Though Qin Qiancheng kept his head bowed, the sudden scent of blood still filled the nostrils of everyone present.
Jia Huan and Xuan Yi particularly wanted to give the Princess a thumbs-up: if it came to provoking people, she was the absolute best!
Look at how angered he was, to the point of spitting blood!
Nan Shiying hadn't expected Qin Qiancheng to be so thin-skinned. He had, after all, willingly offered their daughter's life. Now, as he acted out his grief, how could he have taken it so seriously? It was as if she were the main villain.
Nan Shiying couldn't help but laugh. Nestled in Ji Jinmo's embrace, she chuckled, her laughter like wind chimes made of silver. Her chest heaved with each laugh, making Ji Jinmo's heart burn with desire.
But this laughter, upon reaching Qin Qiancheng's ears, caused the blood he had barely suppressed to surge again. With a "poof," he spat out a mouthful of blood. His wide eyes stared intently at Nan Shiying, then his vision darkened, and overcome with rage, he fainted outright.
Xuan Yi crouched down and took Qin Qiancheng's pulse, then declared, "Your Highness, Madam, he's really fainted!"
Nan Shiying: "..."
She lifted her head from Ji Jinmo's chest, glanced at Qin Qiancheng, and when she turned to look at Ji Jinmo, she was startled by the heat in his eyes.
Nan Shiying decisively jumped off Ji Jinmo and took the opportunity to kick him. Ji Jinmo didn't dodge, taking the kick squarely. However, whether out of concern or reluctance to go too far in front of Ji Jinmo's subordinates, Nan Shiying hadn't used much force. Ji Jinmo didn't even feel the pain.
Ji Jinmo slightly shifted his body, his well-defined fingers gently brushing away the dust left by the footprint on his leg. Jia Huan and Xuan Yi lowered their heads, observing their noses and then their hearts, pretending not to have seen the loving interaction between the Prince and the Madam.
Nan Shiying walked over to Qin Qiancheng, kicked him again, then crouched to check his pulse. Confirming that the old fellow had truly fainted, she stood up and walked to the table, picked up the teapot, and splashed the now cold tea onto Qin Qiancheng's face.
Woken by the tea, Qin Qiancheng blinked dazedly, his mind somewhat muddled. He remained still for a second until the cold tea trickled down his temples and into his neck, causing him to shiver and fully awaken.
He flipped over and got up. Ignoring the tea on his face, and not daring to look up at Nan Shiying, who was only a step away, he knelt on the ground again.
He feared that if he saw Nan Shiying's face, he truly wouldn't be able to control himself and would snap her throat.
Nan Shiying felt a touch of boredom. She dropped the teapot and lay back down on the soft couch, covering her ruby lips with her slender hand and yawning lazily.
"Qin Qiancheng, I shall spare you this grave disrespect, considering your grief over your lost daughter. However, while the death penalty is waived, you cannot escape punishment. I will give you a choice: either request thirty planks yourself, or allow me to send men to dismember your beloved daughter's corpse, as a warning to others!"
"Your Highness!"
Qin Qiancheng's head snapped up, his eyes so suffused with blood they seemed like a sea of crimson.
"What, you are dissatisfied?"
"This subject... dares not!"
"Your Highness is benevolent and forgives my transgression, but I cannot forgive myself. I beg to receive fifty planks as a reminder of today's sin, to reflect upon it constantly, and never to offend again!"
"Granted!"
Ji Jinmo clasped his prayer beads and granted Qin Qiancheng's request.
Jia Huan arranged for the punishment to take place on the street in front of the Prince's manor. During the execution, a crowd gathered. Qin Qiancheng, relying on his physical fortitude as a martial man, managed not to die under the heavy planks.
However, Qin Qiancheng's act of drawing his sword and intruding into the Prince's manor due to his grief over his lost daughter, and the subsequent public punishment, became the latest topic of gossip among the citizens of the capital.
Just as Qin Qiancheng was being beaten, within the imperial palace's grand hall, a solemn atmosphere permeated every corner, with an air of impending storm. Nan Yujin lay on the ground, his blood soaking his robes and slowly flowing through the cracks in the floor.
His face was so pale it lacked any trace of color, his cracked lips like those of a traveler lost in the desert, long deprived of water.
Ji Hong had ordered him to be beaten with thirty planks.
He had only just undergone the punishment.
Nan Chaoyin didn't even glance at Nan Yujin, kneeling at the front of the hall, appearing ready to accept any fate.
Ji Hong paid no mind to Nan Yujin's life or death. After the execution, he asked Yu Chengxuan, "Is the Prince of Da Li satisfied?"
Yu Chengxuan fanned himself and replied with a smile, "Your Majesty should not ask me."
Hearing this, Ji Hong turned his gaze to Hui'an. Hui'an shifted her eyes away from Nan Yujin, the lingering cold sneer of satisfaction still in her eyes. However, Nan Yujin's current state still could not quell the anger in her heart.
She looked directly at Ji Hong, her voice as cold and venomous as a viper's hiss, "I want him dead!"
The smile on Ji Hong's lips turned colder. He gazed at Hui'an with icy eyes. Upon hearing her answer, he remained silent. In that silence, the air in the hall seemed to freeze. Hui'an suddenly felt a surge of dread, as if she were surrounded by countless barrels filled with explosives, and on the fuse of each barrel, sparks flickered. As the sparks spread, she felt she could be blown to pieces at any moment.
"Princess Hui'an!"
Ji Hong sighed. Hui'an's fear did not diminish in the least with his utterance.
Hui'an pursed her lips, trying to maintain a cool demeanor.
"I intend for the Princess to marry into the Nan family. What are the Princess's thoughts on this matter?"
"This Princess..."
"I recall that Da Li sent Lin Yuan a jade ruyi that year. I shall bestow the jade ruyi upon you..." Ji Hong paused, then added, "Yunan Prefecture is a vital hub, and by water, it is only a two or three-day journey to Da Li. I intend for Nan Yujin to assume the position of Prefect of Yunan Prefecture. If the Princess is willing, after the wedding, you may accompany Nan Yujin to Yunan Prefecture."
Ji Hong's words completely blocked Hui'an's path.
A single jade ruyi was not much, but if Nan Yujin were to be appointed Prefect of Yunan Prefecture, then Hui'an would not have to remain in Lin Yuan's capital. Moreover, Yunan Prefecture was not far from Da Li. With the emperor's influence being distant there, even if Hui'an returned to Da Li, Ji Hong would turn a blind eye, pretending not to notice.
Considering all the eligible and outstanding young men in the capital, marrying Nan Yujin was superior to marrying any of them.
Yu Chengxuan's fanning action faltered slightly, his gaze narrowing. Ji Hong was indeed shrewd, sending Nan Yujin to Yunan Prefecture. Given his Imperial Sister's temperament, she would certainly not remain complacent in Lin Yuan. Rather than constantly guarding against her, it was better to send her far away, to Yunan Prefecture, which was not unwillingly close to Da Li. This way, she would not harm Lin Yuan, but would instead vex Da Li.
And Yunan Prefecture... Yu Chengxuan lowered his eyes slightly, burying all his thoughts.
Hui'an's expression shifted repeatedly. The hand hidden in her sleeve tightened, then loosened, then tightened again. Finally, she took a deep breath, gathered the hem of her robe, and slowly knelt.
"Your Majesty's decree of marriage, Hui'an dares not refuse."
"Hui'an thanks Your Majesty for this grace!"