Page 243

Yet, she was oblivious to it all.

Gu Changjin glanced at her again and spoke warmly, "Get ready, I'll take you to the training field."

The training field?

Wasn't that where he practiced martial arts and trained his troops?

Rong Shu was filled with questions. When they arrived at the training field, she saw the frozen slope covered in thick ice and the wooden sled placed at its peak, finally understanding his intentions.

"In Floating Jade Mountain, during winter, Father would secretly take us siblings sledding without Mother knowing," Gu Changjin led her over while explaining, "The slopes there were steep, but this one here isn't high. It's perfect for you to play on now. In the future, I'll take you to the mountains to sled."

The wooden sled at the top of the hill was simple and unadorned, yet made of sturdy wood with solid craftsmanship. Not a single creak could be heard when sitting on it.

Rong Shu touched the fur covering the sled and asked curiously, "Did you sled on something like this when you were young?"

Gu Changjin nodded, "Each of us had our own sled. Sometimes, Father would organize a race, and the winner would be rewarded with a smoked mutton leg or deer jerky."

Rong Shu looked at him. For lunch today, the kitchen had prepared smoked deer jerky for him, using the method she had taught him to make smoked meat.

Just as this thought crossed her mind, the man across from her said with a smile, "I've already received my reward for today, so I won't compete with you."

It was Rong Shu's first time sledding in the snow, and she replied, "If you were to race me today, it wouldn't be a fair win. Next time, I'll challenge you again." She eagerly called out, ready to begin.

Looking into her bright eyes, Gu Changjin smiled and softly acknowledged her.

In no time, a figure in a bean green cloak swiftly descended the slope, leaving two long trails on the flat ground before gradually coming to a stop.

Upon seeing Rong Shu unharmed, Zhu Jun and the others heaved a sigh of relief.

Lan Xuan rubbed her hands together and said enviously, "I heard that His Highness had his people fetch water and pour it on the ground to create this slope. It took half a day's effort."

Zhu Jun glanced at her and said, "Quickly build up the fire. When our masters get tired from playing, they'll need to warm themselves by the fire."

Pausing for a moment, she whispered a reminder, "Serve Miss Rong well, and who knows how many people in the Eastern Palace will envy you in the future."

Lan Xuan snapped back to reality and smiled. "Thank you, Auntie Zhu."

Zhu Jun led the group in setting up a shelter to block the snow and started a fire around a hearth.

Rong Shu played merrily for almost an hour.

As the wind whistled past her ears, it seemed to whisk away all the pent-up frustration and unease within her.

Just as she was thoroughly enjoying herself, Gu Changjin unexpectedly put away his wooden sled. "That's enough for today. I'll take you to warm up by the fire."

"One more round, please," Rong Shu hastily raised a finger as slender as a spring onion. "Gu Changjin, I promise, this will really be the last time."

This was already the third time the girl had said "the last time."

When had Gu Changjin ever seen her act so stubbornly?

Glancing at her reddened nose from the cold, he was about to firmly refuse. But when their eyes met, his words of denial got stuck in his throat again.

For the first time in his life, he realized how difficult it was to say "no."

But what could he do?

This girl was born to be his nemesis.

Chapter 95

As the saying goes, good things come in threes.

True to her word, Rong Shu did not disappoint. After hurtling down the slope, she rose and brushed off the snow from her cloak, promptly returning the wooden sled to Gu Changjin with utmost integrity.

Gu Changjin took it and casually set the wooden wedge aside. Squatting down, he brushed the snowflakes off the hem of her skirt. His movements were gentle and practiced, as if what he was doing was the most ordinary thing in the world.

Given his exalted status now, how could he possibly do such a thing in full view of everyone?

Rong Shu instinctively tried to step back, but her skirt was caught in his hand, leaving her momentarily immobile.

Zhu Jun was leading the effort to erect a shelter from the snow, while Lan Xuan was organizing people to build a fire pit.

Everyone was engrossed in their tasks, paying no attention to what was happening nearby.

Relieved, Rong Shu breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

After a short while, Gu Changjin rose to his feet with a composed expression. "Come warm yourself by the fire. Don't catch a chill."

Rong Shu was wrapped in a thick fox fur robe, not feeling the cold, but her delicate skin had turned slightly rosy from the biting wind. Her lips were red, the tip of her nose was red, and even the corners of her eyes held a hint of pink.

Gu Changjin averted his gaze.

Inside the cloth pavilion, a fire had been lit in the brazier, with an enameled pot adorned with inlaid flowers resting above it. The soup inside bubbled vigorously, releasing a veil of white steam that brought a moist warmth to the surroundings.

Rong Shu recalled how she had once attempted to build a fire under a parasol tree in Songsi Courtyard to enjoy a 'Ba Xia Gong' meal. Unfortunately, the strong winds and heavy snow had quickly extinguished the flames before the copper pot could even warm up.

In the end, the three of them had to retreat indoors, their spirits dampened.

With the cloth pavilion set up today, the fabric roof shielded them from the wind and snow outside.

Now... they no longer had to worry about failing to heat the pot.

Rong Shu glanced sideways at the man in front of her.

Did he know that she couldn't enjoy a fire feast under the parasol tree in her previous life, and thus arranged this snowy scene to make up for her regret?

Gu Changjin hadn't asked anyone to stay and serve them during their meal. Delicate lacquer boxes were placed next to the brazier, each filled with fresh wild vegetables, mountain mushrooms, thinly sliced meat and fish resembling cicada wings, as well as a few dishes of pickled vegetables and mustard.

Rong Shu didn't enjoy the Pa Xia Gong with dipping sauce; she preferred to wrap thin slices of vegetables, meat, and fish around pickled radish and vegetable preserves. In her previous life, wasn't it precisely these pickles that accompanied their Pa Xia Gong in Wutong Lane?

Her gaze slowly swept across the array of dishes before her, and she couldn't help but ask, "Did you know that I, Yingyue, and Ying Que failed to have our Pa Xia Gong under the wutong tree?"

Gu Changjin hummed in response, "Ying Que mentioned to Chang Ji that you didn't manage to light a fire under the wutong tree and ended up eating nothing but icy winds and snowflakes."

"So Ying Que was the one who told you." Rong Shu's face grew even warmer from the heat of the mist blowing in her face.