Upon hearing Jiang Yun’s sarcastic remark, Jiang Rongyin shrank back.
“Still hiding?”
Jiang Yun narrowed his eyes slightly, and Jiang Rongyin dared not move again.
She knew Jiang Yun’s temperament, and besides, the bed was only so big, where else could she hide?
A slightly cool hand reached out and touched Jiang Rongyin’s forehead.
“Why are you blushing? Are you feeling guilty?”
Jiang Yun was tall and imposing, blocking the view outside and creating a sense of oppression.
Jiang Rongyin pursed her lips and remained silent, then coughed once: “I don’t want to take medicine.”
Listening to Jiang Rongyin’s somewhat childish words, with a hint of coquetry in the last syllable.
Jiang Yun chuckled, withdrew her hand, and sat down: “Doctor Zhang’s medicine isn’t bitter.”
It was just a cold, so I instructed Physician Zhang to prepare some nourishing medicine.
Jiang Rongyin’s health was already poor. All medicines have side effects, and using too much would not do her any good, and it would be difficult for her to conceive in the future.
As they were talking, they heard Xiang Ming’s voice coming from outside the hall.
Jiang Yun let him in, and then Jiang Rongyin smelled the fragrance of golden jujubes.
When Jiang Yun took the things from Xiang Ming, Jiang Rongyin looked at the items wrapped in oil paper with a hint of surprise in her eyes.
The candied fruit was placed in Jiang Rongyin’s hand, and Jiang Yun reached out and tapped her forehead.
“Tomorrow I will go to the Zichen Palace and refuse the imperial decree from my father to grant me a marriage.”
“Be good, and I won’t make things difficult for you.”
Jiang Rongyin held a piece of candied fruit that was still slightly warm in her hand.
Hearing Jiang Yun’s words, my heart sank to the bottom.
Jiang Yun is the best hunter; he always knows what she’s thinking.
He had always understood that Jiang Rongyin’s current act of yielding and deliberately trying to please him was so that one day she could completely get rid of him and fly away.
Therefore, Jiang Yun used Qin Shiyan’s story to tell Jiang Rongyin.
In this world, as long as he doesn’t let go, Jiang Rongyin will always be his plaything, kept in captivity.
Even if the emperor intended to grant her a marriage, she would have to swallow all her thoughts and tell the emperor that she did not want to get married.
Give her a slap, then reward her with a sweet treat, and tell her that if she’s obedient, she’ll suffer less.
Jiang Rongyin lowered her head: “I understand.”
Hearing her muffled reply, Jiang Yun reached out and patted her head.
Tonight, Jiang Yun stayed in Guanghua Palace, watching Jiang Rongyin finish drinking the bowl of medicine.
Jiang Rongyin numbly stuffed the candied fruit into her mouth, unable to taste any sweetness.
“What are you thinking about?”
After taking a bath, Jiang Yun lifted the curtain and walked in, sitting down on the bed.
He took the oiled paper from Jiang Rongyin’s hand, wiped her fingers clean, and asked her a question.
Jiang Rongyin came to her senses: “I want to go to the Academy of Knowledge.”
Upon hearing Jiang Rongyin’s words, Jiang Yun paused in his grip on her hand, then replied, “Let’s go after the Yan Archery Banquet.”
Once the Crown Princess was chosen, he sent Jiang Rongyin out of the palace.
Jiang Yun could only relax once everything was settled.
“I have no feelings for Qin Shiyan, I just want to go back to Xuezhi Hall to attend classes.”
“Little Jiu, don’t upset me. I won’t say the same thing twice.”
Jiang Yun had already wiped Jiang Rongyin’s fingers clean. He lowered his eyes and gave a stern warning.
After saying just one sentence, Jiang Rongyin stopped talking.
She didn’t understand why Jiang Yun wouldn’t let her go to the Academy of Knowledge.
Is it because they’re afraid she’ll learn too much at the academy and become uncontrollable?
The next day, Jiang Yun left early to attend the morning court session.
After Jiang Rongyin got up, she heard Baoyin say that Aunt Zhong had arrived and said that the Empress wanted to see her.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Rongyin’s heart skipped a beat, and she had a bad feeling.
After getting dressed, Jiang Rongyin, along with Baoyin, followed Aunt Zhong to Kunning Palace.
Upon arriving at Kunning Palace, Empress Wei was watering flowers in the small garden.
Jiang Rongyin bowed and greeted the Empress.
Her status in the palace was awkward; she was not quite a princess, and it was inappropriate to address her as “father” or “mother.”
So Jiang Yun had her join the palace maids and eunuchs in calling out.
“Qin Shiyan is now engaged, so it’s time to start preparing for your wedding.”
Empress Wei bent down to water the flowers and said lightly.
When speaking to Jiang Rongyin, she always got straight to the point and made no attempt to conceal her purpose.
“I have raised you for more than ten years, and now that you still hold the title of Ninth Princess, I will naturally not wrong you in your marriage.”
“The husband I chose for you is no less handsome or of the same family background as Qin Shiyan.”
After saying this, Empress Wei stood up and looked at Jiang Rongyin.
The woman before him was slender and graceful, with eyes that sparkled with spring; such beauty was perfect for winning over aristocratic families.
Empress Wei did not want to see Jiang Rongyin in the capital in the future.
Therefore, Jiang Rongyin’s husband’s family must be located far away, and it would be best if she never returned to the capital in her lifetime.
Jiang Rongyin’s heart pounded as she listened to Empress Wei’s words.
No wonder Jiang Yun asked her to refuse the marriage herself; it turns out that the request for the arranged marriage was made by Empress Wei.
Empress Wei doted on Jiang Yun so much that if Jiang Yun were to refuse, it would be a disrespect to Empress Wei.
“Thanks to Her Majesty the Empress for her care over the years, Rongyin wishes to serve Her Majesty the Empress in the palace for a few more years.”
As Jiang Rongyin spoke these words with her head down, Empress Wei’s expression grew even colder.
Then, with a thud, the watering can was thrown aside.
She walked to the stone table, sat down, and said coldly, “Kneel down.”
Jiang Rongyin took a deep breath and knelt on the cobblestone road.
“Do you want to stay in the palace to serve me, or are you unwilling to get married?”
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Rongyin only wishes to stay in the palace…”
Empress Wei’s words were sarcastic, and Jiang Rongyin could only respond cautiously.
Then, she heard Empress Wei get up, and warm tea was poured over her head.
Tea leaves were stuck to Jiang Rongyin’s hair and clothes, making her look extremely disheveled.
“Don’t let someone calling you Ninth Princess make you forget your place.”
Empress Wei reached out her hand, and Aunt Zhong stepped forward to take the teacup.
“Go and tell His Majesty that I made the decision for her and chose the young master of the Chen family in Yingzhou.”
“As for her, she’s delusional. Let her kneel here until sunset, then she can go back to her original position.”
After saying this, Empress Wei ignored Jiang Rongyin and turned back to the main hall.
Once everyone was gone, Bao Yin knelt down to help Jiang Rongyin tidy up the tea leaves in her hair.
“It’s clearly His Highness the Crown Prince…”
Bao Yin had just begun to speak when Jiang Rongyin grabbed her hand: “This is Kunning Palace.”
The palace servants passing by could see Jiang Rongyin’s disheveled state, and naturally they could also hear Baoyin’s words.
Jiang Rongyin knew, of course, that she would be punished for refusing Empress Wei, but she still had to say it.
Playing the victim won’t get you anything from Empress Wei, but it might get you Jiang Yun to give in.
She wants to go back to the school.
Besides Tingzhou, she needed to find several other places to hide from the cunning Jiang Yun.
The afternoon sun was a bit too bright. Jiang Rongyin knelt there, her knees aching and her head spinning.
I don’t know how much time passed before I heard a sentence.
“Send the Ninth Princess back.”
The scattered light and shadow fell on the ground. Jiang Rongyin squinted as she watched the figure walk into the inner hall.
It’s Jiang Yun.
Xiang Ming reached out and, together with Bao Yin, helped Jiang Rongyin up.
The cobblestone path made her knees ache.
After thanking Xiang Ming, Jiang Rongyin declined his offer of help.
Supported by Bao Yin’s hand, she limped back to Guanghua Palace.
She owed Jiang Yun nothing, not a debt of gratitude.