Only after being reborn did I realize that I was the white moonlight of a powerful minister.

The Emperor hosted a palace banquet, and an imperial decree was issued that all ladies of the third rank and above were not allowed to refuse without a valid reason.

Ye Wanning encountered Princess Xihe at the palace gate and casually asked, "Didn't you come with your husband?"

“He’s here, but I don’t want to walk with him,” Princess Xihe whispered in her ear. “There are too many people here. Putting that aside, you should slow down and be careful not to get bumped.”

"I know," Ye Wanning said tactfully, refraining from asking further questions.

They entered the palace together. Xie Bohuai was soon called away. Ye Wanning wanted to sit down, but Princess Xihe pulled her to find Princess Ning'an.

In the side hall, Princess Ning'an was dressed in her finest attire. Everyone was in a daze, as they hadn't seen her for over three years.

Princess Ning'an before me still looked the same, only more tired, and she seemed to have lost the vigor of Princess Xihe.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Ye Wanning bowed, but Princess Ning'an helped her up.

"When I learned you were still alive, I thought it was a false alarm. Seeing you again, I know it wasn't a dream. Wan Ning, it's been so many years. It seems you've been doing well." Princess Ning'an looked at Ye Wan Ning and pulled her to sit down.

The three of them sat down together, and Princess Xihe was the most excited. "Ning'an, you have no idea, when you said you wanted to come back, I argued with you on your behalf. They didn't want you to come back, so I gave them all a good scolding!"

"Who? Who doesn't want me to come back?" Seeing Princess Xihe pause, Ning An smiled lightly. "Alright, I was just joking with you. It's normal for people to have different political views in court. You're still the same as before, innocent and carefree, which is enviable."

She looked into Princess Xihe's eyes, as if trying to see something through her, but in the end she lowered her eyes and smiled faintly.

Ye Wanning saw a sense of vicissitude in Princess Ning'an.

Indeed, after such an ordeal, everyone will feel more weathered.

"You haven't changed much either, still the same as before, always so aloof. Never mind, I won't say anything more. Now that you're back, why don't you stay at my princess's residence for a while? Don't think I'm stingy, it's just for you to stay temporarily. Once your princess's residence is renovated, you'll move in." Princess Xihe had so much to say to her old friend, but it was only when the Empress's attendants arrived that she was called away. "Wait for me, don't whisper, we'll talk when I get back."

Without Princess Xihe, the room fell silent. Ye Wanning didn't really know what to talk about; every topic was sensitive, and besides, she and Princess Ning'an didn't have any special relationship in the past.

Finally, Princess Ning'an spoke up, "It's about time; we should head out now."

"Hmm." Ye Wanning followed beside her. As they exited the main hall, she heard Princess Ning'an suddenly ask, "Wanning, will you regret coming back?"

She turned to look at Ye Wanning, her phoenix eyes particularly sharp. "I want to know your answer. I often wonder if I shouldn't have come back."

“Your Highness, there’s no going back in this world. Sometimes we’re not making choices, but being forced to. Now that you’re back, we should try to live with hope,” Ye Wanning said softly.

Ning An was not Xi He, and instantly understood what Ye Wan Ning meant. She laughed twice and said, "No wonder Xie Bo Huai took a liking to you. He was right. You are intelligent, but you also have weaknesses."

"Your Highness has met Xie Bohuai?" Ye Wanning was surprised.

Princess Ning'an hummed in agreement. "It's time for our performance."

What do you mean?

Ye Wanning looked into the main hall, where the music was constant and the wine, meat and delicacies were all served, just waiting for them to take the stage.