029 Qingyi worries, temporarily calm

  Gu Yunxue returned to the Shu Yue Xuan when Luo Qingyi was sewing a new hand warmer for her. Seeing that she had come back, her face lit up with joy, "Xuer, why did you go out for so long?"

  Gu Yunxi took off the cloak from her body, snuggled up to the warm stove and warmed her hands for a while before speaking softly, "Mother, I'm going to follow King De to the winter hunting grounds."

  Luo Qingyi was taken aback by his words, her eyes dimming slightly, "Winter hunt, it's starting again..."

  Gu Yunxi casually took off the thick winter clothes on her body, without noticing Luo Qingyi's expression. "This time all the dignitaries in the capital will be going, Mother doesn't have to worry."

  Lu Qingyi shook her head, "Xier, what are you going to help De Wang with this time?"

  "There's no need to, Duke De wants to take me out for some experience and also to get to know more people. Mother, don't worry, I'll be following Duke De closely, nothing will go wrong."

  Luo Qingyi looked at Gu Yunxi's profile, put down the work in her hand and pulled her to sit beside her. She stared straight at Gu Yunxi, "Xi'er, tell your mother, what do you think?"

  "What?" Gu Yunxi was taken aback.

  Luo Qingyi let out a sigh, raised her hand and brushed the stray hairs on her forehead back behind her ears. "People outside are all saying that you're going to become De Wang's new concubine, but as your mother, I know your temperament. However, Xi'er, you're still a young lady after all, there are some things you need to think carefully about."

  She paused for a moment, and then continued, "Mother knows you're smarter than the average girl, and now that you've become the King of De's advisor, no one can compare to you. But you're 16 this year, do you plan on being the King of De's advisor forever? Although there have been precedents in Great Yan's history of women entering the imperial court, as a woman, you need to work much harder than men to achieve the same things. Mother doesn't want you to suffer so much."

  Gu Yunxi's heart skipped a beat, "Mother's meaning is——"

  "For your mother's sake, I don't want you to enter the palace." Luo Qingyi said firmly, "If De Wang can succeed, there will be three thousand concubines in the future, let alone Gu Yingxue has already taken the best position. The harem is full of intrigue and struggle for power, plus the imperial court's infighting and plotting, your mother doesn't want you to spend your whole life in a world of wind, frost, and hidden arrows, always on guard against others, only to end up with a heart full of sorrow, unless..."

  Gu Yunxi raised an eyebrow, and Luo Qingyi spoke with a serious tone, "Unless Duke De only has you!"

  "Pfft——"

  Gu Yunxi couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth as she looked at Luo Qingyi, "Mother really has a good idea, have you ever seen any emperor in this continent's countries who only has one woman?"

  Luo Qing's eyebrows and eyes condensed, "The Xian De Emperor of Dong Qi only had one empress."

  Gu Yunxi didn't know why Luo Qingyi suddenly mentioned the coastal country of Dongqi, she paused slightly, as if recalling those years of galloping horses and wearing fresh clothes on the grasslands. She smiled, her eyebrows and eyes gentle, leaning against Luo Qingyi's shoulder, "It's not that there isn't one, but Mother will be at ease, Yunxi is not afraid of hardship, you treat me like a country gentleman, I'll treat you like a country gentleman too, De Wang is my lord, nothing more. There are still many things Yunxi wants to do, after these things are done, we can go to a place with only snow mountains and grasslands, Mother, what do you say?"

  Luo Qingyi only felt that her daughter's body suddenly had a hint of sadness, and she couldn't help but tighten her arms, "Alright, Mother will listen to Xi'er."

  The cold wind outside suddenly picked up, and the clear sky suddenly started to snow again. Gu Yunxi turned her head to look at the chilly sky, and suddenly felt a sense of unease. She turned her head to look at the middle-aged woman in front of her, "Mother, Duke De had left two guards in the courtyard before. After I leave, I will instruct them to take good care of Suimonthan."

  Luo Qingyi smiled, "Why bother, those two are both personal guards of the De Wangfu, staying in Su Yue Xuan would only ruin their future, let them return to De Wangfu quickly."

  Gu Yunxi thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. At this time, the sky was already late, and Luo Qingyi continued with her work. The room fell silent for a while, with Gu Yunxi covered with a thin quilt leaning against the soft couch, preparing to rest for a bit when suddenly Yu Niang called out from outside the door.

  Gu Yunxi nodded and let her in, only to see that Yue Niang was holding a letter in her hand. She handed it over, "Master, this is the information about the various young generals from different families who will be attending the hunting grounds this time, sent by the De Wang Fu just now."

  Gu Yunxi took it over and casually asked, "Is Song He also among them?"

  The girl nodded, "Yes."

  Gu Yun Xie opened the letter, on which were listed the origins and affiliations of each participant in the hunt. She browsed through it, nodded, "Have those people returned?"

  The girl also nodded, "He has already returned and said that if you have any orders, just send someone to deliver a message to the other side."

  Gu Yunxi nodded and waved her hand to let Yue Niang retreat. On the other side, Luo Qingyi looked at her slightly knotted face and asked softly, "What's wrong? Who is Song Huan again?"

  "This time, the Winter Hunt King wants to take a crucial position, and his biggest competitor is Song Hua. He was previously in the remaining Thousand Riders Army, but later came under Sun Yu's command. I heard he's a very formidable character."

  Gu Yunxi said lightly, but Luo Qingyi's face suddenly changed, "The remaining Thousand Riders Army..."

  "Yes, it was the Thousand Riders led by General Yi Xing. Originally a very powerful army, but Yi Xing's corruption and embezzlement of military funds ultimately destroyed this troop."

  Luo Qing's eyebrows and eyes moved, the corner of her mouth curled up in a cold smile. "Xier, this imperial city is full of filth and corruption. Since you've already followed De Wang into this place, you'd better be careful at all times."

  Gu Yunxue felt that Luo Qingyi was a bit unusual, and she continued, "The Qianqi Army has been stationed in the south for many years, although its combat strength is extremely strong, it cannot withstand severe cold. Although the Qianqi Army has now dispersed, this tradition remains unchanged. This time, the hunting ground is the Jialing Mountain enclosure, which is three points colder than Yanjing. As long as you have a good hand at fighting in snowy and icy conditions by your side, you can be safe."

  "Mother, how did you know?"

  Luo Qingyi smiled and continued with her work, "Anyone from Yanjing would know that the Thousand Riders were also a renowned and invincible team back in the day."

  Gu Yunxi had always been skeptical of Luo Qingyi's words, but after careful consideration, she called in Yue Niang and gave her some quiet instructions before stopping.

  The night grew darker, the lamp wick crackled, Gu Yunxi sighed softly as he watched Luo Qingyi embroidering under the lamplight. The intrigue and conspiracy in Yanjing were getting closer and closer, and such peaceful moments like this might become fewer and fewer.

  Digression

  I forgot to click publish when I updated yesterday, so the time is still showing as the 18th. This update is actually for today! Thanks for everyone's support!