Chapter 252: Coming Uninvited Is Not the Way of a Guest

Holy Daughter Qi Yue greeted them, but she didn’t receive the welcome one might expect.

It was hardly proper for a guest to arrive uninvited.

Xiao Li held his wine cup and said nothing, while Mu Yunlian looked at Yin Tianqi. "Young Prince, did your king know you were taking the Holy Daughter out of the Southern Domain?"

Yin Tianqi was about to answer, but Qi Yue snapped first. "Yun Lian, the Young Prince and I came all this way to give you a surprise! What’s with this attitude?"

Even someone as dense as Yin Tianqi could sense something was wrong. He gave an awkward laugh. "We’re all friends here. Qi Yue heard you were getting married, so she wanted to come see you and offer her congratulations."

"Mu Yunlian."

Xiao Yang, toying with her wine cup, spoke languidly, "Arrange a seat for the Holy Daughter."

Mu Yunlian glanced back at Xiao Yang, who gave him a reassuring smile.

’It was a trivial matter, and she wouldn’t misunderstand him over it.’

Mu Yunlian suppressed his irritation and had Qi Yue seated next to Yin Tianqi.

It was a minor commotion. Since the Empress didn’t seem to mind, no one else dared to dwell on it.

The banquet resumed, with everyone continuing to chat and laugh.

The Holy Daughter from the Southern Domain was certainly a novel sight, but a few glances were enough. After all, there was no shortage of beauties at the banquet.

However, Qi Yue was not content to be ignored. Seizing the moment when the Dancing Girls retreated, she spoke up again, her tone dripping with disdain. "Your Majesty, you’re so beautiful. How could you fall for a foul-tempered man like Mu Yunlian?"

Yin Tianqi nearly choked to death on his wine.

"COUGH, COUGH! Your Majesty... the Holy Daughter grew up in the Holy Land. She hasn’t met many outsiders, so she doesn’t quite understand etiquette. Please forgive her, Your Majesty."

Yin Tianqi might be simple-minded, but his perception and good breeding were still sharp.

When he looked at the Da Wei Empress, he saw not just her youth and beauty, but an imposing majesty and a formidable presence.

Meanwhile, Mu Yunlian gripped his cup tightly, his eyes fixed on Yin Tianqi. It was clear he was going to be held responsible for this.

Xiao Yang lifted her gaze. Instead of answering, she countered, "Then why did you travel such a great distance for a man like him?"

Qi Yue lifted her chin haughtily. "I only came to see him make a fool of himself. For a black-hearted person like him to actually find a wife... The heavens must be blind."

It might have sounded like she was denigrating Mu Yunlian to praise Xiao Yang, but the intimate, bantering tone was deeply unsettling to hear.

Xiao Yang said, "The Holy Daughter seems to despise him."

As if a floodgate had opened, Qi Yue instantly grew animated. "You bet I do! The first time he came to the Southern Domain, I thought he was just some innocent little scholar. I only wanted to tease him, but he killed my beloved Little Green!"

Yin Tianqi added, "Little Green was a snake. You set a venomous snake on him, and you expected him not to fight back?"

Qi Yue glared at him. "How dare you! You said you and I were the closest, but you went and befriended Little Green’s murderer! You’re a traitor!"

Yin Tianqi said, "That’s all in the past. Don’t dredge up old arguments. Everyone is watching."

Qi Yue huffed twice, unforgiving, and turned back to continue her tirade to Xiao Yang. "He’s not just a snake-murderer, he makes his money through dirty means, and..."

"Enough."

"Your Majesty."

Mu Yunlian’s angry rebuke and a cool, clear voice rang out at the same time.

A figure in a long, black dress walked into the center of the hall. It was Prince Yu Mo of the Black Sand Country. He was still dressed in a feminine style, doing as he pleased, heedless of the onlookers’ stares.

He bowed. "I, Yu Mo, have resided in Da Wei for over a year under Your Majesty’s gracious care. My elder brother has sent a letter summoning me back to my country. Upon my departure, I would like to perform a sword dance to express my gratitude to Your Majesty."

Xiao Yang looked at him. ’This Fourth Prince has lived here for a year and has been remarkably well-behaved. He never went out, never made contact with anyone, and simply stayed in his residence playing music, practicing dance, reading, and writing. It was as if a homebody had found the perfect cozy nest, living an exceedingly peaceful life.’

Only the visits from the Black Sand Country’s envoys could coax him out.

’As long as he didn’t cause trouble, Xiao Yang had no reason to bother him. As for what might be happening in the Black Sand Country to prompt his return, she wouldn’t pry.’

She flicked a finger. "Give him one."

A guard immediately presented a sword—a sharpened one at that.

Yu Mo drew the sword. The moment his hand closed around the hilt, his entire demeanor transformed.

His aura remained gentle and feminine, yet it was now infused with a sharp, proud edge.

He raised his hand, taking his stance. His first move was like an arrow loosed into the air. The blade flashed with a brilliant light, its aura chilling to the bone.

This was a sword dance, but it was more than that. Yu Mo clearly possessed true martial skill.

"Bravo!"

Yu Mo’s swordsmanship was far more masculine than his appearance suggested. The military generals in attendance couldn’t help but applaud at the most brilliant moments.

In that instant, they found the man they saw as effeminate to be much more respectable.

Everyone’s eyes were captivated by him. Qi Yue, unable to get a word in, could only glance around, pouting in boredom.

Yin Tianqi was starting to fear her antics. "Qi Yue, didn’t you say you just wanted to see what the Empress looked like? Let’s go after we’ve had our look. Don’t say any more nonsense, or you’ll get Yun Lian into trouble."

Qi Yue swung her legs reluctantly. "Who’s causing trouble for him? He was the one who despised me first. He can’t stand me, and you think I can stand him?"

"You just wait. I’m going to expose every wicked thing he’s ever done right in front of the Empress."

Yin Tianqi was truly terrified of the little menace. "Please, stop talking! If you anger the Empress, none of us will walk away from this in one piece."

Qi Yue declared righteously, "What’s there to be afraid of? I’m helping the Empress! She should thank me for helping her see that rotten man for who he truly is."

’Forget the Empress,’ Yin Tianqi thought. ’Mu Yunlian won’t let either of us off the hook.’

Yu Mo’s sword dance had captured everyone’s attention. After he finished, Xiao Yang praised him generously and bestowed upon him many parting gifts.

After Yu Mo withdrew, the banquet continued. But now, the envoys from every nation and the Da Wei courtiers all scrambled to speak, enthusiastically striking up conversations and leaving the Holy Daughter from the Southern Domain no opportunity to talk.

The envoys from the various nations: ’It wasn’t that we suddenly became chatty. It’s just that if we didn’t start talking, people were going to start dying!’

The envoys who had twice witnessed the Empress execute people were especially on edge.

The Prince of Xirong provoked her, so the Empress killed him, and Xirong fell. An envoy from Beimeng provoked her, so the Empress killed him, and Beimeng fell.

Now, this half-witted Holy Daughter had emerged from the Southern Domain’s delegation. If she angered the Empress, the consequences were all too easy to imagine. Without a doubt, the Da Wei Empress had the power to wipe the Southern Domain off the map.

Everyone was so proactive that, by the time the banquet concluded, Qi Yue never managed to speak to the Empress again.

The Empress departed first, with Mu Yunlian following right behind her. Qi Yue craned her neck to watch, only to be forcefully dragged away by Yin Tianqi.

Yin Tianqi was growing annoyed. "Acting like this... anyone who didn’t know better would think you’ve fallen for Yun Lian!"

Qi Yue shot back instantly, "Who likes him? I told you, I just came to watch the spectacle!"

Yin Tianqi snorted. "Good. Just remember that in three months, you’re marrying my elder brother. I’m definitely going to be punished by him for helping you this time. You can’t get me into any more trouble."

At his words, Qi Yue’s face fell. She strode off, clearly having no desire to speak to Yin Tianqi any further.