Chapter 26: The Palace Banquet

The moment they laid eyes on him, gasps filled the hall as everyone instinctively drew in a sharp breath. They even started doubting their own eyes.

This Crown Prince… dressed in an opulent, dazzling brocade robe, a jade crown atop his head, his sword-like brows and starry eyes carrying an air of deep wisdom. His thin lips were slightly pursed, his high-bridged nose adding sharpness to his features, and the faint trace of a smile at the corner of his lips exuded a sense of effortless composure…

How was this the face of someone on the brink of death?!

What shocked them even more… was the girl standing beside him.

She was adorned in a flowing scarlet dress, its fabric flickering like flames with every movement. Her delicate face was as breathtaking as a blooming flower, her skin fair as snow, her brows gracefully arched like crescent moons, and her clear, luminous eyes rippling like an untouched lake. A cascade of ebony hair tumbled down her back, held in place by nothing more than a single jade hairpin, with a few loose strands softly brushing against her porcelain cheeks…

Elegant. Enchanting. Lively. Ethereal.

“Who is that girl?”

“That must be the new Crown Princess, right?”

“I heard she was a substitute bride… and supposedly a bringer of misfortune—”

“Shh! Do you want to lose your head?! How dare you speak such disrespectful words? Besides, how could someone so stunning possibly be a curse? Just look at that Mu Fuxing—she’s also wearing red, yet compared to the Crown Princess, she’s downright unbearable to look at…”

“Enough! His Majesty is watching.”

The hushed whispers died down instantly as the guests straightened their appearances and obediently returned to their seats.

“Mother… is that really my sister? And the Crown Prince—wasn’t he supposed to be dying?!” Mu Fuxing felt as if she could barely breathe. How could this be happening?!

“Shut your mouth!” Mu Hou, already overwhelmed by everything happening before his eyes, felt a surge of rage at Mu Fuxing’s reckless words. He was so furious he could have strangled her on the spot.

The most shocked among them, of course, were Jun Lingwang, Jun Wanting, and Su San.

Because they knew better than anyone that the Crown Prince had not been suffering from an illness—he had been poisoned! And it was supposed to be an incurable poison! He should not have survived these past few days, let alone be standing here looking perfectly fine!

Jun Mohan and Mu Ling took note of everyone’s reactions, catching every flicker of emotion. So… it wasn’t just the First Prince who knew about the poisoning. The Eldest Princess and Su San were also in on it!

Mu Ling could clearly feel the cold, murderous aura radiating from Jun Mohan. She knew that at this moment, he was already considering eliminating them.

“Your Highness,” she lightly tugged at Jun Mohan’s sleeve, giving him a quiet reminder.

The Emperor cleared his throat, and the grand hall fell silent. “I trust everyone has seen for themselves—our Crown Prince has made a full recovery! This is a blessing for the Jun family, and an even greater blessing for the Great Dayan Dynasty! Hahaha! And I must say, we owe this all to Crown Princess Mu Ling. If not for this child’s incredible fortune, how else could the Crown Prince have miraculously recovered in just two days? So, on this joyous occasion, I shall bestow great rewards upon the Crown Princess and Old General Su! Eunuch Ming…”

Mu Ling smiled faintly as she stepped forward, moving with measured grace to the center of the hall. She knelt down beside the old general, maintaining a proper posture, hands neatly folded in front of her, and waited quietly for Eunuch Ming to read the decree. Every motion was executed with a flawless blend of humility and dignity.

“By the decree of Heaven, His Majesty proclaims:

Crown Princess Mu Ling is a woman of exceptional talent and virtue. She possesses a gentle and understanding nature. For her meritorious service in curing the Crown Prince, she is hereby granted an Imperial Pardon Token. With this token, she shall be treated as if in the presence of His Majesty himself!

Furthermore, in recognition of Old General Su’s dedicated mentorship of the Crown Princess, he is hereby conferred the title of Duke of National Protection, a hereditary title to be passed down in perpetuity.

Additionally, the Duke’s residence shall receive ten thousand taels of gold, ten bolts of fine silk, and ten measures of rare pearls.

Thus is the decree!

Crown Princess and Duke Su, receive your blessings and give thanks!”

The grandfather and granddaughter respectfully kowtowed, their voices clear and resolute.
“We (this humble daughter) accept the decree. Long live His Majesty, long live, long, long live!”

Then, the old general raised both hands high and received the imperial edict.

The crowd erupted in astonishment. No one had expected Emperor Jun to bestow Mu Ling with a death-exemption medallion that carried the weight of the emperor’s presence. Even more shocking was the old general’s appointment as a first-rank Protector Duke, with the title to be passed down through generations…

Was the Crown Princess truly the so-called “Calamity Star”?

After their initial shock, many turned their gazes toward the Marquis’s seat, silently wondering—were the people of the Marquis’s household blind? Such a graceful and dignified young woman, yet they kept calling her a “Calamity Star”? Not only that, but they had cast her aside to fend for herself on an estate since childhood, while lavishing all their affection on the daughter born of a concubine as if she were a treasure.

Were they fools? Or simply blind?

With the rewards granted and his words spoken, Emperor Jun waved his hand. Instantly, the dancers swayed to the enchanting melodies of string and wind instruments—the palace banquet had officially begun…

“Mother, w-what is happening here? If I had married the Crown Prince, then wouldn’t all of this belong to our household?” Mu Fuxing was nearly in tears with frustration, itching to snatch that death-exemption medallion from Mu Ling’s hands.

A flicker of venomous intent flashed in Su San’s eyes. “My darling, don’t worry. These things should have been yours. I’ll speak with His Majesty shortly.”

Their voices were hushed, inaudible to others, but the Marquis heard them loud and clear.

“What are you plotting again? I’m warning you—this is a palace banquet! Don’t do anything reckless.”

“How is this reckless?” Su San tilted her head stubbornly. “The marriage was originally meant for Fubao. That wretched girl stole her fortune. I’m merely setting things right—what’s wrong with that?”

Mu Fuxing stole a glance at the Crown Prince. Her heart pounded at her mother’s words. If Mother could truly convince His Majesty and prevent that wretched girl from taking her place, then… wouldn’t this handsome man be hers?

As she entertained the thought, her cheeks flushed, and she shyly whispered,
“Mother, if I marry into the Eastern Palace, the first thing I’ll do is secure a noble title for you, to thank you for raising me all these years.”

Mu Fuxing had finally come to terms with reality. After today, if she continued to rely on the so-called prophecy of her being a “Lucky Star,” the Marquis’s household likely wouldn’t believe her anymore. Now, her only option was to make grand promises, hoping to keep these greedy people under her control a little longer.

Su San patted Mu Fuxing’s hand, her face filled with pride and excitement.
“My precious girl, you truly are my blessing! You even think of securing a noble title for your mother. Unlike that wretched girl—whenever something good happens, she only thinks of herself.”

“But, Mother, do you think His Majesty will agree? I don’t want you to be put in a difficult position…”

Su San scoffed. “The engagement was originally yours! I’m only correcting a mistake. Why wouldn’t His Majesty agree? Don’t worry, once the banquet is nearly over, I’ll speak with the Empress first. His Majesty listens to her the most—if she agrees, then everything will be settled.”

Mu Ling had no interest in the delusions of the mother and daughter pair. She was more focused on using this banquet as an opportunity to arrange a marriage for her uncles.

At that moment, she was happily chatting with the young princess and two county princesses.

“Your Highnesses, shall we go boating on the lake tomorrow? My uncles happen to have a day off, so they can escort us.”

As soon as Mu Ling finished speaking, the two county princesses’ faces flushed bright red. Their grandfather had already asked about their intentions yesterday. Now, with Mu Ling inviting them on an outing—with her two young general uncles accompanying them—only a fool wouldn’t understand what Mu Ling was up to.

Princess Anping exchanged a glance with her younger sister before nodding lightly. “Alright, then tomorrow… we’ll wait for the Crown Princess and the Little Princess at our residence.”

Wow! The two fairy-like county princesses had agreed to give her uncles a chance? This—this was amazing!

No, tomorrow, she had to make sure her uncles were dressed their best. She would do everything in her power to help them win over the two county princesses’ hearts!

As Mu Ling and her companions laughed and chatted, they remained unaware that several pairs of venomous eyes were watching them closely.

Especially the First Prince—when he saw that the Crown Prince was completely unharmed, he nearly lost control of himself. It was only the repeated reminders from his guards that kept him from making a scene.