Chapter 157: New Year Wish

"Yes."

Lie Chang'an deeply understood the sorrow within her heart. She was a kind and tender girl, pure in mind, reluctant to face the cruel and bloody side of this world.

Yet he understood the Emperor just as well, because if he were the Emperor, he would have done the exact same thing.

Since desire had taken root, and one lacked the power to extinguish it, then if it was to be acted upon, it must be carried out to the absolute limit, leaving no way of retreat.

"Therefore, this is why your Imperial Father wants to eradicate the former dynasty's royal family completely. He cannot afford to allow a tiger to return to the mountains, only to end up in a life-or-death struggle where all previous efforts are wasted."

Guli asked, "What about you? Do you also harbor desire for that dragon throne which stands above ten thousand people?"

Lie Chang'an merely pondered for a moment before answering decisively, "I do, and I do not."

He was surprised by her question, and she was equally surprised by his candor.

Perhaps if anyone else had asked him, Lie Chang'an would have suspected them of harboring ulterior motives. But when she asked, Lie Chang'an knew she simply wanted to know the truth.

Guli was puzzled. "What do you mean by 'I do, and I do not'?"

Lie Chang'an looked at her gently and smiled softly, "If one truly ascends to that position, anything or anyone... one desires can be obtained effortlessly. Yet if one truly ascends to that position, it is inevitably lonely at the top. Its power and glory are a double-edged sword, capable of letting you easily kill others, while just as easily allowing others to kill you."

Guli understood.

She was very grateful for his honesty. No matter what, at least in his heart, he did not distance himself or hold back reservations simply because she was a princess.

Guli smiled softly, her enchanting, captivating phoenix eyes sparkling with shifting brilliance, full of vivid allure that stirred the heart.

Lie Chang'an's heart fluttered slightly, and he hurriedly looked away.

Was this woman some sort of bewitching fairy?

How could a single smile of hers make him lose his wits?

By this time, the sky was gradually turning the color of a fish's belly in the pale dawn.

Guli had not expected the day to break so soon. Time flew by so quickly; she hadn't even had the chance to savor anything properly yet.

Guli gazed into the distance at the whitening horizon, feeling a faint sense of lingering reluctance in her heart. He was unwilling to leave, and since he had a three-day holiday coming up and could not enter the palace, it meant she wouldn't be able to see him for three whole days.

"Princess, do you have a New Year's wish?"

"A New Year's wish?"

Guli's eyes brightened, and she lifted her delicate face with a smile. "Could it be that you can make it come true for me?"

"If the Princess is willing to speak it, this subject will naturally do his utmost."

In truth, what kind of New Year's wish could Guli possibly have? She was a princess of the realm, having whatever she desired. If there was only one thing she wanted yet could not have, it was simply the person standing right before her eyes.

Guli bit her lip, concealing the look of disappointment in the depths of her eyes, and spoke, "Then, compliment me."

Compliment her?

What kind of New Year's wish was this?

Noticing his hesitation, Guli felt rather embarrassed and somewhat overcome with bashful shyness, leaving her no choice but to stamp her foot in vexation. "What, is that not allowed?"

"I didn't say it wasn't allowed."

Lie Chang'an gave a dry cough. "It's just... haven't I complimented the Princess before?"

"You have, but what kind of compliments were those? They had not a single ounce of genuine feeling; they were all flashy and hollow polite formalities."

Hearing this, Lie Chang'an silently cried foul in his heart. He had already lavished every single beautiful word of praise he could possibly think of upon her.

To be honest, if Lie Chang'an had to offer a compliment out of nowhere without any buildup, he still felt a bit shy, especially when meeting those watery, large eyes that looked at him full of yearning and expectation, which instantly made his heart tense up.