Jing Yan concealed his unusual feeling and answered Yue Jiang: "Consort Zheng is Father Emperor's favorite concubine. Over the years, their affection has deepened. However, Father Emperor is discreet in Jing Ning's marriage, so there is no need to worry. Besides, Jiang'er still has me."
"Your Highness and I are also in love, so I trust you completely," Yue Jiang replied softly, and sat up straight in an instant.
Jing Yan looked back and saw that Yue Jiang's expression was normal, but her words just now were still unforgettable.
Yue Jiang glanced back casually and saw Jing Yan staring at her in a daze. She naturally raised her wine glass and gently toasted Jing Yan.
"At the palace banquet, Your Highness, please don't hold up your wine without drinking. If people see this, they'll think I'm interfering with Your Highness's affairs, which would be a great injustice."
Jing Yan snapped out of his daze and realized it wasn't appropriate to be in a daze in front of everyone, so he continued to drink his wine.
Finally, Yue Jiang's faint, helpless voice drifted into Jing Yan's ears: "Although I am quite afraid of Your Highness when you are drunk."
Jingyan moved slowly, and after drinking half of the cup of wine, he was about to put it down when Yuejiang picked up the wine pot to refill the cup.
Jing Yan dodged the wine pot and said gently, "Drinking too much is bad for your health. Three cups are enough. I won't drink anymore."
Yue Jiang's eyes were clear and bright, with a smile in them. She took Jing Yan's wine glass, filled it to the brim, and handed it back to Jing Yan.
"Your Highness, I did not imply that you cannot drink alcohol. It was only three cups. I was afraid that Your Highness would get drunk, but I also like the faint scent of alcohol on Your Highness."
“You haven’t drunk with me yet today,” Yue Jiang raised her wine cup, waiting for Jing Yan to drink with her. She drank it all first and stared at the empty cup curiously.
"I wonder what I'm like when I'm drunk? Will Your Highness indulge me and comfort me?"
Jingyan wasn't one to get completely drunk; the only time he'd ever been so drunk in all these years was on his wedding night that he lost his senses for half the night and showed his discomfiture to Yuejiang.
Not only did Yue Jiang not hold it against him, but she also smoothed things over for him in a few words. Her thoughtfulness warmed Jing Yan's heart, and he raised his glass to drink with Yue Jiang.
After a long pause, he said, "Yes!"
...
After the banquet, everyone left Delin Hall one after another.
Consort Cheng helped Empress Dowager Cheng leave. Seeing that the people had left, Consort Zheng hurriedly stopped Jing Huaixu, and the two whispered something to each other.
Afterwards, Consort Zheng, accompanied by Jing Ning, helped Empress Dowager Zheng leave, while Jing Huaixu looked worried.
Just before Jing Huaixu was about to leave alone, Yue Jiang quickly walked up to Empress Ye, handed her a sachet from her waist to refresh her mind, and asked with concern.
"Mother, I saw that you just entertained the envoys from the Jade Kingdom and drank a lot of wine with Father. I'm afraid you might feel dizzy and fall while walking. Please take my sachet with you."
"When we get back, I'll have Lancer make you a bowl of hangover soup. The silkworm house smells strong, so it might make your headache worse. You can't go see it today; Jiang'er will go in your place later."
Although Jingyi disliked Yuejiang, she still cared deeply for her mother, Empress Ye. She quickly took the sachet that Yuejiang had handed her and tied it around her mother's waist.
As if trying to outdo Yue Jiang in filial piety, she spoke no less about what she cared about than Yue Jiang. With her clear and bright voice, what should have been normal words of concern were tinged with a hint of resentment.
"Mother, please come back to the Jiaofang Palace with me right away. I remember yesterday you were looking at an account book and you almost fell over. It took you a long time to recover."
"There are so many people in the palace, and they all rely on you. What's the point of having palace servants? I won't let you work so hard today."
Jing Huaixu originally wanted to leave, but after Yue Jiang and Jing Yi's repeated words, he immediately felt worried and turned back to support his wife with concern.
"Chu Ting, why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling well? Didn't I tell you that the Feng clan was gone and you didn't need to work so hard? Why didn't you listen!"
Empress Ye had been unwell for some time, and the imperial physicians always said it was due to overwork and worries. As the Empress, she had to shoulder her responsibilities and could not easily complain.
Since marrying into the palace, she has never shown the vulnerability of a young woman, always reminding herself to be dignified and sensible, and has never complained to her husband over the years.
Suddenly faced with this, Empress Ye was somewhat at a loss: "Your Majesty, Jiang'er and Jingyi are overthinking it. I have palace servants following me, so I won't really fall."
Hearing this, Jing Huaixu became even more worried. He felt guilty because his wife was suffering from managing the inner palace, but he didn't want to show it in front of the younger generation, so he immediately helped Empress Ye up.
"Then you really fainted? I didn't know anything about it. Stop talking now. I don't want Yue Jiang and Jing Yi, those two juniors, to worry. Let me accompany you back."
Immediately, Jing Huaixu insisted on accompanying Empress Ye back to Jiaofang Palace without further ado, and Jing Yi naturally followed her mother.
After the Emperor and Empress left, Yue Jiang and Jing Yan departed together, with Jing Yan chuckling silently.
Yue Jiang guessed what Jing Yan was laughing at, and she pretended to be puzzled: "Your Highness, what are you laughing at? Do I seem pretentious for making such a fuss?"
"Even Jingyi showed concern for Mother just now, why didn't Your Highness say a word?"
Jing Yan slowly shook his head: "That is my mother. I worry about her even if she is slightly unwell. How could I think she is being dramatic?"
“I’m afraid to speak up, otherwise what Jiang’er says will not be true.”
Yue Jiang looked bewildered: "How could it not be true? The Empress Dowager is already exhausted from managing the harem. Didn't Your Highness see the dark circles under her eyes?"
Jingyan: "I know, but the Empress Dowager never complains to the Emperor. She only says that everything is fine, and I will also say that everything is fine."
“My son and I both said no, but Father Emperor was suspicious.”
Yue Jiang suddenly realized: "So that's how it is. It's my fault for not knowing how to put on a good show."
“I can’t see any remorse in Jiang’er,” Jing Yan paused and turned to look at her. Not only did she not show any remorse, she was also very good at making excuses for herself.
Yue Jiang smiled smugly: "I only said that I would not cover up the truth, not that I admitted my mistake. Father Emperor does not understand my character. Isn't it just right for me to say that?"
"Does Your Highness think I am wrong or not?"
"No," Jingyan answered crisply, then teased after a moment's thought, "You're quite good at playing the field, aren't you? Wherever you need wind, Jiang'er can provide it," not just in bed.
Yue Jiang retorted, "I call it being sweet-talking and good with words. Otherwise, Father Emperor would have already wandered off somewhere. Your Highness really does displease me."
Jing Yan was a little confused: "What have I done to displease Jiang'er?"
Isn't it the Emperor who needs to take care of everything? He only has Yue Jiang, and both of his ears are filled with her whispers in his pillow.
Yue Jiang moved slightly closer to Jing Yan and complained in a low voice, "Your Highness at night is quite displeasing to me."
After speaking, Yue Jiang quickly walked out of Delin Hall, leaving Jing Yan standing there alone.
Jing Yan: "..."
Didn't he do enough at night?
evening.
Inside Consort Zheng's Yu'an Palace.
Although Jing Huaixu accompanied Empress Ye during the day, he was still worried about his daughter who was about to be married off to a distant place, so he came to Consort Zheng's residence in the evening.
After dinner, Jingning sat down below her parents and wept, while Consort Zheng sat down in front of Jing Huaixu and wept as well. The soft, weak sobs of the mother and daughter made Jing Huaixu feel a pang of sadness.
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