Hui An lowered his head, trying his best to make his presence as minimal as possible.
Yu Chengxuan looked at Ji Jinmo, pushing aside the imperial guards blocking his path and walking towards him fearlessly.
"Your Highness!"
Ji Fei called out to Yu Chengxuan nervously.
That man was an unbridled madman!
"What if I say no?" Yu Chengxuan asked.
Ji Jinmo said, "Your Highness is a wise man. Wise men should not ask such questions!"
Yu Chengxuan nodded, "The Prince is right, but I think a wise man might also be a gambler."
"Therefore, I bet you dare not!" As Yu Chengxuan spoke, he took another step forward, his body brushing past Ji Jinmo's shoulder as he walked towards the hall's exit.
Ji Jinmo chuckled.
He raised the saber in his hand and swung it towards Yu Chengxuan's head.
"Your Highness!"
"No!!!"
The fearful cries of the Da Li envoy and Ji Hong's enraged roar sounded at the same time.
A figure swiftly rushed behind Yu Chengxuan. As the saber fell, the person tightly shut their eyes, trying to quell their fear with a stern rebuke from Da Li, "Your Highness, you must not! Doing so will plunge the people of Lin Yuan into dire straits. Lin Yuan and Da Li cannot go to war!!!"
Hearing the voice behind him, Yu Chengxuan turned around. With a flick of his wrist, he unfurled his fan, simultaneously placing a hand around the waist of the person in front of him. He used the fan to parry and twist, withdrawing himself from the saber's reach.
"Yuan'er!"
Nan Zhao Yin stood up nervously, his back instantly soaked with cold sweat, filled with lingering fear.
Nan Yuan'er held onto Yu Chengxuan's shoulder, still shaken. Her delicate face was pale, like a flower battered after a spring rain. The fear in her eyes slowly overflowed once she was completely safe. A layer of mist veiled her clear, spring-like eyes, making one want to hold her close and comfort her gently.
Nan Shiying looked at Nan Yuan'er, who had suddenly appeared, and a slight smile played on her lips. Her gaze swept across everyone in the hall, taking in their expressions of shock, admiration, or envy.
"Yuan'er? Are you the renowned talented woman of Lin Yuan, Nan Yuan'er?" Yu Chengxuan lowered his head, looking at Nan Yuan'er up close.
Nan Yuan'er gently pushed Yu Chengxuan away. After leaving his embrace, she said, "Your Highness is too kind. Yuan'er is undeserving of such praise."
Yu Chengxuan suddenly turned his head, looking at Ji Hong, "I have heard that the Nan family has a daughter, accomplished in both talent and beauty, with a noble destiny, like a celestial maiden descended to earth. Seeing you now, the rumors were not exaggerated."
The scene just now was truly a close call. If Yuan'er hadn't rushed forward, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Ji Hong let out a sigh of relief, his gaze towards Nan Yuan'er filled with admiration. Hearing Yu Chengxuan's praise for Nan Yuan'er made him feel incredibly pleased. However, this pleasant feeling lasted only a few seconds before Yu Chengxuan's subsequent words turned his face green with anger. "A beautiful lady is a gentleman's desire. I wish to propose marriage to Miss Nan. I wonder if Your Majesty would grant this wish?"
At these words, everyone gasped in unison.
Everyone in Lin Yuan knew that Nan Yuan'er's destiny had been foretold by a wandering Taoist since childhood as exceptionally noble, implying she would become the Empress of Lin Yuan if His Majesty had not already deferred her marriage. Since Yu Chengxuan had heard rumors about Nan Yuan'er, he must have known this. If he knew, how could he dare to make such an unreasonable request?
Ji Jinmo suddenly burst into laughter. He dropped the saber in his hand and turned to look at Ji Hong, "Your Majesty, shall I kill him?"
Ji Hong's face turned ashen. Seeing Ji Jinmo's smiling face, the anger in his heart almost broke through the restraints of reason, wanting to slice Yu Chengxuan into a thousand pieces. This was no longer just a slap in his face; it was his face being trampled underfoot and rubbed back and forth.
Ji Hong's hands, hanging at his sides, clenched and unclenched. His expression was almost unmanageable. After a long silence, Ji Hong suddenly smiled, "Our noble ladies of Lin Yuan do not marry out. If His Seventh Highness truly favors Miss Nan so much, would he consider marrying into our family?"
"Pfft~"
Nan Shiying hadn't expected Ji Hong to be so sharp. She nearly choked on her wine, almost spitting it out.
Ji Jinmo quickly walked forward, gently patting Nan Shiying's back, then poured her a cup of tea. His eyes were filled with a gentle chiding, "You're such a grown person, how can you choke on a sip of wine? Are you feeling better? Would you like another cup of tea to help it go down?"
Everyone was already accustomed to the completely different attitudes Ji Jinmo displayed towards them and his own consort. However, in such a tense atmosphere, was it appropriate for the Prince to flaunt their affection so openly and disregard everyone else? Moreover, wasn't this situation initiated by the Prince himself? Was he just going to let it unfold like this?
Yu Chengxuan's expression turned grim. His fingers, fiddling with his fan, grazed the ribs of the fan. He gazed at Ji Hong, who stood before the imperial throne, while Ji Jinmo and Nan Shiying filled his peripheral vision.
"Your Majesty jest. If I cannot marry her with full honors, how can I demonstrate my affection for Miss Nan?"
With that, Yu Chengxuan turned to Nan Yuan'er and said, "Thank you, Miss Nan, for your assistance today. If you ever require my help in the future, please do not hesitate to ask."
After speaking, he closed his fan and turned to walk out of the hall.
Seeing this, the Da Li envoys followed suit.
The imperial guards glanced at Ji Hong, who waved his hand, signaling them to let them pass.
The banquet had just begun, and before any wine was poured or music played, it ended abruptly and unexpectedly. Only after the Da Li party disappeared from sight did Ji Hong slam his hand on the table before him, his face contorted as if twisted veins were writhing on it.
"Ji, Jin, Mo!"
Ji Hong's voice, laced with murderous intent, uttered Ji Jinmo's name syllable by syllable. The hall seemed to have its air instantly drained, and everyone felt as if their hearts were being squeezed by an invisible hand, making even breathing difficult.
Ji Jinmo tilted his head slightly. Compared to Ji Hong's fury, his expression was cold and composed, as if devoid of any emotion. He responded slowly and calmly, "What is it?"
"Do you truly think I dare not kill you?"
Ji Hong stepped forward, drew the long sword from an imperial guard's waist, and made a move as if to charge at Ji Jinmo. Zou Yun'er didn't know anything else; she only knew that His Majesty must not get close to that殺神 Ji Jinmo.
She grabbed Ji Hong's arm, using the full strength of her body to restrain him. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please don't."
Nan Shiying glanced at Zou Yun'er and thought, This foolish creature actually has some use!
At this moment, Ji Hong truly couldn't approach, otherwise, the play wouldn't continue smoothly!
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
"Your Majesty, protect your divine body, you must not harm it!"
"Your Majesty..."
The officials of Lin Yuan could no longer stand still. With the Da Li envoys still in Lin Yuan, the country could not afford a scandal of infighting. This would not only make Da Li mock them but also provide an opportunity for them to exploit.