Chapter 154 Do You Like Me? (Part 1)

Li Yi was left utterly speechless for a moment, finding himself entirely at a loss for words to respond to Princess Changle.

Originally, he had recounted the myth of "Houyi Shooting the Suns" to Princess Changle as a tactful way to reject her affections. Yet who could have anticipated that not only would this effort fail, but it would also produce the exact opposite result.

Not only was Li Yi left without a retort, but Princess Changle had also successfully laid bare her innermost feelings.

A sudden, overwhelming urge to slap himself twice washed over Li Yi.

"Damn my loose lips!" Li Yi silently cursed himself.

After a brief moment of silent deliberation, Li Yi drew a deep breath, raised his eyebrows to fixate on Princess Changle, and offered a faint smile. "Your Highness jests. What virtue or capability does this humble subject possess that I might merit Your Highness's tender regard?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Changle did not blink. Staring straight at Li Yi with unblinking eyes, she pouted with displeasure and demanded, "Li Bo'an, speaking thusly—are you trying to push me away?"

Li Yi was slightly taken aback, a bitter expression crossing his face as he asked, "Why would Your Highness say such a thing?"

"Hmph, you are indeed trying to push me away!" Princess Changle suddenly adopted the capricious nature characteristic of a young woman, stubbornly turning her head aside. After a brief pause, she suddenly turned back and asked, "Li Bo'an, let me ask you this: do you... do you like me?"

"..." Li Yi fell into silence.

Reflecting on their interactions over the past many days, Li Yi knew in his heart that he did indeed harbor a certain fondness for Princess Changle. Yet, he was acutely aware of a fundamental distinction.

The feeling of "liking" someone and the feeling of "loving" someone were entirely different.

Take Yue'er, for instance, who always devoted herself selflessly, willingly staying by Li Yi's side without ever demanding a single thing in return, content even to serve merely as a maid.

Or take his younger sister, whose sole wish was to remain by Li Yi's side for the rest of her life, and who now resided in a Taoist temple, silently praying for Li Yi's well-being and the safety of both their families.

As for Li Yi, he treated them as he would treat himself, as he would treat his own family, never asking for any return whatsoever.

——That was "love"!

Meanwhile, "liking" could stem from a momentary favorable impression or a passing fancy; it simply lacked the profound weight carried by "love."

"Your Highness." After a moment of silence, Li Yi raised his gaze to look at Princess Changle. At that very moment, Princess Changle also turned back slightly, her eyes fixed earnestly upon him.

With a solemn expression, Li Yi said, "Your Highness, the feeling of liking someone is entirely different from the feeling of loving someone."

"I know. Regardless, I like you, and I... I love you too!" Princess Changle nodded shyly, a resolute look then settling upon her face as she declared, "You need only tell me this: do you... or do you not like me?"

Since Princess Changle had already pressed the matter to this extent, Li Yi decided against further prevarication. He nodded and replied, "This humble subject holds nothing more than deep respect for Your Highness; there are no other sentiments!"

Upon hearing this declaration from Li Yi, Princess Changle was momentarily stunned. Immediately afterward, her face blossomed into a radiant smile, instantly forming two charming dimples.

Princess Changle had feared that Li Yi might not like her at all.

Yet now, since Li Yi had openly acknowledged that he did indeed like her, even if he did not yet harbor any deeper feelings, those could certainly be cultivated over time.

"Since that is the case, we shall simply cultivate it slowly." Princess Changle looked deep into Li Yi's eyes and said with boundless delight.

"..." Li Yi was rendered speechless. It seemed Princess Changle was utterly determined to set her heart on him.

Noticing Li Yi's expression, Princess Changle promptly slipped off the edge of the couch, swiftly sliding her feet into her shoes right then and there. She took two quick steps forward until she was right in front of Li Yi, startling him into taking two small steps backward.

Just as he did so, Princess Changle stared at Li Yi with a stern expression and commanded, "Li Bo'an, sit down first. I have something for you!"

"What thing?" Li Yi furrowed his brow in bewilderment.

"Sit down first. Standing like that, you're too tall—I can't reach!" Princess Changle said with a serious expression.

"Very well, Your Highness." Li Yi nodded, half-believing as he sat down, filled with curiosity.

Li Yi could not fathom what sort of object required him to be seated before it could be handed over.

However, the very moment Li Yi sat down, Princess Changle hurried right up to him and, without any warning, lightly pecked him on his left cheek.

Right after, like a startled little white rabbit, Princess Changle hurriedly spun around, leaving only her back facing Li Yi.

With her face flushed as brilliantly as morning clouds, Princess Changle bit her lip, kept her head tightly bowed, and softly murmured, "Li Bo'an, the gift has been given. You may leave now."

"..." Caught in a daze, Li Yi instinctively touched his cheek. Hearing Princess Changle's words, he remained frozen for a moment before finally snapping back to his senses.

"The gift Princess Changle mentioned just now... was presenting her own kiss to me?" Li Yi thought to himself.

He realized that this situation was beginning to spiral somewhat out of hand.

A brief silence hung in the air.

Seeing that Princess Changle had still not turned around and was remaining entirely silent, Li Yi had no choice but to cup his hands in a salute and take his leave. "Your Highness, this humble subject takes his leave."

Princess Changle merely waved her hand without uttering a single word; she was terrified of angering Li Yi and thus dared not turn around to look at him even once.

Seeing this, Li Yi could only shake his head with a helpless smile and turn to walk out of the Princess's Courtyard.

...

At the entrance of the Princess's Courtyard.

Linlang, standing guard at the door, saw Li Yi walking out from inside the room and caught sight of a faint red imprint of rouge on his left cheek. She could not help knitting her brows slightly.

"You scoundrel, what did you just do to the Princess inside?" Linlang glared angrily at Li Yi, demanding in a sharp voice.

Li Yi was slightly startled. He turned his head to look at Linlang in bewilderment, a smile playing on his cheek as he remarked, "Miss Linlang, your 'monthly visitor'... has she still not departed?"

"You—you shameless wretch!" Linlang gritted her teeth in furious rage.

Shooting a fierce, menacing glare at Li Yi, Linlang completely ignored his remark and took two quick steps forward to peer into the room.

Catching sight of Princess Changle inside, whose back was currently turned toward the door, Linlang instantly understood why there was such a red mark on Li Yi's face.

While feeling inwardly shocked, Linlang sighed in utter helplessness. Then, glaring at Li Yi with a look of pure annoyance, she reminded him, "You scoundrel, quickly wipe that mark off your face and get out of here!"

Having tossed those words out, Linlang stepped forward, using her entire body to block Li Yi's path and completely shielding Princess Changle's retreating figure from his line of sight.

"A mark? What mark?" Li Yi asked, feigning surprise upon hearing Linlang's words.

Seeing that Li Yi did not appear to be putting on an act, Linlang—though extremely reluctant—forced down her pride for the sake of the Princess's reputation. With a dark, gloomy expression on her pretty face, she pulled a square handkerchief from her sleeve and tossed it at Li Yi.

"Left side, the red rouge mark on your cheek!" Linlang said heatedly.

A sudden flash of understanding dawned upon Li Yi.

Yet when he saw Linlang's furious and indignant expression, a wave of amusement washed over him. Feigning complete ignorance, he blinked and smiled, "Miss Linlang, as you can see, I can't see it myself. How am I supposed to wipe it off?"

"..." Linlang was so enraged on the spot that she silently cursed him in her mind: 'This bastard Li Bo'an, he got the upper hand and yet is still acting innocent—truly exasperating and hateful!'

How could Linlang not realize that Li Yi was brazenly hinting that he wanted her to wipe it off for him?

However, Linlang was not about to fall into that trap.

With a slight, mocking smirk, Linlang pulled her treasured sword halfway out of its scabbard. With a ringing *clank*, she lifted it up and held it before Li Yi's cheek, using the blade's surface as a mirror to reflect the mark on his face.

Linlang smiled coldly and said, "Master Li, can you see it clearly now?"

Yet despite this, Li Yi remained completely unfazed. He solemnly shook his head and declared, "I still can't see. I am blind."

"..." Linlang was instantly driven to the brink of wanting to hit someone.

Blind?

If you were blind, how could you still see the path?

If you were blind, how could you have even entered the Imperial Palace?

'This stinky fellow Li Bo'an is truly spouting nonsense with his eyes wide open, completely shameless and devoid of any sense of modesty!'

Linlang mentally hurled a string of curses at Li Yi.

Just as Linlang was fuming with anger, Li Yi slowly turned around.

Lifting his feet to walk away while speaking in a casual, indifferent tone, he said, "Never mind, it's just a tiny red mark anyway, no one will pay attention to it. Once I get home, I'll just have my Yue'er wipe it off."

With those words, Li Yi turned and walked away, showing not the slightest intention of wiping off the mark before departing.

This entire scene left Linlang completely dumbfounded on the spot.

She had seen despicable, shameless, and utterly base people before, but she had never in her life encountered anyone as brazenly thick-skinned and shameless as Li Yi!

"Li Bo'an, you stop right there!" Linlang cried out angrily.

Li Yi halted in his tracks, turned back slightly, and looked at Linlang with a pleasant smile, inquiring with mild curiosity, "What is it, Miss Linlang?"

"..." Linlang's lips twitched from sheer fury.

"Hmph!" Coldly scoffing at Li Yi in deep displeasure, Linlang hurried over and snatched back the square handkerchief she had given him.

Then, with an aggressive vigor, she scrubbed hard at Li Yi's cheek over and over again. Seeing that no trace remained on his face, she snapped coldly, "Scram!"

Seeing this, Li Yi chuckled softly and asked, "Miss Linlang, would you mind teaching this official something?"

"Teach you what?" Linlang asked warily.

"Teach this official how to scram!" Li Yi stared solemnly at Linlang, then continued, "Ever since I was a child, I have never witnessed what posture one assumes when 'scramming.' Since Miss Linlang appears to be exceptionally skilled in this art, perhaps... you might instruct this official?"

"..." Linlang raised her dainty fist in a flash of pure rage; she genuinely wanted to beat Li Yi into a pulp.

He was simply too exasperating!

Just as her fist was raised, the thought of Princess Changle flashed through her mind, forcing Linlang to swallow back her towering anger. Without bestowing another word upon Li Yi, she spun around, walked back into the room, and slammed the door shut.

Leaving Li Yi standing all alone in the courtyard.

"With a wry smile, Li Yi finally turned around and departed from the Princess's Estate."

However, he had barely taken a few steps forward when a palace maid in a green dress came running swiftly toward the direction of the Princess's Estate.

Spotting Li Yi's figure, the maid panted heavily and cried out in a hurried voice, "Master Li, I've finally found you! Hurry to the Side Hall at once!"

*(There is still one more chapter, though it will be posted a bit later. This chapter was exceptionally difficult to write—sigh, I kept writing until just now and still feel somewhat unsatisfied with it.)*