Chapter Fifty: Walking Together Through the Streets

Gu Li shook her head without replying, sat down at the table, and couldn’t help but let out a yawn.

The Crown Prince understood the reason—his sister probably wasn’t used to sharing a bed with a stranger. Thinking this, he decided there was no need to hurry on their journey for now; they would stay another night at this inn.

“Then tonight, we’ll get another room. You can sleep alone.”

Gu Li shook her head again. “No need, I’m fine.”

She had no desire to receive any special treatment.

But as soon as she finished speaking, she was caught off guard and looked up at her brother. “Tonight? We’re staying here again tonight?”

“Yes,” the Crown Prince nodded. “I just discussed it with Chang’an. There’s no rush to set out today; we’ll rest here for a day. Miss Yu is injured, and this way, the soldiers who were exhausted yesterday can also regain some strength.”

Gu Li nodded, but remained firm. “Alright, but there’s no need to go out of your way for another room. Sharing with Miss Yu is just fine; we can look after each other.”

The Crown Prince knew well his sister’s temperament—gentle on the outside, but strong-willed within—so he yielded to her wishes.

After breakfast, the Crown Prince and Lie Chang’an returned to their room to review the route for the following day. They also went outside the town to encourage the soldiers in their tents. By the time they returned, Gu Li had already taken a nap and woken up refreshed.

After another meal together, the Crown Prince suggested that, with nothing pressing in the afternoon, they should stroll around the main street.

Gu Li was delighted. After all, it had been no easy feat to leave the palace, yet their journey so far had been a relentless rush, interrupted by fires and mountain bandits—she hadn’t had a chance to truly enjoy herself.

Lie Chang’an and Yu Yang had no objections and naturally followed behind the Crown Prince and Gu Li, walking side by side.

Though the town was small, the streets were lively, and the people were honest and kind. The cries of street vendors echoed endlessly.

Both Gu Li and the Crown Prince had grown up within the palace walls and had never witnessed such scenes; they found it all novel and fascinating. The Crown Prince, being a man, managed to remain composed.

But Gu Li’s nature was lively and spirited. Everything caught her interest—her large eyes darting everywhere, her cheeks flushed with excitement, and her face aglow with a radiant smile.

Lie Chang’an followed behind, watching the petite, charming figure flit from stall to stall—asking questions here, touching trinkets there. Soon, the Crown Prince’s hands were full of small folk crafts, while Gu Li held a scallion pancake in her right hand and, in her left, a steaming fresh water chestnut cake, eating with unabashed delight.

A smile tugged at the corners of Lie Chang’an’s lips, a trace of fondness sneaking through.

“Gu Li, you can’t eat any more,” the Crown Prince said, exasperated by his exuberant sister. He had no idea how many street snacks she had already devoured. She was used to grand feasts and delicacies from the mountains and sea; now she was indulging in greasy street food. He wondered if her stomach would handle it.

Gu Li patted her now round belly, stuffed the last piece of water chestnut cake into her mouth, and grinned, her eyes crescent-shaped, cheeks puffed, nodding contentedly.

The Crown Prince couldn’t help but laugh, helpless in the face of her antics.

As they continued on, they came to a stall selling handmade jewelry. For the first time, the usually aloof and silent Yu Yang paused, her gaze falling on an exquisitely crafted jade hairpin.

“This hairpin is quite nice,” she commented.

The Crown Prince turned; the hairpin was indeed finely made, though its quality was ordinary. Still, its design was unique—shaped ingeniously to resemble green bamboo with delicate leaves.

Clearly, she was a woman, after all. While she didn’t share Gu Li’s fondness for food and little trinkets, she was still drawn to beautiful jewelry.

The Crown Prince thought Yu Yang deserved a finer hairpin. “Miss Yu, there’s a proper jewelry shop ahead. I’m sure you’ll find hairpins of much higher quality there. Go and choose one; I’ll pay for it.”