I sighed inwardly. Although I didn’t expect this calm general to say sweet nothings, he couldn’t just act without a word? Or did he think doing was better than speaking, and this embrace represented a confession?
My little sister was still jumping on the bed and wailing. After comforting her, I walked out.
General Shen was indeed still waiting in the courtyard. Seeing me come out, his cold eyes slightly brightened.
“Next, it’s up to you,” I solemnly nodded to him. “Future brother-in-law, you need more patience with girls. I’m entrusting my little sister to you.”
If you make her sad, I’ll hold you accountable.
Rest assured.” His eyebrows slightly relaxed, and his originally rigid stone-like face actually revealed a soft glow, looking more vivid and spirited.
I went to the courtyard to play on the swing, and took the opportunity to observe the Eastern Palace, Xia Zhiyuan, as he interacted with the princesses. The Eastern Palace seemed to be in a good mood, treating the princesses more kindly, frequently smiling, causing the princesses to bashfully cover their faces with fans. It was said that Yan had also proposed a marriage alliance to the Eastern Palace but was politely refused.
By nearly mealtime, the sparrow hurriedly ran to me with a secret report, saying that according to her eavesdropping, General Shen and my younger sister had reconciled.
I felt relieved. With the sparrow’s talents, she could be a gossip information gatherer.
When my younger sister appeared before me again, her face was rosy, her eyes glistening, her lips constantly curling upward, looking like a woman who had fallen in love. General Shen always maintained a step’s distance from her, neither too far nor too close, occasionally whispering to her, his gaze like soft silk threads, causing heart-fluttering and heartache.
Of course, the heart-fluttering was my younger sister’s, and the heartache was mine.
Watching them openly sweet together, while I must meet my husband in the middle of the night, like a secret tryst. Not to mention that after the full moon banquet of the Western Liang Crown Prince, I would have to set off back to Nanrui. With this farewell to An Jin, I don’t know when we’ll meet again.
An Jin sneaked in at night, and I took the opportunity to nestle in his arms, sighing and lamenting. He tried to comfort me to no avail and could only end my melancholy by distracting me.
Unexpectedly, midway through, my younger sister suddenly burst in, knocking on the door and startling me and An Jin.
She knocked and loudly shouted, “Second Sister, open the door… I can’t sleep, I want to chat with you.”
I pretended to be already asleep and didn’t respond. An Jin lightly laughed and continued his actions while biting my lip.
“Second Sister! I know you’re still awake… Open the door, I can hear your breathing. Aren’t you feeling well?” She spoke shockingly. “Are you sick? I’m about to kick the door—”
We were both stunned and cried out in alarm.
“Don’t—” I hurriedly responded. “It’s too late, let’s talk tomorrow—”
My younger sister seemed puzzled. “Are you really not feeling unwell?”
“No, no.” I patted An Jin’s shoulder to reassure him. After she repeatedly confirmed, she finally had to return to her own room.
Certainly! Here’s the edited version of the article with irrelevant content removed:
An Jin rolled off me, wiping the sweat from his forehead, saying, “If my younger sister comes like this a few more times, I’m afraid I’ll become impotent.”
Chapter Sixty-Four: The Situation is Set
The full moon ceremony of the Yan Emperor’s first son was celebrated by all. The child looked very much like Yan Huo, with a distinctive pair of light brown long eyes, occasionally lazily blinking before closing, appearing somewhat impatient. Among the harem concubines of the Yan Emperor, dozens of ranks were qualified to attend the family banquet, each with extraordinary appearance, each trying to attract the Emperor’s attention. The Seventh Princess was among them, dim and silent like a star beside a bright moon.
I suddenly understood why she ultimately chose to fade away. Married to a man she didn’t love, trapped in a foreign land. Although as a foreign princess, her status wouldn’t be greatly threatened, but what of it? The freedom and love she wanted were no longer possible. Why fight for what she no longer wanted?
Western Liang valued martial arts over literature, producing many famous generals known across the three countries, with military officials dominating important positions.
However, Yan Huo had been in power for only two short years, yet had vigorously cultivated and sought out strategists, using marriage alliances and other methods to control and balance, making the Western Liang court prosperous. Even An Jin believed Yan Huo was a rare ruler among the monarchs of the three countries. If this progress continued, Western Liang might become the strongest of the three countries, potentially even directly threatening Nanrui.
Hongdi had long prepared a banquet to welcome and honor me, praising me lavishly before all the officials. Imperial Historian Liu Hua took the opportunity to suggest that His Majesty bestow an official title. Hongdi happily waved his imperial brush and conferred upon me the title of Yu Wang, putting me in charge of the Ministry of Revenue. Thereupon, the Gan Taizai faction submitted a petition, stating that Princess Jiang Yunqiao had diligently worked in the Ministry of Personnel for many years without an official title, which was unfair. Hongdi pondered briefly and then conferred the title of Ning Wang upon Jiang Yunqiao, which pleased everyone.
I gave Yunqiao a snow ferret I brought back from Xiliang.
As the climate in Nanrui was different from Xiliang and they didn’t have such animals, she held the cage, utterly fascinated. I also brought some mechanical toys, plum sugar, and tea cakes from Xiliang as gifts for her husband and A Fu.
A Fu was overjoyed, throwing himself into my arms and sweetly calling me “Auntie” several times, which made my heart bloom. I held his little face and gave him a big kiss. Yunqiao jokingly suggested adopting A Fu as my son. The moment these words were spoken, her husband’s expression stiffened, turning pale. I quickly changed the subject.
Before leaving, I entrusted Yuan Xiao and Xiao Huang to Jiang Yunqiao’s Beast Garden. In just over two months, Yuan Xiao had actually married a fox-dog in Yunqiao’s residence and had a litter of puppies. The new father Yuan Xiao was proud and spirited, his gait more nimble when coming to greet me. After my return, Yunqiao sent the fox-dog and puppies to my residence to prevent separation. Soon after moving back, Yuan Xiao carefully brought each puppy to my hand, and I understood, naming them in order: Yuan Da, Yuan Er, Yuan San…
Yuan Xiao and its fox-dog partner seemed quite satisfied with these names.
As for Xiao Huang, it remained obsessively in love with the white peacock, losing much of its feathers – a clear sign of lovesickness. I tried to bring it back, but it refused to eat, sighing constantly, and even learned a melancholic love poem, leading to rumors in the palace that Princess Zhao Hua was suffering from lovesickness. I was at a loss and had to send it back.
My parents were doing well. Father had finally overcome his inner barrier and began studying Nanrui’s historical texts, finding a new spiritual focus. One day, Hongdi chatted with my father and found they were incredibly compatible, often summoning him to the palace for long conversations, eventually appointing him as a reader in the royal study.
Mother was busy caring for Miao Yin. She made soups and medicines to nourish Miao Yin and prepared clothes and shoes for the future grandchild.
