The next day, as noon approached, Su Li still wondered why Jun Mo hadn't arrived.
"Mother, he must be busy; he won't be coming. Let's eat," Su Li said to her mother, who was holding Yu Ge'er.
Mother Su smiled. "Let's wait a little longer. Your mother isn't hungry yet."
"He's here! His Highness is here!"
The steward hurried in, ushering Jun Mo.
"Aunt, Li'er, please forgive me. Ziyan was delayed by an urgent matter," Jun Mo apologized with an arched hand.
Mother Su smiled. "It's nothing. It's only just noon. Wang Xia, serve the meal."
"Yes, Madam."
After lunch, Su Li carried her little brother to the courtyard for a walk and some digestion.
Jun Mo watched her, dressed in a rose-pink long dress, standing beneath the vibrant peach blossoms. Her dark hair was simply styled into a cloud bun with a plain hairpin. She was gently teasing the baby in her arms, her head bowed in a soft smile, looking gentle and delightful.
Su Li turned to look at him, a soft smile gracing her lips, her dimples appearing faintly. "Ziyan, do you want to hold him?"
Her gaze held a hint of slyness, like a cunning white snow fox.
Jun Mo stepped forward and looked at Yu Ge'er, who was playing by blowing bubbles. His face was round, complemented by the same clear, bright eyes as Su Li, making him instantly lovable.
"Yu Ge'er's eyes resemble Li'er's," Jun Mo chuckled.
Su Li lowered her head and looked closely. "Do they?"
They really did. Su Li's eyes were somewhat round, adding a touch of childlike charm to her cool demeanor. Yu Ge'er also had round eyes; not just his eyes, but his face and head were all perfectly round, utterly adorable.
"Let me hold him." Jun Mo's heart yearned as he watched. He had wanted to hold the baby before, but Yu Ge'er was so small, less than two months old, and he hadn't dared to.
Su Li, who had just offered him the baby, now questioned him, "Can you do it?"
How could the esteemed Prince Jing be told he couldn't?
"Why not? Is Li'er looking down on me?" Jun Mo carefully took Yu Ge'er, his movements surprisingly deliberate and proper.
Su Li watched his clumsy, stiff actions and burst into laughter.
Jun Mo lowered his head and said gently, "Yu Ge'er, I'm your brother-in-law. Come on, call out to me, let me hear it."
Su Li chuckled softly. "If he really called out, would you dare respond?"
"If he dares to call, why wouldn't I dare to respond?"
The two of them chatted and laughed in the courtyard for a while.
Su Li suddenly said, "Strange, why hasn't Yu Ge'er reacted yet?"
Jun Mo asked, puzzled, "Reacted to what?"
"Yu Ge'er's 'greeting gift'," she teased.
Could this little fellow only give his 'greeting gift' to his sister?
"What greeting gift?" Jun Mo asked, still confused.
"Nothing. Let's take Yu Ge'er inside. Although the weather's warm, he shouldn't be exposed to the wind for too long."
After entrusting Yu Ge'er to his wet nurse, Jun Mo and Su Li stayed in the courtyard until the Wei hour before leaving for the Imperial Palace.
It was the same old spot, the same crowd of people, still gazing at the sky, then the earth, anticipating the rain.
"I say, the sun is shining brightly today. Where would rain come from?"
"I think it's a draw."
"How can mere mortals fathom the will of Heaven?"
"It seems Heavenly Master Xiang Huai's life is safe."
At this moment, Xiang Huai was the most tormented.
Jun Hui glanced at Jun Mo and Su Li, standing at the front of the crowd, and secretly clenched his fist.
The Emperor was still in the Imperial Study. He looked at the high sun outside and didn't believe it would rain during the Shen hour either.
"Ah, Heavenly Master Wuchen truly possesses great skill," the Emperor couldn't help but sigh.
An Imperial Attendant stepped forward to remind him. "Your Majesty, it's already a quarter past Shen hour."
The Emperor tossed aside his memorial, rising from his seat.
"I might as well go see."
Seeing the Emperor emerge, the crowd hastily bowed.
"It's almost three quarters past Shen hour, Daoist Priest Wuxi. I think you've miscalculated," some ministers openly questioned.
Daoist Priest Wuxi remained calm, his eyes lowered in contemplation.
Xiang Huai glared at Daoist Priest Wuxi, his eyes filled with resentment. If not for this Daoist Priest suddenly appearing, why would he be in such a predicament?
Even if he saved his life this time, his standing in His Majesty's heart would surely diminish greatly!
Once this matter was settled, he would take that little Daoist Priest's life!
As three quarters past Shen hour drew near, the sun in the sky remained glaringly bright.
The Emperor was about to turn back when, suddenly, the world grew dark, and a fierce wind began to rage.
"Three quarters past Shen hour!"
Large raindrops began to pelt the ground with the announcement, neither early nor late.
The raindrops quickly connected into continuous lines; moments ago, it was bright sunshine, but now it was a violent storm.
The officials standing under the eaves quickly retreated further inside to avoid getting soaked.
"It really rained!"
"Daoist Priest Wuxi is amazing! Truly worthy of being Tianchanzi's foremost disciple!"
"Neither early nor late, what a divine calculation!"
"Congratulations, Daoist Priest Wuxi!"
"Daoist Priest Wuxi won, so doesn't that mean Heavenly Master Xiang Huai..."
Everyone looked at Xiang Huai, who was slumped in the rain, his face ashen.
He glanced at Jun Hui in the crowd, feeling a slight ease in his heart.
At this moment, the Emperor spoke. "Since Daoist Priest Wuxi has won, Xiang Huai, you have lost. Do you remember what you said?"
Xiang Huai looked at Jun Hui, his eyes filled with supplication.
Jun Hui, however, didn't respond, looking away.
Xiang Huai gritted his teeth. Jun Hui, since you are unrighteous, don't blame me for being unjust!
Xiang Huai scrambled to his feet, kowtowed to the Emperor, and hissed, "Your Majesty! This minister wishes to expose... Ugh... Ah..."
Mid-sentence, Xiang Huai suddenly clutched his throat, digging at it violently as if something was lodged within.
His expression turned hideous, and soon his neck and face were a bloody mess from his own scratching.
The ministers recoiled in horror.
Jun Mo and Su Li exchanged a glance, then looked at the surprised Jun Hui.
Although Jun Hui appeared shocked, his eyes remained calm and unruffled.
"What's happening?"
"Has Heavenly Master Xiang Huai gone mad?"
Seeing that Xiang Huai was about to expose Jun Hui, Su Li didn't want to give up and wanted to step forward to examine Xiang Huai.
Jun Mo held her hand, shaking his head at her.
When Su Li looked back at Xiang Huai, he had already collapsed forward, his head hitting the ground, completely silent.
A guard stepped forward to check.
"Your Majesty, the man is dead."
The ministers' eyes widened. The once imperious Heavenly Master Xiang Huai... had died just like that?
The Emperor frowned, his voice cold. "Prince Jing, this matter is yours! Investigate it for me!"
If someone could be eliminated right under the Emperor's nose within the Imperial Palace, wouldn't his reign be filled with constant fear?
Jun Mo accepted the order. "Yes, Imperial Father!"
Jun Mo looked up and said, "Imperial Father, since Daoist Priest Wuxi has won, does that not prove that the Imperial Astronomical Bureau's previous calculation for your son's wedding date with Princess Changning was inaccurate?"
The Emperor glanced at his youngest son and replied, "Yes, then the date calculated by the Daoist Priest shall be the standard. The seventh day of the seventh month, you and Princess Changning shall be wed!"
The Emperor made his final declaration, with no room for change.
Jun Mo was overjoyed and immediately knelt to express his gratitude.
Jun Hui clenched his hand, his eyes filled with venom as he watched Jun Mo, who was now surrounded by officials offering their congratulations.
How could this be!
Absolutely not!
He would never watch her marry Jun Mo!
Su Li was currently surrounded by people with Jun Mo when she suddenly felt a gaze full of aggression fall upon her.
She looked through the crowd and saw Jun Hui standing in a corner, his eyes holding a dark, lingering quality.
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