This was the first time Ji Yunshu felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.

She clearly knew that Ji Li and Ji Huan were still staring at her at this moment, their blazing eyes wishing they could throw themselves at her and burn her alive.

And Jingrong had returned half an incense stick’s time before the banquet began.

He sat down silently, his expression showing no ripples. The moment he sat down, his gaze went straight to Jing Yi sitting across from him.

Jing Yi raised his wine cup toward him, then glanced at Ji Yunshu intentionally or unintentionally, before draining it in one gulp!

“Did Prince Yi come by?” He tilted his head slightly and asked Ji Yunshu.

She made a sound of affirmation.

“So, Ji Li and Ji Huan came by too?”

Another sound of affirmation!

Jingrong frowned, clenched his fist, and ordered Lang Bo, “When the banquet is about to end, escort Master Ji away first.”

“Yes!”

As for where Jingrong had gone and whether he went to see Kong Yu—he said nothing about these things, and Ji Yunshu didn’t ask either.

At this moment, several people entered the observation pavilion, and everyone’s eyes looked over.

“General Yuchi!” someone called out.

Yuchi Lin, just as on the day he entered the palace, still wore his full armor and maintained a stern expression. He followed the guiding eunuch to his seat.

Today, there was someone beside him.

Su Ziluo!

Bang—

The sound of a cup hitting the ground!

The moment Ji Huan saw Su Ziluo, his hand trembled and his wine cup fell to the floor.

And it wasn’t just him—Ji Li was also shocked.

“Ji Pei? He didn’t die?”

The two looked at each other, both wide-eyed with astonishment.

Their actions naturally attracted Jing Yi’s attention. He glanced over, then followed their gaze to Su Ziluo in the wheelchair.

His eyes narrowed, his heart filled with confusion!

Su Ziluo sat beside Yuchi Lin, maintaining his usual indifference throughout, except that in those calm eyes lurked an enigmatic depth.

After a moment, he suddenly raised his eyes and looked sideways at Ji Li, meeting exactly that surprised gaze Ji Li had fixed on him.

This eye contact made Ji Li’s chest tighten unexpectedly!

The wine pot at his hand nearly toppled over.

Instead, it was Ji Huan who pulled him back, leaning close to his ear to say, “Elder brother, he can’t be Ji Pei. That boy died two years ago. He’s Yuchi Lin’s man.”

Ji Li said nothing!

He lowered his eyes, looking away from Su Ziluo’s gaze, and poured himself another cup of wine, drinking a mouthful.

To calm his nerves!

Meanwhile, Ji Yunshu’s gaze had been following Su Ziluo the entire time. Her hands in her sleeves involuntarily clenched tight, her eyes nearly reddening again.

He’s not Ji Pei!

He’s not!

She told herself this over and over, yet couldn’t help but look at him.

That face was far too similar to Ji Pei’s.

Jingrong noticed her expression and glanced with his peripheral vision at Su Ziluo in the pavilion diagonally opposite.

Could it be that Ji Yunshu was acquainted with him?

He was about to ask, but the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back.

“His Majesty has arrived!” the eunuch called out loudly.

Everyone rose to pay their respects.

Emperor Qizhen arrived together with Consort Xiao and sat down on the dragon throne in the seat of honor.

“Beloved subjects, no need for formalities.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

They sat down one by one.

Ji Yunshu didn’t withdraw her gaze from Su Ziluo. Whatever others said, whatever His Majesty said, she heard none of it.

She only heard what Yuchi Lin said when introducing Su Ziluo to Emperor Qizhen.

“Master Su is this general’s mentor and friend. He also comes from a military family. Though his mobility is impaired and he cannot go to the battlefield, over the years he has been this general’s best right-hand man. Coming with me to Dalin this time, he also wishes to behold the magnificent scenery of Dalin’s prosperous age.”

With this said, Emperor Qizhen naturally treated Su Ziluo with the courtesy due to an honored guest, raising his cup to toast him.

But Su Ziluo only drank a sip of tea.

At this point, Jingrong’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter. He leaned toward Ji Yunshu and said softly, “Previously you said that General Yuchi was merely a rough warrior. So then, that Master Su beside him—in your view, what kind of person is he?”

“I can’t tell.”

“Then why do you keep staring at him?”

“I just feel… he resembles an old acquaintance of mine.”

“Ji Pei?”

He hit the nail on the head!

Ji Yunshu looked at him, saying nothing!

Jingrong even used his chin to point at Ji Li and Ji Huan in the distance, saying, “All three of you are looking at the same person simultaneously. They’re surprised, while you are both disappointed and anxious. Presumably that Master Su has an inseparable relationship with your Ji family. So, is he really the Ji Pei you’ve been waiting for?”

“He’s not!” Ji Yunshu immediately denied it.

He’s Su Ziluo, not Ji Pei!

Otherwise, why wouldn’t he recognize her? Why wouldn’t he come looking for her these past two years?

And Jingrong’s heart felt somewhat at ease because of these three words from her.

But then, Ji Yunshu suddenly asked him, “Right now, shouldn’t Your Highness be thinking about how to help Miss Kong?”

At the mention of Kong Yu, Jingrong’s entire face turned cold again. After a long silence, he said,

“She has her own decision.”

Hmm?

This statement was truly difficult to interpret. What exactly had they said to each other?

Seeing Ji Yunshu deep in thought, Jingrong leaned toward her again. That originally stern and handsome face suddenly took on a hint of roguish charm.

“You want this prince to marry her, but this prince fears he cannot satisfy you, because this prince’s Princess Consort of Rong can be none other than you!”

In other words, he wouldn’t marry Kong Yu.

But these sweet words always came too suddenly.

Ji Yunshu lowered her head slightly, directly ignoring his statement, and asked seriously, “Then, will you truly watch as Miss Kong marries into Qujiang?”

“This prince just said, she has her own decision.”

“But she doesn’t want to marry!”

“Perhaps she truly is willing to marry.” Jingrong replied.

These words left her speechless!

The two were extremely close to each other, unaware that just as Ji Yunshu’s gaze moved from Su Ziluo to Jingrong, Su Ziluo’s gaze had turned toward her.

Seeing the two of them so “intimate,” though Su Ziluo’s expression remained calm and indifferent, the hand resting on the wheelchair’s armrest gripped tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

Until—

Emperor Qizhen raised his cup for another round, saying, “Prince Qujiang has intentions to come to our Dalin to seek a marriage alliance. I also feel honored. These past few days, looking among our Dalin’s imperial relatives and noble families, I have selected a suitable candidate. I have already decreed to confer upon her the title of Princess Huiwen, to marry into Qujiang.”

Only then did he withdraw his gaze, his hands gradually relaxing!

Yuchi Lin shifted his position and replied quite courteously, “The woman His Majesty has chosen must be a phoenix among phoenixes. The king will surely welcome her with lavish gifts.”

“Marriage alliances between two nations are not without precedent. Five years ago, when the two nations clashed in war, countless died. I truly do not wish to see such a scene again. I hope that from now on, there will be no more warfare between Dalin and Qujiang.”

“Naturally. This is also the king’s wish.”

Yuchi Lin answered in an orderly manner.

Emperor Qizhen smiled, raised his hand, “Someone, go invite Princess Huiwen over. Tomorrow she will depart for Qujiang. Today, we shall send her off.”

The eunuch bowed and hurried off to invite Princess Huiwen.

Seeing that it was about to become settled, this matter truthfully had not the slightest thing to do with Ji Yunshu.

But—

She still reminded Jingrong, “If you don’t propose marriage now, it will be too late.”

Jingrong didn’t respond!

He didn’t move!

The emperor isn’t anxious, but the eunuch is dying of anxiety!

Before long, Kong Yu arrived following the eunuch.

She wore a brilliant red brocade robe with contrasting lapels, the hem spreading across the floor. The embroidery at the train depicted paired lotuses, with scattered flying petals inlaid on the shoulders of the robe.

Gold and silver hairpins adorned her head, pearls dangling and swaying.

In Kong Yu’s already delicate features, a small flower had now been painted between her brows.

Her peach-colored face appeared gentle and graceful.

Like a single red dot among a hundred flowers!

Exceptionally eye-catching!