Liu Ruzhu crouched on the ground where the green quality clothes were spread out, carefully picking up the ashes from the incense burner and gathering them into a handkerchief. When her maid arrived, she didn’t see the romantic scene she expected between Liu Ruzhu and Young Master Yan. Instead, she only found her mistress crouching on the ground cleaning up charcoal ashes. Looking carefully, that incense burner appeared to be the one Young Master Yan had used before.

The maid asked in confusion, “Miss, where is Young Master Yan? Weren’t you looking for a chance to speak with him?”

“He left,” Liu Ruzhu replied.

The maid was stunned. She stamped her foot as she went over, hurriedly urging her young mistress to stand up while offering to clean the ashes herself. As she worked, the maid carefully glanced up to see traces of disappointment on her mistress’s face. Liu Ruzhu’s long eyelashes were clumped together, her face slightly red, and upon closer inspection, there were signs that she had been crying.

But to her concerned maid, she only gave a slight smile and said, “Grandfather was right after all. Young Master Yan has another lady in his heart. Grandfather told me not to think too much about it. I was still unwilling to accept it… But today, on New Year’s Eve, seeing how urgently he wanted to leave, I finally understood that he truly does have another lady in his heart.”

A month ago, Liu Ruzhu had pressed her grandfather about whether he had discussed marriage with Yan Shang. At that time, Lord Liu had stroked her hair and sighed, “It was my fault for not asking clearly before involving you. But from what I can see, Su Chen has someone in his heart already. You shouldn’t get involved.”

Liu Ruzhu hadn’t believed it then. However, being a well-bred young lady from a prestigious family, she couldn’t bring herself to run out of the residence to ask Yan Shang such things directly. So it wasn’t until today that Liu Ruzhu saw it with her own eyes and could finally accept the truth.

The maid asked, “Did you ask Young Master Yan who the lady he likes is?”

Liu Ruzhu shook her head.

The maid became agitated, “Miss, are you giving up just like that? What if that lady isn’t as good as you? Won’t you even try to compete?”

Liu Ruzhu’s gaze was as gentle as flowing water as she smiled wistfully, “The lady he likes must be wonderful. Why should I humiliate myself?”

The maid was completely bewildered, unable to understand Liu Ruzhu’s thinking. In the maid’s view, if you liked someone and your family had power and influence, even forcing the issue would be acceptable. How could the son-in-law of Lord Liu possibly wrong Young Master Yan?

But Liu Ruzhu said, “Being the son-in-law of the Chancellor’s family would certainly be good, but we can’t force someone. Moreover, he is my grandfather’s young disciple – how could I do something that would cause friction between him and grandfather?”

The maid protested, “But a teacher is like a father, how can he not listen to his teacher’s words? That would be unfilial.”

Liu Ruzhu replied in her sweet voice, “But what’s the point of forcibly keeping someone? You can keep the person but not their heart. Throughout history, how many people from powerful families have ended up with tragic love lives and deadly feuds because of such reasons? Young Master Yan and I are in the prime of our youth – why should we force each other to such extremes?

“I don’t wish to become a bad woman who abuses power.”

The maid looked up at Liu Ruzhu. She didn’t quite understand her mistress’s thinking. Such a graceful and composed young lady, personally raised by Lord Liu – how could her refinement and understanding be matched by ordinary women? In the maid’s eyes, that Young Master Yan wasn’t even worthy of her mistress.

The maid said earnestly, “Miss’s thinking is correct too. Miss, your features show signs of great fortune – your eyebrows are clear and long, your eyes large and bright, your nose full, your chin rounded… As we say in my hometown, you have the face of someone blessed with good fortune.

“You will have a life free from want, beloved by your parents; wealthy and peaceful, blessed with both sons and daughters, living to a ripe old age. Those around you will also be free from illness and disaster, sharing in your good fortune. With such auspicious features, finding a good match will be easy – you needn’t fixate on Young Master Yan.”

Liu Ruzhu had been feeling melancholy about her feelings, but after the maid’s serious analysis, her face instantly turned red and showed signs of bewildered embarrassment.

Both shy and amused, Liu Ruzhu stamped her foot and said with a red face, “What nonsense are you talking about? How old am I for you to be going on about ‘sons and daughters’ and ‘long life’? I… I’m not listening to you anymore!”

Liu Ruzhu turned and ran out of the corridor. When she got outside, she paused, feeling something wet on her forehead. She reached out her hand – snowflakes fell into her palm.

It had started snowing lightly in the evening.

Auspicious snow heralds a prosperous year.

Hope next year will be a good one.

As Liu Ruzhu prayed happily, she couldn’t help but wonder: who was the lady that Young Master Yan liked? What kind of woman could capture the heart of someone like him?

Although she had decided to let go… she was still very curious—

After leaving Lord Liu’s residence, Yan Shang went to find Wei Shu.

He wanted to spend New Year’s Eve with Mu Wanyao, but he knew she was presiding over the grand ceremony in the palace and would likely return very late tonight. Moreover, just the two of them alone… somehow it didn’t seem quite proper.

The implications seemed too suggestive; perhaps Mu Wanyao wouldn’t like it.

He thought to himself that since she wasn’t very serious about matters of the heart, he feared his unnecessary gestures might frighten her into retreating again.

So he thought of Wei Shu.

Although Wei Shu came from the Wei family of Luoyang, he was spending New Year in Chang’an this year. Since Wei Shu wasn’t going to his elder brother’s residence, he must be alone. Wei Shu was still so young.

Yan Shang felt somewhat sorry thinking about how a fifteen-year-old youth who had just become an Imperial Censor and made many enemies would have to spend New Year’s alone. Yan Shang planned to check on him – if Wei Shu was truly alone, he would invite him along to visit the Princess’s residence to see if they could stay there and wait for Mu Wanyao’s return—

As snow began falling in the evening, the palace banquet was beginning.

This was Mu Wanyao’s first time presiding over such a grand feast. She had entered the palace at dawn and had been busy with preparations until now.

Seeing the court officials taking their seats one by one, and the envoys from various countries being led in, the tension in Mu Wanyao’s heart gradually eased.

When the imperial relatives arrived, it was the Crown Prince leading his brothers and sisters.

The Crown Prince nodded at Mu Wanyao, encouraging her that she was doing well.

Seeing the Crown Prince’s smile, Mu Wanyao finally relaxed a little. The Crown Princess, holding her twin children and leading one of the Crown Prince’s favored concubines, stood behind the Crown Prince and also smiled kindly at Mu Wanyao.

After Mu Wanyao greeted them, she felt someone was missing. Looking behind the Crown Prince, sure enough, she didn’t see Yang Si.

Mu Wanyao asked softly in surprise, “Is Third Young Master Yang dining with the Yang family tonight?”

What a thing to say.

Even the Crown Princess was momentarily speechless: The Sixth Princess thought Yang Si practically lived in the Eastern Palace, to the point where his dining with the Yang family seemed strange to her.

The Crown Prince coughed and said, “It doesn’t matter who he dines with, he’s not here tonight.”

The Crown Prince continued, “He should have returned by now, but on his way back he encountered a snowstorm. According to his letter, he’s stranded. I waited all day today, and now it’s certain he won’t make it back to Chang’an. He probably won’t return for several days.”

Mu Wanyao nodded.

The Crown Prince looked behind himself and sighed, “Usually he annoys me to no end, always causing trouble. Now that he’s not here, I miss him a bit.”

Mu Wanyao smiled, “But I think Third Young Master Yang must be very happy right now.”

The Crown Prince couldn’t help but laugh, saying, “Away from my jurisdiction, he’s like an unrestrained wild horse – of course, he’s happy now. Chang’an may be prosperous, but he doesn’t like it here.”

Mu Wanyao said, “Then perhaps brother should consider his feelings. If you always keep a wild horse tethered, it may become obedient, but won’t it also lose its spirit?”

The Crown Prince looked thoughtfully at Mu Wanyao, unable to judge whether she was simply speaking up for Yang Si or had other motives, such as wanting to reduce the Crown Prince’s influence in Chang’an… The Crown Prince only said, “It seems you two still have a good relationship, for you to care about him so.”

Just then, a cold sneer came from beside them, neither warm nor cold: “How intimate you siblings are.”

The Crown Prince, Mu Wanyao, and the others turned to see Princess Imperial of Luling approaching in magnificent attire. Her dress trailed behind her as maids carefully lifted its hem. The Princess Imperial’s gaze turned toward them, her gold-traced and red-painted features striking.

Though nearly forty, she maintained herself well, looking no different from women in their twenties.

The Crown Prince led Mu Wanyao and the others in greeting her: “Aunt, it’s been a long time.”

The Princess Imperial of Luling sneered, “Thanks to you all, it certainly has been.”

The Crown Prince didn’t respond further.

The Princess Imperial of Luling had disappeared from Chang’an for half a year, and now took advantage of the grand ceremony to reappear, clearly planning to use this opportunity to return to Chang’an society.

Neither the Crown Prince nor Mu Wanyao intended to quibble with their aunt. After previous events, the Princess Imperial of Luling had already been severely weakened – now she was just putting up a front. If she wanted to return, then let her return.

Just then, the Chief Palace Steward arrived, and the announcement rang out after the drum roll—

“His Majesty arrives—”

In an instant, all the Great Wei people who had been chatting at their seats, and the envoys from small countries who had been muttering in foreign languages beside the Court of State Ceremonials officials, all turned to look at the imperial pathway between the two rows of seats.

They looked toward the imperial yellow palanquin.

On the palanquin, the Emperor wore his formal court robes, which he rarely wore except for solemn ceremonies. He wore a gilt square-topped crown, a black robe with golden dragon patterns crossed collars, and crimson gauze knee covers.

Over his ceremonial attire, he wore a crane-patterned cloak, while snow flew outside the palanquin.

Under the pitch-black sky, two rows of palace servants held lanterns in front, while Imperial Guards followed with their swords. Everyone’s gaze looked up at the middle-aged man seated in the palanquin.

This was the Emperor of Great Wei.

The sovereign of Great Wei whom the small nations in all directions addressed as “Father-Ruler.”

All directions fell silent, and the dense crowd knelt, their voices covering the universe—

“We respectfully welcome Your Majesty—”

The palanquin stopped, and black imperial shoes stepped onto the ground cloth. The Emperor emerged, his gaze cold and detached as he looked at all the court officials, inner palace consorts, outer palace children, and foreign envoys.

Before all people, he was the only sovereign.

The Emperor said quietly, “All may rise.”—

The gates of Princess Danyang’s residence were opened, and the steward led Yan Shang and Wei Shu inside.

The inner residence maids hurriedly came out to welcome them, and seeing the two arrive, they were momentarily dazzled.

Yan Shang was elegant, and Wei Shu was pure.

The two came through the snow, walking one after another along the residence’s long corridor. The proud bearing of these young men inspired admiration. Their profiles revealed dark, bright eyes.

Yan Shang’s eyes held a smile, while Wei Shu was as solemn as snow. Both made the maids’ faces flush and their hearts pound.

Qiushu, one of the Princess’s maids, came forward, gave a curtsy, and said, “Elder Sister Xiarong went to the palace with Her Highness. I am in charge of the residence affairs tonight. Our Princess is not here tonight – may I ask why the two young masters have come?”

Yan Shang gave a gentle bow and said, “…Our coming here, Juyuan and I, is somewhat presumptuous. However, we have both received Her Highness’s kindness and having nothing to do this night, we thought to visit her at the residence.”

Qiushu exclaimed in surprise, “But our Princess isn’t here!”

Yan Shang lowered his eyes: “So… we’ll wait.”

Before Qiushu could continue refusing, he said, “Coming all this way, I see the Princess’s residence hasn’t prepared anything, giving quite a desolate feeling. Even though Her Highness is in the palace, you all should still observe the New Year’s Eve traditions here. Why not decorate a little? Perhaps when Her Highness returns, seeing the residence renewed with some New Year’s atmosphere would make her happy.”

Qiushu was bewildered, thinking that they had never decorated anything for New Year’s at their residence.

Before the Princess’s marriage alliance, the residence was hastily built for her wedding. After that, the Princess only lived here for a few months before marrying into the Wuman tribe. And since the Princess returned here, although she had spent two New Years here, she had to enter the palace on New Year’s Eve, so they had never decorated.

Qiushu hesitated: “We’ve never decorated… our Princess likes things quiet.”

Yan Shang was silent.

After a while, he said, “Looking at Her Highness’s usual preferences… does she seem like someone who likes things quiet?”

No one could argue with that.

Mu Wanyao usually wore bright red dresses, with elaborate and exquisite makeup, always adorned in gold or silver… She was like a magnificent and brilliant palace – there was certainly nothing quiet about her preferences.

As the residence staff hesitated, considering Yan Shang’s implicit relationship with their Princess these past few months, and given Second Young Master Yan’s skill with words, they were easily persuaded to decorate the residence while waiting for the Princess’s return.

If the Princess returned angry… well, they had Young Master Yan to take responsibility.

Wei Shu watched Yan Shang interact with the maids without speaking.

With Second Brother Yan present, Wei Shu naturally stayed quiet. However, observing the familiarity between Second Brother Yan and the Princess’s maids, Wei Shu’s gaze flickered with some realization—

At the palace banquet, envoys from various countries offered congratulations and birthday wishes, presenting precious treasures from their nations.

With the Court of State Ceremonials present, even the congratulatory speeches from small countries unfamiliar with proper etiquette were written with extreme respect, full of reverence for the great nation. They were filled with phrases like “Celestial Dynasty” and “our barbaric lands” – words that the Great Wei people understood but the small country envoys didn’t understand what they were saying.

In any case, after the Court officials finished reading their congratulatory speeches aloud, the Emperor on the high seat would order rewards to be given.

The treasures bestowed by the Great Wei Emperor were several times more valuable than what the small countries had offered.

Great Wei wanted prestige, and the small countries wanted profit – thus both sides were pleased.

After the last small country finished paying respects, palace dancers came out to perform songs and dances. Mu Wanyao, who had been watching all the procedures from the side, finally breathed a sigh of relief and had time to return to her designated seat.

By this point, her duties were essentially complete. The following artistic performances and exchanges between the small countries and Great Wei would be much more relaxed than the previous ceremonial greetings.

The officials and imperial consorts began dining while watching the dances.

A palace servant came to whisper something in Mu Wanyao’s ear. She turned her head to see the Princess Imperial of Luling taking advantage of everyone watching the song and dance performances to approach the Emperor with her people. Knowing what this aunt intended to do, Mu Wanyao merely curved her lips and said quietly, “Leave it be.”

The servant withdrew.

At the Emperor’s seat, the Princess Imperial of Luling paid her respects to her brother with great distress. She carefully glanced at the Emperor, seeing his gaunt cheeks and cold expression, but tonight his physical condition seemed… alright?

After paying her respects, and seeing the Emperor merely give her an indifferent glance, she became somewhat flustered. The Princess Imperial hurriedly had people present a human-height red coral tree that she had worked hard to collect.

This red coral tree was carved into the shape of a dancing girl with flowing robes. When its red cloth covering was removed, it immediately drew everyone’s attention.

The Emperor looked at it and said, “Such a tall red coral… it must not have been easy to obtain?”

The Princess Imperial’s nose stung with emotion, and she prostrated herself at the Emperor’s knee, beginning to speak of her difficulties, saying she wanted to prepare a birthday gift for the Emperor but had no one to help her, how hard these past six months had been.

She looked up, lying at the Emperor’s knee, pleading: “Royal Brother, Jiaojiao was wrong before, Jiaojiao knows her mistake now, please love Jiaojiao once more. I don’t dare go out now, I haven’t been invited to any banquets in Chang’an for half a year… How can I, a Princess Imperial, live as if imprisoned?”

The Emperor looked down at her.

After a moment, he sighed and said, “Alright, get up. You’ve had it hard too. In the future, don’t go around collecting handsome men anymore. Those young men all have their dignity – who wants to be constantly beaten and scolded by you? When you fell from grace this time, who knows how many of your former favorites helped bring about your downfall behind the scenes? You’re getting on in years now, yet you still won’t let me rest easy. With you like this, who will take care of you after I’m gone?”

The earlier words hadn’t affected her much, but hearing him say this, the Princess Imperial’s eyes reddened, tears suddenly welling up.

She felt somewhat ashamed of her betrayal.

She had secretly negotiated terms with the Crown Prince behind the Emperor’s back, accepting six months of restriction, but when the Crown Prince ascended the throne, she could at least maintain her peace. Brother didn’t know about this, yet still worried for her…

The Princess Imperial choked up: “Sister wishes Brother a long life of a hundred years.”

The Emperor said, “That’s not necessary. If I lived to a hundred, becoming a decrepit old man, when I go underground, Anuan wouldn’t even recognize me.

“Anuan, don’t you agree?”

The Emperor looked toward the space beside him.

On the other side, the palace servant Cheng’an was already accustomed to the Emperor’s delusional episodes and stood with his sleeves folded.

This was the Princess Imperial’s first time seeing the Emperor’s illness manifest, and she looked in shock at the space beside the Emperor, unable to imagine that the Empress’s death had affected her brother so deeply.

Just then, the song and dance performance below ended. As the singers and dancers withdrew, a small country’s envoy emerged from his seat and stood in the center. He bowed to the Emperor on high, imitating Great Wei etiquette.

Sitting at her place, Mu Wanyao held silver chopsticks, the meatball she was about to pick up falling from between them. She looked up at the man who had walked to the center.

That person glanced in her direction.

It was Meng Zaishi.

In somewhat unpolished Great Wei language, Meng Zaishi called out loudly to the Emperor above: “Father-Ruler, this subject is the new King of Wuman. Wuman and Great Wei have an alliance – Great Wei gave a daughter of heaven to Wuman in marriage, and Wuman ceased its wars with the border armies, both sides agreeing to peace for a hundred years.

“This subject stands here today to represent that even though Wuman has a new king, this agreement – Wuman still wishes to uphold it and respect Your Majesty as ‘Father-Ruler.’

“But there is one condition in the agreement – that the Great Wei Princess must be Queen in our Wuman. This is the true alliance.

“And in Wuman we have always had the tradition that when succeeding as Wuman King, one inherits all of the previous king’s legacy unconditionally, including his wives.

“Therefore, this subject requests Father-Ruler to bestow Princess Danyang in marriage to this subject once again. Please let Princess Danyang return to Wuman with this subject, to cement the hundred years of friendship between our peoples!”

As his words fell, the main hall, which had still had some quiet conversation, fell completely silent.

The Crown Prince suddenly tensed, unable to resist looking up at his father.

The ornamental jade beads hanging before the Emperor’s crown blocked all probing gazes from below, but the Emperor was observing them from above.

He saw that the Wuman King Meng Zaishi stood tall and spoke decisively – these words had probably been considered by Wuman for quite some time.

The ministers whispered among themselves. Those ministers who had grown close to Princess Danyang over the past year especially couldn’t sit still, their eyes showing concern.

Among the royal family, the Princess Imperial of Luling was indifferent, treating it like a show. Prince Jin lowered his head, expressing no opinion. Prince Qin showed an excited expression. The Crown Prince’s gaze flickered with some hesitation.

The Emperor looked again at Mu Wanyao.

Mu Wanyao stared at Meng Zaishi with ice-cold eyes.

She looked ready to flip the table and eat Meng Zaishi alive.

The Emperor’s lips curved – he found this interesting—

Snow blanketed the earth like silver moonlight, cool and clear.

At the Princess’s residence, maids hurried in and out, beginning their belated preparations for the New Year’s Eve vigil – pastries and ceremonial items.

The guards were busy in front working with Young Masters Yan and Wei to hang red lanterns around the residence. For items the Princess’s residence didn’t have, Yan Shang made special trips back to his neighboring residence to bring things over. These were all items typically prepared for New Year’s in Lingnan, sent to him by his family from afar, and now they all found their way to the Princess’s residence.

The two residences became one this night, with Yan Shang’s servants coming and going, helping decorate the Princess’s residence.

For a time, the Princess’s residence was truly transformed, taking on the air of New Year’s celebrations.

Yan Shang and Wei Shu then led people to hang lanterns in the alley. According to him, when the Princess returned to the alley, there should be lanterns lighting her way. Everything should be different, starting from the entrance of the alley.

Standing in the alley, Wei Shu held a lantern, watching Yan Shang stand on a ladder marking lines on the wall to ensure equal spacing between each lantern.

Yan Shang stood on the ladder and asked Wei Shu below: “You can see more clearly from down there – is this position right?”

Wei Shu suddenly said: “Do you like the Princess?”

Yan Shang froze. He suddenly turned and looked down at Wei Shu below. Such a large movement made the bamboo ladder unstable – his sleeves flew up as he fell from the ladder.

Wei Shu’s eyes constricted as he heard a “thud” – both person and ladder toppled together onto the snowy ground.

Snow was also shaken from the trees, drifting down from the branches like rain showering the alley.

Wei Shu hurriedly put down the lantern and went to dig out the person buried in the snow, both confused and anxious: “Second Brother Yan? Are you alright?”

Yan Shang’s voice was muffled under the snow, gentle: “I’m fine.”

A slender hand gripped the ladder and emerged from under the snow. Yan Shang sat on the ground, shaking off the snow from his face and shoulders.

Seeing he was unharmed, Wei Shu breathed a sigh of relief. The youth crouched nearby, watching Second Young Master Yan’s disheveled state, and slowly said: “…Are you panicked because you feel guilty toward me?”

The alley entrance was quiet, lanterns swaying in the snow, casting a red glow. Sitting on the ground, Yan Shang looked up, meeting Wei Shu’s pitch-black eyes—

At the palace banquet, Meng Zaishi’s words stirred up waves.

The Crown Prince held a wine cup, secretly observing.

Among the officials, one stood out and clasped his hands: “Your Majesty, Great Wei has never had a precedent of having the same princess marry in alliance twice! These barbaric lands, with their talk of a new king inheriting everything from the previous king – it’s laughable, the greatest joke under heaven! To have Princess Danyang marry in alliance again, and to the new King of Wuman no less – this would be an utter humiliation for our Great Wei!”

The Crown Prince looked over and saw that the first official to speak up for Princess Danyang was the Vice Minister of Revenue.

The Vice Minister of Revenue had once been Mu Wanyao’s advisor, coming from Princess Danyang’s residence. The Vice Minister now certainly gave his loyalty to the Crown Prince, but before the Crown Prince, he had been Mu Wanyao’s man.

As the Princess’s former advisor, it was natural for the Vice Minister of Revenue to speak first in Mu Wanyao’s defense.

Mu Wanyao raised her eyes to look at the middle-aged official who had stood up among the ministers.

With the first one taking the lead, it became much easier for the next official to stand: “Your Majesty, we cannot agree to Wuman’s marriage alliance request. Even if there is to be another marriage alliance, it should not be Princess Danyang. The same princess should not marry into Wuman twice!”

But the next official to stand up sneered: “Your way of thinking is what’s absurd. The alliance treaty between Great Wei and Wuman specifically stated that Princess Danyang would marry into Wuman. Since Wuman has its traditions, we should respect them. You’re being pedantic, unwilling to let a woman remarry! The Princess has the right to marry again!”

The Crown Prince looked over, knowing this speaker was from Prince Qin’s faction.

Of course, Prince Qin hoped Mu Wanyao would leave, cutting off the Crown Prince’s right arm.

A military official stood up and called out: “The Princess should not marry! Princess Danyang’s mission is already complete. The treaty’s marriage alliance with Wuman referred to the previous King of Wuman – there is absolutely no reason for her to marry again.”

Another official opposed: “The fact that the agreement between Wuman and our Great Wei has been maintained until now is due to our keeping our word. The King of Wuman has made his request – for the sake of the nation, Princess Danyang should marry!”

The two sides argued irreconcilably.

Above, the Emperor observed, thinking that Mu Wanyao’s position at court was clearly not what it once had been.

To think so many officials now stood on Mu Wanyao’s side.

It seemed Mu Wanyao’s running about this past year had produced results.

Seeing the various opinions split evenly, the Crown Prince knew it was time for him to enter the fray. He looked to the side, and a palace servant quietly left his seat to go among the envoys.

As the Crown Princess sat nervously beside the Crown Prince, she saw another small country’s envoy stand up from among the seats and laugh: “Since Wuman seeks to marry Princess Danyang! Though our country is small, we too admire the Princess’s beauty – we request Your Majesty bestow her hand in marriage!”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes—

In the snow outside the Princess’s residence, Yan Shang gazed at Wei Shu, slowly saying: “Yes, I like her, I admire her.

“Juyuan… I’ve wronged you, but I want to marry her.”

Wei Shu was stunned, not expecting someone as reserved as Yan Shang to say such words to him.

Wei Shu said softly: “Marrying her will be very difficult.”

Yan Shang’s eyelashes covered his eyes: “I’m not afraid of those difficulties. What I fear is only that she won’t be willing to marry me.”—

At the palace banquet, everyone held their views.

The officials split into two factions, with those in the middle like Lord Liu not expressing opinions.

The King of Wuman, Meng Zaishi, emphasized again his desire to marry Mu Wanyao.

Three or four more small country envoys joined in, requesting Princess Danyang’s hand in marriage for their rulers.

For a time, all sides clashed, creating quite a commotion.

“Bang—” During the argument, a crystal cup was thrown, not landing on the floor cloth but rolling onto the blue brick.

At the clear sound, everyone looked toward Princess Danyang Mu Wanyao, who had thrown the cup and stood up.

Mu Wanyao looked at all of them, smiling slightly: “Want to marry me? That’s simple enough. You all make good points – I’m just a princess who’s been married before, what difficulty is there in marrying again? It just depends on your abilities.

“Come court me. Whoever wins my heart, that’s who I’ll marry.”

Her gaze was ice-cold yet smiling as it pierced through the crowd toward Meng Zaishi: “Want to marry me? Then come court me, come win my heart. Does the King of Wuman dare?”