He remarried after his mother's death, seized power over the world, and slept on the emperor�

Three days later, the gates of Prince Xin's mansion slowly opened.

A soft blue sedan chair came to a stop in front of the door, and the curtain was lifted by a delicate hand.

With the help of her maid, Liu Jingyi stepped down from the sedan chair.

She was draped in a thick white fox fur cloak, her face still somewhat pale, but the melancholy in her eyes had dissipated considerably, and she seemed to be in relatively good spirits.

Jiang Bingning had been waiting for a long time on the steps of the mansion gate.

Seeing his mother standing safely in front of him, the heart that had been hanging in suspense for so long finally settled down.

She hurried to meet him, her voice trembling.

"Mother!"

Liu Jingyi looked at her daughter, then reached out and gently touched Jiang Bingning's slightly cool cheek.

"Ning'er."

Jiang Bingning nodded heavily, her eyes instantly reddening, but she forced herself to hold back.

She can't cry.

This is the Prince Xin's Mansion, not her home.

Eyes are everywhere.

She took Liu Jingyi's arm and said in a very low voice, "Mother, let's go inside and talk."

The mother and daughter walked into the mansion hand in hand.

A figure flashed by at the corner of the corridor not far away.

That was Consort Lin's trusted eunuch. He only turned and left hastily after Jiang Bingning and Liu Jingyi disappeared from sight.

That night, in the courtyard of the Dowager Empress.

The Dowager Empress closed her eyes to rest.

Ji Yunhan, dressed in a moon-white robe, stood quietly at the lower end, his expression solemn.

After a long while, the Dowager Empress slowly opened her eyes.

"Speak."

Ji Yunhan took a deep breath and looked directly at the Dowager Consort.

"Mother."

"My son wants to marry Jingyi as his concubine."

The Dowager Empress paused abruptly.

"Do you know what you're saying?" The Dowager Empress's voice turned somber.

"Your son knows." Ji Chengyun's tone remained unwavering. "Your son will marry her and make her his principal wife."

"I want to make it up to her."

"Compensation?" The Dowager Empress sneered. "What will you offer as compensation? Compensation using the standards of the imperial family?"

"Foolish! Do you know how difficult this is?"

The Dowager Empress's gaze sharpened. "She, Liu Jingyi, was once the wife of a general from the Zhou Kingdom! That's a mark branded on her, one that can't be washed away!"

"Furthermore, she's carrying Bing Ning's child! What about the royal family's reputation? What will the world say about the Prince Xin's Mansion?"

Ji Yunhan lowered his eyes.

"I understand everything my mother said."

"But what happened back then was something our Ji family owed her."

"If it weren't for Father back then..."

"Shut up!" the Dowager Empress interrupted him sharply. "Don't mention what happened back then again!"

She let out a long sigh, her tone softening slightly.

"Yunhan, the position of Princess Consort is of great importance. It is not a trivial matter."

"Think about it again."

-----------------

Under the same night sky, the residence of Chief Minister Lin was brightly lit.

The fragrance of plum blossoms wafts through the warm pavilion in the back garden.

A group of noble ladies from the capital sat together, reciting poems and exchanging verses, their laughter and chatter delightful.

Today, Jiang Yuerong wore a light purple long dress with a silver fur vest over it, which made her look even more slender and pitiful.

She deliberately acted gentle and quiet, saying little, only offering a shy and sweet smile when others spoke.

This appearance indeed attracted a lot of attention.

Lin Wenhui, the eldest daughter of the Lin family and niece of Consort Lin, spoke with a smile.

"I had long heard that Miss Jiang was also the daughter of a military family, but I never expected her to be so gentle and charming."

"I wonder if Miss Jiang could also add a fine poem to complement this garden full of plum blossoms?"

All eyes instantly focused on Jiang Yuerong.

Jiang Yuerong's heart tightened, followed by a surge of joy.

The opportunity is coming!

She slowly stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the red plum blossoms blooming in the snow outside, pretending to ponder.

A moment later, she parted her lips slightly, her voice clear and melodious like a nightingale's song.

"A few plum blossoms in the corner of the wall, blooming alone in the cold."

"From afar I know it's not snow, for there is a faint fragrance."

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Everyone was stunned by the poem.

Simple and straightforward, yet profound in meaning and full of imagery.

Especially the line "I know from afar it is not snow, for there is a faint fragrance," is simply a stroke of genius!

"What a beautiful poem! What a wonderful poem!"

Someone shouted first, and then exclamations of praise rose and fell.

Jiang Yuerong was extremely pleased with herself.

This famous poem about plum blossoms from her previous life had not yet been written, but now she used it casually, and the effect was indeed amazing.

A gentle male voice rang out at that moment.

"Miss Jiang's talent is truly amazing."

Jiang Yuerong looked up at the sound and saw a young man in a royal blue brocade robe looking at her with a smile.

The man had a handsome face and bright eyes; he was none other than Lin Wenbo, the son of the current Grand Secretary.

Jiang Yuerong quickly curtsied.

"Young Master Lin, you flatter me."

Lin Wenbo walked slowly to her side, his gaze falling on the plum blossoms outside the window, his voice gentle and warm.

"I have heard that your elder sister, Miss Bingning, is exceptionally skilled in martial arts and has a fierce temperament."

"Only after meeting the Second Miss today did I realize that the daughters of the Jiang family are also such kind and intelligent people."

He turned his head and looked intently at Jiang Yuerong.

"In my opinion, compared to your older sister, Miss Jiang seems to be more adaptable and more... adorable."

He spoke the last two words very softly, with a hint of ambiguity.

Jiang Yuerong's cheeks flushed bright red instantly.

The young master of the Lin family, the eldest son of the current Grand Secretary, actually... actually praised her in public!

Jiang Yuerong felt she could already foresee the day she would marry into a wealthy family and become a person of high status.

She was completely unaware that beneath Lin Wenbo's gentle smile lay a faint hint of scrutiny and calculation.

She's already taken the bait.

After the banquet ended.

In the study of the Prime Minister Lin, Lin Wenbo stood respectfully before his father.

"Father."

Prime Minister Lin took a sip of tea without even lifting his eyelids.

"How is that second daughter of the Jiang family?"

Lin Wenbo bowed and said.

"Father, this woman is extremely vain and short-sighted, and is very easy to control."

"She was completely smitten by her son's slightest praise today."

"Hmm." Prime Minister Lin's voice carried a chilling undertone.

"Your aunt's days in the Prince Xin's mansion were not easy."

"That Liu Jingyi is back, and now she has the Dowager Empress and Ji Yunhan protecting her. It will be difficult for your aunt to bring her down."

He looked coldly at his son.

"This Jiang Yuerong is like a knife delivered to your door."

"She is at odds with her sister and longs to curry favor with the powerful, which makes her perfect for our use."

"Use her to keep those two women in the Prince Xin's mansion in check."

"Father is wise." Lin Wenbo understood immediately.

He then asked, "So...is your son going to discuss marriage with her?"

Prime Minister Lin gave a sarcastic look.

"marriage?"

"A mere insignificant pawn, does it even deserve to enter the Lin family's gate?"

"Let's keep her hanging for now, give her some incentives, and make her willing to work for us."

"Once it's done, whether she lives or dies will be out of her control."

The night grew deeper.

After confirming that her mother was asleep, Jiang Bingning changed into a neat set of night clothes and left the Prince Xin's mansion quietly.

Her destination: Zhang's Iron Shop in the south of the city.