By the Wei River, Qin Wan followed Yan Chi without knowing where he intended to take her. In the dead of night, all was silent. Looking back, even the silhouettes of Bai Ying and Bai Yue grew increasingly distant. Under the vast sky, it was just the two of them. Unable to speak freely during daylight, they now had no obstacles or concerns. Qin Wan felt refreshingly carefree in her heart.

“Are you cold?” Yan Chi lifted his cloak again, wanting to wrap Qin Wan up like a child.

Qin Wan shook her head, her beautiful eyes gazing at a gentle slope in the distance. “Have you been here before? What’s ahead?”

Yan Chi’s voice was deep and low in the night’s stillness, where only wind and water could be heard, particularly stirring to the heart. “I’ve never been. Though I lived in the capital during my childhood, my father wasn’t there. During spring hunts like this, no one dared to bring me alone. Besides, there were three masters in the Prince’s Manor then, training me day and night. Spring hunts were meant for leisure.”

Qin Wan felt sympathy hearing this. Despite Yan Chi’s noble birth, which should have spared him from worry, he had endured a hundred times more than others since childhood. “Did you want to go to the battlefield even then?”

Yan Chi’s voice cooled slightly, “Yes since I was young.”

Qin Wan turned her head, “Because of Prince Rui?”

Yan Chi first nodded, then hesitated. “Yes and no.”

When Qin Wan looked puzzled, Yan Chi explained, “My father is an extremely difficult man to surpass and defeat. Wanting to exceed him became a race against time. They say in his youth, he was as dedicated as I am, to the point where the former Emperor even considered making him Crown Prince. However, Father was grateful for the Empress Dowager’s care and naturally wouldn’t compete with Prince Luo and Prince Gong.”

Qin Wan was inwardly startled. If the former Emperor had such thoughts, and the current Emperor knew of them, it could be extremely dangerous for Prince Rui’s household.

“Does His Majesty know of the former Emperor’s intentions?”

Yan Chi gave a light laugh, “That I don’t know.”

Qin Wan exhaled, “In the end, the former Emperor still made His Majesty emperor. Presumably, His Majesty harbors no resentment.”

Though even Qin Wan understood the brutality of succession struggles, Yan Chi seemed unconcerned. He simply tightened his hold on her waist and whipped his horse, carrying them both swiftly up the gentle slope ahead. From the main camp up, it had been flat grassland. Qin Wan expected more verdant grass beyond the slope, but upon reaching the top, they were met with the sight of a lake. Qin Wan was momentarily surprised as Yan Chi suddenly pulled the reins.

Beyond the slope lay a sunken valley, with the lake at its lowest point. From their vantage point on the slope, the lake formed a crescent shape. Now reflecting the serene moonlight, its surface rippled like a mirror. On this spring night, a thin mist rose above the water, making it appear like a celestial realm from afar!

This must be Crescent Lake!

Qin Wan was first amazed that such an inland lake existed amidst the grassland, then realized Yan Chi hadn’t brought her out just for a horseback ride—he intended to show her this lake.

“What is this place?”

“Crescent Lake—”

Qin Wan drew in a soft breath, “Indeed, it truly resembles a crescent moon.”

Perhaps by coincidence, tonight’s waning moon was also crescent-shaped. Looking out, Qin Wan saw the Crescent Lake gleaming like the moon amid the emerald valley, as if heaven’s crescent had fallen to earth. The lake’s surface reflected moonlight, emitting a gentle glow, while the thin mist draped it in an enchanting veil, like an ethereal maiden hiding her face, irresistibly drawing one closer for a glimpse.

Peering intently, Qin Wan could vaguely make out some shadowy forms in the center of Crescent Lake. She quickly patted Yan Chi’s arm, “Let’s go closer!”

Seeing Qin Wan’s delight, Yan Chi knew his intentions hadn’t been wasted. His lips curved up as he guided the horse down the slope.

As they drew nearer, they could see there was indeed something in the lake’s center. By the lakeside, Qin Wan could faintly make out what seemed to be a small island with several tree shadows, though the darkness obscured their type.

Just as she pondered this, Yan Chi had already dismounted. He reached up and lifted Qin Wan down. As soon as her feet touched the ground, Qin Wan walked a few steps forward. At the grass-carpeted shore, the clear lake water reflected moonlight, revealing white stones at the bottom. Qin Wan marveled, “How did you know there was an inland lake here?”

Yan Chi smiled, “I divined it.”

Qin Wan turned and glared at Yan Chi, “You can’t fool me with that.”

Speaking thus, Qin Wan crouched down, intending to touch the water, but before she could, Yan Chi caught her hand, “The water’s freezing this time of year, don’t touch it.”

Qin Wan had to give up, but looking closer, she noticed flower petals floating on the surface. Observing more carefully, she discovered water flowing beneath the surface. They had come up from Wei River, and now it appeared some of Wei River’s flow came from this Crescent Lake. Thinking this, Qin Wan couldn’t help but look toward the island. Though shrouded in mist, she still couldn’t make out what was on it, but these flower petals had to come from somewhere—if not from the island, then from upstream on the opposite shore.

Qin Wan stood up, “Your eyesight is better, see if there are flowering trees on the island!”

Yan Chi smiled and looked carefully, then said, “Want to go take a look?”

Qin Wan naturally wanted to, but how could they get there?

Just as she wondered this, Yan Chi suddenly drew close and embraced her. Before Qin Wan could react, she was airborne. She gave a light cry and quickly grabbed Yan Chi’s waist. Yan Chi smiled and, carrying Qin Wan, flew swiftly toward the island. This was Qin Wan’s first such experience, and her heart leaped to her throat.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, feeling the cold wind and mist slip past her cheeks. Soon, she caught the scent of delicate flowers, and opening her eyes, saw two peach trees.

Yan Chi carried her down gently from above the tree canopy. Even after her feet touched the ground, Qin Wan hadn’t quite recovered and instinctively gripped Yan Chi’s arm tightly. After a moment, Yan Chi laughed and swept her up in his arms.

Qin Wan finally came to her senses, exhaling, “Put me down. So there really are peach trees here, blooming earlier than those outside—” The peach trees Qin Wan saw were thick enough to require two people’s arms to encircle them, having grown on this small island for unknown years, their branches gnarled and roots deeply embedded in the lake bottom.

While the peach blossoms outside were just budding, those on this small island were already in full bloom, their petals drifting down with every breeze, explaining the flowers on the water’s surface.

Yan Chi had only known about Crescent Lake, not the flowering trees on the island. This pleased him even more, and he carried Qin Wan to the base of a peach tree before setting her down.

Qin Wan steadied herself, sighing in relief. Looking at the opposite shore, she saw Yan Chi’s horse grazing leisurely, while Bai Feng and Bai Ying hadn’t followed.

In complete silence, under the clear moonlight, the small island was barely ten zhang across. Besides the two peach trees, the rest were covered in grass and shrubs. Where they stood, an enormous rock was embedded in the soil, now covered in flower petals. Qin Wan stood motionless, afraid to crush the petals underfoot. Looking around, she saw only the rippling lake surface and surrounding thin mist. For a moment, she felt she and Yan Chi had entered an intensely private space, surrounded by gauzy curtains that would hide whatever they did from outside eyes.

Qin Wan’s heart warmed, and her pulse inexplicably quickened. Unconsciously raising her eyes, she met Yan Chi’s glittering dark gaze. His eyes seemed decorated with flowers, and Qin Wan saw her blushing reflection in them.

“This place—”

Qin Wan tried to say something to break the atmosphere, but as soon as she spoke, Yan Chi pulled her waist, “This is a good place.”

Qin Wan was drawn close to Yan Chi, her body pressed to his. She blinked, feeling his gaze like a physical thing, igniting a fire in her heart.

“Whatever happens here, no one can see.”

Yan Chi lowered his head, drawing increasingly near to Qin Wan. She gripped his collar with both hands but leaned slightly backward, “That… Bai Feng and the others…”

Yan Chi suddenly embraced her, backing her against the peach tree.

The small island was already veiled by night and mist, invisible to any outside observers. Now with Qin Wan against the trunk, she was completely hidden—even in broad daylight, no one would see.

Yan Chi raised his hand to Qin Wan’s face, brushing aside stray hairs near her cheek, “Now no one can see.”

Qin Wan’s face grew warm, her heart racing. Soon, Yan Chi’s kiss descended.

Her nose filled with the delicate scent of peach blossoms and Yan Chi’s fragrance, her ears with the quiet, deep murmur of lake water and Yan Chi’s breathing. Qin Wan closed her eyes, feeling her heart become a clear lake. Her hands clung to Yan Chi’s waist, all thoughts and breath stolen away by him. Peach petals fell continuously, but she forgot where she was. In her heart and eyes, beneath her palms, against her body, there was only Yan Chi. Her breathing grew hot, her heart scattered and confused as if she had fallen into the ethereal mist above Crescent Lake. Only by holding tightly to Yan Chi could she steady her racing thoughts.

Qin Wan clung ever tighter, while Yan Chi drew her ever closer into his embrace. The two couldn’t bear to be apart, their faces pressed close together. Soon, Qin Wan felt a coolness on her legs—it was Yan Chi’s hand. Her heart jumped, but then she noticed Yan Chi had somehow spread his cloak on the ground. Her heart overflowed like the lake waters, her legs losing strength as she unconsciously slid down the trunk. Yan Chi gently guided her to lie on his cloak. Before Qin Wan could react, he had covered her. Qin Wan couldn’t help but give a soft cry, hearing which Yan Chi’s breathing suddenly grew heavy. He immediately conquered all her thoughts like storming a city. The crescent moon seemed shy, the floating clouds timid. A gentle breeze passed by, and the lake’s mist seemed to gain consciousness, slowly surging toward the small island as if drawing gauze curtains. This fragrant corner of space became like an intimate bedchamber, accompanied by falling peach blossom rain—a moment of gold wind and jade dew, rippling with romance.

On the opposite shore, Bai Feng and Bai Ying slowly ascended to the slope’s peak, looking out to see only Yan Chi’s horse grazing leisurely by the lake, with no sign of Qin Wan and Yan Chi themselves.

Bai Ying quickly frowned, “Where’s His Highness?! Where’s Young, Miss?!”

She was about to ride down the slope, but Bai Feng thought for a moment and pulled her reins, “Don’t rush, we’ll just wait here. With His Highness present, what could go wrong?”

Bai Ying still wanted to go down, but after a moment’s thought, her expression grew complex, and she finally turned her horse back to the other side of the slope—

At the foot of Wei Mountain in the main camp, Princess Tuoba Wu hid along the small path leading from the Imperial Guard quarters to the nobles’ tents, her brow furrowed and eyes fixed unmoving on the quiet path.

Two maids followed behind her. The three of them had been hiding there for an hour.

One maid’s legs had grown numb from standing. She whispered, “Princess, are you sure Young Master will return this way?”

Tuoba Wu snorted softly, “If not this way, would he use the main gate? He didn’t use the main gate when leaving, so why would he use it to return? During the Great Hunt, there’s a night curfew. Whether he left camp for any other reason, being seen wouldn’t be good. This small path is the camp’s only weakness. I’m certain he’ll return this way…”

To learn how Yan Chi had left, Tuoba Wu had spent half the night inquiring, and learning he hadn’t used the main gate, she knew something was amiss!

A maid yawned, “Princess, what if Young Master doesn’t return all night? Could he have gone night hunting?”

Tuoba Wu laughed coldly, “Impossible! If he went night hunting, why not leave through the main gate?”

The maid was rendered speechless by Tuoba Wu’s logic and could only continue waiting with her. Tuoba Wu thought to herself that no matter what leverage she caught on Yan Chi, it would at least make him wary of her. Whether wariness or something else, having Yan Chi’s attention on her would be good—she was the Princess of Northern Wei, and surely she could attract someone like Yan Chi!

Just as she thought this, suddenly a maid pulled at Tuoba Wu, “Princess, someone’s coming!”

Tuoba Wu quickly looked up. Indeed, in the night’s cover, several figures were silently approaching the main tents. Tuoba Wu narrowed her eyes—the tall, handsome figure in front must be Yan Chi! Tuoba Wu’s heart leaped with joy, but suddenly she saw another small figure emerge from behind Yan Chi. The figure only reached Yan Chi’s shoulder, and judging by the gait and bearing, it was… it was a graceful woman—

Her breath caught as Tuoba Wu’s eyes widened in disbelief!