The Double-Chapter 731 - 220: Snatching Love_3

His smile became somewhat distracted.

Jiang Li didn’t want to engage in much conversation with Yin Zhili, so she took advantage of Yin Zhili’s momentary distraction to find an excuse to return to Lady Lu’s side. After this, Jiang Li stayed close to Lady Lu, unwavering in her step; she really didn’t want to deal with the Yin sisters. Ignoring Lady Lu’s hints, she pretended to be none the wiser.

Not much later, Emperor Hongxiao and Yin Zhan also arrived.

Today’s banquet in the palace was specifically to celebrate Yin Zhan’s military achievements, so naturally, he was the guest of honor. Jiang Li saw Yin Zhan for the first time, and he was not what she had expected. She had thought Yin Zhan would be a rough and burly man like Ye Mingyu, but to her surprise, he was quite handsome. Handsome and wild; by today’s standards, he’d likely be the dream man of many women. By comparison, Yin Zhili and Yin Zhan did not look alike at all. Yin Zhan had deep and distinct facial features, resembling Yin Zhiqing significantly, while Yin Zhili seemed as mild as a water ink landscape painting, extremely gentle.

Jih Heng sat in a corner of the hall, and with the lighting dim in some areas, Jiang Li was too far away to discern his expression. As a result, she didn’t know if Jih Heng had looked towards Yin Zhan, or what kind of look he might have had in his eyes.

The palace banquet began soon after.

Jiang Li bowed her head and slowly ate her food. Up to this point, Emperor Hongxiao hadn’t brought up the matter of granting rewards, and naturally, Yin Zhan hadn’t requested a marriage grant. The Empress Dowager and the Empress were both present as well. The Empress Dowager, who rarely left the Cining Palace, seemed quite happy today, speaking with the Empress. Consort Li, who had once enjoyed a period of favor, was now but a handful of dust. The ministers of the imperial court were eager to strategize which of their daughters would be best to send into the palace. Now that Emperor Hongxiao’s position had stabilized and there was no more Prince Cheng or worries from behind, coupled with his youth, any girl who caught his eye could potentially bring her family to great heights.

Therefore, many young ladies went all out to dress themselves as beautifully as celestial beings that night. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

However, Jiang Li didn’t see it that way. From Consort Li’s incident, one could tell that the emperor was not one to indulge excessively in the company of women. Becoming the next Consort Li would not be easy. Amidst the fragrance filling the hall, Yin Zhiqing was particularly conspicuous. With her naturally peerless beauty and dressed to the nines, it was hard for her not to stand out. Others might have thought she was harboring ambitions of entering the palace, but Jiang Li knew that Yin Zhiqing’s aim was clearly Jih Heng.

One could tell just by seeing that they were both wearing red today.

The Princess of Pingyang County had also made great efforts this time, but sadly, she did not know that there was deep-seated enmity between Jih Heng and the Yin Household, a hatred so intense that it was a matter of life and death. The intentions of Yin Zhili were destined to lead to bitter consequences.

After three rounds of wine and amidst the warm buzz of conversation, Emperor Hongxiao spoke of Yin Zhan’s merits in quelling the rebellion of Prince Cheng, saying, "Prince of Xia County has made great contributions in suppressing the rebellion of Prince Cheng and deserves to be rewarded. We shall reward him handsomely!"

Yin Zhan stood up from his seat as everyone’s gaze fixed upon him. Flipping the corner of his robe, he knelt down before Emperor Hongxiao and said, "Suppressing the rebels is my duty as a subject. I dare not claim credit for myself, as it is all due to Your Majesty’s wise orders. I have a request that I hope Your Majesty will grant, in light of my service in leading the troops to suppress the rebellion."

"Oh? What is your request, Prince of Xia County? Feel free to speak," the young emperor seemed in a good mood, his gaze even held a smile as he looked upon his minister, very magnanimous.

"I have a son, now twenty-three years of age," Yin Zhan said, "My son admires Miss Jiang the Second from Chief Minister Jiang’s Family. Out of desperation, I beg Your Majesty to grant a marriage between my son and Jiang’s Second Miss. I would be eternally grateful."

Upon these words, the hall fell silent, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Yin Zhan remained on his knees, and Yin Zhili, initially taken aback, soon stood and knelt down as well. Emperor Hongxiao did not reply immediately, just gazing at Yin Zhan, contemplative.

The ladies’ gazes towards Jiang Li were a mix of envy and jealousy; the Yin Family was willing to use their military merits to seek a marriage, a clear sign of how much they valued Jiang Li. The men envied Yin Zhili because Emperor Hongxiao would surely agree, and Jiang’s Second Miss might soon become the wife of the Princely Heir of the Yin Family.

Jiang Yuanbai’s hand, tucked within his sleeve, began to clench tightly, and beads of sweat started to form on his forehead. Not because of anything else, but because Emperor Hongxiao had not immediately agreed.

Why hadn’t Emperor Hongxiao agreed? It was just a matter of granting a marriage.

It suddenly dawned upon Jiang Yuanbai, recalling what Jiang Li had told him: Things were not yet settled in Yanjing’s imperial audience hall. Becoming too close with the Yin Household too soon was not a good thing—better to be careful to avoid attracting disaster. At the time, he had thought Jiang Li somewhat alarmist. After all, Yin Zhan had just achieved such a great feat and hadn’t done anything outrageous. Having kept a low profile in Yunzhong for many years, Yin Zhan seemed to be well-trusted by Emperor Hongxiao; otherwise, the Emperor wouldn’t have called him back to resolve the crisis during Prince Cheng’s rebellion.

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