HXC Chapter68

After kneeling all night, it was no surprise that Ji Zhen came down with a high fever.

 

Divine Physician Sai took his pulse and had someone forcefully pour some medicine down his throat. By the time he was fully awake, it was almost dusk.

 

Ji An handed the brewed medicine to Ji Zhen. He stared at the murky liquid, drank it in one gulp, and then, despite having been awake only briefly, tried to rise from the bed. But the moment he moved, his numb and sore legs felt as if thousands of ants were gnawing at them, and he gasped in a sharp breath.

 

“What are you doing, Young Master?”

 

Ji Zhen endured the soreness and dizziness to put on his shoes, saying, “Gege hasn’t had his ointment changed yet today.”

 

He had been punished with a night of kneeling and knew he was in the wrong from the start so he didn’t have a single word of complaint about his elder brother. He was just extremely worried about his elder brother’s injuries.

 

Ji An stopped him as he was hesitating. “The Eldest Young Master sent someone to say you don’t need to take care of him anymore. He told you to stay in your tent for now and not go out.”

 

Ji Zhen’s expression stiffened. “Gege doesn’t want me to take care of him anymore?”

 

Seeing him as if struck by cold water, Ji An hurried to comfort him. “The Eldest Young Master is still angry. When he’s not mad anymore, then you can go see him.”

 

“Yes, yes.” Ji Zhen slowly sat back down, crestfallen. “Gege must not want to see me right now.”

 

He hugged his bent legs while blaming himself. “He’s injured, and I made him angry…”

 

Ji An, who knew about the commotion last night, said, “Young Master, your mind gets muddled, and you act recklessly whenever you’re around Lord Shen. It’s no wonder the Eldest Young Master got so furious.”

 

Ji Zhen felt even more remorseful, wishing he could run out and kneel for another day and night to make his elder brother’s anger subside.

 

He wasn’t without thoughts of begging his elder brother to release Shen Yanqing, but Shen Yanqing had always been an enemy of his elder brother and Jiang Yunyu. Now that the other party was a prisoner of war on a march, if his elder brother really listened to him, how could he explain it to the soldiers?

 

He wanted to take responsibility for his actions and feared no military punishment, yet in the end he had still mess things up.

 

Ji An had been with Ji Zhen for so long and had never seen Ji Jue truly punish Ji Zhen so he couldn’t help but sigh as he squatted down.

 

The master and servant were both in a state of low spirits when Divine Physician Sai came to re-examine Ji Zhen.

 

“The fever is gone, but the cold has entered your body. Cover up with more blankets for the next few nights and don’t catch a chill. You’ll be fully recovered in no more than three days.”

 

Ji Zhen couldn’t help but ask, “How is my elder brother?”

 

“Don’t worry, Young Master Qin. I saw Master Qin at noon; his wound is fine.”

 

Ji Zhen finally let out a sigh of relief, then heard Divine Physician Sai say, “It’s the one in the prison cart who is a bit tricky.”

 

“What?”

 

Divine Physician Sai stroked his long beard and let out a tsk. “This old man heard a little about last night’s events. This one man supposed that Young Master Qin’s inquiry last time wasn’t just due to curiosity.”

 

Ji Zhen’s face was pale. “Master, don’t tease me. Is he fine?”

 

“The sickness has entered his lungs. Without three to five years of recuperation, it may be difficult to fully recover,” Divine Physician Sai said seriously. “The water towns of Jiangnan are known for their healing properties. If he could settle there, it would be of great benefit.”

 

Ji Zhen mumbled, “Jiangnan…”

 

Last night he had clearly seen that the colorful string on Shen Yanqing’s wrist was already badly worn, yet he still hadn’t taken it off.

 

Divine Physician Sai packed his medicine box as he spoke. “The General has already ordered him to be released from the prison cart and has arranged a separate tent for this old physician to treat his injuries, earning the reputation of being kind to captives. Young Master Qin, there’s no need to be so downhearted anymore.”

 

Ji Zhen was stunned, his eyes turning red under Divine Physician Sai’s teasing gaze.

 

After Divine Physician Sai left, he instinctively wanted to verify the truth of his words, but then he remembered his elder brother didn’t want him to leave the tent so he gave up on the idea and sent Ji An to go find out.

 

Ji An, being fast on his feet, came running back in less than fifteen minutes, panting as he said, “Young Master, it’s true. Lord Shen has been released from the prison cart, but there are heavily armed guards in front of his tent, and I didn’t dare get close.”

 

Ji Zhen clutched his chest, which was pounding non-stop. He stared blankly and began to laugh with tears streaming down his face. He murmured, “It was Gege…”

 

“Wasn’t it the Young General who gave the order?”

 

Ji Zhen shook his head, his voice firm. “It was Gege.”

 

Besides Ji Jue, no one would be so considerate of him.

 

—

 

Inside the tent, Divine Physician Sai was pulling out the silver needles from the patient’s chest one by one.

 

Shen Yanqing coughed softly twice. “Thank you, Master.”

 

“This old physician is just following orders,” Divine Physician Sai said. “This old physician will come to give you acupuncture every day from now on. After forty-nine days, this old physician can only help you recover about seventy percent of your previous health. You’ll need to be careful with the remaining thirty percent yourself.”

 

Shen Yanqing drank the medicine. There was a sound from the tent door and the pale-faced Ji Jue appeared before him.

 

Divine Physician Sai bowed and took his leave.

 

Ji Jue was still recovering from his serious injuries, and his movements were a bit awkward, but his steps were still steady. He slowly walked forward and said, “You got what you wanted.”

 

For Shen Yanqing, Ji Zhen had gone so far as to give a false military order and even knelt all night in the snow. His knees had become red and swollen and his head was dizzy yet he hadn’t begged for mercy. Such deep affection was obvious to all.

 

Shen Yanqing met his faint gaze. He said softly, “I didn’t expect Ji Zhen to do this.”

 

“You didn’t expect it or you had already figured out how soft-hearted he is?” Ji Jue frowned. “You were staking your life on this. If you died, so be it, but if you lived, Zhen Zhen would one day feel pity for you. The three months, specifically one hundred and nine days since March 17th, with injuries to your bones and a life of hardship, yet you manage to endure them.”

 

“But for someone so good at playing with hearts, you probably didn’t expect Zhen Zhen to ignore you for so many days, did you?”

 

Shen Yanqing’s voice was light but resolute. “As long as I’m alive, what does it matter if it’s three months, or even three years, or thirty years?”

 

Ji Jue studied him deeply and asked, “How much of your affection for Zhen Zhen is real?”

 

Shen Yanqing answered with a resonant voice, “My heart is not a stone.”

 

The wind cannot blow through it, nor can a blade chisel it.

 

This is how he was—unscrupulous. He would risk his life and go to great lengths, doing everything he could just to win back Ji Zhen’s affection.

 

—

 

 

The marching road was long so the large army continued to head south. The army camp had changed its station two more times. Half a month had passed, and Ji Jue still refused to see Ji Zhen.

 

Ji Zhen was worried about his elder brother’s injuries and would linger in front of his tent every day, but no matter how he called out from outside, Ji Jue did not respond. The guarding soldiers had their orders; even with Ji Zhen’s best entreaties, they wouldn’t let him in.

 

Fortunately, he could still learn from Divine Physician Sai that his elder brother’s injuries were improving and while his elder brother wouldn’t see him, he hadn’t stopped him from sending medicine.

 

Ji Zhen handed the brewed medicine to a soldier. As the tent flap lifted and then fell, he only vaguely caught a glimpse of his elder brother’s silhouette and said dejectedly, “I’ll come to see Gege again tomorrow.”

 

He had thought Ji Jue would continue to ignore him as he had for the past few days, but as soon as he turned around, he heard his elder brother’s voice from inside the tent. “You don’t want to see me today?”

 

The soldier lifted the flap and said with a smile, “Hurry and go in, Young Master Qin.”

 

Everyone in the army camp knew the two of them had a great fraternal relationship, and the soldiers were genuinely happy for Ji Zhen that Ji Jue was willing to see him.

 

Ji Zhen was overjoyed. Fearing his elder brother might change his mind, he quickly darted into the tent. Seeing the shadow of his elder brother sitting at a low table looking at a deployment map, he paused slightly, stood awkwardly, and called out “Gege” very softly.

 

Ji Jue looked up and saw the hesitant Ji Zhen. “What, after being punished to kneel once, you’re going to become distant from me?”

 

“Of course not!” Ji Zhen pursed his lips, slowly shuffling over, and cautiously observing Ji Jue’s expression. “Gege isn’t angry with me anymore?”

 

Ji Jue didn’t answer, his expression calm as water.

 

Ji Zhen was used to climbing up the pole his elder brother gave him. He took a couple of steps to get to his elder brother’s side, picked up the inkstone, and said, “I’ll grind the ink for Gege.”

 

Seeing that Ji Jue didn’t object, he worked hard at grinding the ink and then said in a small voice, “I really know I was wrong. If Gege is still angry, just punish me again.”

 

Ji Jue put down the deployment map and asked, “Then tell me, what did you do wrong?”

 

Ji Zhen earnestly repented. “I shouldn’t have stolen the token, and I shouldn’t have given a false command from you, and I shouldn’t have… shouldn’t have tried to privately let Shen Yanqing go.”

 

But Ji Jue said, “That’s not right.”

 

Ji Zhen looked down in confusion.

 

Ji Jue nituced some ink on his hand, pulled the ink stick from his fingertips, picked up a damp cloth from the side and wiped it for him. He said plainly, “Your mistake is repeatedly putting yourself in danger.”

 

The thick black ink was wiped away little by little. “The grasslands were one time, and that night was another.”

 

Ji Zhen looked up at his elder brother’s eyes in a daze. He knew he was wrong in countless ways but he had never expected the reason for his elder brother’s anger was this.

 

“If you weren’t Jiang Yunyu’s friend and not my younger brother, which of those two times would you not have been killed?” Ji Jue released Ji Zhen’s hand and said, “Of course I’m angry that you knowingly offended me, but I’m even more furious that you disregarded yourself for someone else. Don’t forget, there are people in this world who care about you.”

 

Ji Zhen felt both touched and guilty by his elder brother’s words as a pang of sourness rising from his heart to the tip of his nose. He half-squatted, rested his head on his elder brother’s leg, and choked out, “I won’t do it again.”

 

“You promise?”

 

Ji Zhen nodded heavily. “I’ll never go back on my word.”

 

Only then did Ji Jue gently pat his head and ask, “Are your knees better?”

 

Ji Zhen sniffled and stood up, then bouncing a few times in front of his elder brother. “They couldn’t be any better.”

 

He then remembered the injury on Ji Jue’s back and insisted on seeing it to feel at ease. Unable to refuse him, Ji Jue took off his outer robe, then his inner one and turned his back to him.

 

A month had passed and the sword wound on Ji Jue’s back had begun to scab over. The long scar that was twisting like a centipede along his spine was a shocking sight.

 

Ji Zhen quieted down and gently caressing the rough scar with his fingertips. He said regretfully, “If I had practiced martial arts more and studied more, I could have fought alongside Gege…”

 

Ji Jue looked back at him and said softly, “But in my eyes, Zhen Zhen is already perfect just like this.”

 

Ji Zhen smiled at his elder brother. Ji Jue put his inner robe back on and lifted Ji Zhen’s hand.

 

A heavy object had been placed in Ji Zhen’s palm. He looked down and saw it was a token.

 

“Why would you need to steal something you want?” Ji Jue smiled faintly. “We are of one heart and mind. What is mine is yours.”

 

Ji Zhen’s lips parted slightly in astonishment.

 

Ji Jue closed his fingers around the token to hold it firmly in his hand. “Go on.”

 

Ji Zhen’s eyes felt warm.

 

Ji Jue seemed afraid that he himself would change his mind, he waved his hand to shoo him away. “If you don’t go now, I’ll take it back.”

 

Ji Zhen stood up, both surprised and delighted. He took two steps, then turned back and bowed deeply to Ji Jue. “Thank you, Gege.”

 

Ji Jue watched Ji Zhen’s openly joyful expression and brisk steps as he left. He took half a step forward to follow, then forced himself to stop.

 

Ji Zhen’s voice kept echoing in his ears, calling “Gege” again and again.

 

It was the naive child who fell and cried, rushing into his arms for comfort; the mischievous youth who jumped on his back, wanting him to run around the mansion; the younger brother with tears streaming down his face, seeing him off and wanting to live and die with him…

 

“Gege, if you don’t carry me on your back, I’ll never talk to you again.”

 

“Gege, look, this is the paper kite I folded myself! Aren’t I awesome?”

 

“Gege, I truly like him. Please grant me your blessings…”

 

The words “Please grant me your blessings” were as heavy as Mount Tai.

 

Ji Jue would be the elder brother who loved Ji Zhen the most for all of eternity.

 

The author has something to say:

Don’t underestimate Lord Shen’s temperament. He’s the type of person who would fight his way back from hell if he died.