The weather grew increasingly cold after the winter solstice.
In the evening, Ji Jinmo had the small kitchen prepare a warming hot pot and brought it to Xinyuan Pavilion.
The steam rising from the boiling water blurred Ji Jinmo's face. In truth, Nan Shiying no longer cared much about their conversation that day. Yet, seeing him with his head bowed, his long lashes casting shadows on his eyelids, she couldn't help but wonder if their feelings for each other could have been purer had he been born in Da Yuan, or if he hadn't been the ambitious regent.
Through the mist, Ji Jinmo couldn't see her face clearly, making her seem like a mere illusion in his profound life. Ji Jinmo stood up, holding the bowl of dipping sauce, and sat beside Nan Shiying.
Nan Shiying turned her head to look at him.
Ji Jinmo picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and placed it in Nan Shiying's bowl. "It's cooked. Eat it while it's hot."
Nan Shiying looked at the meat, coated in sauce, in her bowl. Without a word, she merely smelled the aroma and placed the meat into her mouth.
The room was filled with the rich scent of cooking, enveloping Ji Jinmo and giving him a touch of the human warmth of those living among the common folk, rather than standing at the pinnacle of the clouds.
Neither of them spoke another word, finishing the meal in silence.
...
In recent days, Princess Huian of Da Li had been visiting the Regent's Manor quite frequently.
Naturally, people began to harbor suspicions. Ministers loyal to Ji Hong's faction worried that Da Li and Ji Jinmo had reached some kind of agreement, and their anxieties grew.
"Does Your Majesty have any candidates in mind for the marriage alliance?"
In the imperial study, Nan Chaoyin looked at Ji Hong, who sat steadily on the dragon throne. He found himself unable to fathom the emperor any longer. The news of the Da Li princess and the Regent's Manor's close association had been spreading like wildfire. It was impossible for Ji Hong not to have heard it, yet how could he remain so calm if he had?
The civil officials had made numerous trips to the Prime Minister's mansion regarding this matter, making Nan Chaoyin feel restless. Thus, he decided to seek an audience with the emperor.
Ji Hong rested his hand on the armrest, his eyes cast downwards as he looked at Nan Chaoyin. He remained silent.
The oppressive aura emanating from above caused Nan Chaoyin to frown. He didn't understand Ji Hong's intentions.
"Prime Minister!"
A sighing tone reached Nan Chaoyin's ears. He felt a chill creep up his spine from bottom to top. His nerves taut, he slowly raised his head, and Ji Hong's smiling, yet unreadable, face suddenly met his eyes.
Ji Hong's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head again.
"Your Majesty!"
He cried out, his knees buckling as he instantly knelt on the ground.
Ji Hong smiled. He rose from the dragon throne, walked around the imperial desk to Nan Chaoyin, and helped him up, his voice filled with reprimand, "What are you doing, Prime Minister? Get up quickly!"
Nan Chaoyin rose with his help but kept his head lowered, his gaze fixed on the white jade pendant hanging from Ji Hong's waist, which swayed gently with his movements.
"Prime Minister, don't you think it's not ideal for the Da Li princess to keep staying at the post station?" Ji Hong's voice, tinged with a sigh, reached Nan Chaoyin again. Nan Chaoyin was taken aback.
What did His Majesty mean by this?
Did he not want the Da Li princess to stay at the post station any longer? But if not the post station, then where else?
The imperial palace?
No, absolutely not!
If not the post station, and not the imperial palace, and His Majesty had not yet decided on a candidate for the marriage alliance, then what was His Majesty... Nan Chaoyin pondered the emperor's intentions and suddenly recalled the fundamental reason he had sought the audience: the Da Li princess's frequent visits to the Regent's Manor.
Could it be that His Majesty intended... Nan Chaoyin's entire body trembled. He looked up sharply, his voice laced with astonishment and bewilderment, "Your Majesty!"
Was he perhaps thinking of having the Da Li princess move into the Regent's Manor?
This, this was utterly unacceptable!
"The Prime Minister also feels that it is not ideal for the Da Li princess to reside at the post station for an extended period?" Ji Hong spoke his mind without paying attention to Nan Chaoyin's tone.
Nan Chaoyin's expression grew slightly somber. He understood the implied meaning behind Ji Hong's words.
This was not a consultation, but rather an announcement, or rather, Ji Hong hoped to hear the desired answer from his lips.
"But Your Majesty..."
Nan Chaoyin wanted to offer counsel, but as the words reached his lips, he suddenly realized the true implication of Ji Hong's decision, and he was startled once again.
Since when did Ji Hong possess such cunning? Or had he always been this way, and it was merely that he had never seen it clearly?
For the first time, Nan Chaoyin felt that something had truly begun to slip out of his control. The uncertainty gave him an impulse to conclude matters quickly.
Just a few days ago, he had advised Ji Hong to summon Mu Baiyu into the palace and keep him within his sight. Was it truly as he had previously thought, that Ji Hong was acting entirely according to his wishes, or did he have his own plans?
It seemed he had underestimated him before.
Nan Chaoyin suppressed his thoughts and followed Ji Hong's lead, offering his counsel, "Your subordinate indeed feels that the Da Li princess should not continue to reside at the post station. After all, the assassins who committed the attack have not yet been apprehended. For the princess's safety, I believe it would be best to have the princess reside in the Regent's Manor to ensure her safety."
"Does the Prime Minister truly think so?"
"Yes!"
"Very well, it shall be as the Prime Minister suggests."
Ji Hong turned abruptly and walked to the imperial desk, where he quickly penned an imperial edict.
Watching Ji Hong's back, Nan Chaoyin turned his head and looked towards the main door. Through the closed hall doors, he could see a figure slowly moving.
Mu Baiyu had been in office for more than five days, and the蛊师 (gu master) had yet to appear. He could not wait any longer.
After writing the edict, Ji Hong summoned the chief eunuch, tossed the edict to him, and said, "Deliver this decree to the Regent's Manor."
The eunuch trembled, feeling as though what he held was not a light edict but a cleaver hanging over his head.
...
Regent's Manor.
The eunuch held the edict, cold sweat trickling down his forehead.
"By Imperial decree~"
His sharp voice trembled slightly, lacking the usual arrogant tone of one delivering pronouncements on behalf of the Son of Heaven. Instead, it sounded somewhat shaky.
Ji Jinmo stood with his hands behind his back before the eunuch, not bowing, not kneeling, his back straight, showing no inclination to receive the decree.
The eunuch wiped the sweat from his brow, not daring to question Ji Jinmo's rudeness and audacity. He could only read the contents of the edict: "With the impending marriage alliance between the two nations, to ensure the safety of Princess Huian, His Majesty hereby orders Imperial Uncle to take Princess Huian into the manor for protection..."
Nan Shiying, who was receiving the decree alongside Ji Jinmo, frowned slightly.
What was Ji Hong plotting now?