Xunyang Hou’s eyes widened in disbelief. Had his wife truly become a sacrifice in the struggle between the Emperor and the Regent?
He and his wife had been married for twenty years. While their love might not have the fiery intensity of their youth, they had come this far through mutual reliance and companionship. If his wife had been killed by the Princess Consort for some offense or other reason, he could have suppressed his indignation and distanced himself from the Regent’s mansion. But now, if his wife had become a victim of their struggle, then he, then he…
The grief in his heart was far less potent than his rage. At least in the former scenario, his wife would have died a worthy death. But now…
Xunyang Hou looked at Zou Yun’er with bloodshot eyes. Even though he understood in his heart that the mastermind behind this was likely the Emperor, he dared not think or ask.
Zou Yun’er flinched at the sight of Xunyang Hou’s blood-engorged eyes. She instinctively retreated behind Ji Hong, feeling as if everyone’s gaze had coated her with a sticky liquid, causing an abhorrence and fear to spread from within her heart.
“This consort asks you, did you truly see… within this dry well…”
“Enough!”
Ji Hong’s voice cut off Nan Shiying’s question. He instantly drew the blade from a guard’s waist and severed the palace maid’s head.
The head flew, spraying blood. Nan Shiying, closest to the incident, was drenched in the hot blood.
Bad luck!
Nan Shiying felt that the entire day had been incredibly unlucky.
“Your Majesty!”
Xunyang Hou’s grief was unbearable, but in the end, he could only call out “Your Majesty.”
The court officials and their families had never witnessed such a scene. The moment the palace maid’s head flew off, the more timid family members let out screams and fainted. Even those who were braver now lowered their heads, trembling and daring not to look again.
“Your Majesty, next time you intend to silence someone, remember to inform me beforehand. Look at my clothes; they’re completely soaked in blood.”
The dismissive voice, amidst the many screams, sounded out of place. Ji Hong’s face was so dark it seemed about to drip. If not for the thread of reason holding his hand in check, he would have undoubtedly swung the long saber in his hand and severed Nan Shiying’s head.
Nan Shiying paid no heed to Ji Hong’s murderous glare. She lightly patted Xunyang Hou’s shoulder, comforting him, “It is this consort’s incompetence that she could not seek justice for your wife. Xunyang Hou, please bear with your grief!”
“Nan, Shi, Ying!”
Ji Hong’s patience had reached its limit.
Nan Shiying instantly changed her tune, “Xunyang Hou, there is no need to be like this. You are so grief-stricken now, it would be better to ask His Majesty to quickly send someone to search for your wife. Perhaps your wife merely got lost in the palace?”
As she finished speaking, Nan Shiying curtsied to Ji Hong and took her leave, “This banquet today likely cannot proceed. This humble subject has not brought any spare clothes, and dressed in this blood, it is not fitting to spoil everyone’s enjoyment. I shall take my leave first!”
After speaking, without waiting for Ji Hong’s agreement, she gracefully walked towards the main hall with Lu Wan.
Ji Hong watched Nan Shiying’s retreating figure and suddenly threw the long saber he held onto the ground. His imposing eyes flashed with a chilling cold light, and wherever his gaze fell, everyone lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.
“Guards, go search for Xunyang Hou’s wife.”
He commanded the guards, then addressed the crowd, “Return to the main hall!”
At least until Xunyang Hou’s wife was found or her body discovered, this banquet could not end.
Everyone responded in agreement.
Eunuchs and palace maids carried the fainted court officials and their families to the Imperial Hospital. Now, the entire hall was sparsely populated, silent as cicadas in winter.
After an unknown amount of time, a guard came to report.
“Your Majesty, this subordinate found… found the body of Xunyang Hou’s wife in the Yeyou Pavilion!”
Upon hearing the word ‘body,’ Xunyang Hou’s legs went weak, and he immediately knelt to the ground. Ji Hong turned and cast a fierce glance at Zou Yun’er. Zou Yun’er parted her mouth, looking very wronged; now she had no words to defend herself.
But she hadn’t done this!
“Alas, I did not expect Xunyang Mansion’s madame to have truly met with misfortune. It is I who am lacking, to not realize that such a presumptuous and cruel palace maid exists within my palace.”
“Is anything missing from Xunyang Hou’s wife’s person?” Ji Hong asked the guard.
The guard blinked slightly, then replied, “Replying to Your Majesty, all the jewelry on the madame is gone.”
“Scoundrel! Beheading her with one blow was too good for her!” Ji Hong cursed angrily, but the implication in his words was clearly to pin Xunyang Hou’s wife’s death on the palace maid whose head he had just chopped off.
Xunyang Hou moved his lips, but in the end, could only place his hands on his forehead and kowtow, “I implore Your Majesty to take care of your dragon body.”
He accepted the matter as settled.
Witnessing this, everyone felt a sense of desolation, like a fox killed when the hounds no longer need it. Now that the court officials and their families were caught in the struggle between the Emperor and the Regent, how had the Lin Yuan imperial family become like this?
Was this still the imperial family they had risked their lives to protect?
But no matter what, this matter had come to a close. As for who killed Xunyang Hou’s wife, it was no longer important. The killer was royal power, it was the struggle.
This banquet for the alliance of the two countries thus ended inconclusively. With Xunyang Hou’s wife dead, Zhang Silang naturally could no longer be the candidate for the alliance. The candidate would have to be chosen anew.