The afternoon sunlight was pleasant, the air fresh after the heavy snow had just cleared. Yan Xun sat in his study, reviewing the winter tax documents that had just been delivered, making careful annotations. Feng Zhi had come in three times to announce the meal, but each time he was driven out by A Jing guarding the door, leaving him no choice but to wait outside, feeling aggrieved.
A gentle breeze blew, causing the incense from the censer on the desk to sway gracefully. Suddenly, a fresh scent wafted in—not the powder and perfume of the palace, not the orchid incense from the Yingge Villa, nor the fragrance of green bamboo from the bamboo grove. Instead, it was a unique aroma, carrying the scent of yellow sand and earth, even a sharp, blade-like edge.
Yan Xun frowned and looked up. When he saw the visitor, his eyes instantly softened. He wanted to speak but found it somewhat amusing. He turned his face away, trying to hold back a smile, yet the corners of his lips gradually curved upward.
"Have you laughed enough?" The visitor was only about fifteen or sixteen years old, a young lad with fair skin and eyes as clear as water. Dressed in blue leather armor, he looked even more spirited and heroic. Leaning against the doorframe, he crossed his arms over his chest, his bright eyes carrying a hint of laughter, yet he stubbornly insisted, "It's cold outside."
"When did you return?" Yan Xun's voice was as warm as water, as if all the sharpness in him had melted away in an instant. He gazed into the young man's warm, radiant eyes and smiled softly.
The young man also grinned, tilting his head as he replied, "Just now."
"Then why didn't you come in?"
The young man pouted and scoffed disdainfully, "Someone said that no matter how important the matter, no one is allowed to enter."
Yan Xun nodded. "Is that so? If I said such a thing, then they still dared to let you in. Their intentions are condemnable—they truly deserve to be punished."
"But I'm still standing at the door, aren't I?" The young man raised his eyebrows. "How dare I break the rules of the great Crown Prince Yan?"
Just as Yan Xun was about to speak, the young bookboy Feng Zhi, who was holding the food box behind the young man, finally couldn't hold back and said, "I say, Crown Prince, Young Master Chu, could you two stop bantering? I've already asked the kitchen to heat this meal over ten times. Could you at least take a bite?"
"Alright," the young man said, grabbing the food box and striding in with a smile. "Let's give Feng Zhi some face."
The young bookboy wiped his sweat and retreated. Yan Xun stood up from behind the desk, walked over, and helped the young man remove his cloak, placing it on a chair. Then he turned and sat at the table, watching as the young man laid out all the dishes one by one. Only then did he close his eyes, take a deep breath, and say with intoxication, "It smells wonderful." How come I didn't notice it earlier?"
"Your nose is useless. If I didn't come back, you'd starve to death."
Scooping a bowl of rice for Yan Xun, the young man sat directly beside him and took a big bite. "Auntie Yu's cooking is still the best."
Yan Xun's expression shifted slightly, revealing a rare trace of heartache. He lowered his head to look at the young man and said softly, "You must have had a tough journey."
"Not too bad," the young man shook his head. "It's just unbearably cold."
"Did your feet get frostbitten again?"
"No, the boots you gave me are really warm and comfortable."
Yan Xun nodded and said gravely, "In the future, leave such tasks to Qi He and the others. You shouldn't always be running around like this.""I'd love to stay cooped up indoors too, but how could I rest easy?" The young man let out a long sigh. "Fortunately, it won't be much longer. In another six months, we won't have to endure such hardships anymore."
Yan Xun's eyes brightened as the wind from outside blew through the slightly ajar window, carrying the faint fragrance of distant bamboo groves.
"Did you see Mr. Wu?"
"No," the young man shook his head. "I saw Xihua. He said Mr. Wu has already entered the capital to oversee winter tax matters and told you not to worry too much."
Yan Xun nodded, releasing a heavy sigh. "That's good. I haven't slept well for several nights, constantly dealing with this matter. With Mr. Wu here, it'll save me a lot of effort."
"Is everything peaceful in the palace?"
Hearing this, Yan Xun gave a cold laugh, unable to hide the sarcasm at the corner of his mouth. "Same as always. I don't know if you've heard the news - Wei Shuyou has returned. I ran into him today."
"I heard," the young man nodded in acknowledgment. "The Nanji Mountain Imperial Tomb collapsed, and Wei Shuyou can't escape responsibility. I heard he's already been dismissed from his position as Capital Prefect, but I didn't expect him to return so quickly."
Yan Xun put down his chopsticks and took a sip of tea. "Your move to pull the rug out from under him was well executed. Now rumors are spreading throughout the palace that Wei Guang intentionally stayed out of it, wanting to get rid of this position. Although the one in Xiahua Palace hasn't expressed an opinion, the other elders of the Elder Council are very dissatisfied with Wei Guang. When drafting the land enclosure recently, they collectively blocked the Wei family. Although Mu He Xifeng is useless and Mu He Yunting is gone, Mu He Rongcheng is no pushover. When he returns from Xiling, the Elder Council will become lively."
The young man looked up, speaking solemnly: "This matter still needs follow-up. We can't let our guard down. Don't worry, I'll handle it properly."
Yan Xun nodded. "I trust you to handle things."
No sooner had he finished speaking than he suddenly laughed, raising his slender fingers to gently wipe the young man's face. The young man's face was as fair as jade, with crystal-clear, smooth skin slightly chilled from the outside air. Yan Xun's fingertips were warm, causing the young man to startle, his face involuntarily flushing slightly as he uncomfortably pushed away Yan Xun's hand, frowning. "What are you doing?"
"Here," Yan Xun extended his hand, showing a gleaming grain of white rice on his fingertip, smiling as he said: "A Chu, you must have been starving outside. It seems I need to properly compensate you."
Just as the young man was about to speak, he suddenly caught sight of Yan Xun's hand. That hand was as fair as jade with four slender fingers, but his little finger was abruptly severed at the joint.
The young man's eyes instantly turned cold. He slowly took a bite of rice, then looked up and said solemnly: "If we succeed this time, we can make sure Wei Shuyou never rises again."
The air suddenly grew quiet. Yan Xun looked at A Chu's profile, reaching out to gently pat her shoulder. "A Chu, don't think too much about it."
"Yan Xun, I won't act recklessly. I'll act according to my capabilities." A Chu's voice suddenly grew muffled as she lowered her voice, speaking slowly: "We've already waited so many years. I won't be so impatient."
The afternoon sun shone warmly through the window lattice, bathing both of them in its light. In the air, one could almost smell the scent of spring.Time flowed swiftly, and the young children of yesteryear had long grown into adults. The world outside was bright with sunlight, and circumstances had changed, yet some things, like aged wine, only grew richer and more fragrant.
"A Chu, now that you're back, don't go out again. Rest well for a while. In half a year, I'll take you back to Yanbei."
Chu Qiao lifted her head. Though still young, her delicate face already bore the makings of a beauty, with arched eyebrows and curved eyes. Yet unlike typical gentlewomen of noble families, she carried a martial sharpness and a gleam of intelligence. She lowered her head, pressing her forehead against Yan Xun's chest, nodding lightly as she whispered, "Alright."
Yan Xun wrapped his arms around the girl's shoulders, gently stroking her back.
"When we reach Yanbei, it should be midsummer, with lush green pastures. I'll take you to hunt wild horses on the Fire Thunder Plains."
"Mhm," Chu Qiao's voice was muffled. "We'll definitely go."
Time passed slowly. Yan Xun's shoulders grew somewhat sore, yet Chu Qiao remained silent for a long while. The man lowered his head to see the girl's long eyelashes casting shadows beneath her eyelids, appearing even more beautiful in the sunlight.
"A Chu?"
Yan Xun called softly, and when Chu Qiao didn't respond, he couldn't help but chuckle quietly—she had actually fallen asleep like this. He stood up, scooping her horizontally into his arms. Despite Chu Qiao's usual alertness, she didn't struggle in the slightest, as if aware she was in a safe place, sleeping peacefully and quietly. As soon as he stepped out of the study, A Jing hurried forward. Yan Xun's sword-like eyebrows furrowed, and A Jing along with several servants immediately knelt on the ground, not daring to make a sound, watching as Yan Xun carried the young girl clad in leather armor slowly toward the bedchamber.
A moment later, the Heir of Yanbei emerged from the room, and A Jing quickly approached.
"What happened?"
"We encountered an ambush on the road. The young lady led the men on a detour via the Lüye Trail to return. Afraid you would worry, she didn't dismount or rest for three days. She must be utterly exhausted now."
Yan Xun's brow tightened, and he said in a deep voice, "What about that group of people?"
"They're currently in Liangshan Town, eighty li west of Zhenhuang City. We have people watching them. Should we make a move, Crown Prince?"
"Mhm," Yan Xun nodded, his expression calm as he headed back toward the study.
"Then," A Jing hesitated slightly, thinking it over before asking, "what about those stone merchants responsible for the imperial tombs whom the young lady bribed?"
Yan Xun pondered briefly, then replied, "Since they're no longer useful, eliminate them along with the others."
"Yes, I obey your command."
A cold wind blew slowly from the direction of the Yalang Mountains. Yan Xun looked up to see a small white bird, its feathers not yet fully grown, hovering in the northern wind. Perhaps drawn by the scent on him, it showed no fear, circling above his head, fluttering its wings, darting up and down, chirping curiously.
A Jing was momentarily stunned, then exclaimed in delight, "It's a Cangwu bird! Crown Prince, it might be a lost young Cangwu bird. These birds are highly intelligent, unafraid of humans, and very rare. Many people keep them as pets. I've never seen one this small before."
"Is that so?" Yan Xun responded indifferently, extending his hand to watch the little bird circling in the air, his eyebrows slightly raised.The little bird chirped curiously, fluttered a few times, and actually landed on Yan Xun's finger. It gently pecked at his palm with its small yellow beak, its pitch-black eyes darting about nimbly, appearing quite affectionate.
A Jing was greatly astonished and was about to exclaim in wonder when suddenly, a crisp crack sounded. Yan Xun immediately clenched his hand with force. The precious bird didn't even have time to let out a cry before falling to the ground with a soft thud.
"So easily trusting others—if I didn't kill you, you'd eventually die at someone else's hand."
The man's black robes fluttered as his tall figure swiftly disappeared among the pavilions and towers. A strong wind blew, scattering the accumulated snow, which soon buried the bird's corpse.
Though the ground was warmed by geothermal heat, the season remained deep winter. The sun slowly sank behind the mountains, and darkness was about to descend.
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