After the palace banquet ended, Gu Lili was led out of the palace by a eunuch.
But before long, Yin Jiuchen stopped him.
"Lili, I have something to tell you."
Gu Lili turned around, and at that moment, time seemed to stand still.
Yin Jiuchen looked at Gu Lili with a face full of guilt, his eyes flashing with a complex light.
He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but didn't know where to begin.
Gu Lili slowly turned around, and when her clear eyes met Yin Jiuchen's guilty eyes, a strange emotion welled up in her heart.
I don't know whether to feel sorrow or grief.
Gu Lili bowed respectfully to the Crown Prince and then slowly said, "Your Highness, this humble woman greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
After saying that, she knelt down without hesitation, her posture showing utmost respect and humility.
Upon seeing this, Yin Jiuchen felt a pang of anxiety and hurriedly tried to get up to help him.
However, just as he was about to reach out his hand, a flash of inspiration seemed to strike him, and he seemed to remember something important. He suddenly stopped and then hurriedly withdrew his hand, as if afraid of touching some taboo.
Then, he narrowed his eyes slightly, a subtle emotion flashing in them, and quickly and implicitly gestured to Chunju and Xiahua behind Gu Lili to come forward and help Gu Lili up.
Looking at Gu Lili being helped up, Yin Jiuchen sighed softly and said, "Lili, didn't I already tell you before? You don't need to perform such a grand ceremony when you see me in the future. There's no need for such formalities between us. We don't need to care about these complicated rules."
Upon hearing this, Gu Lili gently shook her head, her eyes flashing with determination. She solemnly said, "Your Highness, etiquette must not be disregarded. You are the heir apparent of the country, and it is only right that we pay our respects to you. Although we know each other, the distinction between ruler and subject remains. We cannot let personal matters interfere with public duty."
Looking at her respectful yet distant demeanor, Yin Jiuchen felt as if an invisible hand had gently touched his heart, and a wave of sorrow quietly surged up, filling his chest.
Gu Lili would never have spoken to him so seriously before; she must have been angry after seeing Liu Qionghua today.
"Lili..." Yin Jiuchen called her name softly, his voice filled with guilt and helplessness.
"I'm sorry, I... I really have to break my promise."
Remembering how he had solemnly promised Gu Lili that he would marry her, but now he had to break that promise, his heart felt as if it had been stabbed, and the pain spread to every corner of his heart.
He slowly reached out, wanting to touch her cheek, but stopped in mid-air, as if afraid of disturbing her emotions at that moment.
The two used to be inseparable, but now they seem to be separated by thousands of miles and can never be the same as before.
Originally, Yin Jiuchen had already secretly planned that after returning from Fusang, he would immediately go to the palace and solemnly propose to the Emperor and Empress the important matter of marrying Gu Lili as his principal wife.
He eagerly anticipates marrying his beloved and starting a new chapter in his life.
However, fate always seems to play tricks on people. Before he could express his feelings, General Liu, who was also Liu Qionghua's father, was caught in the treacherous schemes of the Japanese and unfortunately died on the battlefield.
In his final moments, he left behind a dying wish, instructing Yin Jiuchen to marry Liu Qionghua and treat her well.
Faced with this situation, Yin Jiuchen was filled with conflict and helplessness. He knew the importance of General Liu's family to the court, and he couldn't bear to refuse the dying man's last wish, so he could only slowly nod in agreement.
When he finally returned to the capital, he immediately informed the Emperor and Empress of the matter without any delay.
With a serious and firm expression, he expressed his true feelings, that he absolutely did not want to marry Liu Qionghua as a concubine.
He earnestly pleaded with the Emperor to grant his request and bestow the title of Princess upon Liu Qionghua, so as to ensure that she would live a carefree life for the rest of her days.
But to everyone's surprise, the emperor's face turned ashen upon hearing this, and he was so angry that he almost vomited blood.
Yin Jiuchen naturally understood the reason behind it; he knew perfectly well that behind Liu Qionghua was the brave and fearless Liu family army of 300,000.
At the same time, he also keenly sensed that his father's physical condition was like a crossbow about to run out of power, with little time left.
He fell into deep thought, unsure how to properly handle this complex and thorny situation.
Perhaps it's true that he was destined to owe Gu Lili.
In the face of love and affection, all living beings in this world appear exceptionally insignificant.
He had been supported by the people of the world since childhood, so it was impossible for him to leave his seriously ill father behind and abandon him.
If my father really passes away, the burden of shouldering the great responsibility of the Southern Yue Kingdom will fall solely on my shoulders.
When Gu Lili heard Yin Jiuchen say that, it felt as if a sharp needle had suddenly pierced her heart, causing her a sharp pain.
In fact, Gu Lili already knew this result, but hearing it from Yin Jiuchen's mouth, Gu Lili was a little unsettled for a moment.
To prevent the faint smile on his face from cracking due to the turmoil in his heart, he unconsciously clenched his hands tightly together, as if only in this way could he give himself a bit of strength.
She forced a smile that she thought was enough to hide her inner pain.
He said to Yin Jiuchen, "It's nothing. I just hope His Highness the Crown Prince will be well in the future."
Gu Lili thought of many things to say, but in the end, after struggling for a while, she could only squeeze out such a simple blessing.
Yin Jiuchen nodded and said, "You should also be well."
The words echoed in the air, as if carrying the complex and subtle emotions between the two, and the gentle tone contained endless care and concern.
A strange pang of sorrow welled up in Gu Lili's heart once again. She silently lowered her eyes, burying all her emotions deep within her heart...
Gu Lili bowed slowly and then left with Chunju and Xiahua.
Yin Jiuchen stood quietly in place, his gaze like a blazing beam of light, fixed on Gu Lili's receding figure.
His eyes flickered with complex emotions: reluctance, longing, and a hint of helplessness.
That figure gradually blurred in his sight, yet it seemed to be deeply imprinted in his heart, impossible to erase no matter how time passed.
He knew that Gu Lili's soul should be as free and unrestrained as a bird soaring in the sky, without any constraints or shackles.
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