Every time the prince opens his eyes, he sees

Gu Huai was stunned, "Why?"

"Because..." Lu Yaoyao smiled, "I want to pursue you for a little longer, so that you can fully enjoy the process of being pursued."

"Then you won't find it very hard?" Gu Huai frowned slightly.

"will not."

That was the only way she could make it up to him, to pursue him a little longer, to be nice to him a little longer, so that when the time came for her to pull away, she could also alleviate some of the guilt for hurting him.

"Miss Lu, you are really different from those noble ladies in the capital." Gu Huai thought for a while and said.

Lu Yaoyao smiled faintly again, nonchalantly self-deprecating, "I'm not as reserved as them, but am I any more shameless than them? I've already become notorious, and yet I still dare to covet General Gu, the dream lover of the noble ladies of the capital?"

"No, that's not what I meant." Gu Huai was afraid that he had said something wrong and denied it hastily. "I didn't mean to belittle you. When you act like this, I think you are genuine, which is great. I hate those pretentious noble ladies in the capital the most."

"Then do you want to agree to my pursuit now?" Lu Yaoyao moved closer to him, and Gu Huai could easily smell her fragrance.

His face suddenly turned red again. He had never been so close to a woman before.

Gu Huai's heartbeat quickened, and even his breathing became rapid. Surprise, hesitation, and finally caution flashed in his eyes.

"Miss Lu, I..." He searched for the most appropriate words, "I admit that I have a crush on you, but we've only known each other for a short time, so matters of the heart should be treated with caution..."

Having said that, he didn't dare to continue. He looked at Lu Yaoyao cautiously, fearing that she would turn against him and directly ask the boatman to row the boat back.

Lu Yaoyao burst out laughing, "Look how nervous you are, I was just joking."

"You're right..." Lu Yaoyao's eyes didn't show any disappointment, but instead had a hint of admiration for Gu Huai's character. "We should be cautious when it comes to matters of the heart. From now on, I will pursue you more attentively, so be prepared."

After saying that, she used her fingers to draw a heart on the back of Gu Huai's hand.

Gu Huai's heart was filled with ripples, and he didn't dare to look Lu Yaoyao in the eye.

Who has Gu Huai ever been afraid of in his life? But he can't stand up to Lu Yaoyao.

Another large ship on West Lake.

As fireworks bloomed on the other side of the lake, Xie Qingchen and Qingfeng looked over there at the same time.

"Your Highness, these fireworks are so special. I wonder who came up with this idea."

There was no emotion on Xie Qingchen's cold face until a few fireworks bloomed and fell, transforming into the name "Gu Huai". Only then did Xie Qingchen's pupils turn black.

Almost without a doubt, he matched the person who arranged the fireworks show with Lu Yaoyao.

"Qingfeng, send someone to search all the cruise ships on West Lake to see if Gu Huai and Miss Lu are among them."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Half an hour later, Qingfeng came back to report, "Your Highness, we haven't seen General Gu and Miss Lu on any of the ships."

Xie Qingchen's expression became noticeably more gloomy and violent.

After getting ashore, Lu Yaoyao saw a stall selling masks and pulled Gu Huai over. "General Gu, look at all the masks here. They're so interesting." She casually picked up a fox fairy mask and covered her face with it, playfully teasing Gu Huai, "Ah."

Gu Huai looked at Lu Yaoyao's excited expression, and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously. He also picked up a Dragon King mask, put it on his face, and teased Lu Yaoyao.

The two of them laughed and played for a while, and then Gu Huai took out a silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on the stall, "I want both masks."

Lu Yaoyao fiddled with the mask in her hand, still reluctant to let it go.

The two walked together for a while, and she saw someone selling candied haws on the roadside. Gu Huai took out a piece of silver and bought two strings of candied haws.

The two continued to stroll while eating.

Before I knew it, it was already dark.

"Miss Lu, let me take you back."

"Okay!"

Lu Yaoyao weighed the large and small bags in her hands and smiled shyly, "I originally wanted to invite you out for a trip, but it turned out that you were the one who paid the bill all the way."

"It doesn't matter. The emperor gave me a huge reward, but I have no money to spend during my training in the military camp."

Who wouldn’t love a man who only makes money but doesn’t spend it?

"Then save it. When I have a legitimate status in the future, spend it all on me, okay?"

Gu Huai didn't react at first, and then his face turned red.

……

"Mom, mom..." As soon as Gu Huai entered the door, he shouted for his mother at the top of his voice.

"Little ancestor, what's wrong with you? Why are you shouting?" Mother Gu sat in the main seat, looking at Gu Huai who walked in with a loving face.

"I've made great contributions over the years, and where are the deeds to the fertile land and shops, as well as the silver, that the emperor has rewarded me with?"

"Why do you suddenly think of asking this? Don't you just have food and drink on a daily basis and not worry about these things?" There was a bit more confusion and panic in Gu's mother's eyes. She thought her son had lost money gambling outside and wanted to use these to pay off his debts!

Gu Huai scratched his head and chuckled, "It's okay, I just feel that I'm old enough and should have a detailed understanding of the assets under my control."

"Boy, do you owe someone money? Are you using this to pay it off?" Just as Mother Gu opened her eyes, she heard a voice shout, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

Gu's mother and Gu Huai were both startled and quickly greeted the person who came in.

"I pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I apologize for not coming to greet you. I hope Your Royal Highness will forgive me."

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, I apologize for not coming to greet you. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

Xie Qingchen stood in front of the hall, his face stern, "Get up."

Mother and son responded at the same time, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Gu Huai stepped forward and bowed, "I wonder why His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is visiting so late at night?"

Xie Qingchen's phoenix eyes scanned Gu Huai several times, and it was hard to tell whether he was happy or angry. "Gu Huai, did you go to visit West Lake with Lu Yaoyao tonight?"

Gu Huai was stunned. "How did His Royal Highness know this?"

Xie Qingchen's sharp eyes shot over, and Gu Huai immediately admitted, "It's true."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "But Miss Lu and I are just friends, and we haven't done anything inappropriate."

"Oh?" Xie Qingchen's voice was a little playful. "Then tonight's fireworks show is also a 'normal interaction' between you two?"

When Gu Huai heard this, his heart tightened. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince actually knew about this.

Could it be that he was also on West Lake at that time?

Gu Huai quickly collected his thoughts and replied, "Your Highness, that fireworks show was indeed a surprise prepared by Miss Lu for me, but was it just a token of gratitude for my help back then?"

"What kind of helping hand?"

Gu Huai explained to Xie Qingchen what happened that day in Tianxiang Tower, when Lu Yaoyao was framed and almost raped by Li Zan, and he happened to be there and helped her.

Xie Qingchen was silent for a moment, then said, "I understand. General Gu should focus on national affairs. Soon, my father will appoint General Gu as the Grand Marshal of the Northern Expedition and send troops to suppress the Northern Rong."

"Yes." Gu Huai responded respectfully.

"I'll leave first." Xie Qingchen glanced at Gu's mother secretly.

Mother Gu's heart suddenly trembled.

"Farewell to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Mother Gu and Gu Huai said in unison.

When Xie Qingchen's footsteps faded away, Mother Gu asked solemnly, "Who is Miss Lu?"

"Mom, please don't ask anymore." Gu Huai answered with a look of resistance.

Mother Gu grabbed him as he was about to leave and said, "Mother doesn't have to ask any questions. But Huai'er, you must remember that you are no longer the young man who only knew how to wield a spear and a stick and was ignorant of the world. You have military merits and the honor of the Gu family is on your shoulders. You are the General Zhenyuan appointed by the emperor himself. From the prince's tone, I can tell that he doesn't like you being with that woman, so I hope you will remember your limits and don't let the prince mistakenly think that you are relying on your military merits to become arrogant and act recklessly."