The following day, the Emperor of the Moon Kingdom hosted the envoys in the main hall of the front courtyard.

"Your Excellencies have traveled a long way to the Moon Kingdom. Please feel free to make any requests to Vice Minister Wang of the Ministry of Rites. The hunting competition, which is held every four years, will be held in three days. I promise that the winner will be richly rewarded. Bring it here."

The imperial guards brought out the prizes that had been prepared beforehand and suddenly ripped off the red cloth covering them.

"It's the Cloud Piercing Spear! It's the Cloud Piercing Spear!"

"Indeed, it is the Cloud Piercing Spear. I never expected to see the Cloud Piercing Spear, which had long disappeared, in the Moon Kingdom. This trip has not been in vain."

Since it was a hunting competition, most of the envoys who came were military officers, so they naturally recognized the legendary weapons.

The Cloud Piercing Spear is one of the few long spears that can rival the Purple Flame Serpent Spear and the Fire-Tipped Spear in status.

Legend has it that the Cloud Piercing Spear was the weapon of a great general. It was entirely silver, could cut through iron like mud, and had a unique cloud pattern engraved on the handle. The wielder could calm his mind and fight off enemies.

One day, the enemy country found a wandering sorcerer from somewhere. During the great battle, he summoned gusts of demonic wind, dark clouds, and swept across the entire city. When the general arrived, most of the houses in the city had been blown away, and many civilians had been swept into the air, their fate unknown.

At this moment, the general, holding a long spear, concentrated his mind and gathered all his inner strength into the spear. He leaped up and thrust it towards the demonic wind and dark clouds. The demonic wind seemed to be restrained, and with the thrust of the spear, the demonic wind and dark clouds vanished instantly. The general, holding the spear, went straight for the martial arts sorcerer. This battle ended with the general's victory.

From then on, the spear in the general's hand was named the Cloud Piercing Spear. Later, because the general was too popular and his status rose day by day, the emperor became worried and eventually the general resigned and returned to his hometown. The Cloud Piercing Spear disappeared from then on.

To everyone's surprise, the Cloud Piercing Spear was not a legendary item, but had actually appeared here.

The appearance of the Cloud Piercing Spear immediately raised the atmosphere in the hall. Those who originally only wanted to participate in the hunt for fun were now taking it seriously. After all, it was a legendary weapon, and if they were lucky enough to obtain it, they would die without regrets.

Yan Shaoheng stared intently at the Cloud Piercing Spear, his eyes practically popping out of their sockets. It was as if this spear had been made for him. A thought sprouted in Yan Shaoheng's mind: he would obtain it at any cost.

As long as he obtains the Cloud Piercing Spear, he can prove his strength to his father. Once his father sees him, he will no longer only have eyes for that cowardly eldest prince, and he will be one step closer to the throne.

The Emperor of Yue Kingdom also noticed Yan Shaoheng's greedy eyes. "It seems that the Second Prince of Yan Kingdom also likes this Cloud Piercing Spear. Then my prize is indeed well prepared."

"Your Majesty, I do indeed enjoy it, so I will naturally take the lead in this hunting competition."

Yan Shaoheng stood up. Although his behavior was humble, his words and expressions could not hide his arrogance.

The Emperor looked down at Yan Shaoheng and thought that he was indeed a talented person, but he was arrogant and too impatient, and was still too young.

In fact, the Emperor of Yue Kingdom was not much older than Yan Shaoheng. It was just that the Emperor's mind and education made him more mature than his peers.

Unexpectedly, Consort Chen, who was standing next to the Empress, overheard Yan Shaoheng's words and thought that this person was very arrogant. She looked up and wanted to see more closely who this person was.

This person's eyes were cold and clear, like an eagle in the night, aloof and proud yet domineering.

His gaze was like a deep black hole, devouring her soul; his eyes contained endless intimidation, and their cold light shone like stars.

Yan Shaoheng also felt a burning gaze fixed on him. He looked around the crowd and spotted her at a glance.

Consort Chen was known as the most beautiful woman in the Yue Kingdom when she was young. She had an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, bright eyes, red lips and pearly teeth, and a face as beautiful as a lotus. When she sat in the palace, she was like a spring flower that was just beginning to bloom in the wind in late spring, bright and beautiful.

Although the empress beside her had extremely bright and beautiful features, especially when she smiled, she seemed to radiate all the light, dazzling beyond compare.

But compared to Consort Chen, she lacked a certain arrogance in her eyes, something that Yan Shaoheng shared. Yan Shaoheng understood very well that this Consort Chen was exactly like him.

The moment their eyes met, it was as if all other sounds vanished. Yan Shaoheng's heart raced. He knew this was his feeling for her—love at first sight, irresistible, and impossible to ignore.

"Since you are all very satisfied with my rewards, let the banquet begin!"

As the banquet began, the Emperor was so focused on attending to the Empress that he failed to notice the reaction of Consort Chen, who was standing next to the Empress.

At this moment, Consort Chen felt as if everything around her had stopped, as if time had frozen. Looking at him, she felt as if she had fallen into an unfathomable vortex.

Everything around them was in chaos because of the banquet, but his serious and straightforward gaze deeply attracted her attention.

Yan Shaoheng, who was below, raised his wine cup and gestured to Consort Chen, offering her a toast. Consort Chen drank it all in one gulp, her heart pounding.

At this moment, she understood that she had been in love with the man in front of her for a lifetime. She couldn't help but look at the emperor beside the empress, her fingers gripping the wine glass tightly.

It's just too late...it's all too late...

Today marks exactly one month since Consort Chen and Lady Wang, the daughter of the Minister of Rites, entered the palace together. Although the Emperor has not visited her palace since they entered, it is an indisputable fact that she is now confined to the palace.

At this moment, Consort Chen hated the Emperor, hated the Empress, and hated her father even more. For his own selfish reasons and for his own power and wealth, he had sent her to the palace, only to have her "humiliated" by the Emperor.

As the banquet drew to a close, the envoys from various countries departed one after another, and Consort Chen, unable to hold her liquor, returned to her palace early.

"Your Majesty, I have a request, and I hope Your Majesty will grant it."

"Oh? Second Prince of Yan, please speak freely."

"This is my first time visiting the Moon Kingdom, and I have witnessed its customs and culture. It truly is the most powerful of the four kingdoms. Today, I have seen the palace and its surroundings and am amazed by them. Therefore, I would like to take a stroll around. I wonder if I have the honor of doing so?"

The emperor pondered for a moment. It was inappropriate to allow a prince from another country to tour the palace, but to refuse outright would be unbecoming of a great nation.

"Eunuch Li, you should take the Second Prince of Yan around and make his way around. Remember not to neglect the Second Prince."

The Emperor gave the order, then turned to Yan Shaoheng and said, "Second Prince, although this palace is not very large, it is possible to get lost on your first visit. Let Eunuch Li take you around to ensure your safety."

"Thank you, Empress Yue, and thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Li."

"You're too kind, Second Prince."