Emperor Jingming had never seen anyone dare to openly covet the throne so bluntly in front of him.
But looking at Yin Ning's matter-of-fact expression, he couldn't help but think that yes, this was indeed the Emperor Jingwu from the Sky Canopy!
Recalling the achievements of Emperor Jingwu that Liu Sanqi had introduced earlier, and Yin Ning's behavior over the years, Emperor Jingming suddenly felt a sense of relief and reassurance.
The officials, hearing Yin Ning's audacious words, were all secretly watching Emperor Jingming's reaction.
When they saw that Emperor Jingming was not furious but remained calm, they instantly understood his attitude toward Yin Ning being Emperor Jingwu.
Thinking that their future sovereign had suddenly become the Eighth Princess Yin Ning, the officials' reactions varied greatly.
Some were composed, as if they had long expected it; some frowned deeply, looking worried; others seemed skeptical, as if still recovering from shock.
Yin Ning didn't care about their attitudes, because no matter what they thought, it wouldn't change her determination to ascend the throne.
Those who obey me prosper, those who defy me perish.
That was Yin Ning's current thought.
Liu Sanqi's words, besides causing a stir in the palace, also brought considerable shock to the common people in other parts of the Great Jing.
Yin Ning's maternal grandfather, Xu Yexian, was playing chess in the courtyard with his old friend Meng Kechuan, who was staying at his house that night.
Hearing Liu Sanqi's words, his friend scratched his head and asked Xu Yexian doubtfully: "Why do I feel that the name Emperor Jingwu sounds familiar?"
"My granddaughter's name is also Yin Ning."
"Oh, I see... What?!"
"It seems you're old and hard of hearing, Old Meng."
Meng Kechuan glared back: "I may be old and hard of hearing, but I'm not blind! Put back the piece you just moved!"
"No! You moved one last night too!"
"Don't slander me! Which eye of yours saw me move last night?!"
Xu Yexian roared back indignantly: "I didn't see it, but when I reviewed the game in bed last night, I figured out that you moved my piece, which was why I lost in the end!"
"I don't care! Since you didn't see it, I didn't move it!"
"Hey, you lousy player!" Xu Yexian glared at Meng Kechuan. "Do you know that my granddaughter is Emperor Jingwu?!"
"Oh, not only do I know your granddaughter is Emperor Jingwu, I also know your son-in-law is Emperor Jingming!"
"I'm so mad! I'm not playing chess with you anymore!"
"Fine, fine, I'll let you off this time! Let's continue, okay?!"
"That's more like it!" Xu Yexian said with satisfaction.
But just as he was about to resume playing, Meng Kechuan, sitting across from him, suddenly chuckled.
Xu Yexian looked up at him in confusion, and saw Meng Kechuan smiling: "Do you think, if I had encountered an emperor like your granddaughter in my youth, I might have had a chance to win the top scholar title?"
Hearing this sudden remark, Xu Yexian was momentarily stunned.
Then he remembered that although Meng Kechuan now lived in the capital, his hometown was Yazhou, the southernmost part of the Great Jing.
From Yazhou to Jingshi, even the fastest journey took three months; if slower, a year wouldn't be unusual.
Plus, the travel expenses were a huge burden that ordinary families could hardly afford.
So, since the founding of the Great Jing, Yazhou had never produced a top scholar.
Xu Yexian himself wasn't interested in official titles, but he respected others' dreams.
Thinking of his old friend, who had served in the Shunan Academy as a mere juren for many years, Xu Yexian said to Meng Kechuan: "With your current talent, winning the top scholar title would be easy as pie. Why not register for the next spring examination?"
Meng Kechuan had been feeling a bit sentimental, but hearing this suggestion, he gave Xu Yexian a dark look and said skeptically: "Xu Yexian, I just moved one of your pieces. Do you really want to kill me? With these old bones of mine, are you afraid I won't die in the examination hall?"
Xu Yexian burst out laughing.
Meng Kechuan looked at his grin and couldn't help laughing too, pushing aside the regret that had surfaced.
But soon, both of them stopped laughing.
Because they heard Liu Sanqi's voice from the Sky Canopy:
"My dears, after introducing the second crisis, I'll now continue with the third fatal crisis in Emperor Jingwu's life."
"This crisis was also the one that brought Emperor Jingwu closest to physical death!"
In the palace, Emperor Jingming's expression turned serious upon hearing this.
However, seeing that Yin Ning still had the leisure to pet her little orange cat, he was furious, feeling like the emperor wasn't worried but the eunuch was.
So Emperor Jingming coughed heavily and reminded: "Yin Ning, listen carefully. One careless move and you lose the whole game!"
Yin Ning knew Emperor Jingming was worried about her, so she nodded to show she understood, but still held the soft, warm little orange cat in her arms.
The others, hearing Emperor Jingming's words to Yin Ning, became even more certain of her status in the emperor's heart.