Chapter 79: Recognized

The mountain was quiet after the fresh rain, birds and beasts calling outside, everything brimming with vitality. Hua Rong walked with delicate steps, dressed in clothes that had already been dried, silently following behind Jun Ye Li. She kept her head lowered, unable even to steal a glance at his back, feeling a restless agitation she could not put into words.

“My mind is so useless, why does it keep replaying those scenes?”

Every time she thought about it, she felt stirred again, uncertain whether the excitement came from lying or perhaps... She dared not imagine the consequences, for falling in love would be tantamount to courting disaster.

“What is it? Are you savoring the memory of this morning—”

“Don’t say another word, I wasn’t thinking about anything, I’m just enjoying the scenery!” Hua Rong hurriedly cut him off. She couldn’t let him continue, or else she’d never be able to face herself.

Jun Ye Li cooperated, nodding, then suddenly took her hand, catching her off guard. “Why are you holding my hand? I’m not a child—I can walk on my own.”

“These stones are jagged and you’re so distracted; if you stumble and ruin your face, I’ll be forced to spend the rest of my life looking at it. Aren’t you afraid of losing my favor?”

She had never sought his favor, nor had she ever thought of competing for it. Where did he get such confidence?

Hua Rong sighed. “I’ve boarded a pirate ship, and it’s not easy to escape. Perhaps my plan must be carried out sooner…”

As her heart fluttered, she felt compelled to find a foolproof way to calm him.

It was some time before the two finally made their way down the hillside, their eyes feasting on the scenery along the way.

At the foot of the mountain, their carriage waited in the distance beneath a black awning. Boarding it, they set off without delay.

“How do you think last night went?” Jun Ye Li would ask this question every so often, whether to boast or genuinely care for her feelings, Hua Rong couldn’t decide. Either way, it left her too embarrassed to answer.

She pursed her lips and decided to play mute, responding only with nods and shakes of the head, preferring the quiet atmosphere to his relentless questioning.

They traveled until reaching the bustling city streets, where the aroma of food wafted through the air.

“I’m hungry.”

Hua Rong glanced at Jun Ye Li, whose incessant chatter was like a machine gun. After one trip up the mountain, he seemed a different man.

She was indeed hungry, and used this as an excuse to silence him.

Sure enough, Jun Ye Li ordered the carriage to stop and bought a variety of pastries—so many that even eating one of each would be enough to fill anyone to bursting.

“Your Majesty, even with the coachman included, we can’t possibly finish all this. Are you sure it’s right to waste so much food?”

Waste is shameful, she thought, even if time had changed, those principles remained.

Jun Ye Li pondered and looked Hua Rong up and down, noting her slender figure. He shook his head. “You’re far too frail. Today, you must finish all these pastries.”

He remembered holding her earlier—she was light as a feather, enough to make anyone think the palace had starved her.

“You’re not joking, are you?”

“What do you think?” Jun Ye Li’s serious demeanor left her speechless and despairing.

Though the pastries smelled and tasted delicious, she was not a pig.

A wave of helplessness washed over her, and she struggled to suppress her restlessness.

Hua Rong managed a forced smile, gritting her teeth. “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

All the way, she nearly burst her stomach, but at least the task was completed.

Just when they were halfway to the palace, a sudden commotion arose nearby.

“If we kill this dog emperor, we won’t have to suffer anymore!”

She couldn’t tell where the voice came from, but it startled her enough to hiccup. “What’s going on? Someone seems to be shouting about the emperor. Has our identity been discovered?”

This time, they had traveled incognito—no guards, the coachman a commoner hired with heavy payment, all to avoid those with ill intentions.

Yet, the sudden shouting was unexpected. Jun Ye Li furrowed his brow, lifted the curtain, and saw a group of ragged men wielding large blades, rushing straight for their carriage.

Sensing danger, Jun Ye Li grabbed Hua Rong’s arm and quickly jumped out, putting distance between themselves and the attackers.

“Who are you people?” he demanded.

The group before them looked anything but friendly: filthy, disheveled, their clothes torn, faces grimy. They were no assassins, nor private guards.

If she had to describe them, they resembled the beggars they’d encountered earlier.

“What do you care who we are? You cruel emperor, your tyranny has ruined us. Today, we act for heaven’s sake!”

She didn’t quite understand their shouted words, but the hostility was obvious, and it was clear they had recognized them.

Fear took hold of Hua Rong. She shrank back, whispering nervously, “Your Majesty, what should we do? Our identity is exposed, and fighting here might harm innocent people…”

There was no way forward, nor back—truly a predicament.

Jun Ye Li remained silent, watching as the crowd gathered to witness the scene.

“This is getting out of hand. Let’s retreat, preserve ourselves first, and avoid causing a disturbance.”

Before Hua Rong could react, Jun Ye Li pulled her toward a nearby alley, fleeing swiftly as the mob surged after them.

Both sides chased each other, their speed matched.

Eventually, they found themselves cornered in a dead-end alley, with no escape in sight.

“What now? Even if you fight, you can’t take them all on…”

It wasn’t that Hua Rong doubted him, but the numbers were overwhelming, all armed and brimming with resentment—hardly easy opponents.

“Run! Where do you think you can go? Keep running if you dare!” one of them taunted, his arrogance blatant as he leered at them.