Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

After some time, Su Qianrou felt a little bored and sat there in a daze.

Xiao Yaxuan, at some point, sat down next to Mu Jinchen, enjoying being fed by her uncle. If it were anyone else, they would probably have avoided him like the plague and wouldn't have dared to approach him. But she not only took the initiative to walk to his side but also ordered him to feed her, without any fear.

Suddenly, Xiao Yaxuan looked at Mu Jinchen and said, "Uncle, how about I introduce you to a wife?"

Mu Jinchen said without hesitation, "Who doesn't want it?"

"No, Sister Qianrou is so beautiful. She's the most beautiful person Xuan'er has ever met, even more beautiful than Uncle."

Mu Jinchen subconsciously looked at Su Qianrou, but she had her head down and seemed to be thinking about something. However, he looked away after only a moment.

Xiao Yaxuan didn't notice his unusual behavior and asked again, "Uncle, do you steal the blanket when you sleep?"

Mu Jinchen didn't know how her thinking had changed so quickly, but she still answered, "No."

"Then why is it cold when you sleep with Sister Qianrou?" Xiao Yaxuan asked innocently.

Fortunately, there was music playing in the hall at that moment, and her voice wasn't loud; otherwise, Su Qianrou would have lost her innocence because of her words.

"Xuan'er, don't talk nonsense."

“I’m not making this up. It was Qianrou’s cousin who said it. She said that if Qianrou marries you, she’ll probably wake up freezing in the middle of the night.”

If Yang Shanshan knew she would tell Mu Jinchen this, she would never have said it, even if she were beaten to death.

Mu Jinchen then understood what she meant, but he didn't say anything.

At that moment, a melodious zither tune rang out in the hall, attracting everyone's attention.

Su Qianrou's thoughts were also pulled back, and she looked at the person playing the instrument. Unexpectedly, it was Qin Zhenzhen, which surprised her.

Qin Zhenzhen was forced into this situation and had no other choice but to resort to it.

Now that she is eighteen, the Duke of Ming's mansion can no longer keep her. Therefore, she will definitely be married off this year. She has been in love with Mu Jinchen for a long time, and it is because of him that she has kept delaying until now. Coupled with jealousy, this made her lose her sense of propriety.

Yang Shanshan was utterly shocked by her actions and couldn't help but exclaim, "Has Qin Zhenzhen gone mad?"

Su Qianrou asked, puzzled, "What's wrong? She played it quite well, didn't she?"

Do you know what piece she was playing?

Su Qianrou shook her head, indicating that she did not know.

"The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate".

Although Su Qianrou had never heard of her, she knew about her, so she was somewhat surprised. She had thought that she just wanted to show off, but she never expected that she was actually...

As everyone knows, she likes Mu Jinchen, so it's easy to understand why she did this today. Therefore, everyone's eyes inevitably fell on Mu Jinchen.

Even Su Qianrou was no exception, staring straight at him to see his reaction, but seeing his indifferent and apathetic expression, she thought to herself, "It seems this Miss Qin is going to be disappointed."

Soon, the song ended, and Qin Zhenzhen subconsciously looked at Mu Jinchen, only to see him chatting with the little princess. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Then, she got up, walked to the front, and bowed, saying, "This subject greets Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, and Grand Empress Dowager."

"Miss Qin, you may dispense with the formalities."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Miss Qin truly deserves to be called the most talented woman in the capital, proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

"Your Majesty flatters me."

"Miss Qin's rendition of 'The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate' was truly exquisite... Speaking of which, Miss Qin is eighteen this year, isn't she? It's time for her to get married," said the Empress Dowager.

Qin Zhenzhen glanced at Mu Jinchen again.

Mu Jinchen seemed uninterested in their conversation, and continued drinking his tea.

Then, the Empress Dowager said, "It's perfect timing. All the fine young men in the capital are here. Why don't Miss Qin choose one, so that His Majesty can arrange a marriage for you?"

Qin Zhenzhen was at a loss, so she looked to Qin Yulan for help.

"Mother, today is a festive New Year banquet, so it is probably not appropriate."

Mu Jingfeng looked at Mu Jinchen and said with a smile, "The Regent is now twenty-four years old. Why not marry Miss Qin? The two of you are a perfect match, a match made in heaven. If you can get married, it will be a wonderful story. What does the Regent think?"

Not very good.

"The Regent is as cold-blooded and ruthless as ever."

"Miss Qin's marriage is a matter for the Duke's mansion and the Empress Dowager to worry about; what does it have to do with me?"

Qin Zhenzhen felt utterly humiliated.

The Duke of Ming's expression was also not very good, but he was mainly targeting Qin Zhenzhen, feeling that she was making a fool of herself.

Mu Zexuan said, "Alright, Miss Qin, please go back and sit down."

"Yes".

Then, Mu Zexuan said, "Let the foreign envoys come in."

So, Little Li shouted, "Summon the foreign envoys to an audience."

A short while later, several burly men dressed in Hu clothing walked in. "Western Region Luerqi greets His Majesty the Emperor," they said. Their attitude was very arrogant, probably because they thought Mu Zexuan was just a child and therefore did not take him seriously.

Mu Jinchen frowned, his face darkening.

The ministers were also very dissatisfied with their attitude, feeling that they were showing contempt for Yunyue and provoking the prestige of the nation.

"The envoy from the Western Regions has come from afar; you must be tired."

"It is our honor to serve the king," he said, then added, "We have come here today on the king's orders to present a trinket to Your Majesty." With that, he took out a jade nine-linked ring. "This trinket is called the Nine-Linked Rings. It is extremely difficult to solve. In our Western Regions, only one person has been able to solve it so far, and that is our Prince Bulu. Yunyue is a great nation with many talented people. I think it will not be difficult for us. I wonder if any of you here can solve it?" His words were full of contempt.

"Would you, my esteemed subjects, be willing to give it a try?" Mu Zexuan asked.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to give it a try."

"Alright, take it and let Lord Xu try it."

As a result, after fiddling with it for a long time, not a single link could be solved.

"I am incompetent."

"What about the other ministers?"

"Your subject is willing to give it a try."

"I am also willing."

Finally, after a dozen ministers studied the problem for a long time, none of them could solve it.

Mu Zexuan became serious and asked, "Duke of Su, Duke of Ming, what about you two? Can you solve this?"

"I am incompetent."

“You are all learned and knowledgeable people, yet you cannot even solve a nine-linked ring puzzle.”

The ministers lowered their heads in shame.

At this moment, Qin Zhenzhen stood up and said, "Your Majesty, may I ask if you may allow me to give it a try?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, you can let Miss Qin give it a try. Miss Qin is exceptionally talented, and I think this nine-linked rings should be no challenge for her."

"That's right."

The ministers echoed this sentiment, for now they could only place their hopes on Qin Zhenzhen.

"In that case, let Miss Qin give it a try."

So the eunuch gave the nine-linked rings to Qin Zhenzhen.

Qin Zhenzhen held it in her hand, examined it repeatedly, and tried many times, but in the end she still could not solve it. She could only say, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty, I am incompetent."

Upon hearing this, everyone was greatly disappointed.