Fulóng's face darkened, and he said displeasedly, "Princess Pingyue, please mind your words."
He wanted to leave.
Long Ziyue, however, smiled a little bitterly. "I never imagined it would be her."
Fulóng intended to leave, but he was anxious, wondering if Ali was in the room.
"Ali she..."
"She went to the Fifth Prince's side and hasn't returned yet." Long Ziyue lowered her gaze, not wanting to see the wariness and rejection in his eyes.
"Brother Fu, I have no ill intentions."
Fulóng had been angry moments ago, but now he finally calmed down.
"It was my attitude that was improper. I ask for the Princess's understanding."
"Can't you call me Ziyue, like Ali does?"
"It is not proper," Fulóng refused immediately.
Long Ziyue wanted to laugh, but she couldn't.
Can't she even have a shred of pity?
She didn't ask for much, only for a little warmth from him.
Even if it were just a tenth of the warmth he showed towards Ali, it would be good if he gave it to her.
Fulóng did not wish to upset her. He admired her courage for having confessed to him, and he did not dislike her.
It was just that what she had said earlier had caught him somewhat off guard.
"Princess, Ali is my friend. I would go through fire and water for her, but there is nothing improper between Ali and me. I ask that the Princess refrain from speaking carelessly and damaging Ali's reputation."
"I know you are good to her."
Long Ziyue couldn't quite articulate her current feelings.
Perhaps she should have guessed it long ago, but perhaps she had been truly foolish before.
She lowered her eyelids, her tone bitter and full of disappointment.
"When I was gravely injured, you stayed by my side day and night, even risking your own blood to save me. I was truly deeply moved that day, even..."
So moved, she had wished to pledge herself to him.
"But now, I realize I was wrong, terribly wrong."
At this moment, she truly wanted to burst into laughter, to laugh at her own foolishness.
But she really couldn't laugh.
"Princess..."
"You cared about my injuries not for my sake, but because you cared about Ali."
She leaned against the door, her body weak. "Because if I had truly died, Ali's guilt would never have been cleared."
"You were willing to give everything, even your life, to save me, simply because you knew that only if I lived could Ali be safe."
"Princess, please stop talking. Ali and I..."
"I know you are afraid that if she knows your feelings, she will no longer be close to you."
Fulóng's expression turned serious, and he said sternly, "Since the Princess knows, please do not make things difficult for me."
And do not make things difficult for Ali!
Long Ziyue felt a pang of sorrow. "I truly have no ill intentions. Can you stop being so wary of me?"
That wary gaze was truly hurtful.
She looked at the roasted chicken in his hand and finally managed a faint smile. "Can I have some?"
...A moment later, they were sitting on a tree.
Fulóng sat a distance away from her, gazing into the distance with a somber expression.
Some things, if left unsaid, allow one to maintain peace of mind.
Once spoken, they bring immense heartache.
Long Ziyue ate the roasted chicken, picking at it absentmindedly. In truth, she had no appetite.
After a long while, she said softly, "I won't dislike Ali. Don't worry, I'm not that kind of person. I just want to lose clearly if I have to lose."
"There is never a winner or loser in such matters. It's just that before the Princess, I met Ali first. Perhaps it was fate."
But Fulóng's voice was heavy, weighted with a clear indication of his unhappiness.
"I'm sorry."
"The Princess has no need to apologize. I only hope that the Princess will not reveal a single word of tonight's events to anyone."
He wanted to drink.
But he bore the responsibility of protecting the Prince, the Princess, and Ali.
No matter how distressed he felt, he could not drink.
Long Ziyue looked at his profile, feeling a touch of pity. "When did it happen? When did you... fall for Ali?"
"Black Wind Ridge, the siege by the medicinal people, facing life and death together."
Those who haven't experienced it can never understand that feeling.
A girl fighting alongside him at the brink of life and death.
Fulóng had never experienced such a feeling in his life.
The first, and only time, was so deeply etched in his memory.
Later, Chu Qianli shared the secret of her bracelet with him.
That feeling of being completely trusted made him fall even deeper.
Some affections do not need to be spoken. For him, keeping this secret for a lifetime would not bring him bitterness.
However, now that it had been revealed, his mood suddenly became heavy.
He was afraid.
He was truly afraid.
He feared that if Ali ever found out, she would distance herself from him.
He asked for nothing, harbored no improper thoughts towards Ali.
He only wished to be her trusted friend, or even confidant, for his entire life.
That would be enough.
"I truly envy her." Long Ziyue tore off a chicken leg and offered it to him. "Don't worry, I will not reveal a single word of this to Ali."
"But if she notices it herself... that has nothing to do with me, and you can't blame me."
Fulóng took the chicken leg and looked at her calmly.
Long Ziyue stood up from the tree branch and brushed the dust off herself.
Taking a deep breath, she looked down at him and said, "The women of our Longteng Kingdom are not as fragile as you imagine."
"Brother Fu, I like you because I like you. At least at this moment, my heart still belongs only to you."
"Princess..."
"But since you have no feelings for me, from now on, we will only be friends. I will not have any further improper thoughts about you."
Of course, whether she could truly achieve this was her own matter, unrelated to him.
"I only hope that in the future, you will not avoid me like the plague. Then I will be content."
"The Princess is Ali's friend, and therefore she is my friend as well." Fulóng did not dwell on these matters.
Long Ziyue understood; he was not a person who dwelled on such things.
With the matter laid bare, things felt more relaxed.
"I'm full." She returned the remaining roasted chicken to him. "Next time, I'll treat you."
Fulóng took it and watched her leave. After she had safely returned, he picked up the roasted chicken.
He had originally intended it for Ali.
However, she was at the Fifth Prince's side and likely lacked for nothing to eat.
Whether it was Prince Xuan or the Fifth Prince, they were both very good to Ali.
He had never asked for anything.
As long as he could see her smile, and occasionally speak with her, that was enough.
If Long Ziyue hadn't spoken of it, he would have buried this matter in his heart forever.
He looked up; the night was deep.
At this hour, he wondered what Ali was doing.
...What was Chu Qianli doing now?
Everyone would surely not guess.
She herself would absolutely not have imagined it.
She was still being ordered around as a maid!