"Your Majesty, I believe that for such an important alliance through marriage, the wishes of the Princess of Dali should not be disregarded. Perhaps... we could hold a banquet? The envoy from Dali is currently in Lin Yuan, and it would be an excellent opportunity for the fine young men of Lin Yuan to meet Princess Huian. This would also show the people of Dali how much importance we attach to this matter!"
"Yes, Lord Wang's suggestion is excellent!"
"I second that!"
"I second that as well!"
Instantly, a throng of court officials stood up in agreement.
Ji Hong watched these people's eager demeanor and almost couldn't help but laugh. What a bunch of spineless wretches who needed constant pushing!
Ji Hong deliberately paused, allowing the ministers' foreheads to glisten with cold sweat, before finally speaking with a smile, "Very well. In that case, I shall entrust this matter to Imperial Uncle."
Ji Jinmo raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile flitting across his phoenix eyes.
The ministers' teeth began to ache. The scene at the palace banquet not long ago, where the Prince and the Crown Prince of Dali stood diametrically opposed, was still vivid in their minds. It had only been a few days, and had His Majesty already forgotten? Entrusting this matter to the Prince? Was His Majesty trying to foster peace between the two nations or not?
"Unfortunately, the Princess Consort has been feeling unwell these past few days and is not suited to handling such trivial matters. I believe this task would be better suited for the Prime Minister!"
"Your..."
"Does the Prime Minister intend to refuse?" Ji Jinmo did not allow Nan Zhaoyun a chance to speak, directly cutting him off. "You often speak of sharing the burden of the sovereign. Yet, when there is truly a need for your service, you wish to shirk responsibility? Is this what the Prime Minister calls loyalty and patriotism?"
This was a rather heavy accusation, and Nan Zhaoyun's expression became so dark it seemed he could squeeze water from it.
Ji Hong raised an eyebrow slightly, his lowered eyelids concealing the amusement in his eyes. Nan Zhaoyun was naturally reluctant to accept this duty. Yu Chengxuan of Dali's affections for Yuan'er were known to all. If the banquet were truly held at the Nan residence, who knew what trouble Yu Chengxuan might stir up. This banquet could not be held at the Nan residence!
"My loyalty to His Majesty and Lin Yuan is as evident as the heavens and earth. Your Highness need not arbitrarily cast accusations upon me. I am naturally willing to share the burden for His Majesty, but my wife is frail, and my secondary wife, Liu Shi, is not careful. Did Your Highness not reprimand her before? How long has it been, and Your Highness has already forgotten?"
"I truly cannot rest assured entrusting this banquet to her. If any mishap occurs, it would be a small matter to ruin the banquet, but to damage the friendship between our two nations would be a grave sin!"
"The Prime Minister, in saying all this, merely refuses to share the burden for His Majesty. What concerns, what lack of confidence, are merely excuses for shirking responsibility, Prime Minister..."
Ji Jinmo turned, looking at Nan Zhaoyun with a playful smile, his voice as light as a breeze brushing past one's ear: "How about this, shall I issue you a military pledge? If there is even the slightest mishap during the banquet, I will have Liu Shi executed by slow slicing."
"This way, I believe Liu Shi will be much more careful, will she not?"
Hearing this, the ministers collectively gasped. This was no military pledge; it was clearly the Prince holding a knife to the Prime Minister's throat. No, it was a knife held to Liu Shi's throat. They had heard before that Liu Shi and the Princess Consort had many conflicts. The Prince's current actions might very well be intended to avenge the Princess Consort.
The ministers secretly glanced at the Emperor, trying to discern something from his face. However, His Majesty's expression was deep and seemed tinged with anger, yet he showed no inclination to speak up for the Prime Minister. Could it be that due to the recent rumors of 'women in power leading to national ruin,' His Majesty had grown suspicious of the Prime Minister?
The political landscape of the court was becoming increasingly unpredictable!
Fearing repercussions, they dared not speculate further and continued to lower their heads, staring at their feet, as silent as quails.
Nan Zhaoyun's face darkened, and he spoke directly and sternly: "Your Highness, His Majesty is present. It is not your place to arbitrarily pass judgment on the lives of court officials' family members."
Ji Jinmo lowered his head slightly, leisurely adjusting his slightly creased cuffs, and uttered the most audacious words with a dismissive attitude: "Whether it is my place or not, what difference does it make? If I wish for someone to die, they will surely die!"
Upon hearing this, the ministers trembled all over.
Disdain for imperial authority, disrespect for the sovereign.
The Prince was trampling on His Majesty's face and rubbing it in the dirt!
The ministers again covertly glanced at the Emperor. His Majesty's expression remained unchanged, but the coldness in his eyes was almost freezing into frost. The ministers felt their scalps tingle, wishing they had never appeared in this court today.
"Ji Jinmo, you are presumptuous!"
Ji Hong's furious voice boomed from above, instantly freezing the air in the grand hall. The ministers felt as if their bodies were wrapped in viscous liquid, the coldness and suffocation seeping into their skin making it difficult to even breathe.
Ji Jinmo, who faced the full force of the anger, showed no change in his expression, even a mocking curve appearing on his lips.
"Your Majesty, excessive anger harms the body. You must preserve your dragon physique!"
"You..."
Ji Hong's eyes bulged, seemingly bloodshot.
"This matter is settled. In five days, the Nan residence will host a banquet to find a suitable husband for Princess Huian." As Ji Jinmo finished speaking, he flicked his sleeve, and ignoring Ji Hong's glare, turned and walked towards the hall's exit, giving neither Ji Hong nor Nan Zhaoyun any opportunity to refuse.
Ji Hong clenched his fist tightly beneath his sleeve, his chest heaving violently, his rationality seeming on the verge of shattering under the onslaught of anger. He abruptly stood up and was about to shout an order when the officials, who had not dared to speak earlier, all knelt down and cried out in unison, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
This effectively choked back Ji Hong's intended command to the Imperial Guards to stop Ji Jinmo.
Ji Hong looked at the kneeling crowd and suddenly burst into laughter, "Good, good, very good! You are truly the pillars of this朕's reign, truly the pillars of this朕's reign!"
"Today's events,朕 shall remember!"
Ji Hong's sinister gaze swept over the heads of the crowd, finally landing on Nan Zhaoyun. His voice slowed, forcefully suppressing the anger in his heart, and he said comfortingly, "Prime Minister, there is no need to worry. Proceed with the arrangements."
Nan Zhaoyun looked up sharply, his gaze meeting Ji Hong's. Nan Zhaoyun never would have imagined that Ji Hong would still choose to yield to Ji Jinmo's power. He now commanded the Black Armored Army, a force capable of rivaling the Demon Hunting Army. He was no longer the puppet who could only live by Ji Jinmo's whim.
Yet, today, he had still acquiesced to Ji Jinmo's wishes.
Why?
As Nan Zhaoyun's gaze met Ji Hong's, he quickly lowered his head. His throat bobbed several times before he finally managed to utter, "Your subject, accepts the decree!"