The next morning, Jiang Wei woke up lazily in bed, like a contented little cat.
She snuggled closer to the soft blankets, then put one hand down to the side; the bed was empty.
She had intended to take a nap, but the memories of last night came flooding back, and she suddenly opened her eyes and looked to her side.
There was no one on the bed beside her, just like when she usually woke up, it was empty.
'Thank goodness it was just a dream.' Jiang Wei breathed a sigh of relief, but then the images began to flood her mind.
She covered her ears with her hands, her cheeks flushed.
He chased away those unreal images, muttering under his breath, "Get out of here, all of you! Why would I have such a dream?"
She was so shy that she turned over and lay face down on the bed.
A familiar fragrance wafted into her nostrils, and Jiang Wei immediately raised her head, remaining silent for a moment.
'Why does this bed smell like Xiao Zhan? Is it just her imagination?'
Jiang Wei thought she was overthinking it, so she buried her head in the pillow again, but the smell was still there.
She tried several more times, and each time she could smell that fragrance.
'So everything in my memory actually happened?' This thought startled Jiang Wei. She jumped out of bed and stood by the bed, staring blankly at it, dumbfounded.
'Could it be...could it be...this isn't a dream, it's real?' Jiang Wei clutched her nightgown, overwhelmed with shame and indignation.
Dewdrop brought in hot water from outside and saw her daughter standing there without shoes or socks, and felt extremely sorry for her.
He put the basin on the shelf, went over and pulled Jiang Wei to sit down. "Miss, although your room is warm, you can't go without shoes and socks. Cold starts from the feet, what if you catch a cold?"
Dewdrop helped Jiang Wei put on her shoes and socks, and then helped her wash up.
Jiang Wei hesitated for a long time before tentatively asking her, "Did anyone come by last night?"
Dewdrop was focused on dressing Jiang Wei, and without looking up, she answered affirmatively, "No, Miss fell asleep as soon as she came back last night. I've been guarding the door the whole time, and no one has ever come in."
Jiang Wei was increasingly unsure. "Could it really be that she was dreaming? But what about the fragrance on the bed?" she murmured softly.
Thinking that Jiang Wei had given her some instructions, Dewdrop hurriedly asked, "What did you say, Miss?"
Jiang Wei gave a perfunctory smile, "I didn't say anything."
…………
Xiao Zhan sat at his desk, rubbing his chin with one hand and placing his index finger on his lips, gently rubbing it.
She had a smile on her face and seemed to be thinking about something.
Qingfeng walked in from outside and, seeing Xiao Zhan's worthless appearance, held back several times before wanting to speak.
Qingfeng: "…………"
Since returning from that day, this has happened so many times. It's true what they say, boys grow up and leave home.
At this moment, Xin Si walked in from outside. He glanced at Qing Feng and thought that this guy was crazy, staring at his master and grinning like an idiot. He couldn't understand it.
He walked past Qingjian and said, “Master, the disaster victims at the East Gate have started a riot. The First Prince has already gone to the palace to meet the Emperor and has shifted all the blame onto you and Miss Jiang. Miss Jiang is already on her way to the palace. The Emperor requests that you go to the palace now as well.”
Upon hearing that Jiang Wei was already on her way to the palace, Xiao Zhan jumped up from his chair. "Xin Si, go to the palace gate and stop Miss Jiang. Tell her to wait for me so we can go into the palace together."
"Yes." Xin Si bowed and turned around to intercept Jiang Wei without stopping.
After taking Qingfeng to one place, Xiao Zhan quickly headed towards the palace.
Jiang Wei looked at the towering palace walls. This was her first time visiting the palace. In the past, it was rare for the royal family to invite their family. Aunt Liu would only bring Jiang Rou, afraid that she would steal Jiang Rou's thunder.
When the accompanying eunuchs relayed the emperor's edict, they did not reveal any reason.
Jiang Wei gave the eunuch a lot of silver notes, and only then did the eunuch hint at the general outline of the matter.
Jiang Wei knew what she would face once she went inside, so she wasn't particularly afraid.
"Miss Jiang, please!" The eunuch, having received a favor, spoke politely.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The Prime Minister's daughter and the eldest prince stood to one side, while Jiang Wei knelt in the center of the hall, her head pressed to the ground, motionless.
Emperor Xiao sat on the dragon throne, exuding an aura of authority without anger, a quality only those who had held power for many years possessed.
"You are Jiang Wei!" Emperor Xiao said.
"Your Majesty, this is indeed me," Jiang Wei replied without looking up.
Do you know your crime?
"This humble woman does not know," Jiang Wei replied, neither humble nor arrogant.
The chief eunuch beside Emperor Xiao immediately spoke up: "How dare you!"
The Prime Minister's daughter immediately came out and identified Jiang Wei, pinning all the things she had done on Jiang Wei.
The eldest prince added fuel to the fire, claiming things like deliberately poisoning refugees and selling winter supplies at exorbitant prices...
“What Your Majesty, your humble servant, and the Crown Prince have said is all true. Jiang Wei’s maternal family is a merchant family, and Jiang Wei has the air of a cunning and unscrupulous merchant. He only cares about making money, which is why the people are struggling to survive.”
Jiang Wei remained kneeling, and Emperor Xiao did not tell her to get up.
"Is that so!" Xiao Zhan's voice rang out from outside the main hall as he strode in.
He bowed and clasped his hands, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
Emperor Xiao raised his hand to help him up.
"Thank you, Father Emperor."
Xiao Zhan walked up to Jiang Wei and was about to help her up.
Jiang Weiwei shook her head at him; she didn't want to cause him any unnecessary trouble.
"Father, since the heavy snow, Miss Jiang, a woman, has been constantly on the move, working tirelessly for the benefit of the people. A few days ago, she was framed by a villain and imprisoned. Her health has been very weak ever since..."
"Then get up first!" Emperor Xiao raised his hand.
He had heard about it before, but since someone had come to complain, the truth had to come out eventually.
"Then Zhan'er, you tell us!" Emperor Xiao said, glancing at the eldest prince and the prime minister's daughter.
Xiao Zhan recounted everything in detail and even brought up the key witnesses.
Emperor Xiao looked at the eldest prince with a dark expression. The eldest prince slid to his knees, his body trembling.
Emperor Xiao was overjoyed. "What reward would Miss Jiang like?"
Xiao Zhan quickly cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Father, although your merits are not as great as Miss Jiang's, I would also like to ask for a reward from you."
Tell me about it.
"Your Majesty, I would like to request that you grant me a marriage."
Emperor Xiao was delighted; his son finally knew about his life's most important matter.
"Is it that girl? Is she willing?"
Xiao Zhan suddenly became a little nervous. "Whether she's willing or not, let me ask her."
Xiao Zhan walked up to Jiang Wei and looked at her with affection in his eyes.
Jiang Wei saw Xiao Zhan walking towards her, and her heart pounded like a drum, faster and faster, until he stopped and stood in front of her.
She was certain only when she realized that the scent on him was exactly the same as the scent she smelled when she woke up in the morning.
she!
She likes him!
Xiao Zhan gazed at her!
A glance that lasts a lifetime.
Jiang Wei nodded!
If it were him, she would be willing.
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