Jiu Yue froze for a moment, refraining from touching the wine cup but with a trace of suspicion in her eyes.
"Daring to poison the food—does she really have the audacity?"
If anything went wrong at the palace banquet, how could Consort Ning avoid being implicated? She was the primary organizer of this event.
Sima Qing gave her a quiet glance before placing a plate of peeled grapes in front of her.
"I didn’t say she’d poison anything. I just told you not to drink the wine."
Jiu Yue: "…"
After a brief silence, she wordlessly began eating the grapes.
"So how would she strike then?" Jiu Yue asked curiously.
Sima Qing wiped his hands clean and replied indifferently, "Usually by arranging assassins or slipping in poison. The more sophisticated approach would be to plant someone for future leverage."
Jiu Yue immediately grew alert.
As the bell tolled for the hour of You (5:45 PM), Emperor Yan cheerfully ascended the coiled dragon throne. After the customary exchange of pleasantries between ruler and subjects, the banquet officially commenced.
The musicians retreated behind the folding screens, clearing the space for performances.
The opening act was a sword dance.
Jiu Yue straightened up at once and whispered, "Are these assassins?"
Sima Qing glanced over, picking up a piece of fish to debone. "No."
"How do you know?"
"I just do."
Jiu Yue: "…"
A while later, the daughters of several ministers took the stage to perform dances. Jiu Yue watched with keen interest, even tugging at Sima Qing’s sleeve to comment on which young lady might suit him best.
Sima Qing lowered his gaze, feigning meekness as he asked, "Your Highness, would you like some?"
"Grapes?" Jiu Yue looked down—only to find her bowl filled with fish bones.
Sima Qing smiled. "It seems Your Highness doesn’t care for fish. In that case, this prince will enjoy it himself."
Jiu Yue: "…"
What an absolute nuisance.
Consort Ning paid no attention to the pair. Aside from the occasional word from Emperor Yan, she remained quiet throughout.
By the time the performances were halfway through, foreign envoys began presenting their tributes.
The Western Di offered luminous rhinoceros horns and emerald-feathered parrots; the Southern Sang presented golden-threaded cotton and cicada-wing silk embroidered with dragon-and-phoenix motifs; and the Eastern Yue… brought a blood-sweating steed.
Jiu Yue was mid-bite when a shadow suddenly fell over her. She looked up to find a pitch-black horse staring down at her with unmistakable disdain.
Jiu Yue: "…"
Her expression turned odd. "Is it really appropriate to bring such a massive creature right into the hall?"
What if it decided to relieve itself in front of everyone? Would the Eastern Yue envoys be responsible for cleaning up the mess???
Sima Qing, however, fixed his gaze on one of the envoys. Noticing the shift in his demeanor, Jiu Yue also grew serious.
She set down her chopsticks discreetly, pretending to examine the Eastern Yue delegation with interest.
The envoy had just finished his congratulatory speech.
"This is a blood-sweating steed bred from our Eastern Yue’s finest stock…" Then, abruptly, he turned toward Jiu Yue, approaching her respectfully. "We heard His Majesty has been blessed with the Crown Princess Zhaoning. This steed is a gift from our ruler to Her Highness."
Emperor Yan looked pleased.
The horse’s coat was a striking shade of black, its noble bearing impossible to ignore—a fitting match for his Zhaoning.
"However, this steed is exceptionally spirited…" Another envoy stepped forward, stroking the horse’s mane soothingly, though his gaze at Jiu Yue was nothing short of challenging. "We hope Her Highness takes great care when taming it."
Jiu Yue’s attention snapped back to the horse.
She glanced at Emperor Yan, who gave a slight nod, prompting her to rise and thank the envoy politely.
Then she added, "Could you take it away for now? Everyone still has food to eat."
She was genuinely concerned the horse might drop a massive surprise in the middle of the hall.
The envoy: "…"
A flicker of irritation crossed his face, his tone now laced with performative insistence. "Would Your Highness not like to try riding it?"
Jiu Yue pointed outside at the heavy snowfall. "You want me to go out there and tame a horse right now?"
The envoy: "Is Your Highness afraid? If so, I could—"
Jiu Yue’s eyes suddenly narrowed with suspicion. Was this fool sent by Consort Ning???
She shot a disappointed glance at Consort Ning before sitting back down, visibly unimpressed.
Sima Qing, however, interjected smoothly, cutting the envoy off. "Your Highness, the Eldest Prince of Eastern Yue surely only worries you might struggle with the steed… Since he’s so eager, why not grant his wish and let him tame the horse himself—right now?"
Jiu Yue blinked.
This was the Eastern Yue crown prince? Not one of Consort Ning’s lackeys?
The man before her raised a brow, his attention shifting from Jiu Yue to Sima Qing.
"And you are?"
Sima Qing replied courteously, "Her Highness’s consort."
The Eastern Yue crown prince: "…"
The two locked eyes for a long moment, neither betraying any emotion.
Sima Qing spoke first. "Well? Will you tame the horse or not?"
The crown prince glanced at Jiu Yue’s indifferent expression, a flash of resentment in his eyes—until Jiu Yue suddenly widened her eyes at him.
He stiffened.
Then he heard her say, "Don’t forget to clean up after it."
The crown prince turned—and saw it.
Jiu Yue stood, bowed slightly to Emperor Yan, then stormed out in a huff.
Only then did Consort Ning finally spare them a glance. She raised her wine cup, hiding a faint smirk behind its rim.
…
"What was that Eastern Yue crown prince thinking?" Jiu Yue’s face twisted in disgust. "Was he deliberately trying to humiliate us?"
Sima Qing: "…"
All that posturing wasted on blind eyes. If the crown prince were a peacock, the display he’d just put on would’ve dazzled the entire court.
"He expected me to go out in the freezing snow to tame a horse? There was so much space in the hall, yet he had to lead it right to my face—" She didn’t finish, but her expression said plenty.
Sima Qing lingered half a step behind, watching as she snapped off a plum blossom branch and swung it idly.
"The drunkard’s interest lies not in the wine. Eastern Yue’s true tribute wasn’t just that steed." He pressed his lips together before asking abruptly, "Your Highness, does your earlier promise still stand?"
Jiu Yue, who had been inhaling the plum blossom’s scent, halted mid-step.
Sima Qing stopped as well, keeping his tone carefully neutral. "About the matter of a second consort…"
Before he could finish—
Jiu Yue suddenly collapsed backward, rigid as a board.
Sima Qing lunged forward, catching her just as her blood-streaked face came into view.
His pupils constricted in panic.
"Your Highness—Zhaoning! Yan Zhaoning!" He laid her flat, only to see her lips part weakly. Holding his breath, he leaned closer.
And heard her grit out, "Damn it… this flower… it’s poisoned…"
With that, Jiu Yue’s eyes shut in furious defeat.
Sima Qing’s gaze dropped to the plum blossom branch in her hand—and his heart plummeted.
A group of black-clad figures materialized around them, encircling the pair.
Ignoring them completely, Sima Qing scooped Jiu Yue into his arms and sprinted forward.
"Watch for the pollen. Leave none alive," he ordered.
Qiu Dongfang and Mei Wuchang charged into the fray without a word.
