Xuan Rui cupped her chin with one hand, leaning forward as he whispered softly, “To maintain the support of Zhenbei Wang, the Crown Prince staged your fake death, intending to present you to him. Unexpectedly, the restless little princess seized an opportunity to escape the palace, drifted to Lu Ming Mountain, and was ultimately captured by the invading Er Hai people, who eventually delivered you to this General.”

“Is that not so?” Xuan Rui truly disliked seeing her so frightened, which was why he had feigned ignorance until now.

But witnessing her reliance on him today, he no longer wished to pretend. He wanted to lay everything bare and hear her own thoughts.

“General Xuan is correct,” Li Youqing replied with a hoarse voice, mustering the courage to meet his gaze.

She had always disliked his stern expression, yet she unexpectedly noticed his unusually gentle eyes and a faint tenderness flickering across his face.