“What’s wrong with you, did your eyes go into spasm?” Wang Daming asked, looking puzzled.
Liu Cheng and Qin Mo covered their faces. Stepping back, they bowed to Wang Qiancheng: “Your subject kneels to greet Your Highness. May Your Highness be blessed with eternal peace and prosperity!”
“Stop messing around, you can’t joke like this!!!”
Wang Qiancheng’s eyes widened. He felt that these two had gone mad to tease him, saying anything that came to mind. If anyone else heard this, he wouldn’t have enough lives to die!
Liu Cheng and Qin Mo were utterly speechless.
“Mhm!”
This damned misunderstanding completely collapsed when Wang Qiancheng heard a reply, seemingly laced with icy coldness, from behind him. That familiar voice, it was their master!
Wang Qiancheng’s body stiffened as he turned around. Seeing the celestial beauty standing behind him, he felt his heart stop. His life was over.
He quickly stepped back to his rear right and knelt, inquiring: “Your subject greets Your Highness. May Your Highness be blessed with eternal peace and prosperity!”
Ji Jinmo glanced at Wang Qiancheng, telling him to play the fool. He was indeed becoming more and more convincing!
He gathered his sleeves, withdrew his gaze, and walked towards the pavilion.
Seeing that Ji Jinmo wasn’t pursuing the matter, Liu Cheng and Qin Mo let out a sigh of relief, their soft hands pushing against the ground as they slumped onto it.
“I really should have checked the almanac before leaving home today!”
Liu Cheng grumbled curses!
Inside the pavilion, upon hearing that Ji Jinmo had personally arrived, Nan Chao’yin stood up abruptly. He was here? How could he be here!
Nan Chao’yin had believed, from beginning to end, that Ji Jinmo would not come!
“Your Highness Seventh Prince, I must take my leave!”
“Prime Minister Nan, please proceed!”
After bidding farewell, Nan Chao’yin hurried out. Just as he reached the steps outside the pavilion, he caught sight of Ji Jinmo leisurely approaching, and he quickly went to greet him: “Your subject greets Your Highness. I never expected Your Highness to come in person. I beg your forgiveness for the lack of a proper welcome!”
Nan Chao’yin and Ji Jinmo had been at odds for a long time, but the proper courtesies could not be neglected.
“What if I said I wouldn’t?”
Ji Jinmo’s expression turned slightly cold. Though his phoenix eyes were not narrow, the oppressive pressure emanating from his lowered eyelids, pressing down on his eyeballs, was soul-stirring and unsettling.
Nan Yu Jin’s face turned red. Merely standing beside Nan Chao’yin and receiving a sliver of Ji Jinmo’s imposing aura was almost unbearable for him. He clenched his teeth tightly, his hands hidden within his oversized sleeves forming into fists, bulging with veins, before he managed to stabilize his composure and avoid humiliation.
Nan Chao’yin, however, maintained a calm expression. No matter how Ji Jinmo’s aura intensified, he did not show the slightest sign of fear.
“Your Highness wouldn’t. Your Highness is the God of War of our Linyuan, not only peerless in martial arts but also incredibly intelligent. Why would you blame your subject for such a trivial matter at this time, needlessly making a spectacle for others to see?”
“Prime Minister Nan is indeed worthy of his position as the Grand Chancellor. Truly eloquent and artful!”
“This subject dares not accept such praise!”
This old bastard’s thick skin knew no bounds.
Ji Jinmo suddenly extended his hand. Nan Chao’yin tensed up, his body instinctively preparing to block. However, he forcefully suppressed it with sheer willpower.
Ji Jinmo’s hand patted Nan Chao’yin’s shoulder, as if dusting off some ashes: “A fitting tribute to the Prime Minister!”
Nan Chao’yin dared not move. His body remained stiff until Ji Jinmo’s hand left his shoulder and moved away from his neck, only then did he slowly relax.
This damn madman!
Nan Chao’yin was filled with both fear and anger, but outwardly he maintained a respectful demeanor, gesturing for Ji Jinmo to proceed: “Your Highness, please!”
Ji Jinmo glanced at the sky and said, “It is nearing noon. Why has the banquet not yet begun?”
Nan Yu Jin wanted to say that there was still at least one incense stick’s worth of time until noon, but upon feeling the coldness emanating from Ji Jinmo, he wisely held his tongue.
Whether the banquet started a moment earlier or later made no difference. Nan Chao’yin would not give Ji Jinmo an opportunity to erupt, so he instructed Nan Yu Jin: “Give the order. Begin the banquet!”
“Yes!”
Yu Chengxuan stood on the steps, playing with his fan. Sunlight slanted down, casting a meter-long swath of light onto his shoulder. He looked down at Ji Jinmo from his elevated position, his smiling eyes shimmering, as if concealing daggers.
“Your Highness is truly magnificent!”
His words were laced with barbs, carrying a provocative intent.
Ji Fei anxiously clenched his hands. Here it comes, why is the Seventh Prince clashing with Ji Jinmo again? The previous state banquet ended inconclusively because of this. Could today’s banquet also end the same way?
Ji Jinmo glanced at Yu Chengxuan, let out a cold laugh, and completely ignored him: “If that’s the case, why aren’t you leading the way?”
Yu Chengxuan’s smile froze instantly, but it returned to normal in the blink of an eye.
He walked gracefully towards Ji Jinmo, stopping only when he reached Nan Chao’yin’s side.
The two men were similar in build and height. One exuded a chilling aura that made people want to stay far away, while the other always wore a gentle and warm smile.
One was the King of Hell with a cold face, the other a smiling Yama!
Nan Yu Jin, caught between these two powerful presences, almost suffocated to death!
“Your Highness, Your Highness Seventh Prince, please!”
Nan Chao’yin remained unperturbed, calm amidst the clash of their auras. The banquet to find a suitable groom for Princess Huian had been held more than once. Setting aside court banquets, this was the second time the Nan residence was hosting one. Judging by His Majesty’s intent, fearing that the longer it dragged on, the more complications would arise, he likely wanted to finalize the selection today. Regardless, this banquet must proceed.
He gestured for them to enter.
…
The back courtyard.
Huian and Nan Shiying sat in a pavilion by the lake, gazing at the rippling surface of the water. Some parts of the lake were still frozen, while others had thawed, revealing gentle ripples stirred by the wind.
A princess of Dali, and the Regent of Linyuan. These two sat in the pavilion, and for a radius of ten meters around them, no one dared to approach.
“Your Highness!”
Huian looked at Nan Shiying, her expression grave. She uttered a shocking statement: “Yu Chengxuan doesn’t want Nan Yuan’er. I think he wants you!”
Truly, words that shook the heavens and earth!
Nan Shiying, who hadn’t yet swallowed her tea, almost spat it all out!