However, the Grand Minister Cen, together with several senior officials, petitioned that since it was a selection, all direct royal family members in Fengzhu should have the right to compete. Besides me, Jiang Yunqiao should also have a fair chance to compete. This reasoning was so lofty that even Emperor Hong could not refuse and had to agree.
Could this be Yunqiao’s design? Impossible, it couldn’t be that simple. What tricks could she possibly play? Although we couldn’t figure it out, we had to remain vigilant.
Since Jiang Yunqiao could bribe the high priest, she naturally would have a way to approach the place where the divine bird was raised. The people arranged by An Jin had been carefully watching the divine bird’s living area, and up until the eve of the trial, they had not discovered any suspicious people entering or leaving. Everything seemed very calm. But the more peaceful it seemed, the more uneasy I felt.
As the day of increasing anxiety finally arrived, the trial day was here.
For the citizens of Fengzhu City, this was a day of great attention. The future emperor of Nanrui would likely be officially determined on this day.
In the central area of Fengzhu Imperial City, there was a stone sacrificial platform raised several zhang high, with a sacrificial pillar as thick as four people could embrace, carved with a lifelike phoenix spreading its wings.
Jiang Yunqiao and I stood on opposite sides of the platform, exchanging a glance. She didn’t smile; her entire being was like flying snow. The people of Fengzhu gathered below the platform, full of anticipation and discussion. The high priest stood beside the sacrificial pillar, hands crossed over his chest, eyes closed as if silently praying.
Xiao Huang spread its wings and flew directly towards me, landing on my shoulder. “Princess, Princess!” The High Priest and Jiang Yunqiao probably didn’t expect this situation and stood in a daze. I caught Xiao Huang from my shoulder, about to make it leave, when I noticed that the white peacock Xue Yu was looking in my direction, apparently also seeing Xiao Huang.
