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

Chapter 89 Your Highness, Please Have Mercy
Jiang Jinshuang slept well last night and is in a good mood today.

Hearing Chun Tao's words, Jiang Jinshuang was slightly taken aback: "Uncle Si sent me something?"

Chun Tao smiled as the servants of the Si family from Jiangnan carried three or five sandalwood chests into the princess's residence in a grand procession.

The boxes were laid out one by one in front of Jiang Jinshuang, making the huge main hall seem a bit cramped.

Qianyao came with his servant.

He walked up to Jiang Jinshuang with a smile and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, these are all gifts from our patriarch."

With that, Qianyao ordered someone to open the box.

The two boxes of luxurious clothing were all the most fashionable styles in Chang'an at the time, and the two boxes of gold and silver jewelry and jade artifacts were piled up in the sandalwood like cabbages in the market.

Further on, there were several boxes filled with jade hairpins and ornaments, as well as many coral and jadeite items that Jiang Jinshuang would never need. The collection was dazzling and exquisite.

Jiang Jinshuang swallowed hard, stiffly turned her neck, and then looked up at Qian Yao in front of her: "I already told your young master that it was just an act, so why did you send betrothal gifts?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Yao was taken aback at first, then realized what he meant and grinned, "Your Highness, you've misunderstood. These are just some little trinkets that the family head gave you to amuse yourself. Just enjoy them."

Jiang Jinshuang stared in disbelief: Who would use gold, silver, and jade to amuse themselves?!

After a pause, Qian Yao smiled casually, "Your Highness, if the Si family really intends to offer betrothal gifts, these few boxes won't even be enough to reward the people who came here."

Jiang Jinshuang: "..."

She had always known that the Si family in Jiangnan was very wealthy, but hearing Qian Yao say this still felt somewhat unreal.

Noticing Jiang Jinshuang's stunned look, Qian Yao smiled and explained, "Your Highness, there's no need to be embarrassed. Actually, the head of the family learned that my master's heart ailment can be cured and wanted to thank you."

That's a plausible explanation.

After all, Jiang Jinshuang could sense how much Uncle Si valued Si Ning.

She breathed a sigh of relief, but was still a little uncomfortable: "Uncle Si, you don't need to be so polite. I don't need any of these things."

That's true. Three years ago, Jiang Jinshuang didn't care much about food, clothing, or daily necessities. Now that she's returned from Baiyujing, she cares even less about these things.

Qian Yao hurriedly spoke up: "Your Highness, you have gone to great lengths for my master and pleaded with Mr. He for so long. Our Si family is not one to take advantage of small things, so we should give you this small token of our appreciation."

After a pause, Qian Yao smiled awkwardly, "Besides, the patriarch said that the clothes you're wearing now are out of fashion, and that you must wear the ones he gave you to the banquet today, otherwise he'll get angry..."

It's like having a nose and eyes.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang agreed.

—With so much gold and silver jewelry, why not take it?

Qianyao had to go back to take care of Si Ning, so he only gave her a few more instructions before leaving with the Si family's servant.

Looking at the room full of gold, silver, jewelry, and luxurious clothes, Jiang Jinshuang was at a loss for what to do.

Chun Tao, however, became happy!
She skipped and hopped to the clothes, excitedly picking out outfits for Jiang Jinshuang.

"Your Highness! These clothes are absolutely beautiful! Lord Si is so thoughtful!"

Chun Tao and Jiang Jinshuang have a good relationship, and Chun Tao is usually very bold.

She picked out a piece of clothing from among those garments and ran to Jiang Jinshuang to start comparing it to her.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, would you please wear this to the welcoming banquet today?"

"If I remember correctly, this dress is a special design made of nine-layered brocade from the capital, and it's extremely rare to find one in the entire capital!"

The smoky blue fabric of that dress complemented Jiang Jinshuang's skin tone perfectly; the style was novel and it was indeed beautiful.

In minor matters, Jiang Jinshuang always went along with Chuntao: "Okay, then this outfit will do."

Chun Tao became happy and pulled Jiang Jinshuang to the bedroom to change her clothes.

After changing her clothes, Jiang Jinshuang came out of the room.

When Chun Tao saw Jiang Jinshuang, her eyes were filled with amazement: "Your Highness, you must be the most beautiful woman at the welcoming banquet tonight!"

Jiang Jinshuang smiled, but then tugged uncomfortably at the sash on her shoulder.

Seeing this, Chun Tao stepped forward to help Jiang Jinshuang straighten up: "Your Highness, what's wrong? Are you uncomfortable in these clothes?"

“Not really,” Jiang Jinshuang smiled awkwardly, “it’s just that the material is too slippery.”

She was worried that the strapless bra she wore underneath would show. Upon hearing this, Chun Tao smiled and said, "Then this servant will put another cloak on you."

Jiang Jinshuang nodded.

Night falls slowly.

Jiang Jinshuang boarded a carriage bound for the palace and headed towards the Forbidden City.

The welcoming banquet was held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Imperial Palace.

When Jiang Jinshuang arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, many officials and ministers had already arrived.

Her appearance froze the previously lively atmosphere, and the civil officials all looked towards Jiang Jinshuang.

Jiang Jinshuang wore a smoky blue long dress today, which perfectly accentuated her slender waistline and made her look even more elegant, graceful and lively.

The ministers were stunned for a moment, then they exchanged glances and bowed to Jiang Jinshuang.

"Greetings, Your Highness. May Your Highness live a thousand years."

"Gentlemen, please make yourselves at home."

Jiang Jinshuang raised her chin, exuding an air of authority.

It seems that even though she was banished to that barren and desolate land, she returned as the glorious and noble Princess Zhaoming.

No one can pull her down from that height.

This realization infuriated the group of ministers.

Today's welcoming banquet is for high-ranking officials and imperial relatives, and it is more elaborate than the small spring banquet held recently.

There's no need to separate men's and women's seating anymore.

Jiang Jinshuang sat down in her seat and looked up at the higher area.

Si Ning hasn't arrived yet.

Pei Du and Jiang Biechen have not arrived yet.

She rested her chin on her hand and looked at the wine cups on the octagonal table in front of her.

Wearing a loose cloak, Jiang Jinshuang moved much more freely and wasn't too worried about the fabric slipping off her shoulders.

She twitched her ears and looked towards the outside of the main hall.

A dark shadow swept across the rooftops high above, its sound completely swallowed by the wind.

Jiang Jinshuang lowered her eyes and looked away.

She arranged for Yan Jue to investigate the Imperial Study tonight, but...

The figure just now didn't seem to resemble him.

Suppressing her doubts, Jiang Jinshuang picked up the wine cup beside her, wanting to take a sip.

But before the wine could even touch his lips, it was stopped by two long, slender fingers.

Jiang Jinshuang looked in the direction of the owner of those hands.

Before him stood Si Ning, whose eyes held a gentle smile and whose tone was mild and helpless: "Your Highness, Mr. He instructed me that since the remaining poison has just been cleared, you should not drink alcohol."

Jiang Jinshuang looked up, and even without looking, she could feel the gazes of the surrounding officials and ministers fixed on the two of them.

She blinked, trying to negotiate: "Just one cup."

Si Ning smiled and shook her head, refusing decisively: "Your Highness, please have mercy. If you can't persuade him, Mr. He will practice his needlework on me."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang wrinkled her nose unhappily and reluctantly put down her wine glass.

With a deeper smile, Si Ning's eyebrows curved into a smile: "Your Highness's clothes today are very beautiful."

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and said, "Oh? Is it the dress that's prettier, or me?"

Si Ning then said, "It is Your Highness who makes the clothes look beautiful."

Tsk tsk tsk, scholars always have such pleasant-sounding compliments!
Just as Jiang Jinshuang was about to say something more, she heard several officials not far away respectfully say, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects."

(End of this chapter)