The camp of the Southern River Silk Army was already awake before sunrise.
Armoured soldiers lined up in disciplined rows, banners fluttering in the cold morning wind.
Bai Yunchen guided a hooded figure through the soldiers — each step steady despite the wounds hidden beneath the prince's cloak.
They were escorted into the command tent of Prince Murong Yunxian.
They stopped outside the command tent of Prince Murong Yunxian.
"Your Highness," the soldier said respectfully, "I've brought them."
"Let them in," came Murong Yunxian's calm voice.
Bai Yunchen lifted the tent flap.
Despite the fatigue in his posture, Bai Yunchen stood tall — armor dented, uniform scorched in places, the mark of a soldier who had survived the impossible.
Inside stood Prince Murong Yunxian, dressed in pale blue battle robes, the very image of refined nobility and quiet strength.
Murong Yunxian rose from his seat immediately.
His eyes widened when he saw the figure stepping inside.
"…Yexuan?"
"Ah Xuan...What happened to you?"
Murong Yexuan Gives the Report
Yexuan removed the cloak, revealing blood-stained bandages and exhaustion carved into his features.
He bowed slightly.
"Yunxian Ge."
"I bring grave news from the Northern Frontier."
Murong Yunxian walked forward immediately, steadying him by the arm.
"Sit. Speak slowly."
But Yexuan shook his head,"There is no time to sit."
His voice was low, heavy.
"But you're injured. Please, just Sit."
The Supplies Were Stolen
"The ration convoys from the capital never made it north..never arrived."
Murong Yunxian's brows tightened.
His expression darkened. "Lost?"
"Not lost," Murong Yexuan said coldly.
"They were intercepted — stolen — before leaving Zhongyun's borders."
"Stolen? By whom?"
"We do not know," Murong Yexuan said, jaw tight.
"But the pattern matches internal sabotage."
Murong Yunxian's eyes sharpened. "…Someone tried to sabotage the north?"
The Frontier Nearly Fell
"The northern kingdom launched an unexpected winter assault. Our walls were nearly breached."
"If the supplies had arrived on time, we would have lost no more than a few hundred men…"
"Without supplies, our troops starved. We lost three thousand men instead."
Murong Yunxian inhaled sharply, "Three thousand?"
Yexuan nodded grimly. "If not for our emergency defensive formations and quick reinforcement tactics, Beizhen[1] might have fallen."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Murong Yunxian's fingers curled slightly. "…I understand."
The Assassin Ambush
"And yesterday," Yexuan continued, "While traveling to Zhongyun to seek aid…
we were ambushed by assassins."
Murong Yunxian's fists tightened, "Assassins? On imperial soil?"
"Highly trained. Coordinated," Yexuan said.
"My Snow Wolf Cavalry scattered. "Many of my men died."
"I was separated from the cavalry."
Bai Yunchen lowered his head, ashamed. "I arrived too late to stop the ambush," he said quietly. "Only a few of us survived."
Murong Yunxian looked between them. "…Then how did you survive the night with such wounds?"
At that, Bai Yunchen's lips curved slightly.
Yexuan hesitated for the first time.
A faint, involuntary softness crossed his eyes.
"A physician," he said quietly.
"A… little physician."
Murong Yunxian raised an eyebrow. "A little physician saved you?"
Yexuan exhaled slowly, "She was…remarkable."
He didn't say beautiful.
He didn't say delicate.
He didn't say unforgettable.
But Murong Yunxian saw all those unspoken words in his cousin's eyes.
He pressed gently, "And this little physician's name?"
Bai Yunchen answered for him, smiling. "Bai Rouyuan."
Murong Yunxian nearly stood in shock.
"Rouyuan? Bai Rouyuan? That little Rouyuan saved Northern Frontier's Marshal?"
Yexuan's ears reddened slightly. "…Yes."
Murong Yunxian stared at him.
Then he laughed softly.
"Grandfather always said they inherited Aunt Rouying 's spirit."
"I suppose he was right."
He whispers softly, placing his hand over his heart.
Murong Yunxian Acts Immediately
"General Bai Yunchen," Murong Yunxian said firmly, "bring physicians. Prince Murong Yexuan must be treated properly."
"You also need to be treated."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Guards rushed out.
Murong Yunxian turned to Yexuan. "I will send full supplies: rations, medicine, equipment, armor, everything Beizhen needs."
Yexuan's eyes softened.
"Thank you, Ge."
"And I will dispatch my Southern River Silk Army to reinforce the Northern Frontier."
Yexuan bowed his head. "You will save many lives."
Murong Yunxian's gaze hardened. "And I will report this sabotage directly to His Majesty."
"Someone dares starve our frontier troops—we will not let it pass."
A Private Conversation: Cousins by Blood
When Murong Yexuan was taken for treatment, Murong Yunxian called for Bai Yunchen to remain.
"General Bai Yunchen," he said gently, "I have not properly introduced myself."
Bai Yunchen blinked.
Murong Yunxian smiled, placed a hand on his shoulder. "I am your cousin."
"My mother… is Consort Rou."
"Your mother's elder sister."
Bai Yunchen froze. "…My mother's… sister?"
Bai Yunchen stared at him — shock, disbelief, emotion swirling all at once.
Murong Yunxian nodded.
"We are cousins. I have waited years to finally meet my aunt's children."
Bai Yunchen stood, straightened his posture, and bowed deeply.
"Then Yunchen greets His Highness… cousin."
Murong Yunxian smiled, eyes warm.
He pulled him up immediately, "No kneeling. You are family."
Bai Yunchen rose, still stunned.
Murong Yunxian gaze softened.
"My mother always told stories of Aunt Rouying—your mother."
"She prayed I would help you all one day, if fate allowed."
Bai Yunchen's eyes warmed. "…Thank you, Your Highness cousin."
Murong Yunxian gripped his shoulder.
"I'm proud of you, Yunchen."
"Everything you've accomplished…"
"You carried the Bai name and Wen name with dignity."
For a moment, Bai Yunchen felt his chest loosen — as if a knot he carried for years finally untied.
Meanwhile… Murong Yexuan's Thoughts Wander
Yexuan lay on the bed, eyes half open.
While physicians changed his bandages, Yexuan stared at the tent ceiling.
But all he saw was—
A pair of delicate hands.
A quiet warm voice.
A fragile veil of mianjin fluttering in the wind.
The faint floral scent she left on his clothes.
"Bai Rouyuan."
"So…this was the girl Yunchen spoke of for years."
Bai Yunchen often spoke about her brilliance, her talent in medicine, her beauty.
Yexuan had never cared.
Always brushed it off like a passing wind.
He didn't care for court ladies.
Or noble daughters.
Or anyone who tried to approach him.
But last night…
When she tied her veil around his arm…
when she touched him…
when he saw her face—
His heart did something strange.
Something dangerous.
He pressed a hand against the bandage on his arm—the one she tied with her own veil.
She's engaged, he reminded himself.
A fact he knew.
A fact that his heart ignored.
His jaw tightened.
Yexuan exhaled, eyes closing. "…Little Physician."
He whispered the name softly.
More softly than a marshal-prince should.
[1] Nothern Frontier Region another name