Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

Shen Yuchen thought his elder sister wouldn't come. After all, the princess rarely attended banquets during her time in the capital, and the few times she did attend were only to win people's hearts.

After the banquet began, Shen Sangwan appeared in the main hall.

"Your subject pays respects to the Princess, may Your Highness live a thousand years!"

"Flat body."

"Sister!"

"Xiao Tong, why do I see that the little emperor's eyes are practically sparkling!"

【Master, just ignore it automatically.】

"I thought my elder sister wouldn't come."

"Today is His Majesty and the Empress's wedding day, and as the eldest sister, it is only natural that I must come."

He then bowed to the Empress Dowager and sat down in his seat.

"I am very happy that my elder sister can come."

Shen Yuchen raised his glass to the other person and drank it down in one gulp.

The sounds of string and wind instruments filled the banquet, and Shen Sangwan's eyes, like radar, secretly scanned her surroundings.

My lord, you're giving me the illusion that I'm visiting a brothel.

"Ahem, I just enjoy looking at beautiful women, how can you say that to me? Besides, how can you compare those young ladies in the audience to the courtesans in brothels?"

[Hehehe—Master, please tone it down a bit, or your eyeballs will pop out and fall to the ground.]

"Oh dear, these beauties are all stunning in their own way. Look at the one in the sixth row from the right; she must be the daughter of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and soon she'll be the Princess Consort of Prince Ming. Cherry lips, a delicate nose, almond-shaped eyes slightly closed, and that red mole on her nose adds to her captivating beauty. Waaah, how could such a beautiful woman be so lucky to be with Prince Ming?"

Master, you...

And then there's the youngest daughter of the Minister of Revenue—her skin is as white and delicate as snow, her eyebrows are like willow leaves, her eyes are big and watery, and her nose is pert and delicate. She's so beautiful!

[Master! Master! Let's control ourselves a little, you're drooling.]

Hehe, looking at beautiful women makes one feel happy, clears one's mind, and...

[Stop, stop, Master. You can take your time reading. I won't nag you anymore, lest I spoil your enjoyment!]

What a pity, Xiao Yan Yan missed another chance to see a beautiful woman.

"Hey, hey—? Xiaotong, I hope Cen Yan won't end up like Miss Cen, bedridden for days on end?"

During the few days she stayed at Weiyang Palace, I examined her health and found nothing seriously wrong. Her absence from the banquet this time must have been for another reason.

I haven't seen her for so long. I wonder how she's doing at the Cen residence, and if she's encountered any trouble.

[Master, you can rest assured. The people chosen by the main system will not die easily.]

"...They won't die easily, they'll just be tortured half to death, the kind of person who can't die even if they want to."

Shen Sangwan snorted coldly in her heart.

She wanted to curse the system again!

Before she knew it, Shen Sangwan had drunk several glasses of fruit wine, but her face only turned slightly red.

It seems that both the princess and she are able to drink heavily without getting drunk, which is very good.

At the end of Shenshi (17:00 PM), the palace banquet was drawing to a close.

The Empress Dowager was feeling listless and left the banquet halfway through, citing poor health, and returned to Chonghua Palace.

Shen Yuchen, holding Wen Yuening's hand, left first and returned to Fengluan Palace.

Shen Sangwan was helped back to Weiyang Palace by Mo Yun.

When the emperor, empress, and princess left, the court officials and their families also left the banquet.

Inside the bedchamber, where red candles flickered, embroidered silk quilts were covered with red dates, longans, peanuts, and lotus seeds.

A pair of dragon and phoenix candles on the candlestick burned slowly.

With the help of Qingluan and Qingque, Wen Yuening removed her phoenix crown, earrings, and other ornaments, and took off her gorgeous clothes, leaving her in only a red casual dress.

Shen Yuchen looked somewhat flustered and embarrassed, and his hand trembled slightly as he poured the wine. Fortunately, he had his back to Wen Yuening, so she wouldn't see his lapse in composure.

Calming himself, he picked up two cups of wine for the couple and went to the bed.

He handed one of the cups to Wen Yue Ning.

Their faces were slightly flushed, whether from the heat or from shyness, it was hard to tell.

Their arms were intertwined, and they drank the wine in their glasses.

The hall was silent; the two looked at each other without saying a word.

Wen Yuening spoke first, reaching out to help Shen Yuchen undress, "Your Majesty, it's getting late..."

"I...I suddenly remembered that I have some memorials to review today. I will go to Xingde Hall to finish reviewing them before I rest!"

Shen Yuchen's cheeks were burning, his speech was somewhat hesitant, and his steps as he left were slightly unsteady.

After the others left, Qingluan and Qingque entered one after the other.

"Your Majesty, why has His Majesty left on this auspicious night?"

Wen Yuening's expression was not good. At first, she thought that Shen Yuchen was just young and a little shy about matters between men and women, but just now, the other party was unusually distant in both words and actions.

Even when the two were drinking the nuptial wine together, she could clearly sense that the other person was extremely uncomfortable.

And when she wanted to undress the other person, she simply avoided touching him with her hands.

The new emperor seems to dislike me touching him.

"Your Majesty—?"

"It's nothing. His Majesty is going to Xingde Hall to review the memorials and will come back later."

"But tonight is the Empress's and His Majesty's wedding night. How can His Majesty abandon the Empress?"

"Your Majesty's diligence in governing is a good thing, Qingluan. I don't want to hear such words again next time."

Wen Yuening touched the jade bracelet on her wrist, her words becoming slightly harsher.

"I acknowledge my guilt."

"This inner palace is not like the Prime Minister's residence. You two must be extremely careful with your words and actions from now on, and never let anyone find any fault with you."

"I've made note of this."

The blue sparrow and the blue phoenix bowed in a curtsy at the same time.

"I wonder when His Majesty will return. Will Your Majesty continue to wait for him?"

Wen Yuening waved her hand. If she didn't rest, Shen Yuchen probably wouldn't step into the Phoenix Palace's sleeping quarters.

"Extinguish the oil lamp and step back!"

"The slaves retire."

As it approached 9 PM, Shen Yuchen hesitated before returning. He breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that Wen Yuening had already gone to bed.

With the help of palace servants, he removed his dragon robe and tiptoed onto the bed.

Wen Yuening slept on the inside, leaving a large space on the outside.

But Shen Yuchen still clung to the edge of the bed, as if a flesh-eating tiger was sleeping beside him.

I slept in the same position all night, feeling extremely uneasy.

It's truly unique for an emperor to reach such a level.

Shen Yuchen inwardly groaned.

Weiyang Palace

Shen Sangwan leaned against the window frame, admiring the moonlight tonight.

When Mo Yun came to report on the situation at Fengluan Palace, she was staring at the crescent moon in a daze.

"Your Highness, His Majesty left Fengluan Palace at 18:00 and returned at 19:00, but the Empress seems to have already retired for the night."

"Yes, continue to send people to keep an eye on things."

In front of Mo Yun, Shen Sangwan was too lazy to pretend or hide herself. She walked from the window to the soft couch, half-rested on it without any regard for her image, doing whatever was comfortable.

"Have you found out why Miss Cen didn't attend the palace banquet today, as I asked you to?"

"According to a report from the spies of the Prime Minister's residence, the Second Miss Cen was in a bad mood the day before yesterday. The First Miss Cen accompanied her to go boating on the lake in the suburbs. The two of them accidentally fell into the water and are still unconscious."

"what!"

Shen Sangwan sat up abruptly from the soft couch, her eyes narrowing.

"Is Cen Yan an idiot? She clearly can't swim, so why would someone so afraid of water go swimming in a lake?"

[Master, calm down, calm down. She's just unconscious. Don't worry, Miss Cen will be alright.]

"Cen Yan had previously been on the verge of drowning, and now this has happened again. How can I remain calm?"

"Has the Prime Minister's residence summoned an imperial physician to examine your pulse?"

"It's Physician Qin from the Imperial Hospital. I've already sent someone to inquire. Miss Cen choked on water, fell unconscious, and then developed a high fever. I've prescribed a medicine, and she should be given fever-reducing medication now."

"Then why have you remained unconscious?"

"Even Physician Qin didn't know, only that there were no signs of imminent death."

Shen Sangwan got up and paced back and forth in the hall, feeling very anxious.

"Has any investigation been conducted into why the two people fell into the water?"

"I did not send anyone to investigate, but I heard the servants of the Prime Minister's residence discussing in private that Miss Cen the Second was unwilling to enter the palace. Since His Majesty ascended the throne, she has been depressed. I dare to guess that Miss Cen the Second may be planning to drown herself in the lake, which would implicate Miss Cen the First."

Shen Sangwansheng couldn't shake off his unease no matter how much he thought about it.

"Change your clothes and come with me out of the palace."

"Your Highness, it is probably not appropriate to leave the palace to go to the Prime Minister's residence at this hour."

She knew it was inappropriate, but she was afraid she wouldn't be able to sleep all night if she didn't see it for herself.

Who is on night duty at the palace gates tonight?

"Qi Heng, Mo Feng's confidant."

"Let's change into our night clothes and sneak out."

Seeing that Shen Sangwan was determined to leave the palace, Mo Yun had no choice but to grant her request since he couldn't stop her.

Both were dressed in black, moving through the pitch-black night.

He left the palace gates a short while later, quietly slipping out.

With Xiaotong leading the way, they hurried towards the Right Prime Minister's residence, as they needed to return to the palace before dawn.

Fortunately, the guards at the Prime Minister's residence were not very strict.

However, Shen Sangwan did not know any light-body skills, so Mo Yun carried her up and down the whole time, making her almost throw up from the constant jolting.

The lights in Cen Yan's courtyard were already off, and Shen Sangwan and Mo Yun entered the house in the dark.

Seeing that the maidservant guarding the outer room was showing signs of waking up, Shen Sangwan quickly had Mo Yun knock her unconscious.

[My apologies!]

She didn't want it to be like this, but she could only temporarily make the little girl suffer.

"Xiaotong, how are you?"

【master...】

〖explain!〗

Seeing Xiaotong hesitate, Shen Sangwan's heart jumped.

[This... there's nothing wrong with my body, but... I can't detect Cen Yan's presence; she doesn't seem to be here anymore...]

Xiaotong spoke in a trembling voice.

"Your Highness——!"

Mo Yun gasped and quickly caught Shen Sangwan to prevent her from falling.

Shen Sangwan's ears were ringing, and her vision became somewhat blurry.