After giving birth to twins, the princess became pregnant again, and the royal uncle took care of he

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Personnel was in complete chaos.

The Minister and his concubine were enjoying a tender moment under the moonlight.

However, a sudden announcement was like a bucket of cold water, shattering his beautiful dream.

"My lord, something terrible has happened! The back mountain is on fire!" A servant rushed in, panting, his face filled with panic.

The Minister was so startled that he almost jumped out of bed. He rushed out without even having time to put on his clothes.

His heart felt like it was crawling with a million ants, and he anxiously muttered to himself:

"How did the fire in this side courtyard start? We absolutely cannot let the people in the secret prison die, otherwise the higher-ups will definitely kill them."

He staggered as he ran, thinking to himself, "And I mustn't let his treasures get burned. They're his lifeblood."

A look of heartache crossed his face, as if he could already see those treasures turning to ashes in the fire.

"Who started this fire?"

He pondered to himself, his brows furrowed as if they could be squeezed dry.

"The only person in the entire capital who could kill those four guards so silently is the War King. Could it be that the War King is avenging Chu Xingyao?"

The more he thought about it, the more a chill ran down his spine, as if the shadow of the War King had already enveloped him, making him shudder.

He remembered what Night Hawk had told him earlier that day, and a chill ran down his spine.

"War King, War King, are you trying to kill me?!"

He was wailing inside, but on the surface he had to pretend to be calm and composed, like a cat cornered against a wall, which was afraid inside but had to stand up and pretend to be fierce.

He immediately summoned Madam Yun and instructed her, "Go to the secret compartment in the study and take 50,000 taels of gold. Tomorrow at dawn, go and give it to Chu Xingyao as compensation, saying that you took it from your family."

Madam Yun looked unwilling: "Master, why? That wretched woman."

The Minister slapped him across the face.

He snapped, "Just do it! Be sincere! If you can't do it properly..."

He put his arm around the concubine next to him and threatened, "I wouldn't mind elevating her to a secondary wife."

Madam Yun nodded resentfully: "Don't worry, sir, I will handle this matter properly. If there's nothing else, I'll go back."

Before leaving, she glared fiercely at the concubine.

The concubine gave her a defiant look, then hid behind Yun Ting, looking like she was saying, "What can you do about it?"

It's as if they're saying, "I have the master backing me up, what can you do about it?"

The fire wasn't completely extinguished until dawn. Yun Ting approached the treasure cave and saw the empty entrance and the charred remains of the fake Changsheng. He was so frightened that he fell to the ground.

His heart sank; it was not only a loss of property, but also the end of his political career.

He disregarded all that, scrambling out of the treasure cave, tearfully picked up paper and pen, wrote a letter, and released a carrier pigeon.

His hands trembled, but he was thinking, "The most important thing right now is to save my life. I can worry about saving face later."

A bitter smile appeared on Yun Ting's face. He knew that this fire was not only a disaster, but also the beginning of a political struggle.

He's like a mouse caught in a cat's claws, struggling to survive while also trying to fight back.

General's Mansion, Xinghe Garden

Inside the Star River Garden of the General's Mansion, sunlight streamed through the exquisite window lattices, illuminating Chu Xingyao's bed and gilding her beautiful dream with a golden border.

She slept soundly until hunger, like an uninvited guest, gently knocked on the door of her consciousness.

Chu Xingyao opened her eyes, the world still seemed to be shrouded in a hazy dream, until Pearl's soft call brought her back to reality.

"Miss, you are awake."

Pearl's voice was gentle and respectful. She had already prepared water and towels for Chu Xingyao to wash up, waiting for her to wake up.

Chu Xingyao stretched and sat up lazily, her eyes still showing a trace of sleepiness, but she was quickly awakened by the hot towel in Pearl's hand.

After a quick wash, she sat down at the dining table, facing a sumptuous lunch, and her appetite was fully stimulated.

Although her movements were elegant, they were incredibly fast, sweeping away all the food in no time.

Chu's mother gently pushed open the door and saw this scene.

She smiled and shook her head, her eyes full of doting and helplessness. "Yao'er must be starving. You eat first."

Chu Xingyao looked up and smiled slightly, a smile as gentle and bright as a flower blooming in spring.

"Why are you here, Mother? Yao'er has just finished eating," she said, standing up and gently taking her mother's arm, snuggling up to her like a spoiled kitten.

A hint of relief flashed in Chu's mother's eyes. She gently stroked Chu Xingyao's hair and said with a smile,

"The palace is holding a New Year's Eve banquet today, and we're going to attend together. Mother sent you a few sets of clothes and jewelry. Which one do you like?"

Her words were full of anticipation, hoping that her daughter would shine at the banquet.

As Chu's mother finished speaking, more than twenty maids, carrying trays, filed in one after another.

What they held in their hands was not just clothes and jewelry, but also the mothers' heartfelt wishes and expectations for their daughters.

Those clothes were made of the shimmering brocade sent by Jun Jiuxiao, each piece radiating a faint glow, as dazzling and splendid as the clouds.

Each of those shoes was inlaid with a large, round, and lustrous pearl.

Chu Xingyao's gaze swept over the gorgeous clothes and headdresses one by one, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and joy, just like a little girl choosing her favorite toy.

She gently stroked the soft fabrics, feeling their warmth.

"Mother, I love all of these. Especially this red one, with its narrow sleeves,"

Chu Xingyao's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible shyness.

She added in her mind, "On this day in my past life, Jun Jiuxiao was wearing dark red, so I should wear red too. We're wearing matching outfits."

Her words carried a hint of playfulness and sweetness. Following her gaze, Chu's mother nodded, her eyes full of approval.

“Yao’er has good taste. This red one is really nice. Let’s go with it. You’ve just finished eating, so rest for a while. We’ll go to the palace together when your father and older brother come back.”

Chu Xingyao nodded and obediently replied, "Yes, Mother."

Chu's mother smiled and said, "Alright, then I'll be going now."

Chu Xingyao responded gently, "Take care, Mother."

As Chu's mother's figure gradually disappeared into the distance, a sly smile appeared on Chu Xingyao's face. This palace banquet would be unforgettable for Jun Xuanche and Chu Xinglan for the rest of their lives.

She whispered in Pearl's ear, instructing her to prepare some things in advance. Pearl nodded and tiptoed out.