After the marriage, the abstinent prince turned me on

Xie Chuxue's delivery did not interrupt the lively atmosphere of the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet.

Several noble ladies dressed in gorgeous attire filed out, each holding a carefully prepared birthday gift, to congratulate the Queen Mother on her birthday.

The empress dowager accepted them one by one, her face full of smiles, but her eyes always inadvertently fell on the beautifully wrapped gift box beside her - it was a birthday gift from Concubine Shu, and she placed it in the nearest place to show her favor.

This move naturally caught the attention of some people.

A lady dressed in gorgeous crimson and purple clothes came forward gracefully. She had a dignified look and elegant manners. She was none other than Mei, the wife of a high-ranking official who had risen to prominence after the turmoil in the Shang family.

"Your Highness the Concubine Shu is stunningly beautiful and elegant. I have also prepared a small gift, and I hope Your Highness will accept it." Mei bowed gracefully, and the maid behind her came forward holding a brocade box.

Xie Mishuang smiled slightly, stood up and took it, "Madam Mei, you are too polite."

When the brocade box was opened, a white jade carved Guanyin statue of Childbearing Goddess was sitting inside, with kind eyes and a lifelike look.

"This statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Childbirth, wishes that the Concubine Shu will give birth to a dragon heir as soon as possible and expand the royal family." Mei's gentle voice echoed in the hall.

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother's eyes flashed with admiration, and she looked at Mei Shi with a bit more kindness. "Madam Mei is very thoughtful." She instructed the palace maid beside her, "Please take a seat."

The palace maid brought a carved mahogany chair, and Mei sat down, behaving properly and neither servile nor arrogant.

This action made many wives of officials jealous.

"Hmph, she only knows how to flatter others, but she doesn't seem to have any real ability." A gorgeously dressed lady muttered in a low voice.

"That's right," another lady agreed.

Mei seemed not to hear the discussions, and still maintained her elegant demeanor, chatting and laughing with the ladies around her.

At this moment, a loud shout came from outside the palace: "The Third Prince of Xuanyuan Empire has arrived——"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall instantly became quiet.

The Queen Mother stood up suddenly, her face full of shock and excitement.

"Xuanyuan Empire?"

"Isn't that the most powerful empire on the continent?"

"Why would they come to give birthday gifts to our Anguo Queen Mother?"

Everyone was talking about it, unable to believe it.

The Queen Mother's voice trembled with excitement. "Quick, let someone in! Also, get the Emperor here as soon as possible. The two countries are meeting, and he must be here!"

The palace maid quickly took the order and left.

Xie Mishuang was confused. Wasn't the third prince of the Xuanyuan Empire her elder brother or younger brother?

Soon, a handsome man walked into the hall.

He was dressed in a royal blue brocade robe, with a jade pendant at his waist. He looked dignified and his every move exuded a royal air.

He walked up to the Queen Mother and bowed, "Queen Mother Anguo, I am Xuanyuan Yu, the third prince of the Xuanyuan Empire. I have brought a birthday gift for you, Queen Mother. I hope you will accept it."

The servant behind Xuanyuan Yu came forward holding an exquisite wooden box.

"This is a rare treasure from our country, called Mermaid's Tears," Xuanyuan Yu explained, pointing to the beads in the wooden box. "Legend has it that these beads were formed from the tears of sorrowful mermaids in the sea. Wearing these beads regularly will not only prolong your life, but also cure all poisons and preserve your youthful beauty."

The wooden box was opened, and a crystal clear bead lay quietly inside, emitting a soft light, as if it really contained the tears of a mermaid.

The Queen Mother looked at the bead, her eyes filled with surprise, "The Third Prince is so thoughtful. I really like this gift."

Xuanyuan Yu smiled slightly, "As long as the Queen Mother likes it."

"Empress Shufei, what do you think of the mermaid's tears?" Xuanyuan Yu suddenly turned his head to look at Xie Mishuang, with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Xie Mishuang was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "The gifts brought by the Third Prince are naturally excellent. I also envy the Queen Mother's good fortune."

Xuanyuan Yu's gaze lingered on Xie Mishuang's face for a moment, and a meaningful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "Your Highness, you are too modest. Your beauty is truly breathtaking and unforgettable."

As soon as Xuanyuan Yu said this, there was an uproar in the hall, like boiling water poured into a frying pan, causing it to explode.

"Phenomenon of stunning beauty? The Third Prince of Xuanyuan actually praised Concubine Shu as being extremely beautiful!"

"Oh my god, this is the third prince of the Xuanyuan Empire, and he actually praised our Anguo concubine in public!"

"Your Highness is so blessed!"

All kinds of envious, jealous and hateful eyes were directed at Xie Mishuang. The young ladies from official families were so jealous that their eyes were about to bleed. They clenched the handkerchiefs in their hands, wishing they could take her place.

Being given gifts and praised by the Xuanyuan royal family is an unprecedented honor!

The Queen Mother was also stunned for a moment, then reacted and quickly said, "How could I have deserved such a precious treasure from the Xuanyuan Empire? I wonder why the Third Prince came to our An Kingdom this time?"

She tried hard to suppress her inner excitement and maintain the dignity of the queen mother, but her trembling voice still revealed her excitement at the moment.

Xuanyuan Yu bowed and said, "The Queen Mother is indeed a kind-hearted person. The reason I came here this time is actually to find a woman." His eyes were deep and his tone was sincere, leaving no room for flaws.

As soon as these words were spoken, discussions arose again in the hall.

"Looking for a woman? Could it be that Prince Xuanyuan is here to find a marriage partner?"

"Oh, this Third Prince is so handsome, and he has a distinguished family background. If I marry him, even if it's just as a concubine, it will be enough for my family to boast for the rest of my life!"

All the unmarried young ladies from official families present began to get restless. They secretly adjusted their clothes and posed in their most beautiful postures, hoping to attract Xuanyuan Yu's attention.

Their eyes wandered over Xuanyuan Yu, full of anticipation and desire.

The Queen Mother couldn't help but ask, "So, the Third Prince is here to get married? It just so happens that many young, unmarried women have come to my birthday banquet. They are all noble ladies in our capital. Why don't you take a look?"

Xuanyuan Yu quickly said, "Your Majesty, you're joking. The woman I'm looking for is my biological sister. I heard that my sister has been stranded in Anguo since she was a child, so I've come here to ask the Anguo royal family for help in finding her. If you can find her, my Xuanyuan Empire is willing to offer ten mermaid tears as a token of our sincerity."

"Ten mermaid tears!"

Everyone present gasped.

When the Third Prince said he was looking for his sister, they were disappointed for a while, but they didn't expect that he would later offer ten mermaid tears!

If this is true, the Xuanyuan Empire is even more vast and richer than they imagined, and it is rich enough to rival a country!

"Oh my God! Ten mermaid tears! What a fortune that would be!"

"The Xuanyuan Empire actually values this princess so much! It seems this princess is of extraordinary status!"

All the ladies were so excited that they wanted to fly to the Xuanyuan Empire to see it with their own eyes.

The Queen Mother could hardly hide her excitement, and her breathing became a little rapid.