"alright."
After applying his makeup, Shen Jintang took a half step back, looked him up and down, and suddenly burst out laughing.
"Young Master Gu looks just like a young lady waiting to be married." Her laughter was clear and melodious, like silver bells echoing in the room.
Gu Zhixing raised an eyebrow, suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her into his arms, his low voice carrying a hint of teasing: "Then Lord Siyan must take good care of me."
His breath brushed against her ear, bringing a slight tickle.
"Stop it!" Shen Jintang's ears burned, and she hurriedly broke free, her voice tinged with urgency. "The drums and gongs are already beating outside. If we delay any longer, the matchmaker will burst in."
She turned to retrieve the red veil from the table and said softly, "Lower your head."
Gu Zhixing was docile, bowing his head and taking the initiative to cover his head with the veil. The red silk hung down, obscuring his smiling eyes.
The veil was as soft as clouds, enveloping him in a hazy mist, leaving only a faint smile.
"Be careful." As Gu Zhixing was about to leave, Shen Jintang finally spoke, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible worry.
Gu Zhixing stopped in his tracks, turned around to look at her, and said in a calm and firm voice, "Don't worry, just wait for my news."
He turned and pushed open the door, and the deafening sound of joyous music immediately filled his ears, accompanied by the matchmaker's exaggerated shouts: "The bride is leaving home!"
The moonlight, like water, poured down and shone on Gu Zhixing. The gold embroidery on his wedding dress shimmered in the moonlight, as if draping him in a sacred glow.
Shen Jintang stood by the window, looking at Gu Zhixing outside, her eyes gradually deepening, as if hiding endless thoughts.
——
As night deepened, thick as ink, a cool mountain breeze rustled through the trees.
Shen Jintang squatted in the bushes at the foot of Qingyakou Mountain, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of the sword, the cold hilt transmitting a chill to his palm.
Two hours have passed, and there is still no news from Gu Zhixing on the mountain.
"Could something have happened to the boss?"
Ye Qingzhou crouched down and leaned closer, her voice extremely low and trembling slightly.
Shen Jintang looked up at the mountainside.
A faint, dim light shone from there, appearing particularly lonely in the night; it was the place where the mountain village held a wedding.
Gu Zhixing should be wearing her wedding dress right now, dealing with the people inside.
They needed Gu Zhixing to confirm whether the person they were looking for was inside, lest they come up empty-handed and alert the enemy.
She gripped the sword tighter, her palms sweating as if she were being held firmly.
“Wait another fifteen minutes.” Her voice was strained, as if squeezed out between clenched teeth. “If there’s still no movement, we’ll—”
"Lord Siyan, you seem to be in high spirits." A clear, cold voice suddenly came from behind, startling Shen Jintang into stiffening.
She slowly turned around and saw the prince standing in the woods in the moonlight, dressed in black. The pearl on his jade crown gleamed coldly, exuding a chill.
Behind him, a dense mass of imperial guards had completely surrounded the grove of trees, like shadows in the night, omnipresent.
"Your Highness's visit to this desolate mountain wilderness late at night truly shows your refined taste."
She forced a calm smile, her voice trembling slightly, but her nails dug deep into her palms, leaving bloody marks.
The fact that the crown prince is here can only mean one thing—their plan has been exposed.
The prince chuckled softly, his fingers tapping lightly on the sword at his waist, producing a crisp sound.
"I heard there's a wedding at Qingyakou tonight, but the groom..." He suddenly leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear, carrying a hint of mockery, "is it Gu Zhixing?"
A sudden mountain wind howled through the forest, sending chills down Shen Jintang's spine, as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart tightly.
Her gaze was sharp as a knife, sweeping over the archers behind the prince with their bows fully drawn, then looking at the teetering lantern on the mountain, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.
Just then, a sharp whistle pierced the night sky and broke the silence of the mountain forest—"Bang!"
Crimson fireworks exploded on the mountaintop, illuminating the entire mountain in a fiery red, like a blood-stained battlefield.
Shen Jintang's expression changed drastically, and her pupils contracted sharply.
"Ye Qingzhou!" she shouted sharply, her voice urgent. "Take men up the mountain! Quickly!"
Ye Qingzhou clasped his hands in response and was about to lead his men out.
"Wait." The Crown Prince suddenly raised his hand to stop him, his face still bearing a gentle smile, as if everything was under control. "How can I stand by and watch as Tuizhi ventures deep into enemy territory? Why don't we go together and look after each other?"
His words were light and airy, yet carried an irresistible air of authority.
Shen Jintang clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white, his nails digging deep into his palms.
She could clearly see the calculating glint in the Crown Prince's eyes—what kind of coordination was this?
They clearly wanted to take advantage of the chaos to muddy the waters so that they couldn't catch Wang Jian or obtain any evidence!
The night was as dark as ink, so heavy it seemed to swallow one whole. The mountain wind howled as it swept through the treetops, swirling a few withered leaves that landed at Shen Jintang's feet.
Her grip on the sword tightened, the leather wrapped around the hilt soaked with cold sweat, gleaming damply in the moonlight, as if telling of her anxiety and unease.
"Your Highness is of noble birth; how can you risk your life?" She suppressed the surging murderous intent within her, her voice taut like a fully drawn bowstring. "The bandits in the mountains are ruthless; if Your Highness were harmed—"
"It's alright." The Crown Prince's slender fingers gently stroked the jade pendant at his waist, his gentle voice carrying an undeniable air of authority. "With Lord Shen protecting me, I am at ease."
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