Hearing Mu Xiarou’s intention, Mu Yunjin smiled awkwardly and glanced sideways at her. “Fifth Sister, you’re only fourteen. There are still two years before you’re of marriageable age. Why the hurry?”

Upon hearing this, Mu Xiarou became anxious and disregarded the fact that she was speaking to Mu Yunjin. She blurted out, “The princes are all of marrying age now, and they might choose some official’s daughter at any moment. If I don’t seize the opportunity early, I’m afraid that by the time I reach the proper age, there won’t be any princes left to marry me.”

“Why must you marry a prince?” Mu Yunjin found it somewhat baffling. These women, one after another, all wanted to enter the royal family. But life in the royal household was far from easy.

“Third Sister, please take me to the palace with you. I promise to behave and won’t cause you any trouble.” Mu Xiarou looked at Mu Yunjin with a pleading expression.

Since birth, her mother, the Third Madam, had always told her that she was a concubine’s daughter in the Minister’s mansion, and being female among the many children in the household, she would certainly not receive special love or attention.

Her future depended entirely on her efforts. If she managed to marry into the royal family, no one would ever look down on her again.

Previously, when Mu Yunjin was out of favor in the household, Mu Xiarou naturally saw no reason to curry favor with her. But now things were different—Father had not only lifted Mu Yunjin’s confinement but had also begun to pay attention to her.

Especially since Mu Yunjin’s marriage to the Sixth Prince seemed to be a foregone conclusion, if she didn’t curry favor with Mu Yunjin now, whom else could she turn to?

Beside her, Mu Yunjin immediately saw through Mu Xiarou’s thoughts. She rubbed her wrist, thinking that if this girl wanted to go, she might as well take her along, which would help divert some attention from herself.

“You can come with me today, but remember that the palace is full of people and various objects. Don’t speak carelessly.” Mu Yunjin said.

Hearing this, Mu Xiarou felt some contempt for Mu Yunjin. After just meeting Empress Qin a few times, she was already lecturing her.

Once she successfully married one of the princes, she would no longer need to curry favor with Mu Yunjin!

…

After entering the palace, Mu Yunjin wasn’t led to Xianghe Hall, where Empress Qin resided, but instead to Qinghuan Hall, which was often used for palace banquets.

As soon as she stepped into Qinghuan Hall, she heard a lot of cheerful voices inside.

At this time, Qinghuan Hall was already filled with many people. At a glance, Mu Yunjin could see many men wearing official robes. When she noticed Yan Lingshang and Wen Ruhan, whom she had met before, also seated inside, she somewhat understood that Empress Qin had invited her to attend a palace banquet.

Beside her, Mu Xiarou, seeing the grand scene, felt like she had struck gold today.

After Mu Yunjin entered, all eyes in the hall were drawn to her. Many who had never seen Mu Yunjin before exclaimed in wonder, asking which family’s daughter could be so beautiful that just by entering, she outshone all the meticulously dressed daughters of officials.

“Third Miss Mu, please take your seat with the Minister at the Mu household’s table.” A young eunuch approached Mu Yunjin’s side and led her to the Mu family’s seating area.

Minister Mu had noticed Mu Yunjin as soon as she entered. Although he had recently developed a better opinion of this daughter, given her poor reputation and lack of education, bringing her to such a grand occasion still made him feel somewhat embarrassed.

Mu Lingzhu, sitting nearby, saw Mu Yunjin walking towards them, and her eyes immediately flashed with dark anger.

“Father.” After Mu Yunjin greeted Minister Mu, she sat down to the side, her eyes unfocused.

Seeing this, Mu Lingzhu glanced at Mu Xiarou, who had sat down with Mu Yunjin, and couldn’t help but coldly remark, “Xiarou, why are you here too?”

“I begged Third Sister to bring me out to see the world.” Mu Xiarou’s tone was particularly excited, and her gaze couldn’t help but fall on the row of empty seats directly opposite them.

Since her father was the Prime Minister, they were seated at the head of the officials’ section.

Those seats opposite them must be for the princes and princesses.

Thinking of this, Mu Xiarou became somewhat excited.

After a short while, a series of announcements came from the doorway. Mu Yunjin looked over and saw several figures walking into Qinghuan Hall.

Leading them was that purple-robed figure, with a cold demeanor and elegant gait, walking slowly forward.

After Chu Li took his seat, his gaze lazily swept over Mu Yunjin sitting directly opposite him. Mu Yunjin froze for a moment, and after their gazes met in midair, they tacitly looked away.

One cold, the other feigning composure.

As Mu Yunjin was lowering her head, a dark shadow appeared before her, blocking her light. Looking up again, she saw Chu Qing’s mischievously smiling face in front of her.

“Greetings, Third Prince.” Mu Yunjin spoke casually, without even bothering to stand up and bow.

Chu Qing wasn’t angry, though. He just looked back at Chu Li, then at Mu Yunjin. “Even though we’ve met before, as soon as you entered, Third Miss, you only had eyes for my sixth brother. Aren’t you ignoring this prince too much?”

Nearby, Minister Mu heard Chu Qing’s words and thought he was trying to cause trouble for Mu Yunjin. He became somewhat anxious and was about to speak up when Mu Lingzhu pulled him back and shook her head.

“Sister is quite powerful now.” Mu Lingzhu whispered.

Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Qing, squeezed out a smile, and awkwardly said, “Well, it’s just that the Sixth Prince in his purple robe, walking at the front, was so eye-catching!”

Hearing this, Chu Qing lowered his gaze to look at his silver-white brocade robe. Though its color might not be as vibrant as purple, the silver-white under the bright candlelight was certainly not as inconspicuous as Mu Yunjin had suggested.

So he just remarked, “This prince forgot the saying that ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder.'”

“Does the Third Prince mean that I am the lover, and the Sixth Prince is the beauty?” Mu Yunjin leaned back in her chair, silently mocking in her heart. What kind of lovers were she and Chu Li supposed to be?

He had injured her wrist so badly, and she was already showing remarkable restraint by enduring this grievance.

The dialogue between Chu Qing and Mu Yunjin was overheard by many seated nearby, and those who had been curious about Mu Yunjin’s identity now understood completely.

So this woman was the legendary Third Miss Mu Yunjin.

But wasn’t she rumored to be timid and illiterate? Yet judging from her confident tone when speaking with Chu Qing and her unrestrained manner, she was nothing like what the rumors described.

It seemed those were all just false rumors.

Who would have thought that Minister Mu was so fortunate to have produced such an excellent daughter?

“This humble maiden Xiarou pays her respects to the Third Prince.” Mu Xiarou had been wanting to attract Chu Qing’s attention for some time, but seeing him continuously speaking with Mu Yunjin, she hadn’t found the opportunity.

From the conversation between the Third Prince and Mu Yunjin, the Third Prince seemed to be quite approachable. Moreover, his appearance was outstanding—his angular features seemed meticulously carved, his phoenix eyes flirtatious and extremely enchanting, and his entire being exuded royal dignity. How could she not be moved?

After greeting Chu Qing, Mu Xiarou waited for his response, but to her dismay, Chu Qing merely waved his hand dismissively before turning to take his seat in the princes’ section.

Mu Xiarou’s little face immediately fell.

After Chu Qing was seated, Mu Yunjin raised her eyes to look at the princes’ seats again, glancing at Chu Li beside Chu Qing, and felt a stabbing pain in her wrist once more.

…

“His Majesty the Emperor arrives—”

“Her Majesty the Empress arrives—”

“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager arrives—”

“Her Highness the Empress Qin arrives—”

A series of announcements rang out at the hall’s entrance. Upon hearing these announcements, everyone stood up and looked toward the doorway.

Mu Yunjin listened to this string of announcements, frowned slightly, and, seeing a flash of bright yellow at the doorway, pursed her lips. All the important figures had arrived.

After everyone had paid their respects, from the main seat, Emperor Ximing spoke loudly, “All may rise.”

After sitting down, Mu Yunjin carefully observed Emperor Ximing and the Empress beside him.

Both Emperor Ximing and the Empress appeared to be over fifty, with wrinkles already visible at the corners of their eyes and brows.

Beside them, Empress Dowager Zheng and Empress Qin also took their seats on the dais. Both were dressed in red today, with their hair arranged in elaborate and dignified styles, neither willing to be outdone by the other.

“Today is just a casual family banquet. Everyone need not be too formal, please feel at ease.” Emperor Ximing raised a cup of wine and addressed the crowd below.

Everyone raised their wine cups and said in unison, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After that, a row of palace maids and eunuchs entered from outside and began pouring wine and serving dishes at each table. In no time, every table was full of fine wine and exquisite food.

Mu Yunjin looked at the dishes before her, about to pick up her chopsticks when she remembered that her wrist was still swollen, making it difficult to use them.

But with Chu Li sitting opposite her, to avoid arousing his suspicion, Mu Yunjin simply gave up on using chopsticks altogether. She picked up a spoon with her left hand and began drinking the soup from the small bowl in front of her.

In the hall, Empress Dowager Zheng and Empress Qin observed the situation below, their eyes moving subtly before they both spoke simultaneously—

“Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty.”

Hearing these two voices, everyone was slightly stunned and began looking up at the dais.

Emperor Ximing, hearing the voices from both sides, was also taken aback, but he still turned to his mother first. “Mother, please speak.”

Seeing this, Empress Qin gave Empress Dowager Zheng a challenging look.

“My son, while everyone is gathered here today, I wish to announce a joyous matter.” Empress Qin spoke with a smile, casting a glance at Chu Li and Mu Yunjin below.

Mu Yunjin, upon meeting Empress Qin’s gaze, immediately had an ominous feeling.

“Oh? What joyous matter? Please share, Mother.” Emperor Ximing suddenly became interested in what Empress Qin had to say.

“My son, you know that I verbally arranged a marriage with the Old Madam of Minister Mu’s household, don’t you?” Empress Qin said.

Hearing this, Emperor Ximing’s previously relaxed brow suddenly creased, and his expression darkened somewhat.

“Now that the Mu family’s eldest daughter, Yunjin, is nearly of age, I think that since we’re all gathered for this banquet today, perhaps Your Majesty could issue an imperial decree of betrothal to add to the joyous atmosphere. What do you think?”

As soon as Empress Qin finished speaking, everyone immediately turned their gaze toward Chu Li and Mu Yunjin.

Undeniably, these two were exceptionally matched in appearance.

However, among all the princes, the Sixth Prince had earned the Emperor’s trust and favor, and was likely to be named Crown Prince in the future. While this Third Miss Mu was indeed beautiful, her past rumors that had spread through the streets and alleys had already ruined her reputation. In this regard, she was truly unworthy of the Sixth Prince.