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

In Pei Zhiheng's view, Nanyang had never had much money under Duan Yuan's rule.

However, as the prime minister, he could not arbitrarily spread news of the national treasury's deficit. Therefore, when he opposed the Bright Moon Palace, his advisors exclaimed in surprise, "How dare the prime minister oppose the emperor?"

An unreadable emotion seemed to churn within his eyes; he always felt he hadn't done enough to make up for the mistakes of the past. In fact, he spent half his time in regret.

He regretted helping Duan Yuan ascend to the throne.

He glanced around at the room and saw the Second Prince, who was the most composed person there, enjoying the delicious food on his own. He also saw the Fifth Princess, Duan Yuning, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

Duan Yuning wore a slightly faded pink dress, her face was unadorned, but her hair was styled beautifully with only a simple hairpin. Compared to the extravagant attire of Duan Yuyan who had just left, hers paled in comparison.

Pei Zhiheng withdrew his gaze. If he wasn't mistaken, the clothes Duan Yuning was wearing were the ones Pei Suisui had given her for her birthday two years ago.

Two years have passed, and I'm still wearing this dress.

Everyone knows that the Fourth Princess of Nanyang was extremely favored and loved dressing up. The emperor, in his affection, even sent twenty palace embroiderers to the Fourth Princess's residence to make her different new clothes.

Duan Yuyan was extravagant; she would often order a dress to be burned after wearing it only once, and forbade anyone to appear wearing the exact same clothes as her.

The birth of the fourth princess was accompanied by auspicious omens in the sky, but few people know that the births of the fifth princess and the fourth princess were only half a cup of tea apart.

The reason is that the Fourth Princess's mother was the most honored Consort in Nanyang, while the Fifth Princess's birth mother was Kang, the former Empress's personal maid.

On the night the former empress died, Consort Kang seduced the emperor and secretly became pregnant. She gave birth to the fifth princess but died in childbirth. Because the former empress, Consort Bai, was well-regarded in the palace, Consort Kang was bullied throughout her pregnancy and her food rations were often cut.

Fortunately, Madam Kang had a sister named Granny Qin to take care of her. After Madam Kang passed away, she was only given the title of Consort Kang before being hastily buried.

When Consort An learned that the Fifth Princess and the Fourth Princess had been born on the same day, she, who was temporarily managing the harem in place of the Empress, secretly sent people to frequently cut off the Fifth Princess's supplies, so that the world would only know that there was a princess in Nanyang, who was her biological daughter, Duan Yuyan.

After that, Granny Qin raised the Fifth Princess with her own savings.

If it weren't for Prime Minister Pei frequently sending Pei Suisui to the palace to bring clothes and food to the Fifth Princess, she would probably have perished long ago in this cannibalistic palace.

On the palace path, the moonlight stretched the shadows of several people long.

Consort An glanced at Shen Mu. It wasn't that she disliked the commander. Rather, whenever he was around, her good-for-nothing daughter's heart and eyes were always with him.

How can a woman only have love in her eyes?

"Lord Shen, have you heard the other day that the Western Regions want to form a marriage alliance with my Nanyang?"

Shen Mu raised an eyebrow slightly. He had heard about this matter before and had even sensed the Emperor's intentions. He slowly replied...

"I've heard of it. It's said that a princess should be betrothed to Prince Helian."

This year, for the Emperor's birthday celebration, the Khan of the Western Regions was specially invited, not only to appease the people of the Western Regions, but also to arrange a meeting between him and Princess Nanyang.

"Yes, I don't know if my daughter can withstand the wind and sand of the Western Regions."

She glanced meaningfully at Duan Yuyan, but Duan Yuyan was hiding behind her, watching Shen Mu. This made An Ruyi sigh in frustration.

"Mother, I won't marry!" Upon hearing this, Duan Yuyan hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed An Ruyi's arm, pleading sweetly.

She had no desire to go on that Western Regions marriage alliance; she only had eyes for Shen Mu.

An Ruyi smiled sarcastically, as if she had heard a joke.

"You don't want to? This isn't something you can decide for yourself."

Since she has been supported by the people of Nanyang, she should fulfill her mission as Princess Nanyang.

"I won't marry. If I have to marry, then only Shen Mu can marry me." Duan Yuyan said, while looking at Shen Mu's handsome face. The more she looked at him, the happier she became, and she wished she could immediately ask her father, the emperor, to grant her a marriage.

Shen Mu remained indifferent. He had never been interested in women, let alone mortals. In his life, these mortals were merely fleeting passersby, like passing clouds, their lives ending in the blink of an eye.

An Ruyi, however, was so angry that she secretly pinched Duan Yuyan. Her words earlier had deliberately pointed out that there was no possibility between her and Shen Mu. She never expected that her good-for-nothing daughter would take after someone else.

They can't understand good words, but they listen to bad words in reverse.

"Mother." Duan Yuyan stared with her watery eyes, her hand red from where she had been pinched. She still believed that as long as she acted cute, she could get everything she wanted.

However, An Ruyi understood this matter much better than she did.

"Let's not talk about this. I advise you not to attract attention in front of the Emperor. The Mingyue Palace is in danger right now, and he's probably furious."

Consort An shook her head helplessly, saying that they should consider Duan Yuyan's marriage more carefully.

After all, Nanyang now has more than one princess.

As they walked along the palace road, they could see the Bright Moon Palace engulfed in flames from afar.

The rain stopped, indirectly fueling the fire.

"Why don't you and the princess wait here for a while? The fire must be filled with thick smoke, it's not suitable for you to go there," Shen Mu kindly suggested.

An Ruyi subconsciously patted her stomach. Although flames were raging ahead, she had no way out and could only grit her teeth and say...

"It's alright, let's go find the Emperor together."

"Yes."

Shen Mu stopped trying to dissuade her, since he already knew the purpose of Consort An's visit. He even knew that she had summoned him here to try and make him share more of the blame for his father, the Duke of Anguo's crimes.

However, the mobilization of the Embroidered Uniform Guard today was by imperial decree.

It was because Duke Anguo forgot to send people to guard this place in shifts that Zhou Jinghuai was able to take advantage of the situation and set fire to Mingyue Palace.

The group arrived at the Bright Moon Palace, where the fire was gradually subsiding.

Duan Yuan stood in front of the palace with an angry expression, his composure from the main hall gone.

He was not only angry that the Bright Moon Palace was on fire, but also angry that he had once again missed out on immortality, and even angrier that the already empty national treasury had been emptied to build this magnificent palace, only to have it all come to nothing overnight.

The eunuchs and guards carrying buckets of water were all covered in soot and grime. Shen Mu understood that the fire must have burned completely, and even if Chongming reappeared, without the altar's help, he would not be able to wreak havoc on the mortal realm for the time being.

"emperor……"

A sweet, delicate voice pulled Duan Yuan back to reality. He turned his head and saw Consort An, whose face was pale.

"Why are you here?" Duan Yuan frowned, gently scolding her as he walked to her side and helped the swaying An Ruyi.

"I was afraid Your Majesty was overworked, so I came to see you." An Ruyi had been exposed to the wind all the way, and her small, icy hands touched Duan Yuan's cheek.

"Why is it so cold?" Duan Yuan held her hand tenderly, and said somewhat angrily, "Fetch a cloak for the Imperial Concubine."