Chapter 56: Old Wounds

“I’ll be gentler later.”On the square table in the council hall lay a threatening letter quietly delivered by the royal palace’s assassins, claiming they had kidnapped Xiao Ziqi and demanding Xuan Rui exchange him for Zhenbei Wang.”

Yuchi Meng cursed loudly, “That scoundrel Xiao Ziqi is usually as slippery as a ghost, yet this time he got ambushed and kidnapped. He must have been bewitched by that white fox spirit and brought this upon himself. Boss, you might as well leave him be and let him fend for himself.”

As these words fell, the camp fell into silence.

Xuan Rui remained silent, and everyone in the camps, including Xiao Ziqi’s subordinates, dared not make a sound.

“You said the last person he saw before disappearing was Bai Cha.” Xuan Rui recalled that delicate yet sinister face, feeling a surge of disgust.

That day, Bai Yao’er had falsely relayed the prince’s secret orders, saving six thousand soldiers from disaster—she still had some integrity left.

But Bai Cha, fully aware of Zhenbei Wang’s collusion with foreign tribes, still sought to climb the social ladder through him via connections with me, proving her intentions were even more unscrupulous.

After Zhenbei Wang was captured, she still refused to give up, directly collaborating with the prince’s men to kidnap Xiao Ziqi and blackmail me.

If this person isn’t eliminated, she will surely become a calamity.

“Bring Lu Zhan here. I’ll personally take him to the Blackwater Desert.” Xuan Rui looked at Yuchi Meng and coldly ordered, “Take a cavalry squad and follow me from a distance. Act upon hearing the whistle signal.”

“Yes.” Though Yuchi Meng’s words were sharp, upon hearing the general still intended to rescue him, he immediately complied.

Xiao Ziqi was well-liked, and most people present breathed a sigh of relief.

By morning, the group set off for the Blackwater Desert.

As Xuan Rui rode past the tents, he glanced deeply inside but ultimately left in silence.

Outside, there was a commotion. Li Youqing didn’t know what was happening but then heard Xuan Rui’s stern voice, seemingly preparing to depart with his troops.

Still sulking, she resisted going out to look.

It wasn’t until lunchtime that she learned from Liu Shi about Xiao Ziqi’s kidnapping.

Thinking that Lu Zhan might be rescued, she grew deeply troubled.

Hadn’t he just submitted a memorial to Father Emperor detailing Lu Zhan’s treasonous crimes? And now he was about to release him—this was sheer recklessness.

Seeing her worried expression, Liu Shi comforted her, “Madam, there’s no need to fret. Although the Blackwater Desert is treacherous, the general and his men have been there before and are very familiar with the terrain. Nothing will go wrong.”

“Will the general really agree to the enemy’s demands and hand over Zhenbei Wang?” Li Youqing murmured blankly.

Hadn’t he repeatedly told her he wouldn’t make losing deals? Then what was this?

He nitpicked with her, yet was so generous and selfless with others—what a liar.

“That’s a military secret. I wouldn’t know.” Liu Shi noticed she had barely eaten and had already put down her chopsticks, growing anxious. “Madam, how can you eat so little? Your body won’t withstand it.”

She still remembered how Li Youqing had wept in the general’s arms that morning—it pained even her to see it.

Just from the frequency of water requests in the tent these past few days, it was clear the general was excessive in his marital demands. How could someone as delicate as the madam endure it?

Feeling irritated, Li Youqing stood up abruptly. “Take it all away. I can’t eat anything.”

Liu Shi sighed, helpless against this princess’s temper.

At this point, only General Xuan himself could make the madam eat a few more bites.

That afternoon, Li Youqing went out for a horseback ride to clear her mind, but she had only traveled a short distance when she was stopped by someone who said the General had specifically ordered that she was not to leave the camp today.

Just as she was about to lose her temper, Liu Shi hurried over and persuaded her, “Young master Xiao was kidnapped nearby just yesterday. Please don’t run off again, Madam. If anything were to happen, you’d be the one to suffer the consequences.”

Li Youqing’s face paled. Without a word, she turned around and headed straight back to the camp.

If Xuan Rui didn’t return, was she confined to this tiny patch of land, unable to go anywhere?

He had promised so clearly before to send her back to the capital.

She had originally intended to travel with the escort taking Zhenbei Wang back to the capital, but now, Lu Zhan had been taken by him to exchange for Xiao Ziqi.

Leaving aside whether she could return to the palace, how would he explain such actions to Father Emperor?

In the past, she had imagined countless times how she would have him punished after returning to the capital.

Even during their argument that morning, she had thought about severely punishing him in the future to crush his arrogance.

But now, her heart was filled with conflict.

On one hand, she didn’t want him to release Lu Zhan; on the other, she felt his safety was most important.

If she had known he would undertake such a dangerous mission today, she wouldn’t have made a scene this morning.

As evening approached, this sense of fear grew particularly intense.

Liu Shi came in several times and saw that she had barely eaten or drunk anything all day, yet didn’t know how to console her.

She couldn’t tell whether Madam was still angry about not being allowed to leave or worried about General Xuan.

“Have they not returned yet?” The night was deep. Li Youqing sat on the bed with her knees hugged to her chest, not feeling sleepy at all.

Her heart felt as if simmering over a low flame, her mind in turmoil as she kept recalling that morning’s argument.

Every word, every sentence replayed in her mind.

Though his attitude had been poor at the time, he had spoken of vanquishing the barbarians and guarding the northwest gateway for the royal family.

He had also promised never to take advantage of her—

Time had never passed so slowly.

How she wished he would appear before her immediately, even if just to inform her that Zhenbei Wang had been released and she could no longer return to the capital—

Li Youqing wasn’t sure of her own feelings either—whether she cared more about his safety or her desire to return to the capital.

Was he truly that important to her?

Initially, she had only wanted to use his influence to seek protection and survive in the northwest.

In her mind, Xuan Rui was merely a floating log to cling to.

But now this ‘floating log’ had disappeared without leaving her a single clear word.

Just as her heart was tossed with anxiety, the sound of hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the tent.

Faintly, she heard someone calling for General Xuan, followed by urgent calls for the army medic—the scene sounded chaotic.

He was back—

Li Youqing immediately rushed down from the bed. After a few steps, she suddenly remembered something, turned back to put on her outer robe and cloak, then hurried out.

Outside was indeed in chaos. She spotted Yuchi Meng standing in the crowd, pushing through the surrounding soldiers. She grabbed him and asked, “Where is General Xuan!”

Yuchi Meng was momentarily stunned, slow to react, then lifted his hand and pointed toward a tent not far away.

At that moment, the army medic had just entered. The tent flap was lifted, and a soldier emerged carrying a basin of bloody water—

Liu Shi was also there. Seeing Li Youqing about to enter the tent, she hurriedly tried to stop her: “Madam, you really cannot go in!”

Li Youqing, who had just been terrified by that basin of bloody water, paid no heed to anyone’s words and barged straight in.

She saw a man sitting on the bed with his back to her, his bare back bearing an extremely deep knife wound. A military doctor was kneeling beside the bed, cleaning the wound for him.

“General Xuan—” Li Youqing rushed over in worry, reaching out to touch him but then pulling her hand back, afraid of causing him pain.

“Madam, this is no place for you. Let’s leave quickly.” Liu Shi, who had never witnessed such a scene before, was so embarrassed that her face flushed crimson as she pulled Li Youqing outward.

“I’m not leaving! I’m staying here!” Li Youqing, with strength she didn’t know she possessed, shook off Liu Shi’s hand, her gaze firmly fixed on the man on the bed.

The man, meanwhile, had gone completely rigid, feeling a numbness spreading from the top of his head.

The injury was painful enough as it was, but now he dared not move a muscle. The freshly coagulated wound began bleeding again from the strain.

Just as Li Youqing was locked in a stalemate with Liu Shi, she was suddenly lifted by a powerful force and swiftly carried away from the scene.

Enveloped in a familiar scent, she opened her eyes wide and saw that it was Xuan Rui—the very man she had mistakenly believed to be gravely injured.

Even after they returned to the tent and he unceremoniously tossed her onto the bed, Li Youqing’s mind remained in a daze.

Could it be that she had mistaken someone else for him earlier—

Then, in her panic, she had called out that name in front of everyone… and later stared at that man’s body for so long. She must have made a complete fool of herself.

Too ashamed to face anyone, she burrowed into the blankets, wrapping herself up tightly.

She didn’t want to see his expression now, nor did she want to be mocked by him.

After a long moment, a derisive laugh came from above her: “Trying to suffocate yourself? Come out already.”

Li Youqing rolled further inward, putting more distance between them, though her cheeks were already burning fiercely.

She felt the bed dip, knowing he had sat down, and wrapped the blankets even tighter around herself.

But knowing he wasn’t injured, a heavy weight finally lifted from her heart.

All along, this man had seemed to possess boundless energy, never at a disadvantage no matter the time or place.

Yet it was precisely such an iron-forged body that, once injured, became all the more frightening.

Li Youqing had been truly terrified at that moment—that man’s back had a gaping, bloody hole, and it kept bleeding incessantly.

“So worried about me? Aren’t you going to get up and bandage me?” Xuan Rui, still carrying guilt from the morning, placed a large hand over the blankets covering her and patted gently.

The shape under the blankets was just a small, curled-up lump, barely noticeable if one didn’t look closely.

After all this time being cared for, how was she still so thin—

After a long while, a muffled voice emerged from under the covers: “Aren’t you fine?”

“Who says I’m fine? I’m just not as badly off as that scoundrel Xiao Ziqi.” As he spoke, Xuan Rui supported his left shoulder with one hand and deliberately let out a pained grunt.

This time, his old injury had been aggravated. Though not too serious, the military doctor had warned him not to use his left arm for a while, lest it lead to future complications.

The blanket was thrown back, revealing a small, flushed face. Her eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, glared at him with a mix of embarrassment and anger.

All the way back, Xuan Rui had been thinking about how to win her over. Seeing her like this now, he could no longer restrain himself. He immediately pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

Li Youqing still didn’t know where he was injured, so she dared not struggle too forcefully. When he finally stopped, she complained with grievance, “Why are you always like this?”

Every time they met, he would get handsy. Lately, even when she woke from sleep, he’d act this way—they couldn’t even have a proper conversation.

“I can’t help myself when I see you.” Xuan Rui’s lower abdomen burned with restrained desire, his voice turning hoarse. Remembering how she had rushed in earlier, calling his name with such concern etched on her face, made his heart swell with warmth.

Now, safe within the tranquil tent, he gazed at her sweet, lovely face as if he could never get his fill.

“Tell me, where are you hurt?” Li Youqing examined him carefully and, noticing he still wore his armor, urged softly, “Why haven’t you taken off your armor yet?”

Xuan Rui grasped her hand, pressed it against his cheek, then turned to kiss her palm. The tingling sensation made her jerk her hand back in surprise. Frowning, she said, “Seeing you like this, your injury probably isn’t serious. Go find the military doctor yourself.”

With that, she burrowed back under the covers, shooing him away. “I’m going to sleep. Be careful later—don’t wake me.”

“I’ve already been checked. It’s an old wound from last time.” Xuan Rui picked up a stray lock of hair lying outside the blanket and said gently, “I didn’t want the smell of blood to bother you, so I’ll go wash up first and check on Xiao Ziqi while I’m at it.”

He thought he must be going mad—even every single strand of her hair seemed unbearably adorable to him.

Leaning down again, he kissed her satin-like black hair and murmured, “Sleep now. I’ll be quiet later and won’t disturb you.”