illing to take a loss. But the princess really knows her business! This old servant will help the emperor prepare a big box to hold the red envelopes for the pastry shop workers during the new year!"T..."Father, please stop pretending to be ill! What do you really want"

Jiayin also grew up under your watch, you wouldn't really want to kill her for what rain

"Father, you can't do this! It's so heartless. You've eaten so many of Jia Yin's fruits and baked treats!

"

She is more filial than my own daughter. You can't treat her this way!

The third princess pounded on the door, shouting loudly.

Yi Zongtang was so scared he almost fainted and begged frantically.

"Princess, please calm down. You can't speak to the Emperor like that. His Majesty is unwell and mustn't be angered further. For my sake, please reconsider and come another day. I beg you!"

As he spoke, Manager Yi knelt down.

The surrounding little eunuchs and maidservants, of course, didn't dare to stand. They all knelt down in a heap.

The Third Princess stomped her foot and kicked the steward, Yi, in anger. "You old wretch! You have no conscience at all! Jia Yin has always been kind to you; she never treated you like a servant!"

"Everything that gets sent to the palace, whether it's food and drink or anything else, always remembers you! You just stand there and watch her get bullied, you have no conscience!"

Yi Zongguan smiled wryly, bumping his head on the ground once. He didn't dare to raise his head or argue back.

Just as things were reaching a fever pitch, the crown prince finally arrived in a rush.

"Younger sister, you mustn't act this way!"

The Crown Prince also rushed over, with beads of sweat on his forehead.

He pulled the Third Princess aside, lowering his voice and persuading her, "Making such a fuss will only make your father angrier. Come with me to Xilong Pavilion, and we'll talk about it calmly."

The third princess refused to leave, but was forcibly taken away.

Yi Zongguan wiped the sweat from his brow, rubbing his aching knees, and then went around to the back hall, entering the room where the Emperor was resting.

The emperor looked utterly dejected, sitting by the table sipping tea.

Easy, the manager quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, the princess was invited to have tea by the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is very brotherly and respected by the princess. He will definitely persuade her well."

The Emperor put down his teacup and sighed.

"It's a waste that I have loved the Third Princess so dearly. In her heart, I am not even as important as a little maid."

Manager Yi thought to himself, "These blisters on my feet are a result of my own actions! You reap what you sow!"

But he wouldn't dare say that, so he could only force a smile and continue persuading her.

"The Third Princess is truly spirited, innocent and pure. She probably thinks you are the supreme ruler of the world, wealthy beyond compare, so she pays a bit less attention. It's the Countess who has spent half a year living and eating with her, their bond deepens over time. Moreover, the Countess treats the Princess wholeheartedly, and the Princess naturally reciprocates."

"These days, rumors are flying outside that your health is failing and you can't attend to these small matters. The princess couldn't help but misunderstand."

The Emperor's face had improved somewhat, but he didn't say anything more.

After finding an excuse to step down, Manager Yi stood behind a pillar and quietly let out a sigh...

In the Xilong Pavilion, Fenggong carefully carried two bowls of ice cream.

This is the result of countless attempts by the imperial kitchen's head chef, hoping that Your Lordship will enjoy it.

As a result, the third princess only took one bite and then threw down her spoon.

"How is the Imperial Culinary Department like this! This ice cream is so unpalatable, they dare to serve it What a waste of these ingredients, not even half as flavorful as what's made in the White Cloud Pavilion."

Mr. Feng was so scared that he immediately knelt down.

The Crown Prince waved his hand and ordered, “Carry on. Prepare two glasses of refreshing juice. Remember to put less ice in the princess’s glass, girls shouldn't be too cold!”

Hearing her brother's attentiveness, the Third Princess couldn't bring herself to be angry anymore. She frowned and said, "Crown Prince, it's not that I'm angry with you, it's..."

The prince nodded and smiled, "Of course I know, you don't need to say more. The ice cream from Baiyun is still the best, the fruit is sweet and tender, the texture is delicate, the imperial kitchen just can't compare. I even found a few bites last time, too unpalatable."

The third princess found an ally, and her complexion improved.

Soon, the imperial kitchen, fearing punishment, sent over some juice.

The siblings shooed away the attendant, huddled by the window, sipping juice while gazing at the small lake outside.

The third princess, remembering the rumors swirling outside, gnawed on the ice with a crunching sound.

"Big Brother, how could Father think like that Why rain down punishments on Jia Yin just for praying for rain! It's infuriating!"

"What kind of rain prayer is this This is clearly sorcery! I'm going to find my father, he's still pretending to be ill."

The Crown Prince let out a soft sigh and said in a low voice, "Sister, Father's health has not been good lately. I'm afraid he doesn't have the energy to explain things to you."

"Besides, it's my and the Ministry of Rites who are in charge of rain prayers. We truly have no intention of making sacrifices. These are just idle rumors spread by ignorant commoners!"

"Really" The Third Princess was so happy she almost jumped three feet high, tugging at the prince's sleeve to confirm.

"Are you truly not offering sacrifices Are you truly not going to harm Jiayin"

"Of course!" The prince chuckled, "Princess not only gets along well with you, I also grew up in Suijin Beach, practically a native. How could I possibly watch the Princess be sacrificed"

"Somebody suggested it, so I have to stop them!"

"Yes, yes!" The third princess nodded vigorously, finally breaking into a smile.

"Big Brother, having you here is so wonderful! I couldn't sleep last night because I was worrying. I didn't dare to look for Jiayin, afraid she might cry."

"Luckily, you're here! I'll be at the Earl's Mansion in a bit. Tell Jiayin, so she won't be scared."

The crown prince, recalling Jia Yin's perceptive nature, smiled without saying a word.

Such a woman, besides her family being harmed, probably wouldn't change her expression even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of her!

As the siblings were chatting, a little fox chirped and hopped onto the table.

The prince hugged it tightly, smiling and teasing it.

"Where did you run off to play again, and when will you be back"

The little fox had been lying under the table for a long time, but it couldn't speak. It could only proudly lift its chin and sweep its bushy tail across the fruit bowl on the table.

The third princess hurriedly snatched it and put it on her lap, vying to be fed.

For a time, the little fox was served attentively by the two proud sons of heaven, feeling utterly comfortable.

A gentle breeze blows in from outside, carrying the dampness of the lake. The atmosphere is excellent.

Perhaps the third princess had calmed her anxiety and regained some composure.

She whispered to the Crown Prince, "Brother Crown Prince, have Father and Marquis fallen out Is there truly no way to mend things"

The Crown Prince didn't respond, and he didn't know how to respond.

After a long silence, he finally asked, “What have you noticed”

The third princess sighed, “Before the northern campaign, father had always granted Marquis whatever he asked and cared for him in everything. Now, father wishes Marquis would die in battle.”

"If Jia Yin, if the Marquis was in Kyoto, if the Marquis had not fallen out with our father, how could Father have allowed Jia Yin to be caught up in rumors I am not clever, but I also know that something has changed."

She ran her hands over the sleek fur of a few fox pups, then said, "I don't care what Father plans, or what happens in court. All I know is that after Jia Yin entered the palace, she and I would team up against that old hag Empress Dowager, eat together, sleep together. If I made a mistake, she would scold me. If I did something right, she would praise me."

She is younger than me, but I have learned a lot from her, she is sincere to me!

"So, whoever wants to bully her, I disagree! Even the Emperor can't!"

Today's update is here ~~well-developed waterways. Boat fleets frequently travel to and from the docks outside the city.Even Li's fleet had to use the back door several times because of overcrowding at the docks and landed fr...