Chapter 1203: The Princess Consort Whose Memories Were Altered (78)

Whenever Yun Mujun inspected the imperial treasury, he would grin from ear to ear. Although his salary had already been docked more than thirty years into the future, he was still exceedingly happy.

"Her Majesty the Empress is truly a good person. Knowing that I have no salary, that I'm poor, and can barely keep myself fed and clothed, she actually ordered people to send me rice every month, along with clothes and shoes. I even receive fresh vegetables every day."

Closing a ledger, Yun Mujun smiled contentedly. "His Majesty is wise indeed. To have married such an excellent woman as Empress—Heaven truly blesses Northern Yan."

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and ten years had gone by since the last Grand Exchange Banquet.

The gathering was held once every decade.

This year, it was Northern Yan's turn to host.

As early as a month ago, delegates from every nation had already begun their journey to Northern Yan.

The representative from Southern Shu was Shangguan Jing. In truth, he had simply been driven nearly mad by Tang Jiao. Looking at that face, he couldn't bring himself to scold her, so when the opportunity of the Grand Exchange Banquet arose, he immediately requested permission to attend.

He had completely forgotten that this was the time when Tang Jiao's memories should "awaken."

Not long after Shangguan Jing departed, her memories indeed "returned," and like a madwoman, she stormed into the palace.

Shangguan Yi recognized her and couldn't bear to blame her. Yet when Tang Jiao threw herself into his arms with tears in her eyes, he no longer felt that overwhelming joy of recovering something once lost.

"Your Majesty, I finally remember everything."

"Your Majesty, will you bring your concubine back to the palace? I still wish to live in Jiaoling Palace."

Shangguan Yi had been considering how to arrange Tang Jiao's future, but the moment he heard the words "Jiaoling Palace," memories surged through his mind, and without even thinking, he refused.

"You can't live there."

"Why not?"

"In any case, you can't."

"Then where am I supposed to stay?"

By now, Shangguan Yi no longer wished to bring Tang Jiao back into the palace. He said, "You are now Prince Jing's consort. The entire world knows this. I cannot bring you into the palace."

As for the real reason, only he himself knew.

In the end, Tang Jiao left in tears.

Still worried about her, Shangguan Yi sent people to follow after her, his heart filled with helplessness.

Had he known things would come to this, he would certainly have treated her well.

Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in this world. Some people only realize how precious someone was after they've already lost her.

The Grand Exchange Banquet officially began. Envoys and rulers from every nation entered one after another.

Then the Emperor and Empress of Northern Yan appeared hand in hand.

The moment they saw Tang Guo's incomparably beautiful face, those envoys who had witnessed the gift of beauties ten years ago all felt a sense of familiarity.

They had never forgotten that face.

Among them, the most shocked was Shangguan Jing.

Had he not exercised every ounce of restraint, he might have leapt to his feet and cried out on the spot.

Another person equally stunned was the ruler of Chen.

Compared to ten years ago, he had become even more greasy and bloated. While he was marveling at Tang Guo's beauty, he suddenly felt Beitang Huo's icy gaze sweep over him, causing him to hurriedly avert his eyes.

He cursed inwardly.

Damn it! So that Northern Yan envoy who had dragged him out drinking all those years ago was actually the Emperor of Northern Yan.

He wasn't stupid. In an instant, he pieced together what had happened back then.

No wonder a dignified envoy from Northern Yan had gone out of his way to cozy up to him. So the man had set his sights on that beauty from the very beginning.

Even those bandits had probably been arranged by him, hadn't they?

Otherwise, how could there have been such a coincidence?

But so what if he knew the truth now?

He couldn't afford to provoke Northern Yan. He couldn't defeat them in the past, and now he stood even less of a chance.

All he could do was sit obediently and drink his wine.

Glancing at Shangguan Jing seated not far away, he smiled faintly. Some things were understood without being spoken aloud.

There was no need to say them out loud.