Chapter Sixty-Six: Regretfully Unable to Comply

Lie Chang’an’s brows furrowed, recalling the panic that seized him moments earlier when he heard she was missing. The fear still lingered in his heart, and he refused outright, “No, I must accompany you to ensure Your Highness’s safety.”

“I’m just taking a walk ahead, what could possibly happen? There’s no need for anyone to follow me.”

“Your Highness, forgive me, but I cannot obey,” Lie Chang’an replied, hands clasped in respectful salute, his voice neither servile nor arrogant. “It is my duty, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has given explicit instructions…”

Duty! Duty! Orders! Orders!

Gu Li grew even more incensed as she listened, impatiently tearing the mask from her face. Her voice was furious, “Is there anything besides duty and orders for you? Since you are a subject, does my command not count as an order? I demand that you obey me—stay right here and do not follow me!”

Lie Chang’an looked up at the woman before him. With the mask removed, her bright eyes shone all the more dazzling in the dim light, her flushed cheeks from anger making her appear exquisitely beautiful, her features breathtaking.

She was unaware that, masked and walking along with her noble, ethereal demeanor and graceful figure, she had drawn countless covetous glances from men. Had he not been trailing behind, his murderous gaze scaring them off, her lantern would have been adorned with nothing but red threads by now.

Now, with the mask gone, who knew how many “wolves and leopards” she would attract as she walked further ahead?

Lie Chang’an lowered his gaze, lips parting slightly, his tone still calm and unyielding, “Forgive me, Your Highness. I cannot obey.”

Gu Li was truly infuriated now. This man before her was bound by the rigid rules of ruler and subject, stiff and pedantic in her presence, yet with other women he could “meet secretly at night in a pavilion,” give “red-threaded rabbits,” and employ all manner of romantic gestures.

Such hypocrisy! How shameless!

The thought that the man she cared for was such a fickle, flirtatious person became unbearable. Her pent-up emotions erupted, tears reddening her eyes as she lashed out, “Are you deaf? I told you to stay put! Do you not understand my real meaning? I don’t want you following me—I despise you! You disgust me! I never want to see you again!”

“Your Highness!”

Even Jasmine, standing nearby, could not bear to listen any longer.

Jasmine knew the princess must be wounded, for she too had seen the red-threaded rabbit dangling from Miss Yu’s lantern. But these words were too cruel…

Jasmine glanced at General Chang’an across from her. His expression was unchanged, but on closer inspection, his lowered lashes trembled faintly, his lips seemed pale, and his shoulders, hands clasped in salute, had grown rigid—as though he were desperately suppressing some painful emotion.

For the first time in his life, Lie Chang’an tasted heartbreak.

What kind of feeling was that?

Sourness, swelling pain, bitterness, and utter despair.

The inferiority long buried deep within him surged forth, fierce and overwhelming, threatening to drown him.

He knew well he was unworthy of her, and had never dared to hope otherwise.

She soared high above like a phoenix in the heavens, while he was nothing but humble earth.

He dared not covet her, only wished to stay by her side, to catch a few more glimpses of her. He often thanked fate for granting him this position.

But now he realized—even this identity was something she despised.

She hated him, was disgusted by him, and did not even wish to see him.

Lie Chang’an heard the sound of his heart breaking, yet he could not betray a single sign. Motionless as a mountain, he continued to salute and said, “Forgive me, Your Highness. I cannot obey.”