Chapter 650: Chapter 650: Are They Going to Rebel?
Lin Zizi held her daughter’s hand tightly.
Prime Minister Jiang looked at his wife and daughter and smiled, saying, “Your Highness, Ning’er has not seen her mother for a long time, why not let her sit here?”
There seemed to be sparks between the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister.
If this was in private, it wouldn’t matter.
But now it was in the banquet hall, under everyone’s watchful eyes. Jiang Ruobai openly confronting the Crown Prince – was this a rebellion?
Jiang Ning quickly stood up and smiled, “After the banquet, I will come back and accompany my parents. We must not let others make fun of us. The envoys from the Silla Kingdom will arrive soon.”
With this remark, Jiang Ning instantly transformed the internal conflict into an external one.
Those with a sharp mind revealed meaningful smiles.
Prince Zhao, Li You, who was sitting across, also smiled at Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ruobai squinted at him.
“Father, do you still recognize him?” Jiang Ning asked quietly.
“How could I not? I personally sent him to Silla a few years ago.”
“Father, be careful of his resentment. He was tormented miserably by the people of Silla.”
Jiang Ning poured a glass of wine for her father to calm his nerves, patted his shoulder, and then returned to Li Hongyuan’s side.
“This child, no respect for elders!”
Jiang Ruobai complained, but still drank the wine that his daughter poured for him happily.
Lin Zizi reproached him, “You understand hierarchy, yet you dare to defy the Crown Prince in public and put our daughter in a difficult situation?”
“I just can’t stand the arrogance of that boy. He’s not even in that position yet, and he’s already like this. What about the future?”
“That’s true.” Lin Zizi watched her daughter being called away with a heavy heart.
In front of them, the Crown Prince could command their daughter as such – who knows how he would treat her in private when they are back at the East Palace.
Sigh.
Lin Zizi drank sorrowfully.
Jiang Ruobai hurriedly stopped her, “Madam, drink less.”
“At first, I was also crazy, listening to you, wanting to find the most honorable husband for our daughter. And now? Honorable indeed, but is she living well?”
“It will get better.”
“Better?” Lin Zizi sneered softly, “I’ve heard the news early on. At the beginning of next year, there will be another triennial selection in the palace. By then, more people will enter the East Palace.”
“He is the Crown Prince; you cannot expect him to have only one woman beside him.”
“Yes, how happy men are.” Lin Zizi took another sip of wine, tears welling up in her eyes, “I should have kept my daughter by my side and found her a husband to enter our family. That would have been better than…”
She didn’t finish her words.
Thinking of the future, her heart was sour.
Jiang Ruobai silently accompanied her, changed her wine to tea, and called a young eunuch to bring a sobering soup. He didn’t dare to say anything else.
So as not to make Madam even more unhappy.
The officials from the Ministry of Rites led the Silla’s prince and princess in.
They had already bathed and changed clothes. Prince Xinhai walked proudly, dressed brightly, and full of energy.
Walking beside him was Princess Zhenming, dressed gorgeously, but excessively thin, frail, and pale, looking sickly.
They came to the hall and, according to Great Sheng’s rules, paid their respects to the Crown Prince and Princess Consort.
It was their first time visiting Great Sheng.
The nobles in the hall were extremely curious about them, especially staring at Princess Zhenming constantly. Seeing her delicate beauty, but overly pale and weak figure, they soon lost interest.
Her name did not live up to its reputation.
With such a sickly appearance, even if her features were beautiful, could she still be considered a beauty?