Bai Ze returned to his book, ignoring her. He remembered a younger Murong Jin, her eyes shining as she spoke of a simple life, roaming the jianghu with just a horse and a sword.
But years later, when he returned to Wuchuan, he found a general. An empress.
"Senior Brother, I want to go back." Her voice was a whisper, fragile.
He turned a page.
"Senior Brother." Louder this time.
He sighed, putting the book down. "Your legs haven't healed. I haven't found a way yet."
She fell silent, shrinking back against the headboard.
Suddenly, he blew out the candle. He stood, pulling her behind him, his body shielding hers.
"What is it?" She sensed his tension.
He shook his head, signaling for silence. He stared at the window, listening to the slow footsteps approaching outside.
One person.
"Friend outside, visiting so late? What do you want?" he called out.
"Murong Jin."
The door burst open, shattered by a palm strike. The night wind rushed in, making her shiver.
Bai Ze braced himself, ready to strike.
"Fourth Brother?" She peeked out from behind him, squinting into the darkness.
"Mm." A deep voice answered. A sword was half-drawn.
Xue Zhuoran didn't know who this man in white was, but he could see the protective stance. This man wouldn't give her up easily.
Murong Jin relaxed. She tugged Bai Ze's sleeve. "It's a misunderstanding. This is Xue Liulan's brother, Xue Zhuoran."
"The Fourth Prince." Bai Ze didn't move. His tone was hostile.
"Bai Ze." She frowned. "He is my brother too."
He understood. By calling him 'Fourth Brother,' she was telling him: Do not hurt him. He matters to me.
"Sit." Bai Ze relaxed his stance, relighting the candle.
Xue Zhuoran walked to the bed, looking at her. "What happened?"
"I chased Guo Ren to the cliff. I killed the three of them, but one dragged me down with him." She shrugged, as if discussing the weather. "How did you find me?"
"I saw drag marks at the cliff edge. I thought I might find you at the bottom." He smiled faintly. "If I hadn't, I wouldn't be able to face Liulan."
Her eyes flickered at the mention of her husband. She was happy to see Xue Zhuoran, but a small, nagging thought persisted. Why isn't it him? Is the empire more important than my life?
"Qi'er was poisoned," Xue Zhuoran said, seeing her expression. "Liulan is in Jindu, watching over him. Guo Shangzhong is getting bold. Liulan has to wait."
"Poisoned?" Her heart seized. "My son?"
"Don't worry. He's fine now. Guo Shangzhong tried to force the court to crown him, but Liulan returned in time. But in the chaos, the child was poisoned. He's weak, but safe."
"I have to go back." She looked at him, desperate. Then at Bai Ze. "Senior Brother, even if I'm a burden, I have to go. I can't stay here, not knowing."
Bai Ze walked up to her, his gaze cold. "And if you go back and find you are a burden? What then, Jin? Suicide? Or a fight to the death? In Wuchuan, you are in command. In Jindu, disaster falls from the sky. What will you do?"
She opened her mouth, but no sound came.
What would she do? Could she bear being a burden?
"Sir," Xue Zhuoran broke the silence. "Are her legs truly incurable?"
Bai Ze looked him over. He saw the signs of congenital heat poison.
"Not harder than your illness."
Xue Zhuoran's expression shifted, but he recovered his smile quickly.
"If there is a cure, she won't be a burden." He relaxed. "Chong Hua, the Physician Saint of Yin, has kept me alive for years. Healing her legs should be simple for him."
"Chong Hua?" Bai Ze's calm face showed surprise. Even in the jianghu, that name was legendary. One of the two great healers, alongside the woman on the Snow Mountain.
"Yes. I have some friendship with him. I can ask him to help."
"Good." Murong Jin beamed. She had seen Chong Hua's skill. And even without him, there was the Divine Physician on the Snow Mountain.
Bai Ze was silent for a long time. "I won't let her leave."
Xue Zhuoran stared at him, confused.
"Senior Brother, I can't stay here." She knew him. Once he decided something, he would move heaven and earth to make it happen.
"And I won't send you back to that chaos." He walked to the door, looking out into the night. "Leave, Xue Zhuoran."
The line was drawn. If he wanted to take her, he would have to fight.
"I must take her with me." Xue Zhuoran's voice hardened.
"Then you will stay here too." Bai Ze slammed the door shut. Thud.
Murong Jin's heart jumped. "No! Don't!"
Too late. Bai Ze struck, his palm aiming for Xue Zhuoran's chest.
Thunderous force. A direct hit would shatter organs.
Xue Zhuoran sidestepped, the wind of the blow grazing his face. He turned, blocking the second strike with his forearm.
Arm met arm. Both men stumbled back a few steps.
"You have skill." Bai Ze swayed slightly, putting his hands behind his back.
Xue Zhuoran swallowed the metallic taste of blood rising in his throat. He smiled, though his face was pale. "You flatter me."
"Stop it!" Murong Jin tried to stand, but her legs failed her. She fell to the floor. "Bai Ze, stop!"
"Jin." He rushed to her, helping her up.
"Let me go." She raised her hand. A hairpin was pressed against her throat, half an inch from the skin.
"Are you crazy?" Bai Ze grabbed her hand. "You can stay here! No more schemes, no more danger. Wuchuan is close. Your father can visit."
"You fell fighting Guo Ren. Liulan will remember your merit. He won't destroy the Murong family," Xue Zhuoran said suddenly. "Staying here… is your best choice."
"Fourth Brother?" She looked at him, baffled.
"You never liked Jindu. If Liulan knew you could find peace here, he would want you to stay."
"But I don't want to!" She shouted, losing control. "I know you mean well. But have you ever thought about why I made those choices?"
The two men froze.
"Wuchuan has other generals. Anyone could have fought for my father. But I was the first to volunteer. I could have left the palace a hundred times. But I want to go back."
"You still can't let go." Bai Ze sighed.
"No. It's not just that." She looked up at him, her eyes burning. "I don't trust anyone else to protect the people I love."
Bai Ze looked at his junior sister, helpless. He gave a desolate laugh. "Jin, I should have known. Only you could make me change my mind."
"Senior Brother, thank you for giving me the choice again." She smiled, squeezing his arm.
He helped her sit on the bed, looking down at her.
"I forgot. In these ten years, your life has filled with things other than the freedom you once wanted." He stroked her hair and placed a pill in her hand. "Take this. In six hours, feeling will return to your legs. But you must rest for a hundred days."