An Ning nodded and said, "We go to that mountain often. There is nothing fun to do in the mountain at this time of year. We can only go hunting. But if you want to go, I can go with you."
Gu Qingxuan had no interest in hunting or not, he just wanted to create an opportunity for the two of them to be alone together, so he said: "Then it's settled, let's go for a walk tomorrow."
An Ning nodded and said, "It's getting late now, let's go to bed early. We can go early and come back early tomorrow."
Gu Qingxuan naturally had no objection. Although he was not very sleepy now, it was indeed late and An Ning still needed to rest, so the two of them went back to their rooms.
The next morning, after breakfast, An Ning and Gu Qingxuan went up the mountain. Since they were engaged, An Dashan did not go with them, and Gu Qingxuan's guard was also left at home by Gu Qingxuan, so now only the two of them went into the mountain together.
Although it was not the first time that An Ning was alone with Gu Qingxuan, she still felt a little uncomfortable, and the two of them were silent for a while.
Gu Qingxuan thought for a moment and said, "Aning, is there anything you want to do in particular?"
An Ning thought about it carefully and said, "I don't have anything special I want to do. My family's conditions were not good before, so I just wanted to improve them. Now that my family's conditions have improved, I want to travel around and see famous mountains and rivers, and see the different scenery in different places. This is also one of my wishes!"
Gu Qingxuan nodded and said, "Aning is thinking the same as I am. I was also ordered to take over this mess in times of crisis. Now the border has stabilized, and there are several talented people like your brother in the army, so I am relieved. After we get married, I will take you to travel all over the country, okay?"
An Ning knew that although Gu Qingxuan said it lightly, she knew that the emperor was afraid that Gu Qingxuan's achievements would overshadow his own, so he allowed him to return to the capital. However, An Ning did not say much, but just nodded and said, "Okay, then you must keep your word!"
Gu Qingxuan smiled dotingly and said, "Okay, I will keep my word." He thought for a moment and said, "My father has been to many places. When the time comes, we can ask him which place has the best scenery, and then we can go there too."
The two of them walked forward while imagining the future. An Ning took Gu Qingxuan around half of the mountain and shot a few pheasants, but they didn't see any large prey.
An Ning said to Gu Qingxuan: "Brother Gu, I will take you to a place where there might be bigger prey."
Gu Qingxuan nodded and motioned An Ning to lead the way. An Ning came to the mountain containing rock salt with ease. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had not sent anyone to mine rock salt on this mountain, so no one had come nearby yet.
The two of them tiptoed all the way to the mountain. An Ning was surprised to find two deer licking rock salt. She whispered to Gu Qingxuan, "Brother Gu, you are so lucky. I have never found deer in this mountain. I didn't expect to see two right away."
Gu Qingxuan smiled and asked, "Do we want to hunt both deer?"
An Ning shook her head and said, "Let's kill one. One is enough for us to eat."
Gu Qingxuan nodded, drew his bow and shot an arrow, and the fatter deer fell down.
An Ning cheered, "Well done, Brother Gu, you are awesome."
This time the two of them had a great harvest, and Gu Qingxuan and An Ning went down the mountain with the prey.
The two returned home just in time for lunch. An Dashan saw the prey the two had brought back and said with a smile, "You two have made quite a harvest this time. How do you want to eat the venison later?"
An Ning thought for a moment and said, "How about using half for venison hot pot and the other half for grilling?"
Gu Qingxuan nodded and said, "Okay, I haven't eaten the venison hotpot you made for a long time, and I miss it very much."
Seeing that Gu Qingxuan had no objection, An Dashan and Gao Shi also nodded. An Dashan said, "Okay, whatever you say. We're just waiting to eat."
After lunch, An Ning and Xinghua processed the venison together. Xinghua sliced the venison into thin slices according to An Ning's request, while An Ning began to marinate the other half of the venison and grilled it after it was marinated.
After An Ning finished marinating the venison, she came out to make the barbecue rack. Gu Qingxuan also came to help. The two of them made the barbecue rack together, then put the marinated venison on it and started grilling.
The two were talking while turning over the venison racks. Suddenly, snowflakes began to float in the sky. An Ning smiled and said, "It's quite artistic to enjoy the snow while eating venison."
Gu Qingxuan looked at An Ning's smiling face and started laughing too, saying, "Yeah, it's been a long time since I've had such a relaxing life. When I was at the border before, every time it snowed, I had to be on guard against the northern barbarians coming to attack, so how could I have the heart to enjoy the snow!"
An Ning turned around and looked at Gu Qingxuan, and said, "Thanks to you, we can live such a peaceful life."
Seeing that the venison was almost done roasting, An Ning said to Gu Qingxuan, "Brother Gu, you stay here and watch over the venison. I'll go in and make the hot pot base, and we'll be ready to eat soon."
Gu Qingxuan nodded and said, "Then go quickly!"
When An Ning returned to the kitchen, she saw that Xing Hua had already cut up the venison and washed some vegetables that she had grown herself. An Ning felt tired of eating cabbage and radishes every day in the winter, so she asked An Dashan to make some large boxes out of wood and plant vegetables in them, which would provide food for the family.
An Ning was quick and skillful in preparing the hot pot base. Together with Xinghua, she brought the hot pot base, sliced venison and washed vegetables to the table, and then went to call An Dashan and Gao to come out for dinner.
An Dashan had smelled the fragrance a long time ago, and would have come out long ago if Gao hadn't pulled him away.
An Dashan chuckled and said, "Ningning, I feel that your cooking skills have improved. If your mother hadn't stopped me, I would have come out to try it a long time ago."
Gao stretched out her hand and pinched An Dashan, saying, "Look at how useless you are. If Qingxuan sees you later, he will laugh at you to death."
An Dashan rubbed the painful part and said, "We are all family from now on, so just laugh it off. Go wash your hands and eat quickly. I can't wait any longer."
Gao was a little helpless. She stretched her neck to look outside and was relieved when she found that Gu Qingxuan was not paying attention to this side.
An Ning smiled and said, "Mom, you don't have to worry so much. Since we're all a family from now on, there's no need to hide anything. Just show your true nature to others."
Gao nodded when she heard this and didn't say anything else.
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