The air in the room was chilled, and a murderous aura hung heavy in the atmosphere.
Night soon descended.
The round moon cast its gentle radiance, like a veil of silvery-white light, enveloping the entire Crown Prince's residence.
A magnificent imperial carriage was parked before the gates of the Crown Prince's residence. Behind it stood a long line of guards, clad in silver armor, holding long spears. In the moonlight, they exuded a chilling presence.
Crown Prince Changsun Zhu stood beside the opulent carriage. The moonlight seemed to blur his handsome features, making his eyes captivating.
Tonight's imperial banquet was for the birthday of Consort Chen, the birth mother of Prince Yin. Consort Chen, who had always been favored by the Emperor, was adept at winning hearts. Thus, the court was divided into two major factions, the Crown Prince's faction and the Prince's faction, engaged in open and covert struggles. For now, a balance was maintained. Changsun Zhu paid no mind to these matters, confident that he would not be surpassed by Prince Yin, Changsun Yin.
Tonight, he was in a remarkably good mood.
Everyone in the Crown Prince's residence was aware of this.
From a distance, Mu Qingyao, dressed in exquisite robes, approached. Her demeanor was one of cold detachment, and her already stunning face, adorned with light makeup, appeared even more beautiful.
Bathed in the soft moonlight, she was like a radiant piece of fine jade. Her delicate face featured eyebrows as dark as ink, and eyes like black crystals, both bright and dazzling. A subtle curve of her lips revealed a smile as cold as water. Despite smiling, she exuded no warmth; on the contrary, it was immediately evident that she was in a foul mood, and it would be best to avoid her.
Changsun Zhu, aware of the reason for her displeasure, said nothing further. Her mere presence brought him joy. He extended his hand, a gentle smile gracing his lips.
"Let's go."
Unfortunately, Mu Qingyao was unimpressed by his overtures. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, she cast a disdainful glance at his long, slender hand, then swept her sleeves and, with a whisper of fragrance, boarded the imperial carriage first. Her voice, cool and clear, rang out.
"Let's go, Crown Prince Changsun."
The servants gathered before the Crown Prince's residence dared not utter a word, nor even lift their heads. The air was sharp and frigid. However, Changsun Zhu was not angered. He let out a hearty laugh, turned, and ascended into the magnificent imperial carriage.
Ying Feng and the maidservant Qiao Xin boarded the carriage behind them. The others mounted their horses, and the retinue proceeded grandly towards the Imperial Palace of the Qingluo Kingdom.
For today's palace banquet, Qingyao had arranged for Ying Feng and Qiao Xin to be absent, intending to give Mo Chou and Mo You an opportunity to find Mei Xin. Changsun Zhu was well aware of her intentions.
However, since she had already entered the palace, he did not wish to escalate their conflict. Furthermore, the Crown Prince's residence was vast, making it difficult to locate someone easily, especially with Ying Qing still within its grounds. Thus, Changsun Zhu felt secure, believing that Mo Chou and Mo You would not succeed in their search.
The atmosphere within the imperial carriage was frigid.
Qingyao, her face somber, closed her eyes to rest, utterly ignoring Changsun Zhu's triumphant expression. Even a fleeting glance at him incited a desire to tear at his face.
She could tolerate his schemes and stratagems, but why must he be so despicable, resorting to targeting a mere maidservant?
If he had directed his machinations at her, she would not have been as enraged.
"Qingyao, are you still angry?" Changsun Zhu's voice, smooth as jade, inquired. Mu Qingyao remained unmoved, her eyes still closed, refusing to look at him. A soft sigh, seemingly filled with boundless sorrow, echoed within the carriage.
"Qingyao, stay by my side. Whatever you desire, I shall grant, as long as you remain..."
Changsun Zhu gazed at the alluring and radiant face within the carriage. His eyes were slightly lowered, his long lashes concealing his brilliantly sparkling pupils. Her skin was so dewy and moist that it seemed one could squeeze water from it, and her lips were a vibrant, tempting red, stirring illicit thoughts. His Adam's apple bobbed, but he dared not overstep.
It was clear she was keeping him at arm's length, completely disregarding his words.
"As long as you stay, I shall grant you anything?"
Changsun Zhu was neither bothered nor offended. Within the confined space of the carriage, his watery voice resonated repeatedly.
Mu Qingyao remained silent from beginning to end, her body enveloped in an icy aura. She did not look at Changsun Zhu, nor did she entertain his words.
Her finely arched brows furrowed as her heart worried about Mei Xin. This girl was as timid as a mouse, no, even more timid than a mouse. What might have happened to her? The thought sent a tremor of unease through her, as if something significant were about to occur.
The imperial carriage continued its journey towards the Imperial Palace.
By the time their entourage arrived, many guests had already gathered. The shore of the shimmering lake was bathed in a brilliant glow, where water and sky merged into one. Rows upon rows of large red lanterns were hung, creating a vista of crimson along the entire bank.
With exquisite delicacies and fine wines, many guests were already seated. As Changsun Zhu and Mu Qingyao arrived, an eunuch announced their presence: "The Crown Prince has arrived."
On the brightly lit lakeside, many heads turned. Illuminated by the lanterns,
Crown Prince Changsun Zhu, attired in imperial silk robes, his dark hair tied up like clouds, his face like polished jade, wore a beaming smile. Such a gentle and refined Changsun Zhu was seldom seen. Upon closer inspection, his gaze was directed towards the woman beside him, his eyes filled with tender affection.
Such a Crown Prince, such a Changsun Zhu, drew curious glances from the assembled guests, who could not help but wonder about the woman beside him.
She possessed a refined and ethereal beauty, her presence marked by a distant and aloof aura. Her opulent robes enhanced her radiance, and her every gesture was graceful and composed.
In terms of beauty, no one at the banquet surpassed her. Her otherworldly grace was unmatched, her eyes, as they swept across the assembly, sparkled with brilliance.
In that moment, Mu Qingyao became the focal point of the banquet. Whispers and discussions filled the air, with everyone privately speculating about the identity of this woman who had captured the Crown Prince's smile and earned his solicitous attention.
Changsun Zhu seemed oblivious to the guests' speculations. He carefully extended his hand to support Mu Qingyao, guiding her to her seat.
Immediately, ministers approached to greet him, and Changsun Zhu was soon surrounded and led aside for conversation.
Mu Qingyao observed her surroundings with a cool gaze. The palace banquet was a splendor of flowers and verdant willows. Gazes of speculation and jealousy converged upon her from all directions.
Mu Qingyao lowered her brows and scanned them one by one. She showed no signs of strain or nervousness. On the contrary, her bright eyes were filled with a sharp glint, like arrows. Wherever her gaze landed, the women, intimidated by the palpable pressure, quickly lowered their heads.
As time slowly slipped away, Mu Qingyao's eyes grew sharper, and her anxiety intensified. She wondered how Mei Xin was faring and why the banquet had not yet commenced. She turned her head to glance at Ying Feng beside her. Ying Feng bowed and whispered softly.
"Do not worry, Miss Mu. His Majesty and the Empress will arrive shortly."
As soon as her words fell, the shrill voices of eunuchs announced:
"His Majesty has arrived! The Empress has arrived! The Consort has arrived!"
The Emperor Changsun, clad in imperial yellow dragon robes, appeared with two elegantly attired women. The woman on his right was regal and dignified, adorned in a magnificent crimson phoenix gown embroidered with colorful phoenixes. This must surely be Changsun Zhu's birth mother, the Empress of the Qingluo Kingdom.