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

Chapter 35 Your Highness, please go and see my master.
Everyone present knelt down and bowed in reverence: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

A man dressed in a bright yellow robe, surrounded by eunuchs and guards, slowly walked toward the banquet.

Jiang Jinshuang followed the ladies in paying their respects, but looked up through the screen at that bright yellow figure.

My thoughts drifted away for a moment.

Jiang Jinshuang suddenly remembered that a long time ago, her father had also loved her very much.

The summer heat was intense, and her father, worried that she might suffer from heatstroke, ordered his servants to take ice from the cold storage. He didn't give any to Jiang Biechen, but sent it to her palace first.

In the past, when he got angry in court, no one dared to offend him after court, except for her, who dared to go up to him, talk to him, and make him laugh.

He also asked the Crown Prince's tutor to teach her as well, but she was a restless person and always made the tutor furious.

Every time Jiang Jinshuang was punished by the Grand Tutor, she would come to the Imperial Study and insist that His Majesty help her copy the punishment text. The Emperor would then put down the memorials he was holding, complain to her, and help her copy them.

Actually, if you think about it carefully, Jiang Jinshuang and His Majesty also have a beautiful memory.

But when did things start to change?

Jiang Jinshuang narrowed her eyes, her thoughts drifting further away.

It seems to have been that time.

That year, the south was flooded, and people's homes were destroyed and crops were submerged.

She was playing in her father's study when her father learned of it and summoned Crown Prince Jiang Biechen to test his ability to govern.

Jiang Biechen's face turned red, and he stammered, unable to answer.

While playing with the priceless inkstone on his desk, Jiang Jinshuang casually said, "Send officials to block the river and exempt disaster victims from taxes."

Upon hearing this, both Jiang Biechen and the Emperor's gazes fell upon her.

Jiang Jinshuang remained oblivious, her voice leisurely: "Provide the reserved grain reserves for relief, and take extra care to ensure that no one is left without shelter."

After a pause, Jiang Jinshuang added, "Officials who fail to submit timely reports may be executed."

Decisive and ruthless, calm and resolute.

In just a few words, he gets straight to the point and criticizes current malpractices.

It was after that day that Jiang Jinshuang discovered that her father's gaze towards her had changed, and his attitude towards her had also changed.

He no longer allowed her to receive instruction from the Grand Tutor, nor permitted her to enter the Imperial Study without an imperial summons, let alone see him.

Even her beloved elder brother, the Crown Prince Jiang Biechen, has become much colder towards her and rarely plays with her anymore.

In hindsight, Jiang Jinshuang realized that she had probably made a mistake.

"Rise, everyone. Today is just a small spring banquet, please don't be so formal."

A deep, steady voice came from the high position.

The women around her got up and sat back down. Jiang Jinshuang then came to her senses and sat back down as well.

In the male guest section, separated by a screen, Jiang Jinshuang sat opposite Crown Prince Jiang Biechen.

Because they were too far apart, Jiang Jinshuang could only vaguely see his blurry figure, which was not clear.

Following Jiang Biechen's gaze upwards, Jiang Jinshuang saw the person in the main seat.

Three years had passed since they last met, and judging from his voice alone, Jiang Jinshuang felt that he had indeed aged a lot.

It is said that she was able to return to the capital because the Imperial Advisor advised that His Majesty's chronic illness required her care in order to recover.

However, this was the first time Jiang Jinshuang had seen His Majesty since Bai Yujing returned.

—There's still a screen separating us.

Jiang Jinshuang had mixed feelings.

On the main seat, the emperor said something again, paused slightly, and his eyes darted around as if he remembered something.

"Zhaoming... did he also come to the banquet?"

Jiang Jinshuang raised her eyebrows slightly.

Before she could say anything, Jiang Biechen smiled gently and said, "Yes, Father, Shuang'er has also come. I have already met with Shuang'er."

"Oh?" The man in the main seat spoke in a deep voice, his gaze turning toward the female guests. "Zhaoming, come here."

Jiang Jinshuang never expected that His Majesty would summon her in front of all the officials.

She rose slightly and bowed to the emperor on the throne through the screen: "Your subject Zhaoming greets Your Majesty." The man on the throne, still suffering from a chronic illness, coughed twice and beckoned: "Come before me."

Jiang Jinshuang's eyelids twitched: "Yes."

She stepped out from behind the screen and knelt in the center of the banquet: "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Although she was kneeling, her spine was very straight, and she looked steadily at the man in the main seat.

After three years apart, Jiang Jinshuang remembered that her father's temples were originally free of gray hair.

His eye sockets had sunken in a bit, and there were several deep grooves at the corners of his eyes. Although he looked quite energetic, he really looked old.

A strange emotion swept through Jiang Jinshuang's heart.

Emperor Jiang Huayan also looked at her at the banquet.

for a long time.

He waved his hand gently, his tone still devoid of emotion: "Consider today's banquet a welcome dinner for you and Mr. Si Ning."

Jiang Jinshuang chuckled softly and nodded slightly: "Thank you, Father Emperor."

With that, she stood up, glanced at Jiang Biechen, and returned to her seat behind the screen.

The cryptic words left everyone bewildered, unsure of what His Majesty truly meant by his words to Princess Zhaoming.

—Is this forgiveness... or not?
"Today, all the guests have arrived, and Mr. Si Ning has also personally traveled north to Chang'an. Springtime in Chang'an is just right, so let's begin the banquet."

"Let the banquet begin!"

As the eunuch announced the order, the guests raised their wine cups and offered their congratulations.

The women laughed, gathered in small groups, drank a few glasses of fruit wine, and chatted about girlish things.

Jiang Jinshuang was still alone.

The banquet was filled with beautiful music and dance. She poured herself a glass of wine and drank it all in one gulp.

She had a high alcohol tolerance; the wine in the palace was mellow and sweet, and she never got drunk.

While idly admiring the dancers' beauty, Jiang Jinshuang noticed Pei Du slowly getting up and leaving the banquet.

"Yu Rong, Yu Rong, look! It seems the Grand Secretary has left his seat. You should go quickly..."

"me……"

"Hurry up! We're waiting for you here!"

Amidst the cheers and jeers of the female guests, Xia Yurong bit her lip slightly, blushed, and ran away from the banquet.

Jiang Jinshuang sneered and looked away.

She hadn't even noticed that Jiang Biechen seemed to have left the banquet as well, and she didn't know where he had gone.

Not far away, Qian Yao walked around the crowd and knocked on the wooden pillar next to Jiang Jinshuang through the screen: "Your Highness, the master asked you to drink less wine."

Jiang Jinshuang almost laughed in anger: "Why does your family interfere so much?"

Qian Yao scratched his head: "My father said that there are too many people around today, and drinking might cause trouble."

—It seems that Si Ning also felt that Jiang Biechen's departure was somewhat strange.

"Okay, okay, I understand." Jiang Jinshuang shook her head helplessly and put down her wine glass.

“Oh, the master also said,” Qian Yao continued, “that the Grand Secretary seemed to be sulking and went out for some fresh air.”

Jiang Jinshuang frowned, somewhat puzzled: "What does this have to do with me?"

Why is Si Ning telling her all this?
"The master said that if you want to go out and look for it, let me show you the direction."

Jiang Jinshuang was both amused and exasperated: "Qianyao, ask your father if he was the God of Love reincarnated in his past life?"

Why are you pulling strings for everything?

Qian Yao said sullenly, "Why doesn't Your Highness go and see my master in person?"

"Hmm?" Jiang Jinshuang sensed something was amiss. "Lord Qianyao, you've been rambling on and on, are you just trying to get me to go see your master?"

Caught off guard, Qian Yao coughed twice and said unhappily, "Your Highness, you don't know, the Lord has already been surrounded by those ministers and forced to drink a lot of wine. If you don't go over, he won't be able to stand up for a while!"

(End of this chapter)