Tangyuan is located on the southeast side of the continent, where the local climate is humid and the flowers and vegetation are lush. Inside the Tangyuan Palace, there are colorful flowers all around like a brocade, and numerous Demon Beasts and rare birds, creating an overwhelming beauty. Empress Min was aware of her son’s feelings, and on this journey to the palace, through the sleeve-hand galleries, there were lanterns floating everywhere, enhanced by unique Illumination Magic, making the night particularly special. "Brother Bu Po, this place is much larger than Dihong City," Xuan Meimei, surrounded by a crowd of palace maids, felt very pleased. Dihong City, wealthy enough to rival a country, accumulated over many years, yet was ultimately just a city beyond the mundane world, similar in size to Biantang and although possessing unique products, was incomparable to Tangyuan. Thus, Xuan Meimei really felt dazzled on her first visit to the Imperial Palace. Yuan Bupo was still worried about Yun Sheng’s safety, although Crown Prince Li Cheng had promised to search for Yun Sheng across the nation, he was still distracted, barely listening to Xuan Meimei’s words and just gave a nonchalant nod, quite dismissive. Xuan Meimei, seeing his indifferent face, instantly lost her joy and angrily tore up an unknown plant beside the road, ripping it to shreds and throwing it on the ground. Crown Prince Li Cheng listened and smiled gently, flattering, "Lady Xuan, if you like, you can often come and even stay in the palace of Tangyuan." Seeing Li Cheng’s friendly face and revisiting the implications in his words, Xuan Meimei’s expression subtly changed. Looking at Li Cheng’s appearance, with a wide nose and narrow forehead and being short in stature, staring at her with a gaze filled with admiration. A sense of disgust welled up from within her, how could such a man aspire to pursue her? Although her face was injured, she had always believed that as long as she found the Life Water, it would definitely heal her face; Li Cheng’s invitation was an attempt to ingratiate himself with her. A toad lusting after a swan’s meat, truly a vain and delusional thought. She spoke coldly, "Thank you for the kind offer, Crown Prince, but I am accustomed to being with Brother Bu Po wherever I go, unless you mean to invite us both to visit the palace." The implication was clear, her fondness for Yuan Bupo was outspoken. Crown Prince Li Cheng, hearing this, was taken aback for a moment, then glanced at Yuan Bupo. Yuan Bupo seemed not to have heard their conversation, his handsome face tight, absent-mindedly staring at a Lighting Magic Array nearby, seemingly lost in thought. Looking at him and Xuan Meimei standing neither too close nor too far from each other, evidently keeping a distance all the way, it appeared that she was interested but he was not. Earlier, Yuan Bupo had been inquiring about a woman from Great Zhou named Yun Sheng, very anxious during that time, clearly showing his unusual concern for this woman. Li Cheng, despite being a straightforward and honest Crown Prince, was certainly no fool. He knew that with the support of both the Xuan and Yuan families, his chances of ascending to the throne of Tangyuan in the future would greatly increase. This woman named Yun Sheng, he must find a way to locate her, thus not only cutting off Xuan Meimei’s affection for Yuan Bupo but also gaining favor with Yuan Bupo. Crown Prince Li Cheng, with a poker face, said, "Of course, both are welcome. You both are distinguished guests of Tangyuan, and we’ve arrived at the Empress Dowager’s Chao Lu Palace." Indeed, a palace appeared ahead, a typical southern architecture with soaring eaves and intricately carved beams. Little did Crown Prince Li Cheng know that just as he approached Chao Lu Palace, a troop of people was coming towards him. The leader was none other than Second Prince Li Shao. Upon seeing him, Crown Prince Li Cheng’s expression immediately soured. The source of thɪs content is 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝓷𝓮𝓽 Today’s feast was meant to be a private court banquet, and Li Cheng’s original intent was to keep Li Shao unaware of it, as although they were brothers, they differed like mud from clouds in both appearance and capabilities. He intended to court Lady Xuan Meimei, seizing the opportunity to propose marriage, but if Li Shao were also present, a comparison between the two would make even a blind man know who to choose. "Brother, what a coincidence, I just came to pay respects to Empress Min. Who are these two?" Li Shao still appeared graceful, dressed today in a sauce purple Mage’s robe, the Magic Wand symbolizing his Mage status tucked at his waist, and a Jade Crown adorned his forehead, his eyes and brows like a painting. He looked up and saw following behind Li Cheng, a tall young man and a graceful young woman. Li Shao praised Yuan Bu Po inwardly after seeing his features, surprised that among this generation in Dihong City, such an outstanding individual existed. Li Shao and Xuan Wuji had some interactions before, albeit Xuan Wuji being a mediocre individual. However, upon seeing Yuan Bu Po today, he realized that this person was far superior to Xuan Wuji. Looking at Xuan Meimei, although she wore a veil over her face, her temperament alone revealed her stunning beauty. Pay respects? It’s already midnight, what nonsensical respects are these? Li Cheng couldn’t hold his temper, and Lady Xuan, hearing that the visitor was the Second Prince of Tang Yuan, also couldn’t help but take a few more glances. Upon looking, Lady Xuan showed a visibly astounded expression. She always thought Yuan Bu Po was the most handsome man of the time, only to find that this Second Prince of Tang Yuan was also striking and noble. In fact, Li Shao and Yuan Bu Po present two entirely different kinds of charisma. Li Shao has handsome features with a trace of noble sophistication, and to those who don’t know him well, he would seem a modest gentleman at first sight. Yuan Bu Po, on the other hand, is like a youthful orchid, his entire being flawless, his features subtly feminine, yet not exuding any hint of effeminacy. Standing together, the two were like two bright stars in the sky, each refusing to be overshadowed by the other. Though Li Cheng was irritated, there’s a saying that one does not slap a smiling face, and with Li Shao being infamously known as the Smiling Fox, Li Cheng could only give a forced laugh: "Second brother, you’re really thoughtful. These two are distinguished guests from Dihong City. Today is coincidental indeed; Empress Dowager has prepared a family banquet to welcome them. I thought since Empress Su has been unwell recently, you would be attending her, so I didn’t notify you." "Brother, you are truly thoughtful. Our mother has recovered, and having not paid my respects for a while, I came to the palace today as someone had sent over some fine smoke silk, and I thought of our mother," Li Shao’s gaze briefly rested on Xuan Meimei. "In that case, why don’t you join me and enter the palace together," with no other choice, Li Cheng had to go into the palace with the Second Prince. When Empress Min saw the Second Prince, a hint of displeasure flickered across her face, unnoticed. Over the years at the Imperial Palace, Li Shao and his mother had been notoriously pampered and arrogant, with Li Shao using his mother’s frail health as an excuse to consistently skip the formalities of paying respects. Choosing tonight of all nights to pay respects. With everyone harboring their own thoughts, they took their seats, but the original palace banquet, due to the sudden inclusion of Li Shao, turned into a tempestuous and ominously dangerous affair.