Chapter 153: Now or Never

Moli had truly never seen such an open-minded brother, one who would leave his radiant and lovely younger sister alone with an adult man in the dead of night. Most importantly, it was this very biological brother who had actively delivered the man right to his sister's doorstep.

And to top it off, he had actually said something about her staying close by to serve them?

Your Highness, did you really not know what your sister—the most noble Princess Danqing of the entire Li Dynasty—was truly like?

Sure enough, before Moli could even finish her silent complaint, the princess’s voice rang out from nearby, "Moli, I'm cold. Go back inside and get me another cloak."

Well, there she went, being sent away just like that.

Moli suppressed the urge to sigh, bowed slightly, and said, "Yes."

As soon as Moli left, Guli raised her eyes to look at the person across from her. Just as she was about to ask something, Lie Chang'an had already unfastened his fox-fur cloak, walked toward her, and spread it wide to gently drape it over her shoulders.

Guli stiffened slightly. As he stood right before her with his arms outstretched to put the cloak on her, it felt as though she were being pulled into his embrace. If she were to lean her head forward just a fraction, she would naturally rest against his chest.

He carried the crisp and clean scent of lye soap, comforting and grounding, just like the man himself.

Guli felt her pretty cheeks flush from the intimate gesture. She hurriedly shook her head, saying, "You wear it. Moli has already gone inside to get me a cloak. Put this back on, or you'll catch a cold."

Lie Chang'an did not answer. He simply draped the fox-fur cloak securely over her of his own accord, pulled the hood down snugly to block the howling cold wind, and then tied the strings into a small, neat bow beneath her chin.

Whether she was mesmerized into a racing heartbeat by his overbearing yet tender gesture, or truly warmed by the fox-fur cloak that still retained his body heat, Guli felt her whole body grow feverish, her heart fluttering and beating completely out of her control.

Gathering her thoughts, she returned to the question she hadn't managed to ask just a moment ago, "Why did you come?"

Of course, Guli knew that her Crown Prince brother had brought him here. The real question was, what kind of excuse had her brother concocted to get Lie Chang'an into the palace?

How could Guli possibly know that the Crown Prince had simply waited outside the Lie estate, sitting inside his sedan chair, and had a servant go in to pass a single message to Lie Chang'an, who had rushed out eagerly within moments?

Naturally, what the Crown Prince had said was, "Do you want to see the princess tonight? If you do, I'll bring you into the palace. Don't miss this chance."

And of course, Lie Chang'an wanted to.

He had thought of her while sharing the New Year's Eve reunion dinner with his grandmother at home, wondering which palace she was dining in—the Yannian Palace or the Fengyang Palace? Whichever one it was, it must be lively and bustling, with many people accompanying her to ring in the new year.

He had thought of her while eating the hot noodles his grandmother had prepared, remembering that she hadn't gotten to taste his grandmother's homemade noodles last time she visited, and wondering when she would next be able to leave the palace to eat them.

He had thought of her while watching the fireworks bloom over the imperial palace, wondering if she was currently looking at those fireworks with the delight of a child, smiling as brightly as a blossoming flower.

Such a dazzling and exquisite smile—he truly wanted to see it every single moment.

Therefore, when the Crown Prince made the offer, he was naturally impatient to enter the palace.

He missed her, and he wanted the very first person he saw on the first day of the new year to be the one he longed for the most.

Yet, Lie Chang'an could not possibly voice these thoughts aloud. So, after pondering for a moment at her question, he simply smiled and said, "The Crown Prince told me that because of the three days of heavy snowfall, the imperial palace is blanketed in pure white. Coupled with the joyous and festive atmosphere of the New Year, adorned with lanterns and colorful ribbons, the scenery is quite extraordinary. He specifically invited me into the palace to take a look. After all, once New Year's Eve passes, civil and military officials are granted a three-day holiday, and by the time those three days are over, the snow will surely have melted. When we enter the palace for court sessions then, we won't be able to witness such charming scenery anymore."