Chapter Seventy: The Farewell

That night, no one slept well.

Early the next morning, they resumed their journey.

Gu Li, with dark circles under her eyes, prepared to board the carriage with Jasmine’s support.

“Princess, Your Highness, General Chang’an, please wait.”

Yu Yang’s voice sounded behind them, cool and calm as ever.

Gu Li turned to look.

At this moment, both the Crown Prince and Lie Chang’an, who had been about to mount their horses, paused in their movements.

Facing them, Yu Yang calmly raised her hand and reached behind her ear.

Gu Li froze, realizing what she was about to do.

Sure enough, Yu Yang gently removed the veil from her face.

Upon seeing what lay beneath, Gu Li finally understood why Yu Yang had always worn the veil.

The woman before her had willow-shaped brows, almond-shaped eyes, and a delicate cherry mouth. Her face was as pure as the new moon, as fresh as snow piled on flowering branches—remarkably beautiful, charming, and enchanting.

No one would have expected that someone with such cold and distant eyes would possess such a lovely, doll-like face.

If one looked only at her eyes, she could easily be mistaken for a cold-blooded, emotionless heroine of the martial world.

Yet paired with such a winsome face, much of her icy, deadly aura was softened...

Regardless, this face was a rare beauty.

Gu Li couldn’t help glancing at the two men. She saw her brother, the Crown Prince, staring intently, captivated, while Lie Chang’an merely cast a quick glance before looking away, his expression unreadable.

Hmph, what a pretender.

Gu Li snorted inwardly.

But from the look in her brother’s eyes, it seemed he was deeply taken with Yu Yang. Yet his expression betrayed no surprise—it was almost as if he had seen her true face before.

Yu Yang gave a faint smile and cupped her hands in salute. “Today, I show my true face to thank Your Highness, Princess, and General Chang’an for your care along the journey. The capital lies just beyond the next checkpoint, and I have urgent matters to attend to. It would not be convenient for me to continue with you, so I must take my leave.”

Gu Li was taken aback; she had not expected Yu Yang to part ways with them.

She had long sensed that Yu Yang was no ordinary woman, but throughout the journey, Yu Yang had never done them any harm; on the contrary, she had repeatedly come to their rescue, even saving both the Crown Prince and Lie Chang’an’s lives.

By all accounts, though her manner was cold, her character was upright.

Gu Li had thought Yu Yang would continue to travel with them. After all, a woman’s intuition told her that Yu Yang harbored special feelings for Lie Chang’an.

Now, with Yu Yang choosing to depart of her own accord, Gu Li wondered if she was playing at a strategy of retreat in order to advance.

Yu Yang, of course, was perfectly aware of Gu Li’s thoughts.

As Gu Li suspected, Yu Yang was indeed retreating in order to advance. She had made little progress along the way, largely because Lie Chang’an was so reserved and distant, strictly observing propriety and keeping their acquaintance to the barest minimum. Not even having his life saved by her had changed his attitude.

Yu Yang knew this approach would lead nowhere, but there was little she could do. This was not something to be rushed—Lie Chang’an was sensitive by nature. If she pushed too hard, she would only arouse his suspicion. Besides, it was no longer suitable for her to travel with them; the longer she stayed, the greater the risk she would give herself away.

A temporary farewell—there would be opportunities to meet again.

There was time enough for the future.

But as soon as she spoke, the Crown Prince’s reluctance was clear. He asked anxiously, “What is it that you must do? Why not tell me? Perhaps I can help.”

Seeing the tension and longing on his face, Yu Yang felt a pang of bitterness, but outwardly she only gave a polite smile. “They are all matters of the martial world, Your Highness. You would not be able to help.”

It was clear she was determined to leave.

The Crown Prince, long accustomed to having his way, could not help but feel his pride wounded by repeated refusals. Though he was deeply troubled, he said nothing more.

Gu Li saw the shadow of sorrow cross her brother’s face and sighed inwardly in melancholy.

Truly, they were a pair of brother and sister beset by the same fate—both unlucky in love.