They're different.
Gu Jinghong moved slightly, and a unique, refreshing, sweet pine scent instantly enveloped her.
Xiao Chengyan bent down again, carefully slipping one hand under her knees and the other hand firmly supporting her back. He adjusted his posture slightly and slowly straightened up.
The sudden suspension and movement of the body disturbed the light sleeper.
Gu Jinghong's eyelashes fluttered, and she groggily opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry, but she could see the sharp, familiar jawline so close to her, and the steady heartbeat emanating from that solid chest.
My tense nerves relaxed instantly amidst extreme fatigue and this inexplicably comforting warmth.
She even unconsciously rubbed against that warm chest, like a kitten finally finding a source of warmth, and mumbled, "Cold..."
Xiao Chengyan's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and then he subconsciously tightened his arms around her, gently rubbing his chin against the top of her soft hair.
The little one in his arms seemed to be comforted, her eyelids closing heavily again. She even unconsciously snuggled deeper into his arms, finding a more comfortable position. Her breathing quickly became even and long, and she drifted off to sleep.
Xiao Chengyan held her in his arms, looking down at her unguarded sleeping face, feeling her soft breaths brush against his neck, his deep eyes churning with complex emotions that even he himself could not understand.
Finally, he carried her and left the study with steady steps, with his guard Changfeng standing behind him.
Changfeng shook her head inwardly as she watched Xiao Chengyan treat Gu Jinghong so gently. She felt a pang of grievance in her heart. Why was she scolded by the prince for simply opening the study door last time, while Gu Jinghong was carried out by the prince?
"Changfeng." Xiao Chengyan noticed the wind behind him, suddenly stopped, and spoke in a very soft voice.
"Your subordinate is here."
"Place another table in the study, facing the window, where it's warm and you can get warm water."
Changfeng: "...Yes."
Xiao Chengyan carried the sleeping Gu Jinghong and walked steadily through the quiet corridor.
The person in his arms was as light as a feather, her even breath brushing against his neck, bringing a slight tickle. The crisp scent of pine needles mixed with the faint medicinal fragrance on her body, lingering at his nose, strangely dispelled most of his fatigue from returning from court and his anger at being intruded into his study.
Changfeng followed silently behind, watching his master carefully carrying Miss Gu, and then thinking about the "treatment" he received last time for simply pushing open the study door, he felt a surge of grievance.
The rules of this Prince's mansion... why do they even discriminate based on the person?
When Xiao Chengyan, tall and straight as a pine tree, dressed in the royal robes of the imperial family, appeared at the end of the path carrying a person wrapped tightly in a large black fox fur coat, all the servants who saw this scene froze on the spot, held their breath, and stared in disbelief at the unprecedented sight.
Good heavens! That's a prince?!
Who is that the prince is holding in his arms…? That wisp of black hair peeking out from under the fox fur coat, that familiar silhouette… is it Gu Jinghong?!
Wasn't she just "kicked out" of the main hall's side room a few days ago and slunk back to her room? How come she's been carried back by the prince himself in the blink of an eye?!
A tremendous shock and bewilderment swept over everyone present like an invisible wave.
The whispers vanished instantly, leaving only a deathly silence and countless incredulous, inquisitive, and rapidly escalating complex gazes.
Xiao Chengyan seemed oblivious to the gazes directed at him from all around, gazes that could burn through his back, and walked straight to the door of the room where Gu Jinghong was.
Zhixin had already received a signal from Changfeng and hurriedly ran back ahead of time. Now she was standing helplessly by the door, her face pale with nervousness.
Xiao Chengyan didn't stop. Holding Gu Jinghong, he turned slightly to the side and carefully walked through the narrow doorway.
His gaze swept over the somewhat simple surroundings, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. He then walked to Gu Jinghong's bunk, bent down, and with incredibly gentle movements, slowly laid the still-sleeping person in his arms down, allowing her to lie flat.
He didn't take away the heavy, dark fox fur coat; it remained tightly draped over her, almost completely enveloping her. He even subconsciously reached out to tuck the edge of the coat around her neck.
After doing all this, he straightened up and lingered for a moment on Gu Jinghong's sleeping face.
Then, he turned around and walked out of the room without saying a word.
When Xiao Chengyan reappeared at the door, the servants gathered in the courtyard seemed to be released from their spell. But no one dared to speak; everyone held their breath, bowed their heads, and dared not utter a sound. The atmosphere was extremely oppressive.
Xiao Chengyan's cold gaze slowly swept over everyone in the courtyard. Everyone whose gaze fell upon felt a chill run down their spines and lowered their heads even further.
His gaze lingered on Zhixin for a moment, and his voice, though not loud, clearly reached everyone's ears: "Take good care of her."
"Yes, yes! This servant obeys!" Zhixin hurriedly knelt down and replied.
Xiao Chengyan said no more, took long strides, and walked straight through the silent crowd without looking to the side, leaving the servants' area with a long wind.
The figure in black quickly disappeared at the end of the twilight-shrouded corridor.
Only after the prince's figure had completely disappeared did the suffocating atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly ease.
"call--"
"My God!"
"Your Highness, Your Highness..."
Suppressed gasps and incredulous gasps erupted instantly. Everyone was whispering among themselves, their faces filled with shock, gossip, and intense envy and jealousy.
"See that? The prince carried it back himself! And he even wrapped it in his fox fur!"
"My goodness, that fox fur coat... I heard it was a gift from the palace, priceless!"
"Didn't they say they were kicked out? This...this doesn't look like they were kicked out?"
"The look in the prince's eyes just now... my legs are still shaking..."
The buzzing of voices nearly shook the small courtyard to its core.
Almost everyone's gaze towards that private room changed completely, filled with awe and obsequiousness.
The prince's embrace declared Gu Jinghong's status in the Prince Jin's mansion more powerfully than any words—no matter where she lived, she was the prince's most beloved person!
At the edge of the crowd, several maids stared enviously at the tightly closed door of the side room.
The way the prince carefully carried Gu Jinghong when he appeared, that precious fox fur coat, and the way he tucked the blanket around her at the end...
Seeing this, Liu Zhaowan lowered her voice and interrupted the discussion with a sharp and sarcastic tone: "Hmph, who are you trying to fool with this act? You're just a woman who knows how to use seductive tricks. You dare to sneak into the Prince's study just because you have some looks, and then you pretend to be gentle. Now you're pretending to be asleep so the Prince can carry you back, putting on a show for us? Bah, do you really think we're all blind and stupid?"
These words were extremely harsh and audacious.
The buzzing in the courtyard instantly fell silent, and everyone stared at Liu Zhaowan as if she were a fool.
Several old women who knew her well hurriedly pulled her away, whispering, "Oh, Liu Zhaowan, what nonsense are you talking about! Shut up!"
"That's right, the prince is already like that... and you still dare to gossip? Don't you have a death wish!"
Liu Zhaowan was about to reply when her words abruptly stopped.
The door to the side room creaked open.
Qingwu, disguised as "Cuiwei," appeared at the opportune moment. Looking at Liu Zhaowan, she spoke in a cold voice: "Manager Liu, don't keep staring at Miss Gu. There are some things you might not understand even if you look at them."
Liu Zhaowan was stunned for a moment. "You think you have the right to speak here? Have you forgotten who you are?! It's one thing that Gu Jinghong was brought back by Guard Changfeng, but you're just a maid that Granny Zhang bought back to the manor. How dare you talk back to me?! Don't you remember how you used to beg me to come to the sewing room?!"
Cuiwei took a few steps closer to her, then gave Liu Zhaowan a murderous look.
Liu Zhaowan immediately shut her mouth and stood there stunned—this Cuiwei, how come… seems different from before?
...
Early the next morning
Before dawn, Zhixin excitedly fussed by Gu Jinghong's bedside: "Miss, the Prince and Guard Changfeng stayed in the study all night last night, and Guard Changfeng said this morning that there's a surprise for you in the study. Get up quickly, Miss, and go see the surprise in the study!"
Gu Jinghong rolled over—what kind of surprise could there be? A "No Trespassing" sign? Or even stricter rules?
Today, Zhixin was granted permission to accompany Gu Jinghong to the study. She couldn't contain her excitement and kept nudging Gu Jinghong, saying, "Miss, please get up. I've prepared water for you to wash up. Shall we go take a look?"
Gu Jinghong was annoyed by Zhixin's shoving, then sat up and said, "Okay."
Half an hour later, Zhixin pestered Gu Jinghong to come to the door of the study: "Miss, please open the door!"
Gu Jinghong glanced down at Zhixin, hesitated for a moment, and then pushed open the door.
The study remained the same imposing study, but in a corner by the window where the light was excellent, a new space had been created.
A brand-new rosewood long table, polished to a warm, smooth finish with clear grain, sits behind it. Behind the table is a large armchair of the same material, covered with a thick, soft, and glossy silver fox pelt, its fluffy fur gleaming softly in the sunlight.
Beside the chair was a soft cushion of the same color and an exquisite footstool. In one corner of the long table, there was an elegantly designed eye-protecting copper lamp, next to which was a cool-to-the-touch white jade paperweight.
The furnishings are comfortable, warm, and tranquil, blending seamlessly with the solemn style of the entire study while remaining distinct, clearly indicating a carefully planned location.
Gu Jinghong stared blankly at all of this, her heart pounding violently in her chest, an indescribable warm current and shock sweeping through her entire body.
Zhixin's voice was filled with envy and joy: "His Highness specially ordered people to arrange this this morning! He said it was... for the young lady to read and recuperate!" She pointed to the table, "Look, even the lamp and paperweight are prepared!"
Gu Jinghong slowly approached, her fingertips brushing across the warm rosewood tabletop before finally landing on the incredibly soft snow fox fur.
Her icy fingertips were instantly enveloped in warmth. She looked up, her gaze sweeping across the vast sea of books before finally settling on the warm and prestigious chair that was exclusively hers.
From then on, a door was opened for her in the forbidden area of the King Jin's mansion, and a place was reserved for her.
She slowly sat down in the armchair covered with snow fox fur. The warm fur instantly dispelled the morning chill and seemed to envelop her wandering and helpless heart.
She picked up the cool, white jade paperweight from the table, her fingertips unconsciously stroking its smooth surface.
Zhi Xin looked at Gu Jinghong with sparkling eyes: "Miss... the prince is especially good to you."
Gu Jinghong lowered her eyes and mocked herself—indeed, Xiao Chengyan seemed to care particularly much about this butterfly mark, as if… it was indeed quite different.
Just then, her gaze was drawn to a stack of books on the corner of the desk. The top book was none other than the volume of "Jinshi Milu" that she had flipped through yesterday, and under it was what appeared to be an even thicker book with an old cover, the title of which was vaguely visible: "...A Study".
She gently pulled out the old book—"A Brief Study on the Remains of the Ancient Kingdom of Nanfeng".
Gu Jinghong's heart skipped a beat.
I thought Xiao Chengyan had spent the whole night in the study, and was just directing the servants to prepare a desk.
But at this moment, Gu Jinghong realized that the reason he stayed up all night was because of the Nanfeng Secret Box he had seen that day. He had spent the whole night looking through it and finally found this book for her.
He... knew about the South Wind Secret Box?
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