In the center of the main hall stood Pei Tang, wielding a whip.
Further behind them were Emperor Jingyuan and Empress on the high platform.
Ji Rong charged straight ahead, not knowing for a moment who his target was. The imperial guards standing at the entrance of the main hall immediately drew their swords and rushed over.
However, they were not as fast as Pei Tang.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Pei Tang changed the direction of the nine-section whip and swiftly lashed it in the air, binding the hands and feet of the reckless Ji Rong.
He took another step forward and lifted him up with one hand.
Ji Rong was a civil official, and he was almost powerless against Pei Tang, who had practiced martial arts since childhood, and was immediately subdued.
The guards arrived and surrounded Ji Rong.
The birthday banquet was in full swing when this scene suddenly appeared, leaving all the ministers present astonished.
An official who was usually at odds with Ji Rong stepped forward and accused him, "Lord Ji, how dare you! Are you trying to assassinate the princess?"
Ji Rong ignored him, as if she couldn't understand his words, and only knew how to struggle.
“He didn’t even have a dagger on him. How could he attempt an assassination like this?” Pei Tang shook his head and leaned forward to take a look. “Lord Ji’s pupils are constricted and his limbs are trembling. It’s as if he’s having another episode of hysteria.”
Ji Huaichuan also knelt down on both knees and apologized, saying, "My father is mentally unstable and did not mean to frighten Your Majesty. Please forgive him."
Emperor Jingyuan looked displeased.
Ji Rong was a loyal subject, and he never doubted that.
He believed that Ji Rong would never attempt an assassination.
But his condition had clearly stabilized, so why did he suddenly riot, especially at a banquet? Was it just a coincidence?
As a monarch, it is inevitable to be suspicious of everything.
"His Majesty."
Suddenly a woman's voice rang out, and Jiang Wan walked out from the table.
"The imperial physician diagnosed my uncle with hysteria. I have read about this in medical books. This disease can occur at any time and there is no pattern to it. It was not intentional to disrupt the princess's birthday banquet."
She knelt down respectfully.
"Just like last time in the Imperial Study, when my uncle suddenly fell ill, it was all unintentional. Please forgive me."
Before Emperor Jingyuan could speak, Pei Xuan spoke coldly from the side.
"What do you mean there's no pattern to it? Ji Rong's last loss of composure was also when he was meeting with the Emperor. Are they just coincidences, one or two times?"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingyuan's eyes darkened slightly, as if he had thought of something.
"Perhaps, it is because my uncle admires His Majesty so much that he inevitably gets excited when he is in front of the Emperor, which aggravates his symptoms."
Jiang Wan turned her head and looked at Ji Huaichuan.
"My cousin said that when my uncle was at home, he was just a little mentally confused and never lost control and rioted."
Ji Huaichuan paused slightly.
He never mentioned these things to Jiang Wan.
As he pondered the meaning behind her words, he sensed something and a sudden surge of emotion coursed through him. He couldn't help but turn his head to look at his cousin.
Jiang Wan looked at him quietly, her eyes like deep pools, and winked at him very lightly.
Ji Huaichuan took a deep breath.
“Your Highness, my cousin is right.” He cupped his hands and said, “Although my father’s only two acts of rioting were in front of the emperor, the imperial physicians said that my father suffered from hysteria, which means that it was just a coincidence.”
"Does Your Highness intend to question the imperial physician's diagnosis?"
Pei Xuan looked at Emperor Jingyuan with a faint smile: "Father, what Young Master Ji said makes sense. It seems that I was overthinking things."
Emperor Jingyuan nodded, but his expression was even more gloomy than before.
Ji Huaichuan then said, "Your Majesty, to avoid further disturbing your presence, I request that my father be brought back to your residence to recuperate."
Emperor Jingyuan pondered for a moment: "First, have the imperial physician examine Ji Rong. We can discuss the matter you raised later."
Ji Huaichuan frowned.
He was truly worried about his father remaining in the palace in this condition.
Seeing that Jiang Wan gently shook her head at him, he didn't say anything more and kowtowed to express his gratitude.
Ji Rong was taken away by the guards, and the imperial physician treated him.
This incident seems to have been just a minor episode.
The Empress gestured to the audience, and the musicians continued playing, while the dancers continued their graceful dance.
However, Emperor Jingyuan lost interest and left his seat after a short while, ordering that no one was allowed to follow him.
Everyone rose to see the emperor off.
When the matriarch stood up, she was momentarily distracted and missed a step.
A pair of delicate hands reached out from behind and gently supported her.
"Grandmother, what's wrong? You look so pale."
The matriarch looked up and met Jiang Wanqing's sharp eyes.
She steadied herself and dabbed the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief: "It's alright, my legs are a little numb from sitting for so long."
Jiang Wan smiled and helped her sit down.
"Grandmother must have been frightened. To be honest, I was a little scared too. Fortunately, His Majesty knew about Uncle's condition, so he didn't blame him."
“Otherwise, if he were to cause such a disturbance in front of the emperor, I would really be worried that he would be accused of being instructed by someone to assassinate a member of the royal family, which would be terrible.”
The matriarch said, "How could that be? You're overthinking it."
“That’s true,” Jiang Wan said. “My uncle has gone completely mad; who can possibly control him?”
The elder lady's brow twitched.
"Enjoy the song and dance, and stop talking about this."
Her tone was calm, but the fingers holding the cup betrayed her tension; she unconsciously tightened her grip, and her fingertips turned white.
Jiang Wan glanced at it, smiled without saying a word, and returned to her seat as if nothing had happened.
“Madam, just now, Madam Gu secretly left her seat when no one was looking,” Biluo reported in a low voice.
Jiang Wan looked ahead and, sure enough, Consort Yun was not in the hall either.
The matriarch was preoccupied and did not notice Gu Yurong's movements.
It seems that the trouble caused by Ji Rong has given Gu Yurong an opportunity to make her move.
"Should I follow her and see what she's plotting?" Biluo asked.
“No need.” Jiang Wan took a sip of tea. “You’re not familiar with the layout of the palace. Consort Yun is cautious, so it’s easy for her to be discovered.”
She said calmly.
"Someone will tell us Gu Yurong's secret."
Bilu blinked in confusion, about to ask another question, when suddenly a line of eunuchs came out of the palace, hurrying along, carrying out all the birthday gifts that everyone had presented to Pei Tang.
A palace maid whispered something in the Empress's ear, and the Empress, looking grave, left her seat early.
The court officials were all shrewd and could tell at a glance that something had happened.
During the gathering, people whispered among themselves, vaguely sensing that it might be related to Ji Rong's illness.
But what could Ji Rong's illness have to do with Pei Tang's birthday celebration?
Just now, I saw how nervous those eunuchs looked, as if there was some secret behind those birthday gifts.
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