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

Baoguang Hall was generally used to host royal family banquets. The huge palace was decorated with brocade screens, silk embroidery, and colorful ribbons. At the top were the seats for the emperor, empress, and empress dowager, followed by the tables for the concubines and dukes of the inner palace. On both sides below were countless pear wood tables, where members of the royal family and civil and military officials were seated in an orderly manner.

As the Grand General of Yuanqi, Xin Moling sat alongside the Prime Minister, with the princes opposite them, seated in order of seniority. Yuan Huaixuan naturally sat at the very front, facing Lou Shenghan, while Yuan Huailie sat facing Xin Moling.

Xin Moyan should have sat below the concubines, but her brother, who was very fond of his sister, always made sure his sister sat next to him. So, she sat at the same table as Hua Buyu, next to her brother's table. Opposite them was the Fifth Prince, Yuan Huaize, who was gently waving his folding fan and smiling in a very intriguing way.

Since their arrival, everyone's eyes have been fixed on the two of them without any hesitation. On the one hand, they were shocked by Xin Moyan's stunning appearance, and on the other hand, they were naturally curious about the relationship between this woman in fiery red, with her beautiful and alluring appearance and personality, and the general.

Today, Yuan Huaijun was dressed in a black and gold brocade robe with a five-clawed dragon pattern, his hair tied up with a golden crown, and his narrow phoenix eyes were deep and unfathomable. At this moment, he was sitting on the dragon throne at the top. When he saw the Empress Dowager walk to his side, he quickly stepped forward to help Xin Mingwan sit down. Then he stood in front of the throne, his thin lips slightly pursed, and calmly looked at the people below.

After everyone took their seats, although the whispers below were quiet, no one dared to make a loud noise. Yuan Huaijun stepped forward, his voice deep, magnetic, steady, and powerful, his royal aura not to be underestimated.

"My lords, today the sky is clear and the world is at peace. It is the day of the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration, a time of joy for the whole country. This is also the first time I have held a grand palace banquet since I ascended the throne. Therefore, I invite all my beloved ministers to the Baoguang Hall to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday together and enjoy fine food and wine. I hope you will not be reserved and can all enjoy yourselves."

"Your Majesty's filial piety moves Heaven and Earth. Your humble servant wishes the Empress Dowager long life, a thousand autumns and ten thousand years, and a lifespan as long as Heaven!"

Whether it was pre-arranged or started by one of the ministers, a large number of people suddenly knelt down and shouted in unison, "Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, bestow your great favor!"

"Your Majesty's filial piety moves Heaven and Earth. Your humble servant wishes the Empress Dowager long life, a thousand autumns and ten thousand years, and a lifespan as long as Heaven!"

"Your Majesty's filial piety moves Heaven and Earth. Your humble servant wishes the Empress Dowager long life, a thousand autumns and ten thousand years, and a lifespan as long as Heaven!"

"Tsk tsk tsk~ What a flatterer!"

The brother and sister both turned to look at Hua Buyu. Xin Moyan muttered to herself, "Buyu, it seems you were even more eager to flatter me in the Imperial Garden just now!"

"Uh...hehehe, no way!"

Xin Moyan peeked out from behind Hua Buyu and whispered, "Brother, do we have to kneel?"

Seeing her younger sister acting like a curious child, Xin Moling chuckled and asked in return, "Does Yan'er want to kneel down?"

She shook her head; even in modern times, she had never knelt before her parents.

"Then I won't kneel. With your brother here, don't worry."

Hua Buyu opened her eyes wide and asked curiously, "You can do that?"

Seeing the two girls' surprised expressions, he slowly explained, "I have rendered meritorious service in protecting the country, and His Majesty has long granted me permission not to kneel. It is because I usually pay too much attention to the distinction between ruler and subject. If anyone uses your refusal to kneel as a pretext, they will certainly not be able to get past me."

"It's always good to have someone to rely on!"

Yuan Huaijun gestured for all his ministers to take their seats, then ordered the banquet to begin. He glanced at the group of people chatting animatedly and couldn't help but feel curious about the woman in red. Ah Ling had never seemed to treat anyone else with such an attitude.

"Yan Yan, I have a feeling they're talking about us!"

Xin Moyan was speechless for a moment, and said quietly, "Buyu, didn't you see those women on the lower right side of the opposite side? They're practically pointing their fingers at our noses."

Hua Buyu clicked her tongue in dismay and said, "I thought the palace banquet would be fun, but I never imagined we'd be here to be entertained like monkeys."

She spoke so loudly that even Lou Shenghan, who was sitting across from Xin Moling, heard her and turned to give her a bright smile.

"Hey pretty girl, the feast hasn't even started yet, and you're already bored?"

"Hey! You so-called Prime Minister, I told you to show some respect and call me Miss Hua. If you keep calling me 'Miss Hua,' believe me... believe me, I'll stab you to death with my sword!"

Hearing "Miss Hua" made Hua Buyu even angrier. She hated being called that more than anything. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She reached out to draw the sword from Xin Moling's waist, but forgot that she was kneeling. She lost her balance and fell straight into Xin Moling's arms...

Not to mention the person involved, everyone in the room, including the emperor and empress dowager in the seats of honor, saw it all clearly. Everyone who saw Hua Buyu nestled in Xin Moling's arms was stunned, and the scene instantly fell into a deathly silence.

"Hua Buyu, I told you not to cause trouble, but you insist on doing this?"

A cold, chilling voice came from above. Hua Buyu slowly looked up and saw that Xin Moling's face was as black as could be.

"Hehe~ Isn't this your chance to be a hero and save the damsel in distress!"

Hua Buyu immediately sat up straight and awkwardly chuckled. However, she accidentally caught Yuan Huaixue staring at her intently, as if she had discovered her husband's infidelity. She leaned closer and whispered, "What is it?"

"Xin Moling, do you really not like that princess?"

"What does this have to do with you?"

Xin Moling's tone wasn't very good. He had only realized yesterday that Hua Buyu had designs on him, and today she was making so many intimate gestures in the palace. If she weren't a woman, he would have really wanted to take Hua Buyu to the military camp and beat her up.

"I'm just asking, if you really don't like that princess, why not take this opportunity to make her give up now, instead of ruining her future?"

"Don't speak. The Emperor and your aunt, the Empress Dowager, are watching. You mustn't make the princess cry this time!"

Xin Moyan felt a little worried, because not only were there a group of civil and military officials and scions of noble families below, but even her cousin, the emperor, was staring straight at them from above.

"Oh dear! Yan Yan, I'm just trying to help you. If that spoiled little princess becomes your future sister-in-law, I doubt your life will be easy."

Her lips twitched. It was obvious that her brother didn't like the princess, so how could he possibly become her sister-in-law?

What exactly do you want to do?

"Hehe~ It's very simple. You and Yan Yan switch seats. You sit at the same table as me, Yan Yan sits at your table, and I sit in the middle so I can chat with Yan Yan."

"that's it?"

"Brother, what other reason could there be for a man and a woman sitting together alone, besides mutual affection? I'm sacrificing my reputation to help you, and you're not even grateful?"

Xin Moling narrowed her eyes and stared at her sharply, asking, "Are you really not acting out of personal desire?"

"Take it or leave it!"