Chapter 93 What is the proof of the Myriad Manifestations Divine Palace?
Lantern Festival, night. Wanshang Divine Palace.
The Lantern Festival Banquet is a year-end feast, bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, combining banquet and ritual, and is far grander than the banquets held in the Yaoguang Hall. Long, embroidered red carpets and hundreds of steps lead upwards, drawing people to admire the offering lamps inside, which have been burning for a hundred years and are more dazzling than the stars.
Amidst the resounding clang of the ancient bronze bell, the Huangfu clan would ascend the long staircase to the top floor of the Wanxiang Divine Palace to pay homage to Heaven and offer sacrifices to the spirits of their ancestors.
The Crown Prince was also required to offer a lantern and could not be neglected. Huangfu Li settled Jin Suiqing among the families of the officials and deliberately tied her sash affectionately in front of everyone, saying, "Sister Suiqing, wait for me here. After the ceremony, I will ask His Majesty for our marriage."
Upon hearing this, the eyes of all the officials and their families turned to her.
The gossip from Qian Yuan Gate had already reached everyone's ears. Everyone knew that when Jin Suiqing was still a princess, His Highness the Crown Prince doted on her, even letting her ride on his shoulders. At that time, some people speculated that the Huangfu bloodline was too close.
Now that the constraints of blood ties are gone, it's not surprising that this intimacy has evolved into sexual intercourse between men and women.
Could it be that the fake princess who hasn't been seen for the past few years was actually hidden in the Eastern Palace by His Highness the Crown Prince?
Huangfu Li's acting was incredibly convincing, his eyes filled with emotion, and to outsiders it didn't seem fake. Jin Suiqing scoffed, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is truly excellent."
Huangfu Li's eye twitched violently. He smiled and tied an extremely ugly knot for her. Through the cloak, he tightly wrapped her up, suppressing her resistance under the heavy fabric. He lowered his head and kissed the top of her head.
Everyone nearly gasped in surprise.
The prince's expression was devout, and by all accounts, it did not seem like he was faking it!
Jin Suiqing had already cursed aloud, but others only thought it was the young lady being shy, a sweet and affectionate banter between lovers.
Unable to move his upper body, Jin Suiqing raised her foot and stomped hard on his instep. Huangfu Li let her stomp on him, glanced at everyone, smiled, pinched Jin Suiqing's cheek, and said gently, "Wait for me to come back."
Jin Suiqing broke free from him and lowered her head without saying a word.
He then summoned three palace maids and asked them to take good care of Jin Suiqing, which moved the onlookers once again, who commented on the Crown Prince's thoughtfulness and meticulousness.
Only Jin Suiqing knew that Huangfu Li was afraid she would run away.
Why would she run? She's not running.
Ignoring the slightly excited congratulatory inquiries from those around her, Jin Suiqing found a stool and sat down quietly. Her head was bowed, her hands, hidden beneath her cloak, constantly twisting the hem of her garment, letting her unease fester within her.
Not long after, Ye Zhufeng strode in, walked past the crowd, and looked straight at Jin Suiqing.
Although the two had not seen each other for three years, the concern and eagerness in their eyes had not diminished at all. Ye Zhufeng did not approach, but mouthed to Jin Suiqing from a distance, "Are we still waiting for him?"
Jin Suiqing nodded firmly without hesitation.
She raised her hand and placed it on her left chest, which was closest to her heart. Jin Suiqing imitated Jin Shiyu and placed a thin, soft piece of paper there.
Her heart pounded like a drumbeat through the paper, landing solidly on her hand. In a daze, she suddenly understood why he liked to place the gold fragments in this spot.
Because placing them here suggests that no matter how far apart they are, their hearts are connected.
*
As the ceremony began, Huangfu Ying, carrying the offering lamp, stepped onto the steps of the Wanxiang Divine Palace, followed by Huangfu Li and Huangfu Feng, who stood on either side of her.
Huangfu Feng had been back for three years, but this was his first time participating in a ceremony. The turmoil within the court could be glimpsed at this moment.
From then on, no one dared to neglect this princess who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
After the lantern offering was completed, the three Huangfus descended the steps gracefully. Huangfu Ying offered prayers to Heaven and Earth, and the noble families and officials below the stage all paid their respects. The ceremony was then concluded, followed by a banquet.
After Huangfu Ying took her seat, Huangfu Li, who was standing next to her, stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I have a request."
Huangfu Ying had naturally heard about the Qian Yuan Sect incident, and was slightly displeased. Not wanting to make a statement, he simply said, "Speak."
Huangfu Li paused, and had to admit that this was a risky move, but the technology Jin Suiqing possessed was worth it. He took a deep breath and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I dare to ask for a marriage proposal."
“It’s just right. His Highness the Crown Prince is getting on in years, so it’s only natural that he has such thoughts,” Huangfu Ying said. “Who is this woman who could make the Crown Prince so infatuated?”
Huangfu Li kowtowed and beckoned, and a palace maid brought Jin Suiqing to his side. As she passed Jin Guizhong, she glanced at him, and Jin Guizhong's face turned even paler.
Huangfu Li grabbed Jin Suiqing's hand and raised it, "It's her, I want to marry Jin Suiqing!"
Immediately, the once quiet banquet was filled with scattered whispers.
In front of everyone at the banquet, Huangfu Ying wouldn't easily refute, so she looked at Jin Suiqing and said, "It's been three years, Jin Suiqing, you've grown quite a bit."
Jin Suiqing could not help but hear the sarcasm in the words. She was polite and respectful, saying, "I am grateful to Your Majesty for your kindness. I am deeply grateful to Your Majesty."
Huangfu Li squeezed her wrist as a warning. Huangfu Ying looked at her for a moment: "Compared to before, you've become a bit more eloquent."
"Enough," Huangfu Ying said to Huangfu Li, "If you really want to marry her, that's fine too. But the position of the Crown Prince's concubine can't remain vacant forever."
Huangfu Li resolutely replied, "I will not allow Suiqing to become a concubine."
Huangfu Ying: "What, are you going to give her the position of Crown Princess?"
Huangfu Li had prepared his speech in advance and said firmly, "I know that Suiqing is of lowly status and is not worthy of the position of Crown Princess. But Suiqing and I are in love with each other. How can I say that she is inferior? I not only want to ask for the position of Crown Princess for her, but I also want to make a vow in front of everyone that, apart from Jin Suiqing, I, Huangfu Li, will never marry a second woman. In this life, she is enough for me!"
Upon hearing this, the entire room erupted in uproar.
Huangfu Ying remained unmoved and suddenly laughed: "I never knew my son was such a devoted person."
“I didn’t know before,” Huangfu Li said, “but when I saw Suiqing, I couldn’t help but think of her and naturally wanted to give her everything I had planned.”
"Really?" Huangfu Ying glanced at Jin Suiqing and sneered, "If you really cared about her, you wouldn't have put her in such an embarrassing situation."
Huangfu Li's body trembled, and he suddenly looked up at Jin Suiqing, only to see that her face was cold and unmoved.
Huangfu Li was greatly surprised. He had rehearsed those words in his mind countless times, memorizing them perfectly, until he had practiced them to the point where they were so sincere and heartfelt that he could speak them fluently.
He not only gave her the position of principal wife, but also promised that he would never marry again in this life, and would only spend his life with her. These words implied that when he inherited the throne, he promised not to establish a harem, but to have only her by his side.
Who in the world could make such a promise? How could she not be moved!
Huangfu Li felt a pang of emptiness, and squeezed Jin Suiqing's hand even tighter. Huangfu Ying saw this and looked at Jin Suiqing: "Are you willing?"
Huangfu Li straightened up, leaned closer to Jin Suiqing, his face full of tenderness, seemingly encouraging but actually threatening: "Jin Suiqing, if you are unwilling, guess what will happen to Xu Cun?"
The force between his wrists grew heavier, but Jin Suiqing didn't frown; instead, a smile gradually appeared on his usually expressionless face.
Huangfu Li mistakenly thought that the threat had worked, and he also curled his lips, revealing a happy, silly smile on his face.
She was about to agree.
Suddenly, a commotion outside the Myriad Manifestations Palace interrupted everything. Surrounded by palace maids and guards, a person steadily stepped into the Myriad Manifestations Palace.
On a bitterly cold winter day, he wore only a thin black robe, his chestnut-colored hair held high with a single ribbon. A gust of cold wind swept into the temple with him, causing the ends of his hair and robe to sway violently, bringing with them a whiff of blood.
Not to mention the bloodstains on his face, his appearance as stark and beautiful as a winter plum blossom leaning against a wall in the snow. He was clearly out of place in the luxurious temple, yet it was precisely because of this that everyone was captivated.
During the meal, Jin Guizhong was pale. His body was no longer as strong as before, and he would cough incessantly at the slightest stimulation. He coughed and said, "Jin... Jin Shiyu, what are you doing here!"
Huangfu Li was also stunned.
He actually came back alive! The Death Guard actually failed to kill him!
Jin Shiyu remained unmoved and walked straight towards Huangfu Ying.
When Ye Zhufeng saw that the people he had sent had met Jin Shiyu, he glanced at him and the guard beside him immediately understood. He raised his hand and pressed down, and Jin Shiyu knelt down and kowtowed.
Huangfu Ying's expression hardened, and she looked away from Jin Suiqing and at Jin Shiyu; "Your hair is disheveled, and you have trespassed on the banquet. Do you know your crime?"
Jin Shiyu knelt on the ground, but his expression remained unchanged: "I know my crime."
Seeing that Jin Guizhong was coughing badly, Huangfu Ying gave him some leeway and said coldly, "Since you know your crime, then tell me why you trespassed into the Myriad Manifestations Divine Palace?"
Jin Shiyu raised his head and looked at Huangfu Ying with a burning gaze and a clear voice: "It is because I was intercepted by His Highness the Crown Prince that I came to the Wanxiang Divine Palace at the risk of my life. I do not care about propriety, I only ask His Majesty for justice."
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.
Huangfu Li's face immediately turned green.
Huangfu Ying frowned, glanced at Huangfu Li, and her phoenix eyes narrowed. "You mean, the Crown Prince wants to kill you?"
"I did not mention it."
Huangfu Ying's brows relaxed slightly. As long as no one was killed, a big matter could be turned into a small one. She chuckled and said, "What is it that makes you, Shi Yu, so fuss?"
Jin Shiyu straightened his back and said firmly, "It's because the Crown Prince forcibly abducted my betrothed wife."
These words caused an uproar in the room.
Huangfu Ying's face immediately turned extremely ugly. Before she could ask any questions, Jin Suiqing took the opportunity to shake off Huangfu Li's hand, strode to Jin Shiyu's side, lifted her skirt, and suddenly knelt on the ground, "Just now His Majesty asked me if I would be willing to marry the Crown Prince."
“I absolutely refuse,” Jin Suiqing said resolutely. “Because I am in love with Jin Shiyu, the young master of the Jin family, I cannot give him up so easily. Today, Jin Shiyu has broken into the Divine Palace for me.”
“I am not fit to be the Crown Princess,” she kowtowed. “I have already completed the six rites with Jin Shiyu and set the wedding date for the tenth day of the seventh month of the twenty-second year of the Holy Calendar.”
Jin Guizhong's eyes widened, and he choked on his cough. Huangfu Li's chest heaved as he turned around, his gaze fixed on Jin Suiqing: "What can prove it?"
He hasn't left anything for the two of them these past few days, so what evidence can he possibly have?
Jin Suiqing calmly stood up, took out a marriage certificate from her bosom and presented it: "I am all alone, without father or mother, and I have made my own decision to enter into this marriage certificate with him. The certificate contains my birth date and time, and the divination for compatibility is detailed, all of which can be verified."
Huangfu Li persisted, "Who can testify?"
Huangfu Feng stood up, crossed his arms, and stepped forward, smiling casually, "I can testify that my brother and sister-in-law showed me their marriage certificate; they are indeed getting married soon."
Huangfu Feng also got involved. Huangfu Li's eyes widened in disbelief, his legs felt unsteady, and he felt the wedding invitation in Jin Suiqing's hand was extremely glaring, wanting to snatch it and tear it to shreds. Huangfu Feng stepped in front of him and whispered a reminder: "I advise Your Highness to calm down."
Huangfu Li: "What's it to you?"
After saying that, he pretended to push her away, but Huangfu Feng pulled him and continued, "Do you still remember Lord Wang from the Jiangnan Circuit? He said that His Highness the Crown Prince forced him to set fire to the place, and he even wrote down his crime, signed it, and put his fingerprint on it."
Huangfu Li paused, looking at Huangfu Feng in disbelief.
“Of course, I know this is just a minor pain for His Highness the Crown Prince.” Huangfu Feng raised an eyebrow. “But Lord Wang also gave me some information: the abandoned mine in Xu Village was a private mine before it collapsed, and it had been owned by several different people. I heard that Boss Qin of Zuixianlou was among them, as was the Duke of Yingguo, whose property was recently confiscated…”
Huangfu Li smiled and patted Huangfu Li's shoulder, ostensibly to comfort him, but actually whispered coldly in his ear: "A mine, mined and auctioned, you must have made a lot of money, Your Highness."
Author's Note: Huangfu Li: When did they write their marriage certificate?!
Huangfu Ying: What kind of thing did I just give birth to?!
Jin Guizhong: My son is getting married, and I didn't know anything about it?!
Ye Zhufeng: Jin Suiqing, I'm warning you, this is the only time. Don't even think about making me call you sister-in-law again.
A family of officials: a badger in a melon field.
Vinegar: How lively!
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