Then he put on an official smile of satisfaction, leaned forward slightly, and whispered to Jiang Jinzhao, "Prince Jiang, you must rest assured and take good care of yourself. Don't let any underlying illness develop."
He paused, lowering his voice so only the two people in front of him could hear, "With the talent of a prince, if you were to serve as an official in the court one day, you would surely rise to prominence and have a bright future. You have a long way to go, so there's no need to rush for it now."
The profound meaning in these words was like a stone thrown into a lake, creating circles of silent yet huge ripples in the depths of Jiang Jinzhao's heart, which was as quiet as an ancient well.
Jiang Songyi had stood up, looking radiant. She turned her head and was about to say something to Jiang Jinzhao, but her eyes suddenly fixed on his face.
In the flickering candlelight on the edge of the bamboo mat, Jiang Jinzhao lowered his neck slightly, with half of his face hidden in the blurry boundary between light and darkness.
Those eyes that usually contained a glimmer of quiet contemplation now looked like two bottomless cold pools.
The emperor's words of praise were still echoing in the beams. The heavy, bright yellow imperial edict, several pieces of glittering tribute satin, and the golden waist badge that symbolized the trust of the Eastern Palace and the emperor's tacit approval had fallen into Jiang Jinzhao's hands.
The clamor for other rewards in the hall seemed to be instantly suppressed by this sudden reward.
In the corner, a fine white jade ring that Yu Huanshen was playing with fell onto the white marble floor with a "click" and rolled several times.
He didn't even bother to pick it up, his eyes were fixed on Jiang Jinzhao.
An indescribable feeling of discomfort suddenly gripped Yu Huanshen.
It's not pure envy, it's more like a basin of ice water mixed with liquor, poured over your head, freezing you to the bone and then igniting a nameless anger.
It turns out... I don't need anyone's pity at all.
When he saw Jiang Jinzhao's right wrist wrapped tightly, he muttered, "It's a pity to destroy it." There was a hint of sympathy in his words for his miserable state.
But what about now?
What's the uselessness? He has the golden seal of a marquis passed down from his ancestors! Now the crown prince is right before his eyes, and the shining gold waist badge is irrefutable proof! The emperor's favor is practically etched on his face!
Future? Jiang Jinzhao's future was a golden road. How could it be compared to a playboy like him who seemed to have a bright future but actually had a precarious one?
In another corner, Jiang Yuyao, dressed in exquisite clothes and with delicate makeup, was standing beside a group of ladies.
She looked at Jiang Songyi, the protagonist who was being conferred the title in the hall, and the smile she deliberately maintained on her face was like a mask carefully crafted by a craftsman.
How come she was safe and sound and even received extra rewards?
The jealousy that was forcibly suppressed grew wildly in her heart, making her almost breathless.
Turning her gaze, she saw the injured Jiang Jinzhao. A perfect excuse came to her mind, and she walked towards Jiang Jinzhao, who was surrounded by several generals congratulating him.
"Brother!" Her voice was gentle, with just the right tremor. "Is your injury feeling better? I heard you blocked an arrow for the prince, and I was scared to death. The injury is in your arm. Will it seriously affect your writing and martial arts? You must take good care of yourself..."
She reached out and tried to touch the bandage on his arm, her concern evident in her words.
Several generals who were originally congratulating her couldn't help but slow down their voices and look at this "loving and loyal" concubine.
Jiang Jinzhao turned around.
He was tall and stood as straight as a pine tree even when injured.
The look he gave Jiang Yuyao was three times colder and harder than the frozen lake in the imperial garden.
There was no fluctuation in those eyes, only a sense of indifference that kept people at a distance.
"No problem." Those two words, crisp and clear, hit the ground like two pieces of ice. He didn't even wait for Jiang Yuyao to continue, nor did he pause for a moment. He turned back to the general who was still talking to him.
The audience fell into a momentary silence, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Jiang Yuyao's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. Embarrassment and shame instantly surged over her, and her fair cheeks showed an unnatural blush.
In front of everyone, Big Brother actually embarrassed her like this?!
"Big Brother!" A low, dissatisfied growl echoed from the side. Jiang Yihuan frowned as he squeezed over, pulling the stiff-faced Jiang Yuyao behind him and glaring at Jiang Jinzhao. "Yuyao is genuinely concerned about your injury, so what's your attitude? It's not easy for her in the palace..."
His gaze swept across the hall with resentment, landing right on Jiang Songyi's face. Jiang Songyi's clear eyes were unabashedly watching Jiang Yuyao's embarrassment, the corners of her mouth slightly curved, and she was so absorbed in the show that she almost had a handful of sunflower seeds in her hand.
Jiang Yihuan suddenly felt a surge of anger and glared at Jiang Songyi fiercely. The reproach and disgust in his eyes almost solidified into substance. "And you! Songyi! Big brother is confused, and you are also acting like a fool?"
Jiang Songyi was caught off guard when his name was called and was stunned for a moment.
Then, she glared back at him without hesitation. The coldness and impatience in that look made Jiang Yihuan's heart jump inexplicably.
[What are you looking at? If you keep staring, I'll dig your eyeballs out!]
Jiang Yihuan froze up! His eyes were gouged out...
Xinyi Zigu...left eye...shot by an arrow...
The imperial doctors were helpless...
The Fourth Prince's ruined eye... Lishan Xia Miao...
These cold and broken words, words that Jiang Yihan had never connected together before, were now like an invisible hand that instantly pieced together a pattern pointing to the only answer!
Jiang Yuyao was so embarrassed at this moment.
Her elder brother had a cold face, her third brother was inexplicably frozen, and no one came to her rescue.
The words she had carefully prepared to follow were stuck in her throat. She bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth, her posture becoming even more fragile and helpless.
She turned slightly, her gaze, seemingly unintentional yet expectant, passing over the crowd of people like Yu Huanshen, who had publicly praised her poetry. Finally, with a hint of pleading, she turned to her third brother, Jiang Yihuan.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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