Lin Yuan's lightning - like martial arts truly opened everyone's eyes. Even Marquis Hou Chi of the Protector of the State clapped his hands and laughed heartily, praising him non - stop. Yi Junshi also nodded with a smile.
However, Li Ye's defeat was extremely disgraceful, and the left prime minister's face looked rather grim.
Gu Weifeng said, "Zhongjin is truly a young hero. In a few years, I'm afraid even your father will have to yield his position to you."
Lin Yuan bowed with cupped hands and said, "Your humble subject doesn't dare."
Then he added, "Brother Li Ye is also a young hero. Your humble subject just took advantage of the training in the Southern Frontier. I don't deserve Your Majesty's praise."
There was nothing wrong with his words, but the left prime minister just felt annoyed and frustrated when he heard them.
The left prime minister was unhappy, but the young ladies from other noble families present were all smitten. People admire the strong, especially the young ladies who had been confined to their boudoirs for decades. Moreover, Lin Yuan was extremely good - looking, good - looking enough to rival Hou Chen and even outshine him slightly.
At least in Yi Zhici's eyes.
After all, love is blind.
Objectively speaking, they were at least on par.
In just a short while, Lin Yuan had risen to the same status as Hou Chen in the ranking of noble young masters.
Yi Junshi finally found Yi Zhici after some searching and dragged her back. "What do you think of this Lin Yuan?"
Yi Zhici blushed and mumbled, "He's good, very good."
"Just good? Then you dragged me here to be a witness, afraid that he would be bullied?"
Yi Zhici felt powerless as if her thoughts had been exposed. "Father..."
"I'm not scolding you," Yi Junshi laughed. "I just want to tell you that if you have feelings for him, don't give up. But give me your answer in two months. Take these two months to think carefully. If you still like him by then, Father will go to General Lin to arrange an engagement for you."
Yi Zhici was deeply touched and nodded solemnly.
Not long after the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet, it was time for the Hungry Ghost Festival.
The origin of the Hungry Ghost Festival is related to Taoism. In Taoism, there are three officials: the Heavenly Official, the Earthly Official, and the Water Official. It is said that the Heavenly Official bestows blessings, the Earthly Official pardons sins, and the Water Official relieves hardships. The Lantern Festival bestows blessings, the Hungry Ghost Festival pardons sins, and the Double Ninth Festival relieves hardships.
Therefore, the three festivals are also called the Festivals of Good Fortune. Every year, a banquet is held in the palace, which means bringing the good fortune from outside the palace into the palace and spreading the good fortune of the Son of Heaven outside the palace.
Yi Junshi was extremely powerful in the Guyue Kingdom, second only to the emperor. Naturally, Yi Zhici's status also rose. Her seat was very far forward, only separated from Gu Weifeng by Yi Junshi.
Despite this prominent seating arrangement, Yi Zhici was not satisfied because she searched for a long time but couldn't find Lin Yuan.
Yi Zhici tugged at Yi Junshi's sleeve. "Father, he didn't come."
Yi Junshi raised his eyebrows and looked around. "Indeed. According to General Lin Qiong's status, he would never arrange Lin Yuan's seat in a lower position."
Yi Zhici pouted and thought the banquet was boring.
At this time, a guard reported, "Your Majesty, Princess Qingping of the Xinyi Kingdom has entered the capital!" Before his voice faded, the court officials began to whisper and discuss.
The Xinyi Kingdom was the one that had a dispute over the Nine - Yu Stars in the Southern Frontier. Sending a princess at this time could only mean a gesture of peace and a possible marriage alliance. After all, in matters of diplomacy, a prince could be sent, but the Xinyi Kingdom sent a marriage - eligible princess, so they must have had marriage in mind.
Gu Weifeng asked, "Where is Princess Qingping now?"
The guard trembled like a sieve. "The... Princess Qingping has entered the general's mansion..."
Yi Zhici's heart skipped a beat. She had a bad feeling.
The court officials were in an uproar. How could the princess be so bold as to stay in a general's mansion without first meeting the emperor? And the general's mansion was even bolder. This was not showing respect to the emperor! In a more serious sense, it could be regarded as a sign of rebellion!
Gu Weifeng's face showed displeasure. "Which general's mansion?"
"... General Lin Qiong's mansion..."
"Bang!"
A wine cup was thrown to the ground. The cup was entirely gilded with a nine - bend golden dragon carved on it. It was extremely beautiful, but now it had been smashed into pieces by Gu Weifeng.
The whole hall fell silent.
Yi Zhici's heart felt cold.
An emperor's greatest fear was a subject with too much power. Lin Qiong had been guarding the Southern Frontier for a long time, and his military achievements were unmatched among all the court officials, which could easily arouse the emperor's suspicion.
This was exactly what the saying "a tall tree catches the wind" meant.
Gu Weifeng said coldly, "Where are Lin Qiong and Lin Yuan?"
Coincidentally, neither Lin Qiong, the highly - decorated general, nor Lin Yuan, the brilliant young man, was present at the banquet.
Princess Qingping had gone to the Lin Mansion, but the master and the young master of the Lin Mansion were not there. This was very thought - provoking.
An old and trembling official stood up and said, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, military generals should be most careful not to be over - confident because of their great achievements. It's better to believe there is a problem than not."
Yi Zhici was so anxious that she almost jumped up. This was just adding fuel to the fire. How could the Lin family clear themselves now? Just as she was about to speak, Hou Chen spoke before her.
"Lord Huo, what you said makes it seem like all military generals have problems."
His tone was light, not as if he was protecting the Lin family, but it was impossible to ignore the weight behind his words. He immediately shifted the focus. The Hou family was also a military family that had made its name in battles. Hou Chen's father, Hou Chi, still held the title of Marquis of the Protector of the State.
The titles in order of rank were duke, marquis, earl, viscount, and baron. Yi Junshi, Yi Zhici's father, was a marquis, while Hou Chen's father was a duke, whose title was higher than Yi Junshi's. Today, Hou Chi and Hou Chen were sitting opposite her, on the left side of Gu Weifeng.
It was only because Hou Chi was obsessed with martial arts and Gu Weifeng listened too much to Yi Junshi, who seemed to have great power, that Yi Junshi's status seemed more prominent.
Hou Chen's words immediately silenced the old official.
Yi Zhici cast an admiring look at Hou Chen.不愧是世家第二公子, he was not only good - looking but also very smart. Most importantly, he was on Lin Yuan's side. Well, she thought more favorably of Hou Chen.
This rather eager look made Hou Chen a little uncomfortable. He shifted his body and looked at the guard in the middle of the hall.