Jiang Tang thought of Shao Mingyuan’s open and covert protection of Qiao Zhao, and replied: “This subject believes this matter should be Marquis Guanjun’s intention.”

Emperor Mingkang lightly tapped the dragon desk and smiled: “I also think it’s Marquis Guanjun’s intention.”

He lazily played with the dragon and phoenix carved walnuts, his tone ambiguous: “This Marquis Guanjun of mine is quite a clever person.”

Jiang Tang stood at the side listening, not responding.

Having accompanied this emperor with his inscrutable thoughts for decades, he naturally knew when to speak and when to remain silent.

Emperor Mingkang was certainly not one of those incompetent and muddled rulers in history. His laziness in attending court wasn’t because he couldn’t control this vast empire, but because he didn’t want to – he was happy to be a hands-off manager.

Jiang Tang didn’t dare think further about this, always feeling that thinking too much gave him the urge to quit.

“Being too clever isn’t necessarily good either. Foster brother, what do you think?”

“Your Majesty speaks truly.” Jiang Tang bowed.

What else could he say?

Emperor Mingkang lifted his eyelids to look at him: “Foster brother, how many of my princesses have yet to marry?”

Jiang Tang quietly twitched the corner of his mouth.

What kind of father was this, having to ask him how many princesses were unmarried?

“Replying to Your Majesty, currently the Fifth Princess, Eighth Princess, and Ninth Princess have yet to marry.”

“Eh, why did the Sixth and Seventh Princesses marry before the Fifth Princess?” Emperor Mingkang, who rarely paid attention to the harem, was unusually curious.

Jiang Tang cleared his throat lightly: “The year before last, the prince of Xijiang came to present tribute on behalf of the Xijiang Kingdom. He fell in love with the Sixth Princess at first sight and requested to marry her as his queen.”

“Oh, I remember that happening. What about the Seventh Princess?”

“The Seventh Princess… passed away from illness last year…” Jiang Tang was already too weary to sigh.

Even forgetting his daughter’s death, Emperor Mingkang felt somewhat embarrassed and cleared his throat: “I see. Foster brother, you may withdraw.”

“This subject takes his leave.” Jiang Tang felt secretly relieved.

“Wait.” Emperor Mingkang suddenly remembered, his eyes glancing sideways: “Wei Wuxie, give my foster brother two immortal pills to take with him.”

The dignified commander of the Jinlin Guards nearly stumbled and fell in front of the dragon desk.

“This subject thanks Your Majesty for your gracious favor.”

Grand Commander Jiang looked up at the sky speechlessly.

Why was it that His Majesty could forget even his own daughter’s death, yet somehow always remembered to reward him with immortal pills!

Stuffing the jade box containing the immortal pills into Jiang Tang’s hands, Wei Wuxie cleared his throat to remind the somewhat flustered Jiang Tang, “Grand Commander, hold it steady.”

Jiang Tang came to his senses and thanked the emperor again.

After Jiang Tang left, Emperor Mingkang turned his head toward Wei Wuxie: “Why hasn’t the Fifth Princess married yet?”

Wei Wuxie sighed inwardly but dared not show the slightest abnormality on his face: “Replying to Your Majesty, the Fifth Princess had smallpox several years ago—”

Emperor Mingkang understood the implication: “The Fifth Princess is pockmarked?”

Wei Wuxie lowered his head in silent acknowledgment, not daring to make a sound.

Emperor Mingkang fell silent for a moment.

If he were to bestow a pockmarked princess in marriage to Marquis Guanjun—forget it, was he trying to make Marquis Guanjun rebel?

“Wei Wuxie, go summon the Eighth and Ninth Princesses.”

“Your Majesty—” Wei Wuxie wanted to remind Emperor Mingkang about the Ninth Princess’s disfigurement, but as soon as he opened his mouth, an impatient glance flew over from Emperor Mingkang.

Wei Wuxie lowered his brows and eyes: “This slave will go immediately.”

In Princess Zhenzhen’s sleeping chamber, Princess Zhenzhen, whose face was covered with pale green medicinal paste, was conversing with Jiang Shiran, who had hurried over.

“You said it was Marquis Jing’an’s residence that went to propose marriage at the Li residence?” Princess Zhenzhen’s hand on her knee gripped her dress hem tightly. “For whom did they propose?”

Jiang Shiran’s face darkened slightly: “For Marquis Guanjun!”

Princess Zhenzhen’s body trembled, her lips quivered, but she made no sound.

Jiang Shiran irritably kicked a vermilion lacquered pillar: “Zhenzhen, do you think Marquis Jing’an has problems with his brain? Why would he seek marriage with someone like Third Miss Li, whose reputation is ruined, as a daughter-in-law for Marquis Guanjun?”

Although her father had said Marquis Guanjun treated Third Miss Li differently, she still couldn’t believe that a man like Marquis Guanjun would marry Third Miss Li as his wife.

This simply made no sense!

Princess Zhenzhen’s lowered eyelashes trembled lightly as she smiled bitterly: “Perhaps it’s fate.”

Her mind suddenly flashed with that upright figure riding away on horseback.

That man had come from Xingzi Alley, passed elegantly by her carriage without a moment’s pause or backward glance, riding away like that into the distance.

He must have been going to see Miss Li.

There had already been affection between them, hadn’t there?

Princess Zhenzhen thought with mixed feelings.

“Zhenzhen, what’s wrong with you?”

Princess Zhenzhen came back to herself and shook her head: “Nothing.”

At this moment, a palace maid came in to report: “Your Highness, His Majesty summons you to the imperial study.”

Princess Zhenzhen was startled but dared not delay for a moment. She put on her veil and walked out.

Seeing this, Jiang Shiran followed her out.

The one who came to request Princess Zhenzhen was Little Deng, a favored subordinate of Chief Eunuch Wei Wuxie.

Princess Zhenzhen felt uncertain and asked in a low voice: “Eunuch, do you know why Father Emperor has summoned me?”

Little Deng hesitated for a moment.

Normally, such matters shouldn’t be spoken of carelessly, but this princess was different from the other princesses – she had faced the Empress Dowager, and moreover—

Little Deng’s peripheral vision swept over Jiang Shiran.

Moreover, the Ninth Princess was as close as sisters with Grand Commander Jiang’s daughter – there was no need for him to offend anyone.

“His Majesty asked about the several unmarried princesses.” Little Deng gave a hint.

Princess Zhenzhen’s heart jumped, and she couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Shiran.

Ran Ran had said she entered the palace with her father, yet Father Emperor was asking about unmarried princesses. This meant Grand Commander Jiang must have reported the matter of Marquis Jing’an’s residence seeking marriage with Third Miss Li for Marquis Guanjun to Father Emperor.

Did Father Emperor want to recruit Marquis Guanjun as an imperial son-in-law?

Princess Zhenzhen’s heart began racing, and the image of that figure riding away into the distance flashed through her mind before sinking again.

“Your Highness, His Majesty is still waiting.” Seeing Princess Zhenzhen suddenly stop walking, Little Deng reminded her quietly.

Princess Zhenzhen came to her senses and hurriedly said to Jiang Shiran, “Wait for me to return before leaving.”

The path to the imperial study had been swept clean, with jade trees and crystalline branches on both sides – a sight of incomparable beauty.

For the first time, Princess Zhenzhen felt this path was so long.

“Your Majesty, the Ninth Princess has arrived.”

Princess Zhenzhen walked in and prostrated herself: “This subject-daughter pays respects to Father Emperor.”

Emperor Mingkang looked down at the daughter he hadn’t seen in a long time, pondering in his heart: What was the ninth daughter’s name again?

After a brief silence, Emperor Mingkang spoke: “Little Nine, rise and lift your head so Father Emperor can see you.”

Princess Zhenzhen obediently raised her head.

Emperor Mingkang was startled: “Why are you wearing a veil?”

Princess Zhenzhen lowered her eyes: “Replying to Father Emperor, this subject-daughter developed sores on her face several months ago and was disfigured. Recently, I’ve been applying medicine.”

“Remove the veil.”

Princess Zhenzhen bit her lip and raised her hand to remove the veil.

Emperor Mingkang looked once and then averted his gaze: “Put it back on.”

What kind of princesses was he raising? At the crucial moment, not one of them could be put to use!

Emperor Mingkang waved his hand: “If there are problems with your face, focus on recovery. Tell your mother consort if you need anything.”

“This subject-daughter takes her leave.” Princess Zhenzhen’s gaze turned cold as she walked out, sneering inwardly.

Father Emperor probably didn’t even remember who her mother consort was!

On the white jade steps at the entrance, Princess Zhenzhen ran directly into the Eighth Princess.