Following the Wei River upstream, Qin Guan had no idea where Yan Chi was taking her. Yet in the profound silence of the deep night, even the figures of Baiying and Baiyue grew distant behind them. Under the vast sky and expansive earth, only she and Yan Chi remained. The constraints that had prevented them from speaking freely during the day vanished completely, filling Qin Guan’s heart with exhilaration and ease.
“Are you cold?” Yan Chi unfurled his cloak again, wishing he could wrap Qin Guan up like a child.
Qin Guan shook her head, her beautiful eyes gazing toward a gentle slope in the distance. “Have you been here before? What lies ahead?”
Yan Chi’s voice was low and resonant, stirring her heart in the stillness broken only by the wind and water. “Never. Though I spent my childhood in the capital, my father was not in the city at the time. No one dared bring me alone to events like the spring hunt. Moreover, the royal residence had three masters who kept me training day and night. The spring hunt was meant for leisure.”
Hearing this, Qin Guan felt a pang of sympathy. Despite Yan Chi’s noble birth, which should have spared him worries, he had exerted himself a hundred times more than others from a young age. “Did you already want to go to the battlefield back then?”
As Qin Guan asked, Yan Chi’s tone cooled. “Yes, since I was very young.”
Qin Guan turned her head. “Because of Prince Rui?”
Yan Chi nodded first, then hesitated. “Yes, and no.”
Puzzled, Qin Guan waited as Yan Chi explained, “My father is an exceptionally formidable man, difficult to surpass or defeat. I want to surpass him—it’s a goal that demands every moment. I’ve heard that in his youth, he trained as diligently as I do now, so much so that the late Emperor once considered naming him Crown Prince. However, my father, grateful for the Empress Dowager’s care, naturally would not contend with Prince Luo or Prince Gong.”
Qin Guan was inwardly startled. If the late Emperor had held such intentions and the current Emperor knew of it, that would pose a grave danger to Prince Rui’s royal residence.
“Does the Emperor know about the late Emperor’s thoughts back then?”
Yan Chi chuckled lightly. “That, I do not know.”
Qin Guan let out a breath. “In the end, the late Emperor still enthroned the current Emperor. I suppose the Emperor holds no resentment.”
Even Qin Guan understood the brutality of succession struggles, yet Yan Chi seemed unconcerned. He simply tightened his arm around her waist, cracked the whip, and urged the horse up the gentle slope with her. From the camp all the way up, they had traversed a flat, grassy plain. Qin Guan had expected more lush greenery beyond the slope, but as they reached the top, a lake came into view, startling her. Yan Chi reined in the horse abruptly.
Beyond the slope lay a sunken valley, and at its lowest point was the lake. From their vantage on the slope, the lake curved like a crescent moon, its surface shimmering under the serene moonlight, mirror-smooth. On this spring night, a thin mist rose from the lake, making it look like a fairyland from afar.
This was the Crescent Moon Lake!
Qin Guan first marveled at the hidden lake amid the grassy expanse, then realized Yan Chi had brought her out not just for a horseback stroll—he meant to show her this lake.
“Where is this?”
“Crescent Moon Lake—”
Qin Guan drew a soft breath. “Indeed, the lake lives up to its name, just like a crescent moon.”Whether by coincidence or not, tonight's crescent moon resembled a delicate sliver. Qin Guan gazed into the distance and saw the Crescent Lake nestled in the emerald valley, its shape mirroring the celestial crescent as if the moon had descended to earth. The lake's surface reflected the moonlight, emitting a soft glow, while a thin veil of mist draped over the serene waters like an exquisite gauze, akin to an ethereal maiden concealing her face—compelling one to draw closer for a glimpse.
Squinting, Qin Guan discerned faint shadows at the lake's center. She promptly patted Yan Chi's arm and urged, "Let's move closer!"
Seeing Qin Guan's evident delight, Yan Chi knew his efforts hadn't been in vain. A smile touched his lips as he guided his horse down the gentle slope.
The closer they approached, the clearer the object at the lake's center became. Upon reaching the shore, Qin Guan could vaguely make out what seemed to be a small island, adorned with several tree silhouettes. In the darkness of night, their species remained indistinguishable.
As this thought crossed her mind, Yan Chi dismounted and extended a hand to help her down. The moment her feet touched the ground, Qin Guan took two steps forward. The lakeside, carpeted with lush grass, revealed crystal-clear waters that mirrored the moonlight, allowing glimpses of white sand and stones at the bottom. Qin Guan marveled, "How did you know about this inland lake?"
Yan Chi chuckled, "I deduced it through mystical calculations."
Qin Guan shot him a sidelong glare. "You can't fool me with that."
She crouched down, intending to skim the water's surface with her hand, but Yan Chi caught her wrist before she could touch it. "The water is icy this season—best not to touch it."
Reluctantly, Qin Guan withdrew her hand. Yet, upon closer inspection, she noticed petals floating on the lake. Peering more intently, she detected subtle underwater currents. Having arrived via the Wei River, she realized that part of its flow must originate from this Crescent Spring. Her gaze drifted toward the central island, still obscured by mist, making its features indiscernible. But the petals couldn't have appeared out of nowhere—they must have come either from the island or the upstream opposite bank.
Rising to her feet, Qin Guan exclaimed, "Your eyesight is sharp—see if there are flowering trees on the island!"
Yan Chi smiled and scrutinized the area. "Want to go take a look?"
Naturally, Qin Guan did, but how would they get there?
As she pondered this, Yan Chi suddenly drew near, wrapping his arms around her. Before she could react, they were airborne. With a gasp, she clung tightly to his waist. Yan Chi laughed softly and, as if riding the wind, swiftly carried her toward the central island. Experiencing this for the first time, Qin Guan felt her heart leap into her throat.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as chilly winds and mist brushed past her cheeks. Soon, a delicate floral fragrance wafted toward her. When she opened her eyes fully, two peach blossom trees came into view.
Yan Chi descended gracefully with her through the treetops. Even after their feet touched solid ground, Qin Guan remained dazed, instinctively gripping Yan Chi's arm. After a long moment, he chuckled and swept her up into a bridal carry.Qin Guan finally snapped back to reality, letting out a soft breath as she said, "Put me down. So there really are peach blossom trees here—they bloom earlier than those outside—" The peach tree within her sight was thick enough to require one person’s embrace to encircle, its age on this small island unknown. Its branches twisted and turned, and its roots plunged deep into the lakebed.
Outside, the peach blossoms had just begun to bud, yet on this small island, the tree was already laden with fully bloomed flowers. A gentle breeze stirred, sending petals drifting gracefully to the ground—the very source of the petals floating on the water’s surface.
Yan Chi had only known of the Crescent Moon Lake’s existence and was unaware of the flowering trees on the lake’s central island. This discovery pleased him even more, and he carried Qin Guan all the way to the base of the peach tree before setting her down.
Steadying herself, Qin Guan sighed in relief and glanced toward the opposite shore. She saw Yan Chi’s horse leisurely grazing by the bank, while Bai Feng and Baiying had not followed them.
All was silent, bathed in the serene moonlight. The small island spanned no more than ten square zhang. Aside from the two peach trees, the rest of the area was carpeted with lush green grass and shrubs. The spot where they stood was a massive rock embedded in the soil, now blanketed with fallen petals. Qin Guan dared not move, afraid of crushing the delicate petals beneath her feet. As she scanned her surroundings, she saw only the shimmering surface of the lake and the hazy mist enveloping them. For a moment, it felt as though she and Yan Chi had entered an intensely private sanctuary, as if veiled by a curtain. Whatever transpired between them here would remain hidden from outside eyes.
A warmth surged in Qin Guan’s chest, and her heartbeat quickened inexplicably. She instinctively lifted her gaze, only to meet Yan Chi’s mesmerizing dark eyes, which seemed adorned with blossoms. In his gaze, she saw her own reflection, her cheeks flushed like rosy clouds.
"This place—" Qin Guan began, hoping to break the tension with words.
But before she could continue, Yan Chi wrapped an arm around her waist and declared, "This is a good place."
Pulled tightly against him, Qin Guan’s body pressed flush to Yan Chi’s. She blinked, feeling as though his gaze had tangible weight, igniting a fiery tremor in her heart.
"Whatever we do here, no one else can see," Yan Chi murmured, leaning closer until his face was mere inches from hers.
Qin Guan clutched the front of his robe, her body leaning back slightly. "But... Bai Feng and the others..."
Suddenly, Yan Chi lifted her and pressed her against the peach tree.
The island was already shrouded in night and mist, making it impossible for anyone outside to see clearly. With her back against the tree trunk, Qin Guan was completely concealed—even in broad daylight, no one would have spotted her.
Yan Chi raised a hand to her face, gently brushing away the stray hairs beside her cheek. "Now they can’t see," he whispered.
Qin Guan’s face grew warm, her heart racing wildly. Soon, Yan Chi’s lips met hers.
The delicate fragrance of peach blossoms mingled with Yan Chi’s scent filled her nostrils. In her ears, the tranquil, deep murmur of the lake blended with his soft breaths. Qin Guan closed her eyes, feeling as though her heart had melted into a serene pool. Her hands clung to his waist as her thoughts and breath were wholly claimed by him. Peach petals drifted down around them, yet she forgot where she was. In her heart, her eyes, beneath her palms, and against her skin—there was only Yan Chi. Her breaths grew heated, her mind in disarray, as if she had fallen into the ethereal mist over the Crescent Moon Lake. Only by holding tightly to Yan Chi could she find any semblance of calm.Qin Guan clung tighter, and Yan Chi drew her closer into his embrace. The two were so intimately entwined they seemed to wish to merge into one. Soon, Qin Guan felt a cool sensation on her leg—it was Yan Chi’s hand. Her heart raced, and she noticed that, at some point, Yan Chi had tossed his cloak to the ground. A flood of emotions surged within her, her legs grew weak, and she slid uncontrollably down the trunk of the tree. With a gentle pull, Yan Chi laid her upon his cloak. Before Qin Guan could react, he was already covering her. She couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp, and at the sound, Yan Chi’s breathing grew heavy, swiftly seizing all her thoughts like a conqueror storming a city. The crescent moon seemed shy, the drifting clouds bashful, and a gentle breeze swept by. The mist over the lake, as if imbued with spirit, slowly drifted toward the narrow path, like a curtain softly drawn. In this intimate, fragrant space, reminiscent of a secluded bedchamber, peach blossoms fell like rain, and the golden breeze and dewy jade shimmered with an alluring charm.
On the opposite shore of the lake, Bai Feng and Baiying leisurely ascended the gentle slope. When they looked around, they saw only Yan Chi’s horse grazing lazily by the lakeside, while Qin Guan and Yan Chi were nowhere in sight.
Baiying frowned anxiously, "Where is the Crown Prince?! And where is the young lady?" She made to urge her horse down the slope, but Bai Feng, after a moment’s thought, tugged at her reins. "Don’t rush. Let’s wait here. With our master around, what could possibly go wrong?"
Baiying still wanted to descend, but after a brief hesitation, as if recalling something, her expression grew complex. In the end, she turned her horse back to the other side of the slope.
At the camp at the foot of Mount Wei, Tuoba Wu hid with a grave expression along the path leading from the imperial guards’ quarters to the main tents of the nobles. Her brow furrowed, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on the quiet path.
Two maidservants stood behind her; the three of them had been hiding there for an hour.
One of the maidservants, her legs numb from standing, whispered, "Your Highness, are you certain the heir apparent will return this way?"
Tuoba Wu snorted softly, "If not this way, then through the main gate? He didn’t leave through the main gate when he went out, so why would he return that way? During the grand hunt, there’s a curfew at night. No matter his reason for leaving camp, it wouldn’t look good if he were seen. This path is the only flaw in the camp’s defenses. I’m certain he’ll return this way..."
To uncover Yan Chi’s route, Tuoba Wu had spent half the evening gathering information. Learning that he hadn’t used the main gate confirmed her suspicions.
The maidservant yawned, "But Your Highness, what if the heir apparent doesn’t return all night? Could he be out night hunting?"
Tuoba Wu sneered, "Impossible! If he were night hunting, why wouldn’t he leave through the main gate?"
The maidservant had no retort and could only continue waiting with Tuoba Wu. Meanwhile, Tuoba Wu thought to herself that uncovering any leverage over Yan Chi would at least make him wary of her. Whether it was wariness or something else, as long as Yan Chi’s attention turned to her, it would be a start. As a princess of Northern Wei, how could she fail to capture Yan Chi’s notice?
Just as these thoughts crossed her mind, one of the maidservants tugged at her sleeve. "Your Highness, someone’s coming!"Tuoba Wu abruptly raised his gaze and focused intently. Sure enough, under the cover of night, several figures were silently approaching the main tent. Squinting, Tuoba Wu recognized the tall and imposing figure leading the group—it must be Yan Chi! A surge of joy rose in Tuoba Wu’s heart, but then he suddenly noticed another, smaller figure emerging from behind Yan Chi. This figure only reached Yan Chi’s shoulder, and judging by the gait and posture, it was… it was actually a graceful woman—
His breath caught, and Tuoba Wu widened his eyes in disbelief!
OpenNovel