Chapter 249: 248 Dragon

Shortly after.

"Your Highness, are you still cold? Shall I get you another coat?"

"N-no… no need…"

Upon hearing Li Ang's question, the Princess, wrapped in an old overcoat, wearing cotton gloves, clutching a hot water bag, and hugging a warm little puppy, could not help but shake her head slightly, then said with a complex expression:

"Actually, I'm not that cold… By the way, are you really that sensitive to cold? Why do you carry so many warming items?"

"I carry cooling items too, not just warming ones."

Amid the puppy's high-pitched wang wu cries, the window beside Li Ang flickered faintly, and a sun hat and two slightly worn silk fans appeared in his hands, followed by a small iron basin filled with milky-white ice shavings.

"…"

You carry fans and ice shavings in winter? What's the point?

With the Princess looking utterly speechless, Li Ang explained calmly:

"You know, our Clearance Bureau's duties are highly unusual—we often encounter unexpected situations. For instance, senior agents from the Lyre Branch were frozen solid in the polar region for two years due to an accident.

I worry that one day, while on assignment, I might face similar extremes, so I've prepared in advance—carrying extra food, water, tools, and such, just in case I can't cope…

By the way, would you like to try some ice shavings? They're mixed with coconut syrup—very sweet."

"N-no… no thanks…"

After declining Li Ang's kind offer, the Princess—who had deliberately frozen herself by the roadside for over half an hour to create an excuse to get close to him—grimaced and gulped down a large mouthful of the hot water he had prepared, then fiercely hugged the puppy to her chest and planted a retaliatory kiss on its head.

Whatever. If I can't hug the dog-man, hugging his dog will do… hmm… honestly, this little thing is kind of adorable~

"Princess Veronika."

Amid the puppy's muffled wang wu protests of abuse, Li Ang glanced at the ticket in his hand and asked voluntarily:

"What plays will the Morning Star Troupe perform today?"

"Of course, the most classic works by Master Wang Erde!"

To Li Ang's surprise, the earlier "ticket-delivering maid's" claim that the Princess adored Master Wang Erde's works seemed far from mere flattery.

As she spoke of the upcoming play, Princess Veronika's eyes lit up. Holding the puppy, which wriggled and wagged in her arms, she recited like a connoisseur:

"The one I always watch is Master Wang Erde's masterpiece, 'Lady Helena,' about the forbidden love between the great sculptor Lady Helena and her most gifted disciple.

Especially the scene where the gentle, composed Lady Helena, under the fierce and sincere pursuit of her disciple, first loses control of her trembling heart—there's a strange beauty in that transgression mixed with sanctity.

And when, to protect her family and her disciple's future, she cruelly rejects his love and drives him away, yet trembles and accidentally destroys her years-long sculpture the moment he leaves in despair—that moment carries unparalleled emotional force!

After the statue is shattered, her suppressed sobs—whether for the loss of years of labor or for parting from her one true love—are so agonizing they make you want to tear your own heart out.

Later, when she picks up her chisel through tears and continues carving the ruined statue, she discovers that the face she has carved countless times now resembles the lover she rejected—and finally, she strokes the statue's face and weeps silently. Lady Helena is an eternal classic of theatrical history!"

After enthusiastically introducing her favorite work, fearing Li Ang might dislike such a tragic romance, the Princess hurriedly added:

"Li Ang, if you prefer something lighter, Master Wang Erde also wrote romantic comedies like 'Twelve Days Together' and 'The Rented Room.'

'Twelve Days Together' is one of Master Wang Erde's early masterpieces—it tells of a young man, Elijah, who rebels against his arranged marriage and secretly flees to a coastal city. Not knowing where to go, he hires a beautiful barmaid, Agatha, to be his temporary guide.

Over eleven days of travel, they grow close and fall in love. Just as Elijah decides to abandon his loveless marriage and bravely pursue his happiness, Agatha is kidnapped by a mysterious figure by the sea. To ensure his beloved's safety, Elijah returns home and marries his arranged bride, hoping to use his fiancée's family to find Agatha.

But unbelievably, on the very day Elijah marries his arranged wife—having resigned himself to losing love—the bride who appears at the wedding altar is none other than Agatha herself: she too fled an arranged marriage, but was caught and forcibly returned to be wed.

How's that? Doesn't it sound thrilling? Aren't you already eager to see it?"

"…"

Watching the Princess's eyes gleam with anticipation, clearly desperate for his approval, Li Ang couldn't help but grin.

Honestly… it does sound decent, but you just summarized the entire appeal of both plays in a few sentences.

Seeing the Princess, so eager to recommend her favorite plays yet utterly unaware she'd spoiled them all, Li Ang smiled helplessly and nodded in agreement.

"I'm certainly interested… Shall we watch these today?"

"Yes! One 'Twelve Days Together,' one 'Lady Helena'—after both, it'll be exactly nightfall."

The Princess beamed triumphantly, hugging the puppy happily:

"I knew it—no one can resist Master Wang Erde's works… Li Ang, believe me, even though the Morning Star Troupe has had some troubles lately and their lead actor can't perform, making them less impressive than before, as long as Master Wang Erde's scripts remain, I guarantee you won't regret it!"

Wow, you're this busy, yet you still keep tabs on a troupe's cast changes? Looks like the maid was right—you really are the ultimate superfan of that master.

Even though he'd already been spoiled on the plots before seeing a single scene, seeing the Princess now—so much more genuine than before—Li Ang found himself oddly less resistant to this journey into the dragon's den and tiger's lair.

"Then I'll trust you."

Smiling at the Princess, as the carriage began to slow and finally stopped by the roadside, Li Ang tossed the warming clothes and the puppy through the window, then stepped out first and turned to offer his hand to her.

"Let's go. I hope today's trip won't be in vain."