When a person is in bed hanging onto life with nothing to do but think, they often ponder on things they usually won't touch on when they are well.

As Jin qing's head flushed with fever and her body shivered with the chill, her mind was still awake.

Who poisoned her? Why did they poison her? How did they do it? When did they act? What poisoned her and what did they plan on achieving by doing so?

Xi Jian was wondering about that too, not sleeping at night and staying up, reading.
It was wartime, preparations must be made. It can either make or break a war.
He needed Jin Qing to help. Whenever they made decisions, he kept on wishing she was there to calm him down. Even if she didn't know it, she helped ease his mind. Her very presence tells him what they are doing will be alright.

They have acted as the Xue Xian would in her absence, calling in the retired generals from all over the country to prepare to wage war.
All night he sat up, reading on books of war and books of poisons.

"Your majesty, you should get some rest." A servant suggested.

"Not when I have work to do."

"Lady Huan Le told me to tell you the Xue Xian woke up for a few brief minutes, if that helps ease your mind."

"Is she alright?"

"The doctors has confirmed that she'll survive through the night."

Xi Jian took in a deep breath and exhaled. She'll be alright just for tonight.

Someone knocked on the door, and Xi Jian closed his eyes waved his hand to tell the servant to allow whomever was at the door in.

"Dear brother." Chun ting's sweet voice made Xi Jian open his eyes again.

"Chun ting, why aren't you asleep?"

"I should be asking you that." She smiled sweetly, and set down a small box as her maids set down a cup of tea. "You must have been working all night. Here, take a break."

"Thank you." He nodded, taking the tea and placing the tea to his mouth.

Chun ting looked over at the scrolls and the books that was thrown all over the table. She closed some and organized them so the surface would be nearer. "You're nervous about her, aren't you?"

Xi Jian didn't even need to ask who was she talking about. "Yes, I am."

"All the best doctors in the Wei is at her bedside, ready for anything. She'll be fine." She assured him. She looked at a map that she had picked up and studied it, and noticed the markings scribbled on them. "You're still going to look for Wu Xin?"

"Either dead or alive. I just want to rest knowing that the Song cannot get to her."

"What about the one Jin qing has suggested? The assassin named Yu Qi?"

"We'll look for her too. I trust in the Xue Xian's judgement."

Chun ting smiled and refilled her brother's teacup. "Hypocrite."

"Why do you say that?"

"Xue Xian said not to look for Wu Xin, saying how we won't be able to find her, but you continue to do so, yet you always claim you'll never defy her orders."

Xi Jian started at his sister with a surprised look on his face.

Chun ting smiled shyly and put down the teapot. "Well, that's all I noticed."

Xi Jian knew there was truth to her words. He claims that he trusts Xue Xian's judgement, yet he still does things against her orders.
Perhaps he's just too stubborn. He wants to prove he can manage a kingdom and lead it to war and win it without asking her for help all the time.
If he doesn't, he might as well crown her empress and give up his own throne.

But what if Jin qing gives off orders as his empress? Now that would be a different story.

"You're right. But I have my own plans with Wu Xin." Xi Jian smiled softly, ruffling his sister's hair gently. "Why don't you go get some sleep? A young girl like you should sleep more, it'll help you grow."

Chun ting pouted. "But I'm sixteen! I'm not a child anymore!"

"As long as you're younger than me or haven't married, you're are still a child." Xi Jian teased. "Speaking of which, do you have anyone you fancy?"

"Xi Jian!" Chun ting flushed a little pink, lightly hitting her brother on the arm. "Perhaps, but I'm not telling you who!"

"Is it that young man that comes to see you every once in a while?"

"No!"

"Oh you are so lying~"

The siblings began to laugh, both at their own silliness and the sudden lighthearted mood.

"I should be going, before you tease me even more." Chun ting stood up. "Tell the servants if you need more tea, alright? And get some sleep too, you'll need it."

Xi Jian nodded, and dismissed her.
As soon as his sister left, the mood darkened and he stared back at his books. He stretched, sipping on the cold tea, his eyes scanning the map sprawled across his table. So many plans, so many choices...
How he wished Jin Qing was here!

<><><>

Xi jian's eyes snapped awake. The sun was rising, the birds chirping in outside the window. He had fallen asleep, his body across the low table. Someone had placed a blanket over him as he slept.

Someone knocked on the door. "Your majesty, I see you have woken up."

Xi jian sat up, rubbing his eyes. "When did I fall asleep?"

"Not too long after princess Chun Ting left you. You must have been exhausted." The servant answered, picking up the blanket that had fallen off him.

"How's the Xue Xian?"

"She slept well, according to her sister."

Xi jian breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll go visit her..."
He was promptly stopped by the servant who was a caretaker he had known since he was a child.

"Your majesty. You have gone several days without sleep, always attending meetings or studying. You should take a break."

"We are at war..." Xi jian sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. "There is no time for rest."

"The country will collapse upon itself if the leader isn't well."

Someone knocked on the door.

"It's lady Huan Le." Another servant called out. "Should I allow her to enter?"

Xi Jian sat up straighter and nodded. "Yes, of course."
As soon as the servant left to welcome Huan Le in, Xi Jian hurried to clean himself up so he was presentable. he didn't want anyone to know just how exhausted he was.

Huan Le curtsied. "Greetings to the emperor."

"Huan Le, I have told you many times to address me by my normal name."

"I apologize. I'm too used to it, that's all." Huan Le said with a sweet smile. Tiredness was evident in her eyes, and her smile wasn't as bright as usual.

"Did you stay up all night?" Xi Jian asked, standing up.

"I did. And I came to tell you I may have found an antidote for my sister's poison..."

"You did?!" Xi Jian interrupted her, walking toward Huan Le, "that's great! How did you manage to do it?"

"It's not really an antidote, but rather a way to expel the poison from my sister's body." Huan Le explained patiently. "I figured how and where she was suffering, and deduced that the poison must have entered her body through something she consumed or inhalation. If we manage to expel the poison through of which it came from..."

"That's brilliant!" Xi Jian interrupted her. "Have you informed the doctors?"

"Yes. They are all making medicine that will aid in our common goal."

"When will it be ready?"

"I asked, they said within two days." Huan Le tried for a smile.

"That's perfect." Xi Jian said with a sigh of relief. "You should get some rest, your sister will be alright."

"Yes. Xue hua is currently by her bedside." Huan Le noticed the pile of books on his desk. "Did you stay up too?"

"Well, I did fall asleep." He admitted. "But I'll ready easier now, knowing she'll be alright."

Xi Jian didn't notice the small pout on Huan le's face. "She will. The great Wei needs her..." she said, trailing off, staring at the maps, studying them.

"I need her..." Xi Jian muttered under his breath, sitting back down at his desk. "I feel so much more at ease knowing that's she's watching over everything."

Huan le's expression soured, and stood next to him. "You have me." She reminded him gently.

"Yes, But Huan Le, we are at war. This isn't some gossip or some small problem we dealt with as kids."

"Every greatest problem can be slowly solved with the fine details." Huan Le reminded him, pointing to an area on the map. "I hope you remember that this area was devastated by fire not too long ago. Would it be smart to draft men out from there?"

"We will need the soldiers to garrison the forts along the border." Xi Jian disagreed "but I gave them a light draft. Only men from the age of 25 to 35 will be drafted, unless they would like to come."

"But the other provinces might protest." Huan Le pointed out. "On why you are giving them something lighter."

"Then what do you suggest?"

"I suggest you don't draft them at all. Hands will be needed at the fields to feed the armies."

Xi Jian looked over at the map. Still so many forts or cities are left vulnerable. The city in which the Xue Xian has saved right after she was revealed was still standing strong but with little men to defend it.

Was the Song intent in war so early on? If so, they might have already had a huge advantage of being more prepared.

"We'll ask the Xue Xian about this when she wakes up." Xi Jian said finally. "Huan le, I do see what you mean, but if we lose our trade routes or supply lines... the war is lost."

Huan Le didn't try to hide her disappointment. "Alright then. Whatever you think is best."

Xi Jian nodded, walking toward the door. "I'll be leaving now, I have a few matters to attend to."

Huan Le clenched her fingers into a tight fists, her nails digging into her skin. Her face was tight, clearly frustrated at the fact she cannot hold a decent conversation or suggest plans with Xi Jian without relying on her sister's name.
If you can't kill her, use her,

That's what her mother said.
If you can't kill the Xue Xian, use her to your own advantage.

The tightness on her lips slowly spread to a smile. Huan Le didn't like it how her sister's name was interfering, but it was all going according to her plan.

She didn't just want Xi Jian to notice and acknowledge her.
She wanted to be recognized as the high standing lady she is. She wanted to be even better than Jin Qing. She wanted Jin qing to feel indebted to her.

And what better way to do that than saving Jin Qing's life?

I'm still alive!
I didn't have too much time to write, but when I saw that we have hit 6K reads, I felt like I had to celebrate with a new chapter!

We're going to hit 7K at one point, what do you readers want me to do for a mini celebration?

I don't know if weekly updates are going to come back, but if I can, it will!

Anyway, till next time!