunshu met her gaze frankly. "You're not someone bound by etiquette. I know you have your reasons for not letting me take her away and insisting on marrying her into the Xie family, but please speak frankly."

"Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you within the family." Wen Wen's face was inscrutable. "This matter is mutually beneficial for both Pianxian and the Xie family."

"I believe you. Otherwise, why would you only bring it up now?" She had clearly calculated that he wouldn't refuse.

“It should have been me who did it.” Jun Suiyu smiled faintly, his solemn expression softening. “But it’s too far away, and with my power, it’s not something I can accomplish in a short time. Pianxian can’t wait.”

"Since I am her husband, it is only right that I do my best."

Jun Suiyu gazed into those calm and composed eyes. "I'm very relieved. She definitely didn't choose the wrong person."

Given the opposing positions of the two families, he agreed without even asking, revealing a deep affection that was truly touching.

"I understand that you genuinely care for her." Regardless of what is said, Jun Suiyu's affection for her is beyond doubt, and no matter how scheming he may be, he would never use her for personal gain.

The two men, brought closer by a woman, exchanged a few words and developed a mutual appreciation for each other.

"Back in Yangzhou, I felt we could become friends."

"Now we're even closer," Xie Yunshu said with a smile. "I wouldn't mind if you became my brother-in-law."

Jun Suiyu smiled, then suddenly reminded her, "She can't afford to waste any more energy."

"She will have nothing to worry about anymore."

"I'm still worried."

"You may choose as many trusted confidants as dowry members as you wish; I will handle things with the Xie family." Marrying her did not mean rendering her powerless; he was prepared to suppress any emerging criticism.

The two tacitly clinked glasses and drank silently for a while.

"There are some things I want to ask you," Jun Suiyu said.

Xie Yunshu looked up, her eyes sparkling. "Me too."

“I’m not qualified to ask her, but I really want to know.” Jun Suiyu sighed with a hint of helplessness. “So I have no choice but to ask you.”

Xie Yunshu smiled as well. "There are some things I've asked her about many times, but she's always unwilling to talk about them. I guess she can only rely on you."

“Then let’s make a trade. You tell me how she’s lived all these years, what she’s done, and how she’s changed into what she is now.” Jun Suiyu looked at the old carvings on the pillars. “I’ll tell you about what happened twenty years ago.”

His cold eyes suddenly softened, and after a moment of quiet reflection, Xie Yunshu began to recount the past in a low voice.

It seems he has never said so much before.

When talking about Jia Ye, he talked about their first meeting in the palace many years ago, the first time he accompanied her out of the mountains, her cold and ruthless appearance, her vulnerability after falling into a coma, her eyes that were never gentle, the temptations and court struggles, the turbulent danger of collapse, the covetous and prying eyes of the crowd, the conspiracies and scheming that trapped him all year round, all the things buried deep in his heart poured out like a flood.

Perhaps it was the alcohol, or perhaps it was the understanding of the person opposite me that caused the slight pain in my eyes.

This person felt the same heartache as him, heartache for the person struggling in the deepest darkness of adversity, understanding her goodness, her hardship, her resilience, her diamond-like brilliance, her tenacious and unwavering spirit as she trudged through the mire. Those who haven't experienced it will never understand the profound despair she faced.

How did that fragile butterfly manage to fly across the vast ocean?

One empty jar after another was tossed down; they drank a lot and talked a lot. The wine entered their hearts, transforming into a heart-wrenching sorrow.

He thought he was truly drunk, so drunk that he saw the young master of the Jun family, known for his unfathomable scheming, burst into tears; so drunk that the two of them made a pact to fight for Qiongzhou; so drunk that... the person he loved so much gently wiped his face and playfully brushed a strand of hair across his nose.

As expected... drunk.

This dream is wonderful.

Author's Note: Uh... I rearranged the chapter order for a smoother reading experience.

This extra chapter is written in a bit disjointed order, I hope you can understand it~~~~

Side Story - Little Sister

On the verdant hillside, brightly colored kites flew low, swaying precariously in the wind. A little boy, running and walking, wasn't quite sure how to fly them, and just kept pulling hard. Before long, the string snapped, and the drifting kite landed right in front of him, which he picked up.

The butler stood beside him, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

The little girl, as white as snow, with bright black eyes that held a baby-like blue, looked at him timidly, then turned to look at the person under the tree in the distance. He understood what she wanted, glanced at the limp kite in his hand, and deliberately refused to give it to her.

My father would travel for long periods of time each year, staying here instead, neglecting his home in Xijing because of that woman far away.

This is my father's other home, inhabited by a beautiful woman and... his unwanted sister. The woman is deeply loved and pampered by my father; he doesn't even dare let her know that he already has a wife and children.

Therefore, mothers are never happy.

My father treated my mother exceptionally well, with gentleness, politeness, and respect. Except when he was away on long journeys, he never went against his wife's wishes. It was both out of respect and guilt. Everyone else envied and admired him, but only he understood the sorrow beneath his mother's lonely face.

That day, his mother took him on a long journey to the beautiful city of Yangzhou. Knowing that her husband's heart was beyond redemption, she set aside her last shred of dignity and took her beloved son to Yangzhou... to bring the mother and daughter back to Xi'an.

Perhaps only by enduring to the point of humility could she keep her husband from leaving.

The exquisitely crafted mansion was filled with finely decorated ornaments and furnishings, many of which looked strangely familiar. The master hadn't returned from visiting a friend, and the mistress unexpectedly arrived. The butler was startled and embarrassed, but dared not disobey. He finally saw the woman who shouldn't have been there, and…

His sister, whom he didn't want at all.

Her fair and rosy face was still damp with a light sweat, and her childlike smile was so sweet that it made people feel happy.

"Uncle, the kite is mine."

The butler coughed a few times, unable to manage a smile. "Reporting to Madam and Young Master, Miss Pianxian has never met outsiders before; she only calls older people 'uncle' and 'sister'." He finished speaking with a slightly embarrassed expression, then coaxed the girl, "She should call you 'brother'."