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

Chapter 151 The Moon's Favoritism
It must be stated that Jingmo is not someone who harbors any voyeuristic desires towards his family.

He has always been polite and discreet, and knows what he should and shouldn't do.

The orders of the superiors must not be disobeyed. As a guard, one must know what the superiors know and think what the superiors think.

Jingmo has always believed that he has done a pretty good job in this regard.

It wasn't until Princess Zhaoming returned to the capital that Jingmo realized something was wrong.

Sometimes, even he can't figure out what adults are thinking.

He knew that the master would copy scriptures when he was upset, but since the princess returned to the capital, the master seemed to have many more worries.

Jingmo couldn't figure it out.

At today's palace banquet, Mr. Si Ning's suggestion was like the source of all causes, as if it were tearing open a hole for him to peek into.

Jingmo sighed.

He stood outside the study door, not going far.

The room was completely silent.

Jingmo held his breath and stood towards the window.

It was early summer, and sandalwood incense was burning in the study. The windows and doors were open, and a cool breeze was blowing.

Jingmo didn't hear any noise and thought nothing was wrong, but when he looked out the window into the study, he froze in place.

The man in the study had stopped copying the scriptures at some point and instead looked down at the bowl of medicine on the corner of the table.

The candlelight was dim, and he finally slowly picked up the bowl of medicine, as if he were pondering something.

Just when Jingmo thought her master would drink the bowl of medicine, the man slowly got up, holding the medicine.

We walked up to the asparagus fern next to the screen.

From Jingmo's angle, the man's expression was no longer visible.

But he saw with his own eyes that the man raised his hand and poured half of the medicine into the pot of the asparagus fern.

He then drank the remaining half bowl of medicine in one gulp.

Jingmo stared wide-eyed at the man in disbelief.

Only now, at this very moment, has Jingmo finally understood.

—It turns out that his conjecture had been completely inaccurate all along.

In fact, it's wildly wrong.

Before Princess Zhaoming returned to the capital, Jingmo thought that his master must hate the princess so much that he didn't want to see her even once more.

Therefore, when the princess passed by the gate of Wenshan Pavilion, he refused her without hesitation.

Then, after seeing the angry adult and being punished, he belatedly realized that the adult was probably not as heartless towards the princess as he had imagined.

Later, the adult attended Princess Yichun's banquet, drank wine, and said those words.

Jingmo also felt that the master's feelings for the princess were probably deeper than he had imagined.

Perhaps it was because they hadn't seen each other for three years, and all those memories had become too beautiful, or perhaps it was something else entirely, but Jingmo believed that the adult's "concern" for the princess probably stemmed mostly from "unwillingness to accept defeat."

Just like before, if Jingmo didn't get the sword manual he wanted, he would think about it day and night, tossing and turning, unable to sleep well.

But actually, once he got his hands on it and flipped through a few pages, he realized it was just so-so.

It's nothing serious.

This has always been Jingmo's understanding of her family's feelings.

Although the master did many things for the princess, those actions were unlike anything he had ever done before.

But Jingmo always felt that those gestures of goodwill or compromises were perhaps just a way of beautifying what they "could not get".

Jingmo knew that his idea was, at its core, somewhat condescending.

Perhaps due to the poisoning of rumors in the capital, even though Jingmo prided himself on not being swayed by rumors, he still subconsciously placed his master in a higher position.

—It was placed in a position where the princess needed to cling to and entangle herself with it.

Because everyone in Chang'an knew how many outrageous and earth-shattering things the princess had done in order to pursue her master.

Jingmo thought that since the lord had lowered his stance a little after His Highness returned to the capital, Princess should be very happy.

But now, when he saw his master pour half a bowl of medicine into the potted plant, it felt like he'd been hit on the back of the head with a blunt object. Jingmo suddenly realized: his master wasn't resentful towards the princess.

It's not because I'm unwilling to accept defeat that I'm willing to lower my stance.

It's not that I'm willing to show goodwill and compromise in order to return to the relationship we had before.

In my memory, adults are always upright, honest, and incorruptible, no matter what they do.

Just like the bright moon hanging high in the sky, it does not show favoritism by giving any extra brightness to anyone.

But Jingmo now understands—he was wrong.

Adults have selfish motives.

Adults are not the moon.

The moon won't throw away half a bowl of medicine just to delay the healing of the wound.

It was like a self-destructive attempt to keep him.

Jingmo suddenly understood the look in Mr. Si Ning's eyes after he finished speaking at the palace banquet.

It seems as if they had anticipated this all along.

They are the same kind of people.

Those of the same kind who harbored selfish motives.

Not daring to linger any longer, Jingmo sighed and turned to leave.
-
The main hall of the princess's residence.

Si Ning smiled helplessly: "Your Highness, you didn't have to do this."

Having only been provoked and threatened, Wen Fengcang certainly wouldn't dare to do anything to him.

Otherwise, let alone the officials of Wan Jin, even the Si family of Jiangnan would not let Wen Fengcang off easily if they were angered.

Wen Fengcang was aware of this, so the assassins only appeared and fired a few arrows, startling their carriage.

Si Ning never expected that His Highness would directly pressure Wen Fengcang and force him to apologize by performing a dance.

Jiang Jinshuang took a sip of tea, her tone cold and deep: "Why is there no need for this? The fact that he dares to treat you like this shows that he doesn't respect me."

If she could tolerate this, she would truly be a coward.

Si Ning smiled gently: "Did Your Highness threaten him with his half-brother who was living in exile?"

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and narrowed her eyes: "Wen Fengcang seems determined to seize the throne of Beihuai."

"What are Your Highness's plans?" Si Ning asked gently. "Whom does Your Highness wish to ascend the throne of Beihuai?"

That's an incredibly arrogant question.

But Jiang Jinshuang didn't think there was anything wrong with it. Instead, she rested her chin on her hand and chuckled, "Actually, I haven't decided yet either."

After a pause, Jiang Jinshuang said, "I need to ask for the person's opinion first."

Si Ning nodded, but then spoke about something else: "I have completed the task that Your Highness asked me to do."

After pausing, Si Ning continued, "Lu Xiao... no, Young Master Su Xiu, we will arrange for you to meet with the Pavilion Master of Weisheng Pavilion tomorrow."

Jiang Jinshuang nodded.

“There’s one more thing,” Si Ning smiled. “As far as I know, since Your Highness returned from Huguo Temple, Lord Pei seems to have been investigating… the Xia family’s affairs.”

Jiang Jinshuang frowned slightly: "Xia Yurong?"

"Yes."

She didn't care much about what Pei Du and Xia Yurong were up to.

"Let him be."

Jiang Jinshuang stood up from her seat: "I have other things to do, so I won't see you out."

Si Ning also stood up from her seat, but gave Jiang Jinshuang a somewhat embarrassed smile.

"Your Highness, there is one more thing that may require your help."

Jiang Jinshuang blinked: "What's wrong?"

Si Ning smiled helplessly: "Father... said he wanted to talk to you about marriage..."