She had no desire for a political marriage. When she saw that the only adult prince of Cangyue was unwilling to marry her, she was not sad. On the contrary, she was a little happy. She was not afraid of being laughed at when she returned to Xijin, simply because she did not want to be married off to a foreign land as a princess. However... she was willing, but her father and everyone in Xijin would not allow her to return to Xijin.

If the princess sent away for a marriage alliance were sent back to the Western Jin Dynasty, the whole world would probably laugh at the Western Jin.

She didn't understand why her elder sister could be married off to the Western Jin Dynasty, while she and her third sister had to be sent to a foreign country as princesses for political marriages.

Jun Luoli was very careful after sitting down with Ji Jiuying. In the past, she would have always belittled Ji Jiuying, but things were different now. The current Ji Jiuying was worlds apart from her, even though she was a princess.

Now, she has to be on good terms with Ji Jiuying, whether for personal gain or selfish reasons.

"Ji Jiuying, it's been a long time." Jun Luoli sat a little closer and said with a smile, making it seem to others that she and the princess were very familiar with each other.

Ji Jiuying glanced at her and said coldly, "Jun Luoli, there's no need to pretend so hard. Given what happened before, we could never be friends."

Jun Luoli's smile froze on her face. In order not to be laughed at by others, she still looked indifferent and continued talking to herself, not caring whether Ji Jiuying would respond or not.

At this moment, Jun Buhui obtained the Empress's consent, and the palace maid moved her seat to Ji Jiuying's left.

"Sister Xiao Jiu, you're finally back."

Jun Buhui smiled and took Ji Jiuying's arm.

"It's been a long time since we've seen the Seventh Princess. She seems to have grown quite a bit taller!"

"I also think that Sister Xiao Jiu is even more beautiful than before."

"Little Sister Jiu, my brother doesn't want to marry that second princess of the Western Jin Dynasty. He wants to marry you, Little Sister Jiu. Little Sister Jiu, can you please drive that princess away?"

Ji Jiuying choked for a moment, then quickly covered her mouth. Where did this girl get the idea that Jun Lintian wanted to marry her? "Seventh Princess, you mustn't say things like that to anyone, understand?"

Jun Buhui nodded abruptly, assuming that Ji Jiuying was just shy. If Ji Jiuying knew what she was thinking, she would probably be shocked.

"These are spiritual fruits I brought back for you from another country, please try them..."

Ji Jiuying took out some spiritual fruits and stuffed them into her mouth. Sure enough, children are easy to coax. Jun Buhui was happily eating the spiritual fruits and completely forgot about asking Ji Jiuying for help.

Jun Luoli didn't know what Ji Jiuying and Jun Buhui were talking about, but she saw that the two were chatting and laughing, unlike their previous coldness towards her.

She sneered inwardly. This Jun Buhui was just like her dead mother, so cunning at such a young age.

At this moment, Minister Mo spoke up, "Your Majesty, since the Second Prince is unwilling to marry the Second Princess of Western Jin, perhaps another prince could marry her. This would both save face for Western Jin and avoid forcing the Second Prince..."

Upon hearing Minister Mo's words, the emperor's face darkened, and the court officials below began to whisper among themselves.

The Emperor wasn't the only one with a dark expression; Consort Qing's face was even more gloomy, as if she wished she could tear Minister Mo to pieces. If Jun Linyu returned to the capital, her Qi'er would have one more competitor, which was unacceptable!

Everyone understood who Minister Mo was referring to, and they had to think more highly of him. How dare he mention Jun Linyu at this time and even want him to return to the capital? Was Minister Mo tired of being a minister?

Ji Jiuying narrowed her eyes and instantly grasped the key point: So that's how it is!

It has to be said that Jun Linyu is quite capable. What exactly did he promise the Western Jin Dynasty while he was far away on the frontier that made them willing to sacrifice a princess to help him return to the capital? She had a feeling that the first thing Jun Linyu would do upon returning to the capital would be to overthrow the emperor and seize the throne.

When Minister Mo saw that the emperor and empress remained silent, he broke out in a cold sweat, but his eyes involuntarily glanced at the crown prince of Western Jin.

Ji Jiuying picked up her teacup to hide the cold smile on her lips.

"Minister Mo, you have quite the nerve!" the Empress sneered.

Minister Mo was startled and knelt on the ground with a thud. "Your Majesty, Empress, please forgive me. I only wished to share Your Majesty's burdens and had no ill intentions..."

"Hmph~ What a fine excuse of no ill intent! The Liang family committed a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations. It is already merciful that the Third Prince was spared his life and exiled to the frontier. Now, Minister Mo dares to suggest that the Third Prince, who is guilty of a crime, return to the capital to marry a princess from another country. May I ask, Minister Mo, where do you intend to place the Emperor?"

"Or are you intentionally trying to help the Third Prince..." Consort Qing said meaningfully.

Minister Mo knelt on the ground in terror, "Your Majesty, I had no such intention. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy!"

Just as the Emperor was about to speak, a majestic voice came from outside the door, "I think Minister Mo's suggestion is quite good."

Swish, swish, swish!

Everyone at the banquet stood up, and all eyes were focused on the entrance.

Ji Jiuying narrowed her eyes slightly. The one who called herself "Aijia" must be the Empress Dowager. However, she had only been in Cangyue Kingdom for half a year and had never heard of an Empress Dowager in the palace. She couldn't help but be curious about what this Empress Dowager wanted to do at this time.

A palace maid helped a graceful old woman walk slowly towards them.

A loud, duck-like quack called out, "The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

Everyone knelt down in unison, and to avoid unnecessary trouble, Ji Jiuying also knelt down.

"Greetings, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty enjoy boundless happiness and well-being!"

"Get up!"

"Thank you, Empress Dowager!"

Everyone's thoughts were racing. The Empress Dowager had been eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures in Cining Palace for ten years and had never come out. Could her sudden appearance now be related to the Third Prince, Jun Linyu?

The Emperor and Empress immediately descended from their seats and helped the Empress Dowager up, saying, "Mother, what brings you here?"

"I haven't left Cining Palace for ten years. I've been feeling very anxious lately, so I came to take a look."

"Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself!"

Empress Dowager Min Jing'er sat down gracefully. Although she was old, she exuded an air of elegance and nobility. Despite decades of hardship, she still maintained the noble temperament of a lady from a prominent family, and her face always held a kind and benevolent expression.

"Your Majesty, since Tian'er is unwilling to marry, then send Yu'er back to the capital. No matter what, Yu'er is a prince you raised yourself. He should be unaware of the Liang family's affairs."

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, the Empress and Consort Qing's faces darkened, and the court officials exchanged bewildered glances. The prince, who had been demoted to the frontier, was about to return to the capital, which would likely stir up another bloody storm.

Even the emperor fell silent. The empress dowager, out of sight of everyone, took the emperor's and empress's hands and wrote a few large characters on their palms. The empress and emperor exchanged a glance and nodded.

"Minister Mo, get up!"

Minister Mo breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Your Majesty, Empress, and Empress Dowager!"

Returning to his seat with lingering fear, Murong Yun smiled slightly, thinking, "This is truly a stroke of luck!"