Chapter Thirty-Two: Escort and Accompaniment

The emperor himself had spoken. Though the Empress Dowager and the Empress both felt the journey would be perilous and arduous, they could not withstand Gu Li’s renewed assault of coquettish pleas. With the emperor bolstering the ranks of the guards and soldiers to ensure absolute safety, the Empress Dowager and the Empress eventually relented. Yet, given the considerable distance, they forbade her from riding alongside; she was required to travel by carriage.

Gu Li had indeed hoped to indulge in riding once more, but seeing that the Empress Dowager and the Empress had left no room for negotiation, she could only accept graciously and agree, obediently conceding the point.

The Crown Prince Wei Chu could only hold his tongue in the end.

He had to admit, his sister’s abilities were formidable; she truly earned his wholehearted admiration.

Gu Li’s insistence on going stemmed from her overwhelming desire to escape, to ease her mind and forget the troubles that love had brought her.

Remaining in the capital, confined within the palace—even if she avoided seeing them, the thought of Lie Chang’an and Jin An meeting in secret every so often cut her to the heart, unbearable to endure.

If that was so, why not join her brother on the journey to Li Huai County to aid the disaster victims? The road was long, but could any hardship compare to the pain within her heart?

Moreover, the journey would take a month there and back. She believed that, by then, she would be able to forget entirely.

Thinking thus, Gu Li felt some relief. She called for Jasmine and began to pack her belongings.

Since this was a mission for disaster relief, her clothing could not be overly luxurious; it was not a journey for comfort, and she must not trouble her brother. Aside from Jasmine, Gu Li planned to bring only two more attendant maids.

Preparations proceeded in a flurry, and three days later, the time for departure arrived.

Before setting out, Gu Li bade temporary farewell to the Empress Dowager and the Empress, exchanging heartfelt words that comforted the two reluctant women. Gu Li herself was moved to tears.

Though she would only be gone for a month, she had never been far from her grandmother, mother, and father since childhood. Saying goodbye made her realize just how unwilling she was to part.

Yet, despite the reluctance, she had to go. She did not wish to spend her days moping in the palace; she wanted to rediscover her carefree self.

Having said her farewells, with the emperor watching from the city tower, Gu Li followed her brother toward the front lines of the grain escort troops.

But when she caught sight of the man leading the troops, dressed in a deep blue robe, she froze.

Was it possible? Was he accompanying them as well?

But after the assassin incident, hadn’t her father specifically assigned him to guard the emperor?

Gu Li could not help but tug at the Crown Prince’s sleeve, leaning close to whisper, “Brother, why has father arranged for General Chang’an to accompany us to Li Huai County?”

“Because of you, of course,” the Crown Prince laughed. “Father is anxious about your safety, so he’s strengthened the guard and sent the highly-skilled General Chang’an to escort you. As for the palace, it’s now overseen by several deputy generals, with three more batches of guards added. I doubt there will be any trouble.”

This was truly a case of trying to steal a chicken and losing the rice instead.

Gu Li wanted to cry. She’d hoped to run away, but escape was impossible after all...

Now she would travel to the disaster-stricken Li Huai County, spending day and night in his company—her misery only deepened.

“Does the princess seem unwilling for me to serve her?” came Qing Lie’s deep, resonant voice. Gu Li looked toward the man standing not far away. Today he wore a tailored riding outfit with narrow sleeves, his hair held by a silver crown intricately carved with openwork. His deep blue sleeves and cuffs were trimmed with satin, lending him an air even more heroic and spirited than usual.

He stood upright, saluting her with composure, neither servile nor arrogant. Yet his dark, profound eyes never wavered from her.

Gu Li wondered if it was merely her imagination, but she seemed to glimpse a fleeting pain in his gaze.

“No, General, you are overthinking,” Gu Li replied coldly, unwilling to let him trouble himself further. She tossed the words aside, lifted the carriage curtain, and climbed inside.

Lie Chang’an watched the swaying curtain, which concealed her proud and delicate face. Remembering her evident indifference and distance, he clenched his fists tightly, a bitter sorrow rising in his heart.