Broken Jade - Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Wei Heng’s leg was broken about five inches below the knee.

In the past, broken arms and legs had been commonplace for Sheng Zhaoning. She had gritted her teeth and set her own broken bones more times than she could count, yet now that it was Wei Heng before her, she found herself hesitating.

Tentatively, she reached out and touched his leg. Only when Wei Heng showed no reaction did she take a deep breath and place both hands around the break. After a moment’s pause, she closed her eyes and wrenched hard-

Crack.

The bone snapped back into place, and a wave of excruciating pain struck him.

Wei Heng clenched his teeth. The veins on his neck bulged as his hands dug into the ground. He swallowed every cry of pain, his entire body trembling with the effort. Cold sweat instantly poured down his face.

Sheng Zhaoning dared not waste a moment. She immediately splinted his leg, then checked the alignment.

Fortunately, though she had laid down her weapons years ago, her skills had not dulled in the slightest.

The displaced bone had been perfectly reset.

Sheng Zhaoning had never felt grateful for the years she had spent as a Shadow Guard. But when she pulled the wound medicine she habitually carried from her waist, she found herself thinking that it was fortunate she had once been one.

A Shadow Guard never left home without medicine.

Clumsily, she wiped away the sweat running into his eyes. Then she tore off a strip of cloth, soaked it in cold water, and carefully cleaned the blood from around his wound.

She evenly applied the wound medicine she had brought from Liangzhou to his lower leg, then fashioned a simple bandage.

Wei Heng was curious why she carried so many things with her.

A fire starter, wound medicine-and when he had held her around the waist on horseback, he had even faintly felt the dagger tucked against her lower back.

But he did not ask.

Whatever her past had been, it had shaped her into the person she was now.

And he liked her just as she was.

Wei Heng gazed at Sheng Zhaoning. Dust and sweat had smeared her face, but her eyes remained exceptionally clear and bright.

“Thank you,” he said with heartfelt sincerity.

Thank you for coming into my life.

Thank you for risking your life to protect me, time and time again, when death was at hand.

Wei Heng had never loved anyone before, nor did he understand what sort of feeling could be called “love.”

But at that moment, he was absolutely certain that he loved Sheng Zhaoning.

Even if she was a man, even if their feelings defied every convention in the world, he still loved her.

That was the truth Wei Heng was willing to acknowledge.

No one could change it.

Outside the cave, scattered footsteps slowly drew closer.

Sheng Zhaoning’s expression changed. The softness that had entered her eyes vanished, instantly replaced by icy coldness.

“There’s firelight inside! Search the cave!”

The assassins’ footsteps rapidly approached.

Biting her lower lip, Sheng Zhaoning calmly swept her gaze around the cave, and her heart sank.

They were already in the deepest part of the cavern, surrounded by stone walls. There was no way out.

Except… for the raging underground current that led to parts unknown.

“Your Highness, we may have to gamble our lives on this.”

Sheng Zhaoning had never feared death.

Each of the countless times she had walked the line between life and death, she had done so prepared to die.

But now, as life and death loomed before her, she felt genuine fear.

She was afraid that if they jumped, Wei Heng would vanish from this world forever.

Sheng Zhaoning could die, but Wei Heng could not.

The footsteps drew closer and closer. Leaning on her for support, Wei Heng staggered to his feet.

The firelight was faint. In the dimness, he looked into Sheng Zhaoning’s eyes and summoned every ounce of his courage to take her hand, feeling the scorching pulse pounding wildly against his palm.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with her, Wei Heng said solemnly, “You have shared both joy and hardship with me. In return, I will stand with you through life and death.”

…

At that moment, it was as though a raging tide surged up from beneath the earth and engulfed Sheng Zhaoning’s entire heart.

Her hand was enveloped in his large, warm palm, and even her blood seemed to begin pounding wildly in answer.

The dark currents churning madly beneath her feet stared back like an abyss, but she was no longer afraid.

Her restless, drifting heart seemed finally to have found safe harbor in a strong, steady embrace.

All her conflict, unease, and fear vanished the moment she finally dared to face her own heart.

She reached for his hand and laced her fingers through his.

Under Wei Heng’s astonished, ecstatic gaze, Sheng Zhaoning turned to look at him. Behind her, assassins charged toward them with blades drawn. Amid the chaotic thunder of footsteps, her voice was slow but resolute.

“Your Highness, live.”

She turned and wrapped Wei Heng tightly in her arms, protecting him in the same unyielding way he had protected her when they rolled down the hillside.

By the time the assassins reached them, all they saw were two figures plunging over the edge without hesitation.

Behind the others, Han Xu’s eyes went bloodshot as he roared, “Sheng Zhaoning!”

The only answer was the unmistakable splash of bodies striking water.

Still locked in each other’s arms, the two figures were swallowed by the raging river. The current swept them away in an instant, and they vanished into the endless darkness.

…

Capital City, Zhenbei Prince’s Mansion.

A figure hurried through the mansion, robes billowing with every rapid stride.

Autumn leaves lay scattered across the ground, and the air was turning increasingly cold.

Zhao Quan was supervising the servants as they swept the fallen leaves from the courtyard when he spotted Shadow Seven approaching from a distance with long, urgent strides.

He froze for a moment, then hurriedly dismissed everyone nearby. Turning to her, he asked, “Shadow Seven Guard, what brings you here?”

Under ordinary circumstances, Shadow Seven rarely appeared before others.

Whether in Liangzhou or Capital City, only a handful of people knew her. This was the first time she had ever entered the mansion so openly, without the slightest attempt to conceal herself. The sight gave Zhao Quan quite a fright.

Shadow Seven ignored him completely.

Her expression was cold and grim, utterly unlike her usual seductive, alluring demeanor.

“Where is the Heir?” Shadow Seven demanded sharply.

Seeing her like this, Zhao Quan knew something momentous must have happened. Not daring to delay, he answered at once, “In the study.”

Clutching the secret dispatch sent back from Jizhou, Shadow Seven strode straight past Zhao Quan. She pushed open the doors and headed for the study.

Zhao Quan shuddered. He hurried forward to close the doors behind her, then stationed himself outside the courtyard, not daring to overhear so much as a single word.

The room was filled with the scent of Wei Yi’s favorite agarwood incense.

The moment Shadow Seven entered the study, she saw Wei Yi seated behind his desk.

A military intelligence report lay open on the desk. Wei Yi lifted his eyes from it and looked at Shadow Seven with unhurried calm.

That single glance carried an inexplicable pressure.

Shadow Seven’s grip tightened. Mindful of protocol, she bowed and said, “This subordinate greets the Heir.”

Wei Yi rarely saw Shadow Seven look so grave. Setting down the plans in his hand, he asked in a deep voice, “What has you in such a hurry?”

Shadow Seven straightened and pressed her lips together briefly. “A secret report from Jizhou.”

Wei Yi’s gaze paused. “From Han Xu?”

“Yes.”

He held out his hand and took the secret dispatch from Shadow Seven.

Before opening it, Wei Yi’s expression had been relaxed, even pleased.

Wei Heng was a helpless man who could not even truss a chicken. Wei Yi did not believe Han Xu could possibly fail to deal with him.

But the moment he read the words on the page, his relaxed brows slowly drew together, and his gaze turned colder by the inch.

By the time he had read the dispatch word for word, his eyes were dark with vicious fury, and the aura around him was terrifying.

The letter crumpled in his fist. He squeezed so hard that blood began to seep from his palm.

With a cold laugh, he spat out the name he hated with every fiber of his being.

“Sheng Zhaoning-“