The seductive princess is no longer being pursued; the aloof prime minister is facing a crematorium.

Chapter 102 Your son is unwilling to let down Mr. Si Ning
Jiang Huayan didn't even look up.

He was bent over his desk, intently reviewing the memorials.

Jiang Jinshuang held a stack of portraits in her hand.

She raised an eyebrow slightly and immediately noticed the first person in the portrait.

He was a seventh-rank civil official who was nearly thirty years old and had three concubines.

Mediocre and unambitious.

Most importantly, she's really ugly.

With just one glance, Jiang Jinshuang understood the Emperor's intention.

—This is a warning to her.

She concealed the cold smile on her lips, and Jiang Jinshuang looked astonished: "What does Father mean by this?"

Jiang Huayan didn't even look up, his tone cold: "You've reached the age where you should find a marriage partner."

“When I was looking for a wife for you, you refused to listen, saying you were too young, so I let it go.”

"At your age, it's no longer appropriate for you to be single."

Jiang Jinshuang bit her lip slightly, pinched the crotch of her leg, and said with tears in her eyes, "Father, you clearly heard everything yesterday, your son and Si Ning—"

“The Si family in Jiangnan is far away, and I really can’t bear to see you go through such a hardship to marry so far away,” Jiang Huayan interrupted coldly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “It would be better to find someone in the capital whom I know well, so that I can rest assured.”

They said it was because they felt sorry for him.

He was just worried that if she stayed far away, she would be out of his control.

The sky is high and the emperor is far away.

Jiang Huayan was worried that she possessed the Tiger Tally, which allowed her to control 300,000 Black Armored Cavalry, and that she was conserving her strength to challenge his throne.

He would never allow her to marry into the Si family of Jiangnan.

The Si family of Jiangnan is so wealthy that they could rival a nation. If they were to add 300,000 black-armored cavalry to their ranks, the emperor's throne would be far from secure.

Although Jiang Huayan showed no emotion when he heard about this at the banquet yesterday, the fact that he summoned her to the palace just one day later clearly indicates that he felt threatened.

Jiang Jinshuang naturally knew these things.

Jiang Huayan knew that she must understand the reasoning behind it.

But this kind of thing couldn't be discussed openly, so Jiang Huayan made an excuse, saying that he couldn't bear to see her marry far away.

The two knew it well.

“Father, I have long admired Mr. Si Ning. Love knows no distance, and I am willing to endure this hardship.”

—Isn't it just acting?
Anyone can do that.

When Jiang Jinshuang spoke these words, her gaze was intense and her emotions were deep. Even Eunuch Kang was somewhat stunned when he saw her.

"Xin Yue Si Ning?" Jiang Hua Yan finally looked up.

He gave a cold laugh and finally looked up at her.

His cold eyes exuded the majesty of an emperor.

But Jiang Jinshuang met his gaze directly.

"Didn't you just say a few days ago that you still admire Minister Pei and want to win his favor?"

Jiang Huayan scrutinized Jiang Jinshuang.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang couldn't help but chuckle.

The official clearly understood that her initial statement was merely a reason he needed from her to refuse the marriage.

Now they're using this "reason" to try and lift her up.

“Father, it is true that I love the Grand Secretary,” Jiang Jinshuang said, holding a handkerchief and sobbing softly. “But I also know that the Grand Secretary hates me and will never look down on me.”

As she spoke, Jiang Jinshuang sniffed dramatically, "Now that I am heartbroken, Mr. Si Ning has been kind to me, and I cannot let him down."

In just a few words, he extricated himself from the situation.

Jiang Huayan's face was gloomy, and a flicker of emotion crossed his eyes.

Jiang Jinshuang pretended not to see it and cried out, "Father, I know that you love me and are reluctant to let me go, but I also believe that you want me to find someone I truly love to spend the rest of my life with."

"Your subject has now found it, please grant me your request, Father."

silence.

The study was unusually quiet and deserted.

Eunuch Kang seemed to realize something and whispered, "It seems the kitchen has sent over some soup. This servant will go and bring it in for His Majesty."

After speaking, Eunuch Kang lowered his head and silently withdrew.

For a moment, only Jiang Jinshuang and Jiang Huayan remained in the vast imperial study.

The man in the main seat exuded an imposing aura without anger, his sharp gaze seemingly capable of piercing through the heart. Jiang Jinshuang lowered her eyes and remained silent, only sobbing softly.

She stood before the desk, wiping away tears with a handkerchief, her eyes red and swollen, a sight that evoked pity in me.

—She almost pinched the inside of her thigh until it turned purple.

In the study, behind Jiang Huayan was a screen displaying a five-clawed dragon.

The bright yellow dragon soars through the clouds, so lifelike.

A pair of angry eyes stared straight at her, as if trying to pin her there.

"How was your three years in Baiyujing?"

Suddenly, he changed the subject and asked her this question.

Jiang Jinshuang was still sobbing softly, her voice weak: "Although Baiyujing is often snowy, it is located on the border of Wanjin and Beihuai, and you can see breathtaking scenery."

Whenever the sun shines on the snow-covered ground of Baiyujing, the grassland of Beihuai is also bathed in golden red light, making the world blend into one color. Looking around, she seems to be all alone in the world.

There was no disgust in his tone; in fact, there was a hint of emotion.

Jiang Huayan's tone was cold: "My illness is improving, so you should make preparations."

what to prepare?
Jiang Jinshuang instantly understood.

Preparing to return to Baiyujing.

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable, and simply lowered her head and whispered, "Zhaoming understands."

He didn't even utter a single rebuttal.

Jiang Huayan frowned, looking at the composed Jiang Jinshuang in front of him, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"I will not approve of your marriage to the Si family of Jiangnan. As for the reason for rejecting the Si family, you can figure it out yourself."

They got straight to the point, without any further embellishment.

Jiang Jinshuang stopped sobbing.

Even the redness around her eyes hadn't faded, but her eyes were filled with indifference and coldness.

"Is Father reluctant to let his son marry far away, or is he worried that his son will marry into the Si family in Jiangnan?"

As she said this, Jiang Jinshuang's tone turned cold, and she looked at Jiang Huayan with a half-smile.

Jiang Huayan narrowed his eyes, his tone even colder: "Are you defying me?"

Jiang Jinshuang tilted her head, still smiling: "How many times has your son disobeyed your father?"

In the entire Wan Jin, aside from the remonstrating officials, she was the first person to dare to defy the emperor to his face.

"Outrageous!" Jiang Huayan slammed his hand on the table.

Even the Imperial Guards patrolling outside, as well as the eunuchs and palace maids waiting for orders, all knelt down in fear, bowing their heads and not daring to speak.

Standing outside the door, Kang Gonggong felt a cold sweat break out on his back.

He glanced worriedly in the direction of the study, sighed, and turned to see Xia Yurong carrying a bowl of soup.

"Greetings, Lord Kang. Rong'er has come to deliver white fungus and lotus seed soup to His Majesty on the orders of the Empress Dowager."

Xia Yurong wore a light blue silk dress today, looking very charming and lovely.

Eunuch Kang smirked, “Miss Xia, please come to us. His Majesty is currently speaking with the Princess, so he won’t be seeing anyone for a while.”

Xia Yurong's smile faltered slightly: "Your Majesty... why did you suddenly summon Princess to the palace?"

Xia Yurong was a favorite of the Empress Dowager.

Eloquent and persuasive, and with the Empress Dowager having long been a devout Buddhist, Xia Yurong would often visit her at Chang Le Palace.

Over time, they became confidants of the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager valued it highly.

The Xia family was already related to the Empress Dowager's clan, and now that relationship has been strengthened, the Empress Dowager's favoritism towards Xia Yurong is known throughout the palace.

Eunuch Kang was not one to offend anyone.

Glancing again in the direction of the Imperial Study, Eunuch Kang whispered, "Isn't it because His Majesty sees that Her Highness has reached a certain age and wants to find a suitable husband for her?"

Xia Yurong's smile faded. She narrowed her eyes and asked softly, "But... Yurong heard that at yesterday's palace banquet, Mr. Si Ning seemed to be with His Highness..."

Grandpa Kang waved his hand and said nothing more.

Xia Yurong understood, smiled, and handed the soup in her hand to Eunuch Kang: "In that case, Eunuch Kang, please continue with your work. I won't disturb you any longer."

"Miss Xia, please take care."

……

The atmosphere in the study was tense, like swords drawn.

Jiang Huayan closed his eyes slightly, his tone cold and stern: "Zhaoming, you should know that choosing a husband from the register is the greatest tolerance I can give you."