He stood up coldly, mirroring Ouyang Qinglin's action. However, the person he embraced was Ouyang Wan'er. Though he had his arm around her, it was merely a light touch on her sleeve, not a true embrace.
Lifting his clear, cold eyes to Gu Qianying, he spoke with chilling indifference, "Third Princess Consort, must I also call you Third Imperial Aunt, just as Princess Changping does?"
The words "Third Imperial Aunt" were spoken by Nangong Mo with extreme emphasis, as if he wished to bite his thin lips until they bled.
At this moment, Gu Qianying's guilt towards Nangong Mo vanished the instant she saw him embrace Ouyang Wan'er. Hearing him utter "Third Imperial Aunt" made her laugh in exasperation.
"Ha, if this驸马 is willing, this Princess Consort wouldn't mind!"
With that, she pushed Ouyang Qinglin away and turned back without a second glance, returning to her original seat.
The phrase "this Princess Consort" stirred ripples in Ouyang Qinglin's heart, but it felt like a blockage in Nangong Mo's, his cold eyes clouding over with frost, and the surrounding air plummeted in temperature.
He glanced at the woman who was about to make him spit blood, his heart filled with rage, on the verge of exploding.
"Third Highness, your methods are quite something!"
Nangong Mo looked at Ouyang Qinglin, the chill in his eyes intensifying.
"Likewise, likewise."
Ouyang Qinglin glanced at Ouyang Wan'er, then averted his gaze to meet Nangong Mo's cold eyes. He smiled wickedly, his eyes filled with smugness.
Blood from Nangong Mo's palm trickled down his fingers, dripping onto his boots and spreading out like a vibrant poppy.
Under the table, unseen by anyone,
Ouyang Qinglin returned to Gu Qianying's side and sat down, then served her a bite of food.
Gu Qianying's brow furrowed slightly. She wanted to remove the food, but then she saw Ouyang Wan'er serving Nangong Mo opposite her. Nangong Mo did not refuse, allowing her to serve him, her scattered hair almost brushing his face, as if their heads were about to touch.
Gu Qianying was infuriated. She picked up her chopsticks and ate all the food Ouyang Qinglin had served her, leaving not a single bite.
Seeing this, Ouyang Qinglin smiled charmingly, his gaze towards her softening with affection.
"Here, this osmanthus porridge is good for the stomach and beautifies the skin, excellent for women."
Ouyang Qinglin pushed the bowl of osmanthus porridge placed before him towards Gu Qianying.
The imperial banquet would not typically prepare such congee. He had specifically instructed the imperial chefs before entering the hall. Women all loved such beauty-enhancing delicacies, and he assumed Gu Qianying was no exception.
At this moment, Gu Qianying's mind was filled with the image of Ouyang Wan'er serving Nangong Mo, the two of them acting intimately.
Gu Qianying, usually rational and calm, even surprised herself by how flustered she became when it came to Nangong Mo. Seeing another woman by Nangong Mo's side made her feel a dull, uncomfortable ache in her heart.
This feeling was truly terrible.
Her thoughts were evident on her face. After Ouyang Qinglin pushed the osmanthus porridge in front of her, she picked up a small spoon, stirred it, and was about to drink when suddenly, an internal force surged towards her.
*Crack!*
The table instantly cracked, and the bowl of osmanthus porridge on it overturned, spilling its contents onto the floor.
This scene stunned everyone, but Gu Qianying paused. She looked up towards the source of the attack and met Nangong Mo's cold eyes.
Before a few breaths could pass, Nangong Mo averted his gaze, no longer looking at her.
His clear eyes remained as distant as ever.
The people present, unaware of what was happening, looked at him, wondering what the soon-to-be-wed驸马 was doing.
Ouyang Wan'er, sitting beside Nangong Mo, did not understand why he had suddenly acted. However, she noticed the look in his eyes when he glanced at Gu Qianying. Though distant, it held three parts bitterness, three parts anger, and one part affection—emotions she had never seen in Nangong Mo before.
She turned her head, glaring at Gu Qianying, jealousy and hatred consuming her heart.
This woman named Gu Qianying was truly a shameless vixen, seducing her驸马!
She deserved to die!
Vicious plans flashed through her mind as she narrowed her eyes.
At the imperial banquet, even in the court, no one dared to openly engage in combat before him, the Emperor. Was this audacity a sign that he, the Emperor, was dead?
The Emperor of Xia, glancing at Nangong Mo, immediately berated him with a dark expression, "Presumptuous! Mo Bai, how dare you disrespect my Third Brother. Do you not wish to live? Guards, drag this person out and beat him to death!"
The Emperor of Xia's rage, his narrowed eyes and wrinkled fat face, made his furious expression somewhat comical, but no one present dared to laugh. They all prostrated themselves and knelt, perfunctorily shouting, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
The people present were still somewhat unfamiliar with Nangong Mo, the new驸马. However, today was a celebration of the Third Highness's return and his empress's enthronement, both joyous occasions. It was not a time for bloodshed.
"Father, no!"
Ouyang Wan'er stepped forward and knelt to plead.
Ouyang Qinglin watched the spectacle with a smile.
Who would have thought that Nangong Mo would act so erratically, launching an attack on him with internal force?
In Xia, he was, after all, the Third Highness. His imperial brother, for the sake of appearances, would naturally not turn a blind eye.
While watching the show, Ouyang Qinglin did not notice anything unusual about Gu Qianying beside him.
A silver needle was revealed between her fingers, hidden beneath her wide sleeves, invisible to others, but coated with potent poison.
Although she was furious with Nangong Mo, she could not bear to see anyone harm him!
Estimating the Emperor on the throne, Ouyang Ting,
With his plump physique, he should not be difficult to handle.
To catch the bandit, catch the king first. If Ouyang Ting were captured, the others would be no threat.
The person in question, Nangong Mo, glanced at the spilled osmanthus porridge on the ground and felt a sense of relief, not paying attention to anything else.
From a distance, he could not see the bowl of porridge in front of Gu Qianying, but he could use his internal force to hear what Ouyang Qinglin and Gu Qianying had said to each other.
"Your Majesty, Young Master Mo Bai did not act intentionally. It is likely that he was so overcome with admiration for the Third Highness's handsome appearance that he lost control for a moment. You have not learned martial arts, so you naturally do not know that emotional fluctuations can affect a martial artist's internal energy. Although I am a weak woman, like Your Majesty, I do not understand martial arts, but my late father often told me that even those who do not practice have a superficial understanding."
The newly enthroned Empress Chen's convoluted reasoning, while excusing Nangong Mo, also brought up her father. Her father was a great general who died for the country. With this statement, even if the Emperor of Xia did not believe her words, he had to consider the merits of her father when he was alive. And now that she was the new Empress, pleading for someone, it was likely that His Majesty would grant her this favor.
"Since the Empress has spoken, I shall not dwell on the previous matter. However, Wan'er, your驸马's temperament is a bit wild; you must teach him proper etiquette when you return to the manor."
"Yes, Father, your daughter understands."
Hearing this,
Gu Qianying quietly put the silver needle back and turned to look at the new Empress Chen. Chen also looked at her and smiled.
Gu Qianying smiled back at her. Although she did not know Empress Chen's intentions, Chen had ultimately resolved the current crisis and helped her.
Beside them, Ouyang Qinglin also glanced at Chen, a chill emanating from his charming eyes.
Chen's expression changed for a moment, then her demeanor returned to normal. When she looked at Ouyang Qinglin again, the previous nervousness in her eyes was gone.
After the imperial banquet concluded, the court officials and their wives departed separately.
The imperial consorts exchanged sarcastic remarks and flattering pleasantries before leaving one after another.
The new Empress Chen, accompanied by her personal maids, walked towards Gu Qianying...