Jiang Jiaojiao woke up the next day.

I originally thought that I would encounter some difficulties when I entered the palace this time, but I didn't expect it to go so smoothly.

The once high and mighty concubines were all treating her with kindness and gentleness, and several of them even showered her with compliments, making her dizzy with flattery.

The imperial cuisine in the palace was also delicious.

The fermented rice wine was so intoxicating that she couldn't even remember how she got back.

"Miss, do you have a headache? You drank too much yesterday too."

"Fortunately, Your Highness sent a matron; even this servant couldn't stop you."

A Yuan looked on with a sigh.

Yesterday, the young lady really stole the show, clinging to the rice wine and refusing to let go. Neither she nor Ah Xiang could stop her. Fortunately, His Highness sent two nannies to pick her up.

They then helped the drunk lady out.

Miss, you're too naive. All the women in the palace are cunning and scheming.

Seeing that Consort Jin is currently enjoying great favor, they dared not make things difficult for her; otherwise, would the young lady have been able to return unharmed?

Every time he went to the palace in the past, he was always full of anger.

Jiang Jiaojiao: "..."

She hadn't expected the palace wine to be so potent. She was too embarrassed to refuse the first few cups, but then... she got drunk. She vaguely remembered saying something to Consort Mei, and then the Fourth Princess arrived... but after that, she remembered nothing at all.

"Did I... speak to Consort Mei?"

Jiang Jiaojiao pressed her head and asked.

Upon hearing this, Ah Xiang's expression instantly turned strange. "Miss, have you really forgotten everything?"

"Miss, you are so brave!"

"First, you wanted to become sworn sisters with the Empress, but after learning that the Fourth Princess was raised by Consort Mei, you actually... wanted to arrange a marriage for the princess!"

"They even told Her Majesty that if the princess didn't betroth herself to someone soon, she would be sent away for a political marriage, which terrified Consort Mei so much that her face turned pale!"

"If the Fourth Princess hadn't rushed over to stop you, who knows what might have happened."

Jiang Jiaojiao stared in disbelief: "..."

Matchmaking? Arranging a marriage alliance?

This...this...

She didn't say anything strange again, did she?

If I were to reveal that I'd been reborn, wouldn't I be treated like a monster and burned at the stake?!

These days have been smooth sailing, thanks to my carelessness.

She wants to lie down, give up, and enjoy life, but she has to save her life first!

I absolutely must never get drunk again!

"Is the princess angry with me?"

Jiang Jiaojiao asked guiltily.

A-Yuan couldn't help but laugh out loud, "The princess is so embarrassed that she doesn't dare to see anyone, but you insist on dragging her back to the manor to be the young mistress of the Marquis's mansion, and you even said that either the eldest young master or the second young master would be fine with her..."

Clang—

A Yuan hadn't finished speaking.

The courtyard gate was kicked open, and Jiang Jingtian rushed in, calling out, "Jiang—Jiaojiao—"

Jiang Jiaojiao shuddered in fright.

Ah Xiang's voice came from outside the door, trying to stop him, "Young Master, Miss hasn't woken up yet..."

"Jiang Jiaojiao—get out here right now!"

"Are you crazy?!"

How dare you ruin someone's reputation like that!

Upon hearing the rumors, Jiang Jingtian was so angry that he immediately rode back to his residence.

What do you mean he and his second brother are both suitable? The princess is so noble, how could they be matched with her so casually? Isn't this just ruining her reputation for no reason?

She was already going through such a difficult time.

How can we discuss marriage after that? We'll really have no choice but to arrange a political marriage!

How could those barbarian foreigners be worthy of her!

"Jiang Jiaojiao—you come out here right now! Go to the palace right now and apologize to the Empress and the Princess!"

Jiang Jingtian shouted into the room, "Don't pretend to be asleep!"

"You're brave enough to cause trouble, but not brave enough to admit it?!"

"Jiang Jiaojiao—"

Jiang Jiaojiao covered her ears and shuffled out, giving Jiang Jingtian a guilty glare. "I've already said it, what's the use of apologizing? If you... if you're worried about the princess's reputation, just marry her..."

"you--"

Jiang Jingtian's face was a dark reddish-brown.

Black is from sun exposure, red... is from anger, and also from shame.

Her gentle and lovely face flashed through my mind, along with the sorrow between her brows, and my heart ached slightly.

Seeing her eldest brother speechless with anger, Jiang Jiaojiao felt even more guilty. "If you're not willing, I think second brother..."

"Jiang Jiaojiao..."

A faint sound came from outside the door.

A chill ran down my spine as Jiang Lingtian walked in from outside.

The look in his eyes as he stared at Jiang Jiaojiao was murderous.

Jiang Jiaojiao: "Hehe... Second Brother..."

"Have you finished all the homework the teacher assigned?"

A soft, lingering sound.

Jiang Jiaojiao immediately jumped up, "Second brother, you can't take revenge on me! The princess is such a good person, you might not even marry her even if you wanted to!"

Ever since Mr. Li handed over the right to collect homework to him, his good days have come to an end.

He is no longer the melancholic second brother who torments himself; now he torments others, especially Jiang Jiaojiao.

He was punished with writing and copying every few days.

Unfortunately, the man sided with him, and when his explanation failed, the punishment was doubled!

"Jiang—Jiaojiao—"

Jiang Lingtian gritted his teeth, "I won't..."

"shut up--"

Jiang Jingtian roared, "Shut up, all of you!"

“A real man should take responsibility for his actions. Since we brothers have tarnished the princess’s reputation, we must take responsibility! As the elder brother, I will personally go to the palace gate to kowtow and beg for forgiveness!”

After Jiang Jingtian finished speaking, he turned and ran.

Jiang Jiaojiao: "..."

Jiang Lingtian's gaze was deep and unfathomable. "Copy the Book of Rites three times and hand it to me tomorrow."

After saying that, he turned around and said, "You're not allowed to leave until you finish writing."

Jiang Jiaojiao: "..."

I want to cry; it's all the fault of the fermented rice.

A Yuan quietly tugged at Jiang Jiaojiao's sleeve, "Miss, you also made an appointment with His Highness to go horseback riding at the Imperial Estate."

"when?"

Jiang Jiaojiao exclaimed in surprise, "Just how much drunken talk did she say?"

She doesn't know how to ride a horse!

"It was after you helped His Highness onto the carriage that you said it inside the carriage. You said the carriage was too slow and you wanted to take His Highness to the horse farm to ride horses!"

Jiang Jiaojiao: "..."

Why does this word "home" sound a bit odd?

After a long pause, he tentatively asked, "You mean the one who carried me onto the carriage yesterday?"

He's so weak, I hope he wasn't crushed?

Should we send a box of bone-strengthening pills?

A-Yuan's expression became even stranger. "Miss, have you really forgotten everything?"

"It's not His Highness hugging Miss, it's Miss... hugging His Highness."

"Miss walks so fast, I almost couldn't catch up with you."

"That dark-faced guard tried to stop you several times, but he couldn't!"

Jiang Jiaojiao's eyes widened suddenly.

Wh...what?!

Aaaaaaah!

Has she gone mad?

She must be crazy!

No!

This must be a dream!

Jiang Jiaojiao turned and left. She must be dreaming. She wanted to go back and sleep. She would be normal when she woke up.