I'm in trouble again! My best friend, the princess in the group, please save me!

Hai Yanqing, who was standing by, turned his wine glass in confusion but was reluctant to take a sip.

They...are talking so loudly? Don't they know that they have practiced martial arts and their hearing is better than that of ordinary people...

But what did she mean? Didn't she ask me to come?

At this time, the prince came over to greet An Huanyan: "Huanyan, what gift do you plan to give today?"

"Brother Crown Prince!" An Huanyan stood up and moved closer to him. "What did Brother Crown Prince give you?"

The prince raised an eyebrow and handed her a grape while saying, "You haven't answered your brother yet!"

"Keep it a secret! But I guarantee that it will surprise everyone!" An Huanyan took the grapes naturally and threw them into her mouth.

She is still very close to this brother who is from the same mother as her.

"Oh? My brother is looking forward to it! He is so happy that you are so secretive!" The prince smiled cooperatively and whispered to her, "Huanyan, Mr. Hai has been invited for you. Let's talk more. If..."

"Huh? What do you mean by invite for me?" An Huanyan was startled, causing Hai Yanqing next to her to glance at her secretly.

The prince looked innocent, "This...wasn't it you who chose it...My brother also thought that you were deeply in love with the second young master and had a special affection for him..."

"Please spare me...brother..." An Huanyan wanted to cry but had no tears. Just as she was about to explain, the voice of "His Majesty has arrived!" rang out, and they hurriedly bowed their heads and knelt down.

"Everyone, please stand up!" The emperor sat down.

An Huanyan and Jiang Xingkuo only then realized that the queen did not come, and the one who accompanied her was that woman, Yan Buwan.

"The Queen just sent someone to tell you that she has a headache and will not come." The emperor explained, patting his knees.

"Is mother okay?" the prince asked loudly.

The emperor poked his hand nonchalantly: "It's okay, it always comes back in summer. Let's get started! Don't be restrained, everyone! It's the second son's birthday, not mine!"

Yan Buwan sat behind the emperor, his eyes lingering among the people below, but finally reluctantly retracted his gaze.

The prince sat upright, but his eyes took in everything that was happening there calmly.

The banquet began, and the palace maids nearby started playing music. A group of dancers came up, twisting their waists and casting seductive glances, making the banquet very lively.

During this time, everyone presented their gifts one by one.

An Huanyan deliberately stayed until the end to whet everyone's appetite.

She asked the palace maid to put out all the candles, but Yan Buwan rolled his eyes and objected.

"It's so dark, what if someone plots against Your Majesty?!" She snuggled up to the emperor tenderly.

The emperor also hesitated after hearing this.

An Huanyan gnashed her teeth in anger.

At this time, the prince stood up and said, "Madam Zhaoyi is worrying too much. Not only are there many guards outside, but even in this palace, all the men are practicing martial arts. How could there be a chance of something happening? Could it be that someone here is planning a rebellion? This is very serious..."

Yan Buwan was stunned, her heart aching, but she could only hold it in and said with a forced smile: "Your Highness, you are too serious. I am worrying too much. I am just thinking about your majesty..."

As she spoke, she leaned on the emperor's shoulder and sobbed.

The emperor's heart softened, and he quickly embraced her and coaxed her: "I understand! I understand!"

The prince tilted his head.

The protagonist, the Second Prince, is still hiding in a corner where no one cares as always.

Hai Yanqing lowered her eyes. What on earth was she planning to do?

An Huanyan had goosebumps all over her body and her teeth were sore. Anyway, she extinguished the candle.

She stood in the middle, in the darkness, and she clapped her hands.

At the door, candlelight suddenly lit up, and Jiang Xingkuo came in, pushing shining candles and a huge white cake, singing: "Happy birthday to you~Happy birthday to you~Happy birthday to you~Happy birthday to An Yuyan~"

An Huanyan also rushed over and started singing and dancing with her.

The cake was pushed in front of An Yuyan, and the dim, flickering candlelight made his facial features more distinct and more beautiful.

He stared blankly at the white, fluffy object in front of him that he had never seen before, without saying a word. The faith in his eyes was collapsing bit by bit.

The entire hall was so quiet that you could hear your breathing.

"Close your eyes and make a wish!" Jiang Xingkuo wore a veil, revealing only a pair of deer-like eyes.

He hesitated for a few seconds in astonishment, and finally closed his eyes.

When I opened my eyes again, I met her smiling gaze, and something in my heart slowly melted.

"Blow out the candles. Blow them out," she said.

He did so and blew it out in one breath.

"Yeah~" Jiang Xingkuo and An Huanyan cheered.

Candles around the palace were lit again, and everyone stared at the huge cake curiously.

Jiang Xingkuo gestured to An Huanyan to help him divide the cake. An Huanyan belatedly muttered, "Why should I help..."

"Idiot!" Jiang Xingkuo secretly pinched her thigh.

"Ouch!" An Huanyan jumped up and almost pushed down the cake.

"What's wrong with the princess?" The people around her asked with concern.

"It's okay, it's okay... I was bitten by a mosquito..." She touched her thigh, turned around and glared at Jiang Xingkuo fiercely, but accidentally caught a glimpse of Hai Yanqing's surprised expression next to her. She quickly turned her head away and awkwardly directed the palace maid to cut the cake.

The first cake was presented to the emperor.

He looked at the soft pastry on the plate hesitantly, and finally took a bite under An Huanyan's expectant eyes.

"Well, not bad. It melts in your mouth and is sweet but not greasy. It is truly a rare delicacy!" The emperor then finished the whole piece of cake in a few bites and kept praising it.

The people below also started to move, and the praises were endless.

The emperor seemed to enjoy the meal very much and asked for another piece.

The prince also started to taste it, and there was a bit more appreciation in his eyes when he looked at Jiang Xingkuo.

Seeing this, Yan Buwan, who was beside the emperor, also took a small bite, but it tasted tasteless. Maybe it was delicious, she thought, lowering her head with a gloomy look.

An Yuyan suddenly thanked loudly amid the praises: "Thank you so much, Princess, for your kindness, and thank you, Miss Jiang, for your sensitive hands and heart. Yuyan is grateful!"

"Hahahaha! It's rare that Yuyan likes it so much, give me a reward! Huanyan, was this all arranged by you?!" The emperor seemed very surprised by An Yuyan's words. Even he found his son unpredictable.

An Huanyan looked at Jiang Xingkuo in surprise and quickly struck while the iron was hot: "Father, this cake was made by Miss Jiang from my son's palace. Since Father wants to reward her, why not help her by rewarding her with a Tianshan Snow Lotus!"

"Well... Tianshan Snow Lotus..." The emperor suddenly looked embarrassed.

Everyone looked at each other, what was going on?

"Your Majesty~" Yan Buwan suddenly started to act coquettishly, "Hasn't Your Majesty already given the snow lotus to me~"

An Huanyan and Jiang Xingkuo's faces changed, and the atmosphere at the scene became extremely depressing.

Everyone had different thoughts, but no one spoke.