Poisonous Goddess: I'm just lazing around in the mortal realm.

"Watch your words? Shen Mu, if I ask my father to grant us this marriage, you will have no choice but to comply!" A ruthless glint flashed in Duan Yuyan's eyes. If she couldn't have it, no one else could!

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the people around her gathering, ready to laugh at her. She swept her gaze across the crowd and said fiercely, "What are you all doing here watching this princess?"

Before she finished speaking, the noble ladies who had come to watch the spectacle dispersed, for everyone in Nanyang knew of the Fourth Princess's infamous reputation.

Duan Yuyan seemed to be awakened by the night breeze. She suppressed her anger and said in a sweet voice, "I think Lord Shen will soon become my fourth consort."

She lifted her elaborate skirt and walked towards the main hall. The numerous hairpins on her head, which seemed out of place for her age, swayed precariously, as if silently expressing her anger.

Shen Mu didn't want to look at her anymore. He composed himself and knew he needed to find Thirteen first.

His gaze pierced through the crowd, silently searching for Thirteen's figure.

He had specifically checked and found that although Thirteenth Prince did not have the proper status to enter the palace, he had been added to today's list by the Emperor himself, under the pretext of treating the Third Prince and Consort An.

But soon after the last few officials entered the hall, Shen Mu realized that Thirteen should not have entered the palace today.

He frowned slightly, thinking that today was the Emperor's birthday, and Thirteen would definitely enter the palace for the Demon Lord.

But if she didn't use the main entrance, then it's very likely...

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, Shen Mu quickly walked to the corner of the palace.

"Thank you, Qiao."

"Your subordinate is here." Xie Qiao jumped down from the roof beam with swift and decisive movements.

"Go to Mingyue Palace and see if any suspicious people have appeared."

"Yes." Xie Qiao was about to leave when Shen Mu called her back.

“Wait, if you see anyone other than Zhou Jinghuai…” Shen Mu hesitated for a moment, met Xie Qiao’s questioning gaze, and coughed a few times before saying, “If you see Thirteen, tell her to leave the palace as soon as possible.”

Xie Qiao paused, surprised that Shen Mu would specifically instruct him to keep an eye on that young miracle doctor, but he still quickly nodded.

"As ordered."

In an instant, he disappeared into the night.

Seeing that no officials were coming, Shen Mu ordered the doors of the main hall to be closed. Just then, a figure in black appeared hurriedly on the palace road under the moonlight.

"Wait a minute!"

Shen Mu looked up at the sound and saw a man in a black robe walking lightly towards her.

The man wore no crown, and his long hair swayed behind him in the night breeze. As he drew closer, Shen Mu realized that he was none other than the Second Prince, who had not been seen in Nanyang for a long time.

"Your Highness, this humble subject greets you." Shen Muchong bowed to Duan Yumou.

"Thank you for your hard work, Lord Shen." Duan Yumou had a delicate and handsome appearance, and his black robe was a little loose, making him look like he had just gotten up. He smiled slightly at Shen Mu and then strode into the main hall.

Inside the main hall, accompanied by singing, dancers filed in from both sides to the center and began to dance gracefully.

Duan Yuan, dressed in a dragon robe, sat upright on the dragon throne. Just as he was about to raise his wine cup, he noticed the tardy Second Prince, Duan Yumou. His rare moment of joy instantly turned to displeasure.

"You're so late today? You might as well not have come at all."

The court officials followed the emperor's gaze and spotted the second prince lurking suspiciously at the palace gate.

Caught red-handed, Duan Yumou then affectedly straightened his robe, cupped his hands, and smiled apologetically.

"I was fetching a congratulatory gift for my father, which caused the delay."

"I wonder what day it is today?"

Just as Duan Yuan was about to say a few more words of reprimand, Consort An, sitting to his right in a magnificent sapphire blue robe, spoke softly.

"Your Majesty, the Second Prince was delayed because he was preparing a gift for you. Today is your birthday, so please don't be angry with him."

Upon hearing Consort An's words, Duan Yuan merely glared coldly at Duan Yumou before ceasing his attack.

Upon seeing this, Duan Yumou hurriedly went to his seat at the table. However, he did not notice that from the moment he entered the hall, that cold gaze had been following him closely.

As the palace banquet began, the dancers temporarily withdrew, and Prime Minister Pei, along with his officials, stepped forward to celebrate with the Emperor.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and the exchange of toasts, the atmosphere in the hall seemed to have lost its previous oppressiveness and become somewhat cheerful.

After all, Nanyang is now considered the largest country, and the surrounding Western Regions and Southern Barbarians have long since submitted to it.

"The Khan of the Western Regions has arrived—"

Following the voice of the palace official, Helian Nash, dressed in elaborate Western Region attire, entered the main hall with dozens of his men carrying boxes behind him.

A dozen or so burly men, also dressed in Western Region attire, followed Helian Nash. When they reached the front of the hall, they all bowed to the emperor on the dragon throne.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully wish you a long and prosperous life, may good fortune shine upon you, may your blessings be boundless, and may Nanyang be prosperous and peaceful."

Upon seeing the dozen or so boxes of gold and silver jewelry, Duan Yuan smiled and said, "No need for formalities."

"Open them." Hernash ordered his men to open the dozen or so treasure chests, and the hall was immediately enveloped in golden light.

The officials sitting on both sides couldn't help but look up at the treasure chest, which was filled with jade, ceramics, and all kinds of jewelry.

Although Nanyang is a large country, its strength is not what it used to be. Especially since the construction of Mingyue Palace, the national treasury has suffered losses year after year. Now, these dozen or so boxes of rare treasures from the Western Regions can be considered to have solved Duan Yuan's urgent problem.

"These dozen or so boxes of treasures represent the sincerity of our Western Regions towards Nanyang. I recently heard that Nanyang was attacked by assassins, and some people have been implying something about our Western Regions. I am taking this opportunity to explain to His Majesty."

Duan Yuan leaned back on the cushions, his expression unreadable, his voice cold and clear.

"Does Helian Khan mean that the assassination of the Nanyang court officials was not your doing?"

"Indeed, to prove my innocence, I will send someone to deliver the evidence I have found in a few days."

Helian Nash's voice wasn't loud, but it still caused a stir among the people in the hall. The Embroidered Uniform Guard had previously investigated and found that the Western Regions had some intention to harm the Vice Minister of the Imperial Guard in Nanyang.

Now that the Khan of the Western Regions has come in person to prove his innocence, it's hard not to be ambivalent.

Amidst the whispers and murmurs, only the Duke of Anguo, sitting opposite Pei, remained calm and composed. Despite being fifty years old with gray hair, he still appeared quite prosperous.

"So, the Embroidered Uniform Guard wronged you." Duan Yuan said lazily, waving his hand. "Let Shen Mu from outside come in and give his answer."

When Shen Mu entered the main hall, he once again attracted the attention of the women present.

Sitting next to Consort An, Duan Yuyan noticed the ambiguous glances from the women around her and instead clenched her sleeves tightly. She recalled Shen Mu's words at the palace gate earlier, and felt a tightness in her chest.

Consort An glanced at Duan Yuyan without changing her expression. "Yan'er, don't forget where you are."

"Yes, Mother." Duan Yuyan nodded knowingly, having kept in mind all the teachings her mother had given her before the banquet began.

Now is not the time for her to throw a tantrum like a princess.

However, she did not know that Consort An also had her own plans for today and could not let others disrupt them.