Lone Wolf of the Snowfield

The Lesser Cold has passed, but the snow and wind still linger in the capital.

For several days in a row, the entire vast palace was shrouded in a strange, almost viscous, calm.

After being ravaged by that potent medicine, Xiao Chengyan's body finally entered a long and arduous recovery period.

During the day, he slept most of the time, his face pale from blood loss, his breathing long and weak. Apart from the occasional indistinct "A-Ning" that escaped from the depths of his nightmares, he was relatively calm, as if he was about to stitch back together the vital energy that had been torn apart by the effects of the medicine.

Only in the evening, when the hustle and bustle of the entire palace had completely subsided, would he put on his heavy fox fur coat and get up to deal with those urgent military and political affairs.

In the still of the night, Gu Jinghong stood guard like a silent shadow, grinding ink, adding tea, and organizing the mountain of documents.

She concealed all her sharpness and scheming deep beneath her docile, almost wooden exterior, like a reef sunk into the dark depths of the sea.

On that day, after the snow cleared and the sky brightened, Xiao Chengyan's spirits returned somewhat, and he ordered Changfeng to move all the important official business that had not yet been finished in the palace back to his study.

He himself was wrapped in a snow-white fox fur coat, his steps slow but steady as he walked slowly toward the study, stepping on the thin layer of snow that had not yet been swept away from the corridor. The fur collar of the fox fur coat made his jawline appear even more stern, with only a trace of weariness from recovering from a serious illness remaining deep in his eyes.

Changfeng made several trips back and forth, carrying the last stack of documents. He silently and gently closed the heavy study door, shutting out the cold air from outside, and then returned to Xiao Chengyan's side, standing respectfully with his hands at his sides.

"What is it?"

Xiao Chengyan's gaze did not leave the unfolded document, and his voice was slightly hoarse, as if he had not spoken for a long time.

Changfeng's Adam's apple bobbed, and he lowered his voice: "Your Highness, you previously instructed me to investigate Gu Jinghong... and we have made some progress."

Xiao Chengyan's fingers, which were holding the pen, paused almost imperceptibly.

Indeed, he had once harbored deep suspicions about this woman of unknown origin, and even now, those doubts have not truly dissipated.

However, the events that occurred in this short period of time, though seemingly insignificant, were like tiny grains of sand, constantly eroding his initial judgment.

Her forbearance and silence during the Empress Dowager's interrogation; the momentary retreat and shock she showed when faced with Changfeng's stern questioning; and her silent yet devoted care for him at his bedside these past few days...

These fragments quietly pieced together a vague outline in his mind—she was by no means a villain.

Although the "Nine-Turn Resurrection Grass" is a rare treasure, it is ultimately a good medicine for curing diseases and saving lives. To some extent, this woman named Gu Jinghong... even exudes an untimely, almost isolated "specialness".

Seeing Xiao Chengyan remain silent, Changfeng continued, "I have done my best to investigate. Following the name 'Gu Jinghong' and her physical characteristics, we cast a net through the underground channels of the capital, and finally... it pointed to one place—Zhuoyue Tower."

"Zhuoyue Tower?" Xiao Chengyan finally raised his eyes from the map, his narrow phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and a sharp light flashed in the depths of his eyes, clearly as he was quickly searching for something in his memory.

After a moment, he parted his thin lips slightly, his voice devoid of emotion: "Go on."

"Yes. I've heard that a new singing girl named 'Yun Ni' has recently risen to fame there. She's skilled at playing the pipa and is especially known for her stunning beauty. Some lucky people who have caught a glimpse of her from afar have described her appearance and demeanor as... bearing a striking resemblance to our Miss Gu in our household."

"A songstress?" Xiao Chengyan's voice came through, carrying a cold, almost absurd, tone of complete disbelief.

"Changfeng, did you see her with your own eyes at Zhuoyue Tower?"

"This... I haven't paid attention to those courtesans." Changfeng was slightly puzzled. The prince was always very discerning. Did he have to see it with his own eyes to be sure?

Xiao Chengyan's lips curved into a very faint, almost imperceptible smile, and his voice deepened.

"To jump to conclusions without even seeing it for yourself? Changfeng, think about it carefully. What kind of woman would a courtesan who could rise to the top in a place like Zhuoyue Tower, a den of iniquity and corruption, be? She must be a master dancer, naturally alluring, with every glance a calculated, seductive glint in her eye, knowing how to use her beauty as a weapon to navigate the powerful and influential. And look at Gu Jinghong..."

Before Xiao Chengyan's eyes, Gu Jinghong's rigid, almost stiff movements and those eyes—the eyes that were definitely not those of a songstress. A faint, unexpected smile, which even he himself did not notice, floated on his lips like a gentle breeze across a cold pool.

"Her eyes were too cold, too still, like a deep pool frozen with ice. Facing me, facing the Empress Dowager, she trembled with fear, stubbornly resisted, meticulously calculated, and even... a fleeting murderous intent. But she lacked that kind of obsequiousness that comes from someone who has been through the wringer in the world of pleasure and whose charm is ingrained in their very bones."

"She knows how to assess situations, how to find the slightest flaw in a desperate situation, and even... knows how to exploit my momentary emotional fluctuations to secure a chance for survival. Such a mindset, such unwavering composure under immense pressure, and such resilience to launch a sudden counterattack—how could a mere courtesan who relies on her beauty possibly possess such qualities? It's more like..."

He paused slightly, as if searching for the most fitting description, the sound of his fingertips tapping on the table particularly clear in the silence: "...a lone wolf trudging alone through the snowy wasteland, constantly on guard against traps from all sides."

"Your Highness is wise; it was my foolishness that led to this!" Changfeng's voice carried a solemn tone, reflecting his realization.

Xiao Chengyan's eyes flickered, as if he had thought of a crucial point, and his voice carried an unprecedented level of inquiry, "Moreover, there's also that..."

"What else?" Changfeng immediately pressed.

Xiao Chengyan, however, seemed to have thought of something. A glint of light flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly raised his hand and casually waved it at Changfeng, cutting him off: "The matter of Gu Jinghong ends here. You don't need to follow it anymore."

"But Your Highness..."

Gu Jinghong's doubts have not been dispelled.

Xiao Chengyan glanced at him indifferently, his gaze calm and unwavering, yet heavy as a thousand pounds.

Changfeng felt a chill run down his spine, all the words he hadn't said stuck in his throat. He immediately lowered his eyes and silently left the study, leaving the quiet room to the man behind the desk.

...

By the time Xiao Chengyan finished processing the last urgent military report, it was already past midnight.

On nights when the snow melts, the cold is biting, as if it can seep into your bones through thick fox fur.

He coughed lightly a few times, his throat still slightly itchy from a long-standing illness, and slowly walked out of the study.

As soon as I pushed open that heavy, carved wooden door, the crisp, cold wind after the snow rushed towards me, and what came into view was a figure standing quietly in the dim light of the lantern under the eaves.

Gu Jinghong held a brass brass stove in her hands. The walls of the stove were glowing red from the charcoal fire, radiating warmth. A thin layer of fine snow had settled on her shoulders, and her dark hair was slightly damp from the cold.

Seeing him come out, she raised her face, the corners of her lips curving into a perfectly pleasing arc, her voice sounding exceptionally clear and gentle in the quiet snowy night: "Your Highness, the snow is melting today, making it especially cold. Be careful not to let the cold seep into your body."

The soft glow of the lanterns under the eaves bathed her face, and her usually calm eyes, now illuminated by the warm light, revealed a rare tenderness.

A faint smile almost unconsciously flashed across Xiao Chengyan's eyes. He reached out and naturally brushed away a few glistening snowflakes that clung to her hair.

Then, he took the warm stove from her hands with remarkable ease.

A deep warmth instantly spread from my palms, dispelling the coldness in my fingertips and strangely easing the heaviness weighing on my heart.

Just then, Changfeng's figure followed silently like a shadow.

Xiao Chengyan held the hand warmer, his gaze sweeping across the quiet courtyard. "I'm feeling a bit hungry right now. Changfeng, go and have the kitchen prepare some hot food."

"Yes." Changfeng accepted the order, and his figure quickly disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

Only two clear lines of footprints were left on the snow. Xiao Chengyan walked ahead, carrying a hand warmer, while Gu Jinghong followed half a step behind.

In the stillness of the snowy night, all was quiet except for the regular and clear crunching sound of boots on the soft, fresh snow, echoing in the empty courtyard, one sound after another.

...

The small kitchen was warm and cozy, with embers still burning in the stove, emitting a dry and warm aroma of firewood, a stark contrast to the bitter cold outside.

On the small square table, several bowls of warm, glutinous rice porridge, several plates of refreshing seasonal vegetables, and a plate of thinly sliced, evenly braised meat were already laid out. The aroma of the food, mixed with the warmth of the firewood, filled the small space.

Xiao Chengyan casually sat down, picked up his silver chopsticks, and ate a few mouthfuls. The hot porridge warmed his stomach, bringing him some comfort.

His gaze inadvertently swept across the silent night outside the window, illuminated by the snow, and a vague emotion—perhaps the loneliness of the deep night, or perhaps the relaxation after his body had recovered—made him suddenly speak.

The voice sounded especially clear in the warmth: "The night is long and the chill is biting. Long wind, go and fetch a pot of good wine to warm yourselves up."

Changfeng responded with a "Yes," then turned around and, with great familiarity, carefully took out a slender-necked, waisted white porcelain wine bottle and three matching, exquisite white jade cups from an inconspicuous mahogany food box in the corner of the kitchen.

A hint of barely perceptible pride, a sense of relief at sharing the burden of his lord, played on his face: "Your Highness, I have already prepared it. Knowing that you are preoccupied with military affairs, this is 'Qiongyue Niang' (a type of nectar) that was just delivered to your residence this morning. It is the best for dispelling the cold and nourishing the spirit, and it is perfect for tonight."

Xiao Chengyan's gaze fell on the white porcelain bottle, and he raised an eyebrow slightly, a genuine sense of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Then, his gaze shifted and landed on Gu Jinghong, who was standing quietly to the side, hiding herself in the shadows of the lamplight.

“Jinghong,” Xiao Chengyan’s voice was slightly gentler than usual, carrying an undeniable invitation, “Sit down and have a drink to warm yourselves up.”

Gu Jinghong was slightly taken aback, as if she hadn't expected this sudden invitation.

She immediately lowered her head, her posture still respectful, but her voice carried a perfectly measured hint of fear: "Your Highness's kindness is overwhelming. I am humbled. However... I have never been good at drinking since childhood. I have been drunk and behaved improperly, spoiling Your Highness's enjoyment."

Changfeng, who was standing to the side, frowned almost instinctively and very slightly. His usual scrutiny and impatience resurfaced in his eyes, and his lips moved almost imperceptibly—the words "ungrateful" were about to burst out!

Xiao Chengyan keenly sensed the instantaneous change in Changfeng's aura. He didn't even turn his head completely, but merely raised his eyes and glanced at Changfeng with extreme indifference.

Then she raised an eyebrow at Gu Jinghong: "Oh? Not good at drinking?"