Chapter 74 The Cold Winter of Shengjing He was... a child of the Prince of Pingliao's Mansion? ...

The next day, Gu Shanyue woke up and called out with her eyes closed, "Qi Baitong".

Before she could finish speaking, footsteps rushed toward her. Before she could even open her eyes, a soft kiss landed on her face.

"My Ah Yue has woken up."

Gu Shanyue stretched and sat up. With a quick movement, Qi Baitong helped her put on her clothes, deftly adjusting the ties of the garment. Then, she knelt down to put on her shoes.

He even brought over the washstand and wrung out a towel to wipe Gu Shanyue's face and hands, practically carrying him to the outhouse.

Gu Shanyue gladly accepted his service: "What would you like to eat for breakfast?"

"Fresh flower cakes, grilled fish, shredded pork noodles, warm milk, braised chicken legs and rabbit legs—I made a lot today," Qi Baitong said, pulling her to her feet with a gentle, shy smile. "Are you still sleepy? Do you want to sleep a little longer?"

"Not sleepy," Gu Shanyue asked with interest, "We actually have grilled fish for breakfast?"

Hu Feiwei's voice came from outside the window, huffing and puffing, "What do you think happened? There was so much clanging and banging in the valley early in the morning, I thought a thief had broken in, but it turns out this kid didn't sleep and ran out to catch fish?"

"That's right, they even caught several fat fish, and they grilled them so deliciously, it made everyone's mouths water." Bai Zhen's voice rang out, and you could hear his clicking sounds even through the window.

Mao Hong'er chimed in, "He doesn't grill fish in your yard, he goes over to our side. The aroma woke me up, and I couldn't sleep because I was so hungry."

Gu Shanyue raised an eyebrow and looked at Qi Baitong.

Qi Baitong avoided her gaze, a smile playing on her lips: "I grilled several, one for each of them?"

Gu Shanyue approved: "Sure."

It was rare to have everyone at the dinner table; early in the morning, everyone was holding a fragrant grilled fish and munching on it.

Hu Feiwei ate until his white beard was covered in grease, which amused Gu Shanyue.

Hu Fei glared at her: "You're still happy? At this rate, your lover will eat us dry in no time!"

That's what he said, but he ate the fish with more relish than anyone else.

Bai Zhen ate with refined manners, his eyes darting back and forth between Gu Shanyue and Qi Baitong, a knowing smile on his face.

"You two are newlyweds, A-Yue. My apprentice is stubborn, so please bear with him."

Gu Shanyue was eating a flower cake with great enthusiasm when Bai Zhen kept staring at her, and she realized he was talking to her.

"There's nothing to complain about, he suits my taste perfectly."

Hu Feiwei munched on the fish while clicking his tongue, while Mao Hong'er focused on her rice, occasionally glancing up at the adults' world.

Qi Baitong lowered her head, her posture like a shy yet capable young wife, but the fervent infatuation in her eyes as she looked at Gu Shanyue was astonishing.

But Gu Shanyue was oblivious, still munching on flower cakes and ordering Qi Baitong to pour her water.

The scene was both eerie and harmonious, and Bai Zhen couldn't help but rub his forehead. The two of them really were a match made in heaven.

“Stop being all lovey-dovey in front of me,” Hu Feiwei said, pointing at Gu Shanyue and pulling out a stack of papers from his pocket. “Don’t forget, you still owe me two pages of top-quality medicinal herbs.”

"I haven't forgotten," Gu Shanyue waved his hand and promised, "Once the matter in Shengjing is over, even if I travel all over the world, I will definitely replenish all the medicinal herbs for you."

Qi Baitong took the letter and nodded, saying, "Me too. I will search with A-Yue. We will definitely keep our promise. Thank you, Valley Master, for saving me."

Hu Feiwei said arrogantly, "Hmph."

"Oh, right," Gu Shanyue recalled an old matter, "Does the Valley Master know the whereabouts of Young Master Heming?"

Hu Fei glanced at her upon hearing this, shook his head, and muttered, "I don't know, you can look for it yourself."

Gu Shanyue was not surprised: "Take your time searching, you'll find it eventually."

Life in the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers and Butterflies was wonderful and relaxing, but the two still had to return to Shengjing.

Hu Feiwei left even faster than them. The day after the reunion dinner, Hu Feiwei had already disappeared without a trace, and Baizhen also left.

Gu Shanyue didn't feel much sadness. People in the martial arts world are home wherever they go, and rarely stay in one place for long. Meetings and partings are all predestined.

When fate brings us together again, we will meet again.

On the third day, after comforting Mao Hong'er, the two set off for Shengjing again.

Along the way, Qi Baitong became absent-minded again.

After Gu Shanyue ate the overly sweet grilled fish again, she felt that this matter could not be delayed any longer.

What's wrong with you?

Qi Baitong was a beat late: "Hmm? What's wrong, Yue?"

Gu Shanyue shoved the fish in front of his face and said unhappily, "Try it yourself."

Qi Baitong glanced at the grilled fish, obediently opened his mouth and took a bite. The taste was off as soon as it entered his mouth. He frowned and swallowed the fish, then looked through the spice jar he always carried with him.

"I mixed up the salt and sugar," Qi Baitong said with a guilty look as he stood up. "I shouldn't have made such a mistake. I'll go bake another one."

Gu Shanyue pulled the person back and put the fish aside: "What's wrong with you? You've been looking down these past two days?"

"I..." Qi Baitong hesitated, but Gu Shanyue commanded, "Tell the truth."

Qi Baitong sighed and looked into the distance: "The closer we get to Shengjing, the more uneasy I feel."

That was where Li Yuheng was. Even though Gu Shanyue's attitude towards Li Yuheng had changed, Li Yuheng was still Wu Shanyu's only child.

This one rule alone can protect him for life, like an ironclad law.

Moreover, Qi Baitong keeps thinking about what Li Yuheng said before he left, which makes her restless.

"What's there to be uneasy about?" Gu Shanyue patted the white sword at his waist. "With me here, what are you afraid of?"

"I can't explain it either..."

Qi Baitong lowered her head, avoiding Gu Shanyue's bright gaze.

But Gu Shanyue wouldn't let him avoid it. He lowered his head, and she leaned over to look at his face.

Qi Baitong's eyes flickered, a hint of helplessness in them: "A-Yue..."

Gu Shanyue threw herself into his arms, and Qi Baitong instinctively caught her, supporting her waist. Gu Shanyue cupped his face and gave him a loud kiss.

"Okay, listen to me, concentrate on cooking."

Qi Baitong touched the dampness on her face and chuckled softly, "Okay, I promise you."

Perhaps the more he gained, the more afraid he became of losing, but he already belonged to Gu Shanyue; she had made him a promise.

Gu Shanyue values ​​promises above all else; nothing will change his mind.

Qi Baitong finally regained some of her energy. The closer they got to Shengjing, the lower the temperature became, and the two of them changed from light shirts to thick fur coats along the way.

According to the calendar, winter has already arrived, but they have stayed in the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers and Butterflies for too long, where it is as warm as spring, blurring the distinction between the four seasons.

Shengjing is not too far north, and it's already this cold. To the north of Shengjing, it must have already snowed.

When Gu Shanyue and Qi Baitong rode into the capital, they encountered many ragged refugees and noticed a significant increase in the number of city guards.

Perhaps it was because of the chilly wind, but the atmosphere in the city was not quite right. People were hurrying around, and there was a sense of unease.

"No wonder Li Yuheng was in such a hurry to return to the capital; something big must have happened there," Qi Baitong whispered to Gu Shanyue, leading his horse.

Gu Shanyue nodded. She had only one reason for returning to the capital: to fulfill her promise.

As for the situation in Shengjing, it was none of her business.

Further on, the refugees gathered, and the situation was better than outside the city. Many of them were wearing cotton-padded coats and eating hot relief porridge in a corner.

As Gu Shanyue walked by, someone suddenly called out to her, "Miss Yue!"

The voice sounded somewhat familiar. Gu Shanyue turned around and saw a gentle-looking woman being protected by servants walking quickly towards her from the crowd.

Gu Shanyue raised an eyebrow; it was Fang Wanqing, the Princess Consort of Pingliao.

It seems that she set up the shelter to help the refugees. Gu Shanyue glanced behind her and met Yu Jingshu's gaze. When she saw Gu Shanyue looking at her, she gave her a respectful bow from afar, smiling gently and gracefully, showing no trace of the stubbornness she had shown in the palace.

Gu Shanyue looked away directly, showing no intention of returning the greeting. Although she didn't hold a grudge, she wasn't about to let bygones be bygones.

“Miss Yue, you and…” Fang Wanqing’s steps quickened, her words faltering as her gaze swept over Qi Baitong’s face, her eyes instantly reddening slightly. “You’ve finally returned. Would you like to visit my residence? The Crown Prince’s residence is currently preparing for his wedding. If you’re not interested, why not stay at the Prince of Pingliao’s residence? We’re old acquaintances, after all…”

Her attitude was so earnest that Gu Shanyue's brows slowly furrowed, and a look of vigilance appeared in Qi Baitong's eyes as she tightened her grip on Gu Shanyue's hand.

Fang Wanqing then realized that she had been too hasty. She silently exhaled and revealed a gentle and generous smile.

"I was being rash. You must be exhausted from your long journey. Please go back and rest. I will visit you another day."

She spoke to Gu Shanyue, but her eyes couldn't help but sweep over the silent Qi Baitong, her eyes growing redder with each glance.

But Qi Baitong didn't even glance at her; his eyes were fixed intently on Gu Shanyue's profile.

Gu Shanyue nodded: "Mm."

After saying that, she took Qi Baitong's hand and left. After taking only a few steps, Fang Wanqing suddenly spoke up from behind: "The situation in Shengjing is unclear now. No matter what His Highness the Crown Prince says, do not enter the palace again."

This statement was rather abrupt, and it seemed to imply that the two people were speaking too intimately.

The two turned around, their expressions unreadable.

Fang Wanqing forced a smile, then turned her face away, tears streaming down her face as she covered her mouth with a handkerchief.

The two continued walking forward, and Gu Shanyue was thinking about Fang Wanqing, whose attitude was really strange.

"What do you think is wrong with her?"

After a moment of contemplation, Qi Baitong said, "I don't know, but the situation is turbulent right now, and we have many connections with the Crown Prince's residence. We need to be wary of any gesture of goodwill, and the Pingliao Prince's residence is no exception."

Gu Shanyue shook her head: "It doesn't seem like that."

Sometimes, she is very perceptive.

Gu Shanyue suddenly stopped in her tracks: "We're not going back to the Crown Prince's residence."

"Not going back to the Crown Prince's residence?" Qi Baitong was stunned, then instantly realized, "You're going to the Prince of Pingliao's residence?"

Gu Shanyue: "Mm."

Qi Baitong frowned slightly: "You trust the Pingliao Prince's Mansion?"

He knew Gu Shanyue; she would never stay in a place she perceived as dangerous. She didn't have much interaction with the Pingliao Prince's Mansion, so why did she agree to Fang Wanqing's invitation so readily?

In his view, the invitation came out of nowhere, and Gu Shanyue agreed to it just as inexplicably.

“Let’s trust him 50%,” Gu Shanyue said slowly, turning her gaze to Qi Baitong’s face. “I have a guess that I need to verify at the Pingliao Prince’s Mansion.”

Qi Baitong was completely bewildered: "What guess?"

Gu Shanyue made no attempt to hide his feelings and said bluntly, "Judging from Fang Wanqing's performance today, you are very likely a child of the Pingliao Prince's Mansion."

She still remembered that time at the Crown Prince's residence when Fang Wanqing came to thank her. She was generous and proper throughout, but only when the topic of her lost child came up did she reveal her true feelings.

Moreover, Fang Wanqing had seen Qi Baitong that day, but she didn't react as strongly as she does today.

She had provided Li Jing with clues, and so many days were enough for him to investigate thoroughly. Coupled with Fang Wanqing's strange dialogue just now, and Qi Baitong's background as an orphan, the answer seemed to be on the verge of being revealed.

Upon hearing this, Qi Baitong's mind went blank for a moment.

He is... a child of the Prince of Pingliao's mansion?

Qi Baitong blurted out, "Impossible."