After comforting Rong Ning, A Ye quickly left Zhaoqing Palace, only to find that her mistress hadn't gone far, but was standing there in a daze under the corridor.

She remained silent, standing quietly beside Rong Yang.

Rong Yang glanced at her and asked, "Has A Ning started making a scene?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, no..."

"Hmm... She was spoiled by my older brother and me since she was little, so she is indeed a bit willful in her words and deeds. If she doesn't change this personality, how will she survive in this palace when I go to Da Jing for a political marriage?"

"Your Majesty, the Third Princess is fiery and truly capable. There are few in the court and harem who dare to act arrogantly in front of her, so you can rest assured... But you..."

A-Ye paused, considering whether to continue. After a while, she made up her mind and said quickly, "But you are in a more difficult situation, Master. What the Third Princess said is actually not wrong. His Majesty has not yet issued a decree. If we try, the outcome may change."

Strive for it?

Rong Yang's lips curled up slightly as he said self-deprecatingly, "Ah Ye... I know what kind of person Father is. If he had even the slightest hesitation about sending me to a political marriage, he wouldn't have released the news so quickly."

If the Emperor truly wanted to keep her as his daughter, there were plenty of ways. After all, the Great Jing Dynasty only needed a princess for a political marriage to maintain appearances; whether that appearance was genuine or not was not a matter of great concern.

Of all the princesses sent to marry foreign rulers throughout history, how many were truly born of the legitimate wife?

The Emperor never suggested using a fake legitimate princess to deal with the situation from the beginning. Perhaps it was because her noble status would allow the Great Jing to see the Southern Dynasty's sincerity, let the court officials see his determination, and let everyone see that he was a ruthless emperor.

Or perhaps it was because of her stunning beauty that people felt there was a greater chance of a marriage alliance between them.

Their father, who had risen to this position through ruthless means, could no longer be regarded as an ordinary father.

A-Ye was her personal servant, and they had grown up together since childhood, sharing a deep bond. She felt sorry for her mistress, her eyes welling up with tears, and she was still somewhat unwilling to accept it. "But His Majesty used to... love you the most, mistress. Can he really bear to see you go to Da Jing alone?"

"What am I to the nation and its people?" Rong Yang smiled self-deprecatingly. "A-Ye... don't let A-Ning lead you astray. This marriage alliance is unavoidable. There are only two legitimate princesses, one of us and one of A-Ning. But I am the eldest sister, so how can I let A-Ning bear this responsibility?"

Just as Rong Ning did not want her to go on a political marriage, she also did not want her beloved younger sister to leave her homeland.

She was raised to be a top-tier lady from a young age, and her personality has long since lost its sharp edges. No matter how high the walls and courtyards confine her, she can endure it.

But her sister is not.

Hearing these words, A-Ye felt heartbroken. "Master is thinking of the Third Princess with all his heart, but the Third Princess regards Master as her own life. She will not let this go so easily."

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of!"

Rong Yang was afraid that her younger sister would go crazy and act recklessly, so she took her away by extreme measures.

She tilted her head slightly, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, and after a while, she regained her gentle and serene demeanor. "Let's not talk about these things for now. Let's go to the Taiji Hall. I want to talk to my father alone."

Upon hearing this, A-Ye felt something was amiss. "Master... you just brought the Third Princess out in front of the ministers. His Majesty might still be angry and may not necessarily see you."

Rong Yang smiled and said, "If you don't see me, I'll wait. If I don't try my best to find an opportunity to talk to my father alone today, how can I face the Bai family for using my maternal grandmother's serious illness as an excuse to bring me back to the Chengen Marquis's residence?"

Originally, she went to the Taiji Palace to see her father, but she didn't expect Rong Ning to cause such a scene in the palace, so she had to bring her back first.

The Marquis of Chengen's family was their maternal family; their mother and the current Imperial Concubine both came from the Marquis of Chengen's family.