Winter Hunter Selection, De King's Bottom Line

  Suddenly, a dark door opened at the corner of the wall, and a deep-colored figure stood inside the dimly lit corridor. Gu Yunxi's eyebrows slightly furrowed as the figure moved towards them.

  Wan Xi walked out of the doorway with a dark cloak, followed by Mu Yan in white clothes. His face was still pale and almost transparent. At this moment, his eyes scanned the three people in the room, and his eyes were as calm as a deep lake.

  "Ten thousand years!"

  Gongsun Chenglin let out a soft sigh and headed towards Wanyan Zheng, Gongsun Mo followed closely behind. Wanyan Zheng nodded at the two of them, a hint of a smile on his usually cold face, "Fourth Prince is back..."

  Gongsun Chenglin looked up and down at Wan Qizhen, shaking his head in disapproval. "How can you still be like this? Hasn't anyone treated your illness all these years?"

  As soon as the words fell, Wan Xi Zhen let out a slight cough. Wan Xi Zhen covered his mouth with one hand and shook his head with the other, "The illness that was brought from birth can't be cured by just talking about it. On the contrary, Your Highness is getting more and more refined!"

  Gongsun Chenglin chuckled and nodded at Wan Qi, stepping aside. "You've already met Miss Gu Er, she's with us today."

  Wan Xi Zhen glanced at Yun Xi, nodded slightly, his movements extremely subtle. He and she had clearly been through a dangerous situation together, yet there was not a hint of expression in his eyes, his deep and serene appearance seeming as if he had never interacted with her before.

  Gu Yunxi looked at Wan Qishen, who was wrapped in a fox fur coat from head to toe, and felt a chill run down her spine. She looked at the fox fur coat on him and felt a sense of familiarity, but before she could think of the reason why, Wan Qishen's attitude made her feel a wave of disgust. She wasn't one to be overly friendly with people, but neither was she rude, so Gu Yunxi just nodded slightly in response.

  The arrival of Wan Xi Chen was more unexpected than Gu Yun Xue's appearance here, he was a person by the crown prince's side on the surface but in reality, he was leaning towards De Wang, thus, this warm room would inevitably have one more person besides Gu Yun Xue.

  Gongsun Mo and Gongsun Chenglin walked out, leaving only four people in the room: two masters and two servants. Although they were sitting on the same soft couch, they had two completely different auras.

  Gu Yunxi looked at Yue Niang, who hastily went to the side and poured two cups of hot tea. "Chu Gongzi, miss, please have some tea."

  Wan Xi's eyes sparkled slightly as she pulled out her awkward left hand from under the fox fur, gently picked up the tea cup, and then used her right hand to lift the lid, taking a slight sip.

  "Is Lord Chu originally left-handed?"

  Wan Xi Zhen said, "Not true."

  Gu Yunxi's gaze swept over Wan Qiuchen's right hand, but Wan Qiuchen had already withdrawn his right hand into the fox fur without leaving any trace. She raised an eyebrow slightly, thinking that the person in front of her was really uninteresting, and she wouldn't waste her thoughts on someone who didn't resonate with her.

  The atmosphere in the inner room fell silent instantly, and at this time, the outer room began today's discussion.

  "In seven days, it will be this year's Winter Hunt. If it were in previous years, there would be nothing special about it, but this year the commander of the Lin Army was dismissed. The Emperor previously said that after the Winter Hunt, he would decide on a new candidate for the position. This intention is already clear. Now we need to make arrangements. We must not fail this time at the Winter Hunt!"

  Gongsun Mo's voice came in, and the outer room fell silent for a moment. After a while, Gu Yunxi only heard a steady voice like a rock say, "The Winter Hunt has been held every year to select officers from various military camps. This year, apart from the commander of the Imperial Guard, the Beijing City Garrison is short of one deputy commander, and then there are the deputy generals of the surrounding garrisons in the capital. In my opinion, this year's Winter Hunt is not like usual. Why don't we let Qin Zheng come back? The Xingbei Army can be temporarily managed by someone else."

  "Yes, General Qin is a renowned tiger-slaying hero in the northern border. Among those nearby, only he can rival the Snow Wolf of Tianlang Valley."

  "No way!" Gong Sun Chenglin couldn't help but speak up before Gong Sun Mo did, "The Zhenbei Army is Second Brother's biggest trump card. Now there are many people on that side trying to plant moles inside, if we relax even slightly, something will go wrong. We can't lose the Zhenbei Army just because of one Imperial Guard."

  "Cheng Lin says it makes sense, but this method cannot be implemented."

  Gongsun Mo's words were like a heavy blow, and the entire outer chamber fell silent. Gu Yunxi couldn't see anyone's face in the outer room, but she knew that this person was a difficult choice for Gongsun Mo. She hesitated for a moment, then beckoned to Yue Niang to come over.

  Yu'e listened to Gu Yunxi whispering a few words in her ear, nodded and turned around to walk out. The strategists who were full of worry suddenly saw an old woman come out from the inner chamber, couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. Only those who had seen Gu Yunxi at the Prime Minister's residence that day guessed who was sitting inside.

  Yue Niang looked at Gong Sun Mo and whispered to her what Gu Yun Xi had told him, Gong Sun Mo's eyes lit up, nodded at Yue Niang, and opened his mouth to say, "Qin Zheng cannot be moved, I have already chosen someone, let's discuss the next topic."

  Everyone in the room was stunned, what other good candidates did they not know about, even better than Qin Zheng?

  Of course no one asked about this topic, because Gong Sun Chenglin glanced at Yueniang with interest and quickly shifted the conversation to the next question.

  Wan Xi Zhen saw Yuan Niang return, and a rare flicker of doubt flashed across his face. However, he didn't ask anything. As time passed minute by minute, after the voices of the people in the outer room gradually dispersed, Gong Sun Mo and Gong Sun Cheng Lin walked into the inner room together, and their gaze fell on Gu Yun Xi at the same time.

  Gu Yunxi stood up with a smile, "Your Highness, since there is no good candidate, why don't you let me go instead?"

  The others in the room were shocked, and Gu Yunxi still said calmly, "Even if a person with high martial arts skills encounters a pack of wolves, they may not necessarily return safely. What's more, it was mentioned earlier that it was snow wolves. Humans facing extremely harsh natural environments is already a great challenge. If you add the wolf pack to that, there's hardly any hope left. So, let me go, Your Highness."

  Wan Xi Zhen and Gong Sun Cheng Lin's eyes grew increasingly somber, the woman in front of them asking to be sent to that human hell where even a seven-foot-tall man would find it hard to return unscathed, and she was not unaware of the ferocity of the Snow Wolf.

  Gongsun Mo gazed solemnly at Gu Yunxi, "You must understand that this time is a tough battle. Apart from the snowy mountains and wolves you know about, there are more unpredictable hidden dangers aimed at you. Even I, the king, cannot guarantee your safety."

  Gu Yunxi's thoughts drifted to the Cangmo Plateau for a moment, and she smiled slightly. "Please rest assured, Your Highness. I value my own life above all else. You only need to send your most skilled fighter."

  "The best martial arts"

  Gongsun Mo murmured, while Gongsun Chenglin beside him had already spoken out loud, "I'll go!"

  He gazed at Gu Yunxi with piercing eyes, his masculine aura radiating unmistakably. "Let me accompany Miss Gu instead. At that time, the Crown Prince and Second Brother will surely stay by Father's side. Let me go with Miss Gu, and Second Brother, you can also take a few guards from your side. We'll definitely be able to get the Dragon Backbone Mountain Snow Lotus!"

  Gongsun Mo turned his head and glanced at Gongsun Chenglin. The two brothers' eyes met, and between them, Gongsun Mo had already spoken in a low voice, "Good!"

  Wan Xi Zhen watched quietly from the side, while Gu Yun Xie's mouth curved into a comfortable smile as his wish was fulfilled. He saw this and slightly pursed his lips, then said calmly, "The other day, the Crown Prince received news that Song Jue had returned, he might be your biggest obstacle this time!"

  Gongsun Chenglin's eyes flickered slightly, "I really didn't expect it, he had just won the battle half a month ago, and Gong En had already made preparations!"

  If one were to say which young and promising military general from a humble background in the Yan region was the most formidable, it would have to be either Qin Zheng or this Song Ya. However, at present, Song Ya is not only the Emperor's father-in-law but also the deputy general under Sun You, a first-rank general.

  "Song Ya was originally a small soldier in the thousand-strong cavalry led by General Yi Xing, but after Yi Xing's downfall and his family being confiscated, the thousand-strong cavalry was divided into several legions. Song Ya's legion was taken over by the emperor's father-in-law. It's hard for him to achieve this at such a young age. If he participates in the winter hunt this time, I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to get the Snow Lotus Flower."

  Gongsun Chenglin spoke of Song Ya's origins, and on the side, Wan Qi Chen slightly hesitated for a moment before slowly saying, "Although Song Ya is young, he has already gained the favor of Sun Yu and the Crown Prince. If this continues, he will eventually become a major obstacle to Your Highness. According to what I know, Song Ya has an elderly mother in Tancheng. If Your Highness..."

  As soon as this was said, everyone in the room understood what Wan Qi Chen wanted to say. Gu Yun Xie subconsciously furrowed her brow, and Gong Sun Mo had already spoken out, "Impossible!"

  His gaze fell on Wan Xi Zhen's face and then shifted to look out the window at the layered snow.

  "Song Jie's military achievements on the border are outstanding, he is a general who has been baptized in blood and battle. Without him tasting the blood on his blade, there would be no prosperity in this capital of Yanjing, nor would you have the power to manipulate the clouds and rain with a flick of your wrist. Today, I want that highest position, but I am always clear about who can move and who cannot. People like them, who are loyal and dedicated only for their master's benefit, should not be destroyed by your cold arrows."

  With a slight pause, Gong Sun Mo's voice became extremely heavy, "Wan Xi, this is my bottom line."

  Gu Yun Xi's eyes gradually brightened as she looked at the tall figure standing by the window, her hands clenched slightly in her sleeves. Meanwhile, Wan Qi Chen's mouth curved into a faint smile, and his calm face revealed a hint of helpless bitterness. "Let's just forget I said anything, Your Highness."

  Gongsun Chenglin chuckled and said, "Alright alright, you guys have to believe in my martial arts skills. But second brother, why did you agree to let Yun Xi go to Tian Lang Valley? I still don't get it. Yun Xi, can you tell me?"

  Gu Yunxi didn't feel any disgust towards this carefree and proud man who directly called her name so quickly. She looked at Gong Sun Chenglin's eyes, the corners of her mouth slightly hooked, "This...the king will know in time——"

  Gongsun Chenglin was not disappointed upon hearing this, however he did not know that in the end, he also did not have the opportunity to find out why Gu Yunxi had obtained Gongsun Mo's permission to participate in that winter hunt which would be remembered by later generations.

  Digression

  Ahhhhh, I forgot to post when updating, and it wasn't until the 18th that I realized my mistake. My apologies, everyone!

  By the way, why can our Yun Xue get so close to the tiger? And this time it's Snow Wolf, which will be slowly revealed to everyone later!