The day of Chu Ye’s investiture ceremony had arrived.

Mu Yunjin was awakened early and hurried back to her room. Sitting at her dressing table, Zixiang styled her hair in an exceptionally elegant and dignified updo. All her dark hair was swept up, adorned with formal pearl hairpins and dangling ornaments. Her entire appearance transformed from her usual simple elegance to one of swaying grace and refined dignity.

After styling her hair, Zixiang helped Mu Yunjin select a light purple brocade dress that had just been delivered yesterday. The hem was embroidered with some tassels that moved with each step, accentuating her liveliness.

“Miss, today you’ll outshine all the other ladies again,” Zixiang said, looking at Mu Yunjin standing before her. Even as a woman, she found it almost impossible to look away.

Mu Yunjin gazed at herself in the mirror for a while, reaching up to smooth her hairdo, the corners of her lips curving into a smile. It truly was her good fortune to occupy such a beautiful physical form.

“Miss, the Prince is already waiting for you outside,” Zixiang glanced at Mu Yunjin and pointed outside.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow. “Mm, I’ll go out and dazzle his eyes.”

Opening the door, Mu Yunjin saw Chu Li sitting with his back to her at the stone table, with Ding Xian standing to one side. Upon hearing the door open, both turned to look back.

When Chu Li glimpsed the graceful figure behind him, a flash of amazement passed through his cold eyes, but it disappeared in an instant.

…

…

“Ready?” Chu Li raised an eyebrow at her when Mu Yunjin approached, without saying anything more.

Not hearing the praise she had expected, Mu Yunjin pouted slightly and raised her chin. “Don’t you have anything else to say to me?”

Hearing this, Chu Li’s lips curved with a smile. “What would you like to hear?”

“Sigh.” Mu Yunjin sighed, shaking her head. “A man who doesn’t understand romance.”

Pfft…

Ding Xian couldn’t help but laugh out loud, then quickly covered his mouth. “Your Highness, Princess, it’s getting late. We should head to the palace.”

“Hmph.” Mu Yunjin snorted and walked ahead by herself, taking overly large steps. Combined with the weight of her hairdo, she felt somewhat unsteady.

After leaving the residence, Mu Yunjin initially wanted to jump onto the carriage, but due to her elaborate attire today, she could only stand stiffly in front of the carriage, motionless.

Chu Li approached and extended his hand to her, speaking softly, “My beloved consort, please get in the carriage.”

Mu Yunjin glanced at Chu Li, placed her hand on his, and with his assistance, climbed into the carriage compartment.

Chu Li followed.

Inside the carriage, Chu Li’s gaze fell on Mu Yunjin. He reached out to adjust a slightly crooked hairpin and spoke softly, “Don’t be unhappy. This prince likes you in any form.”

“But what I like most is your most natural and casual self.”

Only then did she live most at ease and unrestrained.

Mu Yunjin was slightly startled. A moment later, the small frustration in her heart was immediately dispelled by Chu Li’s words.

On the way to the palace, the atmosphere inside the carriage was warm and tender.

……

By the time their carriage reached the palace gate, the entrance was already filled with carriages of those attending the banquet. Chu Li’s carriage didn’t stop at the palace gate but drove directly inside.

Today’s banquet was grand, and the Emperor of Western Ming had invited people from the other three kingdoms. By now, the officials and several princes had already arrived at the banquet hall.

After arriving at the venue, Mu Yunjin looked at the luxurious and magnificent decorations and took a small breath. “What a grand occasion.”

Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin and pointed in a direction. “You go sit there first. This prince has something to deal with.”

“Mm.” Mu Yunjin nodded and walked forward with Zixiang.

When Mu Yunjin stepped into the banquet hall, everyone’s gaze was drawn to the light purple figure. For a moment, they found it difficult to look away from this city-toppling beauty.

“Miss, they’re all looking at you,” Zixiang whispered beside Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin lowered her eyes and smiled faintly. “Pay no attention.”

Chu Li had said he loved her most in her simple and clean appearance. Now, these people were attracted by her carefully groomed appearance, which meant nothing to her.

While walking toward her seat, Mu Yunjin caught sight of a pink figure and her eyes brightened. “Little Nine.”

Chu Qingyuan, dressed in a pink brocade dress, was sitting in her seat. Seeing Mu Yunjin standing in front of her and greeting her, she snorted and turned her face away, ignoring Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin was somewhat surprised.

She stepped closer to Chu Qingyuan and bent down to look at her. “Little Nine, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t want to talk to you.” Chu Qingyuan spoke coldly, not looking at Mu Yunjin once.

Mu Yunjin didn’t know what she had done to upset Chu Qingyuan. Seeing that she didn’t want to acknowledge her, Mu Yunjin sighed slightly and walked toward her seat.

Seeing that Mu Yunjin was about to leave, Chu Qingyuan turned her face and spoke with displeasure, “You’re just going to leave like that? Aren’t you going to apologize to me?”

Apologize?

Mu Yunjin turned around. There were quite a few people present, and Chu Qingyuan’s voice wasn’t quiet, attracting much attention.

“What have I done to upset you?” Mu Yunjin was puzzled.

Hearing this, Chu Qingyuan snorted again, pouting with her small mouth, looking at Mu Yunjin with an aggrieved expression. “Last time, you repeatedly discouraged me from liking Brother Munan. Was it because you knew he liked you?”

Mu Yunjin was startled, then realized this was about Qin Muyue’s unrestrained words when Empress Qin died.

So that had reached Little Nine.

“Little Nine, these things aren’t something I can control, right? But if I hadn’t discouraged you, allowing you to continue liking General Qin, wouldn’t that have damaged your status and dignity?” Mu Yunjin softly comforted Chu Qingyuan.

After all, Chu Qingyuan was still a child with a simple disposition. Hearing Mu Yunjin’s explanation, half of her anger dissipated, and she nodded awkwardly at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin smiled and reached out to pat Chu Qingyuan’s head. “Good girl.”

By the time Mu Yunjin returned to her seat, many people had already arrived. Chu Qing, Chu Xin, and others had also entered one by one. When Chu Qing saw Mu Yunjin, he merely nodded slightly in greeting without saying anything else.

When Prince Rong, Chu Zhen, and Princess Rong, Qin Shuning, arrived, whether intentionally or by coincidence, their seats happened to be next to Mu Yunjin’s.

Princess Rong sat down next to Mu Yunjin.

“My niece-in-law, why are you alone?” Princess Rong smiled at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin pulled at the corner of her mouth. “He’s busy.”

“I see…” Princess Rong sighed languidly. When she caught sight of the entrance to the banquet hall from the corner of her eye, her eyes brightened. “Yue’er, come here quickly!”

Just as Qin Muyue stepped into the banquet hall, she heard Princess Rong calling her. Looking up, she noticed Mu Yunjin sitting beside Princess Rong, and a shadow flashed through her eyes.

“Aunt.” Qin Muyue walked over to Princess Rong, warmly addressing her.

“Mm, I heard the Emperor lifted your confinement?” Princess Rong asked.

Qin Muyue nodded. “Yes.”

After speaking, she added, “Aunt, do you have an empty seat there? Let me sit with you. I don’t want to sit among grandfather’s group of men.”

“Then sit with your aunt.” Princess Rong moved over slightly, leaving a space for Qin Muyue.

Qin Muyue sat down, right next to Mu Yunjin.

With these two arriving, Mu Yunjin suddenly felt as if the air had become murky.

……

As night fell, many lanterns were lit in the banquet hall, now brilliantly illuminated. Chu Li had gone somewhere unknown, and Mu Yunjin sat alone in her chair, lowering her eyes and beginning to doze off.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, a familiar scent wafted from beside her.

Mu Yunjin slightly lifted her eyelids and saw that Chu Li was now sitting beside her. She couldn’t help but tilt her head against Chu Li’s arm, gently yawning.

Seeing that Mu Yunjin was very drowsy, Chu Li pressed his lips together in a slight smile. Disregarding the glances around them, he pulled her into his embrace, gently patting her shoulder.

When Qin Muyue caught sight of this from the corner of her eye, she almost crushed the teacup in her hand, gritting her teeth while maintaining a composed appearance.

Not far away, among the officials’ seats, Prime Minister Mu also noticed this scene. His brow showed a layer of joy, and he couldn’t help but speak to Mu Yunhan beside him, “This sister of yours has indeed married the right person.”

“Mm.” Mu Yunhan agreed with a nod.

Mu Lingzhu, also sitting nearby, felt a slight sourness in her heart upon seeing this scene, but she had already put aside most of her obsession and didn’t feel that heart-wrenching sensation anymore.

However, what worried her most now was this woman, Qin Shuning.

“His Majesty arrives—”

“Her Majesty the Empress arrives—”

“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager arrives—”

With a series of announcements, the formal commencement of the ceremony was declared.

When Mu Yunjin lifted her eyelids, she saw the Emperor of Western Ming and others slowly walking in the center of the banquet hall, heading towards the main seats on the steps.

At this time, Crown Prince Chu Ye was nowhere to be seen.

After the Emperor of Western Ming took his seat, everyone immediately rose and paid their respects to those on the throne.

“You may be seated,” the Emperor of Western Ming waved his hand, gesturing for everyone to sit down.

Once everyone was seated, the Emperor of Western Ming exchanged a glance with Eunuch Lu beside him. Eunuch Lu immediately understood, stepped forward, and announced in his shrill voice—

“We respectfully invite the King of Beiming, the Crown Prince of Donglin, and the Holy Maiden Emissary of Nanting to the banquet!”

As Eunuch Lu finished speaking, three figures walked in from the entrance of the banquet hall, each followed by a group of attendants, instantly making the entire hall shine with brilliance.

Bei Tang Wenfeng led the way. Seeing Bei Tang Wenfeng’s arrival, the Emperor of Western Ming stood up and nodded slightly. “Brother Bei Tang, please.”

The Emperor of Western Ming pointed to a side seat at the front.

Bei Tang Wenfeng smiled and nodded, taking his seat. The attendants and guards he had brought immediately stood on both sides.

When Rong Jiu entered, he immediately noticed Mu Yunjin, who was very formally dressed today. Due to the crowded venue, he only glanced at her from the corner of his eye without looking directly.

“Greetings to the Emperor of Western Yuan,” Rong Jiu bowed slightly to the Emperor of Western Ming.

“Crown Prince Rong need not stand on ceremony. Please be seated,” the Emperor of Western Ming smiled and said.

Rong Jiu nodded and took his seat on one side.

Next, everyone’s gaze fell on Jiang Qingxue. The people present, having heard that Nanting had sent a Holy Maiden Emissary, were all curious to see her revered appearance.

Legend had it that Nanting had always had the custom of selecting Holy Maidens, and that these maidens all possessed heavenly beauty, unmatched in the world.

But now, seeing Jiang Qingxue with her face veiled, though her graceful figure could be discerned, only her eyes were visible, leaving many disappointed and regretful.

Prime Minister Mu, sitting among the officials, stared intently at the figure in the hall, his eyes gradually misting over with emotions he could barely suppress…