She grew up in the Dark Guard Camp, where there were very few women. She herself was aloof and not very good at interacting with people.
She was both happy and nervous when such a warm-hearted girl, Lili, suddenly appeared.
"Now that I am your servant, Miss, I will naturally obey you."
Lili smiled, pondering seriously: "Unperturbed by favor or disgrace, I leisurely watch the flowers bloom and fade in the courtyard; indifferent to coming or going, I idly watch the clouds drift and gather in the sky. How about we call it Yunshu (Cloud Dispersion)?"
Nineteen was only a teenager, yet he possessed a carefree and unconventional air about him.
However, as a bodyguard, Lili naturally understood that bodyguards were not free to do what they wanted, but Lili hoped that she could be as free and relaxed as a cloud, just like the poem says.
The little girl smiled happily, blinked her eyes, and asked her if she was alright.
Yun Shu nodded: "Thank you for bestowing this name upon me, Miss."
The scene was very warm for a moment.
Dark Seven, standing in the corner with Chasing Wind: What about me?
"Yun Shu, Yun Shu!" Li Li was overjoyed. "Thank you, Your Highness. You are truly the best person in the world."
"Hmm." Gu Ziyi's tone was indifferent, but his eyes couldn't hide his joy. He even had the mood to use what she had just said, which was a bit strange, with a hint of something more. "After all, we're more than siblings, aren't we?"
Lili nodded vigorously: "Mmm-hmm-hmm."
Chu Zhenyue and Steward Zhao exchanged a glance, but smiled without saying a word.
Because of its location on the border, Andingcheng had long lived alongside the Red Eagle Army, and thus acquired a unique kind of boldness in this gentle and tender south.
As night falls slowly like a black silk ribbon, enveloping Anding City, a different kind of vitality and energy quietly emerges.
Gu Ziyi draped a thicker cloak over Lili and took her out shopping.
Zhui Feng and Yun Shu followed closely behind, serving him.
The shops along the street were brightly lit, their signs swaying in the wind. Inside the tavern, the place was packed with customers, and the air was filled with the aroma of wine.
Perhaps because there are many visitors from all directions in Anding City, Lili saw a game similar to rock-paper-scissors in the tavern for the first time.
Lili stared at the group of people playing drinking games on the street with bright eyes and asked, "What a novel thing! Does Your Highness know what it is?"
Gu Ziyi glanced at it and explained, "This is an activity that soldiers use to relieve boredom in their spare time. The Red Eagle Army has lived with Anding City for many years, and it has gradually spread from there."
Lili suddenly realized and smiled, "That's quite interesting."
Gu Ziyi smiled as well.
Lili had never strolled around town with Gu Ziyi so leisurely before. Usually, they would just have a meal together or meet briefly before parting ways.
Like ordinary siblings, the two ate and shopped all the way, with Lili carrying the food in front and Gu Ziyi paying behind.
There were many things from other places in Anding City, and Lili was so captivated that she spent an hour wandering around.
Gu Ziyi didn't find it troublesome. Whenever Lili glanced at him, he would always smile faintly, follow behind her, and deftly take out his money, or help her carry the little trinkets she liked and the snacks she hadn't finished eating.
Lili exclaimed, "Your Highness is truly a treasure of the world."
"A treasure trove of humanity?" Gu Ziyi pondered for a moment. "What does that phrase mean?"
Lili smiled and shook her head: "Hehe, no."
Gu Ziyi raised an eyebrow, already used to the fresh words that would occasionally pop out of her mouth. Lili didn't explain, and he didn't press her for an answer, figuring it out himself.
A treasure trove of humanity, a treasure trove of humanity?
Hmm, that should be a good word.
Feeling praised, His Highness the Crown Prince became even happier as he took out his money.
Ever since Yun Shu received the news three months ago that she would be transferred to Li Li's side, she has been learning everything about Li Li, including Li Li's daily eating habits and preferences.
Previously, she had often heard about Lili's name from her brother or other bodyguards.
In other people's eyes, the master she will protect in the future is a clever and pretty girl.
That's absolutely true.
Yun Shu thought to herself.
The young lady held her hand softly, her smile as bright as a little sun.
"Yunshu, Yunshu, you should eat too! This is sweet and delicious!"
Pear Pear happily handed a portion of brown sugar glutinous rice cake to Zhui Feng and Yun Shu.
Zhui Feng thanked her and accepted the gift, while Yun Shu hesitated and looked confused: "Miss, is this... inappropriate?"
Lili asked curiously, "Oh, is there something wrong?"
Yun Shu hurriedly explained, "There is a difference between master and servant, how could a servant like me..."
Lili interrupted her unhappily: "What do you mean by 'distinction between master and servant'? Does Yunshu not want to be sisters with Lili?"
Yun Shu waved her hand helplessly: "No..."
She had always been on missions with a high risk of death in the Dark Guard Camp, and when she was suddenly transferred to protect Lili, she treated it as a mission that required her to risk her life at any time.
His Highness is very kind to his bodyguards, but how could His Highness be like Lili, the little sun, who directly shows his kindness to someone through actions?
Lili's behavior made her feel somewhat...uncomfortable.
Lili winked at her and put the item in her hand: "That's right, this is delicious! Sweet girls like us should eat sweet things."
"Thank you, miss."
Lili chuckled, turned around and ran back to Gu Ziyi's side, took her portion of brown sugar glutinous rice cake from Gu Ziyi's hand, and continued shopping while eating.
He ate a little too quickly, and some soybean powder got on the corner of his mouth, which Gu Ziyi wiped away with a mix of helplessness and amusement.
Yun Shu ate what was in her hand, the sweet taste lingering in her mouth for a long time.
On the first day she received the mission to protect Lili, she asked Zhuifeng with concern if Lili would dislike her.
She had never done any caregiving work before, only work that caused people to die, so she was a little worried that she wouldn't be able to take good care of her.
Zhui Feng said, "No, Miss is a very good person, and you will like her too."
Yun Shu suddenly understood the confident tone Zhui Feng had used back then.
Lili skipped and hopped ahead, while Gu Ziyi calmly followed closely beside her.
Seeing that she was in a bad mood, Zhuifeng smiled and asked, "How are you?"
"Um."
Yun Shu nodded with a smile.
*
The next morning, Lili went to inspect the fields outside Anding City.
Everything was normal, and Lili breathed a sigh of relief.
Yun Shu followed behind Li Li, watching her young mistress stare at the leaves and touch the soil, filled with curiosity and admiration.
She knows how to kill in the least painful way, and she also knows how to torture people in the most painful way without killing them. She knows swords, whips, and guns, but she doesn't understand these things in the fields.
"Miss, these leaves all look yellowish. Is there anything wrong with them?"
Lili smiled and said, "Yes, look how big these ears of wheat are."
“It’s quite big,” Yun Shu thought for a moment. “Much bigger than the ones in the capital.”
Hearing her talk about the capital, Lili suddenly became curious about what the legendary Dark Guard Camp was like.
Xiaoqi can take on ten people at once; she's incredibly powerful.
And then there was the Hollyhock Banquet before, where a dozen or so guards managed to hold out for so long. Their beautiful moves and powerful techniques amazed Lili.
What are the secret guard battalions in novels usually like?
Oh, right.
The secret guards are selected from a young age, and the competition is a life-or-death struggle. The one who survives is the winner. The secret guard camp is bloody and cruel.
"Yun Shu, is your Dark Guard Camp really as terrifying and cruel as the legends say?"
Yun Shu was taken aback, then shook her head: "What aspect are you referring to, Miss?"
Lili held a foxtail grass in her hand and twirled it around idly: "So... in all aspects? Isn't it said that those who survive in the Dark Guard Camp are the ones who survive the final battles? For example, in a two-on-two competition, only the one who survives can stay."
Yun Shu smiled: "Of course not. Although the Dark Guard Camp is extremely strict, it wouldn't make us kill each other. Where did you hear that, Miss?"
Lili felt a little guilty; she couldn't very well say that she had read it in a novel in her past life.
Lili didn't speak, and Yun Shu considerately didn't continue to ask: "It's true that most of the Dark Guards are trained from a young age, but some are orphans taken in by the instructors of the Dark Guards, and some are those who volunteered to become Dark Guards. There are assessments every month, a major exam every year, and a three-year period. Those who do not meet the standards will be assigned to various positions based on their own wishes and abilities."
"Oh, I see."
After thinking for a moment, Yun Shu added, "This servant doesn't know if other secret guard battalions are like this, but it has been like this since His Highness took over the Tenglong Battalion ten years ago."
The Tenglong Camp was a secret guard camp exclusively belonging to the Eastern Palace.
Lili pondered, "Your Highness was about the same age as Ziqi ten years ago. Was he already such a pure, warm-hearted, and lovable little dumpling back then? He truly is a gentle and warm-hearted prince."
Yun Shu was shocked: "A sweet and adorable little dumpling!?"
Lili was puzzled.
Yun Shu opened her mouth as if to speak, but then stopped herself, remembering Zhui Feng's instructions, and quickly muted her microphone.
"No, no, what this servant means is that His Highness has indeed been kind-hearted since childhood, and has been very caring and loving towards us subordinates. He is truly a gem in the rough, a gem in the rough..."
Lili nodded and said with a smile, "I also think that His Highness is truly a wonderful person!"
Lili loves the person who swipes her card for her the most!
He's also a handsome and gentle Crown Prince!
Yun Shu felt ashamed.
Although His Highness the Crown Prince is of upright character and very friendly to his subordinates, he is really not exactly pure, warm-hearted, or lovable...
Yun Shu trembled as she recalled the words she had said against her conscience: that she was pure of heart and unpolished gold.
What a joke! His Highness the Crown Prince entered the Eastern Palace at the age of two, took over the Tenglong Camp at the age of four, knew how to strategize at the age of six, and knew how to kill without blinking an eye at the age of eight.
Is this what you call purity?
Is this what you call warmth?
Maybe, but it depends on the person.
Lili had never been to Anding City before, so she looked around more carefully, which took her some time; she went out early and returned late for several days.
Fortunately, with Yun Shu by her side, Gu Ziyi wasn't too worried about her. However, every night he would personally check on her while she was sound asleep, burn calming incense for her to relieve the fatigue of the day, and then tuck her in.
Lili fell asleep the moment she hit the bed, sleeping like a little pig, completely unaware that someone had been sitting by her bedside watching her for a long time.
Gu Ziyi's eyes sparkled, her expression incredibly gentle.
With soft breathing, Lili's hair fell onto her cheeks, and the moonlight shone on her face, making it appear as white and jade-like.
Gu Ziyi carefully brushed it away and smiled: "Little dumpling, grow up slowly, and just continue to be free and happy like this."
Growing up quickly...that would be fine too.
Gu Ziyi gave her a deep look, then tiptoed out the door.
Gu Ziyi gently closed the door and walked out. Zhui Feng was waiting at the courtyard gate. When he saw him come out, he quickly said, "The old general invites you to come over."
"Um."
Gu Ziyi walked unhurriedly to Chu Zhenyue's courtyard. Chu Zhenyue was practicing his spear under the moonlight. A red-tasseled spear in his hand was like a nimble dragon. The tip of the spear flashed with a cold light and cut through the air with a "whoosh" sound.
Even after noticing Gu Ziyi's arrival, he didn't stop. Gu Ziyi didn't say anything either, silently watching him complete a whole set of marksmanship.
After completing the entire routine, Chu Zhenyue wasn't even out of breath.
"You're here?"
"Maternal grandfather".
Chu Zhenyue handed the red-tasseled spear to Steward Zhao, who then put it away and made tea for the two of them.
Neither the grandfather nor the grandson were the type to beat around the bush. Chu Zhenyue took a sip of tea and said, "It's different now."
Chu Zhenyue looked him over with a teasing expression. His grandson was mature beyond his years. No matter how big the matter was, he never panicked. He was always calm and composed.
Gu Ziyi paused for a moment, then said casually, "What's different?"
Catching Gu Ziyi's pause, Chu Zhenyue became even more excited, his smile growing wider.
“You didn’t look at Lili like this three years ago.”
After saying that, Chu Zhenyue, as if afraid that he wouldn't believe him, turned to ask the steward Zhao beside him: "Old Zhao, don't you think so? I'm not senile, am I?"
Butler Zhao smiled with satisfaction and affection: "Yes, yes, General, your eyes are as sharp as an eagle's, how could you be wrong?"
"Ha ha ha ha."
Chu Zhenyue laughed heartily.
Faced with the two elders' teasing, Gu Ziyi simply smiled calmly, neither admitting nor denying, and asked in return, "Then tell me, maternal grandfather, how is it different?"
Three years ago, you looked at Lili with admiration and affection, like an older brother to his younger sister, showering her with care. But now, it's like searching for her a thousand times in the crowd, only to find her suddenly standing there, in the dim light!
"Great!" Butler Zhao applauded enthusiastically.
Chu Zhenyue burst into laughter again.
Teasing him like that, Gu Ziyi chuckled softly: "It seems that my grandfather has been cooped up at the border for too long, and he's even starting to tease his grandson."
Chu Zhenyue clicked his tongue and shook his head, putting down his teacup, his teasing expression vanishing, and said seriously, "Do you still remember the heir apparent's wife from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion?"
Gu Ziyi pondered for a moment: "The elder sister of the wife of the Marquis of Chongbo's heir?"
“Yes.” Chu Zhenyue nodded. “When I first met Lili three years ago, I felt that she looked familiar. It was only when I saw her this time that I remembered that Lili and the wife of the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion do look somewhat alike. I remember… the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion was kidnapped by villains when she was one year old?”
Chu Zhenyue and Duke Fu Lang were both military generals and fought side by side on the battlefield.
Later, Fu Lang suffered numerous internal injuries and was unable to continue fighting on the battlefield, so he retired behind the scenes and became the Duke of Zhenguo, but the friendship between the two still remained.
Once, when he returned to the capital to report on his duties, he went to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to reminisce with him and met this heir's wife.
Military officers are all highly observant; that person does indeed bear a resemblance to Lili.
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