Jingning herself didn't know how she ended up here. She tilted her head, looking at the two big characters "Eastern Palace" above with confusion in her eyes.
After looking around several times, she had no intention of leaving and even considered going inside for a walk. With that thought in mind, Jingning stepped inside.
She walked aimlessly, and the eunuchs and palace maids in the Eastern Palace, seeing Jing Ning looking distracted, disheveled, and still wearing her wedding attire, all felt a sense of unease.
As Jingning wandered aimlessly deeper into the palace, the palace servants, fearing something might have happened to the princess, mostly dared not step forward to stop her.
Only one group could prevent Jingning from going to places he could freely roam, since His Highness was not in the palace, while another group went to inform Yue Jiang.
When Yue Jiang heard the news, she hurriedly followed the palace servants to find Jing Ning. At this time, Jing Ning had already arrived at the gate of Shang Yu's palace.
Yue Jiang looked at Jing Ning's dazed and confused figure and tried to call out to him.
"Sister Jingning!"
Jingning had already stepped one foot into the threshold, but whether she was startled or the shock had subsided somewhat, she abruptly pulled her foot back and turned her head.
"Royal sister-in-law."
When she saw who it was, her tear-streaked face became even paler and lifeless. She just stared at Yue Jiang.
When Yue Jiang arrived, she had already heard the palace servants' description of Jing Ning. She could also tell that Jing Ning was not in good condition, so she did not make any rash moves and quietly observed her.
Unexpectedly, Jingning suddenly spoke up: "Sister-in-law, are you happy to know that we are going to be married off?"
Jingning was to leave Jing in late autumn to marry into the Jade Kingdom, and Yuejiang immediately understood Jingning's meaning.
She sighed, "There's nothing to be happy or unhappy about. Even if I weren't here for a political marriage, I could still be arbitrarily betrothed to any man in the Moon Kingdom."
Yue Jiang went to great lengths to secure a marriage alliance with Anguo because she was trying to escape Yue Lang.
To her, Yue Lang and An Chenghuan were no different, but Yue Jiang chose An Chenghuan simply because she would only be Yue Lang's plaything in his household.
Yue Jiang was kept in the Yue Kingdom's palace. After being coveted by Yue Lang, she also considered escaping from the Yue Kingdom.
However, considering the cost of escaping, it is highly questionable whether other countries can allow her to settle down peacefully.
What if one day any of the countries she visits happens to fall into ruin? Wouldn't she become a slave of a conquered nation?
At least Yue Jiang grew up in Yue Kingdom. If she can't predict the situation in other countries, surely she can predict the situation in Yue Kingdom.
The Moon Kingdom poses no threat to the other nations and can even send them gold and silver. Even if any of the other nations develop ambitions to annex other countries, unify the world, and strengthen themselves, the Moon Kingdom will definitely be the one to suffer in the end.
Even if they become slaves of a conquered nation, the people of Yue will still be able to make money, giving them an advantage over the people of other countries. If the victorious dynasty wants to develop its economy, it is impossible for it not to treat the people of Yue well.
After thinking it through, Yue Jiang realized that while escaping from the Moon Kingdom might feel good in the short term, it was not worth it for the future.
But she didn't want to submit to Yue Lang. After all, she was the only one who could win him over. Besides his unwavering affection, she couldn't think of anything else she could get in return.
Therefore, Yue Jiang was unwilling to use any tricks on Yue Lang.
Marrying An Chenghuan is great! He's betrothed to the Crown Prince, and the Yue Kingdom will become her powerful backer. Plus, she's being courted by the Empress of another country. Yue Jiang thinks it's more promising than Yue Lang's life in the inner palace.
As long as Anguo is not defeated by Jingguo in the future, she can die of old age no matter what. Yue Jiang admits that there is an element of gambling involved, but in order to avoid Yue Lang, she has no other choice.
But life is unpredictable; who could have imagined that she would marry An Chenghuan's mortal enemy?
“At least Yue Kingdom is home. Doesn’t the Empress Dowager fear anything before she sees the Emperor?” Jingning asked, puzzled.
Yue Jiang: She was scared. She was scared the moment she saw Jing Yan. If she hadn't been pretending to have amnesia, she would have already gone mining.
However, this cannot be told to Jingning.
Jingning didn't get a reply from Yuejiang, and then belatedly smiled sadly: "No, my brother treats you very well, and he's young and handsome. Even if he was a little afraid at first, he's more than capable of making up for my shortcomings as your sister-in-law. Unlike me."
The man she was to marry was the same age as her father, the emperor, and older than her mother; he was her husband.
Yue Jiang thought of the Jade Emperor's age and couldn't help but feel sorry for Jing Ning. Although Jing Kingdom had won a great victory and gained fame, it didn't have the advantage in everything.
The Crown Prince of Yu Kingdom is young, but he is the future heir of Yu Kingdom. His wife must be either a noblewoman closely connected to the country's politics or a legitimate princess of the country.
Empress Dowager Zheng was probably worried that Jingning would not agree to the Jade Kingdom's decision to make her the Jade Kingdom's Empress Dowager without the status of a legitimate princess.
For Jingning, a girl who had lived a carefree life for over a decade, facing a husband with one foot in the grave was nothing short of torture.
However, Yue Jiang was powerless to do anything; she could not be the one to break up the marriage between the two countries.
“Jingning, actually your brother’s age and appearance are secondary. The most important thing is that he is a very good person. I’m not just saying this because I’m not in your shoes.”
"Think about it, if your brother is cold-hearted, and I am infatuated with his looks, humble as dust, do you think I'm living a good life like that?"
"I will not judge the Emperor of the Jade Kingdom. Things have come to this point, and I'm afraid it won't solve the problem. Just think about how you're going to be the Empress. If you're not tempted, then don't move."
"At least you are a princess of Jing Kingdom. As long as Jing Kingdom exists, there are not many people who can overpower the empress of a country. Just do your job well and don't violate the taboos of Yu Kingdom for the sake of certain people or things. It's not worth it. Find something you like to do, and you can always get by."
"This is better than you going after someone you love. Even if you don't have any children, you will still be the Empress Dowager of the Jade Kingdom in the future. How could the new Emperor of the Jade Kingdom dare not treat you well?"
Jing Ning's long eyelashes fluttered twice. She clutched her heart and murmured to herself, "So, does that mean I'll never let it move again? Is that possible?"
“Ninth Prince, Military Advisor Rong Ying,” Yue Jiang greeted Yu Chuxuan and Rong Ying as they walked over together.
Yue Jiang guessed that they had come to Shang Yu for treatment again. As for Rong Ying and Yu Chuxuan's extraordinary relationship, it was an open secret between Jing Yan and her. So she was not surprised to see the two of them together.
Jingning heard a noise behind her and turned around.
Yu Chuxuan and Rong Ying greeted Yue Jiang and Jing Ning at the same time.
After greeting them, Jing Ning's unusual demeanor made the two of them look at Yue Jiang with suspicion.
Yue Jiang naturally didn't want to reveal that Jing Ning was depressed and heartbroken because she was about to marry into the Yu Kingdom, so she wanted to use a pretext.
Jing Ning stared blankly at Yu Chuxuan and asked, "Ninth Prince, has the Yu Kingdom agreed to send you to Jing as a hostage for how many years?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Chuxuan paused in surprise. The Yu Kingdom hadn't mentioned how many years he had been a hostage before he left.
Perhaps I can go back, or perhaps I'll spend my whole life in the Jing Kingdom.
Of course, it might be his good fortune to not have to go back.
However, given that Jingning is about to marry into the Jade Kingdom, which is already rife with corruption, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to say anything that would frighten her.
Hoping that being a princess of Jing Kingdom would make things easier, Yu Chuxuan didn't speak too harshly.
"Let's see what Father Emperor thinks. Perhaps we'll go back soon."
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