Jin Ning's name was slowly spoken from the Emperor's mouth.
Jin Ning's heart inexplicably tensed, and her back stiffened along with it.
She maintained her kneeling posture, not daring to move.
Just then.
The cool, woody fragrance grew even clearer, and then Jin Ning saw a hand wearing a black jade thumb ring reach in front of her folded arms and gently help her up.
Within the Emperor's cold voice, there was a rare hint of warmth: "Rise."
Jin Ning slowly stood up. Even though she wore a veil, she dared not look directly at the Emperor.
It wasn't out of fear of his divine might, but rather... she was afraid of being recognized.
Xiao Yi looked at Jin Ning, who was obediently lowering her head, and said kindly, "I heard you've been in Huaiyang for the past three years, observing mourning for your father."
Jin Ning nodded slightly and said softly, "Yes."
Xiao Yi nodded, then looked at the anxious Marquis Yong'an, who seemed hesitant to speak, and said, "You have a good daughter."
Marquis Yong'an gave a dry laugh and said, "Your Majesty flatters me."
Xiao Yi no longer looked at Jin Ning but continued to walk forward, saying as he went, "Everyone rise."
Seeing that everyone had stood up and the atmosphere in Tingxue Pavilion had relaxed considerably, Jin Ning secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed that His Majesty's special attention just now was not because he recognized her, but out of the care of an Emperor, a fatherly monarch, for a junior.
At this moment, Pei Mingyue once again cast her gaze upon Jin Ning.
She didn't know what she was thinking, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and she remained silent, appearing very wronged.
Madam Yong'an looked gently at Pei Mingyue, helped her tuck away a stray strand of hair from her forehead, and then said a few gentle words.
Seeing Pei Mingyue's face light up with a smile again, Madam Yong'an, Madam Song, beckoned to Jin Ning, "Ning Ning, come here."
Jin Ning did not want to show her dislike for the Yong'an Marquis Manor too obviously at the royal banquet... at least not yet.
So Jin Ning walked over slowly.
She stopped and bowed, "Father, Mother, Second Brother, Sister Mingyue."
Pei Jingchuan acted as if he hadn't heard.
However, the Marquis looked at Jin Ning with a frown and reprimanded in a low voice, "Where have the rules the Marquis Manor taught you gone? You didn't even actively pay respects to His Majesty!"
"After the banquet, you will copy the ritual regulations ten times!" the Marquis continued.
The ritual regulations recorded various etiquette and regulations, from the grandest palace rules to ordinary demeanor.
Jin Ning hadn't even finished copying her Classic of Filial Piety for Women, and now she was being punished to copy another book. Moreover... while Pei Mingyue's hand was indeed burned, her own hand had also been injured by a golden hairpin...
A cold smile flickered in her eyes.
The Yong'an Marquis Manor probably didn't want her to marry the Crown Prince anymore, yet now they were punishing her by making her copy the ritual regulations that only a future Crown Princess needed to study thoroughly. It was truly laughable.
Madam Song said helplessly, "My Lord, you are too strict with Ning Ning."
She only sighed this sentence, seemingly feeling sorry for Jin Ning, but ultimately did not plead for mercy for Jin Ning, tacitly approving the punishment.
Jin Ning was not surprised by Madam Song's actions.
"The Empress arrives!"
Following the announcement, everyone bowed together again.
Empress Xu and Xiao Chen entered the hall one after the other.
Empress Xu was in a magnificent phoenix robe, exuding unparalleled nobility. As for Xiao Chen, he was wearing a moon-white brocade robe today, appearing like a jade tree in the orchid, a gentlemanly and upright figure.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Your son pays respects to Father Emperor."
Xiao Yi slightly raised his hand, and Empress Xu walked to his side and took her seat.
Xiao Chen sat in the seat of honor on the right, followed by everyone else taking their seats, and the banquet began.
No matter how unwilling Jin Ning was, she had to sit next to Pei Mingyue. Her seat was right between Madam Song and Pei Mingyue.
And the female members of the Pei family happened to be seated diagonally opposite Xiao Chen.
It wasn't that Jin Ning wanted to pay attention to Xiao Chen, but Xiao Chen's gaze had been drifting this way.
Anyone who didn't know would think Xiao Chen was looking at Jin Ning, but only Jin Ning knew that Xiao Chen's gaze was fixed on Pei Mingyue's injured hand.
The wound on Pei Mingyue's hand had been carefully bandaged. She was now raising her hand to drink tea, her movements extremely slow, as if afraid others wouldn't know about her hand injury.
Jin Ning noticed Pei Mingyue's small actions.
She already knew in her heart.
Even without the events of her previous life, she and Pei Mingyue could never become true sisters.
She could tolerate Pei Mingyue, but Pei Mingyue might not tolerate her.
During the banquet, Xiao Chen raised his cup and toasted Xiao Yi: "Coinciding with the auspicious snow, your son wishes Father Emperor a prime of life and our Great Liang peace and prosperity."
Although Xiao Yi's expression was stern, there was a hint of satisfaction. He said as if sighing, "In the blink of an eye, Chen'er has reached the age where he needs to take a consort."
There was an official at the banquet who, trying to guess Xiao Yi's intentions, immediately spoke up: "Now that the eldest daughter of the Pei family has returned, this official sees that the Crown Prince and this eldest daughter of the Pei family are like a perfect match. Why not let them marry soon? This would not only fulfill the lovers but also extend the royal bloodline of Great Liang."
The speaker was the Minister of Rites, Shangshu Fang Huai Shan, who was in his fifties and was very good at discerning the Emperor's thoughts.
Upon hearing this, Empress Xu's hand trembled slightly, causing the tea in her teacup to slosh.
Jin Ning noticed that Pei Mingyue beside her instantly clenched the skirt of her dress with the hand resting on her lap, looking very nervous.
Just then, Xiao Chen, with a troubled expression, spoke up, "Father Emperor, regarding the marriage, your son..."
Hearing this, Empress Xu immediately interrupted Xiao Chen and continued, "Chen'er, Mother knows you are anxious, but Jin Ning already told Mother yesterday that she wishes to stay at the Yong'an Marquis Manor to spend more time with her parents. Your Father Emperor has also agreed to this matter."
Although Xiao Yi had previously agreed to let her ask Jin Ning's wishes, she was still somewhat afraid that the Emperor would agree with the official's suggestion today and set the wedding date. Thus, she deliberately brought up the Emperor's agreement.
As an Emperor, he naturally could not go back on his word.
"Jin Ning, you can rest assured and stay home to accompany your parents," Empress Xu said gently to Jin Ning.
Jin Ning, having been named, was about to speak when Madam Xu beside her reached out and grasped Jin Ning's wrist, speaking first, "Thank you Your Majesty and Your Ladyship for your consideration. We truly cannot bear to part with Ning Ning, and Ning Ning also cannot bear to part with us. She wishes to stay home a little longer. Ning Ning, don't you agree?"
Jin Ning sneered inwardly upon hearing this. If not for... her not wanting to reveal her desire to marry the Crown Prince in front of Xiao Yi, she should have actively brought up the engagement just now and provoked these people.
In any case, if she was unhappy, no one else would be happy.
However, at this moment, Jin Ning could only follow Madam Song's lead and say, "Mother is right. Jin Ning truly cannot bear to part with her family."
With things having reached this point, Xiao Yi nodded slightly and said, "She is a filial child."
Wasn't she filial?
If anyone else were engaged to the Crown Prince, they would be eager for the wedding to happen as soon as possible.
But Jin Ning, upon returning from Huaiyang, wished to stay at the manor to accompany her family.
Such filial piety greatly pleased Xiao Yi.
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