This Qin Qiancheng is quite decisive!
Nan Shiying couldn't help but chuckle, then sighed softly, casting a pitiful glance at Qin Yushan. Her voice softened, "Ah, so that's how it is. Your daughter, at such a young age, has fallen prey to such delusions. It's truly regrettable. In that case, how can I bear to blame her further..."
Her eyes drooped slightly, her voice seemingly filled with a sigh.
The crowd couldn't help but twitch their lips. The speed of her emotional shift was so dramatic that she would be wasting her talents if she didn't join the Nanqu opera troupe.
"Fine, fine, General Qin. Since your daughter is ill, you shouldn't have brought her out. It is only our Emperor, who is magnanimous and benevolent. Were it someone else, your daughter might not have left the inner confines of the imperial palace today."
Ji Hong's face darkened. These words effectively blocked any further conversation he might have had. But, it was fine. After this day's farce, he didn't believe Qin Qiancheng could remain as loyal to Ji Jinmo as before. A young lady, described as suffering from delusions, who would seek her hand in marriage? Her life was ruined.
Ji Hong followed Nan Shiying's lead and said to Qin Qiancheng, "Your Majesty, do not blame yourself. It has come to this. You should focus on getting your daughter properly treated..." He paused, then added, "If you require assistance, I can have the imperial physicians visit the Qin manor."
"This subject bows in thanks for Your Majesty's great kindness. Your benevolence fills this subject with gratitude. As for the imperial physicians, this subject knows of their guilt and dares not ask for more. Moreover, my daughter's illness is in the heart, not in the medicine, so we shall not trouble the imperial physicians."
Qin Qiancheng would never allow imperial physicians to visit. What was there to treat? Delusions were not illnesses that could be cured with medicine. Even if imperial physicians came, they wouldn't be able to diagnose anything. But she feared that Ji Hong might secretly instruct the imperial physicians to declare her daughter not ill, which would not make her daughter a criminal of deceiving the emperor, but him.
The crime of deceiving the emperor was a capital offense.
Qin Qiancheng would not be foolish enough to give Ji Hong an opportunity to catch her.
Ji Hong sighed inwardly. Were they not all saying that warriors were brainless? But these martial generals from Lin Yuan were all more cunning than monkeys, and none of them had fallen for the trap.
Very well, it was best to accept what was gained.
"Since that is the case, my loyal subject, you may depart!"
Ji Hong, wanting to be rid of the sight, dismissed Qin Qiancheng.
"This subject takes leave!"
Qin Qiancheng picked up Qin Yushan and quickly left the great hall.
Silence descended around them. In the vast hall, only the sound of continuous breathing could be heard. Nan Shiying did not speak, Ji Hong did not speak. They dared not utter a single word.
Nan Shiying returned to her seat, picked up a pastry, and put it into her mouth. The pastry melted instantly, releasing its fragrance. However, a sharp glint flashed in her calm eyes. She covered her mouth with her sleeve and spat the still-melting pastry onto a handkerchief.
She picked up her tea cup and sniffed it gently. There was no unusual smell.
However, she dared not touch any more of the food at this banquet. Pretending to take a sip of tea, Nan Shiying placed the cup down.
Her brow furrowed slightly.
What a lousy banquet!
Seeing that the banquet had become awkward, Consort Zou suddenly spoke, "Your Majesty, this concubine has heard that the palace musicians have composed a new piece? Today is a great day for Lin Yuan and Da Li to cement their friendship through marriage. Why not have them come out to liven things up?"
"Oh? The musicians have composed a new piece? Indeed, we should hear it. Guards, summon the palace musicians to play." Ji Hong patted Zou Yun'er's hand, greatly satisfied with her intelligence and decorum. This was why Ji Hong had favored her so much over the years.
Zou Yun'er's delicate face blushed slightly, and she lowered her head. A flirtatious glint seemed to flow in her slightly lowered eyes, making her beauty bloom like peach blossoms in the spring.
The palace musicians soon entered the great hall. Before long, melodious music filled the air. As the music began, the people who had been as silent as cicadas in winter finally dared to speak.
They began to toast each other and converse.
It was unclear if they genuinely wanted to drink or if they wanted to numb their near-shattered nerves with alcohol.
The princess of Da Li watched Nan Shiying, who was leaning languidly on her seat. She rested her head on her hand, propping her elbow on the table, her entire body seeming boneless. She lowered her head slightly, lost in thought. Yet, despite her unrestrained behavior, there was an unyielding pride about her, a sense of effortless nobility.
She had never met such a woman before.
A woman who was so unrestrainedly arrogant yet composed.
Nan Shiying?
She was rather interesting!
Perhaps she could return to Da Li again.
Her thoughts raced, and with a sweeping glance, she suddenly caught a probing gaze. She frowned and turned to look.
Mu Baiyu hadn't expected the other party to look in his direction. He couldn't dodge in time and was caught red-handed. He abruptly lowered his head, nearly knocking over his wine cup in his panic. Hearing the movement beside him, Wei Yuan glanced at Mu Baiyu with a raised eyebrow. What was wrong with this fellow? Was he drunk? His face was so red?
Seeing his flustered appearance, the princess of Da Li was slightly stunned, finding it somewhat amusing. Were the men of Lin Yuan all this shy?
Sensing the gaze upon him, Mu Baiyu turned his head and saw Wei Yuan's gossipy expression. He glared at him with a hint of annoyance and stood up, heading towards the hall exit.
The maidservant who had been serving Nan Yuan'er all along suddenly put down her wine pot and stood up to leave.
Nan Yuan'er watched the maidservant leave without a word and instinctively glanced at Nan Chaoyin.
In the great hall, everyone's thoughts were elsewhere. As Nan Shiying looked up, she happened to witness this scene of mutual glances, of one rising and another pursuing.
Had that Miao Jiang蛊师 disguised herself as Nan Yuan'er's maid and entered the palace? If not for the maid suddenly leaving, she wouldn't have noticed.
Was the other party about to stage a melodramatic scene of 'a reunion in the palace' with Mu Baiyu?
Let's watch the show!
Nan Shiying gathered her sleeves and slowly stood up.
"Your Majesty, the hall is rather stuffy. This concubine will go outside to get some air." Using a casual excuse, Nan Shiying didn't wait for Ji Hong's permission before turning and walking towards the hall exit.
Ji Hong's eyes twitched. If not for his fear of Ji Jinmo, he would have certainly accused this disrespectful Nan Shiying of impertinence!
The princess of Da Li rose at the opportune moment, offered an apology to Ji Hong, and then also walked out.
The ministers' seats were far from Ji Hong, so there was no need to apologize specifically. Zhang Silang's mother hesitated for a moment, then suddenly stood up.
Ministers and their family members shared the same seating arrangement, but their children could only be seated at the end according to their fathers' ranks. Seeing his mother stand up, Zhang Silang could not stop her and could only follow her out.
Mother, please, whatever you do, don't do anything foolish!