With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

"It's not about how life is."

Yun Nian shook her head, her gaze returning to the flickering flames, her tone becoming serious, "If Your Highness desires a life of luxury, you can enjoy it; if you wish to venture out and explore, you can go out."

Even if the road ahead is fraught with difficulties, it is your own choice.

What Nian'er envies is that the prince has the right to choose, to decide where he wants to go and what he wants to do.

She paused, her voice lowering, "Instead of being like a caged bird, seemingly with bright plumage, yet unable to even decide which sky to fly in."

Her words were soft, yet they carried a heavy weight in the quiet night.

Qin Jiuchen's eyes were fixed on her profile outlined by the firelight.

Her eyelashes were lowered, and her thick lashes cast shadows under her eyes, concealing the emotions revealed in them.

The firelight flickered, and a few unruly strands of hair clung to her graceful neck, gently swaying with her soft breaths.

A delicate nose, slightly pursed lips...

At this moment, with her eyes lowered in quiet contemplation, she resembled a delicate orchid quietly blooming in the still night, her beauty revealing a fragile vulnerability, yet strangely possessing a resilient spirit.

He paused for a moment before slowly speaking, "Freedom comes at a price."

Holding power may seem like freedom, but in reality, every step is like walking on thin ice.

Conquering all directions may seem exhilarating, but behind it lies countless trials and tribulations, forged in blood and fire.

Yun Nian seemed to tremble slightly.

After a long pause, she gave a very soft "Mmm" and whispered, "I know."

She always knew.

Qin Jiuchen's gaze never left her face.

He suddenly raised his hand, the movement natural and without warning.

Cool fingertips gently touched Yun Nian's warm cheek.

Yun Nian trembled slightly, raised her eyes in surprise, and met his eyes that were so close to hers.

His gaze was focused and calm as he gently wiped away the grime on her cheek with his fingers.

His fingertips, slightly calloused, caressed her delicate skin.

Yun Nian forgot to breathe, and just stared at him blankly.

The firelight danced behind him, enveloping his tall figure in a warm halo and softening his austere features with a rare gentleness.

He was so close that she could clearly see her reflection in his eyes.

All the surrounding sounds gradually faded away, leaving only the sound of intertwined breaths.

Yun Nian felt her cheeks burning hot, and her heart was pounding wildly in her chest.

His fingers lingered on her cheek, hovering lightly over her smooth skin.

Then she saw his gaze slowly move from her cheek to her eyes, and then down.

It landed on her lips.

His eyes were as deep as the night sea, churning with undercurrents she couldn't fathom.

He leaned closer to her.

Yun Nian's heart skipped several beats in an instant.

wrong.

He approached her in the same way last time, but ended up teasing her.

Is it going to be another one...?

Instinctively, she raised one hand and placed it against his firm chest.

"Your Highness..."

She was flustered and shy.

Qin Jiuchen lowered his eyes, his voice low and hoarse.

"Close your eyes."

Yun Nian's eyelashes trembled violently in shock, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

Qin Jiuchen's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he repeated it in a low voice.

Coaxing, "Be good, close your eyes."

Yun Nian seemed to be frozen in place; she stared at him blankly, her mind ceasing to think, but her body obeying the command first.

She closed her eyes.

The hand pressed against his chest unconsciously loosened its grip.

He slowly approached.

"Awoo!"

A mournful and drawn-out wolf howl suddenly pierced the silent night sky.

Yun Nian trembled violently in fright and suddenly opened her eyes.

At the same time, Qin Jiuchen abruptly stopped his approaching movement, his eyes instantly filled with vigilance and coldness.

His body tensed slightly, one hand instinctively wrapped around Yun Nian's shoulder, while the other hand quickly pressed on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Yun Nian instinctively clung to Qin Jiuchen, her fingers unconsciously gripping the fabric at his waist.

"Awoo!"

Immediately afterwards, a second and a third wolf howl rang out in succession, rising and falling from different directions, faintly forming an encirclement.

Yun Nian's face turned deathly pale. She shrank even closer to Qin Jiuchen and asked in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, it seems... there's more than one?"

Qin Jiuchen: "Hmm. It should be a pack of wolves."

Yun Nian's heart sank even more.

"Don't move or make a sound," Qin Jiuchen reminded him.

His hand on the hilt of his sword was taut, clearly ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

Upon hearing this, Yun Nian steeled herself, stretched out her arms, and tightly embraced Qin Jiuchen's lean waist, burying her face in his chest.

Qin Jiuchen stiffened and looked down at the woman in his arms.

A smile played on his lips as he placed his free hand over hers, which was wrapped around his waist, and patted it silently as a response.

The howling wolves and footsteps outside seemed to linger for a while, then the footsteps grew farther and farther away, eventually disappearing into the thick fog and the depths of the forest.

After waiting for a long time, until there were no more strange noises outside.

Yun Nian's tense nerves finally relaxed slightly, and she breathed a long sigh of relief.

At that moment, she seemed to discover something.

He abruptly released his grip and quickly retreated.

She lowered her head, not daring to look at Qin Jiuchen. "I...I'm sorry, Your Highness. I offended you in my haste..."

Qin Jiuchen slowly turned around and spoke slowly.

"What? You use it and then throw it away like trash?"

Yun Nian's face turned even redder, and she muttered softly, "Your Highness, you're teasing Nian'er again..."

She hadn't finished speaking.

"Splash!"

A soft sound came from the top of the shack.

Both of them looked up alertly at the same time.

The next instant, a lithe gray figure landed silently on the open ground not far in front of the shack.

It was a rather robust gray wolf.

A pair of eyes, glowing with an eerie green light, stared intently at the two people inside the shack.

It lowered its body slightly, letting out a threatening growl from its throat, revealing sharp, white fangs, and drool dripping from the corners of its mouth.

Startled, Yun Nian lunged at Qin Jiuchen again.

Qin Jiuchen frowned slightly as he examined the wolf that had returned.

It looked somewhat agitated, pawing at the ground with its front paws and growling softly.

He felt Yun Nian hugging him tightly, chuckled helplessly, and gently patted her back. "Miss Yun's body is much more honest than her words."

Yun Nian was in no mood to argue with him at this moment. "It looks like the prince is drooling over us..."

Qin Jiuchen: "Don't be afraid, let's take a look first. It seems to be in a bad state."

After his reminder, Yun Nian calmed down and looked carefully.

Sure enough, the gray wolf's movements were somewhat uncoordinated, especially its left foreleg, which seemed hesitant to put full weight on it.

"Its legs!"

Yun Nian exclaimed in shock. By the firelight, she could vaguely see that the wolf's left foreleg was covered in dark fur, stained with blood, and had a horrific wound. "It's injured!"

She unconsciously leaned forward, wanting to see more clearly, but Qin Jiuchen stopped her: "Be careful."

Yun Nian stopped moving around and instead asked the gray wolf a question.

Are you injured? Are you here for help?

Upon hearing this, Qin Jiuchen curled the corners of his mouth again.

Talking to wolves?

Unexpectedly, upon hearing her voice, the gray wolf paused its growl, its eerie green eyes fixed on Yun Nian, and a whimper escaped its throat.

Yun Nian grew a little bolder and continued to ask, "You want us to help you? Save whom? Your companions?"

The gray wolf suddenly raised its head and let out another long howl towards the foggy night sky.

After howling, it lowered its head and pointed forcefully with its nose and mouth in a certain direction deep in the forest.

Yun Nian's heart stirred, confirming her guess.

She turned to Qin Jiuchen, "Your Highness, it really is calling for help."

"You want to follow it?" Qin Jiuchen asked in a deep voice.

Yun Nian bit her lip, uncertain, "I will follow Your Highness's arrangements."

The gray wolf seemed to understand their conversation, and immediately turned around, limping as it quickly ran away.

He ran a few steps, then looked back at them, letting out a low, urging sound in his throat.

Yun Nian was waiting for Qin Jiuchen's instructions.