Chapter 31: Xu Nian Goes Up the Mountain and Meets Mu Changsheng Again

Xu Nian and her companions followed the Ling Mountain range to the place that Hunter Wang had mentioned. After securing their donkey cart, they began their ascent.

At first, the path was relatively easy to walk on since people had already trampled a small trail. However, the higher they went, the more difficult it became.

Xu Nian looked around and saw withered trees everywhere, making the landscape appear desolate.

She had only been climbing for less than half an hour, yet her hands and feet were already numb from the cold. She was beginning to regret coming—wasn’t it much better to stay warm inside the house?

Finally, when they had climbed nearly halfway up the mountain, Hunter Wang signaled for them to stop.

“There are wild animal tracks here. Let’s search around this area.”

Relieved that they had stopped, Xu Nian was about to sit down to rest when she failed to notice the snow pit behind her. In an instant, she tumbled backward and got buried in the snow.

The other three, who had been surveying the surroundings, were startled by the sudden movement.

Turning around, they saw Xu Nian completely covered in snow and immediately rushed over to dig her out with their hands.

Fortunately, the pit wasn’t deep. Hunter Wang breathed a sigh of relief—he had been worried that it might have been a hunter’s trap. If there had been hidden stakes inside, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

However, what confused everyone was that when they pulled Xu Nian out, she was clutching a rabbit in her arms.

Xu Nian was equally bewildered. When she fell, she had felt something soft and furry bump into her stomach.

Zhao Bo touched the rabbit’s belly and said, “Judging by its stomach, it seems to be a mother rabbit with babies.”

Hunter Wang nodded and laughed heartily. “This is a good omen! Looks like we’ll have a great harvest today. Xu family girl, this rabbit seems to have a special connection with you—you should keep it.”

Xu Nian thought that sounded reasonable. She could bring it back for Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu to take care of. She also remembered the rabbits she had in her space—maybe she should release them as well.

Sure enough, this rabbit seemed to be a lucky sign. Following that, Hunter Wang and the other two managed to hunt three pheasants, two wild rabbits, and even a deer.

Hunter Wang was overjoyed, beaming with excitement. It was as if the animals were voluntarily running into their arrows.

Meanwhile, Xu Fugui’s basket was already filled with over ten rabbits—all of which Xu Nian had caught. And they were all alive.

Hunter Wang chuckled, “Xu family girl, did you stumble upon a rabbit den?”

Xu Nian was also puzzled. She had only released five rabbits from her space, but the rest had seemingly run out on their own and bumped into her feet.

“Uncle Wang, should we go further up the mountain?” she asked.

Hunter Wang glanced at the sky and decided to call it a day. The game he had hunted was already dead, and he needed to sell them while they were still fresh to get a good price.

They say it’s easy to go up a mountain but difficult to come down. Xu Nian now fully understood that saying, and it was even harder for the other three who were carrying so much game.

Eventually, Hunter Wang called for a stop.

“Going down like this is too slow and dangerous. I know a road where we can take the donkey cart up to the mountainside. Let’s head there.”

The group changed direction, and when they arrived, Xu Nian was surprised to see that the path was wide enough for not just one, but two carriages to pass side by side with ease.

Seeing her curiosity, Hunter Wang explained, “This road leads to Ling Mountain Temple. The abbot there, Master Yunxin, is well-versed in ancient texts and highly skilled in medicine. Many nobles come here to offer incense and listen to sermons, which is why this road exists.”

Xu Nian nodded in understanding.

“Uncle Wang, you sure know a lot.”

“I only know this because I heard it from the old hunters. Anyway, you and your second uncle stay here while we go down to fetch the donkey cart.”

Once the two men had left, Xu Fugui looked at the basket of rabbits and asked, “Nian’er, should we sell these rabbits in town later?”

Xu Nian thought it was a good idea. Otherwise, their home would turn into a rabbit farm.

“Let’s keep a few for Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu to play with, and sell the rest.”

Just as the uncle and niece were discussing this, they heard footsteps approaching.

Curious, Xu Nian leaned forward to take a look, and her eyes widened in surprise.

“Changsheng?”

Luo Jin’an had also been surprised to see Xu Nian, but upon noticing her curious posture, he couldn’t help but smile.

“What a coincidence, Nian Nian.”

Hearing him call her “Nian Nian,” Xu Nian immediately straightened up.

Good heavens, was he flirting with her?

Because she and Xu Fugui had been standing off to the side, partially hidden by trees, she hadn’t noticed that Mu Changsheng wasn’t alone.

Now that they had stepped out, she realized he was accompanied by several people.

The cold and aloof bodyguard she had seen before was gone. This time, beside Mu Changsheng was a female guard.

There was also a boy of around sixteen or seventeen standing slightly behind him. Judging by his attire, he was clearly from a wealthy or noble family.

Following behind were two middle-aged men. Their demeanor didn’t resemble that of servants, yet their cautious mannerisms suggested they weren’t of noble status either.

While Xu Nian was curiously observing them, the others were equally curious about the two standing before them—especially the young girl. After all, they had just heard the Prince of the Commandery call her “Nian Nian,” a term of endearment that indicated a close relationship.

Among them, Guan Qingrui, the son of the Chief Historian, was particularly intrigued. Originally, he had been tasked with escorting the Prince of the Commandery to Ling Mountain Temple after the Prince suddenly fell ill with a cold. The Prince’s condition had been improving over the past few days, and today, feeling restless inside the temple, he decided to take a stroll down the mountain. Who would have thought they would run into a… well, a young lady?

The county magistrate of Wu and his advisor, who were following behind, were also bewildered. Where did this wild person come from, bundled up like a bear?

Xu Fugui was delighted to see the young master Mu, but the noble aura surrounding him made him hesitate to step forward.

Xu Nian, on the other hand, remained composed, allowing the others to scrutinize her. As she retracted her gaze, she noticed that Mu Changsheng’s face was unusually pale—so pale that it almost seemed translucent under the reflection of the snow.

“Are you feeling unwell again? Are you getting better?”

Out of habit, Xu Nian reached out to check his forehead for a fever, but before she could touch him, the sheath of a sword blocked her hand.

Xu Nian turned her head and saw that it was the female bodyguard beside him. She withdrew her hand and chuckled sheepishly, “Oops, sorry. Force of habit.”

Mo Yu had instinctively reacted to block her, but when the Prince of the Commandery cast a glance in her direction, her face turned pale.

Luo Jin’an placed the hand warmer he had been holding into Xu Nian’s hands.

“Warm yourself up. I’m fine now. Uncle Xu, were you hunting on the mountain?”

Hearing himself addressed, Xu Fugui finally stepped forward and explained that he had accompanied Xu Nian up the mountain.

Just then, Hunter Wang and the other man arrived, driving the donkey cart up the path. When they saw the noble-looking young master, they hesitated, unsure whether they should acknowledge him.

Seeing how cold the weather was, Xu Nian decided this wasn’t the right time for an extended conversation. She quickly bid farewell and boarded the donkey cart with her second uncle.

After watching Xu Nian leave, Luo Jin’an lost interest in continuing his stroll and turned to head back up the mountain.

Mo Yu, still aware of her mistake, immediately knelt down and said, “I was wrong.”

Luo Jin’an replied indifferently, “The usual punishment.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

However, just as Xu Nian had settled on the donkey cart, she suddenly remembered something important when she glanced at the basket of rabbits.

She quickly called for the cart to stop, grabbed the rabbit she had picked out, and ran back toward them.

Upon arriving, she was momentarily stunned to see the female bodyguard kneeling on the ground while Mu Changsheng had already walked some distance away.

Mo Yu was also taken aback when she saw Xu Nian return. She quickly lowered her head and said, “I apologize for offending you earlier, Miss. I recognize my mistake.”

Xu Nian, no longer an inexperienced young girl, immediately understood that Mo Yu was being punished because of her.