General Dingbei’s heart leaped with joy, regaining some of his composure. “I am a military marquis, and defending my country is always my duty. It doesn't matter who it is, even my parents, I would...But thinking about the long, sleepless nights her husband had endured, the hardships he had suffered, she felt a pang of sympathy for him.

There's no such thing as genius, it's all about staying calm in front of people and working tirelessly behind the scenes.

All harvests are the results watered by sweat and tears!

Thank goodness, thank goodness, it was all worth it!

That night, almost everyone in the family was drunk.

It's a bit of a pity that Grandma and the others weren't here, this joy is still missing something.

Meanwhile, in the inner court of the palace, the third princess, who was about to retire for the night, hurriedly received his Majesty.

You have to know, since she moved here, her father has never stepped foot inside. This is the first time.

She was overjoyed and quickly prepared tea and snacks.

The emperor sat down, glanced at the decorations in the room, and nodded lightly.

The entire house was decorated with a luxurious and grand air, showcasing the royal wealth and splendor. But occasionally placed vases or some elegant trinkets added a touch of girlhood's vivacity and beauty.

"Songzhi, you've tidied up your room nicely. Last time, weren't you interested in that jade bonsai I'll have Yi, the steward, find one for you tomorrow!"

"Thank you, Father!" Princess Three was so happy that her eyes curved into smiles, which also made the Emperor feel much better.

He pulled his daughter to sit across from him and carefully inquired about her daily life, food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.

The Third Princess was overwhelmed with surprise and answered everything in detail.

She has lived with Jia Yin for so long, she has been influenced by her a lot, and she can't help but talk about Jia Yin in every sentence.

The Emperor nodded repeatedly, finally sighing, “Having Fu Niao enter the palace, I truly haven’t made a mistake. Having a playmate like you has brightened your spirits and made you much more sensible.”

The third princess's nose soured, and she whispered, "Before it was the daughter who didn't know how to behave, making father worry so much."

The Emperor was very pleased and shook his head to comfort his daughter, “You are my daughter, as a father, there is no way I wouldn’t worry about my children. Luckily, you have a kind heart, it’s just that you haven’t been taught properly before.”

"Funiu'er comes from a humble background and has suffered a lot since she was young, so she is more intelligent and perceptive than ordinary children. If you spend more time with her, you will definitely learn a lot."

That girl is soft-hearted and won't respond to harshness. If you try to intimidate her with your status, she'll definitely be unhappy. But if you treat her kindly, she will definitely repay you tenfold.

Once she considers you one of her own, she will go all out to help and protect you if anything happens.

"You might not believe it, but sometimes even Father finds this girl hard to read..."

The Third Princess couldn't believe that her father actually held such a high regard for Jia Yin. She widened her eyes in surprise and retorted, "Father, Jia Yin is good. We have always been straightforward with each other, never hiding anything or scheming…"

The emperor smiled helplessly and waved his hand, bringing up another topic. “Did you see any promising scholars during the palace exam today You’re of marrying age now, it’s time to find a husband. If you see anyone you like, tell your father.”

The Third Princess, recalling a certain person's gentle smile, lowered her head, her neck and face quickly flushing red.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, stroked the edge of his yellow dragon robe, and asked with a smile, “Tell me, let your father hear, which scoundrel has captured the heart of his princess”

The Third Princess fidgeted for a while before finally saying two words.

"Father, when I went out of the palace with Jiayin before, I saw Prince Lu a time or two. Today at the palace exam, seeing him again, I felt... he's not bad."

Prince Lu

The emperor was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up. He asked, "Are you talking about Lu Zong"

The Third Princess blushed and nodded, "Father, it's Lu Zong, the eldest son of the Lu family. He gets along well with Jia Yin's older brother, as they both study at the academy. The Li family is meticulous and able to befriend them. My daughter thinks that Lord Lu's character should not be bad either."

The emperor lifted his teacup, took a sip, using it as a pretext to conceal the complexity in his expression.

Actually, Lu Zong was truly on the list of potential husbands-in-law, and he even ranked first.

Because Lu Zong was much older than his daughter, he was still trying to figure out how to persuade her.

But now that his daughter has truly taken a liking to Lu Zong, he finds himself hesitating.

Did the daughter meet Lu Zong through the Li family by chance, or was it arranged by the Li family

Can such a thing really happen

Princess Three had been accompanying Jiayin, sparring wits and courage with the Dowager Empress for so long that she was no longer the naive and reckless girl she once was.

She seemed not to notice the change in her father's face, and continued to pinch the handkerchief in her hand, saying, "My daughter knows that Father has been working tirelessly to reclaim Jiangbei and is also worried about the problems in the southwest border."

As a princess, she has been dressed in fine clothes and lived a life of luxury for over a decade. It's time for her to share the burden with her father and do her best for Tianwu.

"If our daughter marries Lu Shizi, and as the only son of his generation in the Lu family, he will ensure that our family has grandsons to carry on the Lu legacy. Twenty years from now, it will be our royal bloodline guarding the southwestern frontier. Then your father will no longer have to worry about this."

The Emperor did not expect his daughter to have such awareness, he was very surprised.

He also had this consideration, which is why he put Lu Zong at the top of the list.

"Songzhi, Father is pleased that you have such thoughts. As the princess of Tianwu, this is what you should be like. Father has not raised you for nothing!"

The Third Princess was overjoyed, her lips curved into a smile as she added, "Of course, Father. Prince Lu is handsome and dignified, and his smile is gentle too. Your daughter likes him very much. Being able to find a husband she likes who can also help father ease his worries makes your daughter very happy."

The Emperor patted his daughter's shoulder and nodded repeatedly.

But he didn't agree right away, only saying, "Father knows what you're thinking, but you're still young. Father wants to spend some more time with you, so this matter can wait."

The Third Princess seemed reluctant, but she shyly nodded her head.

After sitting for a while, the Emperor stood up and left.

The third princess saw her father's palanquin disappear in the distance and still refused to close the gate.

Cai Yun was unable to (do something), and stepped forward, speaking softly to the princess, "Princess, the night wind is cold. It's best you return early to rest."

Princess Three sighed, putting away the complexities in her expression and nodding lightly.

The Emperor loved her, but that paternal love... wasn't much.

Compared to mountains and rivers, compared to power, she had no chance of winning.

Although the Emperor seemed to believe her words of loyalty and dedication to the country, he still harbored doubts and might even investigate Lu Shizi and the Li family further.

She was already very careful, but still implicated Li's family.

She bit her lip. Happiness for the royal family was nothing short of a fantasy, but she couldn't help but always want to try...

Upon the roof of Ziran Palace's main hall, a black shadow suddenly rose at this moment, wriggling a few times before disappearing silently.

Jiayin held a cup of milk, sipping it while flipping through her private library catalog, planning to find something good to make as a gift for her brother.

Although she is a few years younger than the third princess, and there's a difference in height, it's perfectly normal.

But every time I walk beside the third princess, I always have to stoop. It's a really bad feeling.

So, she poured herself a cup of bedtime milk and hoped to have one more surge of energy.

Shuiling and Shuiyun sat on one side doing needlework. Shuiling was impatient and often got swatted on the hand by Shuiyun because of her rough work, making a grimace and sticking out her tongue.

Shuiling, exasperated, tossed the pouch in her hand and turned to her mistress. "Miss, why is the Emperor visiting Princess San at this late hour Don't you find it curious"

Making up for yesterday's missed update, the next chapter will be today's update. Hug you all and keep going!uis Xinting's favor, maybe he could get him to let us live here, right"Another one also agreed, "Yeah, I heard that this manor grows winter melons, even named by the emperor himself, and the Hot Sprin...