The Spring Banquet, as the name suggests, is naturally held in the spring.

After the incognito visit, it was time for the spring banquet. Shen Pingjin got up very early for this occasion, which was quite unusual.

Nian'an and Nianning looked at their young mistress in the bronze mirror, starting with the butterfly hairpin, then the jade seven-treasure exquisite hairpin, the pure black crystal and silver hairpin, the jade and gold hair ornament, the eight-treasure flowing cloud hairpin, the spring plum blossom snow hairpin, and the coiled dragon hairpin.

Among the various hairpins—phoenix hairpins, gold and jade bone hairpins, jade swallow hairpins, gold-threaded fragrant wood hairpins inlaid with cicadas and jade beads, palace-style hairpins with a thousand-petal gold peony design, exquisite kingfisher feather hairpins with grass-head insects and pearl inlays—one of Chen Pingjin's favorite hairpins jumped out and was put on her head.

"Your Highness, you look absolutely stunning today."

Nian'an chimed in, "Yes, our princess looks absolutely stunning today."

The girl in the bronze mirror had fair skin, smooth skin like solidified cream, a rosy face, a delicate nose, and red lips. Every frown and smile was captivating.

Her eyes and brows seemed to possess a captivating charm.

Shen Pingjin was also stunned.

The last time I saw myself like this was when I attended the Spring Banquet for the second time in my previous life.

It was her second time attending the Spring Banquet, and she was still a little hesitant. To help her gain confidence, Nian'an, Nianning, and her older brother dressed her up beautifully.

It must have been during that spring banquet that Yan Jue saved me.

She never dressed like that again after that.

After marrying Su Xuanmao, she mostly wore clothes in emerald green and lake blue, aiming for elegance, poise, and propriety.

I've never worn that pale yellow, girly color, again.

Nian An and Nian Ning did not notice that Shen Pingjin was distracted, and were still planning to apply rouge to her fair face.

"The princess is truly as beautiful as a flower. Even Consort Shu would be surprised by her appearance."

It should be noted that Consort Shu was the most beautiful woman in the capital at the time, and her beauty was truly unmatched.

As Shen Pingjin's personal maids, Nian'an and Nian Ning were practically inseparable from Shen Pingjin.

In addition, Shen Pingjin had fallen in love with Su Xuanmao and liked to follow him around, and Consort Shu was Su Xuanmao's biological mother.

Therefore, Nian'an and Nianning had seen Consort Shu quite a few times.

They often marveled at how beautiful Consort Shu was, but as their own young lady grew up, she seemed to surpass her in beauty.

In her previous life, Shen Pingjin often spent time with Consort Shu, so she naturally had seen Consort Shu's beauty.

In her past life, Consort Shu had indeed treated her extremely well, almost like her own daughter.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so heartbroken and unable to eat when Consort Shu had her accident in her previous life.

Shen Pingjin glanced at Nian An and Nian Ning, then at herself in the bronze mirror.

She smiled slightly and said, "You two little girls, you're always so talkative."

Nian'an disagreed, saying, "That's not true at all. If the princess wasn't naturally beautiful, how could we possibly praise her? You agree, Nianning."

Nian Ning nodded in complete agreement: "Of course."

Shen Pingjin looked at the two little girls singing in harmony and felt incredibly happy.

In this life, nothing has happened yet, and these two little girls haven't suffered with her.

"Help me walk, so he won't get impatient waiting outside."

Shen Pingjin looked at the slightly ajar door and knew that Yan Jue was probably waiting for her outside.

Nian'an and Nian Ning smiled knowingly, feeling very happy to see their young mistress living such a happy life.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Nian'an took Chen Pingjin's hand and led her to the door.

Nian Ning slowly pushed the door open, and sure enough, the man dressed in dark clothes stared intently at the woman who came out, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

Shen Pingjin took in the fleeting look of amazement in Yan Jue's eyes, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

That kid.

Yan Jue had no idea that his reaction had been observed by Shen Pingjin. He looked at the woman in front of him, then glanced at Nian An and Nian Ning, and nodded slightly, signaling the two to step back.

Nian'an and Nian Ning were both clever as ever. They exchanged a smile, bowed slightly, and walked out the door.

Shen Pingjin looked up at Yan Jue, who was dressed in dark robes. She saw a captivating smile on his lips, and his handsome face held a profound and mysterious beauty, like something out of an ink painting. At his waist hung a fine piece of mutton-fat jade.

The boots they wore were adorned with delicate silver bells, which tinkled as they walked, as if trying to attract all the spring-like atmosphere around them.

Shen Pingjin didn't know whose idea it was for him to dress like this. Just as she was about to make a joke, she saw his pair of long, slender hands appear in front of her.

Shen Pingjin looked up in surprise.

The man's large hand gripped her small, porcelain-white hand tightly, with a force that seemed to crush it.

A warm breath rushed towards her, as if it would engulf her completely.

"Let's go, don't keep the Emperor waiting."

The Spring Banquet is one of the most important festivals in Dongyue Kingdom. If Yan Jue wants to make a comeback, he absolutely cannot afford to make any mistakes this time.

Shen Pingjin understood this principle perfectly well.

She nodded: "Okay, let's go."

Looking at her and Yan Jue's hands clasped tightly, a strange emotion welled up in Shen Pingjin's heart. She felt as if she liked the man in front of her a little more.

When Chen Pingjin got into the carriage, she made a point of observing who the coachman was. After realizing that the coachman was not Ye Ting, she frowned.

She looked at the man beside her, trying to glean something from his expression, but to no avail.

Since returning from her incognito trip, Shen Pingjin has never seen Ye Ting by Yan Jue's side whenever she sees him. Could it be that something has happened to Ye Ting?

Thinking of this, Shen Pingjin felt a pang of sadness, but it shouldn't be like this. If something happened to Ye Ting, Yan Jue would definitely show a strange expression no matter what.

Originally, Shen Pingjin did not intend to speak, but when she thought of Nian'an's worried look, she decided to ask for the sake of her best friend's lifelong happiness.

"Yan Jue, why didn't I see Ye Ting come over?"

Yan Jue was looking straight ahead when he heard Shen Pingjin's words. He paused for a moment, then said calmly:

"I have given him a task, and he will naturally return after it is completed."

Shen Pingjin was taken aback. Yan Jue hadn't hidden it from her and had just told her directly.

Are you worried about him?

Hearing the dangerous undertone in the man's words, Shen Pingjin quickly said;

“Some people are worried about him, but that person is not me.”

"Oh?" Yan Jue's lips suddenly curled into a smile. "If it's not you, could it be one of your two maids?"

These words greatly surprised Shen Pingjin, who asked, "Yan Jue, you know about this?"

"As my right-hand man, how could I not know what Ye Ting is thinking? Don't worry, Ye Ting will come back."