"Qinmeng was certainly lucky to have gained a sister who is a princess." The two exchanged a smile.

With a pout, Tinglan finally had the chance to stay with her sister for a while, and now here came someone else vying for her sister’s attention. She glared at Qinmeng discontentedly, "She’s my sister, Feng." She emphasized to Qinmeng that Feng Xuxu was her own sister.

Qinmeng was initially startled, then her lips curved into a smile, "Little sister Tinglan, she is your sister, but she is also my sister. There’s no conflict."

"She’s mine." She emphasized again, even more displeased, puffing up her cheeks and frowning at Qinmeng.

"Little sister Tinglan, isn’t it nice to have one more sister who cares about you? Don’t you like that?" Feng Xuxu held Tinglan’s hand, speaking softly.

Tinglan looked at Feng Xuxu, then turned to gaze at Qinmeng, pursing her lips in thought for a long while, yet remained silent.

Qinmeng observed Tinglan carefully, her frown deepening the more she watched. To confirm her suspicion, she stepped forward, took Tinglan’s hand, and said, "I will be as good to Tinglan as Feng sister is. Don’t you like having one more person to play with?" Seizing the opportunity, she felt Tinglan’s pulse.

At the mention of having someone to play with, Tinglan didn’t struggle at all. While Qinmeng was feeling her wrist, Feng Xuxu, who had been watching intently from the side, did not come forward to interrupt but waited quietly, occasionally diverting Tinglan’s attention.

"Okay, I agree to share Feng sister with you, but you have to play with me," Tinglan generously offered to share Feng Xuxu.

Watching Tinglan’s serious face from the side, Feng Xuxu couldn’t help but be torn between laughter and tears.

"Alright, Sister Meng will play with Tinglan."

The three of them chatted and laughed until the banquet began, and then they parted ways.

"How come you’re smiling so happily?" She asked, noting the almost crescent-moon shape of the other’s joy-filled eyes. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"The Beitang Hidden Clan and the Xuanyuan have formed an alliance; I have one less enemy," she said, arching her eyebrow and curving her lips into a pleasing arc.

"Yes, it is indeed a reason to be happy," Dugu Chen responded with an indulgent smile.

A eunuch dressed in green clothes approached the front of the hall, shook off the dust, and announced loudly, "The Emperor has arrived." He drew out the long note until the Emperor had walked up to the front.

Just as Feng Xuxu was about to get up, she was stopped by Dugu Chen, who shook his head at her. Understanding the signal, she settled comfortably back into her chair.

"Long live the Emperor, long live, long may he reign," she looked around to see everyone in the grand hall, apart from the envoys of various countries, half-rising in unison, while the bewitching King Wang Yu and his princess remained conspicuously seated.

Dugu Han, seated on the throne, swept his gaze over the individuals seated below, then shifted his attention elsewhere.

"You may rise."

"We thank the Emperor."

"Today is the first day of my reign; let there be no restraints, everyone enjoy the merriment together."

"Your servant toasts to the Emperor, may the heavens bless our Emperor," Prime Minister Xiao Yiran was the first to stand, raising his cup towards the Emperor.

"Your servants toast to the Emperor, may the heavens bless our Emperor." The other ministers who had just sat down now stood up, following the Prime Minister’s cue, and began toasting to the Emperor.

The Emperor picked up the cup from the table, returned the ministers’ toasts, and then drank deeply from the cup.

At this moment, the gentle sounds of strings and bamboo instruments began to play, and from the side, a row of dancers emerged, each with long ribbons tied to their arms. As they swayed, the ribbons fluttered gracefully, a sight of stunning beauty.

While the Emperor was enchanted, absorbed in the performance, a captivating melody suddenly interrupted the scene. A dancer clad in a translucent pink skirt, tightly wrapped around her graceful figure, with a delicate waist barely a hand’s span, adorned in front with a sky-blue ribbon tied into a butterfly knot, and her fair feet wrapped, danced with exquisite steps.