Then came the emperor's chief eunuch, Fulu Gonggong.

Because he was standing to the side, he was facing Xiao Zhixing, and his eyes were wide open.

Consort Zhang was already staring at Xiao Zhixing, half-leaning on the long table, looking as if she was about to faint from shock.

Her reaction naturally attracted the attention of the emperor and the empress dowager.

Then, both mother and son began to experience a violent jolt in their pupils.

Zhao Yunqi suddenly stood up.

The expressions on his face changed in turn from shock, disbelief, fantasy, sadness, joy, excitement, and then back to disbelief, which was truly spectacular.

The Empress Dowager was already feeling dizzy, clutching her head.

With the help of her equally shocked personal nanny, she closed her eyes, opened them again, closed them again, and finally opened them again.

Yan Yuntai fell into a heavy, oppressive silence.

Even the younger generation, except those who were oblivious to the situation, held their breath, sensing something ominous.

Only Xiao Zhixing appeared relaxed and at ease, fiddling with the hilt of his sword, his eyes darting around with a simple, curious look.

The viewers in the live stream were also puzzled.

[What's going on? Why does everyone see our princess with such a weird expression?]

[Seriously, is the princess scary-looking? She's so beautiful and dashing, are they blind?]

Uh, could it be that the princess's appearance is indeed frightening?

What are you saying? Who's scaring people?!

The way they reacted clearly showed they'd seen someone they knew!

[And the only thing that could make everyone from the emperor to his ministers look like this... is...]

I also have a guess—

[I have a guess too!! Oh my god, if this is true—our history is going to be rewritten!?]

No! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!! They don't deserve it!!

[Uh, what kind of riddle are you guys playing?]

[Ahhhhh, no! The princess is the Grand Marshal's child!]

[Hiss, is it possible...?]

[Don't rush everyone, let's discuss this in the StarNet Princess supertopic first, and watch the drama unfold!]

Bai Su said directly, "Surely the princess isn't... the emperor's child?"

The comments section went crazy, filled with asterisks and gibberish.

Xiao Zhixing thought that the audience was quite smart and had guessed some of the facts.

However, she didn't even know whose child she was.

Yan Yun Terrace.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense until Zhao Yunqi sat down, his expression returning to calm.

He gave Xiao Zhixing a deep look, gripped his cup tightly, and raised it. "Let's drink together. Tomorrow is the hunt. I hope all of you talented individuals will show your abilities and let me see your brilliance."

Everyone snapped out of their daze and responded in unison, and the banquet seemed to gradually become more lively.

However, only they themselves knew that they were all distracted.

Especially when he saw Xiao Zhixing raising his glass to Li Wenxiu, Huo Baijun and others from afar, his smile was as bright as the sun.

Time and space have changed, but that person on that day was just as bright and vibrant.

Xiao Zhixing casually held the cup, smiling at everyone who looked at him, causing those gazes to recoil in surprise.

She became increasingly at ease, and even deliberately raised her cup towards Pinghou, who was practically frozen into a stone statue beside her:

"Lord Ping, this is my first time attending such a banquet, and I'm quite bored. Would you like your wife to give me some pointers?"

Her tone was very normal, but the room fell silent for a moment.

They're obviously all paying attention to her.

One by one, they subconsciously stopped, turning their heads or glancing sideways, pretending not to care, but all of them were listening intently.

Marquis Ping swayed precariously, his face stiff and sweat pouring down his face. He dared not meet her gaze, and his mouth trembled as he stammered:

"I...my wife doesn't know much about this either, you...you should find someone else..."

Xiao Zhixing couldn't help but chuckle, "Lord Ping, what's wrong? It's not even hot outside, are you sick? You must take care of yourself..."

How utterly immoral is this person? You must be terrified!

Marquis Ping shuddered violently, his face turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with terror, and he felt as if the hairs on his body were standing on end.

Then, this huge fat guy actually cried.

She just sat there, crying her eyes out, and seemed on the verge of fainting.

Xiao Zhixing: ...

She coughed, "Are you really that scared? Could it be that Xiao Yan was 'killed' by him?"

Everyone was so upset by Marquis Ping's crying that they lost their mood.

Zhao Yunqi led the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine away in a hurry.

Xiao Zhixing had watched enough of the show and was too lazy to stay any longer. As soon as they left, she got up.

The others tacitly avoided walking ahead of her and watched her take her steps.

"Zhixing, wait for me!" Huo Baijun chased after him. "Shall we go horseback riding outside the palace?"

Xiao Zhi walked to the railing of Yan Yun Terrace, turned around, and said, "Then let's wait for Ru Shu and Wen Xiu and go together."

"Great! Let me call a few more people, it'll be lively." Huo Baijun darted off to call his friends.

She was standing on the steps of the entrance/exit.

With his hands behind his back, he looked down at the majestic scenery of the imperial palace, and gradually heard footsteps behind him.

The Zhang family and the Grand Tutor's mansion were the first to emerge.

The two elders paused for a moment when they saw her back before slowly approaching and standing to her side.

Grand Tutor Li Xiao, with his snow-white beard, stopped in his tracks and asked with a seemingly kind smile, "Princess, it's been a year since you returned to the capital. How have you been?"

Xiao Zhixing turned around, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Reporting to the old master, I'm doing quite well."

"Oh, that's good, that's good. I'll take my leave now."

"Please take care."

Li Xiao was also Xiao Yan's former teacher.

From the Yin Dynasty to the Great Sheng Dynasty, it stood firm and never fell; its methods were remarkable.

The eldest master and his wife also paused, glanced at her, and then, as if there were thorns under their feet, quickly left with their entourage.

Xiao Zhixing smiled and watched them leave the stage.

Zhang family?

Xiao Yan's maternal uncle's family, the maternal family of Consort Zhang, are now all wealthy.

She walked past each house one by one, her eyes fixed straight ahead, as if they weren't there.

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