Ji Hong gazed at Zhou Yunli, his eyes so dark they seemed to drip with water.
He understood Zhou Yunli's implication. The sudden fire at Jingren Palace was a warning from heaven, and the only significant event that day was the imperial decree of marriage. Therefore, his bestowing Nan Yuan'er upon Yu Chengxuan was an inauspicious sign.
Zhou Yunli, oblivious to the emperor's darkening gaze, found his reasoning increasingly sound. Heaven's warnings had been recorded since ancient times. If it weren't for such a warning, why would Jingren Palace have suddenly caught fire?
"Your Majesty, do you recall the Meteorite War?"
Zhou Yunli was referring to the time when meteorites rained from the sky, prompting the late emperor to rise in rebellion, overthrow the old dynasty, and establish the current empire.
Nan Yuan'er, to be compared with the late emperor?
Had it not been for the fact that his actions today were merely a test, Ji Hong would have had Zhou Yunli dragged away and dismembered!
"Does my esteemed minister mean that I should not have Nan Yuan'er marry Yu Chengxuan?"
Zhou Yunli nodded. "Miss Nan possesses a noble destiny, that of a destined Empress. Her residing in a foreign land would inevitably harm the nation's fortunes. Dali and our Lin Yuan are neighbors. With such a shift in power, I fear future calamities."
Zhou Yunli's words flowed more and more smoothly, completely unaware that he was dancing on the brink of death. If Ji Hong were superstitious, it might be one thing. However, neither Ji Hong nor Ji Jinmo evidently believed in fate. Since they didn't believe, Zhou Yunli's words would only make them suspect the true cause of the fire.
Someone did not wish for Nan Yuan'er to marry into a neighboring country, and therefore resorted to setting fire to Jingren Palace.
Among the crowd, the only one with such a motive was Nan Chaoyin.
Ji Hong did not look at Nan Chaoyin, but his eyes, enveloped by the firelight, were as bloodshot as if stained with fresh blood.
The crowd fell silent. Who dared to interject at such a moment? Ji Hong regretted not having Zou Yun'er attend the banquet. If Yun'er were present, upon hearing Zhou Yunli's words, she would surely have cursed him furiously. Yet, he reconsidered, fortunate that Yun'er had not attended. Had she been present, his mother would not have left Jingren Palace.
But if his mother were still in Jingren Palace, would this fire have even occurred today?
Thoughts swirled in Ji Hong's mind. Just as he was about to speak, Nan Shiying let out a cold laugh, her voice laced with sarcasm. "A warning from heaven? This explanation is rather far-fetched. Is Zhou Yunli the Senior Historian of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau? He looks more like a gibbering charlatan."
No one had expected Nan Shiying to speak at this moment. Zhou Yunli, hearing the clear, smiling voice, felt his mouth turn bitter. Despite being openly ridiculed by the princess consort, he dared not retort. Who was she? She was the apple of the Regent's eye, cherished as if she might fall from his grasp or melt in his mouth. If he dared show the slightest disrespect to her, he wouldn't even make it out of the palace; the very next moment, the Prince would have his head severed from his body!
Bowing his head, he forced a bitter smile. "Your Highness, how would I dare to speak nonsense!"
His face was a mask of panic and grievance, sweat beading and trickling down his forehead. He looked like a melting snowman, pathetic and wretched.
Nan Chaoyin seized the opportunity, giving a signal behind him. A courtier stepped forward and retorted, "This warning from heaven may seem absurd, but Your Majesty, when it comes to such matters, it is better to err on the side of belief than disbelief!"
"Indeed, Your Majesty. Regardless, it is merely a marriage. If the Seventh Prince of Dali truly favors Miss Nan, why not have him marry into our family?"
Yu Chengxuan's head snapped back, his eyes like knives. The courtier who spoke inwardly cried out in despair, feeling his skin and flesh churn and bleed under the piercing gaze.
His eyes were truly like blades, cutting to the bone.
A beautiful curve formed on Nan Shiying's lips. These individuals had never been close to Nan Chaoyin, and among them were even censors from the Censorate. Nan Chaoyin truly possessed remarkable skills. She wondered how many in the entire Lin Yuan court had been bought off by him.
Nan Shiying applauded, as if wishing for more chaos, "The officials are truly eloquent. Seventh Prince, it seems you will not be able to win the heart of your beloved!"
"Princess Consort, you..."
"Silence!"
Ji Hong suddenly spoke, cutting off the minister's words. "What 'warning from heaven'? If this warning is true, then the previous warning about 'a woman holding power will bring disaster to the nation' is also true? If so, then Nan Yuan'er need not marry the Seventh Prince. Would it not be better for me to simply bestow upon her a silken noose?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
Seeing Ji Hong's thunderous rage, everyone knelt. Nan Yuan'er trembled violently, daring not to say another word. Ji Hong's intentions were clear: she now had only two choices, either marry into Dali or be strangled by a silken noose!
Nan Chaoyin had not anticipated Ji Hong's resolute determination. He therefore stopped his subordinates from speaking further. It was time to kneel and await the imperial decree.
In the meantime, much of the fire had been extinguished. The scorching heat from nearby gradually subsided, with only occasional wisps of thick smoke emanating. Ji Hong asked a eunuch, "Has the fire been put out?"
The eunuch wiped the cold sweat from his brow and replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, the fire has been brought under control and is about to be extinguished!"
As he spoke, the last embers were doused. Ji Hong finally relaxed. With the banquet so disrupted, there was no longer any point in continuing. Yu Chengxuan's wish had been fulfilled, and he had no inclination to participate further. Ji Hong decided to end the farewell banquet prematurely.
Another incident had occurred!
Everyone sighed, wondering if Lin Yuan had offended some harbinger of misfortune in the past six months, as there had been no moment of peace.
Nan Shiying and Ji Jinmo departed the palace by carriage and returned through a secret passage.
The Imperial Study.
Knowing Nan Shiying's fondness for snacks, Ji Hong had arranged for pastries, fruits, and fine preserves.
While snacking, Nan Shiying listened to Ji Hong's plan. As soon as he disregarded the officials' objections and the "heavenly warning" to bestow Nan Yuan'er upon Yu Chengxuan, Nan Shiying knew he intended to employ a strategy of pulling the rug out from under their feet, and see if that old turtle Nan Chaoyin would fall into the trap.
If he did, they could then seize the opportunity to eliminate Nan Chaoyin's hidden forces and meticulously expose his deceit. If he didn't, Nan Yuan'er would return with the Dali delegation. With great distance separating them, if any accident were to occur, it would be Nan Yuan'er's misfortune.
But it would be no one else's fault!
...
The Post Station.
Yu Chengxuan sat silently by the window, his eyes slightly closed. A palpable aura of low spirits surrounded him, making people hesitant to approach.
Ji Wu announced from outside the door, "Your Highness, the Princess has arrived."
Yu Chengxuan opened his eyes and told Ji Wu, "Understood. Let Imperial Sister enter."
Hui An pushed open the door and saw Yu Chengxuan's face devoid of any joy. She walked to the table, gathered her skirt, and slowly sat down. She picked up the teapot and poured herself a cup of tea; the tea inside had long gone cold.
She set down the teacup and asked Yu Chengxuan with a smile, "What, did you not expect the Emperor of Lin Yuan to not believe in fate?"