Chapter 25: Venting Frustration

“General Chang'an?”

Jin'an noticed the man before her seemed momentarily distracted and called softly, “General Chang'an?”

Lie Chang'an seemed to hear that familiar voice and instinctively turned his head, catching a glimpse of a pale yellow hem vanishing near the steps. Yet he couldn’t be sure if it was merely a trick of his eyes.

A bitter smile crept across his heart.

How could it possibly be her?

Why would she appear here?

It was truly a case of longing by day and dreaming by night, almost to the point of madness.

“General Chang'an…”

Lie Chang'an regained his composure, gazing at the shy and hesitant maiden before him. His brows drew together slightly, and his voice was respectful yet distant. “May I ask what brings Your Highness here?”

“It’s nothing, really,” Jin'an twisted her handkerchief nervously, her voice gentle as water. “I was on my way to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and happened to pass by, so I thought I’d greet General Chang'an.”

Lie Chang'an frowned again.

His mind, ever sensitive, quickly grasped the underlying meaning behind Princess Jin'an’s words.

The Empress Dowager’s Longevity Palace could never be on the way to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where court was held. It was clear she had come purposely to see him. As for why she wished to see him…

Lie Chang'an replied calmly, “Thank you for your regard, Your Highness. Since you have already greeted me, I have official duties to attend to and must take my leave.”

Since she did not make her intentions explicit, he would not refuse her outright. After all, she was a woman and a princess; to do so might wound her pride and dignity. Yet, knowing his own heart, he could not offer her any false hope.

Jin'an watched that tall figure disappear through the palace gates, the blush on her cheeks fading to a pale, unspeakable white.

She had spoken so openly just now—an indirect confession of her feelings. He was perceptive, surely he understood. Then what did his words mean?

Now at sixteen, she was of an age to discuss marriage. She had rejected the Empress Dowager’s arrangement, simply because her heart belonged elsewhere; she wished not to settle, but to find harmony with him.

Yet he seemed not to care for her.

But from the chatter among the palace maids, she knew he came from humble origins, with only an elderly grandmother at home. In three years of military service, he had always disciplined himself, never even summoning a camp courtesan.

After returning to the capital, aside from her, there had never been any eligible woman by his side; nor had he shown interest in anyone. Why did he not consider her?

Could it be that he had never felt love, and thus did not know what it was?

If that was so, she thought, it would be easy enough. She would take her time; eventually, she would melt his heart.

Since returning to Yunyan Palace, Princess Danqing had unleashed a storm of anger. Not only did she smash the food box to pieces, she scattered the pastries inside and, in her rage, stomped them into crumbs.

The palace maids were terrified. Recently, the princess had been in good spirits in the southern garden, seldom angry; they had nearly forgotten her formerly spoiled and imperious nature.

“Your Highness!”

Seeing the princess about to take the teacup from the table and hurl it to the ground, Jasmine hurried forward to stop her. “Your Highness, if you must vent your anger, please don’t take it out on the teacup. If you hurt yourself, it would not be good.”

Jasmine quickly brought over several expensive bolts of cloth. She snipped a small opening and handed it over. “Your Highness, tearing fabric can also vent anger, and it’s less likely to hurt yourself.”

Yet Gu Li did not even glance at the cloth. She stormed off straight into the inner chamber.

The princess entered the chamber—likely to lie down on her bed. A young maid, bold enough, asked Jasmine, “Sister Jasmine, why did the princess leave so happy and return so upset?”

Jasmine could hardly say; she only saw the princess’s reddened eyes as she turned back into the chamber and sighed deeply.

Ah, her foolish princess—she must have fallen for someone she ought not to love.