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

Chapter 49 A Plea for a Marriage
Eunuch Kang is an old servant of His Majesty.

When His Majesty was still the Crown Prince, Eunuch Kang was already by his side.

If anyone could truly understand the king's mind, then Eunuch Kang would be one of them.

In fact, it was obvious to anyone with discerning eyes that when Prince Ruiyang was alive, His Majesty still doted on Princess Zhaoming.

Later, when Prince Ruiyang rebelled, Princess Zhaoming risked angering the emperor to plead for her uncle, ultimately meeting this tragic end.

Eunuch Kang knew that as long as the princess was willing to apologize to His Majesty, at least His Majesty would not send her away from the capital again, nor would His Majesty torment her again and again.

—The two of them were secretly competing with each other.

But Jiang Jinshuang felt a sense of familiarity upon hearing these words.

It seems that many, many people have said this to her since three years ago.

"Your Highness, please back down."

"Your Highness, please admit your mistake."

It seemed that if she simply bent her back, everything would be back to normal.

She was still Princess Zhaoming, who could spend every day with Pei Du, and still His Majesty's most beloved youngest daughter.

"Your Highness, as you know, His Majesty still cares about you. Otherwise, he wouldn't have used the words of the Imperial Astronomical Advisor to allow you to return to the capital from that bitterly cold place."

Grandpa Kang earnestly advised him.

"And last time, His Majesty clearly gave His Highness a chance to meet. His Majesty only asked His Highness one question, and as long as His Highness answered it, he could have an audience with the Emperor."

It was something that could have been resolved simply by admitting a mistake.

Upon hearing Eunuch Kang's words, Jiang Jinshuang's eyes flickered.

The spring rain, like needles, seeps into the soil in fine threads, carrying a chill that penetrates to the very bone.

She raised her eyes and looked at the eunuch in front of her.

"What does Father want to ask?" she asked in her usual tone.

A glint flashed in Eunuch Kang's eyes, and he quickly said, "Your Majesty only wants to ask one question: Is it worth it?"

After a pause, Eunuch Kang continued, "At that time, as long as Your Highness correctly guessed His Majesty's intentions and had me relay the message, you would be able to see His Majesty."

What Eunuch Kang said made perfect sense.

Jiang Jinshuang's long eyelashes fluttered slightly.

She smiled slightly and looked at him earnestly: "Eunuch Kang, look at me."

Jiang Jinshuang was weak. She opened her arms and slowly turned around in front of Eunuch Kang.

Grandpa Kang didn't understand what she meant.

Jiang Jinshuang just smiled and said, "Look, I am now destitute and powerless. All I have left are my bones and this spine."

He spoke each word clearly and deliberately: "If it breaks, I will have nothing left."

Jiang Jinshuang slowly said, "Back when I was studying in the palace, does Eunuch Kang know what the first lesson the Grand Tutor taught me was?"

"The matter of right and wrong cannot be determined by social status or rank."

Jiang Jinshuang looked steadily at Eunuch Kang: "Eunuch Kang, a person who has done nothing wrong should not submit to anyone."

Even the emperor.

Kang Gonggong was stunned for a moment, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"And the question my father asked me, I can answer it now."

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Jinshuang said calmly, "Whether it's worth it or not is not up to His Majesty to decide."

She has the final say.

Eunuch Kang frowned, looked at the girl in front of him, and finally sighed heavily.

He said nothing, then took his leave.

……

The rain in the capital had been falling for days, and Jiang Jinshuang felt like mushrooms were growing all over her body.

The injuries on my body are healing very quickly; in the last two days, the wounds have started to itch and scab over.

Jiang Jinshuang kept wanting to scratch, but each time Yan Jue, lurking in the shadows, would notice and stop her. The itching made her somewhat irritable.

Counting on my fingers, the time should be about right.

As expected, Jiang Biechen arrived at the Princess's residence before dawn today.

They came to take her to the palace to meet the emperor.

His Majesty couldn't persuade her last time, so he brought Jiang Biechen along today to tell Jiang Jinshuang—

This time, he really wanted to see her; he wasn't playing games.

When Jiang Biechen sat in the main hall, his expression was not good.

He chuckled and looked at Jiang Jinshuang, who was also in the main seat: "Shuang'er, you have quite the presence. You even refused Father's summons, so Father specially asked my brother to invite you today."

Jiang Jinshuang yawned listlessly, seemingly oblivious to Jiang Biechen's dissatisfaction, and smiled sweetly: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Your Majesty."

Jiang Jinshuang boarded Jiang Biechen's carriage and followed him towards the palace.

Inside the Forbidden City, Jiang Jinshuang and Jiang Biechen walked side by side without exchanging a single word. They seemed more like strangers than siblings.

Jiang Biechen glanced sideways, silently observing Jiang Jinshuang beside him.

Three years did not smooth out her rough edges; instead, it made her even sharper, colder, and more ruthless.

Jiang Biechen suddenly recalled that many years ago, when they were studying together, he had taken good care of her.

She always liked to secretly sleep during the tutor's lessons, and the tutor would always punish her when he saw her doing so.

To cover for her, Jiang Biechen would always straighten his back, just to block the Grand Tutor's view.

She was also always greedy. Whenever any interesting or fun snacks or treats came out in Chang'an, she would secretly buy a bunch of them and then hand them to him.

Xiao Jiang Biechen always frowned, looking serious and troubled: "Shuang'er, Granny won't let me eat these things."

Upon hearing this, she would stuff a string of bright red candied hawthorns into his mouth, laughing triumphantly: "Brother, Shuang'er won't tell anyone else; this is a secret between the two of us."

—Thus, there are countless secrets between him and her.

She had quite a few brothers and sisters in the palace when she was young.

But the two of them were the closest of friends.

As time passed, Jiang Biechen realized that people change.

The two stopped outside the Imperial Study.

The spring rain had just stopped, but the sky was still overcast, and it might rain again soon.

After Eunuch Kang obtained the imperial decree, Jiang Jinshuang and Jiang Biechen entered the Imperial Study without any obstacles.

Since her early display of talent when she resolved the flood disaster in front of His Majesty and the Crown Prince, Jiang Jinshuang has rarely come to the Imperial Study.

In the center of the study stood a long table made of Phoebe zhennan wood, intricately carved with dragons and phoenixes.

Before the desk, a man rested one hand on the table and held a pen in the other, reviewing a mountain of memorials.

"My son has met my father."

Jiang Jinshuang and the other person bowed.

Hearing the sound, the man at the desk did not stop writing, but simply said, "Sit down."

"Thank you, Father."

Jiang Jinshuang sat in a position a little distance away from His Majesty.

Jiang Biechen sat upright with his spine straight, and even if the Grand Tutor came, he could not find the slightest fault in him.

In contrast, Jiang Jinshuang's posture appeared too casual.

Her back wasn't very straight, and she was looking out the window through the window frame.

She thought to herself that if it rained later, she might get soaked.

—She forgot her umbrella.

Before the desk, Emperor Jiang Huayan spoke in a loud and clear voice: "Just now, Xia Wenbin from the Xia family came to request an imperial decree, saying that Minister Pei and his beloved daughter, Xia, are in love and humbly request that I bestow a marriage upon them."

(End of this chapter)