She had angered him again.
Long Xinghe felt helpless herself.
Feng Wuya left, carrying a chilling aura.
Jiang Tao had been guarding the courtyard all along. Although she hadn't intended to eavesdrop, she had vaguely heard their conversation.
Of course, it wasn't entirely "unintentional"; she had deliberately tried to listen.
After all, these two individuals...
Her master was very career-oriented. When it came to relationships, after her disfigurement, all that remained was to fulfill her duties.
As long as Prince Wuya lived well, she could sacrifice her lifelong happiness.
And Prince Wuya, it seemed, didn't know what he wanted either.
In short, these two clearly had feelings for each other, but they were just a little bit off.
Just a little bit.
But she didn't know how to bridge that gap.
"Master, the Prince doesn't want you to leave. You can stay..."
"What reason do I have to stay?"
To remain in Beiming, where her skills would be useless.
To stay by Wuya's side, only to be unable to even be a decorative piece, what other use would she have?
"But, the Prince truly doesn't want you to leave..."
"Do you want a woman who resembles an old crone to stay by his side, making him unable to hold his head high for the rest of his life?"
Long Xinghe absolutely refused to be a burden to anyone.
What she wanted was to use her greatest abilities to give her man the most perfect life.
If her very existence was a stain, then why should she remain by his side?
"Master, if... if your face could be healed..."
Jiang Tao looked at her, knowing full well the low probability.
Especially now, her face was even more unsightly than before.
After taking the medicine given by Chu Qianli, her master's health had indeed improved, but the poisonous scars on her face were becoming more pronounced.
However, her master didn't seem to mind. Jiang Tao, despite having doubts about Chu Qianli's medical skills, dared not speak out.
After all, she was the Empress!
"Even if my face could be healed, I still couldn't stay in Beiming and spend my life with Wuya."
Long Xinghe was a woman with strong career ambitions. Although, when necessary, she could give up everything for Feng Wuya.
Even her own life.
But when it wasn't necessary, for example, when Wuya was living well, she had to do what she was supposed to do.
A woman should not abandon her career for a man; what she absolutely should not do is become a mere appendage to him.
"Alright, go back and rest. Dawn is approaching."
Long Xinghe didn't want to waste time with idle chatter. She moved the raw materials given by Chu Qianli onto the table and immediately began a new round of work.
Jiang Tao sighed and said helplessly, "Master, you are too good to the Empress."
"You know she is the Empress. I receive the ruler's bounty and bear the ruler's worries. If I'm not good to the Empress, who else should I be good to?"
Long Xinghe didn't even lift her eyelids.
Jiang Tao pouted, "But you have now been demoted to Tengbei, guarding a barren land. The subjects might not even acknowledge you as a vassal king..."
"As long as A'Li acknowledges me, that's enough," Long Xinghe smiled faintly. "If one day A'Li is in trouble, you must believe that we will be her last and most steadfast support."
Jiang Tao's heart was stirred.
The Empress's support!
This weighty responsibility was certainly enough to make one's blood boil!
"Yes! I'll head back now. Master, you should also pay attention to resting."
"Go."
After Jiang Tao left, Long Xinghe continued her work.
However, before dawn, in the deepest part of the night, a disturbance suddenly occurred outside.
Assassins!
Long Xinghe's expression darkened. She lifted the window and leaped out, pursuing them.