Chapter 651 - Chapter 651: Chapter 651: Cherishing Fragrance and Valuing Jade

Chapter 651: Chapter 651: Cherishing Fragrance and Valuing Jade

Li Hongyuan raised his hand and spoke loudly, “Crown Prince, Princess, please refrain from giving your greetings. Sit down, please.”

“Thank you, Crown Prince and Princess Consort, for your kindness.”

The siblings stood up and were led by a young eunuch to sit at positions below the Crown Prince and Princess Consort.

Jiang Ning deliberately observed Li You’s reaction.

His face remained calm throughout, with a warm smile, occasionally whispering to the ministers around him, seemingly unaffected by the presence of the two esteemed guests from Silla.

What Jiang Ning found interesting was that the young Prince Xinhai frequently looked at Li You with disdain and contempt.

This was odd.

After all, they were the ones who captured Li You and tortured him for a year, and Li You had done nothing to provoke them. Why would they look down on him?

Could it be that there was an unknown inside story?

“With your eyes rolling so fast, who are you plotting against?” Li Hongyuan asked slowly, pinching a finger of Jiang Ning’s under the table.

Jiang Ning allowed him to pinch her finger and gently asked, “I remember you said Wenren Zong will return. Is it true or false? When will he come back?”

“False,” Li Hongyuan replied expressionlessly. “He will never come back in his lifetime.”

“Then it must be true.”

“Oh?”

“Just a guess.”

“Well, you can keep guessing.” Li Hongyuan snorted coldly. “I’ll have someone kill him halfway through his journey.”

Jiang Ning kept silent.

So, he really was returning.

It was Wenren Zong who had committed a great crime and was exiled.

The emperor, who had exiled him, was not even dead yet. How could he be allowed to return?

Could it be that somewhere unknown to her, Wenren Zong had been quietly exonerated?

Who else in the Imperial Court would dare to speak for the Wenren Family?

Jiang Ning looked towards her father.

Prime Minister Jiang was busy serving food to Madam, completely unaware of his daughter’s gaze.

It definitely was not the Jiang Family.

The two old foxes of the Jiang Family could hardly clear their own names, let alone take on the dirty water for someone like Wenren Zong.

So, who could it be?

At this time, dancers entered the hall and began dancing gracefully to the music.

Their soft and flexible movements, accompanied by the rich fragrance of powder, were enjoyable to every man’s eyes.

Everyone in Heavenly Worship Hall was enjoying themselves.

Prince Xinhai raised his wine cup, came to Li Hongyuan and Jiang Ning, and respectfully said, “Your Highnesses, please accept my humble toast. Thank you for your invitation today.”

He drained the cup.

“If the Crown Prince enjoys himself, then I am content,” Li Hongyuan raised his wine cup, drank a little, and put it down.

Jiang Ning also took a symbolic sip.

After paying his respects, Prince Xinhai returned to his seat, leaned over to talk to his sister Princess Zhenming, and after a while, Princess Zhenming came over slowly with her wine cup to offer a toast to Li Hongyuan and Jiang Ning.

This time, Li Hongyuan’s reaction was even more indifferent. He only nodded his head and did not even drink the wine.

Princess Zhenming stood there, looking somewhat at a loss.

Feeling sorry for her, Jiang Ning took the wine cup and drank it, then asked with concern, “It must have been a tiring journey, Princess. Take a good rest at the Traveling Palace after the banquet. I’ll have the Imperial Physician check on you and prescribe some nourishing medicine.”

“I am in no serious trouble, thank you for your concern, Your Highness the Princess Consort.”

Princess Zhenming bowed with her head down.

Seeing her soft and weak appearance, Jiang Ning was afraid she would faint on the spot, so she hurriedly asked her to return to her seat and rest, insisting that she didn’t need to come over again.

Li Hongyuan said, “You’re quite good at showing pity and tenderness.”

Jiang Ning sat down, picked a cherry and put it in her mouth, smiling, “Is there a rule that only men can show pity and tenderness?”