However, the Grand Minister Cen and several senior officials argued that all direct royal family members in Fengzhu should have the right to compete. They insisted that Jiang Yunqiao should have a fair chance as well. Even Emperor Hong could not refuse this reasoning and had to agree.
Could this be Yunqiao’s design? It seemed unlikely that it was that simple. While she would try to make the divine bird choose her, a bird cannot be bribed or threatened. Although we couldn’t figure out her tactics, we had to remain vigilant.
Since Jiang Yunqiao managed to influence the high priest, she likely had a way to approach the divine bird’s location. The people arranged by An Jin had been monitoring the divine bird’s living area, and up until the eve of the trial, no suspicious individuals were observed entering or leaving, and nothing unusual occurred. Everything seemed calm, but the more peaceful it appeared, the more uneasy I felt.
As the day of anxiety arrived, the trial day had come. For the citizens of Fengzhu City, this was a day of significant importance, likely determining the future emperor of Nanrui.
In the central area of Fengzhu Imperial City, a stone sacrificial platform stood several zhang high, crowned with a sacrificial pillar as thick as four people could embrace, carved with a lifelike phoenix.
Jiang Yunqiao and I stood on opposite sides of the platform, exchanging a glance. She didn’t smile; her presence was like flying snow, chilling my heart. The people of Fengzhu gathered below, filled with anticipation and discussion. The high priest stood beside the sacrificial pillar, hands crossed over his chest, eyes closed as if silently praying.
Xiao Huang, seeing that I was ignoring it, surprisingly spread its wings and flew directly toward me, landing on my shoulder. “Princess, Princess!” The high priest and Jiang Yunqiao were taken aback, standing in a daze. I helplessly caught Xiao Huang, about to make it leave, when I noticed the white peacock Xue Yu tilting its head and looking in my direction, apparently noticing Xiao Huang.
This was worse. Xue Yu had always avoided Xiao Huang’s relentless pursuit, and now that Xiao Huang had landed on me, it would certainly stay away. I stroked Xiao Huang’s wing, saying, “What, thinking you’re some divine bird?”
