Chapter Forty: Stepping Forward to Save

“Young master! Young master!”

Three attendant girls stood at the entrance of the inn. Seeing a veiled woman leading the crown prince out, they immediately grabbed water flasks and handkerchiefs, rushing over to support him from either side.

“Where’s our lady? Where’s our lady?”

Jasmine, not seeing the princess’s figure, stamped her foot in anxiety, crying out in distress, “What will we do about our lady?”

“She…”

The crown prince took a sip of water, about to speak, when suddenly a deafening boom sounded nearby. From the second-floor window, a silhouette dressed in deep blue leapt out, cradling the unconscious Princess Danqing in his arms.

The instant he jumped from the window, the inn behind them exploded with a thunderous crash, collapsing in a fiery blaze that lit up half the sky.

“My lady!”

Jasmine rushed over, finding the princess with eyes tightly shut, comatose and unaware, prompting her to sob in terror, “What happened?! General Chang’an, what’s wrong with our lady?”

“She inhaled too much sleep-inducing incense and has passed out.”

Lie Chang’an gathered her in his arms, heading toward the carriage. “She’ll be fine. Once the effects wear off, she will awaken.”

He gently settled the princess in the carriage and instructed Jasmine as she climbed aboard, “Take good care of her.”

“Don’t worry. Thank you, General Chang’an.”

Upon hearing that the princess was unharmed, Jasmine wept with relief. She found herself at a loss for words to express her gratitude for the young general who had saved her mistress time and again.

Jasmine wrung out a wet cloth and began to wipe the princess’s face, recalling the sudden eruption of fire on the second floor, the frantic shouts of the innkeeper, guests fleeing in panic—the chaos and terror of it all lingering in her thoughts, leaving her shaken.

Lie Chang’an gazed deeply at the still-sleeping Gu Li, his eyes gentle.

My dearest princess.

On this terrifying and perilous night, it is a blessing that you did not witness it with your own eyes.

May your dreams be sweet.

Descending from the carriage, Lie Chang’an walked to the crown prince’s side. The effects of the incense had faded, and the prince had regained his composure, though his clothes were drenched in sweat and his face pale; he still looked quite disheveled.

Lie Chang’an glanced at the veiled woman standing nearby. She remained motionless, quietly watching him, her gaze once again appraising, causing him to frown in slight displeasure.

“This was arson, deliberately set.”

The crown prince, having calmed, gritted his teeth as he spoke.

“Yes.”

Lie Chang’an nodded, eyeing the veiled woman, now alert. “Judging by the origin of the fire on the second floor, it’s clear the arsonist targeted the guests staying there. If I’m not mistaken, miss, you also lodged on the second floor?”

The veiled woman fixed Lie Chang’an with a cold, raised eyebrow. “You suspect me?”

“Chang’an, it shouldn’t be this lady.”

Though the veiled woman was mysterious and suspicious, the crown prince argued rationally, “She was the one who rescued me just now.”

If she were truly the culprit, there would have been no reason for her to intervene.

“I understand. I have no intention of suspecting you,” Lie Chang’an replied. “However, if you too stayed on the second floor but were not affected by the incense, it’s clear the arsonist intended to kill us.”

Upon these words, the crown prince’s expression darkened.

Who would wish the three of them dead?

They had deliberately avoided bustling towns, choosing remote mountain roads to prevent drawing attention and exposing their identities.

So far, their identities should not have been compromised.

Given that, who could know both their identities and route, and wish them dead?

The answer was self-evident.

The crown prince sneered inwardly. As expected, someone in the palace could not hold back any longer. This journey, taken together with Gu Li, was the perfect opportunity—one that person would not miss.

He feared the path ahead would not be easy.

The crown prince said nothing more, simply looking to the veiled woman and respectfully offering his thanks.

“There’s no need.”

Her expression remained cold. Recalling her unnecessary rescue, she found it hard to accept.

The crown prince paid no heed to her frosty demeanor, only saying, “The inn has burned down, night is falling, and there’s nowhere else nearby to stay. Might you be willing to join us at the caravan outside the village and rest in one of our tents for the night?”

The veiled woman did not respond immediately, instead casting her gaze toward Lie Chang’an. After considering for a moment, she nodded her assent.