The clear and indifferent words shattered the hopes of all the young women awaiting marriage. Struck repeatedly, they finally lost all face and could no longer remain.
Each young face looked as if it might burst into tears, their eyes red. Were it not for the Emperor's presence, they would have fled long ago.
One young lady couldn't help but stand up and hurriedly bowed, "Your Majesty, please excuse this humble daughter's impropriety, I shall take my leave."
Feng Xie's beautiful eyes swept over them. If he were to forbid this woman from leaving, she would likely burst into tears on the spot. He, as Emperor, had truly miscalculated; how could he not even manage three ministers?
His gaze, sharp as a torch, fixed upon them, only to see a few unappreciative individuals with very displeased expressions.
"You may go."
As Feng Xie's words fell, the noble ladies at the banquet hurriedly stood and offered polite bows.
"We ladies take our leave." Without waiting for Feng Xie to issue further commands, they hastily fled Yunxiang Wan. They were not so foolish as to wait for the Emperor to inquire about the handsome Nan Gong Yue.
Such a man, the most spiritual on earth, would never marry them; they were self-aware enough to know that.
The unmarried maidens had all fled. The wives of the first-rank officials, most of whom had accompanied their daughters, naturally found no further interest. They stood, offered their salutations, and withdrew.
Yunxiang Pavilion, the fragrance still lingering, the lake before the courtyard shimmering. But from the prior liveliness, it became cold and deserted.
Jin Jia Li gazed at her birthday banquet. Before it had even officially begun, it had ended. An unspeakable disappointment was etched on her young face, her heart filled with resentment. It was all the Empress's fault, she thought.
It was also her own fault. Why had she invited her today, only to have her ruin her perfectly good birthday banquet? Jin Jia Li stood at the banquet, lamenting her fate, like a peony battered by rain, utterly desolate.
Liu Liu gazed at the deserted Yunxiang Wan. She had eaten, she had drunk, her stomach was full, and she had bestowed her gifts. There was no longer any point in staying. She slowly stood and offered a faint bow to the Emperor.
"This concubine is full. Your Majesty, please enjoy yourselves. Everyone, please enjoy."
With that, she led her two young maids and departed grandly. She was certainly aware of the several gazes that lingered on her as she left, even the sound of a table being overturned with a thud, accompanied by the Emperor's angry voice, followed by Lou Si Jing's steady tone.
"Your Majesty, this concubine takes her leave."
Feng Xie glanced at the sumptuously dressed Lou Si Jing. This woman was indeed sensible. He nodded and waved her away. Lou Si Jing turned and left with elegant movements. She knew well that when men were discussing matters, women should wisely withdraw.
The three men who remained had a simultaneous thought: perhaps the most formidable figure in the palace was this daughter of the Lou family. As for the Empress, she had a fatal weakness – her heart was too kind. In the palace, kindness of heart was fatal.
Jin Shao Yuan saw that all the other women had left, leaving only his sister, Jin Jia Li, looking at them with eager interest. He couldn't help but sigh.
When would his sister learn to be more sensible? He quickly sent a meaningful glance to his sister. Jin Jia Li, receiving her brother's look, reluctantly curtsied.
"Your Majesty, this concubine is feeling rather tired. I shall take my leave."
"Go," Feng Xie narrowed his eyes. He had not missed Jin Shao Yuan's glance but had no inclination to expose him. Jin Jia Li quietly withdrew, taking with her all the palace maids and eunuchs from Yunxiang Wan.
In the vast Yunxiang Wan, only four men remained. The Emperor Feng Xie raised a proud eyebrow and glared with chilling intensity at Feng Lie, his own imperial brother.
"Feng Lie, what trick are you playing? I shall not hold you accountable today. If you are disrespectful like this again, I will directly bestow a marriage upon you."
Nan Gong Yue and Jin Shao Yuan, seeing Feng Lie being reprimanded, immediately lowered their heads. The trembling of their eyes indicated they were suppressing laughter. Feng Xie's gaze swept over them swiftly, and his harsh words followed.
"And the two of you. Next time, I will certainly arrange marriages for you. I will absolutely not allow you to be so unrestrained."
At this moment, Feng Xie was cold, weary, and furious. The three men wisely remained silent, all understanding in their hearts that their marriages might indeed be used for political alliances by the Emperor. It would be better to find a woman they liked and marry her before then.
"Why aren't you speaking? Did you hear what I said?" Feng Xie asked coldly. Three voices responded simultaneously: "Yes, Your Majesty."
Feng Xie looked down at the three ministers. Although their demeanor was respectful, he knew these men were not characters who would meekly submit to being controlled.
He suspected each of them already had plans in motion. That would be for the best, saving him the trouble and effort.
Now, he had to go and punish another woman. For some reason, he always wanted to shatter that woman's indifference, to see what kind of panicked helplessness lay beneath that layer of detachment.
Feng Xie's face flickered with changing expressions, filled with chilling, violent fury.
Nan Gong Yue sighed faintly. How could he not understand the Emperor's heart? He could only pray for the Empress to save herself. However, he, Nan Gong Yue, admired that woman somewhat.
A woman dared to openly provoke the Emperor. Just that courage alone was rare in the world. For this admiration, he felt it necessary to say something.
"Your Majesty?"
Feng Xie glanced at him indifferently, his gaze falling on Nan Gong Yue's exquisite, beautiful face.
"Speak?" It wasn't that he was stingy with words; it was just that he was too angry today. Firstly, it was that woman, and secondly, it was the three men before him.
As Emperor, he was allowing a woman and his ministers to act with such impunity. He couldn't help but wonder if he had been too lenient with them in the past.
"The Empress is special. You aren't thinking of punishing her, are you?" he asked tentatively.
As soon as Nan Gong Yue finished speaking, Feng Lie and Jin Shao Yuan quickly raised their heads, clearly disbelieving Nan Gong Yue. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
A cold, charming, and sinister smile flickered on Feng Xie's lips, a dark glint flashing in his eyes. "That is precisely my intention. That woman is too detestable. I am contemplating whether to confine her to Huaqing Palace, letting her grow old without permission to leave, or to cast her into the cold palace."
As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, the three men below exclaimed in unison: "Your Majesty, absolutely not."
Feng Lie's heart ached at the thought of his imperial brother treating Liu Liu like this. How could his imperial brother treat her this way? Liu'er had not committed any major offense; why should she be confined to Huaqing Palace?
"Imperial Brother, you cannot! Do not forget she is the Empress personally bestowed upon you by Father Emperor."
Feng Lie's words, rather than helping, were like plucking feathers from a tiger's maw. They immediately struck a raw nerve in Feng Xie, his face turning ashen. He gritted his teeth and cursed.
"You dare mention that! In the late Emperor's will, it only stated that the Empress shall not be deposed. As long as I do not issue an imperial decree, I can confine her anywhere I wish."
Nan Gong Yue, seeing the Emperor about to lose control, knew that if they continued to plead on behalf of Empress Liu, it would only provoke the Emperor further.
As for why the Emperor wanted to confine Empress Liu, it was likely not a simple matter. Empress Liu had not committed any missteps today. At most, she had defied the Emperor, which should not have made the Emperor so furious.
"Please, Your Majesty, reconsider. If Your Majesty acts thus, the Empress Dowager will surely be angered," Jin Shao Yuan said, following Feng Lie's words. Nan Gong Yue, seeing fire practically erupting from the Emperor's head, quickly spoke.
"Your Majesty, if you truly intend to punish the Empress, then confining her to Huaqing Palace would be best. And it would be preferable if no one knew. If Your Majesty personally issues a decree, then outsiders will not be aware. If the common people of the realm know of the imperial family's affairs, it will ultimately damage the imperial image."