Chapter 651: Dragon

Shortly after.

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

"No… no need…"

Upon hearing Li Ang's question, the Princess, wrapped in an old overcoat, wearing woolen 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, a faint flicker appeared beside Li Ang's window, and a sun hat and two slightly worn silk fans materialized 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 work is 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 duty, I might face a similar extreme scenario, so I've prepared in advance—I carry extra food, water, tools, and such, just in case I can't handle it…

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

"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 just to have an excuse to get close to him—grimaced and gulped down a large mouthful of the hot water he'd prepared, then fiercely hugged the puppy and planted a retaliatory kiss on its head.

Whatever. Couldn't hug the dog man? Fine, hugging his dog'll do… hmm… actually, this little thing is kind of adorable~

"Princess Veronika."

Amid the puppy's muffled wang wu protests, 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 "ticket-delivering maid's" claim that the Princess adored Master Wang Erde's works didn't seem entirely fabricated.

When mentioning the upcoming play, Princess Veronika's eyes lit up. Hugging the puppy, which wriggled and wagged in her arms, she recited with the precision of a connoisseur:

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

Especially the scene where, after enduring countless storms, the gentle and composed Lady Helena, under the passionate 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 she, to protect her family and her disciple's future, cruelly rejects his feelings and drives him away, yet trembles and accidentally shatters her years-long sculpture the moment he departs in despair—that moment carries unparalleled emotional force! When the statue is destroyed, the stifled sobs that follow—whether from grief over the loss of years of labor or from parting with her one true love—are so agonizing they feel like tearing 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's carved over and over again, even in rough sketches, has gradually come to resemble the lover she rejected—until finally, she strokes the statue's face and weeps silently. That scene is an eternal classic in 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'd 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 resists his family's 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 traveling together, 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 the woman his family chose, hoping to use his fiancée's family power to find Agatha.

But unbelievably, on the very day Elijah marries the woman arranged for him—having resigned himself to losing love—the bride who appears at the wedding altar is none other than Agatha herself… who also fled an arranged marriage, but was caught and forcibly brought home to marry."

"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 along.

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

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

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 trouble lately and their lead actor can't perform, making it less impressive than before, as long as Master Wang Erde's scripts remain, I guarantee you won't regret it!"

Wow, with how busy you are, you still keep tabs on a troupe's cast changes? So the maid was right—you really are the ultimate superfan of that master.

Even though the plays were already spoiled before I even saw them, seeing the Princess now—so much more genuine than before—Li Ang found himself strangely less resistant to this dragon's den and tiger's lair of a trip.

"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 journey won't be in vain."

(End of Chapter)