Come on, I'll take you horseback riding.

Inside the Prince Duan's residence, a familiar sound of footsteps could be heard.

She looked up and saw Ling Yuan stepping over the threshold. He was dressed in riding attire today, which made his figure appear even more upright.

"The royal spring hunt is in three days." He stopped in front of her, his voice still calm. "Would you like to come along?"

Yan Shu's hand paused slightly. The spring hunt was a grand event for the royal family, something that even ordinary princes and nobles rarely participated in, yet he had come to ask her in person.

She said, "Your Majesty...I'm afraid of causing you trouble."

"It's alright." He noticed the slight blush on her earlobes. "If you wish to go, have someone prepare."

These words, spoken casually, stirred Yan Shu's heart. She quietly raised her eyes and met his gaze.

"Then...this concubine wishes to go."

He said, "Okay."

Three days later, at the royal hunting grounds on the outskirts of Beijing.

Yan Shu sat in the women's section, her gaze involuntarily following the figure in the arena. Ling Yuan was participating in the archery competition before the start of the event.

His posture as he drew the bow was extremely steady, his gaze focused. Sunlight fell on his sharply defined profile.

"Whoosh—"

The arrow pierced the air and hit the bullseye.

A cheer erupted from the sidelines. Yan Shu unconsciously held her breath, watching him nock the arrow and draw the bow again. Each arrow leaving the string carried a sharp, beautiful quality.

Another arrow pierced the bullseye. He turned slightly to the side, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the women's quarters. In that instant, their eyes met in mid-air.

Yan Shu's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously raised the corners of her lips.

His gaze paused slightly before he turned back. But perhaps it was just his imagination, but his tense lips seemed to soften a little, and even the next arrow he shot carried a rare sense of exhilaration.

"Your Highness Prince Duan has excellent archery skills!" Exclamations of praise rang out from all around.

When his group won the championship without any suspense, Yan Shu saw his smile as he high-fived his teammates and his own high spirits.

So he can laugh like that too.

After the competition ended, everyone mounted their horses, ready to explore the forest and its natural beauty. Lingyuan nimbly mounted his horse and slowly moved forward with the group.

Yan Shuyin couldn't ride a horse, so she could only stand there and watch that figure gradually disappear into the distance. The sunlight was a bit dazzling, and she squinted, a sense of indescribable loss welling up in her heart.

Unbeknownst to her, a figure was approaching her from afar. Several royal princes following behind him urged, "Prince Duan, hurry, or we'll miss the first wave!"

Ling Yuan reined in his horse, turned back, and replied calmly, "You go first. I need to find my queen."

This was said as if it were a matter of course, as if it were a matter of course.

Yan Shu could only lower her head, awkwardly preparing to bear this loneliness. Looking at the unopened little flower at her feet, a tall horse stopped in front of her, casting a shadow.

First she saw her shadow completely envelop her on the ground, then the sound of horses' hooves lightly pounding the ground, and finally, a hand reached out to her.

His palms were large, and his knuckles had thin calluses from years of holding a sword.

"Yan Shu, come, I'll take you horseback riding." These words struck like a thunderbolt. He called her "Yan Shu"? Not her cold, formal full name from the manor, nor the distant "Princess"...

She froze, her mind blank.

"Mount up." He spoke again, two words that left no room for argument.

In a daze, Yan Shu reached out her hand, her fingertips just touching his warm palm, when she was firmly lifted up by a force. When she came to her senses, she was already sitting sideways on the saddle.

The next moment, she felt a weight behind her as a warm, firm chest pressed against her. He held the reins in one hand and naturally wrapped the other around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.

"Hold on tight."

A deep voice sounded in my ear, carrying a warm breath.

Space on horseback was limited, and the slight jolts brought the two closer together. Yan Shu could clearly feel the warmth of his chest, the contours of his muscles beneath his clothes, and his steady heartbeat, mingling with her own erratic heartbeat.

A gentle breeze carried the scent of grass, but all her senses were focused on the powerful embrace behind her. His arm, holding the reins, occasionally brushed against her side, carrying the scent of leather and his cool, yet burning, body.

My heart felt like it was being soaked in warm honey, swollen and dizzy with an unreal feeling.

Lingyuan controlled his horse very steadily and did not chase after the main group, but chose a quiet path. The horse's hooves trod on the grass, making a soft, rustling sound.

After passing through a grove of trees, the view suddenly opened up. A clear stream meandered by, shimmering with tiny golden light in the sunlight.

He reined in his horse, deftly dismounted, then turned and reached out his hand to her.

Yan Shu offered him her hand, using it to slide off the horse. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she quickly walked a few steps to the stream, squatted down, and gently stirred the cool water with her fingers.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dancing on her body.

Suddenly seized by a playful impulse, she secretly turned her head to look at Ling Yuan, who was standing not far away, admiring the scenery.

She scooped up some stream water and, smiling, gently splashed it towards him.

A few drops of cold water splashed onto the hem of his robe and the top of his boots.

He paused, looked down, then looked up at her, who was squatting by the stream, tilting her head and with a mischievous smile in her eyes.

He frowned habitually.

However, the frown lasted only a moment. Perhaps infected by that pure smile, the corners of his tightly pursed lips twitched almost imperceptibly upwards, outlining a very faint, yet real, smile.

Although it was fleeting, and he didn't respond to her teasing, that fleeting smile, like sunlight breaking through the dark clouds, instantly illuminated his face and was deeply imprinted on Yan Shuxin's heart.

He... smiled.

Yan Shu's heart was gently touched, then filled with immense joy. She looked at him, her eyes crinkling, her smile brighter than the sunshine.

On the return journey, they rode together once again. The setting sun cast long, intertwined shadows of the two. She leaned quietly against him, listening to the rhythmic sound of the horse's hooves, her heart filled with an unprecedented peace and joy.

This was probably the happiest day she'd had since arriving here.

Unbeknownst to her, behind her, Ling Yuan's gaze would occasionally fall upon the top of her head, and a corner of his icy eyes seemed to melt, reflecting the glow of the sunset and flowing with a gentleness that even he himself was unaware of.

They returned to camp as dusk deepened.

Attendants came forward to lead the horse. Lingyuan dismounted first, then naturally reached out to help her.

Her hand rested on his palm, and she could feel the calluses on his fingertips. As she landed, her skirt slipped slightly, and he caught her by the waist in time.

"careful."

These are still the same two words, but they have a warmer feel to them than when they arrived.

The banquet was held on an open meadow, with a bonfire blazing and the aroma of roasted meat filling the air. Yan Shu sat beside Ling Yuan, watching the flickering firelight cast dappled shadows on his face.

"Did you have a good time today?" he suddenly asked, turning his head to her.

Yan Shu hadn't expected him to ask, and nodded gently, "Very good."

He picked up his wine cup, his gaze falling on the leaping flames: "If you ever want to ride a horse again, just tell me, and I'll accompany you."

These words, spoken casually, warmed Yan Shu's heart.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

He finished his drink and said nothing more.

After the banquet, everyone returned to their respective tents.

On the bed in the tent of Prince Duan and his wife

"Your Highness..." she said softly, "Thank you for today, Your Highness."

He was silent for a moment, then responded softly, "Mm."

Just when she thought the conversation was over, she heard him add, "When you return to the manor tomorrow, have the stables prepare a docile horse for you."

Yan Shu felt a warmth in her heart, and the corners of her lips unconsciously turned up.

He blew out the last candle, and the tent was plunged into darkness. Moonlight shone through the curtains, casting a silvery glow on the floor.

"Settle down."

His voice rang out in the darkness, softer than usual.

A night breeze swept through the camp, carrying the fresh scent of grass. In the distance, the faint sound of horses' hooves and the chirping of unknown insects could be heard.

The wildflowers at the archery range were blooming exceptionally brightly tonight.