A few days later, in Qiwu Palace.
Liang An trotted into the room, barely able to hide his joy. "Your Majesty, Your Highness the Queen, Princess Chen'an and Young Master have arrived!"
Emperor Jiang Jing said in surprise, "Quickly, let them in!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, two figures, one big and one small, appeared at the door. They walked in slowly, holding hands.
Emperor Jiang Jing stood up excitedly, his hands trembling slightly.
"Your daughter pays respects to Father and Mother."
Shen Qing bowed down. Si Bao also knelt down beside her and said in a milky voice, "Si Bao pays respects to Grandfather and Grandmother."
"Good, good, good. Quickly get up."
Finally seeing his daughter after more than twenty years apart, Emperor Jiang Jing was almost in tears. "Niannian looks exactly like your mother when she was young."
"Si Bao also looks like you. She's clearly going to be a great beauty."
Everyone in the hall couldn't help wiping away their tears. It was so touching. His Majesty and Her Highness the Queen had finally reunited with the princess's family.
The queen waved to Shen Qing with a smile. "Niannian, come and sit beside Mother with Si Bao."
"Yes."
Shen Qing sat down below the queen. Si Bao climbed onto the couch directly and nestled in the queen's arms. She called out sweetly, "Grandmother."
"Hey!"
The queen always heard Shen Qing talk about Si Bao on the mountain but had never seen her. Now hearing Si Bao call her grandmother so sweetly, her heart melted.
"Si Bao, look at Grandfather. Grandfather has prepared something fun for you."
Hearing this, Si Bao looked over and saw Emperor Jiang Jing holding a well - crafted Luban Lock in his hand.
Si Bao's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Grandfather. Si Bao can play with this."
Now it was Emperor Jiang Jing's turn to be surprised. "Si Bao can play with this?"
"Yeah!" Si Bao nodded. "Daddy taught Si Bao."
As she said this, Si Bao took the Luban Lock, buried her head, and solved it in a short while.
It made Emperor Jiang Jing click his tongue in wonder.
The queen looked at Shen Qing. "Niannian, you brought Si Bao here. Did he have any objections? Did he make things difficult for you?"
That "he" naturally referred to Si Bao's father.
Just as Shen Qing was about to say something, she heard Emperor Jiang Jing snort.
"Niannian is Si Bao's mother. Taking Si Bao to see her grandfather and grandmother, what objections could he possibly have? How dare he make things difficult!"
Although Jing State had withdrawn its troops half a month ago, he still didn't like Ji Junye!
Leaving aside how Si Bao was born, his only daughter, the legitimate princess, should have been pampered and grown up. How could Ji Junye just marry and snatch her away as he pleased?
Seeing Emperor Jiang Jing's attitude, Shen Qing knew that it would take time to change his mind. She should slowly let her father see Ji Junye's good side. Otherwise, it would only backfire.
"Father is right. He didn't dare to make things difficult for me. Si Bao was also sent here by him voluntarily."
Only then did Emperor Jiang Jing's complexion look better. "That's more like it."
Emperor Jiang Jing told Liang An to take Si Bao out to play. "Niannian, now that you're back, I'll issue an imperial edict tomorrow to announce it to the world and restore your name. Your title will be Chen'an."
He had thought of this title for an entire night. "Chen" was a metaphor for the emperor. Only when she returned safely to him and the queen could he feel at ease.
"Yes, Father," Shen Qing said. "I heard that someone pretended to be me before?"
"It was Zhao Hua who did it," Emperor Jiang Jing sighed. He looked a bit more vicissitudinous. "Father trusted her wrongly before, which made you wander outside for so many years. She even tried to take your life several times, but Father couldn't avenge you personally... Niannian, don't blame Father."
A few days ago, news came from the Buddhist temple that Zhao Hua had escaped. He had been suppressing this news until now.
Shen Qing shook her head. "She took advantage of Father's trust in her to harm me. It's her fault. I don't blame you."
"That's good. Shen Miao, who pretended to be you, has some connections with Beirong. I've sent people to investigate her. Her biological mother is a half - sister of your mother. She ended up in Beirong for some reasons and accidentally gave birth to the bloodline of the former crown prince of Beirong. Beirong is trying to contact us to exchange her back."
Shen Qing understood. "Then Father should strive for more benefits for Jiang State."
"Of course."
"In a few days, let your mother hold a flower - viewing banquet. It's just right for the people in the capital to get to know you."
Shen Qing agreed. "I'll leave it all to Father and Mother's arrangements."
"I still have some political affairs to deal with. You two mother and daughter should have a good chat."
The queen said, "Your Majesty, go quickly."
After Emperor Jiang Jing left, the queen took Shen Qing's hand. "Your father is getting old, and his temper has gradually become like a child's. He just loves to compete with others. On the day of the flower - viewing banquet, you should also take a good look. Maybe there will be someone better."
Shen Qing was completely confused by the queen's words. "Better what?"
"Don't you know yet?"
Shen Qing didn't say a word, but her expression said it all.
The queen laughed. "This flower - viewing banquet was held by your father in my name. All the people invited are the sons of noble families and young talents."
Shen Qing: "..."
This wasn't a flower - viewing banquet at all. It was a chance for her to choose a husband.
"You don't have to have any psychological burden. It's just a meeting. With Mother here, he won't force you."
Shen Qing took a look at the invitation. It was sent out three days ago, which meant it was sent out before she entered the palace.
Shen Qing thought to herself that it was over. With A Ye's petty - minded nature, what if he knew? He'd be green with jealousy!
Forget it. Even if he knew, could he still rush into the palace of Jiang State?
Shen Qing couldn't help hugging the queen's waist. "With Mother here, I'm naturally at ease."
On the day of the flower - viewing banquet, Shen Qing attended in the magnificent dress prepared by the queen. Si Bao was also dressed up like a little flower girl. Shen Qing stood on the left side of the queen, and the queen held Si Bao's hand on the right side. The three of them were surrounded and walked towards the imperial garden.
The imperial garden was full of young talents of all kinds, each with their own charm.
Li Yue was dazzled and couldn't help whispering, "This servant thinks these young masters are all quite good."
"Indeed." Shen Qing nodded.
She was telling the truth. How could the candidates for her husband chosen by Emperor Jiang Jing be bad?
She had accidentally experienced the fun of a beauty pageant.
"Her Highness the Queen has arrived!"
"Princess Chen'an has arrived!"
The people who were originally chatting were stunned and looked towards the source of the sound. After seeing Shen Qing, they all showed a look of amazement. But after seeing Si Bao, this amazement faded a bit.
"Pay respects to Her Highness the Queen!"
"Greetings to Princess Chen'an!"
The queen walked through the crowd and sat down in the pavilion. "Rise. The autumn chrysanthemums in the palace are blooming beautifully this year. The autumn is high and the weather is refreshing. It's the best time to write poems for pleasure. Gentlemen, you should show your talents and let this palace have a look."
"Yes."
Shen Qing looked at the rows of men below and felt a numbness in her scalp.
She thought that her father and mother would at least be more discreet and invite some ladies and young ladies as well. Who would have thought that they were all men, and all of them were high - quality men.
The queen noticed Shen Qing's restraint and patted her hand. "A gentle and virtuous girl is a good match for a gentleman. In Jiang State, men will do their best to pursue the one they love. You don't have to care. Just do what you want."
After saying that, the queen took Si Bao to play beside them, leaving Shen Qing alone in the pavilion.