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The study was dimly lit, with the gentle scent of sandalwood wafting through the air.
Xiao Chengyan, dressed in light blue casual clothes, stood tall and straight like a pine tree, behind a long table, looking at the map hanging on the wall with his back to the viewer.
His slender fingers moved slowly between "Lancang River Valley" and "Black Stone Ridge," his brows furrowed slightly, as if he were deducing something. The afternoon sun shone through the carved window lattice, casting light and shadow on his cold profile, adding to his profound expression.
Knock knock—
A soft knock sounded on the door.
"Go in." Xiao Chengyan did not look up; his voice was low.
The door was pushed open, and Changfeng walked in silently. He stopped a few steps in front of the desk, carefully took out a small item wrapped in a clean silk handkerchief from his bosom, and presented it with both hands.
"Your Highness, there's been a result from Physician Tan's side..."
Xiao Chengyan finally shifted his gaze from the map to the silk handkerchief in Changfeng's palm. He reached out and gently unfurled a corner of the handkerchief—inside lay a small, light brown pill. It was the same pill that had somehow fallen into Changfeng's clothes after he had carried Gu Jinghong away that night.
"How is it?" Xiao Chengyan's voice was emotionless, but his eyes sharpened.
Changfeng lowered his voice and reported clearly, "Imperial Physician Tan carefully examined the ingredients of this medicine. He said... the formula of this pill is extremely exquisite. The main ingredients are several rare, cold, and detoxifying herbs, supplemented by several rare herbs that warm and nourish the meridians. Imperial Physician Tan deduced that its core effect is not ordinary hangover relief, but rather..."
Changfeng paused, seemingly considering a more accurate ancient saying: "It specifically counteracts the potent effects of alcohol, harmonizes the yin and yang within the body, and allows those with 'alcohol intolerance' to barely withstand the corrosive effects of alcohol without immediately triggering severe internal pain or skin ulceration."
He concluded, "In short, this medicine... is a miraculous remedy against alcohol poisoning."
The study was completely silent, with only the faint crackling sound of sandalwood burning in the incense burner.
The image of Gu Jinghong frowning in pain, sweating profusely, and suppressing his discomfort and groans while being forced to drink alcohol that night vividly appeared before my eyes.
So that's how it is. Knowing it's poison, they still drank it to quench their thirst... An indescribable bitterness stuck in my chest.
"Understood." In the end, Xiao Chengyan only uttered these three words, his voice even deeper than before.
He gestured for Changfeng to repackage the pills and put them away, then asked, "Is there any result regarding Xie Yan's matter?"
Changfeng frowned slightly and explained, "Your Highness, Xie Yan and Miss Gu should belong to a certain Jianghu gang. Xie Yan is highly skilled in martial arts and should specialize in assassinations, while Miss Gu should be his accomplice... The two have known each other for several years."
Although Xiao Chengyan's eyes were on the map, his mind was completely focused on Changfeng's report. Upon hearing this, he slowly turned around: "That's all?"
Changfeng hesitated for a moment, then said, "I've searched through all the martial arts organizations in the capital, but I still haven't been able to make a final determination..."
Xiao Chengyan's eyes flickered—the more uncertain it was, the darker and larger the organization the two were involved in must be... Could it be... the Qianyuan Pavilion, which was quite famous, but the court had been searching for a long time without finding its "nest"?
Suddenly, light footsteps came from outside the study door, then stopped at the doorway, seemingly hesitant.
Xiao Chengyan and Changfeng looked up at the same time.
Gu Jinghong's figure was clearly visible through the half-open door.
Today she wore an elegant moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her hair was simply tied up, with a few strands falling beside her temples. Her face still had a slight pallor from the hangover, but her eyes had regained their usual clarity.
She had clearly come looking for a book, but unexpectedly stumbled upon a solemn atmosphere in the study, where Xiao Chengyan and Changfeng seemed to be discussing important matters.
“Jinghong.” Xiao Chengyan’s voice rang out the moment she turned around. It wasn’t loud, but it clearly pierced the silence of the study.
Gu Jinghong paused, stopped in place, and looked back with some surprise.
Xiao Chengyan looked at her calmly, his tone casual and matter-of-fact: "Since you're here, come in. It's alright."
Gu Jinghong paused slightly, then subconsciously confirmed, "His Highness is in a meeting; it is inappropriate for Jinghong to disturb you..."
Xiao Chengyan's gaze swept over her, landing on the rosewood desk in the corner of the study that was exclusively hers. His tone was calm, yet every word carried immense weight: "Now that you have a place in this study, it is yours. Come and go as you please, without needing to report or avoid us."
Gu Jinghong suddenly recalled the gentle yet distant warning the landlord had given her years ago: "Ah Hong, you should still have someone inform you before you come next time, okay?"
And Xiao Chengyan… this man she once regarded as a tiger and wolf, actually opened up the core of his power to her completely? A huge torrent of shock, bitterness and a trace of fear instantly assaulted her mind.
She did as she was told and went into the study without making a sound.
My gaze habitually swept across the surroundings, eventually inevitably landing on that huge map of the southwest.
In just one glance, her pupils shrank to pinpoints!
The Lancang River Valley, the Black Stone Ridge... the core mountain ranges, river patterns, and even the dangerous place names marked with special ancient script on the map... were almost identical to the map she had painstakingly retrieved from Nanfeng's secret box!
Gu Jinghong felt a slight chill on her fingertips, and her heart suddenly raced.
She forced herself to look away, but then she heard Xiao Chengyan's deep voice sound again. This time he was speaking to Changfeng: "...The grain and supplies will be transported along this route. Make sure everything goes smoothly. The army will set off in a month, and I will personally go to the southwest."
The South Wind Secret Box points southwest.
Although Xiao Chengyan was in charge of the military affairs of the entire Dayong Dynasty, the place he visited most often was the southwest. In other words, Xiao Chengyan was very likely very familiar with the matter that the South Wind Secret Box pointed to, and might even be more familiar than Xie Yan and Qing Wu, providing a completely different perspective!
A bold idea instantly formed in Gu Jinghong's mind: she had to go to the southwest.
Following him would not only allow her to utilize his resources to delve deeper into the secret box and the clues about the landlord, but also potentially yield unexpected surprises, which would be crucial for her overall assessment!
Once the thought arises, the action becomes even faster.
Gu Jinghong almost immediately adjusted her facial expression, trying to raise the corners of her mouth into a smile, attempting to make her eyes look docile yet expectant, and turned to Xiao Chengyan, her voice soft and gentle.
"Your Highness... you're going to the Southwest yourself?" She took a small step forward, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. "That place... is mountainous and remote, rife with miasma and plague, so dangerous! Your Highness is of noble status, you need someone clever to look after you, don't you? Though I am not talented, I have the advantage of..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Chengyan raised his head, his deep gaze calmly landing on her face, as if he had already seen through all her little thoughts.
"no."
Two words, resolute and unwavering, leaving no room for negotiation.
Gu Jinghong's smile froze: "...Why? Jinghong promises not to cause trouble. I can still..."
Xiao Chengyan interrupted her, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority, like a cold rock, "Military affairs are not to be taken lightly."
He paused, his gaze lingering for a moment on her face, which had instantly crumbled. A faint, almost imperceptible emotion, perhaps worry or something else, seemed to flash across the depths of his eyes.
He then shifted his gaze back to the map, his tone returning to its usual cold and distant tone: "Your presence... will distract me."
So... it's not because he thinks she's a burden, or because he doesn't trust her abilities, but because he's afraid that her presence will distract him.
After returning to her desk dejectedly, Gu Jinghong absentmindedly flipped through the thick book "The Customs and Things of the Southern Wind Kingdom," the words on the pages blurring and swaying before her eyes.
The conversation between Xiao Chengyan and Changfeng about military affairs in the southwest was still clear in my ears.
"...The provisions and supplies will be transported along this route, ensuring absolute safety. The army will set off in one month, and I will personally go to the southwest."
"The Lancang River Valley is strategically important, easy to defend and difficult to attack, but if the enemy sets up an ambush here..." Changfeng pointed to a narrow area on the map, looking worried.
Xiao Chengyan's gaze was sharp as he tapped his fingertip on a treacherous spot on the map called "Flying Eagle Gorge": "This is the only way through, and also the most dangerous place. Scouts report that there are large-scale traces of human excavation on the opposite cliff, suspected to be an ambush stronghold or a powerful crossbow position."
"If we cannot ascertain their true strength beforehand, or find a route to avoid their attacks, the consequences of cutting off our army's supply lines would be unimaginable. We must come up with a practical solution, otherwise..."
Xiao Chengyan's voice trailed off, a layer of frost settling between his brows.
The problem of "Flying Eagle Gorge" had clearly been troubling them for a long time, becoming a deadly thorn in the side of the southwestern grain route. Changfeng's expression was also solemn, clearly well aware of the gravity of the situation.
Gu Jinghong had quietly risen at some point and walked to the long table. Her slender white fingers pointed precisely to the dangerous mark on the map, and her red lips parted slightly: "The Flying Eagle Gorge that Your Highness mentioned... is it this location marked on the map?"
The previous dejection and fawning on her face had vanished, replaced by a focused and sharp light, like a honed blade.
Xiao Chengyan and Changfeng both looked up at her at the same time.
Changfeng frowned slightly: "Miss Gu, you..."
“It’s here,” Xiao Chengyan suddenly interrupted, “What are your thoughts?”
Gu Jinghong did not answer immediately. Her gaze slowly swept across the Flying Eagle Gorge and its surrounding mountains, rivers, contour lines, and even the tiny ancient place name marks on the map.
Her fingertips moved lightly across the drawing, as if silently calculating and deducing.
After a moment, she raised her head, her tone clear and firm: "Your Highness, the map shows that the cliffs on both sides of Flying Eagle Gorge are steep and the current is rapid. It is indeed a place where one man can hold off ten thousand. A direct attack or a frontal assault would result in heavy casualties and would make it difficult to ensure the safety of the supply route. If the scouts reported that the marks on the opposite bank were from a powerful crossbow position, the range of which would be sufficient to cover the entire mouth of the gorge and the three-mile downstream river channel."
“But, Your Highness, please look here—” Her fingertips suddenly moved to an inconspicuous place about five miles upstream from Flying Eagle Stream, called “Old Crow Beach”.
"The riverbed here appears to be flat and the current is relatively slow, but the banks are full of rocks and hidden reefs, making it impossible for ordinary boats to dock, let alone transport supplies. Therefore, this place has always been overlooked and regarded as a dead end."
Xiao Chengyan's gaze was fixed on the spot she was pointing at, his brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed as if he had sensed something.
Gu Jinghong continued, "However, I have read through the 'Fragmentary Commentary on the Waterways Classic' from the previous dynasty. There is an anecdote in it that at the end of the previous dynasty, a remnant of the exiled Nanfeng Kingdom, in order to evade pursuers, took advantage of the low water level during the dry season to secretly dredge a section of the 'Old Crow Beach' and opened up an extremely hidden plank road behind the rocky beach, leading directly to the dense forest upstream of Flying Eagle Stream!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengyan looked at Gu Jinghong with a barely perceptible smile in his eyes.
She could actually remember and connect the secrets of the former Southern Wind Kingdom, clues that had long been buried in the dust of history, to her current predicament.
Xiao Chengyan was momentarily distracted and suddenly remembered that when Gu Jinghong first entered the Prince's Mansion, she had repeatedly run to the secret room... So, she didn't know about the secret room in advance, but rather had a higher sensitivity to distance, location, and layout than the average person.
“Your Highness, please allow me to speak,” Gu Jinghong looked directly at Xiao Chengyan, her eyes bright as stars, “This secret passage is naturally not marked on the map. But I have observed that the mountain range and tree markings on this map are extremely consistent with the description in the ‘Remnant Commentary on the Waterways Classic’! Moreover, Your Highness, please take a look. Although there are many rocks in ‘Old Crow Beach’, its bottom is mostly silt and sand, rather than solid rock layers.”
"If we can use gunpowder to precisely blast open several key obstructions, and then quickly clear them with manpower, it is entirely possible to open a temporary waterway that is large enough for small grain transport fleets to pass through during the few days when the water level is lowest in the dry season, so as to bypass the main danger of Flying Eagle Gorge and go around to the upstream!"
You could hear a pin drop in the study.
"How can you be sure that the secret passage still exists? And how can you guarantee that it can be cleared during the dry season? The required gunpowder, manpower, and time are all problems!" Changfeng couldn't help but speak coldly again.
Gu Jinghong showed no fear, and even slightly raised her chin:
"Whether the secret passage still exists can be determined by deduce a route, and then dispatch the most elite scouts, carrying climbing ropes, to sneak into the dense forest behind 'Old Crow Beach' under the moonlight to investigate. We will have results within two days! As for clearing it—Jinghong is rudimentary in the art of constructing mechanisms and can draw precise blasting points and clearing plans."
"The Prince's Palace has all the gunpowder and tools needed! As for manpower... does Your Highness lack elite warriors who are good at fighting? Working day and night to rush the work, it is not impossible to finish it before the end of the dry season!"
She took a step forward, her gaze meeting Xiao Chengyan's scrutinizing eyes without flinching, her voice clear and powerful.
"Your Highness just said that military affairs are no child's play, and Jinghong wholeheartedly agrees. Jinghong also knows that accompanying Your Highness to the Southwest is by no means a leisurely trip. Jinghong proposed this plan not to seek credit, but to prove to Your Highness that Jinghong is not a burden in this matter, and may be of some small use!"
She threw out her last card, which was also her deepest desire:
"If this plan is feasible, it can relieve the predicament of Flying Eagle Gorge and ensure the smooth flow of the grain supply... Would Your Highness allow Jinghong to accompany you? Jinghong guarantees that she will never interfere with military affairs. She only asks for an opportunity to do her part when Your Highness needs her, and also... to fulfill a wish of Jinghong's!"
The air seemed to freeze.
Xiao Chengyan's gaze fell on Gu Jinghong's face, which contained shock, scrutiny, disbelief at this insight and courage, and a complex emotion of having his plans completely disrupted.
Gu Jinghong... her vision, her knowledge, and her decisiveness have far exceeded all his previous predictions about her.
Changfeng was dumbfounded, his eyes filled with shock as he looked at Gu Jinghong.
Xiao Chengyan paced back and forth in the study with his hands behind his back. Suddenly, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he was trying to suppress a slight discomfort.
A moment later, he abruptly flicked his sleeve, turned to face the map, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hoarseness and a cold, hard determination.
"Long Wind!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Immediately notify the Southwest, and according to the route and method described by Miss Gu, dispatch the most skilled rock climber and stalker from the 'Night Owl' scout team, carrying equipment, to set off overnight to explore the secret passage behind 'Old Crow Beach'! Results must be available within half a month, without fail!"
"Yes!" Changfeng perked up, accepted the order, and left. As he passed Gu Jinghong, he gave her a complicated look.
Only the two of them remained in the study.
Xiao Chengyan's eyes were filled with majesty and a strange tension:
"Gu Jinghong".
"A fleeting glimpse of beauty."
He turned his head slightly, his cold profile sharply defined in the candlelight, his eyes as sharp as knives. "If the scouts report as you say... I will allow you to accompany me to the southwest. But remember what you said today—'I will never interfere in military affairs,' 'I will only do my best,' and 'I will settle my affairs!' If you overstep any bounds or do anything that endangers the army... military law is merciless, and I will not give you a second chance!"
The last few words were spoken with force, yet the breath was unsteady.
But Gu Jinghong understood; it was both a warning and the beginning of a promise.
A surge of immense joy and a profound sense of responsibility welled up within her at the same time.
She bowed solemnly to that cold, hard back: "Jinghong... I will remember Your Highness's command! Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness!"
When she looked up, she caught a glimpse of Xiao Chengyan frowning almost imperceptibly, quickly turning his face away. His shoulders and back seemed to tense for a moment, followed by two muffled coughs suppressed in his throat, so fast that one could almost think it was an illusion.
But the knuckles of the fingers gripping the edge of the map were slightly white.
Gu Jinghong felt a chill run down her spine, and Changfeng's indignant accusations outside Chen'an Residence that day resounded in her mind.
"He is the King of Ashes, a commander who must lead thousands of troops on the battlefield and intimidate enemy nations! But what about him now? Last night's potent medicine nearly cost him his life, leaving him severely weakened and exhausted! If anything changes at the front lines, if enemy cavalry breaches the gates, how can he don his armor and go into battle in this condition? Are we to send him to his death in this state?!"
Changfeng wasn't joking; all those words he spoke were about to become reality so soon.
If he were to make a mistake because of her... she dared not think about the consequences, nor could she bear them.
In that instant, she thought of Xuanru—her dear friend who possessed profound medical skills but also had an eccentric personality.
Perhaps, with only this one month left, she could ask Xuan Ru about it for Xiao Chengyan, and then show Xuan Ru the pills in the Southern Wind Box? She had to go to the Medicine Master Valley; perhaps… this was the only way she could help him?
She suddenly stood up: "Your Highness, Jinghong wishes to... leave the manor for a while, is that alright?"
Xiao Chengyan paused for a moment, not immediately responding to her suggestion. Instead, he raised his hand, took a token from his waist that was neither gold nor jade, had a warm touch, and was engraved with intricate kui dragon patterns, and casually tossed it to Gu Jinghong.
Gu Jinghong caught it subconsciously; it felt slightly heavy in his hand, carrying the lingering warmth of his fingertips.
A sharp "烬" character was prominently displayed on the token.
She was completely stunned: "Your Highness... what is this?"
Xiao Chengyan's gaze returned to the map, his tone calm, "I have said before that you are not a maid of the Prince's mansion, but a guest." He paused, then said clearly, "With this decree, you may freely enter and leave the Prince's mansion without hindrance."
Gu Jinghong tightened his grip on the token, his heart trembling.
Xiao Chengyan continued, "Later I will arrange for Changfeng to select two top-notch fighters who are also tight-lipped to follow you and protect you."
Gu Jinghong held the token up with both hands and handed it forward, his expression extremely serious, even carrying a hint of the vigilance and aloofness unique to Grand Secretary Gu.
“Your Highness’s kindness is deeply appreciated. However, this token is already a great favor, and I dare not accept it again! As for the guards… I am grateful for Your Highness’s kindness, but I am used to traveling alone. Having more people around makes me feel constrained and inconvenient. Please, Your Highness, rescind your order!”
She spoke with absolute certainty, leaving no room for negotiation.
What a joke! How many secrets does she hold? How could she possibly have spies from the Prince of Jin's mansion around her? Even if they knew it was for protection, there's absolutely no way they would do that!
Xiao Chengyan finally raised his eyes again, his gaze falling heavily on her face, which was filled with resolute rejection. His eyes were sharp, as if they could see through her disguise and into her deep-seated wariness of anyone getting close to her.
In the end, Xiao Chengyan frowned almost imperceptibly, but did not insist. He shifted his gaze back to the map, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Keep the token. As for the guards... it's up to you."
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