Even when the sun is high in the sky during the deep winter in northern China, the moment you step outside, the cold air rushes straight into your lungs, making you feel dizzy from the cold.

When Liu Dianyi got off the carriage, he couldn't help but shiver. He put his hands in his sleeves and quickened his pace. When he entered the main courtyard, he looked up and saw Xue Ye rushing towards him in the middle of the courtyard.

Liu Dianyi's pupils contracted slightly, and he took two steps back, almost falling to the ground.

Then a childish voice came from ahead: "Snowy night, don't run, watch me!"

With a howl, Xueye braked just before hitting Liu Dianyi, then turned and charged at Gu Yuzhi. Its breath condensed into a wisp of transparent ice on the fur below its mouth, which broke off and fell to the ground as it moved.

Gu Yuzhi pushed off with his little feet, using the momentum to leap into the air, trying to flip over and climb onto Xueye's back. However, Xueye rolled on the ground and quickly dodged away, gripping the ground with all four paws, lowering his head, staring straight at him with his green eyes, and making threatening sounds.

Having missed his target, Gu Yuzhi stomped his foot in frustration, turned to look at Xue Ye, put his hands behind his back, snorted, raised his chin, and mimicked Xie Changshi's tone: "I have other matters to attend to, so let's call it a day."

Xueye straightened up and let out two howls, clearly unhappy that her friends weren't playing with her.

It took two steps forward, tugged at Gu Yuzhi's clothes with its paws, tilted its head to look at him, and looked adorable.

Shu Xiaohan, just like Gu Yuzhi, rested her chin on her hands and said, "Oh, I wish I could touch Xueye too."

Look at that soft, fluffy fur, and that adorable, cute look. It would be so satisfying to pet it.

Gu Yuzhi was about to speak when he saw that Liu Dianyi seemed to be frozen in place. He took a quarter of an hour to walk just a few steps, and his every move was like that of a puppet being pulled along.

He slowly bowed, his voice weak and feeble: "Your Highness, I have returned."

Gu Yuzhi scratched his head, feeling that Liu Dianyi was acting somewhat strangely.

However, since arriving in the northern desert, Liu Dianyi has kept a low profile and rarely goes out. Unless necessary, he stays in his room most of the time and never even leaves the house. Gu Yuzhi really doesn't know what Liu Dianyi is like on ordinary days.

"Liu Dianyi".

Chief Secretary Xie arrived just in time and hurriedly said, "Oh, Commander Liu is back! Why don't you go inside and wait?"

Without saying a word, he grabbed Liu Dianyi's sleeve and led him toward the council hall, explaining as they walked, "Your Highness, Liu Dianyi's body is not susceptible to the cold wind."

Gu Yuzhi looked up and noticed that Liu Dianyi's face was even more unpleasant, and his figure was much thinner than the others in the mansion, as if he were wearing a long robe.

Shu Xiaohan said, "I hadn't noticed before, but Liu Dianyi's image is simply the epitome of a poor scholar and a slender literati."

She touched her chin, thinking to herself that everyone in the Prince's mansion was quite good-looking; if this were modern times, it would definitely be a film and television company incubator.

Wen Xiuzhu looked down at Shu Xiaohan, spat, and mimicked Shu Xiaohan's tone: "Infatuated!"

Shu Xiaohan pouted and ignored him. Their views were too different, and they would argue if they talked about it.

Although she spends a lot of time at the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, she can find out immediately in the group chat if a handsome man or a beautiful woman comes to the academy.

It's not about being a flower fanatic, but rather an appreciation of beauty.

After all, handsome men and beautiful women are a global resource.

However, for the sake of the young prince's health, she should be more magnanimous about this.

She gave him an air of "I won't hold it against you," which made Wen Xiuzhu grit his teeth. He glanced at the unusually thin Liu Dianyi without leaving a trace, and then shifted his gaze to Xie Changshi beside him.

Although Xie Changshi was not as thin as Liu Dianyi, he was obviously very well-proportioned, with an upright back and a good physique.

Wen Xiuzhu couldn't help but suck in his stomach. Could it be that the reason he couldn't pretend to be a scholar was because he wasn't thin enough?

Gu Yuzhi tiptoed to sit on the chair, then moved back a little, wiggled his legs, and looked up to see Wen Xiuzhu's furrowed brows. He asked silently, "Manager Wen, what's wrong?"

Wen Xiuzhu shook his head, his spirits immediately deflated as soon as he opened his mouth, and his large round belly bulged out again. He said awkwardly, "It's nothing, Your Highness, please listen to what Chief Secretary Xie and the others have to say."

Chief Secretary Xie was explaining to Gu Yuzhi the reason for Liu Dianyi's physical condition: "Liu Dianyi had fallen into the water in winter and was almost without a pulse when he was found. It was Judge Qin who saved him, but the cold had already seeped into his bones, so Liu Dianyi is more afraid of the cold than ordinary people."

In fact, things were not that simple. At that time, the emperor had not yet ascended the throne. The late emperor was dissatisfied with the emperor. Although he was granted the title of crown prince, he never allowed the emperor to move into the Eastern Palace. Instead, the emperor lived in the Prince's Mansion in the capital.

That winter, the Prince of Chu pressed closer and closer. The Emperor summoned his subordinates to the Prince's residence for a meeting. Unexpectedly, a large number of assassins suddenly appeared in the Prince's residence. In order to save the Emperor, Liu Dianyi was stabbed by an arrow and fell into the pool. When he was pulled out, he had almost no pulse.

This incident caused a sensation in the court and among the public, and the emperor subsequently moved into the Eastern Palace.

After that, Liu Dianyi was recuperating from his injuries. If it weren't for the young prince and the people of the northern desert, the emperor would never have allowed Liu Dianyi to come to the northern desert.

It can be said that Judge Qin followed him for two reasons: first, for the sake of the young prince, and second, for the sake of Commander Liu.

Gu Yuzhi looked over as Xie Changshi spoke and saw that Liu Dianyi had kept his hands tucked in and hadn't said a word. He seemed to be frozen and his eyes were somewhat vacant.

He puffed out his cheeks, a hint of guilt in his eyes: "I didn't even know about this."

Gu Yuzhi lightly touched the chair leg with his toes, thinking that he and Liu Dianyi had known each other for more than a year, yet he had no idea that Liu Dianyi's health was so poor.

If he had known earlier, he definitely wouldn't have let Liu Dianyi go to Dingzhou.

He thought for a moment and said, "From now on, Consort Liu's meals should not be shared with them. I will have Granny Xu prepare meals for you separately."

My mother said that Xu Mama not only knows how to cook imperial cuisine, but also medicinal cuisine. After giving birth, her health was not good, and the palace maids could not get any precious medicinal herbs from the Imperial Hospital to nourish her. It was Xu Mama who made medicinal cuisine to nourish her little by little.

Gu Yuzhi fanned himself with his hand, looking disgusted, and said, "The medicine that Imperial Physician Qin made is too bitter. I'm sure Consort Liu won't like to drink it either. Let Granny Xu make some medicinal food instead. It'll taste good and be good for your health."

It was only then that Liu Dianyi seemed to come to his senses. He glanced at Gu Yuzhi, and his usually calm eyes showed a hint of emotion. He finally understood why everyone in the manor liked the young prince.

He slightly curved his lips: "Your Highness, I have already arranged for the three merchants from Dingzhou to stay at the inn. We are just waiting for Manager Mu and the others to return so we can discuss the salt permit matter."

Gu Yuzhi hadn't recovered from his guilt when he heard Liu Dianyi mention three merchant houses.