The Three Kingdoms: The entire Cao Cao camp thought I was weak and frail.

The tone of voice used to coax a child left Xun Hao somewhat helpless. Looking at Guo Jia's uncompromising gaze, he knew there was no escaping the medicine. A thought suddenly struck him.

"The medicine is too bitter." He looked at Guo Jia, blinked, and said in a soft, gentle voice, "I can't drink it."

Guo Jia's heart softened at his appearance, and his tone unconsciously softened: "Good medicine tastes bitter. Just bear with it and it will pass."

"I don't want to." Xun Hao simply started acting like a rogue. He shrank back and shook his head. "Unless... unless you promise me one thing."

"What is it?" Guo Jia raised an eyebrow, finding it amusing. This little guy had even learned to negotiate with him.

"Come and keep me company more often." Xun Hao looked at Guo Jia, his usually cool eyes now filled with expectation.

He knew his request sounded a bit unreasonable, but he trusted that Guo Jia wouldn't refuse.

After all, who could refuse a sick and frail teenager's plea for companionship?

Guo Jia was indeed stunned. Looking at Xun Hao's pale yet stubborn face, a feeling of tenderness welled up in his heart.

This child is usually very well-behaved, like a little adult. But now, being sick and acting spoiled, he seems rather adorable.

He had intended to make a few jokes, but when he met Xun Hao's clear eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say anything teasing.

"That's it?" Guo Jia cleared his throat, concealing the strange emotion in his heart, and raised an eyebrow as if to appear relaxed. "I thought you were going to ask me to pluck the stars from the sky for you. It's just spending more time with you, what's so difficult about that?" He spoke casually, but inwardly he was thinking to himself. This little guy, who had never asked for these things before, was now asking for company.

Could it be that this serious illness has frightened her and made her clingy?

Upon hearing this, Xun Hao's eyes shone even brighter. He knew that Guo Jia had agreed.

He suppressed the joy in his eyes, lowered his gaze, and said in a weak voice, "Thank you, Brother Fengxiao."

"Hey, when you need something from someone you call me Brother Fengxiao, otherwise you call me Brother Fengxiao. Little Hao, you're like Zhong Wuyan when you need something, and like Xia Yingchun when you don't." Guo Jia reached out and ruffled Xun Hao's hair, his movements natural and familiar.

"So, are you Zhong Wuyan or Xia Yingchun?"

Guo Jia was momentarily speechless at his rhetorical question.

He had lived for over a decade and had always been the one to gain the upper hand with words; he had never been cornered like this before.

Zhong Wuyan or Xia Yingchun? No matter how you answer this question, it's wrong. To say you're Zhong Wuyan would be to admit your own ugliness. To say you're Xia Yingchun would be to demean yourself as a useless vase.

"You little ingrate." Guo Jia realized what was happening and, with a mix of amusement and exasperation, reached out a finger to poke his forehead. But halfway there, he remembered that Guo Jia was still recovering from a serious illness, so he softened his touch and only gave him a light tap. "I kindly watched over you for three days and three nights, and didn't get a single kind word in return. Instead, you've made fun of me."

Xun Hao turned his head away from his finger, a slight smile curving his lips: "Brother Fengxiao, I just feel that your analogy is not quite appropriate here. When have I ever regarded you as Xia Yingchun who doesn't care about anything? I clearly want you by my side every moment."

These words were spoken frankly and softly, yet they were like a feather gently brushing against Guo Jia's heart.

I think about it all the time.

Guo Jia's heart skipped a beat. Looking at the boy's serious expression, he knew this was no joke.

This child truly depended on him. This complete trust and reliance filled him with a sense of fulfillment at being needed.

"Okay, okay." He cleared his throat, picked up the medicine bowl, and his tone softened unconsciously. "Drink your medicine first, and then I won't go anywhere. I'll stay here with you, okay?"

Under Huangfu Song's leadership, the situation in Yangdi quickly stabilized. The Xun family made great efforts in resettling surrendered soldiers and restoring production. Xun Shuang, in particular, leveraged his prestige among scholars to unite various families in Yingchuan and jointly shoulder the responsibility of post-war reconstruction.

With Guo Jia's round-the-clock "energy feeding" and the Xun family's top-quality medicinal soups, Xun Hao's body finally recovered its vitality.

The caravan sent by Xun Kun also arrived outside the city. Upon learning that his youngest son had just recovered from a serious illness, Xun Kun was extremely anxious and wished he could immediately bring him back to Yingchuan and keep him under his own nose before he would feel at ease.

Before departing, Guo Jia refused the other spacious carriage arranged by the Xun family and instead rode in the same carriage as Xun Hao.

The carriage was lined with thick, soft cushions and filled with calming incense. Xun Hao leaned against a corner, covered with a soft blanket.

Guo Jia sat right next to him, so close that he could smell the faint medicinal fragrance emanating from him.

"Are you cold?" Guo Jia asked.

Xun Hao shook his head. With Guo Jia by his side, he felt warm all over and so comfortable that he wanted to sleep.

"Is it too bumpy? Should we put another pillow under it?" Guo Jia asked again.

"Need not."

Looking at his obedient appearance, Guo Jia felt even more tender.

The carriage lurched violently as it traveled along an uneven road.

Xun Hao leaned to the side, resting his head on Guo Jia's shoulder.

Guo Jia stiffened for a moment, then relaxed. Instead of pushing him away, she put her arm around his shoulder to help him lean more firmly. "Go to sleep. I'll wake you when we get there."

Xun Hao closed his eyes, a secret smile playing on his lips.

Hmm, this charging method is good, it's very efficient.

When the caravan finally arrived at Xun Hao's residence in Yingchuan, Xun Hao's complexion was much rosier than when they set off.

The car door opened, and Xun Yu and Xun Kun were already waiting at the door.

"Hao'er, how are you feeling?" Xun Kun walked quickly to the bedside as soon as he entered the room, his face full of concern.

"Father, elder brother, I am fine now." Xun Hao sat up.

Xun Yu carefully examined his complexion and saw that although he was still thin, his complexion was indeed much better than described in the letter, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.

"You child, you really scared us to death!" Xun Yu's tone was filled with lingering fear and reproach. "Don't you dare act so recklessly again!"

Xun Hao knew they were worried about him, so he lowered his head and replied, "Yes, son knows he was wrong."

After exchanging pleasantries, Xun Kun dismissed everyone around him, leaving only the father and his two sons in the room. His expression turned serious.

"Hao'er, your Uncle Shuang has already told me everything about Yangdi in his letter." Xun Kun's voice was low and deep. "The strategy of bypassing the ancient road, feinting to the east while attacking in the west, using a secret channel to enter the city, exhausting the enemy... Did you really come up with these ideas?"

Despite having learned of it from the letter, Xun Kun's voice still carried disbelief when he confirmed it in person.

Xun Hao nodded: "Yes."

Xun Kun and Xun Yu exchanged a glance, both seeing immense shock in each other's eyes.

They always thought that although their youngest son (younger brother) was intelligent, he was ultimately weak, his mind was mostly on books, and he was aloof and indifferent to worldly affairs.

They never imagined that beneath his frail appearance lay such astonishing wisdom and courage.

The plan described in the letter was intricate and ingenious, with each step linked to the next. Even seasoned veterans like them, who had been navigating the political arena for many years, would find it impossible to devise such an unbelievable way to break the deadlock, let alone a twelve-year-old boy.