After the announcement, everyone’s gaze turned toward the entrance of the great hall, eager to see what the newly appointed Holy Maiden of South Court Nation looked like.

Mu Yunjin also stretched her neck to look outside, her inner gossip spirit reignited, desperate to see this woman who had been praised to the heavens.

Soon, a woman in white slowly entered the hall—

Mu Yunjin was some distance from the figure and couldn’t see the person clearly at first, so she squinted her eyes, trying to get a better look.

As the woman in white gracefully approached, Mu Yunjin finally saw her appearance clearly and couldn’t help but draw in a sharp breath, despite being a woman herself.

The woman wore a flowing white gauze dress that trailed on the ground like moonlight, with an outer layer of white silk that displayed her ethereal grace and beauty.

Her skin was like congealed cream, her eyes like bright moons, her features delicate and tender, unable to conceal her otherworldly quality. Her three thousand strands of dark hair cascaded to her waist, arranged in a simple Biluo hairstyle that, despite its simplicity, was captivating and added to her touching vulnerability.

Mu Yunjin clicked her tongue softly. She truly was a beauty.

Yun Shuangleng—that was her name, wasn’t it?

…

…

Her temperament was quite similar.

After reaching the center of the hall, Yun Shuangleng bent down and knelt, following South Court Nation’s etiquette, and prostrated herself before the Emperor of Western Ming on his throne.

“The newly appointed Holy Maiden of South Court Nation, Yun Shuangleng, greets the ruler of Western Yuan. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand of ten thousand years!”

“May the Empress live a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand years!”

“May the Empress Dowager live a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand years!”

The Emperor of Western Ming was seeing the new Holy Maiden of South Court Nation for the first time today. When she entered, he couldn’t help but stare, even though this woman could be his daughter. For just a moment, something deep in his heart was stirred.

In her white attire, with her transcendent air, she was like an immortal.

Such a woman should only exist in heaven.

“Holy Maiden Emissary, please rise. Grant her a seat!” The Emperor of Western Ming came to his senses, waved to Yun Shuangleng, and pointed to an empty seat on the lower left.

Yun Shuangleng expressed her thanks, rose, and walked to the seat.

After sitting down, she raised her eyes slightly, her gaze happening to meet Mu Yunjin’s, who was watching her from across the hall. She smiled faintly and nodded slightly to Mu Yunjin.

…

Mu Yunjin hadn’t expected to be staring at a woman for so long, as if possessed. When she met Yun Shuangleng’s gaze, she awkwardly stretched her lips into a smile before immediately looking away.

The banquet officially began, and soon music and dance filled the great hall.

Mu Yunjin kept her head down, eating the fruit on the table, but in her dazed glances, she kept catching sight of the white figure across from her.

She did look pure and clean—truly fitting for a Holy Maiden Emissary.

“The weather is cold; don’t eat too much fruit,” said Chu Li, whose attention had remained on Mu Yunjin. Seeing that she hadn’t touched the wine or dishes and was only eating fruit, he finally couldn’t stand it any longer.

Mu Yunjin nodded and leaned closer to Chu Li. “She is beautiful.”

“So what?” Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin, picked up his chopsticks, removed the bones from the fish on his plate, and placed some fish meat in her bowl.

Mu Yunjin smiled happily, content as she began to eat. Even the dance performance that she usually disliked now seemed somewhat pleasing to the eye.

After a few bites, Mu Yunjin was about to pick up her wine cup for a drink. She had just reached out, not yet touching the cup, when Chu Li grasped it.

Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Li with eager eyes.

Chu Li glanced at her sideways and handed her a cup of hot tea instead.

Mu Yunjin pouted, accepted the hot tea, and after a few sips, her stomach felt wonderfully warm.

The song and dance soon ended.

“Come, Holy Maiden Emissary, let me toast to you,” said the Emperor of Western Ming, raising his wine cup toward Yun Shuangleng below.

Yun Shuangleng immediately stood up, holding a cup of tea, and spoke with an apologetic tone, “Please forgive the Holy Maiden Emissary, who has a mission to fulfill and is forbidden from drinking alcohol in this life. I will substitute tea for wine, but my sincerity remains unchanged.”

“Hahaha, no matter.” The Emperor laughed, raised his cup, and drank it all in one go.

Yun Shuangleng took a sip of tea and sat back down.

“I had heard that the new Holy Maiden of South Court Nation was as beautiful as a celestial immortal, and indeed it’s no exaggeration. When she just entered, this concubine felt as if a heavenly immortal had descended,” said Consort Li, who was sitting not far from Yun Shuangleng, full of praise.

Yun Shuangleng smiled faintly without speaking.

“Indeed, not only is this Holy Maiden Emissary the new Holy Maiden, but she is also the little princess of the South Court Nation’s ruler, naturally possessing extraordinary qualities,” Consort Wan chimed in.

Hearing this, Consort Li nodded and curved her lips into a smile. “Consort Wan is right. Since she is the daughter of South Court Nation’s ruler, she must have learned many principles of ethics and morality from a young age. She certainly won’t be like the previous Holy Maiden, doing things that damage the nation’s reputation.”

With Consort Li’s words, the atmosphere in the great hall instantly became quiet and awkward.

Mu Yunjin had deliberately kept a low profile today, focusing on eating without raising her head much. When she heard Consort Li’s words, she slowly raised her eyes and looked toward Consort Li.

Consort Li met Mu Yunjin’s gaze without any hesitation.

She had deliberately spoken those words and didn’t believe Mu Yunjin could find any words to refute. Her mother had indeed been shameless, violating the Holy Maiden’s purity and damaging South Court Nation’s face. What she said was the truth, and a truth known to all under heaven.

“Alright, alright, everyone, don’t just sit there. Have something to eat,” said Empress Dowager Zheng, seeing the situation turning unpleasant. She smiled and intervened, trying to lighten the suddenly chilled atmosphere.

Hearing this, the hall once again filled with lively chatter.

Mu Yunjin had been restraining her emotions the whole time. Her hot temper had almost made her want to rush over and hit someone. But since coming to Western Yuan, how many banquets had ended unhappily because of her?

For now, it was better to endure if possible.

Beside her, Chu Li lowered his eyes with indifference. He could naturally sense how unhappy the small woman next to him was just now. She had swallowed this insult, but that didn’t mean he would too.

Provoking his woman was simply asking for death!

Chu Li glanced at Ding Xian standing beside him and transmitted a secret message. Ding Xian immediately understood and turned to leave the hall.

…

Mu Yunjin’s enthusiasm waned, and her appetite deteriorated. After forcing herself to eat a few more bites, she just held her chopsticks and began to stir the food in her bowl aimlessly.

At this moment, a row of palace maids entered from outside the hall to replace the wine and hot tea at each table.

After the new hot tea arrived, Chu Li handed another cup to Mu Yunjin, his tone gentle. “If you can’t eat, have some tea.”

“I don’t want to drink,” Mu Yunjin shook her head. Her gaze flicked up to see Consort Li across from her, happily drinking wine, her face full of pleasure and smugness.

Mu Yunjin suddenly felt a blockage in her heart. Why should that bitch be enjoying herself while she had to endure this frustration?

With that thought, she took the teacup, had a sip of water, and then reached out to eat some pastries from the table, presenting an appearance that her mood hadn’t been affected at all.

“Your Majesty, taking advantage of the lively banquet today, this concubine boldly offers to dance. May I?” Consort Li suddenly spoke in a coquettish voice. Without waiting for the Emperor’s consent, she had already stepped out from her seat.

Seeing that she was already standing, the Emperor couldn’t let her lose face, so he nodded.

Music began to play in the great hall, and Consort Li, following the melody, began to dance gracefully.

As she danced, Consort Li’s movements became increasingly bold. The brocade robe she had been wearing had somehow had its sash undone.

The Emperor’s face darkened, and he clenched his hands.

But Consort Li showed no awareness. As her dancing reached its peak, she waved her hand and removed her robe completely, revealing a bright red bodice and white undergarments.

The great hall fell dead silent. Even the musicians had stopped playing, lowering their heads fearfully, not daring to look at the scene.

Just as Consort Li was about to undo the ties of her bodice, the Emperor suddenly slammed the table heavily. “Get out of here!”

“Your Majesty, this concubine hasn’t finished dancing yet!” Consort Li’s expression showed no abnormality, and she continued to undo her bodice ties as she spoke.

The Empress hastily stood up. “Come here, take Consort Li out!”

At her words, several guards ran in from outside, and some palace maids picked up Consort Li’s robe and rushed over.

Upon seeing the approaching guards, Consort Li suddenly smiled seductively and directly pulled off her bodice with one hand, twisting her body toward the guards.

“Look, isn’t this concubine dancing beautifully?”

The guards were so frightened that their legs went weak, and they all lowered their heads and knelt down.

“What are you standing there for? Take her away!” The Empress spoke urgently, not daring to look at the Emperor’s expression.

Several young palace maids helped Consort Li put on her outer garment and pulled her toward the exit. Consort Li kept struggling. Before leaving, she even winked at one of the guards. “Young brother, come to this concubine’s chambers tonight, and this concubine will continue to dance for you!”

That guard was so frightened that he fainted on the spot.

…

Mu Yunjin hadn’t even finished chewing the pastry in her mouth before being stunned by Consort Li’s actions. What was wrong with this woman?

She took off all her clothes in front of so many people…

This was too shocking!

Looking at the Emperor’s expression now—gloomy and ashen—he hadn’t expected his most favored consort to embarrass herself so thoroughly in the great hall!

In the great hall, many people’s first thought about Consort Li’s sudden abnormal behavior was that Mu Yunjin had done something.

Because right after Consort Li had mocked her, she immediately made such a huge spectacle of herself, and from now on, she would likely be banished to the Cold Palace forever!

But on second thought, Mu Yunjin had been sitting in place the whole time without moving, so she had no opportunity to do anything to Consort Li. Moreover, Consort Li’s demeanor had been normal; she didn’t appear to be under the influence of any substance.

The whole thing was truly bewildering.

Of the people in the hall, half were suspicious of Mu Yunjin, and half were suspicious of Consort Li herself.

But even those suspicious of Mu Yunjin didn’t dare to speak up. If Mu Yunjin could make Consort Li lose face so completely without anyone noticing, she could naturally use the same methods against them.

They couldn’t afford to provoke her.

…

“Chu Li, is there a ghost here? It’s scary!” Mu Yunjin shrank her neck and moved closer to Chu Li.

Chu Li’s lips twitched, and he looked helplessly at this woman who seemed to be getting increasingly foolish lately. He curled his lips. “Perhaps there is a ghost.”

“You’re making me feel chills,” Mu Yunjin moved even closer to Chu Li.

Chu Li put his arm around her and brought her into his embrace, leaning close to her ear with a teasing smile. “This Prince is that ghost, but isn’t this ghost’s embrace warm?”