The emperor made way for Jiang Bai, saying, "Just as I said before, you are very interesting."
Jiang Bai smiled insincerely: "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty."
"I do admire you greatly; you are quite extraordinary. But rest assured, I will not allow you to enter the palace."
The emperor's words were like a promise, and Jiang Bai sighed inwardly, thankfully the emperor had no obsessions.
Jiang Bai bowed and walked past him.
Just as the two passed by, the emperor said in a low voice, "It's rare for me to want to destroy something."
Jiang Bai heard it, but didn't understand it.
She kept her head down, not letting the emperor see her expression, and acted as if nothing had happened.
It wasn't until she left the lotus pond that Jiang Bai realized that His Majesty had made way for her.
Jiang Bai returned to his seat, somewhat dazed.
Anping was still eating, while Zhao Nan watched her.
Anping also raised his head, saying while eating, "Did you go crazy after going out for a while?"
"What did you encounter?" Zhao Nan asked.
Jiang Bai shook her head, somewhat confused. Finally deciding not to think about it, she blurted out, "I just met His Majesty."
Anping paused for a moment, but maintained a relaxed expression: "Um... what did His Majesty say to you?"
Jiang Bai turned to look at Anping: "His Majesty said he wants me to be Empress, is that alright?"
Zhao Nan almost fell off the chair, while An Ping's hand holding the spoon trembled, and the spoon fell to the ground, hanging in the jade bowl.
Jiang Bai chuckled: "I was just kidding."
Zhao Nan patted Jiang Bai: "You scared me! This is no joke!"
Anping, however, did not believe that Jiang Bai was joking. His Majesty must have said those words to her, but Jiang Bai refused.
Moreover, the emperor refused very decisively and let Jiang Bai go.
Anping breathed a sigh of relief.
If His Majesty does not receive this answer and instead remains fixated on it, she will worry that something bad will happen to the Zhao family in the future.
As for why the emperor would let Jiang Bai go this time, she couldn't quite figure it out.
Jiang Bai kept staring at An Ping's expression, and sure enough, she was unusual; she must know something.
After several rounds of drinks, Jiang Bai sent someone to check on Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi had drunk the spiritual spring he had given him beforehand, so he didn't get drunk despite being offered drinks by so many people.
Jiang Bai then took Anping out of the main hall with peace of mind. The two rested in a pavilion, which was very secluded and deserted. Jiang Bai then asked, "What I said just now was not a joke."
Anping wasn't surprised; Jiang Bai knew she probably guessed it too.
“Jiang Bai, the Emperor has spared you.” Anping’s words were very firm.
Jiang Bai thought to himself, she really does know something.
"I'm a little puzzled, why is the emperor like this?"
A cruel smile appeared on Anping's lips: "Jiang Bai, do you think the emperor likes you?"
Jiang Bai chuckled, "No, the emperor probably doesn't like anyone else; he probably likes himself the most."
Anping waved his hand: "No, he doesn't even like himself."
Anping took a sip of wine, her lips slightly bitter, and continued, "Your Majesty, it wasn't like this before."
When the emperor was very young, he was a lovely child who would follow his mother around like any other child, chasing after her for candy. However, at that time, the Empress Dowager always placed her hopes on the third prince and did not pay attention to the fourth prince.
As a result, the fourth brother became increasingly stern and unsmiling. He would get what he wanted by any means necessary, and he especially distrusted the true feelings of time.
His kindness towards someone is based on self-interest and his own mood.
Even the throne was something the emperor himself fought for.
Jiang Bai then understood that the emperor's words were indeed due to his morbid condition.
"The emperor is pitiful yet stubborn; he truly seems like a lonely man." A hint of sadness flickered across Anping's eyes.
This was her closest brother. She had heard that when those ministers wanted to punish Princess Anping, it was the prince, who was then out of favor, who desperately protected her.
Anping's eyes reddened slightly: "I've wanted to leave this place many times, but as a princess, I have too many things beyond my control."
“Those ministers hated me to the extreme because I often opposed them, so in order to consolidate his position, His Majesty could only neglect me, the former princess, in public, and instead gave me freedom.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai suddenly understood why Anping was so concerned.
The emperor, though indifferent and aloof, was very kind to his younger sister. However, Anping watched him grow up step by step and, given her nature, she was bound to be saddened.
If the emperor insists that he was not wrong, then it will be difficult for the Sheng family to overturn the verdict.
Because the emperor was too stubborn, he believed himself to be a good emperor, and even if he knew that he had wronged the Sheng family, he probably would not admit it.
What's past is past, and this was also for the purpose of consolidating the court.
Jiang Bai clenched his fist in his sleeve.
Anping asked, "Is there anything else you want to ask me?"
It has to be said that Anping is a very meticulous woman, even though she usually seems carefree.
"I wonder if the princess knows anything about the Sheng family?"
Anping frowned slightly: "?"
Which Sheng family?
Jiang Bai said, word by word: "Former General of the State, Sheng Bai."
The princess frowned even more deeply, and she remained silent for a moment: "It caused quite a stir back then, and now no one in the court dares to mention that name."
"After all, the Sheng family was once extremely powerful, and it was the Sheng family that helped the emperor to sit on the throne today."
Jiang Bai frowned. It seemed that some people in the court would eventually feel that the emperor was too cold-hearted.
When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked.
Anping sighed: "Later, some rumors spread, which displeased the emperor, and they gradually faded away."
“Actually, I don’t think the Sheng family will rebel.” Anping said this in a low voice.
Jiang Bai continued, "Why does the princess say that?"
Anping looked at Jiang Bai: "Because I have met the Sheng family, Sheng Bai is quite warm and generous, and he is also straightforward and loyal. He is from a very good family and has a chivalrous nature."
Her tone was a mixture of joy and regret: "How could a family like that do such a thing?"
Jiang Bai wanted to ask why Anping didn't tell the emperor, but she also understood that this was not Anping's responsibility.
"However, the Sheng family members are too straightforward, making them easy targets for malicious people."
After saying that, she looked at Jiang Bai: "Why did you ask about the Sheng family?"
"You mustn't bring this up in front of the Emperor."
Jiang Abi nodded: "My family is known as the Peacekeeper of the Nation. I have also heard some of the old writings of the former general, and I am quite curious."
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