Say hello

In that instant, his pale forearm almost touched the back of Gu Jinghong's hand.

Xie Yan's unique, cool scent, mixed with the scent of rouge and face powder, enveloped her once more. Gu Jinghong subconsciously leaned back slightly, trying to create some distance.

Xie Yan seemed oblivious to her evasiveness. Instead, at this extremely close distance, his gaze lingered for a moment on her lips, which were made exceptionally vibrant by her makeup.

"However, Miss Gu's attire like this is much more interesting than her usual cold and aloof demeanor."

Gu Jinghong was already immune to his tone, and instead of being embarrassed or annoyed, she met his gaze and retorted in the same tone, "Likewise. Miss Xie 'Wanwan' is truly a beauty that could topple kingdoms."

The playful smile in Xie Yan's eyes seemed to fade for a moment, but it was so quick that it was impossible to catch.

He gave a soft hum, finally straightened up, and tapped Gu Jinghong's shoulder lightly with his fan.

"Sharp-tongued and quick-witted."

He turned and walked towards the dressing table, his back still "graceful".

He simply used his habit of testing and controlling everything around him, including his interactions with her, in the way he was best at.

She was already familiar with his tactics and could easily deflect them.

One never truly crossed the line, while the other remained open and unambiguous.

...

Commander's Camp

Since Xuan Ru came to the military camp to give him acupuncture, Xiao Chengyan has been having more and more dreams.

He dreamt that he returned to an afternoon ten years ago, where he was once again punished by being forced to kneel on the bluestone slabs of a secluded palace path for "bumping into" his favored elder brother.

His knees were cold, the autumn wind was bleak, and he pursed his lips tightly, his eyes filled with a restraint and coldness that was beyond his years.

A small pebble was suddenly thrown in from outside the palace wall and rolled to his feet.

He frowned and looked up.

On the other side of the palace wall, a tall ginkgo tree stretched out its branches, its golden leaves covering the ground.

And sitting right on top of that wall was a little girl!

She was wearing a lotus-root-colored dress that didn't belong to the Dayong style, her calves dangling gently in the air, her big, dark eyes looking at him with curiosity and a hint of timidity.

She wore her hair in two small buns, her face was as white as jade, but her lips were somewhat pale, like a frightened little animal.

"You...you were also punished by kneeling?" The little girl's voice was soft and sweet, with a foreign accent, and sounded rather pitiful.

Xiao Chengyan was taken aback.

He had never seen her before; people from the palace wouldn't come to a place like this, much less speak to him in such a tone.

He didn't answer, but just stared at her coldly, warily.

He was used to the malice in the palace, so who knew what was hidden in this sudden concern?

Seeing that he didn't speak, the little girl wasn't afraid. Instead, she took out something wrapped in oil paper from her small cloth bag, found a rope, and carefully handed it down from the top of the wall.

"Here, have some. It's sweet, it'll make the pain go away."

It was a osmanthus rice cake, a specialty of the Southern Wind Kingdom.

Xiao Chengyan remained motionless.

The little girl was getting anxious, her hand still outstretched: "It's really delicious! I... I only have this one piece left. Uncle said no one can see me, but you look so sad..."

The power struggles within the palace were intricate and complex, something Xiao Chengyan understood even at a young age.

He saw the little girl hand him the item, hesitated for a moment, then reached out and slapped the rice cake away.

Those innocent, large eyes suddenly welled up with tears...

...

"A-Ning..." Xiao Chengyan had a splitting headache and was covered in sweat. He suddenly opened his eyes.

He looked around, but apart from Changfeng who rushed in, there was no one else there.

Changfeng looked at Xiao Chengyan's head covered with real hairpins and felt a pang of heartache.

He asked with concern, "Your Highness, did you dream of Princess Yongning?"

"Hmm..." Xiao Chengyan rested his forehead on one hand, as if he had answered, yet also as if he hadn't.

He knew very well that he couldn't mention A-Ning, he couldn't mention her... so he could only let the A-Ning in his heart forever wear the skin of Princess Yongning.

Xiao Chengyan looked up at Changfeng: "You came in so suddenly, is there something you need?"

Changfeng hesitated for a moment, seemingly unsure how to begin.

Seeing this grown man, who had fought on the battlefield, become so fussy, Xiao Chengyan's eyes sharpened: "Speak."

Changfeng gritted his teeth: "Miss Gu...she's lost..."

A sudden surge of anger rose within Xiao Chengyan. He lowered his hand, seemingly half-awakened, and looked at Changfeng with eyes full of fury: "Lost?! What do you mean by lost?! Where is the steward?"

Changfeng lowered his eyes to avoid Xiao Chengyan's sharp gaze: "Manager... wait."

Xiao Chengyan: "How did he 'wait'? Did he wait standing up, or did he wait kneeling down?"

Changfeng felt a cold sweat break out: "Your Highness, he has been tied up and is kneeling outside the tent."

Xiao Chengyan threw back the thin blanket and got out of bed: "Let him in."

The steward was brought in, his face ashen. Upon seeing Xiao Chengyan, he couldn't help but kneel down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly and begging for mercy, tears streaming down his face.

"Your Highness, I know I was wrong. I failed to control that girl and she escaped. It was my fault, and I promise I will never let this happen again. Please forgive me, Your Highness, for my unwavering loyalty!"

Xiao Chengyan looked down at him and said coldly, "You should know that the Southwest Headquarters is an important place. Since you have been put in charge, you must have the ability to manage it. You know the rules of the Headquarters best. If you survive one hundred lashes, you will still be the head of the Headquarters in the future."

Changfeng kindly added, "The people the prince put in charge of, one left the manor without permission and came to the military camp, and the other simply can't be found. You wouldn't feel wronged if they were given a hundred lashes."

The steward crawled on his knees toward Xiao Chengyan. A hundred lashes wouldn't be enough to kill him; he was truly innocent and could only kowtow repeatedly to Xiao Chengyan, pleading, "Your Highness, spare my life..."

Xiao Chengyan said expressionlessly, "Take him away."

Two strong guards then entered and dragged the steward away.

As he left, the steward looked at Xiao Chengyan and pleaded, "Your Highness, spare me... Your Highness, spare me..."

After the steward left, Xiao Chengyan whispered to Changfeng, "Before you hit him, put a pill in his mouth. Don't let a loyal person really die."

He knew perfectly well that the steward had no chance of controlling Gu Jinghong, but the rules couldn't be disregarded. Since he held this position and had the status of steward in the Southwest Headquarters, he had to bear whatever punishment was due. Beating him now was simply in accordance with his authority and responsibilities.

Changfeng looked at Xiao Chengyan, his eyes flashing slightly, and said, "Yes."

After speaking, Xiao Chengyan walked towards the long table, but Chang Feng remained standing in the same spot.

Xiao Chengyan didn't even look up at Changfeng, and said indifferently, "Speak if you have something to say."

Changfeng asked, "Your Highness, Miss Gu...aren't we going to look for her?"

Xiao Chengyan's brows furrowed with worry, but his voice remained icy: "Search? Is that like looking for a needle in a haystack, or risking exposing our target? She must have found a way to get to Zhao Qian's residence. We can just wait to go to his birthday banquet."

Changfeng was confused for a moment, scratching his head: "Huh?"

Xiao Chengyan said, "Jinghong was involved with the Hawk, and now the Hawk has appeared at the Prince's residence. She suddenly wants to go to the headquarters and then suddenly disappears. What else could it be for if not the Hawk?"

Changfeng nodded after hearing Xiao Chengyan's words and blurted out, "Is it over?"

Xiao Chengyan stared intently at Changfeng until Changfeng's heart pounded with anxiety, then he lowered his eyes and said irritably, "You're the one who's finished!"

Changfeng shut his mouth, but his eyes happened to glance at Xiao Chengyan's tightly clenched fist.

Her fingers were long and slender, but her knuckles had turned white from exertion, and the prince's face remained calm to an almost frightening degree.

Is there...something else?

After a moment, Xiao Chengyan parted his thin lips slightly: "Go and call Xuanru here."

...

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window lattice, cutting warm golden spots of light on the dusty floor.

Inside the Drunken Flower Shade room, the air was filled with a faint scent of rouge and face powder.

As soon as the day's practice ended, Gu Jinghong and Xie Yan, who was dressed as Xie Wanwan, sat down on the ground with a "thump".

Gu Jinghong, dressed in a scarlet gauze dress, sat with one knee bent, leaning against one side.

When practice ended, her face was flushed, and beads of sweat on her forehead dampened her hair and clung to her delicate face.

She wiped the fine sweat from her forehead with a cloth, looking at Xie Yan with a smile that had a unique charm.

Xie Yan stretched his stiff neck and looked at Gu Jinghong, a feeling of overwhelming joy welling up inside him.

Seeing Xie Yan's stunned gaze, Gu Jinghong waved a handkerchief in front of him and asked, "Hey, what are you doing? Did you think of something good? Or did you take a fancy to a girl during practice?"

Xie Yan snapped out of his daze, the tenderness that was about to well up in his eyes suddenly vanishing, replaced by the noble and cold air characteristic of Xie Gefu: "I really didn't expect that this woman's dance steps would be more tiring than practicing a complete sword technique..."

Gu Jinghong's lips curled into a smile, as if recalling Xie Yan's earnest learning expression earlier: "I didn't expect Minister Xie to have such amazing talent. The old lady said that among all those who practice dance steps, your waist movements are the most pleasing to her and most effective at pleasing men."

Xie Yan's face darkened, and he snatched the handkerchief Gu Jinghong was using to wipe his sweat, wiping his own brow. "And you still dare to talk? You heartless little thing. If it weren't for you, would I need to dress up like this? When I go to places like this, I always watch others dance, not dance for others."

Xie Yan pursed her lips, her gaze suddenly turning sharp as she looked at Gu Jinghong, but she still stared intently at him.

Gu Jinghong looked back at him with the same gaze.

A faint sound came from the next room.

"...King Jin...has agreed..."

"...The birthday banquet was a trap..."

"...An inside agent in the Prince's residence...absolutely foolproof..."

Someone is plotting to harm Xiao Chengyan!

Gu Jinghong's pupils suddenly contracted, and he even clenched his fist slightly!

Xie Yan took in her changes and suddenly felt an indescribable unease.

He roughly knew that Gu Jinghong and Xiao Chengyan had some feelings for each other, but Xie Yan wasn't entirely sure to what extent.

But from the sudden coldness in her eyes and the fierce killing intent emanating from her body, Xie Yan guessed seven or eight parts of what was going on.

He subconsciously lowered his voice, his seemingly casual gaze capturing every change in Gu Jinghong, and he even whistled softly at Gu Jinghong.

"Did you hear that? Xiao Chengyan is being plotted against... How about we go and 'greet' those two next door right now? Let's find out what they're up to?"

Gu Jinghong did not answer him, but frowned, her gaze seemingly passing through Xie Yan to look behind her.