Chapter 369 It Has Begun!

Feihua Ling, the game of poetry, did not necessarily have to be themed around flowers; seasons, or the time of year could also be used.

With "winter" as the theme, the topic was quite simple. For such a common subject, surely everyone had a few of their own verses ready.

Before Zhang Silang, one person stood up and recited a poem they had written but not yet shared, earning a round of applause from the assembled company.

After several others had also stood and recited, Zhang Silang finally rose to his feet and presented his own poem.

"Excellent, truly worthy of Young Master Zhang! This poem is simply unparalleled. It mentions not a single character for 'winter' throughout, yet it is filled with winter. What a line, 'A lone boat fishes in the cold river snow.' The single word 'lone,' the word 'fishes,' expresses the desolation of winter with such vividness. The immediate sense of imagery it evokes is truly breathtaking!"

Zhang Silang indeed possessed some literary talent, and Hui'an could not help but nod in agreement.

He was quite the talent, but how did his ability to govern compare to his poetic skills?

After several rounds, Zhang Silang had been the most outstanding. Nan Chao Yin observed Hui'an's reaction, but he saw no obvious sign of admiration on her face. Nan Chao Yin frowned slightly. Had Princess Hui'an of Da Li already decided on her consort for the peace talks, or was she entirely uninterested in the marriage?

Seeing Hui'an's lack of engagement, Nan Chao Yin spoke again, "The Feihua Ling game is over. I imagine everyone has grown tired of sitting. Perhaps we should go out and stretch our legs?"

Although he addressed the crowd, his gaze fell upon Hui'an.

Hui'an nodded and smiled, "That would be good!"

Upon hearing this, Nan Chao Yin turned to look at Ji Jinmo, "Your Highness, would you care to join us?"

Ji Jinmo tilted his head, looking at Nan Shiying, and asked, "Do you want to go?"

Nan Shiying waved her hand, "It's cold today. It's warmer indoors."

Ji Jinmo grunted and held her hand. Her palm was warm, perhaps from the wine. Ji Jinmo felt a warmth spreading from her palm into his own.

Cold?

Ji Jinmo chuckled, knowing she was simply being lazy again. A hint of a smile flickered in his phoenix eyes, and when he turned back to Nan Chao Yin, his expression quickly cooled. "Did you hear that?"

"This subject understands!"

With Qingyuan present, Nan Chao Yin was not overly worried. It was perhaps for the best that Ji Jinmo did not go, lest he interfere. He offered a brief apology and turned, about to say something, when Yu Chengxuan, twirling a wine cup, spoke with a smile, "It's cold outside. It's more comfortable indoors. Prime Minister, I will not be going either!"

The banquet had passed peacefully for half the time, and the guests' hearts had just begun to settle. With Yu Chengxuan's words, their unease resurfaced.

Nan Chao Yin's brow furrowed, his expression changing slightly before he regained his composure. He smiled and said, "If the prince does not wish to go, he is welcome to stay indoors. The rest of you need not be constrained; you may go or stay as you please. Look at Liu Cheng and the others; they slipped out long ago. Who knows where they are playing now!"

"Very well, suit yourselves!" Nan Chao Yin said, and then he sat down.

His original intention was to lead everyone out, but now that Ji Jinmo was not going and Yu Chengxuan was also staying, he could not leave either. He decided to relax the formalities and let the younger generation amuse themselves.

The guests at the banquet looked at each other. Some rose to take their leave.

They would rather brave the cold wind outside than remain in the tense atmosphere of the grand hall, worrying about a potential conflict between the Regent King and the Seventh Prince of Da Li.

Hui'an glanced at Nan Shiying, her expression unreadable. Nan Shiying returned her gaze and raised a hand to tuck away a stray strand of hair. The hairpiece on her head, with its dangling golden foil tassels, swayed gently.

Hui'an stood up, bowed to Ji Jinmo and Nan Shiying, and then nodded slightly to Nan Chao Yin. She announced, "Your Highness, Your Majesty, Prime Minister, this princess will also go to the back garden to admire Lin Yuan's winter scenery!"

"Princess, please do!"

Nan Yuan'er stood up, her face beaming, and walked to Hui'an's side. "Princess, the scenery in the backyard's Suihua Pavilion is the finest. This humble daughter will lead you to see it."

Hui'an smiled, "Then I shall trouble Miss Nan!"

Seeing Hui'an depart, Zhang Silang finished the last drop of wine from his pot. He cast a deep gaze at Nan Shiying, as if trying to etch her appearance and every smile into his memory.

Nan Shiying felt an intense and determined gaze coming from her right. She looked up, and Zhang Silang immediately lowered his head, but Nan Shiying still managed to perceive the fervent and passionate emotion spreading from his eyes.

Nan Shiying paused slightly.

Zhang Silang?

Nan Shiying recalled that she had only met Zhang Silang a few times and had never exchanged a single word with him. Why would he... Nan Shiying was puzzled!

Ji Jinmo followed Nan Shiying's gaze and saw her staring at another man. His face darkened, and his jealousy flared instantly. He lowered his head, brought his lips close to Nan Shiying's ear, and asked in a low, ominous tone, "What are you looking at?"

Nan Shiying, not yet sensing the danger, answered truthfully, "Looking at Zhang Silang!"

Ji Jinmo's grip on the wine cup tightened abruptly, and the cup shattered. If the hall had been as boisterous as before, this sound would have been drowned out by the clamor. But now, the sound of the breaking cup caused everyone still at the banquet to turn and look.

Ji Jinmo indifferently tossed aside the broken pieces, his hand giving a slight shake, and the wine splashed onto his hand instantly evaporated. Nan Chao Yin's eyes narrowed, his apprehension towards Ji Jinmo deepening.

Yu Chengxuan, however, paid no attention to Ji Jinmo's actions. With a smile, as if casually, he cast his gaze towards Zhang Silang.

Nan Shiying, hearing the commotion beside her, turned and glanced at the shattered cup on the table. Her gaze slowly rose, finally settling on Ji Jinmo's face.

She blinked, her fluttering eyelashes catching the fleeting light in her eyes.

Ji Jinmo's eyelids drooped slightly, the corners of his eyes angling downwards. His long lashes cast a shadow beneath his eyes, a deliberate act of feigned ignorance that made Nan Shiying suddenly understand something. She let out a soft giggle.

"My lord, you are so adorable!"

Nan Shiying took Ji Jinmo's hand and whispered in his ear.

Ji Jinmo looked up and glared at her. He had never heard such an evaluation in his life. Adorable?

The most common adjective he heard was terrifying!

"My lord, are you jealous? Because I was looking at someone else?"

Ji Jinmo pursed his lips, unwilling to admit it, but a blush crept up his earlobes and across his cheeks, whether from shyness or anger, it was unclear.

Nan Shiying laughed even harder.

Yu Chengxuan placed his wine cup on the table, the resulting sound no less significant than Ji Jinmo's earlier crushing of his cup. Nan Chao Yin had just retracted his gaze from Ji Jinmo and Qingyuan when he was drawn by the commotion beside him.

What was the Seventh Prince of Da Li planning now?

Zhang Silang stood up, bowed to those seated at the head of the table, and left the banquet.

As he stepped outside, a maid hurried towards him, "Young Master Zhang, this way please!" Her direction was clearly towards Suihua Pavilion!

Mu Baiyu sat in the corridor where he had first met Lan Yue'er. Spotting Zhang Silang's figure, and recalling the Da Li princess and Nan Yuan'er passing by earlier, he picked up a wine pot he had acquired from somewhere and slowly followed.