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

Chapter 222 Lin Mou wishes to marry Your Highness.

"Your humble servant Lin Qingyan greets Your Highness."

dignified and self-possessed, gentle and polite.

Seeing Lin Qingyan here was both unexpected and not unexpected for Jiang Jinshuang.

This Lin Qingyan is much smarter than she thought.

The moon shines brightly, and countless lanterns illuminate the scene.

Today is General Zhenyuan's birthday banquet, and the streets of Chang'an are bustling with activity.

Lin Qingyan stood by the lamplight.

His features were much clearer than they had been outside the General's Mansion.

Therefore, Jiang Jinshuang finally saw the bruises around the man's eyes and the bruises around his mouth.

Tsk.

Jiang Jinshuang let out a cold laugh.

Pei Du actually had the nerve to say he was beaten by Lin Qingyan.

Looking at Lin Qingyan's wound now, it's clear that it's more serious than his!
Moreover, why would someone punch someone directly in the face?
Even if you wanted to hide it, you couldn't!
Jiang Jinshuang sighed and walked towards Lin Qingyan.

Under the lamplight, Lin Qingyan bent down slightly, not making any attempt to cover the scars on her face.

Most of the scars were bruises, leaving his face covered in blue and purple marks, but they did not detract from his handsome appearance.

The resemblance in their eyes and brows was only about five points, but those bruises diminished it somewhat.

"Did Your Highness just escort the Grand Secretary back?" Lin Qingyan asked gently with a smile.

It doesn't feel abrupt.

Jiang Jinshuang nodded and smiled politely, "Yes, I heard that Lord Lin and the Grand Secretary had some...disagreement today. Lord Pei was drunk today, so please don't take it to heart, Lord Lin."

Lin Qingyan smiled gently and nodded slightly: "Your Highness, what are you saying? I should be grateful for the Grand Secretary's advice."

"If the Grand Secretary truly wanted my life, then I wouldn't be standing here."

Lin Qingyan is indeed very smart.

He was fully aware of his situation and disadvantages, and he didn't care to use these disadvantages to gain some benefits.

Avoid their sharp edge and act tactfully.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled with satisfaction.

"Lord Lin, is there something else you need to do so late?" Jiang Jinshuang asked with a smile.

Lin Qingyan nodded slightly: "Originally... after bidding farewell to Your Highness today, I should have prepared gifts and paid a visit another day, but..."

After a pause, Lin Qingyan explained with a smile, "However, I overheard some 'past events' about Your Highness and the Grand Secretary from other officials, and feeling anxious, I had no choice but to come and pay my respects in haste."

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and raised her eyebrows: "The 'past events' that Lord Lin mentioned, what are you referring to?"

Lin Qingyan still smiled: "I just heard that three years ago, Your Highness pursued the Grand Secretary. Now that Your Highness has returned to the capital, and the Grand Secretary is so dependent on Your Highness, I feel that if we wait any longer, we may not even get a chance."

Jiang Jinshuang's smile deepened: "What kind of 'opportunity' is Lord Lin referring to?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingyan straightened his clothes and expression, looked at Jiang Jinshuang seriously, and then bowed respectfully to Jiang Jinshuang.

"I, Lin, am of meager talent and ability, yet I admire Your Highness's noble bearing and noble character. I now dare to make this request: I wish to marry Your Highness and propose myself as your consort."

Jiang Jinshuang particularly enjoys talking to intelligent people.

Lin Qingyan said "I am willing to ask for your hand in marriage", not "I want to ask for your hand in marriage".

The mere difference of one word shows that Lin Qingyan had considered her thoughts and should also know that she was interested in their marriage.

Indeed, Jiang Jinshuang's plan was to form a marriage contract with Lin Qingyan. The reason was simple: the emperor was about to choose a consort for her, and rather than choosing someone she didn't like who might spy on her in the future, she would rather use this opportunity to develop an ally who could be beneficial and helpful to her in court.

This person cannot hold a high position, nor can they be a close minister of the emperor or crown prince. They must remain in the court to keep an eye on the situation there.

Lin Qingyan is the best choice.

The emperor still harbors some fear of her, and the husband he chooses for her will certainly not be someone in a high position.

But Lin Qingyan is different.

Although Lin Qingyan currently holds no official position, the imperial examinations have just concluded, and his official title has not yet been issued, Jiang Jinshuang believes that as long as she is present, she can guarantee that Lin Qingyan will rise rapidly in the imperial court in the future.

—If she could train Pei Du, she could also train a second powerful minister.

Lin Qingyan is very smart.

He had no power or influence in the imperial court, and no one to rely on but his pen, which opened the door to his official career.

Just like Pei Du back then.

Lin Qingyan knew that if he wanted to survive in the court, he would have to find a powerful backer.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and raised an eyebrow, her tone slightly rising as she asked, "Lord Lin, why did you choose me?"

It was a seemingly random sentence, but Jiang Jinshuang knew that Lin Qingyan understood it.

She wasn't the only one with influence in the imperial court.

It could even be said that after she left the capital three years later, her influence in the court had become negligible.

The current Wan Jin court is a power struggle between Crown Prince Jiang Biechen and the powerful Grand Secretary Pei Du.

Jiang Jinshuang thought Lin Qingyan was smart, but she was still curious as to why he chose her as his backer.

Lin Qingyan smiled and looked at Jiang Jinshuang, his eyes gentle and peaceful: "I believe that the person who can name that desolate land 'Baiyujing' will not be willing to submit to anyone."

She named her fiefdom "Baiyujing".

That's a name even more prestigious than Chang'an.

She dared to take it.

They would not willingly become anyone's vassal, nor would they submit to any power.

Lin Qingyan looked at Jiang Jinshuang and smiled gently: "Your Highness, I am not talented enough to be a hero like Xie Tingyu, but I can still be your ally and work together to plan for the future."

Jiang Jinshuang's eyes flickered a few times.

She chuckled softly, but her eyes held a hint of seriousness: "Lin Qingyan, do you know that the imperial family is wary of me? If I choose you as my consort, the official position the Emperor will give you will not be very high."

Lin Qingyan stood tall and straight, with an extraordinary appearance: "I don't believe in instant success; I only believe that there is plenty of time in the future."

After a pause, Lin Qingyan smiled and said, "One's career path is not determined by one's initial official position. Since I dare to ask Your Highness for marriage, I naturally believe that Your Highness can provide me with far more support than His Majesty can."

Lin Qingyan naturally had her own selfish motives as well.

He did need to find a patron, and among all the people, he set his sights on Princess Zhaoming, who was neither favored nor had a good reputation.

He has always been accurate in judging people; this Princess Zhaoming is definitely not as useless and dissolute as she appears.

—As it turns out, he made the right bet.

Jiang Jinshuang raised her eyebrows slightly: "Lin Qingyan, have you thought this through? Once you're on my pirate ship, there's no turning back."

Lin Qingyan smiled calmly and freely: "Then I, Lin, will not turn back."

In the distance, on the city tower of Chang'an, someone lit fireworks. Colorful fireworks rose into the night sky and exploded into countless brilliant bursts.

for a long time.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and said, "In the next few days, I will find an opportunity to ask His Majesty for a marriage proposal."