General, you should rest now; the lady is even more ruthless.

Shen Luo thought for a moment and said, "They probably don't know."

Sixteen had spies in the palace, which is how he found out about this.

The Emperor has not made a public announcement, nor has he mentioned summoning palace staff to the capital, so most people, including the Fourth Princess, are probably unaware of it.

Jiang Qiqi nodded; she thought so too.

Although she didn't have much contact with the Emperor, Jiang Qiqi knew quite a bit about his actions, and after a few encounters, she had vaguely figured out some of his tricks.

Although the emperor was old, he was still very ambitious. He valued the art of balance, was very suspicious, and wanted to hold everything firmly in his own hands.

Jiang Qiqi scoffed, "This emperor just loves playing matchmaker. Is he the reincarnation of the God of Love?"

Shen Luo remained silent.

Putting everything else aside, he still...

He glanced at Jiang Qiqi secretly, his ears turning slightly red.

I'm still very satisfied!

"Is there anything I need to prepare?" Jiang Qiqi asked.

Shen Luo thought for a moment and said, "No need. They will make the arrangements for the 16th and 19th. You just need to act like the hostess and treat them well."

"That's it."

"hostess".

This term was somewhat unfamiliar to Jiang Qiqi; she didn't know what the mistress's demeanor was like.

Fortunately, she had attended several banquets and, by imitating the behavior of the organizers, she was able to learn to resemble them somewhat.

Jiang Qiqi looked at the thin dress she was wearing. It was a dress that Xiang'er had modified, and it was comfortable to wear at home.

But now that we have guests, we definitely can't do that anymore.

"I'll go change my clothes first," Jiang Qiqi said.

Shen Luo nodded gently and instructed, "There's no need to be too formal."

"it is good."

Jiang Qiqi sat in front of the mirror, and Xiang'er helped her redo her makeup.

Looking at the image reflected in the bronze mirror, Jiang Qiqi sighed softly.

Even though she no longer needs to do tasks, why does she feel busier than in her previous life?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Half a month ago, Prince Zhong’s Mansion.

The Gong family of three sat in the study.

"Father, Mother, what does the Emperor mean by this? Does he want my sister and me to come to the capital as hostages?"

Gong Yuan read the letter over and over again, growing angrier with each reading.

"Shh." The Prince of Zhong gestured for him to be quiet, walked to the window, looked out, and then carefully closed the window.

The princess reminded him, "Be careful, the walls may have ears."

Gong Yuan sighed and sat down in the chair next to him.

Many people may envy his status. Born into the Gong family, as the only boy in the family, he is the designated future prince.

But only Gong Yuan himself knew how cautious he was every day.

The current emperor has not even granted any titles to his sons; his father is now the only prince in the entire Nanyue region.

Moreover, he was a prince whose title had been hereditary since the founding of the country.

It is no exaggeration to say that his family's influence in the southwest region was far greater than that of the imperial court.

“Yuan’er, how can one allow another to sleep soundly on one’s side? No emperor would be indifferent to this matter.”

His father and mother had taught him this since he was a child.

"The more foolish and lazy we appear, the better. Only in this way can we ensure the survival of the Gong family."

So from the time he was old enough to understand, Gong Yuan was always careful and never dared to reveal any ambition. He spent his days practicing martial arts and having fun.

However, even a common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime.

"Father, we've gone to such lengths, yet the Emperor is still not at ease!" Gong Yuan said through gritted teeth.

The Prince of Zhong sighed, at a loss for words.

The Gong family has been loyal to the emperor for generations and has never had any intention of rebelling. Even though the emperor has repeatedly reduced his military power and now made him a leisurely prince, he has no complaints.

But as Yuan'er said, even so, the Emperor still did not dispel his doubts.

The princess sat to one side, sobbing softly: "Your Highness, we only have one son and one daughter. The Emperor wants us dead."

The Gong family has never allowed concubines, so they have always had few offspring. In this generation, there are only two siblings, Gong Yuan and Gong Ting.

Now the Emperor has sent a letter specifically inviting the two of them to the capital, ostensibly for leisure.

But who doesn't know what they're really thinking?

The Prince looked at his son, who had grown taller than him without him noticing, and then at his wife, whose eyes were red from crying and whose face was full of resentment.

He closed his eyes and put the letter back into the yellow cloth bag that contained it.

He threw the cloth bag on the table.

"Go tell Ting'er to pack her luggage and leave in a few days."

"You go first. Your mother and I will take care of some matters in the manor and then go in a few days."

"Your Highness, you mean..." Gong Yuan didn't understand the meaning behind his words, but the Princess Consort did.

The Prince of Zhong did not answer her question, but turned to look at the wall next to him.

The imperial sword that Emperor Taizong bestowed upon them hangs there, and it has never been moved over the years.

He strode over, took the sword with a little force, and held it in his hand.

A cold sensation traveled through the sword's blade. The Loyal King's hand caressed the hilt before he abruptly pulled the sword out.

It made a "whoosh" sound.

It was an unparalleled sword; even after a hundred years, it was still incredibly sharp when drawn.

"I have failed my ancestors. It seems that the throne of the Gong family will end with me."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

At the entrance of the General Zhenguo's Mansion, the Gong family's carriage procession stopped one by one.

"Brother, brother, Gong Yuan!"

Inside the carriage, Gong Ting waved her hands in front of the other person.

Gong Yuan was pulled back from his memories: "Huh? What did you say?"

"Brother, what are you daydreaming about? We've arrived." The curtain had already been lifted, and Gong Ting was the first to leave the sedan chair and jump down from the carriage.

She knew nothing about it and thought she had come to the capital for fun.

"Oh, oh!" Gong Yuan snapped out of his daze and quickly followed him down, of course, not forgetting to take his bow.

Gong Yuan looked at the tall lintel in front of him. The five large characters "General's Mansion of the State" were personally inscribed by the Emperor and hung high above. It was solemn and awe-inspiring, and just one glance was enough to make people feel intimidated.

......

"Father, is there no other way?"

Gong Yuan didn't necessarily covet the throne, but being forced to return it was incredibly frustrating.

The princess wiped away her tears, held Gong Yuan's hand, and shook her head repeatedly: "Yuan'er, your mother doesn't want you to take risks. As long as you and Ting'er can live peacefully, even if we lose everything and become ordinary people, your mother is willing."

“Mother,” Gong Yuan’s expression softened, “Although I am young, I understand the saying that gossip can be a fearsome thing.”

"The throne that Emperor Taizu personally promised, now that a century has passed, the emperor wants to take it back. How can he silence the public outcry?"

"Yuan'er, you mean...?"

Gong Yuan nodded heavily: "The best solution is for all members of the Gong family to die. Then, there's no need for the throne to exist if no one inherits it."

"We've reached a dead end."

“No,” the Loyal King suddenly spoke up, “there is still a glimmer of hope in the current situation.”

Will the turning point my father spoke of really be here?