Several princes and princesses had arrived at the Mansion together. Even for the immensely powerful General's Mansion, this counted as a rare and momentous occasion.
With Old General Kan personally holding her hand, Jiang Yingcheng looked so pleased with herself that she might as well have been half the Mansion's owner.
[Hmph, hmph, hmph. Playing spies, are you? I'll send every last one of you packing in a minute!]
Crown Prince Jiang Tinghuai walked ahead, carrying one sulky younger brother in each hand. Without even looking back, he could picture the smug expression on the little girl's face.
Kan Ruifeng thought that, since he had already invited everyone over, he might as well follow Chancellor Tan's example and hold a small banquet. That would also make it easier to parade everyone in the Mansion before the little princess. Even if they were not spies, he could still learn exactly what sort of people they were.
It was a splendid idea, but he had forgotten that they had only just eaten lunch at Lingxi Palace.
Jiang Yingcheng propped her face in both hands. [I can't eat anymore. Chengcheng can't eat even one teeny-tiny bit...]
The dishes before her all looked delicious, tempting her so badly that drool practically threatened to spill from the corners of her eyes.
But she truly could not eat another bite.
Her sorrow was so vast that she had no attention to spare for anyone around her.
Everyone in the general's household had only just eaten lunch too, leaving the atmosphere at the banquet distinctly strange.
Yuan Liangping swept a helpless glance around the table and resigned himself to speaking. "I hear that General Kan will march in three months. May I ask whether you summoned me here today because there is something I can assist with?"