Chapter 150: Abuse of Power for Personal Gain

"Oh, please don't."

Little Ji was startled. If she were to report this to the Emperor, he would undoubtedly be in deep trouble.

He hurriedly blocked her path with desperate courage, "Princess, the Crown Prince only instructed this servant to return to the Eastern Palace and fetch a change of clothes for him to wear when he leaves the palace shortly."

"Leaving the palace?"

As expected!

Guli let out a hum, "Speak, why is Crown Prince Brother leaving the palace?"

"This... this servant truly does not know."

To tell the truth, Little Ji was equally curious. What urgent matters could the Crown Prince possibly have to suddenly slip out of the palace on New Year's Eve? But that was the master's business; no matter how curious he was, he wouldn't dare ask.

Yet, even without him saying it, Guli had already guessed.

What else could it possibly be, if not that ice-cold beauty outside the palace who had completely captivated his soul!

Even so, Guli remained astonished that her Crown Prince Brother would take such a risk to sneak out of the palace on New Year's Eve when everyone stayed up to welcome the new year. One must know this was right under the Emperor's watchful eyes. He must have devised a foolproof plan to make a clean escape without a trace, and this realization inevitably set Guli's heart aflutter with restless excitement.

However, her thoughts were written entirely across her face, and she failed to notice that the Crown Prince had already stepped out from the room. Without needing to guess, he knew Little Ji had "betrayed" him.

Feeling the Crown Prince's glare of utter disappointment, Little Ji guiltily shrank his neck, trying to minimize his presence as he hurriedly scurried away into the shadows.

"Crown Prince Brother."

Seeing the Crown Prince standing right behind her at that moment, Guli felt as though she were looking at the Great Merciful and Compassionate Bodhisattva himself—the kind radiating a golden glow all over. She quickly plastered on a sweet smile and launched into her most charming, coaxing offense.

Alas, the Crown Prince did not fall for it this time.

With a solemn expression, the Crown Prince declared, "No, I cannot take you with me this time." Otherwise, he wouldn't have told Little Ji to keep it from her—who could have known Little Ji would be so utterly useless.

"Why?"

Hearing this, Guli's pretty face fell instantly, drooping like a frost-bitten eggplant.

"You are supposed to stay up to welcome the New Year with the Emperor, the Empress, and the Grand Empress Dowager. Do you think you can possibly escape this?"

Guli protested unconvinced, "You are too! You're also supposed to stay up for the New Year. How is it that you can sneak out of the palace?"

"Because I am the Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince chuckled softly, "Besides, I don't even need to sneak out. In a moment, I can simply use the pretext of suspected remnants of the former dynasty causing chaos on the streets to take some men out of the palace to investigate. The matter is of grave importance, so His Majesty will not refuse my request. Yet the remnants of the former dynasty are always elusive and ethereal, so I can just brush it off with a few casual excuses afterwards and let the matter slide."

Guli was utterly, furiously exasperated. The Crown Prince Brother was right—he could use affairs of state as an excuse, but she, a pampered princess kept deep within the inner palace, what legitimate reason could she possibly have to leave the palace?

Clenching her tiny fists, Guli raised them with an angry huff, "You're abusing your power! I'm going to tell the Emperor!"

"Go ahead and tell him, I'm not afraid."

Afraid? He wasn't afraid at all because he was utterly certain she wouldn't go!

Annoyed and helpless all at once, Guli pouted, her face filled with dejection as tears welled in her eyes.

Not meaning to upset her intentionally, the Crown Prince coaxed and consoled her, "You know how it is. Yu Yang is all alone outside the palace without any close companions. On New Year's Eve, your brother truly hasn't the heart to let her spend it by herself, so I want to go and keep her company. Can you try to understand your brother's feelings for someone he loves?"

How could Guli not understand? She was also pouring her entire heart and soul into loving someone.

Guli understood this kind of yearning and longing all too well—the torment and anguish of being physically trapped in one place while your heart belonged entirely to another.

Abandoning her childish petulance, she obediently nodded.