Chapter 339: Prince Su's sincere confession of feelings!

Li Qingluo's eyes widened in shock.

When……did he……recognize her?

And how did he recognize her?

Clearly, clearly, her face, even her voice, had completely changed.

Moreover, there was already a 'self' identical to her right beside him.

Could he also recognize the true self?

Li Qingluo still thought she was dreaming, until the pottery shard still clasped in her palm painfully stabbed her.

With a clang, the pottery shard in her hand fell to the ground.

Duan Rongshi tightly embraced the person in his arms.

It seemed he wanted to rub her into his very bones and blood.

Until Li Qingluo could barely breathe, she even came to her senses, then she struggled to push him away with effort.

"You—you let go!"

Duan Rongshi did not let go.

He merely loosened his hold on her a little.

He lowered his head to look at her eyes, his own eyes turning red first.

Li Qingluo was utterly shocked.

She—she, when had she ever seen such a Duan Rongshi?

He was aloof and noble, cold and unapproachable, always holding himself aloof, a person who strictly restrained his emotions, yet now he revealed such a fragile expression.

Why?

Her eyes showed confusion.

But she quickly sobered up.

Li Qingluo: "Prince Su's behavior truly bewilders this commoner girl."

"You aren't constantly declaring how much you care for this Miss Li, are you?"

"It is said that you even knocked on the city gate in the dead of night, struck the palace gate, and went mad for her..."

"But now you have personally stabbed her!"

"Your conduct—"

Duan Rongshi raised his left hand, his right hand still tightly holding her in his embrace, refusing to let go.

And his left hand gently caressed her cheek, using his thumb to press her tender lips.

"You clearly know exactly for whom the prince does this."

"And whom does the prince care about?"

Li Qingluo widened her eyes.

In his pupils, at this moment there was only her exceedingly plain face, yet he seemed truly to be looking at the real her.

Could it be that he can truly see through her guise, even disregarding her voice, to recognize her true self?

Li Qingluo turned her face away forcefully, breathing heavily.

"Your Highness truly knows……?"

Duan Rongshi lowered his head: "Yes."

"Even if you change your guise and your voice, the prince can still recognize you at a glance."

"Do you find it unbelievable?"

"When the prince first saw her, he truly thought he had found you, which is why he drew close to her."

"But that very night, as the prince gazed into her eyes, he already sensed something was off."

"The prince even thought that her spouting nonsense about amnesia was because……"

Saying this, the Prince Su actually choked up.

Li Qingluo was so shocked her head almost dropped.

Is this……this……still the Prince Su?

She couldn't help but look at his eyes, incredulously asking: "Then how do you determine that this commoner girl is the real one?"

"Clearly I am completely different from before……"

Duan Rongshi raised his hand and lightly flicked her forehead: "Do you know, the prince first saw you at the foot of Green Pine Mountain?"

"The prince then felt that you had a pair of very beautiful eyes."

"The prince has remembered it for a long time."

"A person's appearance may change. It may grow old, be disguised, or even possibly have the soul replaced……"

"Only these eyes, through them can one see the person's true appearance."

"Moreover, when the prince crossed blades with you, aren't all the moves you unleashed those that the prince personally taught you?"

"Do you really think the prince is a foolish teacher, not even recognizing his own disciple?"

Moreover, she even used the incident of encountering a caravan at the foot of Qishan Mountain back then to deliberately arouse his suspicion.

She was hinting at him.

If he still doesn't understand, he is a complete idiot!

Li Qingluo had never heard him speak so much.

She never expected that just a single glance would allow him to easily recognize her!

Originally she thought she didn't know how much effort it would take, nor how much hardship she would have to endure to prove her identity.

She had even prepared herself, that if he were to torture her severely for a false 'Li Qingluo', she would desperately escape again.

But he never expected... he could recognize his true self at a glance.

"Th... thank you."

She couldn't help but choke up, her eyes reddening, tears welling at the edges, almost falling.

These past days of suffering and grievance, she thought her heart had become completely numb and resigned.

Even after weathering countless storms and enduring countless setbacks, she could still keep patching herself up.

In this world, the only person one can truly rely on is ultimately oneself.

But at this moment, looking at the person before her, her heart fluttered slightly...

Could she believe that there truly is another person in this world who, even if she completely changed her appearance, could always spot her at first glance in a crowd?

Li Qingluo hastily covered her eyes, not wanting to appear weak and useless before him.

Duan Rongshi, however, took her hand and gently pulled it down.

His gaze was like a deep lake, holding endless words and profound meaning.

That gaze, as if it had crossed the years of the past, was gentle yet steadfast.

He seemed to see at a glance the vulnerability and softness deep in her heart that no one else noticed.

He let out a soft sigh.

Li Qingluo's tears fell uncontrollably in the blink of an eye.

Duan Rongshi: "You have endured much suffering and many grievances."

"It's all my fault."

"This time, I failed to protect you and didn't find you in time."

"I apologize to you; you must be angry with me!"

Li Qingluo hearing this, her cheeks flushed crimson with a whoosh.

He is Prince Su!

Is he crazy, or has someone taken over this face?

He actually apologized to her so humbly?

Is he really sober?

Li Qingluo never even dared to think of this before!

Is he still that same person, always aloof, full of noble arrogance?

One day he would be willing to lower himself like this, whispering softly to coax her...

Li Qingluo found it hard to accept his sudden change, stammering: "Your Highness, being of heavenly noble lineage, how dare I, a common girl, overstep..."

Duan Rongshi once again held her tightly in his arms.

"You can!"

"This time it's truly my fault. If I hadn't been careless and left you under the tree, you wouldn't have been taken away due to your serious injuries."

"Nor would you have had your face changed, been unable to return home, not even dared for me to recognize you, suffering endless grievances."

"I brought her back to Cassia Garden, merely hoping that some familiar scenes might help find you again..."

"I even thought your body had been possessed by a ghost; do you know how anxious I was?"

Li Qingluo, hearing this, widened her eyes in surprise once again.

He even guessed that in this world... someone could swap souls?

"How could you think that?"

"Your Highness, you... have you discovered something?"

Li Qingluo herself is also a reborn; plus Nan Jia—could it be that Nan Jia possessed the body of the Twelfth Lady, and someone discovered that?

Li Qingluo's heart pounded wildly, yet she heard Duan Rongshi say: "I hadn't even had a chance to test and drive away the spirit from her before you came back."

"Good, you were just had your face changed; you're not truly gone forever."

He felt a deep lingering fear.

As for that identical skin, since she has returned, there's naturally no need to keep it.

Even if she does nothing, he won't keep it around as an eyesore.

Saying this, he bent lower and lower, his face coming close to Li Qingluo's, before he finally stopped.

She could hear his breathing.

Somewhat hurried.

She could also clearly see the tiny red mole on his brow, amidst his fair brow, clean and unblemished by any dust or turmoil.

Their gazes became entangled, unable to break free.

Li Qingluo felt as if she had touched a flame, about to flee.

Duan Rongshi, however, drew near again.

His nose lightly touched hers.

Such an intimate gesture frightened Li Qingluo, making her heart pound wildly.

She felt she might be ill.

Otherwise, how could it be that they have clearly overstepped bounds, yet she feels no resistance in her heart?

It's over; she had long known that someday she would be bewitched by his face.

She had clearly struggled hard to stay sober...

Duan Rongshi stared at her eyes, examining them repeatedly.

Then he gently asked: "Li Qingluo, my feelings—do you really still not understand?"

"If you keep pretending to be clueless, I might just abandon all propriety."

「I've had enough already...... 」

His voice, at this moment, was even lower and hoarser than hers.

Duan Rongshi did not want to offend her just like that.

If the name is not proper, speech will not be smooth.

But sometimes emotions cannot be restrained; even after exerting all possible self-control, the result is that one suffers alone.

This torment—he has finally had enough of it!

He did not want to see her leave his side again.

He didn't even want to hear a word about what danger she had encountered again.

Perhaps only by tightly binding her to his side could he finally feel at ease.

「I will go with you to Xiuli Jiangjun Fu to see your grandmother. 」

Li Qingluo's heart had just jumped to her throat.

Suddenly hearing him say that, she herself froze: 'Ah……?'

Although she also wanted to see her grandmother to report that she was safe, was he changing the subject too quickly?

Moreover, what he said was vague and unclear.

Seeing her dazed, Prince Su couldn't help but let out a low laugh.

He again cherished her, pulling her into his arms.

He clearly and plainly told her: 'Li Qingluo, Duan Rongshi has long been devoted to you, his affection has long existed.'

「Take me to see your grandmother; I wish to personally express my feelings for her precious granddaughter. 」

「Do you understand? Silly girl! 」

Li Qingluo retorted: 'Then how do you know… whether I am willing or not?'