At a quarter past the hour of the巳 (sì), the palace gates were opened, and officials, accompanied by their families, walked towards the main hall.
The state banquet, held to entertain the envoys from Dali, took place in the grand hall behind the main hall. As they passed through the corridors and archways, specially appointed eunuchs sat by tables. On these tables were registers, used to record the names of attending officials and their family members. This was for the final tally and to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering.
Of course, if anyone could truly slip through the layers of scrutiny and infiltrate this palace city, then the emperors of past generations would have met their demise in their dreams countless times over.
This was to say that no one could sneak into this heavily guarded palace city without a trace.
After writing down their names, everyone entered the inner hall and took their seats according to their official ranks and seniority.
The Seventh Prince of Dali and Princess Huian, along with the other envoys, entered the grand hall and took their seats to the lower right of the dragon throne. Once everyone was seated, Nan Shiying and Ji Jinmo gracefully emerged from a side hall and took their own seats.
The eunuch’s sharp voice echoed, announcing the arrival of Ji Hong: "His Majesty has arrived!"
Still accompanying Ji Hong was Zou Yun'er. As the first-rank noble consort, Zou Yun'er wore a crimson brocade gown adorned with gilded embroidery and a nine-phoenix hairpin on her head, exuding an unparalleled nobility. She entered hand-in-hand with Ji Hong to their seats.
"Your humble subjects respectfully welcome His Majesty!"
Everyone rose to kowtow to Ji Hong. The only person who did not rise to pay homage in this hall was Ji Jinmo.
Just as Nan Shiying stood up, Ji Jinmo grasped her wrist and pulled her back down. He showed no restraint in front of the Dali envoys, his arrogance and wildness reaching an extreme.
Ji Hong’s facial muscles twitched slightly, but he looked straight ahead at the center of the hall and laughed heartily, "My dear ministers, no need for such formalities. Please be seated!"
After expressing their gratitude, everyone sat down, behaving like quails in their designated spots, not looking up or glancing around, pretending not to see the Regent’s insolence or the Emperor’s suppressed anger.
"Pfft~"
A chuckle erupted from the Dali envoy side: "The Regent of Linyuan, truly, seeing is believing!"
Ji Jinmo raised his gaze. His sharp phoenix eyes seemed to be laced with potent poison. Enveloped by this gaze, the man froze, as if being frozen inch by inch. His smile stiffened on his face, and the twitching muscles contorted his features, making him appear quite comical for a moment.
Ji Fei felt a prickling sensation on his scalp and turned to glare at the man, thinking him a foolish idiot who couldn't grasp the situation. Where was this? On Linyuan’s territory, mocking Linyuan’s Regent? Did he truly believe that by embarrassing Ji Jinmo, Ji Hong would be pleased? Regardless of their past grievances, diminishing Ji Jinmo's dignity was an insult to Linyuan, and how could Ji Hong, the Emperor of Linyuan, not be angered?
"Ji..."
Just as Ji Fei was about to apologize for his colleague’s indiscretion, he saw Ji Jinmo flick his wrist. The wine cup in his hand flew through the air with such speed that Ji Fei had no time to react. The cup grazed Ji Fei’s cheek and slammed into the face of the garrulous official, the force of it sending him flying.
"Ah~~"
"Thud~"
The scream and the sound of him hitting the ground were almost simultaneous.
He clutched his face, blood seeping through his fingers and dripping onto the ground, drop by drop, from his jaw, appearing utterly pathetic and bloody.
"Imperial Uncle!"
Ji Hong said with suppressed anger, "How could you injure someone?"
Ji Jinmo half-closed his eyes, his voice devoid of any discernible emotion: "A person? I injured a person? I was punishing a dog that only knows how to bark senselessly!"
"You..."
The man’s eyes widened in anger, his teeth seemingly knocked out, causing his speech to be slightly slurred.
"Your Highness, one must consider the owner when striking a dog. Is this the attitude your country has towards our Dali? If so, then there is no need for further discussion."
Yu Chengxuan said as he stood up.
The turn of events was somewhat unexpected. No one had anticipated that the Prince of Dali would attempt to directly overturn the table.
"It’s not necessary, not at all!" Ji Hong hurriedly interjected, "Seventh Prince, please do not be angered. What if this ruins the friendship between our two nations!"
"Heh~"
Yu Chengxuan let out a cold laugh. "Linyuan has insulted our Dali to this extent, and Your Majesty believes I am the one ruining the friendship between our nations?"
"If that is the case, then we shall take our leave!"
Princess Huian also stood up. At this moment, no matter what, she had to stand with the Dali delegation.
However, she couldn't understand why Yu Chengxuan would act in such a manner.
What benefit would escalating the conflict bring him?
"Take our leave?"
Ji Jinmo stroked the jade pendant at his waist and turned to Ji Hong, saying, "Your Majesty, since the Seventh Prince wishes to provoke a war between our nations, then they are the heralds of Linyuan’s attack on Dali."
"Kill them all, leave none behind!"
He said, standing up.
The Linyuan officials exchanged glances, each one looking at the other, none having anticipated that a perfectly good palace banquet would devolve to this point.
Wait, are they really going to war?
Linyuan is currently riddled with internal strife, how can they go to war?
Isn't this sheer madness?
"Imperial Uncle, do not speak such nonsense!" Ji Hong’s face changed drastically, and he couldn't help but reprimand loudly.
Ji Jinmo, however, ordered the attending military officers: "Execute the Dali delegation on the spot!"
"Yes!"
The military officers paid no heed to Ji Hong, who was on the verge of exploding with rage, and rose to move towards the Dali delegation.
"Guards, stop them quickly!" Ji Hong roared.
The Imperial Guards rushed in with a clatter. They did not immediately engage the military officers but instead raised their blades, shielding the Dali delegation behind them.
"Ji Jinmo, make them retreat, retreat!!!" Ji Hong slammed his hand on the table, making a resounding bang, his forehead bulging with veins, the blood in his vessels roaring as if it were about to burst forth.
"Seventh Prince, he dies, or all of you die. Choose one!" Ji Jinmo ignored the shouting Ji Hong, pointing at the man who had made the sarcastic remark earlier, prompting Yu Chengxuan to make a choice.
"What if I refuse to choose?"
"Then I shall choose for you!"
Ji Jinmo took a step back and waved at the military officers.
"Your Highness, today's events are all because of me. If your esteemed party is to be buried with me, I will never be able to absolve my sins even in death. Your Highness, I am fortunate to have been born in Dali in this life; it is my blessing. In the next life, I will still willingly dedicate myself to Dali."
As the man spoke, he rammed his head against a pillar.
Instantly, blood splattered.
He had resolved to die and struck with immense force, without the slightest hesitation, directly killing himself in the grand hall.
"Hiss~"
The Linyuan officials closest to him wiped the hot blood from their faces, nearly fainting on the spot.
The officials' wives covered their mouths in gasps, their eyes wide with terror.
"Fei Cheng!"
Ji Fei rushed forward and hugged the man's corpse, turning to look at Ji Jinmo with eyes full of hatred.
"Heh, a man of spirit after all!"
Ji Jinmo waved his hand, and the military officers retreated. However, neither Ji Hong nor the Imperial Guards nor the Dali delegation lowered their guard.
Ji Jinmo said to Yu Chengxuan, "The banquet has just begun. Please, Prince of Dali, be seated!"