As everyone watched Jun Qingcheng stand up, they suddenly understood.

Yes, Princess Mingzhu has been proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting since childhood. She and the Wei family's daughter are known as the two beauties of the capital. In particular, her chess skills are unmatched among the younger generation.

If we were to ask who among all the young masters and ladies of the capital could solve this illusionary chess game, it would undoubtedly be Princess Mingzhu!

"Qingcheng!!" Princess Yan was astonished and quickly reached out to pull her back, her voice barely audible, "The Western Rong illusion magic is no joke. Sit down quickly, don't meddle in this!"

These days, news about the second young master of the Prince of Zhan's mansion has spread like wildfire.

If anything were to happen again, her daughter's reputation would be completely ruined.

Jun Qingcheng smiled and said, "Mother, don't worry, it's just a game of chess. You must trust your daughter."

After saying that, she glanced smugly at the direction of the banquet table next door, then lifted her skirt and gracefully walked towards the center of the main hall.

Su Hua: "..."

That look in his eyes... does he think she's going to rush to solve the chess game?

Princess Yan was getting increasingly anxious and frustrated. Ever since two months ago, her daughter had become incredibly ambitious. She went south to search for someone without saying a word, and when she returned to the capital, she seemed to have completely changed. She was always busy, but no one knew what she was busy with.

Now, they're vying to solve the illusion chess puzzle, and we can't stop them.

On the throne, the emperor gazed at the woman in the white dress, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. "Mingzhu, the King of Xirong just said that this chess game is an illusion game. Do you really want to try it?"

The Western Rong have a small population, yet they have been able to stand firm on the continent for many years, largely thanks to their illusionary arts. Even he, the ruler of this country, was almost bewitched by the illusionary chess game just now.

Although he absolutely had to get the Soul Severance this Halloween, he only had this one niece.

Jun Qingcheng nodded and smiled, her small face full of confidence, "It is Mingzhu's blessing to be able to share the burden of the Emperor. It just so happens that Mingzhu has been itching to play these days and wants to try out the chess game of the Western Rong King to see just how powerful it is!"

Chess was her forte, and as for the mental fortitude required for the game of Fantasy Chess... For the past ten years, she had been waiting for him to return without a moment's hesitation. In the capital, no one had a more stable mind than her.

Seeing this, the Emperor waved his hand and said, "Mingzhu has made up his mind, so let him go and try. If he can solve this chess game, I will reward him handsomely!"

"Yes." Upon hearing the words "generous reward," the girl's lips curved into a beautiful smile.

Her gaze drifted almost imperceptibly toward the corner of the men's section.

Regardless of who in Prince Gong's mansion needs the Soul-Severing Sword, as long as she helps them obtain it, Prince Gong's mansion will owe her a huge favor. At that time, her uncle, the Emperor, will then arrange a marriage between her and her brother, Zichen.

Therefore, Brother Zichen could no longer refuse her.

In the men's section, a white-haired man gazed at a figure in the corner, his eyes rimmed with a layer of red frost.

His clenched fists at his sides were already bulging with veins.

His Chen'er, his and Aheng's Chen'er... it turns out he really has been alive all along!

Not far away, at the princes' table, Jun Yan held a wine cup in his hand, tilting his head slightly to look at the men's and women's tables. The fine wine in his cup mixed with the candlelight made his peach blossom eyes shine even more brightly.

In the center of the hall, the Queen of the Western Rong looked Jun Qingcheng up and down, then gestured for her to enter.

Jun Qingcheng nodded and walked to the chessboard in a few steps.

Upon seeing this, everyone involuntarily held their breath, but fearing they might do something inappropriate while watching the chessboard, they all half-covered their faces with their hands, only watching Jun Qingcheng's actions, and completely ignoring the chessboard.

At Su Hua's table, Chunhua, seeing everyone's reaction, whispered to Su Baishi and Zhao Shi next to her, "Grandma, Aunt, I think this chessboard is quite nice. The longer I look at it, the more food appears on it: big chicken legs, roasted whole fish, braised rabbit, and many other dishes I can't name. The more I look, the more there are, and it's almost overflowing."

Madam Su nodded with a smile, "Yes, I was watching your grandfather from this chessboard..."

Zhao's face flushed slightly. "I saw my husband become the top scholar in the imperial examination, riding a big white horse through the streets!"

Su Hua raised an eyebrow.

What people think becomes the most magnified form of illusion.

Compared to the illusion magic Ah Zheng used at Black Wind Village, the illusion magic on this chessboard is actually slightly inferior.

However, what she didn't understand was that Zichen had said months ago that when the Queen of the Western Rong came to Dayu, she would bring the Soul Severance to exchange for it. But in the end, they were asked to choose between solving the chess game or being given a royal consort. This was simply too absurd.

It's hard to tell whether the game itself was her goal or the latter.

Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, a scream suddenly erupted from the quiet hall.

"ah!!!"

"A monster! She's a monster who has possessed another body!"

"The one I was betrothed to since childhood is me, not that monster! After tonight, that monster will be burned alive, reduced to ashes, hahahahahaha..."

Everyone stared in astonishment, and through their loosened fingers, they saw Jun Qingcheng clutching a chess piece, laughing and crying at the chessboard, looking no different from a madwoman.

This person, usually as gentle as water, is now spouting threats of burning and killing people?!

That's a bit too terrifying.

"Qingcheng!" The Prince of Yan and his wife's hearts skipped a beat.

He rushed forward and grabbed her, but Jun Qingcheng's eyes were bloodshot and she kept muttering to herself. In the end, he had to splash a cup of cold tea on her face to pull her back from the illusion.

Jun Qingcheng snapped out of her daze and met the gazes below, feeling as if she had been struck by lightning.

The Su family members exchanged glances, their worries rising again. They had only heard the phrase "arranged marriage since childhood" once in Shanghe Village. Was the "demon" she had just mentioned referring to their Hua'er?

Could it be that Jun Qingcheng is planning to harm Hua'er on the Emperor's birthday?

Su Bai quietly pulled the person beside her and whispered, "Hua'er, why don't we find an excuse to escape first..."

"Since we're here, let's make the best of it." Su Hua shook her head. There's no reason to guard against thieves for a thousand days. If Jun Qingcheng really wants to make a move, there's no way to avoid it. Moreover, this Soul Breaker must be taken down today. There's not much time left for Zi Chen.

"Actually, Princess Mingzhu made the first two moves very well." The Queen of Xirong smiled and called to her maid to take the chess piece from Jun Qingcheng's hand and set up the chessboard again. "It's just a pity that she was a little too preoccupied."

"Gentlemen and ladies, is there anyone else willing to come forward and give it a try?"

The group, already wary of Xi Rong's illusions, all lowered their heads and acted like quails when they saw Jun Qingcheng, one of the two beauties of the capital, make a fool of herself.

The hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

直到一道娇媚的嗓音响起，“陛下，臣妾听闻，乐安县主数月前曾在汤山府百花宴中，一人夺下三个第一，将一众公子小姐全比了下去，连青山书院院长都赞不绝口，不如，这幻棋让乐安县主上前一试？”