Approaching You Rong, she set down the ginseng soup and said obsequiously, "Your Highness Prince, please drink the ginseng soup. This servant had it specially brewed for you."
You Rong frowned imperceptibly.
Lately, Lin Qinghe had been sending him at least two bowls of nourishing soup daily. He felt his insides burning and his temper flaring from drinking so much.
Not wanting to refuse her good intentions, he said, "Set it down. I'll drink it later."
"Yes, Your Highness Prince."
Lin Qinghe's dark eyes darted around as she began to inquire about the winter hunt.
"Your Highness Prince, I heard you will be accompanying His Majesty on the winter hunt in two days. This servant has only heard of it, never seen it. Is the winter hunt enjoyable?"
You Rong pondered for a moment. "It is merely a tradition that has been passed down in Western Chu. The sovereign and his officials hunt together, offering the captured game to heaven to pray for peace and prosperity."
"If all the officials hunt together? Will their families have to go too? Can women also enter the hunting grounds to hunt?"
"Yes," You Rong glanced at Lin Qinghe. Seeing her eyes light up, he added, "Lord Xu has been ordered to leave the capital. He will not be present for the winter hunt."
Lin Qinghe paid no mind and casually replied, "Oh, is that so? Lord Xu is not going."
Whether Xu Yi was going or not, she couldn't care less. As long as Xu Ling'er was there, her progress bar, which hadn't moved for days, finally had a chance to increase!
A sly glint flashed in Lin Qinghe's eyes. She had initially intended to remind You Rong to be cautious of Consort Duan at the winter hunt. Now, she had a change of heart. She decided to actively create opportunities for Xu Ling'er and You Rong's relationship to heat up, such as an accident, falling into some unknown cave, and spending a night alone together.
Lin Qinghe suppressed her excitement and said ingratiatingly, "Your Highness Prince, may this servant ask you for a favor?"
You Rong: "What is it?"
"On the day of the winter hunt, may this servant accompany you to the hunting grounds? This servant has never seen hunting before and wishes to try. May I?"
Lin Qinghe blinked her clear black and white eyes, looking at You Rong pitifully, begging him to agree.
You Rong, however, appeared hesitant. "Hunting can be dangerous, and you don't know how to ride a horse..."
"This servant knows how to ride a horse! I know how to ride a horse!"
In her real world, her equestrian skills were superb. Horse riding was a piece of cake!
"You know how to ride a horse?"
Faced with You Rong's scrutinizing gaze, Lin Qinghe realized she had gotten too excited and almost revealed herself. After a moment's thought, she quickly covered it up. "Before this servant entered the palace as a child, I used to clean horse stables for a wealthy family and secretly rode horses. So, this servant knows how to ride!"
You Rong believed her. His eyes lowered as he pondered for a moment. "Alright, you may enter the hunting grounds with us. However, you must change into the uniform of a forbidden guard soldier and stay by my side at all times."
This was exactly what Lin Qinghe wanted. She nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! This servant will heed Your Highness Prince's orders."
***
Two days later, Lin Qinghe accompanied You Rong to the palace gate to rendezvous with the Emperor and the others. The grand winter hunt procession then set off.
The procession traveled for a full day and reached the foot of Jade Spirit Mountain outside the capital. Camps had already been set up at the foot of the mountain. It was late, so the Emperor ordered everyone to rest in their tents and prepare for the hunt in the mountains the next day.
You Rong went to the Emperor's tent for a meal. Lin Qinghe searched through the crowd and, upon spotting Xu Ling'er, couldn't help but smile.
Lin Qinghe had intended to approach Xu Ling'er and strike up a conversation, but with You Rong absent, it would be improper for her, a mere palace maid, to do so. She had to forgo the idea for now.
As darkness fully enveloped the outside, You Rong finally returned to his tent.
Lin Qinghe curtsied and said, "Your Highness Prince, we will be entering the mountains to hunt tomorrow. Please rest early. This servant will take my leave now."
Just as Lin Qinghe was about to leave, You Rong called out to her, "Wait. You will serve in my tent tonight."
Lin Qinghe froze for a moment, slightly perplexed, but didn't think much of it. She replied, "Yes, this servant obeys."
After all, the tents where palace maids and eunuchs stayed were not equipped with braziers. It was cold enough as it was. Staying in You Rong's tent, even if she could only sleep on the couch, would be much more comfortable.
After Lin Qinghe helped You Rong change, You Rong said in a deep voice, "Extinguish the candles. I need to rest."
"Yes, Your Highness Prince."
Lin Qinghe left one candle lit with a faint glow for illumination, extinguishing all the others. Seeing that You Rong had already lain down on the couch and had not instructed her to stay awake, she naturally moved to the couch, lay down, and closed her eyes to sleep.
She needed to rest well and conserve her energy so she could play matchmaker for You Rong and Xu Ling'er tomorrow.
Gradually, Lin Qinghe's breathing became steady, and she fell into a deep sleep.
You Rong, who had been lying with his eyes closed on the bed, opened them. He turned his head and looked at Lin Qinghe through the dim candlelight.
You Rong got up with light movements, made the brazier in the tent burn brighter, and stared at Lin Qinghe for a long while before returning to his bed to rest.
The night passed quietly. Outside the tent, the sky gradually brightened.
Zhu Hong nudged the sleeping Lin Qinghe and whispered, "Sister Qinghe, wake up, wake up..."
Lin Qinghe had slept soundly all night and opened her eyes with a good mood. "Is it dawn? Do I need to attend to Your Highness Prince?"
Zhu Hong said, "Your Highness Prince has already risen and finished his ablutions. Sister Qinghe, you should also get up quickly, wash up, and have some breakfast. We'll be entering the mountains with His Majesty to hunt shortly."
Lin Qinghe replied, "Got it." She then looked up and met You Rong's deep gaze, immediately smiling and saying, "This servant greets Your Highness Prince."
You Rong pursed his lips, withdrew his gaze with a calm expression, and uttered, "Hurry up."
"Yes, yes, yes! This servant will be ready momentarily!"
After breakfast, You Rong brought a set of forbidden guard soldier's clothes for Lin Qinghe. "Change into this."
Lin Qinghe's face lit up with joy as she took them. "Yes, this servant will go change now!"
Lin Qinghe went behind the screen to change, but found that the forbidden guard soldier's uniform was very different from ordinary dresses. She fumbled for a long time, the outer garment still haphazardly draped on her.
You Rong frowned and said, "Are you done changing? We need to leave."
"Your Highness Prince, this servant, this servant..." Forced, Lin Qinghe emerged from behind the screen with her clothes in disarray, embarrassed. "This servant doesn't know how to wear the uniform of a forbidden guard soldier. Why don't you let Zhu Hong come in and help this servant?"
Seeing her fair inner garment exposed, You Rong's ears turned red. He clenched his fist slightly, silently composing himself, and said, "There's no time. Come here, I'll help you put it on."
Isn't this inappropriate?
The thought flashed by, and Lin Qinghe dismissed it.
Fumbling with such a small matter would waste time, and she was eager to meet Xu Ling'er outside.
Lin Qinghe, dragging the half-draped garment, walked up to You Rong. "Thank you, Your Highness Prince."
You Rong gave a low hum and said, "Raise your hand."
Lin Qinghe complied, raising her hand as You Rong removed the outer garment that was half-draped on her, shook it, and put it back on her. Then he tied the necessary sashes and adjusted everything. Soon, Lin Qinghe was neatly dressed.
Because he was helping Lin Qinghe with her clothes, You Rong was very close to her, and the faint scent of her filled the air.
At that moment, his heart beat so fast it felt like it skipped a beat.