His heroic features were clear and chiseled, with fair skin and dazzling black eyes that seemed to pierce through all the sorrow of past and present lives. His expression was like a cold star, his nose straight, and his demeanor silent, stern, and icy.
Bai Qi pushed Nangong Mo forward.
Sunlight fell upon him, casting a golden halo.
Everyone held their breath, all attention focused on Nangong Mo.
Such a beautiful man was rarely seen in the world, his distant demeanor daring no one to offend him.
No one dared to approach him. Only after Nangong Mo took his seat did the crowd begin to whisper amongst themselves.
"If I could enter the Ninth Prince's manor, I would die without regret."
"You're so beautiful, but with your looks, how could the Ninth Prince fancy you?"
"Ah, I dream of marrying the Ninth Prince!"
The adoring cries of the ladies reached Gu Qianying's ears.
Gu Qianying followed their gazes.
At this moment, Nangong Mo seemed to sense her gaze and turned his head to look at her.
Their eyes met, and Nangong Mo's gaze shifted from cool to gentle.
Gu Qianying froze. She immediately averted her gaze, picking up a teacup from the banquet table to hide her nervousness.
But after a moment, she put the teacup down again and nonchalantly picked up a small pastry, placing it in her mouth.
She must have been mistaken. How could the high and mighty Ninth Prince look at her with such tenderness?
In her past life, she and Nangong Mo had never interacted. In this life, could Nangong Mo have taken a liking to her after just one meeting?
Ha! How could that be possible?
Gu Qianying continued to put pastries into her mouth, unaware that she had picked up a piece of osmanthus cake from the jade plate beside her.
Lu Zhu immediately blocked her, reminding her, "Miss, you're allergic to osmanthus, remember?"
Before entering the palace, the First Madam had specifically instructed her not to let Miss indulge in osmanthus cakes, as she was allergic to them.
As Lu Zhu spoke, the First Madam immediately looked over. Seeing that only one piece of osmanthus cake was missing from the jade plate beside Gu Qianying, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Qianying, don't be greedy."
She said, handing Gu Qianying a handkerchief.
Gu Qianying nodded in agreement, took the handkerchief to wipe her hands, and put away her mother's handkerchief.
At this moment, Gu Yumei, who had heard their entire conversation, her eyes flickered.
Most of the guests had already taken their seats.
Several princes, upon Nangong Mo's arrival, went to strike up a conversation with him.
If they could gain the Ninth Imperial Uncle's assistance, then contending for the throne would be as simple as taking something from a pocket. However, historically, the Ninth Imperial Uncle had never expressed his intention to help anyone.
Approaching the Ninth Imperial Uncle required skill.
The princes spoke to each other about Nangong Mo's past achievements.
Finally, they offered their concern.
"Ninth Imperial Uncle, in a few days it will be the Great Cold. You must take care of yourself," said the Second Prince.
Nangong Mo remained silent.
"Ninth Imperial Uncle, your nephew has heard that you have always enjoyed collecting famous zithers. Tomorrow, your nephew will send the newly acquired Seven Zithers to your manor. I hope the Ninth Imperial Uncle will like them," said the Fourth Prince.
Nangong Mo still said nothing.
"Ninth Imperial Uncle, your nephew also has a 'Heqin' zither. Tomorrow I will send it along with Fourth Brother. I hope the Ninth Imperial Uncle will like it," said the Fifth Prince.
Nangong Mo continued to say nothing.
"Ninth Imperial Uncle, your nephew obtained a precious fox fur from hunting a few days ago. The fur looks quite good. In a few days..." Crown Prince Nan Rongqi, imitating the other princes, attempted to win over Nangong Mo.
His thoughts were the same as the other princes. If he could get Nangong Mo to stand on his side, his chances of winning would be very high.
However.
Before Crown Prince Nan Rongqi could finish his words, Nangong Mo looked at him.
He spoke in a cool voice, "A dignified Crown Prince should have a compassionate heart. All living things have spirits. You hunt small animals; you are cruel."
A simple sentence made Nan Rongqi's expression change slightly.
To be called cruel by Nangong Mo would shatter the image of gentleness he had maintained for years.
Nan Rongqi hated Nangong Mo deeply in his heart, but he smiled and asked, "Does the Ninth Imperial Uncle never hunt normally?"
Hunting inevitably involved killing.
Nangong Mo looked at Nan Rongqi as if he were looking at an idiot.
He lightly tapped the armrest of his wheelchair.
At this moment, Bai Qi cupped his hands towards Nan Rongqi and said, "Reporting to Your Highness the Crown Prince, since my master's legs were paralyzed, he has never hunted. Is Your Highness mocking our Prince's immobility by asking this question?"
Although Bai Qi asked, his tone was extremely sharp.
Everyone knew that Nangong Mo's legs were paralyzed because he was poisoned while saving the Emperor.
With such merit, anyone who dared to mock Nangong Mo would be slapping the Emperor's face.
Bai Qi's words caused several princes, including the officials who had arrived early, to all look at Nan Rongqi in unison.
When had His Highness the Crown Prince become so foolish?
Nan Rongqi's face turned ashen, his expression extremely displeased.
He hurriedly explained, "Ninth Imperial Uncle, your nephew did not mean that. Your nephew meant to say..."
Before Nangong Mo could finish, he raised his hand, "Bai Qi!"
Bai Qi immediately took out a white handkerchief, unfolded it, and then wiped Nangong Mo's hands. After wiping his hands, Bai Qi flicked the handkerchief and threw it on the ground.
"Our Prince has always liked cleanliness. Filthy smells will affect our Prince's mood."
*Crack!*
Nan Rongqi's face almost turned green.
The other princes stifled their laughter, but in the end, they couldn't hold it in and burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Ninth Imperial Uncle, your servant is too presumptuous!" Nan Rongqi glared at Bai Qi hatefully, wishing he could kill him.
"Bai Qi, this king is thirsty."
Nangong Mo's actions told Nan Rongqi.
Who dared to touch his people!
Bai Qi brought a cup of clear tea.
Nangong Mo took it and slowly drank.
Seeing that Nangong Mo was unwilling to pay them any attention, the princes returned to their seats.
Nan Rongqi stood in place, like a clown.
He could never have imagined that Nangong Mo would humiliate him, the dignified Crown Prince, so thoroughly.
He trembled with anger, but he could not lash out.
In recent years, the King had valued Nangong Mo greatly, and Nangong Mo was deeply loved by the people. If he were to make an enemy of Nangong Mo at this time, it would be very disadvantageous to him.
"Your Highness, the Emperor has arrived."
The young eunuch, seeing Nan Rongqi's awkward situation, quickly found a reason for him to step down.
Nan Rongqi, with the young eunuch, flicked his sleeves and returned to his seat.
Hmph, Nangong Mo would fall into his hands one day. At that time, he would make him taste a fate worse than death!
The Emperor, accompanied by Old General Gu and his grandson Gu Yefeng, walked over.
The Emperor wore imperial robes, his features stern.
Gu Yefeng had changed out of his military uniform before arriving. Currently, he wore a purple robe, with only a jade pendant at his waist. His dark hair was tied back. Beneath his handsome face was a cold expression. The scar on his left cheek did not detract from his beauty; instead, it added a touch of worldly weariness.
Old General Gu, walking ahead of him, had not removed his military uniform. His posture was as upright as an ancient pine, his aura as strong as the midday sun. Beneath his sword-like eyebrows, a pair of piercingly cold eyes exuded an unspoken authority. However, the moment he spoke, half of his imposing demeanor dissipated.
"Oh, my dear granddaughter! Grandpa has finally seen you. I've missed you so much. Come, come quickly, come to Grandpa, let Grandpa hug you."
As soon as Old General Gu took his seat, he first searched for Gu Qianying's figure. The moment he saw Gu Qianying, his beard trembled, and his mouth broke into a smile.
Gu Qianying was his most beloved granddaughter. He wished he could give her the entire world.
At this moment, Gu Qianying, seated in her place, was stunned the moment Old General Gu and Gu Yefeng appeared.
Her eyes were moist, and her lips trembled.
In this world, besides her mother, the ones who loved her the most were her grandfather and brother.
It was a pity that in her past life, due to her ignorance and misplaced trust, she had ultimately caused the deaths of those who loved her the most.
After her grandfather was imprisoned, she had naively believed Nan Rongqi's sweet words and went to her grandfather to extract information, thus solidifying her grandfather's crime of treason and collusion with the enemy.
Her brother had also marched out with five thousand elite soldiers because of her few words, falling into Nan Rongqi's meticulously laid trap, and ultimately died tragically.
The thought of this scene made Gu Qianying hate herself deeply.
It was all her fault, all because of her!
If it weren't for her, her grandfather and brother would not have met such a tragic end.
"My dear granddaughter? Little Ying?"
Old General Gu, seeing Gu Qianying sitting still, called out a couple of times.
Gu Yefeng also looked towards Gu Qianying.
"Sister?"
At this moment, his heart was filled with excitement.
He hadn't seen his sister in a long time and missed her dearly.
However... normally, he could only approach his sister after she had been hugged by their grandfather. This was the rule in the Gu family since childhood, and it was one of the rules he disliked the most.
Just as Old General Gu thought that some impudent person must have bullied his dear granddaughter, suddenly, a figure rushed towards him.