At this moment, within the Imperial Palace.
The Imperial Study.
"Your Majesty, please punish me."
Nan Chaoyin knelt and begged for punishment after narrating the entire affair.
"My dear minister, how… how could this have happened!" Ji Hong pressed his hands against the dragon desk, his face a mask of shock and disbelief. He stammered, at a loss for words.
Nan Chaoyin began to weep uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face. "Your Majesty, this minister no longer has the face to hold the position of Prime Minister. I have failed in raising my daughter, thereby losing Your Majesty's favor. I humbly request to be relieved of my post as Prime Minister, praying only that His Highness will calm his anger and not take it out on my family."
Ji Jinmo sat composedly on his chair, observing with cold eyes. The sight of Nan Chaoyin's tears and snot mingled together was utterly repulsive to him.
He shifted his gaze dismissively and said with a faint smile, "Face? The Prime Minister still cares about face? Seeing you cry so earnestly, I would have thought you had long since cast such trivialities aside."
Ji Hong frowned and couldn't help but speak up for Nan Chaoyin. "Uncle, the Prime Minister is truly grief-stricken. Why must you speak with such mockery?"
Ji Jinmo cast a nonchalant glance at him. "Why must the Emperor and the Prime Minister put on such a charade before me? It would be better to consider how you intend to give me an explanation!"
Ji Hong cleared his throat and sighed. "Uncle, I know you are angry, and I am no less incensed. But at this juncture, I cannot possibly order the execution of that concubine's daughter. After all, she is a woman who acted out of deep affection!"
"Prime Minister, you have truly presented me with a difficult dilemma!"
Ji Hong shook his head, a headache blooming.
"This old minister deserves death!"
Nan Chaoyin cried out mournfully once more.
Ji Hong waved his hand, then pressed his temples. Suddenly, he looked up and asked, "Uncle, why don't you tell me, how do you wish for this to be resolved?"
Ji Jinmo's lips curved into a slight smile. "How? Since it is Nan Yuan'er whom I intended to marry, then naturally Nan Yuan'er must enter the manor."
"This…" Ji Hong gasped. "You still wish for Nan Yuan'er to enter the manor?"
Ji Jinmo raised an eyebrow. "Should she not?"
"Then, that Nan…"
"Nan Shiying," Nan Chaoyin reminded him.
"Yes, that Nan Shiying, what is your intention for her, Uncle?"
"Make her a honored concubine, that would be elevating her status."
Ji Hong could not possibly allow Nan Yuan'er to marry Ji Jinmo, but he found himself momentarily at a loss for a suitable reason. Nan Chaoyin suddenly cried out again, "This minister, this minister's poor daughter, I don't even know where that unfilial daughter has hidden her. Your Highness, I… I am not unwilling to let my daughter marry you, it is simply… I truly cannot!"
"Oh? So, Nan Yuan'er is missing?" Ji Jinmo gathered his sleeves and said, "Then why aren't you posting a notice and having the Patrol Camp search for her?"
"No, absolutely not!"
Nan Chaoyin suddenly looked up. If a notice were posted, his Yuan'er's reputation would be utterly ruined.
Ji Jinmo's hand gripped the armrest of his chair, the light click making the hearts of everyone present leap. "It seems the Prime Minister does not care much for his own daughter, or perhaps what the Prime Minister said earlier was merely a hastily conceived excuse to placate me?"
"This old minister dares not!"
Nan Chaoyin said with great apprehension, "This old minister only worries for Yuan'er's reputation. Yuan'er, Yuan'er, how innocent she is. How can her reputation be ruined because of that wicked child? Isn't that forcing my Yuan'er to her death!"
"This King does not find fault," Ji Jinmo said slowly, his words causing Nan Chaoyin's expression to change instantly. "This King only wants the person!"
"Bring her to me alive, or deliver her corpse!"
These eight words struck Nan Chaoyin like rolling thunder from the heavens, his eardrums buzzing.
"Your Highness!"
Nan Chaoyin was filled with dread.
Ji Jinmo merely cast him a cold glance and inquired, "What, does the Prime Minister seem dissatisfied?"
He then turned his gaze back to Ji Hong, seated on the dragon throne, his tone devoid of any respect. "Did the Emperor not ask for my thoughts? Now that I have stated my demands, why has the Emperor fallen silent?"
Ji Hong, choked by his words, looked displeased and coughed several times, covering his mouth with his sleeve. The attendant eunuch standing by quickly brought him tea, saying worriedly, "Your Majesty, please drink some tea to calm yourself."
Ji Hong took the tea from the eunuch and took a sip, finally suppressing his cough. After a moment, he said, "Uncle, are you not trying to force Nan Yuan'er to her death?"
A frigid glint flickered in Ji Jinmo's eyes as he sternly questioned, "Then does Your Majesty wish for this King to swallow this indignity?"
A palpable aura of menacing energy swept towards them. Under Ji Jinmo's fierce and cold gaze, Ji Hong felt the hairs on his spine stand on end. The eunuchs attending them lowered their heads deeply, feeling like duckweed adrift in a stormy sea, on the verge of being engulfed by the colossal waves at any moment.
"Alas!"
Ji Hong suddenly sighed and turned to Nan Chaoyin. "Prime Minister, a father is responsible for his child's failings. For your daughter to have committed such an act, both in sentiment and reason, an explanation is indeed due to my uncle."
He considered for a moment before issuing his decree: "The Prime Minister is found to be lacking in his duty to the Imperial grace and has failed in his parental responsibilities. He is fined half a year's salary and confined to his residence for three months of reflection. He shall not leave his estate until the year-end imperial hunt."
"Uncle, are you satisfied with such a punishment?"
Ji Hong turned to ask Ji Jinmo. A bone-chilling coldness was hidden in his lowered eyelids, but his face betrayed no emotion.
Ji Jinmo curved his lips and retorted, "Only this?"
A flicker of anger flashed in Ji Hong's eyes, and he struggled to control his expression. He lowered his voice and asked, "What more do you desire, Uncle?"
"How so?"
Ji Jinmo laughed. "That depends on the Prime Minister!"
"Deceiving a Prince is indeed a grave offense. Though it was not this minister's intention, it is nonetheless his fault. This minister is willing to offer the deed to the mining rights in the southern part of the city, hoping only for His Highness's leniency."
Nan Chaoyin bowed deeply to Ji Jinmo, surrendering three-tenths of the Nan family's profits.
Ji Jinmo gathered his sleeves and stood up abruptly. "Since the Prime Minister acknowledges his mistake, this King will grant both the Emperor and the Prime Minister face and retain Nan Shiying's position as the principal consort, thereby preserving the Nan family's dignity."
"This minister thanks His Highness."
Ji Jinmo let out a light snort from his nose and then turned to Ji Hong, saying, "If that is so, this King will take his leave."
With his words, before the Emperor could respond, he turned and departed.
Ji Hong's words were stuck in his throat. He watched Ji Jinmo's retreating back, his eyes as dark as the deep sea, as if a great beast was churning and roaring within.
Only after Ji Jinmo's figure vanished from sight did Ji Hong finally unleash the fury burning within him, grabbing the teacup at hand and smashing it fiercely to the ground.
"Ji… Jin… Mo!"
He enunciated each syllable, his killing intent palpable.