Jiang Bai looked at Ling Zhishan's back with a slightly darkened gaze. Now that the two children were growing up, they looked more and more like Sheng Bai.
If He Yu would think of this, Ling Zhishan would inevitably become suspicious over time.
Therefore, before that, Jiang Bai had to find a way to help Ping An clear the Sheng family's name.
However, such opportunities don't come easily; they're just a matter of timing.
During the war in the northern border, the internal strength of the Great Chu was somewhat depleted, but this battle united the people of the Great Chu into one. The emperor was commended for his good governance and granted a general amnesty. He then decided to hold a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet in the palace.
Three days ago, Jiang Bai had already rejected the invitation from the palace.
At the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, Jiang Bai wore a crescent-colored long dress, standing gracefully like a fairy from the moon.
Zhao Yi was somewhat stunned, and led the person into the carriage.
Zhao Ping'an and Zhao Xile were dressed up and looked very cute. The family then rode in a carriage slowly towards the palace.
As soon as the Zhao family arrived, many people came up to greet them, and Zhao Yi managed to handle them all with ease.
Upon seeing the family, He Yu smiled and came forward: "Brother Zhao, Madam Zhao."
"Brother He."
Zhao Ping'an and Zhao Xile obediently called him Uncle Zhao.
He Yu looked at Zhao Ping'an and smiled, "General, there's no need for that. It's too much of a burden for me."
Jiang Bai glanced at Zhao Ping'an. Zhao Ping'an was now a General Who Protects the Nation, but he was still young.
The scene was indeed somewhat awkward.
Zhao Ping'an laughed it off: "Uncle He is my father's friend, so we should address him that way."
He Yu was very happy. He stepped forward and patted Zhao Ping'an on the shoulder: "Good boy."
He bent down and picked up Zhao Xile, and the group headed towards the main hall.
The main hall was already filled with people.
The prime minister and vice prime minister sat at the lower level. The emperor had not yet arrived, but the hall was already filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and toasts.
The ministers and their colleagues, with whom they got along well, chatted happily.
Zhao Yi and Zhao Ping'an entered the male group, while Jiang Bai, Zhao Nan, and An Ping sat together.
Jiang Bai rose from a merchant to a high-ranking official, and had a close relationship with the royal family. Many wives of officials looked to him with envy and jealousy, while others couldn't resist trying to get close to him and curry favor. But Anping disliked their hypocritical faces the most.
Once she sat down there, no one dared to come up to her.
Jiang Bai was able to have some peace and quiet and chatted with the two of them.
A moment later, accompanied by a eunuch's shrill voice, the emperor and empress slowly entered the hall and sat in the head seat, while the empress dowager sat on the other side.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects."
"Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress and Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
The emperor gestured with his hand, and everyone rose and returned to their seats, falling silent and waiting for the emperor to speak.
After the emperor exchanged a few polite words, the dancers filed in, and the atmosphere of the banquet reached its climax.
Jiang Bai thought that this emperor was sometimes quite convenient. He knew what everyone wanted, didn't waste any time talking, and everyone did what they liked.
Anping noticed her looking at the emperor and asked, "Why are you looking at His Majesty?"
Jiang Bai turned around and said, "I just think His Majesty is quite easygoing."
Anping understood Jiang Bai's meaning: "It's better to avoid trouble. The emperor understands everything."
If he rambles on, some of the concubines will inevitably interrupt, or the noblewomen will start to secretly compete. With so many people and so much chatter, there will be arguments.
They might even stir up some dirty secrets. This is a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, not a place for these people to scheme and plot against each other.
Jiang Bai couldn't help but chuckle when he heard An Ping say these things. "Sometimes I think the emperor's personality is somewhat similar to that of a princess."
Anping paused, her chopsticks still in her hand, and her eyes flickered slightly: "It's... a little bit like that with me."
"After all, we grew up together, but we're not exactly alike."
There seemed to be something hidden in her words, but Jiang Bai didn't think much of it. She took a couple of sips of sake, felt a little uncomfortable in her stomach, and got up, saying, "I'm going to relieve myself."
Anping waved his hand: "Go quickly, go quickly."
Jiang Bai chuckled and left his seat.
She finally found a latrine after a long and difficult journey and breathed a sigh of relief after relieving herself. For some reason, she had caught a cold yesterday, but today she had diarrhea.
Unfortunately, this very moment brought some unpleasantness to my otherwise good mood.
Just as she reached the lotus pond and was about to cross the Frosty Bridge, someone blocked her way.
Jiang Bai looked up and saw it was the emperor.
What is the Emperor doing here?!
Jiang Bai was puzzled, but when she was almost there, she bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I, Jiang Bai, greet you."
The emperor stood with his hands behind his back, the pale moonlight shining on his angular, somewhat cold face, giving him an air of indifference, melancholy, and even a moment of loneliness.
Jiang Bai paused for a moment, then lowered his head.
"No need for formalities," the emperor said calmly without making any movement.
Jiang Bai raised his head, wanting to cross, but this Frost Bridge was actually quite difficult to cross unless the emperor allowed it.
She felt something was wrong, so she decided to take a different route.
The emperor's gaze shifted from the withering lotus flowers to her: "I've heard that you and Minister Zhao have a deep and abiding affection for each other."
Jiang Bai hadn't expected the emperor to ask such a question, so she nodded and said, "My husband and I get along very well."
When Jiang Bai mentioned Zhao Yi, a faint smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.
The emperor glanced at the corner of her mouth, his eyes darkening slightly.
Seeing that the emperor remained silent, Jiang Bai spoke up, "What are Your Majesty's orders?"
"No." The emperor turned his gaze back to the withered lotus flowers.
"However, most emotions in this world are like this flower, flourishing and then withering. How can you be so sure that this person can accompany you for a lifetime?"
Jiang Bai was a little annoyed. Did this person even know how to speak?
If he weren't the emperor, she would have already turned and left.
Jiang Bai composed herself and said, "It's simply because I believe my husband is the right person."
"Is that so?" The emperor's tone was tinged with disdain.
Jiang Bai thought about it again and realized that the emperor was a person sitting on the top of loneliness, so it was normal that he wouldn't understand.
The emperor raised an eyebrow as he looked at Jiang Bai: "If I were to make you empress, would you be willing to be with me?"
Jiang Bai was startled. If she was just speechless before, she was now somewhat angry.
Is the emperor just playing with her?
This man is indeed a good emperor, but he has wrongly killed loyal officials before, and now he is harassing a court lady. He is gentle and quiet in public, so he must be a lunatic.
“Your Majesty, I am unwilling.” Jiang Bai’s words were very firm.
The emperor suddenly burst into laughter, laughing heartily.
Jiang Bai didn't understand; she was completely baffled.
She had never been like this before, unable to understand a person.
Because this person never plays by the rules.
Aside from his mental health issues, Jiang Bai couldn't think of any other reason.
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