Mu Yunhan’s expression changed instantly as he reached out and tapped Mu Yunjin’s head, “Mind your manners.”

Mu Yunjin smiled mischievously.

“They say the Sixth Prince’s consort has the best relationship with her brother, and it seems true.” Chu Qing had somehow appeared beside Mu Yunjin and Mu Yunhan, his eyes filled with an amused smile.

Mu Yunjin had always disliked Chu Qing. Hearing his slightly mocking tone now, she was unwilling to engage with him further and merely smiled, “The Third Prince also has good relationships with the Fifth Princess, the Eighth Prince, and others.”

“Sixth Prince’s consort has been married to Sixth Brother for a month now, why are you still so formal? You should address me as Third Brother, Fifth Sister, and Eighth Brother,” Chu Qing said.

Mu Yunjin twisted her lips without responding and walked toward the banquet table with Mu Yunhan, ignoring Chu Qing.

Chu Qing watched Mu Yunjin’s retreating figure, his eyes flashing with interest.

Just after they were seated, exclamations were heard from the entrance of the banquet hall. Mu Yunjin looked up to see Chu Qingchang and Chu Qingyuan arriving together.

As soon as Chu Qingyuan spotted Mu Yunjin sitting inside, she ran over and smiled at her, “Sixth Sister-in-law, it’s been a while.”

…

…

Seeing Chu Qingyuan, Mu Yunjin’s face broke into a faint smile as she nodded at her.

“Little Nine, you’re always so unruly,” came Chu Qingchang’s cold criticism from behind.

Chu Qingchang walked slowly to Chu Qingyuan’s side, her tone cool and her eyes slightly disdainful as they swept over Mu Yunjin. Then, noticing Mu Yunhan sitting beside Mu Yunjin, she paused slightly.

“Greetings to both Princesses,” Mu Yunhan stood up and gave them a slight bow.

Chu Qingchang looked at Mu Yunhan, a flash of admiration passing through her eyes. She nodded to him and lowered her gaze slightly, “You must be Junior General Mu?”

“I am,” Mu Yunhan replied calmly.

Chu Qingchang pressed her lips together slightly, her cheeks taking on a tinge of color before she took a seat nearby.

Mu Yunjin watched Chu Qingchang, noticing that after Chu Qingyuan sat down, she glanced at Mu Yunhan again. Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows slightly and whispered to Mu Yunhan, “Oh no, it seems you’ve attracted some unwanted romantic attention.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunhan glared at Mu Yunjin.

……

Shortly after, Emperor Ximing and the Empress entered the banquet hall. Empress Dowager Zheng and Empress Qin once again sat on either side of Emperor Ximing and the Empress, neither yielding to the other.

Imperial Consort Li and Imperial Consort Wan, who had confronted Mu Yunjin in the Imperial Garden earlier, were also present, coincidentally seated directly across from Mu Yunjin.

After paying their respects, everyone sat down.

Emperor Ximing sat on the main throne, surveyed the surroundings, and then fixed his gaze on Mu Yunjin’s seat. “Where is Li’er?”

“Li’er had matters to attend to and couldn’t come,” Empress Qin quickly answered for Mu Yunjin, afraid she might feel awkward addressing the Emperor.

Hearing this, Emperor Ximing nodded.

Then, the Emperor looked at Mu Yunjin again, picked up his wine cup, and spoke softly, “Yunjin, on your wedding day with Li’er, I was occupied with state affairs and didn’t have time to attend. Today, I offer you a toast.”

Hearing the Emperor’s voice, Mu Yunjin was startled, then picked up her wine cup, sat up, and said with pressed lips, “Thank you, Fath—Father Emperor. This humble Yunjin is overwhelmed by the honor.”

Emperor Ximing nodded and waved his hand at Mu Yunjin, “Sit down. Today we are all family, no need for formalities.”

Seeing that the Emperor wasn’t making things difficult for her, Mu Yunjin also relaxed a bit. She remembered clearly that this Emperor had strongly opposed the marriage initially.

However, these terms of address—”Father Emperor” and “Mother Empress”—felt extremely awkward to use.

As the banquet progressed, Mu Yunjin ate the food before her absent-mindedly, occasionally observing Chu Qingchang from the corner of her eye.

She noticed that from the beginning until now, Chu Qingchang had looked in Mu Yunhan’s direction no fewer than five times.

Thinking about this, Mu Yunjin took a sip of tea and inwardly sighed—if this woman became her sister-in-law, the Xiang mansion would probably be turned upside down.

“Alas, on such a beautiful day, this Dowager had wanted to properly toast the newly-wed Li’er and Yunjin, but Li’er didn’t even show up.” From the throne, Empress Dowager Zheng suddenly heaved a heavy sigh, speaking loudly enough for everyone present to hear clearly.

After speaking, Empress Dowager Zheng suddenly turned to Mu Yunjin with a smile, “Yunjin, after you married Li’er, this Dowager thought you would come to serve tea to me, but this Dowager waited all day in Fengming Palace and never saw you.”

“The wedding gift this Dowager prepared for you has also remained undelivered. Now that we’ve met today, this Dowager has brought it along.” As she finished speaking, Mamma Yang beside her carried a gift box toward Mu Yunjin, placed it in front of her, and then opened the brocade box.

“This is a necklace of Moon Stone pearls from the Northern Ming Country, extremely precious. It will surely suit you,” Empress Dowager Zheng smiled.

Mu Yunjin glanced at the necklace—the quality was indeed excellent—but she was more curious about what Empress Dowager Zheng was plotting.

At this moment, Imperial Consort Li, across from her, exclaimed in amazement, “This pearl necklace is truly dazzling. It seems the Empress Dowager truly cherishes the Sixth Prince’s consort.”

“Since the Sixth Prince’s consort has not yet performed the tea-serving ceremony for the Empress Dowager, why not make up for it today while we’re all here? Otherwise, it wouldn’t be right to accept the gift, would it?” Imperial Consort Li smiled.

Mu Yunjin bit her lip, her eyes filling with deep meaning as she looked up at Imperial Consort Li across from her.

After all that build-up, so this was what they were waiting for.

Imperial Consort Li returned Mu Yunjin’s look with a triumphant smile, then glanced at Emperor Ximing on the throne and coquettishly said, “Your Majesty, don’t you agree? This ceremony cannot be neglected, right?”

Emperor Ximing nodded and looked down at Mu Yunjin, “Since that’s the case, then perform the tea-serving ceremony.”

Hearing this, Empress Qin’s expression changed slightly, but she couldn’t object to the situation in the hall.

She silently cursed Empress Dowager Zheng as an old vixen, then looked at Mu Yunjin with loving eyes, full of sympathy.

For the first time, Mu Yunjin felt caught in a difficult position. Nearly everyone present in the hall held significant power in the entire Western Yuan country, and she couldn’t rashly offend them.

But if she performed the ceremony for Empress Dowager Zheng, wouldn’t she be swallowing this insult silently?

“Someone bring tea!” Imperial Consort Li called out, looking mockingly at Mu Yunjin across from her, a victorious look flashing in her eyes.

Soon after, a palace maid brought over a tray with a cup of tea on it.

Mu Yunhan glanced at Mu Yunjin, seeing her frowning, and whispered, “Endure it.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin nodded slightly. Just as she was about to stand up, a eunuch’s announcement sounded from outside—

“The Sixth Prince arrives.”

After these words, a purple figure walked slowly into the room, with eyes dark as ink and an aura of clear sharpness radiating from him, luminous and splendid.

Upon glimpsing Chu Li’s figure, Mu Yunjin inexplicably felt relieved.

After paying respects to Emperor Ximing and the Empress, Chu Li glanced around, then walked toward Mu Yunjin and sat down beside her.

Throughout the process, his gaze never lingered on Mu Yunjin for even half a moment.

Sitting in her place, sensing the purple figure beside her, Mu Yunjin felt an inexplicable chill emanating from beside her and shivered slightly.

After Chu Li sat down, they heard Imperial Consort Li’s mocking voice from across the table, “Sixth Prince’s consort, now that you’ve received the gift, the tea is getting cold. Hurry and prepare for the tea-serving ceremony.”

Hearing Imperial Consort Li’s voice, Chu Li’s cool gaze swept over the pearl necklace on Mu Yunjin’s table, then coldly looked at Imperial Consort Li sitting opposite.

“Serve tea to whom?” His voice was filled with coolness and displeasure.

Imperial Consort Li was startled by this cold gaze and dared not look at Chu Li. She then smiled and looked toward the Empress Dowager, “The Sixth Prince’s consort received the wedding gift from the Empress Dowager, so according to propriety, she should perform the tea-serving ceremony for the Empress Dowager.”

“Oh,” Chu Li responded with a faint “oh” upon hearing this.

Hearing this response, Mu Yunjin’s heart sank again. She glanced sideways at Chu Li, wondering what he was up to.

Just as she was wondering what would happen next, Chu Li spoke again in a cold tone, “If that’s the case, then return the gift.”

Everyone was stunned.

Even Mu Yunjin was startled. After processing Chu Li’s words, she pressed her lips together to hide a smile, wanting to give Chu Li a thumbs up.

The great hall was now silent. Empress Qin suddenly burst into laughter with a “pfft,” and when everyone looked her way, she immediately waved her hand, “It’s nothing, don’t look at me. I just thought of something funny.”

Empress Dowager Zheng, directly refused by Chu Li’s words and embarrassed by Empress Qin’s laughter, was filled with anger but couldn’t express it properly.

Seeing this, Imperial Consort Li spoke again with a smile, “The Sixth Prince is joking. Once a gift is given, taking it back would be inauspicious.”

“The tea-serving ceremony has been passed down from ancestors and is also symbolic of good fortune. Having the Sixth Prince’s consort serve tea today while we’re all family here is just for a bit of festivity.”

Hearing this, Chu Li’s face suddenly broke into a cold smile, “Since Imperial Consort Li is so enthusiastic about tea-serving, then this gift is for you, and please take care of the tea-serving on her behalf.”

As he spoke, Chu Li waved his hand, and the pearl necklace originally on Mu Yunjin’s table, along with the brocade box, flew steadily through the air and landed on Imperial Consort Li’s table across from them.

Imperial Consort Li’s face turned pale.

Emperor Ximing, watching this scene, looked somewhat helpless as he turned to Chu Li, “Li’er, do not be disrespectful.”

“Your Majesty, Li’er has always been like this. Today is a family banquet with all the descendants present, so let’s not dwell on this tea-serving anymore. Besides, this Dowager has already had tea served by Yunjin, which is auspicious enough,” Empress Qin said consolingly.

Hearing this, the Empress, who had been silent until now, also added, “Yes, without Li’er here, today’s banquet felt somewhat incomplete. Now it feels like a reunion.”

Hearing the Empress’s words of “reunion,” Emperor Ximing’s expression improved somewhat.

The matter of the tea-serving ceremony was thus concluded by Chu Li.

Seeing that no one was fixating on the tea-serving issue anymore, Mu Yunjin silently sighed in relief. She turned her head to look at Chu Li beside her. After not seeing him for a month, Chu Li seemed to have grown even colder.

It seemed that this past month probably hadn’t been smooth for him either.

Just as she was thinking this, Mamma Shen behind her suddenly nudged Mu Yunjin’s arm and leaned forward to whisper, “Prince’s consort, quickly pour wine for His Highness.”

Mu Yunjin was startled, only now noticing that since Chu Li had entered, no one had poured wine for him.

So she pressed her lips together, picked up the wine pot on the table, and reached out to fill Chu Li’s cup with wine.

Just after putting down the wine pot, Mamma Shen behind her pulled at Mu Yunjin again, whispering, “Serve some dishes for His Highness…”