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

Chapter 248 Your Majesty, I request that you grant me a marriage!
Jiang Jinshuang slowly stood up.

Lifting her skirt, she walked to the center of the banquet and knelt respectfully and with impeccable manners before Jiang Huayan.

She rarely performed such a grand ceremony for Jiang Huayan.

Jiang Huayan used to dote on her. When she was young, she could reach the highest apricot on the tree by stepping on his shoulders, even though he was the emperor who terrified countless palace servants.

Before she reached marriageable age, Jiang Huayan exempted her from many formalities. Often, she would simply curtsy to Jiang Huayan with a playful attitude, which she considered a greeting.

Now, she performed a grand ceremony and knelt before Jiang Huayan.

Jiang Huayan looked at Jiang Jinshuang, the prince, and suddenly became somewhat dazed.

Many years ago, when she was still a little girl, he would hold her little hand and walk along the cobblestone paths of the palace, listening to her call him "Father" without any fear.

changed.

Everything has changed.

"Your subject Zhaoming has been grateful for the twenty-one years of nurturing from Father Emperor. Today, I wish to request a marriage decree from Father Emperor."

wrong.

That's not right.

Pei Du was the first to react.

He abruptly looked up at Jiang Huayan above and blurted out, "Your Majesty, this humble subject—"

"Your Majesty, I humbly beseech you to grant me the favor of marriage with the newly appointed top scholar, Lin Qingyan. I only wish to be a devoted couple and grow old together in love."

The moon was completely obscured by dark clouds.

Even the man's reflection in his wine glass vanished without a trace.

The red kite around the girl's waist seemed to have faded in color.

He subconsciously reached out to grab his cuffs, but after several attempts, he was scratched by the gold thread sewn into them.

She said she only wished to emulate the deep love between a devoted couple and grow old together.

She said, "Let's grow old together."

She wanted to grow old with someone else.

Quiet.

Quiet.

The huge banquet was deathly silent.

Countless officials stared wide-eyed, their jaws nearly dropping to the ground!

—It wasn't Chief Minister Pei after all!
Princess Zhaoming's beloved was not this Lord Pei Du at all!?

Jiang Huayan narrowed his eyes slightly, a gentle and satisfied smile appearing on his lips.

He laughed twice, then called out loudly, "Where is the top scholar Lin Qingyan?"

Lin Qingyan, with her graceful figure, walked through the crowd and came to Jiang Jinshuang's side, where she also knelt down.

"Your humble servant Lin Qingyan greets Your Majesty."

"Keep your head up."

Lin Qingyan looked up as instructed.

Jiang Huayan nodded in satisfaction and smiled, "During the palace examination, I felt that Qionglin was outstanding in both appearance and character. Now it seems that my princess shares the same opinion as me!"

Lin Qingyan bowed respectfully, saying, "I have long admired Your Highness, and it is truly an honor to receive Your Highness's favor today."

As he spoke, Lin Qingyan looked at Jiang Jinshuang with gentle eyes and a soft smile: "If... I am fortunate enough to grow old with Your Highness, I will be eternally grateful and spend every day with you."

Jiang Huayan smiled and nodded, a shrewd glint in his eyes.

Jiang Jinshuang finally listened to him for once.

If today, her chosen suitor is Pei Du, then he wouldn't mind taking this opportunity to demote Jiang Jinshuang back to her fiefdom and never let her return to the capital.

He always knew that Jiang Jinshuang was a smart person.

A wise person should know what should be done and what should not be done.

In the past, she always seemed unable to understand what she shouldn't do, and despite countless insults and ridicule, she insisted on going against the grain.

They kept going forward even after crashing into the south wall and getting hurt.

Jiang Huayan had always felt that Jiang Jinshuang was a very difficult person to control. She was too opinionated, and what Jiang Huayan wanted was an easy-to-manipulate and obedient puppet.

Jiang Jinshuang refused to become a puppet.

This time, however, she finally did something that satisfied him.

A smile appeared on Jiang Huayan's lips.

"The top scholar Lin Qingyan is the most talented man in the three continents and of upright character. Since you two are willing, tomorrow the Imperial Observatory will select an auspicious day, and I will personally issue an imperial decree to bestow your marriage upon you!"

"Thank you, Father."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Jiang Huayan was in a really good mood today. He paused for a moment and then said to Lin Qingyan, "The top scholar Lin Qingyan is virtuous and talented, and has the voice of a phoenix. He is hereby specially appointed as a seventh-rank official in the Office of Transmission, in charge of official documents in the capital region."

"I want to see what extraordinary abilities the Qionglin Flower-Haired Scholar, whom my wise ruler has taken a liking to, possesses!"

Lin Qingyan bowed and knelt to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty, I thank you for the reward."

In a good mood, Jiang Huayan even forgot about the matter he had just asked Pei Du.

He laughed heartily a few times, enjoying himself with his ministers, exchanging toasts and having a great time.

Jiang Jinshuang drank some more wine.

She has a high alcohol tolerance, but she drank quite a lot today.

Seeing this, Lin Qingyan stepped forward and replaced the strong liquor in her hand with tea: "Your Highness, have some tea to soothe your palate."

Jiang Jinshuang smiled slightly and waved her hand: "It's nothing. Today I'm glad to have settled a matter on my mind."

This was indeed a great achievement, as it dispelled Jiang Huayan's desire to find a husband for her.

From his high position, Jiang Biechen looked at Jiang Jinshuang with a complex and unreadable expression.

Lin Qingyan smiled and said, "Your Highness has proposed marriage for us. Do you have no regrets?"

Jiang Jinshuang blinked and shook her head indifferently: "I rarely do things I regret."

Lin Qingyan smiled and said, "Then I will trouble Your Highness to guide me in the future."

"Lin Qingyan, I will take you to the Golden Palace. Just wait."

"Your Majesty believes me."

Halfway through the banquet, Jiang Jinshuang had indeed drunk quite a bit, so she got up and prepared to leave.

She was quite aware of her own drinking habits.

She rarely gets drunk, but when she does, her behavior is terrible, and she might just ruin the entire palace banquet!
If it's still early when she returns to the princess's residence, she can take Chun Tao for a stroll on Chang'an Street.

good thing.

Jiang Jinshuang bid farewell to the crowd, walked through the jade bricks of the palace path, and headed towards the palace gate.

Without any maids or guards, Jiang Jinshuang left alone without having anyone see her off.

It was swaying and shaking, and even the outlines of the scenery in front of me were somewhat blurred.

The hair ornaments on her head jingled as Jiang Jinshuang looked at the stone bricks under her feet and suddenly remembered that many years ago, she had held Jiang Huayan's hand and said in a coquettish voice, "Your subject doesn't want to get married! Your subject loves Father Emperor the most!"

Jiang Huayan smiled lovingly, patted her head, and gently stroked her nose with his hand, saying in a doting tone, "Alright, then Shuang'er will not marry. Father will raise Shuang'er until she grows old."

"Father, what does 'old' mean?"

“'Old' means that many, many years later, Shuang’er’s hair will be gray, her face will be covered with fine lines, her back will be hunched, her teeth will all be gone, and she will not remember her father.”

"What if I don't remember Father?" Xiao Jiang Jinshuang asked anxiously. "If I don't remember Father, I won't be able to find my way home."

"No, Father has left lanterns along the way for Shuang'er. Shuang'er can follow the most beautiful palace lanterns and get home."

There were no lights along the way.

Jiang Jinshuang stumbled and leaned against the palace wall.

Although she was drunk, fortunately her hearing was still intact.

Upon hearing the sound, Jiang Jinshuang's tone turned cold: "Who!?"

However, the reaction time is too slow.

Her lips were then covered by a dark shadow that appeared in front of her.