Chapter 151 He Will Come

Seeing her looking so aggrieved yet quietly saddened, the Crown Prince felt even more distressed and apologetic. After pondering for a moment, another idea struck him, and he said, "How about I bring him into the palace to see you?"

"What?"

Guli was stunned, blinking her large, puzzled eyes.

The Crown Prince said, "I'll be heading back after midnight anyway. I can just stop by the Lie Estate on the way and bring him into the palace to see you."

"Really?"

Guli's listless little face instantly lit up with radiance, and she asked with joy beaming across her eyebrows, "Would he be willing to come?"

"..."

Looking at his naive and clueless younger sister, the Crown Prince almost blurted out: How could he possibly be unwilling? Most likely, though his body is at the Lie Estate, his heart has already flown over to you.

The Crown Prince gently patted her smooth forehead and smiled, "Don't worry, even if he's unwilling, I'll drag him here by force."

Upon hearing this, Guli wore a disappointed expression. "If he isn't willing to come, what's the point of dragging him here?"

Just as she finished speaking, a thought suddenly crossed her mind. She nodded heavily and said with absolute certainty, "He will come. He'll definitely come."

Huh???

The Crown Prince found her sudden change of attitude quite bizarre. How could she be so certain? Could she have guessed Lie Chang'an's feelings for her?

Guli was simply thinking that Lie Chang'an must also want to come into the palace to see Jun'an. Regardless of the reason, since Crown Prince Brother was bringing him into the palace, reason and sentiment dictated that he would still stop by to catch a glimpse of her.

Satisfied, Guli lifted her little chin and smiled sweetly.

What is going on???

Seeing her suddenly smile so brightly, the Crown Prince was completely baffled, scratching his head without a clue.

"Brother, you must, absolutely must bring him into the palace."

Otherwise, during this long, endless night, what was she to do with this restless longing?

"Don't worry, when has your brother ever broken a promise to you?"

The Crown Prince smiled, his eyes brimming with indulgence. "Once you finish keeping vigil with the Empress and the Grand Empress Dowager, head back to Yunyan Palace. I'll give you a signal from outside."

A signal?

What signal???

Before Guli could ask for details, the Crown Prince impatiently took a long stride and re-entered the room to seek permission from the Emperor.

Sure enough, before long, the Crown Prince emerged looking refreshed and upbeat. Carrying the eager anticipation and bounding joy of going to see his beloved, he smoothly departed the palace.

From that moment on, for Guli, every second felt like a year.

As the midnight bell tolled, the Emperor led a crowd of people to stand in the courtyard of Yannian Hall, watching fireworks fill the sky and illuminate the entire night sky.

One, two, three—they burst and scattered, ornamenting the night sky. Colorful fireworks bloomed above; some lingered like shooting stars, others burst open cheerfully like marigolds, and still others scattered like heavenly maidens casting flowers—a dazzling riot of color resembling a fairyland.

To ring out the old year and welcome the new, the fireworks set off during such a major festival were naturally the grandest and most magnificent, capable of lighting up the entire night sky and allowing countless citizens of the capital to witness their splendor and share in the thick, joyous festive atmosphere.

Guli raised her head to look at the dazzling and brilliant fireworks, thinking of Crown Prince Brother and Yu Yang outside the palace. This was the first New Year's Eve they were spending together; how truly enviable.

And then there was Lie Chang'an. The Lie Estate was not far from the imperial palace; he must also be standing in the courtyard with his grandmother, watching these colorful, magnificent fireworks.

And Jun'an.

With no status to keep vigil here, she would be left all alone in that empty, desolate palace. So cold and quiet, she must be feeling very sad and lonely; she must miss Lie Chang'an terribly as well.

Truly, one family's joy is another's sorrow.