Are you satisfied?

Suddenly feeling weightless, Gu Jinghong gasped and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

Xiao Chengyan carried her into the inner room. The beaded curtain swayed behind him, making a crisp and rapid clanging sound, just like her heartbeat, which had suddenly become out of rhythm.

The candlelight in the inner room was even more dim, the gauze curtains were lowered, and the air was filled with her usual faint, cool fragrance, which now seemed to be tainted by his scent, becoming thick and scorching.

He embraced her, then leaned down and gently sank her into the soft quilt. His tall, imposing body covered her, enveloping her in a shadow that felt oppressive.

His gaze was deep and intense, like unyielding ink, fixed on her, surging with an undisguised burning passion.

Gu Jinghong subconsciously leaned back.

He spoke in a low, husky voice, his warm breath brushing against her lips, "Now you're scared? Why didn't you back down when you were teasing me like that?"

Gu Jinghong's cheeks were originally flushed, but upon hearing this, her eyes suddenly brightened, revealing a sly glint.

She reached out languidly, her fingertips lightly tracing the buttons on his robe: "Who's afraid? It's just that Your Highness seems rather eager than the aloof person you've been rumored to be..."

Before she could finish speaking, he sealed her words with a kiss.

Passionate and entangled.

His scent was like an intangible, impenetrable mist, enveloping Gu Jinghong completely, filling his rapid breaths.

His arm was tightly wrapped around her waist, while his other hand slipped between the strands of her hair at the back of her head, his palm warm against her skin.

Gu Jinghong initially maintained her clarity of mind, but the moment the overwhelming sensation of Xiao Chengyan's touch washed over her, that resistance quickly crumbled, turning into a muffled sob between her lips and teeth.

Her grip on his shoulder gradually weakened, and she felt the air around her ignite with his increasingly hot body temperature.

He is the whole world.

Xiao Chengyan seemed to be stirred by something, and his originally flat brows furrowed slightly.

His kisses were no longer just fleeting; they took on a predatory quality, landing on her lips and chin.

This unfamiliar, delicate, and scalding touch made Gu Jinghong tremble slightly, her fingertips unconsciously clenching the fabric on his chest.

The touch of his cool air caused her to shiver slightly, but this was quickly dispelled by his tighter embrace and burning body heat.

The candlelight was dim, and the small clothes were scattered to one side.

"Ah Hong..." He buried his face in her neck, calling her name again and again, his voice filled with an uncontrollable hoarseness and an indescribable tenderness.

Gu Jinghong felt her thoughts scattered. An unprecedented sense of dependence and excitement seized her, prompting her to move closer and closer to him, seeking that comforting warmth.

The candlelight flickered, and I don't know how much time passed...

Xiao Chengyan held her tightly in his arms, the two of them very close, their sweaty skin rubbing against each other, tender and languid.

He rested his chin on the top of her head, calming his breathing, and stroked her back with his large hand.

Gu Jinghong slumped in his arms, too lazy to even move her fingertips, her eyes still bearing the lingering redness, as if stained with the finest rouge.

With her eyes closed, she felt his strong, powerful heartbeat pounding against her eardrums, each beat steady and reassuring.

He placed a light kiss on her hair, his voice low and husky with satisfaction: "Are you satisfied now? Hmm?"

Gu Jinghong gave a lazy hum in response, snuggling closer to him to find a more comfortable position.

Xiao Chengyan chuckled softly, tightening his grip on her arm: "Go to sleep. Tomorrow... I'll explain to you in detail the things to be careful about during the winter hunt."

A wave of weariness washed over her, and surrounded by his warm presence, Gu Jinghong quickly lost consciousness and fell into a deep sleep.

Listening to the gradually even and deep breathing of the person in his arms, Xiao Chengyan lowered his head and gazed at her peaceful sleeping face in the dim candlelight, his gaze deep and complex.

He knew perfectly well that she wasn't just there for fun.

But so what?

Since he agreed to her request, he would protect her.

Whether it's a dangerous hunting ground or a regular hunt, with her by his side, he would gladly endure any hardship, even a perilous one.

His eyes darkened, but in the end he simply held her tighter and blew out the candle by the bedside.

The tent was plunged into darkness and silence.

...

Early November, Beilu Weichang.

The cold wind howled, and the banners fluttered in the wind.

Thousands of imperial guards surrounded the hunting grounds, their colorful flags gleaming brightly in the winter sun. The emperor's golden tent stood at the highest point, surrounded by the tents of princes, nobles, and civil and military officials.

Gu Jinghong was dressed in a blue men's suit, with his hair tied up high, dressed as Xiao Chengyan's personal bodyguard.

She was already tall and straight, with a touch of heroic spirit in her mind, and the red mole at the end of her eyebrow added a touch of charm to her, making her look like a handsome young man who was not ordinary.

Xiao Chengyan rode ahead on horseback, with Gu Jinghong close behind.

One is calm and dignified, imposing and imposing, like a deep pool and a towering mountain; the other is handsome and dashing, with a subtle and elegant charm, like a jade tree standing tall in the wind.

It attracted a lot of attention as soon as it appeared.

Many officials were curious when they saw that His Highness Prince Jin had a new, handsome guard by his side, but they dared not ask any questions.

"Whoosh—thump, thump—thump thump thump—"

The bugles sounded loudly, and the drums thundered.

On the high platform, His Majesty the Emperor, dressed in a bright yellow hunting suit embroidered with gold dragons, slowly rose under the watchful eyes of his officials and relatives. A palace attendant respectfully presented him with a precious bow carved with dragon patterns and a golden arrow.

The emperor took the bow and his gaze swept over the magnificent scene below, where banners fluttered and horses neighed.

He took a deep breath, drew his bow, and aimed at the target ahead.

"Buzz!"

The bowstring twanged, and the golden arrow shot through the air, tracing a dazzling arc before embedding itself in the bullseye of a large straw target a hundred paces away.

"Your Majesty is divinely mighty!"

The courtiers and imperial guards erupted in cheers that shook the surrounding area.

As Xiao Chengyan clapped, he could see very clearly that his father had grown old. When he drew the bow just now, although his movements were still dignified, upon closer inspection, his arm trembled slightly, unlike the smooth and powerful movements of previous years.

The emperor lowered his bow, a smile on his face, and accepted the homage of the crowd. Then he proclaimed in a loud voice, "The winter hunt begins! May the sons and daughters of my Great Yong display their bravery and live up to this precious time!"

"Long live! Long live! Long live the Emperor!"

The ceremony concluded, and the atmosphere was instantly ignited.

The military officers, nobles, and royal family members, who could no longer contain themselves, spurred their horses and surged into the vast hunting grounds and forests like a flood. Their hooves crushed the withered branches and leaves, raising clouds of dust and snow. Shouts, barking dogs, and the sound of bowstrings rose and fell.

In high spirits, Emperor Chengqian smiled and called out, "Chengyan, I know you have always been a master archer. Today, accompany me into the forest and let me see your skills again."

The emperor's command is difficult to disobey.

Xiao Chengyan lowered his gaze slightly, then immediately accepted the order: "Yes, Father."

He rode back to Gu Jinghong's side, reined in his horse, and leaned down to whisper, "Stay here, and absolutely do not wander off. The hunting grounds are not only home to docile prey; in the deeper forests, there may be bears and other ferocious beasts that have been disturbed and are extremely dangerous. Wait for me to return."

Gu Jinghong suppressed the slight ripple in her heart caused by the plan, put on an obedient appearance, and nodded in response: "Your Highness, rest assured, I know what is important."

Emperor Chengqian, on the other hand, laughed heartily: "Chengyan, isn't the little guard going into the forest with you?"

Xiao Chengyan said, "Your Majesty, he is still young and is a disciple of Changfeng. Today, Changfeng went to handle some military affairs, so I took him with me. To keep Your Majesty entertained, I asked him to wait for me here."

Emperor Chengqian gave Gu Jinghong another ambiguous look, then lashed his horse with his whip.

The horse, in pain, galloped off like an arrow.

Xiao Chengyan gave Gu Jinghong another deep look before finally cracking his whip. His black cloak drew a cold, hard arc in the air as he spurred his horse to follow the emperor's entourage into the hunting frenzy.

Below the high platform, only some civil officials, eunuchs, and imperial guards remained for a time.

The two elderly ministers whispered among themselves.

"His Majesty's feelings toward King Jin seem to have changed after his triumphant return from quelling the rebellion in the southwest."

"It seems that the future of Dayong is quite bright."

"Yes, the Fourth Prince has a tough and unyielding style, quite like His Majesty in his youth, but his unyielding spirit is very much like the late Consort."

"Minister Zhang, be careful with your words."

"hehe……"

The two watched as His Majesty and King Jin's figures gradually disappeared into the dense forest at the other end of the hunting grounds.

Gu Jinghong withdrew her gaze, composed herself, and after confirming that no one was paying special attention to her, she quietly turned around and stealthily headed in the opposite direction from the "safe zone" that Xiao Chengyan had instructed her to enter.

She had planned this all along—the northern hunting grounds were located directly above a workshop of machinery and equipment that she had secretly set up. Today, with the emperor hunting, no one would dare to approach, so she could take the opportunity to check on the progress.

The north side of the hunting grounds is sparsely populated, with denser forests that make the paths almost invisible.

Pushing aside the withered vines and grasses deep in the forest, she pressed down on a rock in a specific order. With a very slight click of a mechanism, the rock wall slowly slid open, creating a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

She slipped inside, and the stone door behind her quietly closed, shutting out the sunlight and chill from outside.

The world inside the gate is a hidden paradise.

A staircase leading downwards, with fluorite inlaid on both sides emitting a soft white light.

Light shines in the darkness.

Gu Jinghong walked down step by step, and could vaguely smell the damp scent of freshly dug soil in the air.

"Jinghongwu" was designed by her based on the appearance of the Southwest Army's Ordnance Battalion. At that time, she was on her way back to the capital. Although it was finally completed, everything still seemed rushed.

The massive underground cavern was supported by thick wooden piles, and the area was divided in a somewhat chaotic manner. The flames of the forge, which had just been lit, flickered and reflected the various ores and timbers piled up next to it.

A young craftsman was intently hammering a red-hot sheet of iron, his movements still somewhat clumsy, and he had to glance at the old master craftsman beside him from time to time.

On the other side, several craftsmen were discussing in hushed tones around a complex crossbow. Blueprints and various parts were scattered on the table, indicating that they had encountered difficulties in the assembly and debugging process.

Deeper inside, several peculiar vehicle skeletons stand silently, but scattered around them are more discarded sketches and trial-and-error parts.

Gu Jinghong was about to go up and take a look at the sketches when he heard a familiar voice: "Grand Secretary!"