Morning.
Zhao Shuning had just woken up.
She stretched lazily.
She had slept really well last night.
But in her daze, when she opened her eyes, she found a well - dressed man standing in front of the window of her room.
That man was Gu Hanxun.
Perhaps he hadn't slept all night.
Gu Hanxun's eyes were a bit sunken, and there were deep dark circles under his fox - like eyes.
His hair was also a bit messy, making him look a bit slovenly.
Previously, Gu Hanxun had been in a dazed state.
It wasn't until Zhao Shuning's eyes met his that he gave a start and came back to his senses.
Fortunately, Zhao Shuning had a good mindset. Seeing a man with a blank and listless face standing in front of her window so early in the morning, she didn't scream in fright.
"You, you're awake."
It was as if their roles had been reversed. Normally, it should have been Zhao Shuning, the one being spied on, who felt uneasy. But now, it was Gu Hanxun who stammered and looked panicked.
"It's so early. Do you need something from me?"
"I, I... I thought it was getting late and you might be hungry. I've ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare some morning tea you like. It should be ready by now, so I came to ask you to go with me."
Zhao Shuning replied calmly, "I see. You close the window first. I'll go there after I've washed up."
"Okay."
Gu Hanxun closed Zhao Shuning's window with a trembling hand.
About a quarter of an hour later.
Zhao Shuning came out of the room.
Gu Hanxun quickly stepped forward.
"Why haven't you left yet?"
"I wanted to wait for you and go together."
Zhao Shuning didn't comment. She didn't want to argue with Gu Hanxun too much, so she walked towards the place where they usually had breakfast.
Gu Hanxun quickly followed.
He had spent a night in the imperial study, trembling with fear and completely at a loss.
Last night, he hadn't closed his eyes for a single moment.
His mind was full of her shadow.
He really couldn't hold back, so early in the morning, he came to Zhao Shuning's room. That girl still had no sense of defense. Her window could be easily pushed open.
He just quietly watched her.
She was truly extremely beautiful.
When he had seen the mark on her face before, he always imagined what she would look like without it. At the Flower - seeking Festival, he had seen her in all her glory, stunning the entire Nine - state Continent.
At that time.
Gu Hanxun knew that it wasn't just her eyes that were beautiful. Her nose, eyebrows, mouth, and every part of her body were so beautiful that he couldn't ignore them.
Actually.
Every time Gu Hanxun made a decision, his heart would waver a little because of her.
Especially after seeing her trust him so much, he found it a bit hard to make up his mind. But in the end, the hatred in his heart still defeated the emotional side, and he made those decisions.
"Gu Hanxun, aren't you going to eat?"
Gu Hanxun was pulled back from his thoughts.
He quickly sat down.
"Ningning, I..."
"Don't talk when eating and don't speak when sleeping. If I have to listen to the king's lectures while having breakfast, I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy it."
Gu Hanxun swallowed back the words that were about to come out.
Zhao Shuning wouldn't treat her stomach badly.
During breakfast, she ate very happily.
But Gu Hanxun felt as if he were chewing wax.
Finally, after finishing breakfast.
The sun was shining brightly and warmly over the palace. If one ignored the noises, the palace of the Cangwu Kingdom looked extremely peaceful at this moment.
"Let's go. Take a walk in the imperial garden. We haven't finished talking about what happened yesterday."
Zhao Shuning stood up first.
Not long after.
Gu Hanxun sighed and then followed her out.
There was a pavilion in the imperial garden.
By the time Gu Hanxun arrived, Zhao Shuning was already sitting in the pavilion, pouring tea.
After Gu Hanxun took his seat.
Zhao Shuning pushed the tea towards him.
"Gu Hanxun..."
"Just tell me directly what you want."
Zhao Shuning was a bit stunned. She didn't expect him to be so straightforward.
"The Frost - essence Flower."
The Frost - essence Flower?
Gu Hanxun looked puzzled.
"What?"
"If I say that I've never seen the Frost - essence Flower in the Cangwu Kingdom, will you believe me?"
Zhao Shuning looked at Gu Hanxun.
"You don't trust me?"
"Because of past experiences, I can't help but be suspicious. Gu Hanxun, if you're not willing to give me the Frost - essence Flower, you can put forward your conditions. I'll do my best to meet them."
"I've said before that I want you. From beginning to end, all I've wanted is you." At this point, Gu Hanxun changed his expression.
"I want the Frost - essence Flower more than you do. In this way, at least I'd still have a chance to bargain with you. But I really haven't seen the Frost - essence Flower."
"However, I'll help you find it. How about that?"
Zhao Shuning said, "You really don't know?"
"Yes."
The ancient books did record the Frost - essence Flower.
She had also seen the Frost - essence Flower five hundred years later. But why, here, even Gu Hanxun had never seen it?
At this point, things were starting to get out of control.
Previously, when looking for the Dragon - tiger Gallbladder and the Nine - curved Spiritual Ginseng, there hadn't been too many obstacles, and she had obtained them smoothly.
But now, when it came to the Frost - essence Flower, there was a hitch.
"In that case, I won't stay in the palace any longer. Goodbye."
Zhao Shuning had thought that the palace had everything. If she wanted to look for something, the palace was the best shortcut.
Now that this method had failed, she naturally had to find a remedy immediately.
"Wait a minute."
Gu Hanxun quickly stood up.
"What?"
"Although I've never seen the Frost - essence Flower, I can do my best to help you find it."
Perhaps out of urgency, Gu Hanxun even forgot to use the royal "I".
"Ningning, draw the appearance of the Frost - essence Flower. I'll definitely ask the people of the Cangwu Kingdom to look for it. Those who find it will be handsomely rewarded. Do you think your strength can match that of millions of people? Just give me a chance, a chance to make up for my mistakes. Okay?"
Zhao Shuning thought for a while.
Finally, she said, "Bring me some paper and a brush."
Gu Hanxun was overjoyed and quickly ordered the maids to bring the finest paper and brushes.
Zhao Shuning carefully drew the Frost - essence Flower stroke by stroke. It took a long time. By the time she had finished the drawing and added the colors, it was already afternoon.
She handed the drawn portrait to Gu Hanxun.
Gu Hanxun looked at it.
First, he examined it carefully, and then he frowned tightly.
Zhao Shuning quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
"This flower looks so familiar."
"Have you seen it?"
"When my aunt was buried, there was such a flower in her hand. At that time, none of us had ever seen this flower. Qin Anxin even wanted to take a closer look, but as soon as the flower touched Qin Anxin, it turned into ashes."
Zhao Shuning was delighted.
She quickly said, "Yes, this is the Frost - essence Flower. The Frost - essence Flower can only live in extremely cold places. Once it touches the body temperature of a living person, it will self - ignite and then turn into ashes."