The princess regretted it.

Chapter 352 Mingyue Returns Safely

In Concubine Cen's palace, Concubine Cen had just finished listening to the report from the eunuch of the Shangyi Bureau and was sitting on a chair with her eyes closed to rest, rubbing her forehead.

When Jin'an left with Mingyue, Concubine Cen heard the noise and lifted her eyelids to look over. Seeing that it was Jin'an, she quickly stood up to greet him. "Why is the princess here?"

Jin An smiled and said, "I'm here to send someone off for the Empress."

"?" When Concubine Cen was in a daze, Mingyue took two quick steps forward from behind Jin'an and knelt down in front of Concubine Cen with a plop, tears streaming down her face: "Your Majesty!"

Concubine Cen was startled by the sudden movement. The familiar face and voice made her eyes well up with tears. She quickly stepped forward and took Mingyue's hand, her voice choked with sobs: "Mingyue...you are finally back..."

Mingyue burst into tears and sobbed: "My Lady... I am sorry for making you worry..."

While crying, Concubine Cen hurriedly helped Mingyue up, her voice gentle but with a hint of reproach: "It's good that you're back... It's good that you're back..."

Mingyue stood up and said in a choked voice, "Today, I have received great kindness from the princess, otherwise I would not be able to return to her side."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Cen quickly turned around and saluted Jin An, her tone filled with gratitude: "Thank you so much for your help, Princess. I have no way of repaying your kindness. If you need me in the future, please let me know."

Jin An quickly reached out to support Concubine Cen's arm. She coughed softly and said in a gentle tone, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. This is all thanks to the Emperor's grace. It was just a small favor for me. Mingyue has returned, so you don't have to worry too much. But you should know that everything is due to the Emperor's great grace."

She paused, her tone carrying a hint of meaning. "The annual banquet is approaching, and the palace is busy with affairs. This is your first time handling such a major event, and your father is very worried about your health. I am thinking, if you don't mind, I would like to join you in the preparations and share your worries."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Cen's eyes flashed with surprise, then a look of gratitude appeared: "Princess, you are willing to help me. I am deeply grateful! The New Year's banquet is indeed a big event. This is my first time organizing it, and I am really nervous. If you can help me, I will feel much more at ease."

Jin An smiled slightly, and said in a gentle tone: "Your Majesty, you are too polite. The annual banquet is a major event in the palace. As a princess, it is natural for me to contribute. However..."

She shifted her gaze slightly, her tone carrying a subtle reminder: "During the annual banquet, there are many people in the palace and many things going on. It is inevitable that some people with ill intentions will take advantage of the opportunity to cause trouble. The concubines of each palace need to be more vigilant and not let those with ulterior motives take advantage of the situation."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Cen's expression froze, and she nodded quickly, "Princess, you are absolutely right. I will be extra careful and will not let anyone take advantage of me."

Jin An nodded with satisfaction, his tone relaxed: "That's good. If your Majesty needs anything, just send someone to find me, and I will do my best to help."

Concubine Cen shook Jin'an's hand gratefully, saying sincerely, "Thank you, Princess! With your help, I feel much more at ease."

Jin An smiled slightly and gently patted the back of Concubine Cen's hand: "Your Majesty, you are welcome. It is getting late, and I will not disturb your rest. I will take my leave first."

Concubine Cen quickly bowed and said, "Farewell, Princess."

Jin An turned and left. As she walked out of the palace gate, a hint of deep meaning flashed in her eyes and the corners of her mouth rose slightly.

----

When the news of Mingyue's safe return reached Jiaoyu Palace, Jiaoyu was sitting in front of the window of the bedroom, holding an exquisite jade hairpin in her hand, but her eyes were looking through the window lattice, far away outside the palace wall.

When she heard that her father had imprisoned Mingyue, she had some faith in herself. She also thought that she could not only completely deal with Mingyue, but also implicate Concubine Cen. However, she did not expect that the matter would end so lightly.

"Father...what is he planning?" Jiaoyu murmured softly, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the patterns on the jade hairpin, feeling vaguely uneasy in her heart.

Xiangcao came in with a cup of tea. Seeing Jiaoyu's serious expression, she said softly, "Princess, you've been sitting here all morning. Have some tea."

Jiaoyu came to her senses and took the teacup, but didn't drink it. She just held it in her hand, her eyes still wandering. She suddenly looked up and looked at Xiangcao, her eyes dark and unclear, and her tone was a little tentative: "Xiangcao, how is my mother?"

Vanilla's hand trembled, and the teacup made a slight clinking sound. She suddenly raised her eyes to look at Jiaoyu, her eyes a little panicked, "Princess..."

"Hehe, what are you afraid of? I know that my mother placed you by my side. You have a way to contact your grandfather and others, right?" She took the teacup with her delicate jade hand and put it aside, saying softly.

"Princess, I didn't mean to hide it, but Her Majesty doesn't want you to get too involved in matters like this." Vanilla knelt down and said hurriedly.

"I'm not going to hold you responsible, just get up. You're the only one by my side now, and there are some things I can't talk to anyone, so I hope you can trust me." Jiaoyu said self-deprecatingly.

Vanilla slowly stood up after hearing this, "Princess, what do you want to know?"

"Will you listen to your mother or your maternal grandparents?" Jiaoyu asked Xiangcao while staring at her.

"I will naturally obey your Majesty. I am just helping you and the Minister to pass on some information." Xiangcao replied respectfully with her head lowered.

"Really?" Jiaoyu was a little skeptical, but she had no one around her to turn to, and no one could help her. Her brother already had a grudge against her maternal family, so she couldn't let him know about this.

"So what do you think... Father let Mingyue go just like that. Does that mean he already knows something?" Jiaoyu asked Xiangcao softly.

Xiangcao was slightly startled, then lowered her head, her voice so soft that it was almost inaudible: "Princess, I dare not speak rashly. It's just... I think His Majesty may not just be targeting you. I heard that what has happened recently has had a great impact on the Grand Tutor's Mansion."

"Oh?" Jiaoyu frowned. Vanilla's words reminded her of something, but it was vague. The uneasiness in her heart grew stronger. She stood up and paced back and forth in the hall, her mind racing.

Father didn't punish her immediately, and he didn't even say anything about Mingyue's return. This was definitely not his style. Given his temperament, if he knew of her involvement in the arson, he wouldn't let her off so easily. Unless... he had other plans.

"My mother was banished to the cold palace, and my brother was adopted by Concubine Cen. Father is trying to gradually eliminate the Zhang family's support in the palace..." Jiaoyu muttered to herself, then suddenly stopped. A flash of understanding flashed in her eyes. "Could it be... that Father is actually going to take action against my maternal family?"

Once this thought surfaced, it grew wildly in her mind like weeds. She recalled the events of the past few days, ever since Lin Qian's incident was exposed. Everything seemed to be aimed at the Zhang family. Furthermore, the last time she asked her grandfather to send a capable person to the palace to help her, she still hadn't seen one. At the time, she didn't think much of it, simply assuming that her grandfather and his family hadn't chosen the right person. Now, thinking about it, she realized that her father had long been wary of the Grand Tutor's Mansion, and perhaps even knew about the secret of her grandfather's family.