Yun Lian didn't stay with the two of them for long before hurrying to the banquet.
"The Crown Princess has arrived!"
As soon as Yun Lian appeared amidst the eunuch's shrill voice, the lively banquet fell silent.
Yun Lian came against the light, her jewelry sparkling in the sunlight, making it even more dazzling.
The retired emperor and Yunxi sat at the head of the table.
The two women noticed Yun Lian as soon as she entered. They wanted to invite Yun Lian to sit with them, but Yun Lian's gaze kept scanning the table.
It's like they're looking for someone.
Yun Xi silently lowered her voice.
Every minute and every second I spent sitting with my mother was agonizing.
She felt extremely uncomfortable.
For the first time, I couldn't wait to see if the Queen Mother's banquet could be simpler, even simpler.
She also very much hoped that the person sitting in this position at this moment was not her. She longed for freedom the most and wanted to always stay by her elder sister's side.
Fortunately, the gift-giving part came soon.
After the surrounding small countries had finished sending their gifts, it was time for her brothers and sisters, whom she had hardly ever met.
Yun Lian was the first to send it off.
She was very straightforward and gave him a beauty pill, a longevity pill, and a potion that could keep him young forever.
Although the Emperor Emeritus was curious about what Yun Lian had given her, he suppressed his excitement.
This was the first gift her daughter had given her since returning home, and she was determined to cherish it.
After Yun Lian sent her gift, the other princes and princesses sent rare and precious treasures collected from all over the world, as well as a painting of longevity.
None of them are particularly outstanding.
Yun Lian wasn't very familiar with those so-called imperial sisters and brothers; the only one who often followed her around was Yun Xi.
And the only ones in Yun Kingdom suitable to be groomed as crown princes are her and Yun Xi.
With those two around, the other princes and princesses were practically left to their own devices.
Yun Lian couldn't even recognize all the faces.
Yun Xi has always regarded everyone as Yun Lian's future enemy.
Ever since the Empress told her when she was a child that she should become Yun Lian's whetstone in the future, she has been diligently learning the art of assisting emperors.
It was all so that they could lend Yun Lian a hand when she tried to seize the throne.
Yunxi watched very carefully.
These brothers and sisters posed no threat to Yun Lian before, but children always grow up.
Who can say for sure what will happen to them when they grow up?
Yun Xi was completely focused, not letting go of anyone who might pose a threat to Yun Lian.
Suddenly, a prince appeared on the field, exuding a refined yet powerful aura.
"Your Majesty, I have brought you a luminous pearl. With this divine object, you can see everything clearly even at night."
Yun Lian glanced at her elder brother and immediately sat up straight.
He had a very strange smell about him.
It smelled like something rotten, or like an overpowering perfume mixed with other things.
It's hard to accept that they're mixed together.
The retired emperor also had a great influence on this son. When other princes and princesses sent her gifts, she would only say "thank you for your kindness" and accept them in a lukewarm manner.
"A luminous pearl? What is that? Yunyi, can you find such a rare item in your fiefdom?"
Yunyi lowered his head, and his voice, tinged with amusement, rang out.
"Mother Queen, don't you know the situation of the land you allocated to me? Where can you find such rare items? They are trinkets brought by merchants from overseas."
Knowing that Mother would like it, I have carefully protected this precious pearl throughout the journey.
Yun Lian was very annoyed by his boastful tone.
"Brother, if you don't give this luminous pearl to Mother, aren't you going to protect it carefully? The way you talk about it makes it sound like you're willing to pay a huge price for Mother."
Yunyi's cold gaze swept over Yunlian, making her feel uncomfortable as if she were being stared at by a venomous snake.
“My dear sister, a gift of a goose feather from a thousand miles away is a small gift but carries great meaning. I am not saying this to seek credit, but only to express my respect for Mother Empress.”
Yun Lian didn't indulge him at all.
"Coincidentally, I also have a lot of luminous pearls and similar gadgets. It'll be perfect if I can try mine out when yours breaks."
Yun Lian pulled out a beautiful luminous pearl from her sleeve, and immediately a few exquisite pearls appeared on the tables nearby.
Compared to the faint white light emitted by Yunyi, when the luminous pearl in Yunlian's hand appeared, all the light was obscured, leaving only a pale purple glow.
Even in daylight, its beauty remains undiminished.
The entire venue erupted in cheers once again, with those from smaller countries sitting far away wishing they could quickly move to the front to watch.
But they were afraid.
Fearing this battlefield killing god, once again treating them like radishes being chopped up.
The surrounding smaller countries have a general idea of what will happen to the desert country.
Maple Leaf Country is closest to Yun Lian.
From beginning to end, they tried to keep a low profile and dared not speak like humans, for fear of being noticed by Yun Lian and bringing disaster to their country.
Yunyi lowered her head and raised her hand to bite her nails.
Hatred surged within him.
And so it is; wherever Yun Lian appears, they are relegated to the background.
Why didn't those useless people kill her?
His perfectly good hands were bitten until they were bloody and mangled, a truly horrifying sight.
Yun Lian also lost interest in him.
She refocused her attention on new prey, refusing to believe that the mastermind had been dealt with so easily.
If the problem has been resolved, why hasn't the system indicated that the task is complete?
Yunyi sat in an inconspicuous spot, just like her, but both of them harbored ulterior motives and were plotting something wicked.
The palace maid beside the retired emperor accepted the last gift from the princess before she slowly left her seat.
After the Emperor Emeritus left, it was as if a certain balance had been broken, and people's voices gradually grew louder.
Yunyi kept staring at the departing figure of the retired emperor.
Very angry.
Why are they all her children, but because of their gender, they've never been able to squeeze into the center of power?
Because he was just a dispensable prince with a very poor fiefdom, he never enjoyed a single bit of love from anyone.
Yun Lian casually sat down at the small table, and it was only then that she realized that the small countries that had come to offer their birthday greetings didn't even have the courage to look her in the eye.
She scoffed. How could such weak opponents possibly kill her?
Yun Lian couldn't understand it.
But reality doesn't stop for anyone.
Before Yun Lian could figure things out, the girl who had been performing in the middle suddenly drew a soft sword from her waist and thrust it straight at Yun Lian.
Yun Lian squeezed her fingers tightly, and in a daze, she snatched the soft sword into her hand.
"Sigh, it seems you really are up to no good. Why can't you live in peace and instead have to draw blood?"
Without hesitation, Yun Lian, wielding her soft sword, bound the entire performance troupe in almost no time.
"Bah! You dog Yun Lian, you'll die a horrible death! You're not worthy of being the so-called Crown Princess!"
Yun Lian looked up and saw the dancer who had been the first to draw her sword and kill her.
Fearing that she might have poison hidden in her teeth, Yun Lian acted swiftly and sprinkled cartilage powder on her.
Standing high above the dancer, he used her soft sword to lift her chin.
"I'll die a horrible death? Haven't you heard the saying 'A scourge lives on for a thousand years'?"
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