Yan Chu, Red Glow, Tiansheng, Jianggu.
One after another, Jiang Yingcheng had rooted out the unrighteous nations hiding among the allied camp. Now Yishui had to be added to the list.
As the ninth princess of the Yishui Kingdom, Luo Fuying could not have developed such a disposition if there were nothing wrong with the way her palace conducted itself.
[Wouldn't I uncover dirt by the handful?!]
Unconsciously, Jiang Yingcheng reached into the plates of pastries the uncles had brought, hoping to munch on little treats while savoring the juicy gossip.
A moment later, she successfully snagged a small piece of walnut cookie. Just as she was about to put it in her mouth, a large hand reached over from beside her and took the entire piece away.
Jiang Yingcheng snapped out of her engrossed gossip-gathering state and looked up, her bewildered gaze following the cookie until it met Prince Jing's half-smiling eyes.
"Still eating?" Jiang Yi'an raised his hand and gently poked the little one's already rather firm belly twice. "The New Year's Banquet is about to begin. Do you still want to enjoy the delicacies later?"
Those two pokes were light and gentle, but Jiang Yingcheng mischievously aimed herself at Prince Jing's hand and pretended she was about to throw up. "Bleurgh-"
[Scare you! Scare you to death!]
Jiang Yi'an did not snatch his hand back as she had expected. His eyes narrowed, but in an instant, his expression returned to normal.
The assembled officials tactfully greeted him.
Today was a special occasion, and Emperor Mingze had long decreed that excessive ceremony was unnecessary at the banquet, so everyone merely cupped their hands in greeting.
Jiang Yi'an responded warmly to each of them.
He had always wanted to cultivate ties with these upright officials. Unfortunately, they had all