"Princess, is that the Living Yama?" Bao Lan whispered into the princess's ear, "He's not as terrifying as the storybooks say!"
She had imagined the Regent of Lin Yuan Kingdom to be a monstrous demon with a face like a Rakshasa and six arms. But looking at him now, he was quite handsome.
Where was the terror?
The princess glanced at Ji Jinmo and smiled, "His terror isn't in his appearance."
Ji Jinmo's terror lay in his cruelty and bloodlust, not his face. If you were to ask the children of Da Li who the most frightening person was, it would undoubtedly be Ji Jinmo. The people of Da Li would often use Ji Jinmo to scare their children. For example, when a child was disobedient, they would say: "If you don't listen, the Living Yama of Lin Yuan will swallow you whole!"
When the royal army of Da Li was massacred by him, it was perhaps because his appearance led them to underestimate him, resulting in a great loss.
The Regent of Lin Yuan was a presence more feared by Da Li than anyone in the Lin Yuan Imperial City. If Lin Yuan had no Regent, then she would not have been treated as a mere object, to be compensated to Lin Yuan by Da Li.
Nan Shiying sensed a gaze upon her. She turned her head, saw the Princess of Da Li, and smiled, raising her wine cup and toasting her across the space.
The attire of Da Li bore some resemblance to that of Hu Fu Kingdom, one of the tributary states of Da Yuan Kingdom.
Veils, silk scarves.
Unlike the garments of Lin Yuan, which covered the body completely, theirs revealed large expanses of skin. In the eyes of the people of Lin Yuan, this was a sign of lewdness. But Nan Shiying felt that such clothing was at least breathable and cool in the summer.
Although the Princess of Da Li had come for a marriage alliance, she still wore Da Li's clothing before marrying into Lin Yuan, which had earned her the scorn and mockery of many noblewomen of Lin Yuan. However, the Princess of Da Li did not see mockery or disdain in the eyes of the Regent of Lin Yuan's consort. Instead, there was a hint of friendliness in her gaze.
This genuinely surprised the Princess of Da Li.
"Princess, the consort is truly a good person."
Bao Lan again leaned into her ear, excitedly saying, "The consort doesn't find us strange at all. Look at everyone else's eyes, as if we weren't wearing any clothes."
Bao Lan couldn't help but roll her eyes. The people of Lin Yuan thought their revealing attire was lewd, while they thought people of Lin Yuan who wore so much were foolish.
The princess tapped her forehead but did not agree.
She had heard the rumors about this consort. Whether the rumors were true or not, she was certainly not someone who could be simply described as good or bad.
After toasting the princess with a cup of wine across the space, Nan Shiying quietly nudged Ji Jinmo's arm and couldn't help but tease, "My lord, the princess is stealing glances at you!"
Ji Jinmo glanced at her lightly, picked up a pastry, and put it into her mouth, quietly scolding, "Be quiet!"
In the great hall filled with music and dancing, Ji Jinmo's scolding was heard only by Nan Shiying. To others, they merely saw the intimate scene of Ji Jinmo feeding Nan Shiying pastries.
This scene almost made everyone present drop their jaws in astonishment.
What was this? They had seen the Regent, the cold and bloodthirsty Living Yama, feed pastries to his consort in front of everyone?
Weren't they saying the consort was not favored? Weren't they saying the consort was punished by the Regent as soon as she entered the mansion? Weren't they saying the Prince reluctantly accepted this consort?
Then how could the Prince behave so intimately with the consort?
In all these years, they had never seen the Regent treat anyone like this, not even the former side consort Qin Yurou.
With her mouth stuffed with pastries, Nan Shiying couldn't help but glare, but the melting pastry carried a scent of osmanthus, not too sweet, not too greasy, refreshing and perfect for her palate. She took another pastry from Ji Jinmo's plate and put it in her mouth.
Ji Jinmo picked up the pastry plate and placed it in front of Nan Shiying.
Everyone gasped again.
The air in the hall was almost completely sucked out.
"Princess, look~"
Bao Lan had been watching this side. Now, seeing how attentive the Regent was to his consort, her eyes widened in surprise.
In their Da Li, if men were too attentive to their wives, they would be labeled as weak, so Da Li men rarely acted like this.
But was Ji Jinmo weak?
He was incredibly fierce!
The Princess of Da Li paused slightly, then turned to look at the officials of Da Li. Seeing them whispering amongst themselves, she couldn't help but smile.
These people had thought about making things difficult for the Regent's consort earlier. Now, seeing the Regent's attitude towards the consort, they were afraid.
Who would dare to provoke the person dearest to Ji Jinmo's heart?
It was likely that the consequences would be even more tragic than provoking Ji Jinmo himself!
Ji Hong, holding his wine cup, gazed at Ji Jinmo and Nan Shiying with deep contemplation. His mother's words suddenly came to mind.
He immediately had a plan.
Perhaps this Nan Shiying was not Nan Chaoyin's daughter after all!
Nan Chaoyin also wore a look of surprise. No matter how outstanding Qing Yuan was, she wouldn't have gained Ji Jinmo's favor in such a short time.
If this man were so easily won over, then the Regent's mansion would have been riddled with holes by now!
As for Qin Qiancheng, he simply drank his wine, watching the scene unfold.
Qin Yushan clenched her fists by her side. Seeing Ji Jinmo's meticulous care for Nan Shiying, she was almost mad with jealousy.
Yes, she was fond of Ji Jinmo.
From the first time she saw Ji Jinmo, she had liked him.
But Ji Jinmo married her sister, so she had no choice but to hide this affection in her heart. Yet, at this moment, the emotions suppressed for years suddenly surged forth. Why should this favor, which rightfully belonged to her sister, be snatched away by this Nan Shiying?
If it were her sister, she could endure it, she could tolerate it, but someone else, no!
Nan Yuan'er tilted her head slightly, watching the surging flames in Qin Yushan's eyes. She raised her wine cup and took a sip, hiding the smile that grew increasingly wider at the corners of her mouth.
The Princess of Da Li observed everyone's reactions, a sneer flashing in her eyes.
As the wine flowed, the singing and dancing girls retreated. The envoy from Da Li suddenly stood up, bowed to Ji Hong, and said, "Your Majesty, today we escort the Princess to Lin Yuan to forge a marriage and foster good relations between our two countries. I venture to ask, has Lin Yuan chosen a candidate for marriage with our Princess? If not, would Your Majesty be willing to hear Da Li's proposal?"
Ji Hong put down his wine cup, looked at him with interest, and laughed heartily, "Oh? What thoughts does Da Li have? Speak freely."
The envoy from Da Li said, "Your Majesty, our Princess is endowed with both beauty and talent, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I hear that Your Majesty has not yet established an Empress. I..."
"Heh~"
"The envoy of Da Li has quite the ambition!"
Consort Zou Yun'er put down her wine cup and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.