CHAPTER 370: CHAPTER 300 LITTLE FOX KILLS ME ONCE (EXTRA 2 IN 1 COMBINED)

Prince Mansion.

The matter of the Prince of Annan retreating his troops was urgently delivered to Prince Jing by the mansion’s tribute. The Prince, a significant figure in the capital of Great Yu, did not feel the relief his Princess had expected after reading it.

"Why does the Prince look so worried?" the Princess asked with concern, "Isn’t it good that the Prince of Annan has left?"

After the fall of the Lin Party, the Ding’an Party was supposed to gain greater influence within the court. However, due to the looming external threats, it has only progressed cautiously, unable to take further steps.

Prince Jing held the urgent dispatch in his hand, paced for a while, then sighed and said, "It seems to be a good thing, but as long as the Prince of Annan was still here, his presence was like a sword hanging above the court. No matter how much the An clan abused their power, they dared not cross boundaries. But now that he’s gone, the An clan has no more restraints. Even those of us loyal to the nation’s interests will inevitably find ourselves cornered with no way out."

Upon hearing this, the Princess did not respond with platitudes about thinking positively but instead smiled and said:

"Whatever happens will be after the New Year. The New Year is approaching, so rather than worrying about others, it’s better to first take care of our own affairs and sweep the snow off our doorstep."

The Princess’s words were not unreasonable. Prince Jing turned his head, set the urgent dispatch aside for the time being, and noticed the graceful, serene demeanor of his wife. He let out a faint laugh. The Princess handed him a cup of tea, which he received with both hands. As he glanced at her, he inadvertently noticed a new wrinkle on her face.

"You said I’m worried, but what are you worried about?" Prince Jing raised his hand slightly and lightly touched the wrinkle.

"I’m not worried; I’m just aging," the Princess replied.

Prince Jing suddenly fell silent, his heart a mix of emotions, as though caught between laughter and tears:

"This wrinkle... another one has appeared."

The Princess smiled warmly and said gently, "I’m not worried. The Prince Mansion lacks nothing, and the children live in luxury. If one still worries, that would be truly ungrateful."

Prince Jing nodded. The saying goes, ’If one cannot sweep a single house clean, how can they sweep the world?’ And as for the state of the household, he knew it only too well. Though the Prince Mansion was not as extravagantly wealthy as the Mansion of Prince Xiang, it remained the residence of Prince Yizi. The nine thousand silver taels allocated annually by the Office of Clan Affairs were just a fraction of its wealth. The mansion owned multiple estates and had businesses registered under others’ names. Since the downfall of the Xiang Mansion, the wealth of the Prince Mansion had become one of the grandest in the capital.

For decades, the Prince Mansion had never faced financial difficulties. This fact was not to be underestimated, as nearly half of the prestigious households in the capital often operated at a deficit year after year, yet still managed to live well.

A single penny can trip a hero. If the Prince Mansion lacked this considerable income, it certainly wouldn’t be able to sustain the Ding’an Party, let alone so many experts and tributes.

Footsteps could be heard from behind the screen.

"Come in."

Prince Jing spoke in a different tone.

A figure dressed in fire-patterned azure robes entered gracefully, Yin Weiyin stepping lightly with a Yanyue Crown atop her head, cloud-patterned boots skimming the floor. The Peach Wood Sword hung from her waist, with golden threads fluttering like drifting clouds.

Seeing it was his eldest daughter, Prince Jing’s tone softened as he said:

"Weiyin, why have you come?"

Yin Weiyin tightened her lips slightly and spoke softly:

"To pay my respects to you both."

With that, the female crown clasped her hands and bowed slightly at the waist.

The Princess smiled upon seeing this and said:

"You’ve been in seclusion far less frequently these days and have even taken the initiative to come pay respects. Could it be that you’ve made some progress again?"

At these words, Yin Weiyin faintly curled her lips and replied briskly:

"Mother Princess, I’ve been visiting various Daoist Temples lately, engaging in discussions with fellow Daoists. Many times, my heart has almost grasped something but ultimately remained uncertain. Yesterday, I suddenly saw the skies darken and the great sun dim. I finally managed to gain some insight."

As she spoke, she feigned a hint of pride.

Seeing their child paying respects outwardly while hiding a bit of arrogance, the Princess chuckled, while Prince Jing’s furrowed brows also loosened slightly.

Watching this scene, the female crown slowly let out a breath in her heart.

Normally, regardless of any progress or insights she achieved, as long as it wasn’t a breakthrough, she wouldn’t have come to pay respects this way.

But the problem was...

She had regressed in her cultivation.

She had been drained by an unfathomable force, resulting in a downfall...

Her realm had drastically plummeted. Naturally, she had to take the initiative to pay respects and dispel her parents’ doubts. Otherwise, if one day they felt inclined to inquire about her cultivation level, how could she respond?

Would she have to answer that their daughter’s spiritual practice had turned her into a vessel, and worse, into the vessel of an enemy of the Prince Mansion?

The mere thought of it made Yin Weiyin shudder.

On the surface, however, the female crown remained calm and composed, her bright eyes radiant, her spirit lively.

Footsteps echoed from outside the door.

Yin Weiyin turned her head and saw a servant entering, clearly here to report news after seeking permission.

Prince Jing spoke directly, "What is it? Speak."

"Reporting to the Prince, the roster for the poetry gathering has been drafted. Would Your Highness like to take a look?" the servant replied.

"Of course, let’s take a look. Show it to the Princess first," Prince Jing waved his hand.

The servant handed the roster to the Princess.

As the New Year approached, interactions among scholars and literary circles were flourishing, with poetry gatherings and banquets most frequent. The Prince Mansion was not exempt from this tradition and hosted a poetry gathering every year. However, since Yin Weiyin began her spiritual practice, she no longer participated.

Seeing her mother reviewing the roster intently, Yin Weiyin felt indifferent. Although she was skilled at composing verses, her focus was predominantly on green words and spiritual verses, which were too esoteric for poetry gatherings. Thus, she had little interest in such events.

With her parents preoccupied with the roster, the Prince’s daughter thought to herself that she had managed to get past this moment. She was just about to raise her hand to bid farewell.

The Princess, while reading the roster, seemed to think of something. She glanced at her eldest daughter, then at Prince Jing, and said: