A short night is hard to please! A stunningly handsome prince dotes on her exclusively.

Yuan Huaijun remained as calm and composed as ever, his phoenix eyes sweeping across the room as he silently observed the overall situation.

Xin Mingwan looked on in surprise, "Yan'er, when did you meet the Imperial Advisor?"

Xin Moyan snapped out of her daze, quickly turned around, and curtsied to the Emperor and Empress Dowager, saying, "Moyan greets Your Majesty and Aunt Empress Dowager."

"Yan'er, you may rise."

She had just straightened up and hadn't even had a chance to explain to the Empress Dowager when Xie Cangming calmly said, "Your Majesty, I hit it off with Mo'er at first sight. I beg Your Majesty to allow Mo'er to sit with me."

Upon hearing this, Lord Yuan Huai nodded and then said to Wang Si, "Have someone bring the rose chair made of purple sandalwood with phoenix and dragon motifs from the back hall."

Wang Si exclaimed in surprise, "Ah!" and remained stunned for a long time...

Xin Mingwan also heard her son's instructions, and frowned as well, her eyes seemingly uncertain.

"Wang Si, should I repeat myself?"

Wang Si quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this servant will have someone bring the chair over right away."

The chairs weren't brought over, and Xie Cangming didn't sit down either. The two of them just stood there on the stage. Even the imperial court and the inner palace had doubts about the situation, but dared not utter a single word about the Grand Preceptor's actions.

Only Xin Moyan felt frustrated and whispered to him, "Uncle Xie, what exactly are you going to do?"

Xie Cangming maintained a calm expression, but his tone was surprisingly lively, "It's easier for us to chat if we're closer to Uncle!"

"...But I don't want others to know that I know you."

He turned around abruptly and glared at her angrily, "Does Mo'er think that her uncle has embarrassed you?"

"...No! I just don't want too many people to notice me."

After speaking, Xin Moyan gestured to him with her lip, indicating that he should look at the kings behind him and the dumbfounded civil and military officials.

Xie Cangming didn't care about them. Mo'er was so cute that she deserved to be the center of attention.

Wang Si hurriedly moved the rose chair over, but then hesitated about where to place it. One seat was empty between the Emperor and the Grand Preceptor, and the other was empty between the Grand Preceptor and the other kings. The head of the kings was naturally the Xuan King, but the Xuan King had always been averse to women; would he be offended? And the seat beside His Majesty…

"Wang Si, bring the chair over here." Yuan Huaijun pointed to the empty seat beneath him, his deep voice revealing an unyielding imperial aura.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wang Si quickly ordered someone to move a chair under him and then politely invited Xin Moyan to sit down.

Seeing that she seemed lost in thought, Yuan Huaijun said softly, "Yan'er, come and sit here."

"Mo'er, sit down!" Xie Cangming patted her shoulder and gave her a reassuring look.

"Oh!" Xin Moyan didn't think much of it, lifted her leg and walked to the chair and sat down, causing an uproar in the room.

"Fifth...Fifth Brother, what do you think the Grand Preceptor is doing? And what is the Emperor doing?"

Yuan Huaize just stared blankly upwards, completely baffled!

Xin Moling and Lou Shenghan, as the heads of all civil and military officials, stood on either side of the stage, thus having a clear view of everything above.

Xin Moling was puzzled, not only by Yuan Huaijun's actions, but also by Xie Cangming. Why was he so concerned about Yan'er lately? What was his purpose?

Lou Shenghan maintained his usual refined yet scoundrel smile, though the smile didn't reach his eyes.

The women of the harem around the Empress Dowager were equally shocked. From the moment Xin Moyan sat down, Qin Shuang's gaze remained fixed on her, her expression still very gentle and kind.

Xie Cangming glanced sideways and saw that Xuan Yuan's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, just as he had expected. He raised an eyebrow, tapped the armrest of his chair with his fingertips, making a crisp but cold sound, and said coolly, "Your Majesty, you may summon the envoys from various countries to an audience."

Yuan Huaijun nodded and winked at Wang Si, "Wang Si."

Wang Si quickly stepped forward and stood on the imperial steps. His sharp voice carried a hint of weathered experience, "Summon the envoys of all nations to an audience!"

"Summon envoys from various countries to an audience."

"Summon envoys from various countries to an audience."

The long, loud voice carried along the way, and the eunuchs waiting along the route relayed the message one after another to the outside of Yantang Square...

Before long, the consular eunuchs respectfully led the envoys in. Since they arrived at different times, they entered in turn according to their arrival order.

The first to step onto the stage were a young couple dressed in gold robes and skirts. The man held the woman's hand with one hand, and every move he made was gentle and tender.

"The envoys of Baiqing Kingdom, Crown Prince Jinfa and his wife, have come to pay their respects to His Majesty Emperor Yuan, wishing the Yuanqi Kingdom prosperity and favorable weather."

Xin Moyan looked up and saw that the man was dressed in gorgeous and noble clothes, with a gentle and refined face and a faint, kind smile on his lips. Between his eyebrows was a cinnabar mark, just like that of Guanyin Bodhisattva. Coupled with the gentle aura he exuded, from a distance, he looked like a lifelike male Bodhisattva standing in front of her.

The woman beside him, dressed in a gold dress and adorned with gold ornaments, moved with a light, graceful, and elegant gait. Her skin was as white as snow, her eyes as bright as the autumn moon, her eyebrows and eyes as beautiful as a painting, and her lips were slightly parted, smiling gently. They were a perfect match, a man and a woman of outstanding talent and beauty.

"Crown Prince Jinfa, there is no need for such formalities. It is an honor for me and Yuanqi that you and the Crown Princess have come to pay our respects."

Jin Fa looked up at Emperor Yuan, his eyes seemingly surprised by the powerful aura of the young emperor. Five years ago, he had come to the Yuanqi court assembly with Xin Han. At that time, Yuan Huaijun was still the crown prince. Although he was extremely reserved and steady, he did not have such an extraordinary demeanor as he does now. In just a few years, his strength has become so amazing!

He glanced to the side, and Xin Moyan's position caught his eye. Logically, the women of the harem should sit to the side of the Empress Dowager. What was this woman doing here? Why was she sitting with so many princes and nobles? Below Emperor Yuan, could she be… Empress Yuan? How come I heard Emperor Yuanqi hasn't appointed an empress yet?

Jin Fa regained his composure and smiled, "Your Majesty, today is your country's once-every-five-years court assembly, a day of universal celebration. My wife and I, on behalf of Bai Qing, extend our congratulations to Yuan Qi."

After saying that, he raised his hand to signal his men, and several of them carried over a huge box that was as tall as an adult. They covered the box completely with a black cloth, making it impossible to see what was inside.

"I am honored to have been invited by Your Majesty to attend the Yuanqi Kingdom's grand assembly. I am presenting this small gift to express the friendship between our two nations. I hope Your Majesty will accept it with pleasure."

He spoke with extreme politeness and courtesy, yet his attitude was neither servile nor arrogant, showing no sign of being intimidated by the grandeur of the Yuan Dynasty.

"Mo'er, look closely, this is a treasure!"

Xie Cangming's voice rang out from beside her ear. Xin Moyan subconsciously turned her head to look and saw him smiling, raising his eyebrows at her.