Mu Chenshuang shook her head, rubbing her forehead, trying to regain consciousness as quickly as possible. After a moment of clarity, she took two steps back, widening the distance between herself and Fu Junheng. Then, she silently withdrew the hand from behind her waist.
Mu Chenshuang gave a slight curtsy and said, "Thank you." Her tone was indifferent and aloof.
Fu Junheng glanced at her indifferently, then turned and strode away.
Mu Chenshuang stood there, gazing at his tall and aloof back. She could sense that he didn't want to get involved with her, but he seemed to be deliberately getting closer to her.
At this moment.
A harsh warning voice rang in her ears, "Mu Chenshuang, be mindful of your status."
Mu Chenshuang withdrew her gaze and turned to meet Feng Xilan's sharp eyes. "Your Highness doesn't need to remind me of that."
After saying that, he strode away.
But that scene just now has left countless noble ladies with a deep-seated hatred and a sense of humiliation.
"Mu Chenshuang is truly shameless, actually seducing Crown Prince Junheng in public."
"No wonder the Crown Prince doesn't like this fickle woman."
"She dared to seduce Crown Prince Junheng, I will not let her get away with it."
"..."
Mu Chenshuang was not unaware of the envious glances cast her way, but that was normal; who wouldn't admire a peerless man?
The group gradually departed and headed to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The birthday banquet was held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
It was already noon.
After the winter snow cleared, the sun shone brightly on the earth, and under the golden sunlight, the majestic palace appeared even more sacred and awe-inspiring.
Royal family members, nobles, and female relatives of officials took their seats.
With a eunuch's shrill voice, "The Emperor has arrived!"
The crowd paid their respects.
Music was then played, and imperial relatives and officials presented birthday gifts in turn.
The process is extremely time-consuming.
Mu Chenshuang felt both tired and hungry, with a slight discomfort in her lower abdomen. She couldn't eat the pastries on the table casually, so she could only look at them with a hungry stomach.
At that moment, a loud voice rang out from outside the main hall, "Princess Jingsha from the Southern Frontier has come to offer her congratulations!"
Everyone turned to look.
Leading the group was Princess Jingsha from the Southern Frontier, a quintessential exotic beauty.
Following behind her was a tall woman dressed in a dark blue outfit, her hair tied up in a high braid, her eyes sharp and filled with murderous intent.
Mu Chenshuang looked at her and assumed that this guard was Motihua.
“Jing Sha represents the Southern Frontier and comes to offer birthday wishes to Emperor Tianzhao, wishing His Majesty boundless happiness and longevity.”
Then eight guards stepped forward and opened the boxes in their hands one by one.
Jing Sha introduced each item in turn, and each one could be described as a rare treasure. Feng Gu Che was overjoyed when he saw these treasures.
The last treasure.
The moment she opened it, Mu Chenshuang felt her heart tremble, as if something had suddenly pulled her along, a strange sensation.
"This is a sacred treasure of our southern border, the thousand-year-old dragon blood ginseng."
Upon hearing this, Mu Chenshuang's heart trembled violently, and as she lowered her eyes, her hands, which were resting between her legs, clenched tightly.
All eyes were focused on the thousand-year-old Dragon Blood Ginseng, a legendary item. It was said that the Dragon Blood Ginseng was a sacred plant, protected by the high priests of the Southern Frontier and nourished by the spiritual energy of the mountains, with extraordinary effects.
"This ginseng can invigorate muscles and bones, prolong life, and if a martial artist possesses it, his skill will greatly increase, and he can even cure all poisons. If Your Majesty consumes it, you will surely live ten thousand years."
A loud and resounding voice echoed throughout the hall, its imposing presence spreading throughout the space.
Seeing this, everyone followed Jing Sha's lead and prostrated themselves on the ground again, kneeling and offering their blessings, "Long live the Emperor!"
But only one person leisurely and indifferently savored the fine wine.
Feng Guche was overjoyed. "Good, good, Princess Jingsha is very kind. In the future, Tianzhao and Nanjiang will surely be able to maintain good neighborly relations, seek common ground while reserving differences, have a long history, and create a prosperous world together. Hahahaha."
"Jing Sha thanks His Majesty the Emperor on behalf of my father." With that, she placed her right hand on her left shoulder in a gesture of respect, then raised her head and continued, "His Majesty the Emperor's joy is the greatest reward for my Southern Frontier."
Jing Sha's words pleased Feng Gu Che greatly, and the dragon's joy spoke volumes.
Compared to Tianzhao, the Southern Frontier is far weaker. The purpose of this visit to offer birthday greetings and presenting such a grand gift is obvious: to hope for friendly relations between the two countries.
"In the future, our two countries will surely have friendly exchanges. Please, have a seat."
The moment Jing Sha sat down, her gaze fell on the exceptionally beautiful figure diagonally opposite her. "This must be the Crown Prince of Xiyue Kingdom, His Highness Junheng. Meeting you today, he truly has the bearing of a phoenix and the bearing of a dragon, with the appearance of jade and gold."
Fu Junheng's beauty was renowned throughout the entire Xuanzhou Continent. He was a man whose beauty could captivate anyone for a lifetime at first glance. However, he always wore an eye patch, making his eyes difficult to see clearly. If he were to remove the eye patch, what stunning beauty he would possess.
Fu Junheng put down his wine glass, his deep voice slowly escaping, "Princess Jingsha is too kind. I am merely of ordinary talent."
These words only make one feel ashamed.
If he is of ordinary talent, then everyone else must be freaks.
"Your Highness Junheng is quite the joker. Why is Crown Prince Junheng wearing an eye patch?" Jing Sha said with a smile.
"Princess Jingsha is here to offer birthday wishes, so there's no need for you to concern yourself with my affairs." Her cold and indifferent tone clearly indicated that she didn't want to continue the conversation.
Only the aloof and arrogant Fu Junheng would publicly reject such a beautiful woman from a foreign land.
It is known that the moment Jing Sha appeared, she stirred the hearts of countless nobles and royalty, who wished they could take her into their own households.
However, Fu Junheng's rejection left the ladies in awe.
Jing Sha was rejected in public, and her face turned slightly embarrassed.
Seeing this, Emperor Tianzhao quickly smoothed things over.
After the foreign envoys finished presenting their gifts, a military general in armor rushed into the main hall, looking travel-worn, clearly having just arrived in the capital in haste and not yet had time to change into his court robes.
Upon seeing this person, the Empress's face lit up with joy, and she whispered to the Emperor, "It seems that the birthday gift that Nan Zhi prepared for Your Majesty has arrived."
"This humble general, Chen Bin, pays his respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"
"Please rise quickly."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"This humble general is here on the orders of General Shen to deliver birthday gifts to Your Majesty. However, due to the pressing affairs at the border, General Shen was unable to return to court to offer his congratulations. I hope Your Majesty will forgive him."
"It's alright, it's alright. Nan Zhi is guarding the border for me, he's worked hard."
However, when Mu Chenshuang heard the name General Chen, she was momentarily dazed, her heart trembled violently, and a flood of memories rushed back.
Shen Nanzhi, the current empress's nephew, followed his father into battle from a young age and was the original owner's childhood sweetheart.
Suddenly, an indescribable tremor and even guilt spread through her. These feelings clearly came from this body, indicating that the original owner's feelings for this general were extraordinary.
Feng Xilan's gaze fell on Mu Chenshuang. Seeing her low spirits, her eyes instantly turned cold, and she said sarcastically, "You're in such a hurry to get a divorce. It seems there's a General Shen waiting for you."
Mu Chenshuang snapped out of her daze, her eyes fixed straight ahead, and said coldly, "Even if that's the case, it has nothing to do with the Crown Prince."
Feng Xilan was successfully provoked, but she couldn't lose her temper. She could only suppress her emotions and warn in a low voice, "Mu Chenshuang, you'd better not challenge my bottom line."
Mu Chenshuang sneered, "Your Highness has a bottom line, but do you think I don't?"
"you……"
Sitting behind Feng Xilan, Xiao Qingyu's eyes were cold and detached. This woman's sudden indifference towards the Crown Prince meant she wanted to be with Shen Nanzhi.
Even so, she would never let Mu Chenshuang succeed. This kind of woman deserves to be disgraced and infamous for eternity.
Across from them, Feng Ji and Fu Junheng were whispering to each other.
"Shen Nanzhi and Mu Chenshuang were childhood sweethearts. They were once considered the most perfect couple in the eyes of the world. Their families had a marriage agreement, but for some reason, Mu Chenshuang fell in love with Feng Xilan and insisted on marrying him. After their wedding, Shen Nanzhi never returned to the capital. Perhaps he wanted to forget that heartbroken person!"
Feng Ji sighed as he spoke.
Fu Junheng swirled the wine in his glass with one hand, his expression unchanged, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking at that moment.
Then, he picked up his wine glass, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp. His gaze seemed to fall on the person opposite him, but he quickly looked away, so that no one noticed.
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