With a look of pity on Li Yuyan, Jiang Shuwan crouched down slightly to meet her gaze.

Li Yuyan looked utterly dejected, her face streaked with tears, and her makeup ruined.

Jiang Shuwan reached into her sleeve and pulled out a light blue handkerchief embroidered with white magnolia flowers. She raised her hand and gently used the handkerchief to wipe away the tears on her face.

“Princess, it was never me who did anything.”

She earned her title of County Princess through her own abilities, just like Pei Yanzhi was promoted to Vice Minister of Revenue after only half a year in office. Her title was something she planned step by step.

However, she did nothing in terms of stopping Li Yuyan and Pei Yanzhi.

"You are a princess, His Majesty's own niece, a woman of noble birth. Even a princess is not as honorable as you. What can't you get?"

Li Yuyan sprang to her feet with a "whoosh," reaching for her waist to draw her usual whip. "Insolence! Are you mocking this princess?"

The angry voice only earned a sigh in return.

"If you can't get it, it just means someone doesn't want to give it to you."

"..."

Li Yuyan was stunned, staring at Jiang Shuwan in disbelief.

Jiang Shuwan's gaze, however, was directed towards the outside of the palace. From their angle, they could see Pei Yanzhi standing at the entrance of Shaohua Palace.

The young man, dressed in a wide, sky-blue robe with a white fox fur cloak, stood quietly under a cedar tree, carrying a palace lantern in his hand.

The young man was as handsome as jade, with unparalleled elegance. The palace maids who passed by blushed and dared not look him in the eye.

He truly deserves the title of the most handsome young master in the capital; both his looks and his demeanor are top-notch.

It's only natural that Li Yuyan would pursue him.

After admiring the people outside for a while, Jiang Shuwan turned her gaze back to Li Yuyan.

“This ‘someone’ has never been me, or even Pei Yanzhi. Whether he likes you or wants you has never been a question.”

The problem is, "someone" is preventing you from having it.

"So, Li Yuyan, please don't make things difficult for me anymore."

"It's meaningless."

After saying this with a soft sigh, Jiang Shuwan turned around and walked out with the hand warmer in her hand.

She had no idea how much Li Yuyan had suffered because of her words, or how shaken she was.

The world spun around her, and the edifice in her heart began to crumble. Even a single tile was excruciatingly painful for Li Yuyan.

This is worse than the sky collapsing and the earth sinking.

As Jiang Shuwan approached the door, she heard Li Yuyan's voice trembling uncontrollably.

"What am I in your eyes? A clown?"

Li Yuyan's voice trembled like snowflakes falling from the sky, shaky and fragile, as if it would break at the slightest touch.

At times like these, it's best not to say too much.

Stopping in her tracks, Jiang Shuwan thought for a moment before speaking softly.

“Clown? No! You’re wrong. Even if you’re just a hostage, you’re an unshakeable figure in the capital. How could I dare to underestimate you?”

She wasn't afraid of Li Yuyan, but she never dared to underestimate the power behind her.

After saying that, Jiang Shuwan left without looking back, leaving Li Yuyan behind.

As if struck on the head, Li Yuyan's mind was buzzing, her head was throbbing, her body was trembling violently, and tears were streaming down her face uncontrollably.

She heard light footsteps behind her, and turning her head slightly, she saw Li Chengyun.

He didn't show up at such an important event as the palace banquet on the first day of the Lunar New Year, but he has appeared now.

The man only glanced at Li Yuyan before walking towards the window, from which he could see Jiang Shuwan's retreating figure.

Amidst the heavy snowfall, the girl's silhouette was truly beautiful.

"So clever..."

His sigh carried a hint of surprise and amazement, and his gaze towards her deepened, revealing an unwavering determination.

Li Yuyan's pupils suddenly contracted. "You knew all along..."

"..."

The man did not reply to her.

"No answer means you agree."

Li Yuyan covered her mouth and gave a miserable laugh.

"I was wondering why Father, who was far away in the southern border, would get involved in the struggle for the throne. So this is why Father supported you... So this is why... the most precious and noble Princess of Nan'an in the capital was a hostage from beginning to end..."

Outside Shaohua Hall.

Jiang Shuwan encountered many noblewomen and court officials, who were being led out by palace maids and eunuchs. Most of them did not look very happy.

Officials, especially those from the eight aristocratic families, began whispering amongst themselves as soon as they left the hall.

"His Majesty is treating us like fools..."

"What Princess Jinzhu, Princess Jinzhu? It's obviously an attempt to elevate the Crown Prince's consort. But it's strange, didn't His Majesty already reward Pei Yanzhi?"

"He was promoted from a minor seventh-rank official to a third-rank Vice Minister of Revenue in just half a year after entering officialdom, and he still has to take the imperial examination in the spring. Such great honor, and yet he's going to bestow it separately upon the Crown Prince's wife. It's too strange..."

The crowd discussed amongst themselves, unable to fathom the mystery, and turned their attention to the eldest prince and the crown prince, who had not yet gone far.

The Crown Prince and the First Prince must know about this whole thing Your Majesty has done, right?

However, both of them looked puzzled. Pei Yanzhi was one thing, but why was he praising a woman?

Just because of the silver delivered twice a month from Donglai Street?

That's a huge sum of money!

The thought of this made both the eldest prince and the crown prince show greedy expressions.

The new commercial tax dealt them a heavy blow, and with the Lunar New Year being a time when money is needed, they were all struggling financially.

Just then, she saw Pei Yanzhi waiting for Jiang Shuwan under the snow pine tree.

With a turn of his footsteps, the eldest prince, Li Chengyou, walked towards Pei Yanzhi.

"Congratulations, Lord Pei! Today is truly a day of double celebration for the Marquis's residence. If you are going to hold a banquet, you must invite me to have a drink with you."

Hearing his sarcastic voice, Pei Yanzhi bowed calmly.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I still need to prepare for the imperial examinations. The county princess is also low-key and dislikes extravagance, so we will not hold a banquet."

"Hmph, you're smart enough to know your place. Don't think that just because your wife was granted the title of County Princess, you're related to the imperial family. After all, she doesn't even have the surname Li..."

"It's dark and the roads are slippery, why hasn't my eldest brother returned yet?"

A clear voice suddenly came from behind him, startling Li Chengyou. He turned around and saw Jiang Shuwan.

The girl hugged the hand warmer and looked at him with a smile, as if she hadn't heard what he had just said.

"What's wrong, eldest brother? Why are you looking at me so surprised? Is it because Jinzhu called you 'elder brother' too formally? Should I call you 'big brother' to make it seem more intimate?" The girl said in a clear voice, staring at him.

She asked what seemed like a trivial question, and she was completely oblivious to people's expressions, which only made Lee Seung-woo's face turn as red as a pig's liver.

Lee Seung-woo gritted his teeth, "You..."

"Oh dear, you've called me by the wrong name. We're all family now, so calling me 'Big Brother' is the most affectionate and appropriate way to address me."

Crown Prince Li Chengyu also came over. He interrupted Li Chengyou and acknowledged Jiang Shuwan.