Font Size:
What He Fears Most Is Not That She Hates Him
Actually, Yun Chu never asked Shen Ziyu for help.
However, after returning, Shen Ziyu casually mentioned it to Princess Roujia. Concerned about the Grand Princess, Princess Roujia took it to heart. So, the next day, when she attended the National Preceptor’s lecture, she brought it up to Daoist Wuyou.
By coincidence, Wuyou, who rarely meddled in external affairs, immediately agreed to meet Yun Chu upon hearing about it. He asked Princess Roujia to arrange a meeting for the sixteenth of the month.
February 16th was also the day Ji Wenxun returned to the capital.
Li Yunli would definitely leave the residence to receive her.
Hearing this arrangement, Yun Chu furrowed his brows slightly.
Did this Wuyou anticipate everything?
Having learned from his previous lesson with Gongliang Chong, Yun Chu, even though he knew Li Yunli might not pay much attention to him, still informed her before heading out on the 16th.
Li Yunli was busy making arrangements to pick someone up. Hearing that he was going to meet Wuyou, she didn’t think much of it and simply nodded.
She had heard some cryptic words from Wuyou before but hadn’t taken them seriously.
Besides, Wuyou had always warned her to be cautious of Yun Chu. Since he was looking out for her, he was bound to exercise restraint.
People of this era, no matter how much they disbelieved in fate, still held some faith in supernatural beings.
Unlike someone like her, who had grown up with a materialist worldview.
Understanding this, Li Yunli nodded with ease and left.
Ji Wenxun’s letter had arrived the day before, explicitly stating that she wanted to see Li Yunli the moment she dismounted.
Because of their past bond—when Li Yunli had saved her in Yongzhou—she was willing to go.
Moreover, from their previous interactions, Ji Wenxun and she got along exceptionally well, like true close friends.
Thus, even though today’s wind carried a lingering chill, Li Yunli was still willing to brave it to meet her.
However, she wasn’t the only one standing in the cold wind outside the city gate today.
Looking at the tall figure before her, Li Yunli was puzzled. “General Xiao? Why are you here?”
Xiao Linjia had arrived even earlier than she had. This small pavilion by the official road had seen countless farewells and welcomes, and they might not even share the same purpose.
Yet, Xiao Linjia rubbed his head and coughed. “Uh… I came to pick someone up.”
Seeing his evasiveness, Li Yunli raised an eyebrow, sensing something amiss.
“You’re not… also here to pick up Sister Ji, are you?”
As soon as she said that, a faint red tint spread across Xiao Linjia’s tanned face.
Li Yunli hummed knowingly, understanding immediately.
Xiao Linjia hurriedly explained, “No, no! Miss Ji is a young lady traveling hundreds of miles back to the capital. I just came to escort her for General Ji’s peace of mind. Nothing more!”
Li Yunli nodded right away. “Sure, sure.”
Anyone with common sense could guess—these two must have had quite a few conversations in Yongzhou, and most likely, the more they talked, the closer they became.
Seeing Li Yunli’s skeptical look, Xiao Linjia scratched his head anxiously, wanting to explain further, but she raised a hand to stop him.
“General Xiao, no need to say more. Sister Ji is not a delicate, reserved girl. She was raised on the battlefield—like the people of the martial world, bold and unrestrained.”
Since she had already framed the conversation this way, further explanations would be pointless. Xiao Linjia could only close his mouth and nod.
Still, he seemed uneasy, glancing at her from time to time while standing by the pavilion.
Meanwhile, Li Yunli’s maid poured her a cup of hot tea.
As Li Yunli warmed her hands around the cup, she spoke without turning around, as if she had eyes on the back of her head.
“General Xiao, are you feeling so unsettled because of Sister Ji? Or is it because you feel guilty toward me?”
“Your Highness.” Hearing this, Xiao Linjia no longer appeared flustered. He looked straight at Li Yunli. “You know?”
“You rose to prominence after the war against Wei, not under my father’s command. You never fought under Prince Jin’s army.” Li Yunli set her cup down and rubbed her warmed hands before turning to glance at him. “You belong to the new generation of military officers. The person who promoted you was my uncle, Prince Changling.”
Xiao Linjia admitted, “Prince Changling was indifferent to fame and status, treating both civil and military officials fairly. He supported many of us from humble backgrounds and showed me great kindness.”
“I see.” Li Yunli nodded. “So, back when we were in the Northwest, it was you who reported my and Yun Chu’s whereabouts to Prince Changling, wasn’t it?”
“It was me.” Xiao Linjia did not deny it.
Li Yunli smirked slightly. “Why? Because he promoted you, you believed he was a good person?”
Xiao Linjia had already heard about Prince Changling’s welcoming banquet for the Grand Princess—and how Li Yunli had left halfway through in displeasure.
Considering past events, he understood the discord between them.
“But Your Highness, over the years, Prince Changling has been loyal to the throne and benevolent to his subordinates. His reputation is well-established in the court.” Meanwhile, Li Yunli’s own reputation had been mixed—only now, after pacifying Yongzhou, was she receiving more praise.
The implication was clear. At that time, in the Northwest, from his perspective, Prince Changling seemed more trustworthy than she did. Reporting her whereabouts to him had felt like the right thing to do.
Li Yunli understood his unspoken words.
She nodded and looked toward the distant official road, which remained quiet.
“General Xiao, after spending months together in the Northwest, how do you think I compare to the rumors?”
“The Grand Princess showed great care for the people and displayed strategic wisdom against the enemy. She is different from the rumors.”
“Then, do you think my uncle, Prince Changling, truly understands my nature?”
“This…” Xiao Linjia hesitated.
“And when he speaks of me and His Majesty to you and others he has mentored, how does he describe us?”
“Prince Changling has said that His Majesty is still young, and as his ministers, we should do our utmost to support him.”
Xiao Linjia avoided answering the first part of the question.
Li Yunli chuckled softly. “General Mingyi, this is a classic case of ‘A young ruler, a distrusted throne.’”
By repeatedly emphasizing the emperor’s youth and inexperience to his subordinates, he subtly encouraged them to doubt their ruler’s capability.
When crises arose, this mentality could easily lead to ministers overstepping their authority.
Xiao Linjia paused for a moment. “Even if Your Highness puts it that way, Prince Changling is simply concerned.”
“And if he wanted me dead?” Li Yunli’s gaze was sharp. “General Xiao, in your reasoning, would I deserve to die?”
Xiao Linjia’s expression darkened. “Impossible! Prince Changling would never do such a thing!”
“Alright, let me put it another way.” Li Yunli’s lips curled. “If during the upcoming Spring Hunt in March, someone attempts to assassinate me in the capital or at the hunting grounds—would your Xiao Army come to my aid?”
Her words sent a shock through Xiao Linjia.
He hesitated briefly before finally speaking with conviction.
“If Your Highness is truly in danger, I will come to protect you!”
“Good. With General Xiao’s promise, I feel reassured.”
Li Yunli smiled and saw small black specks appearing on the distant official road.
She stood up, gazing ahead, and gestured toward Xiao Linjia.
“Sister Ji has arrived.”