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As March arrived, this year's days seemed to stretch longer than in previous years. During this time, the palace had returned to its usual tranquility, but now there were rumors that the Nanyang Kingdom had sent envoys. When this news first broke, all the civil and military officials were taken aback, as there had been no dealings with the Nanyang Kingdom for many years. Their sudden visit demanded everyone's utmost attention.
On this day, drums were beaten and music played, the melodious national music resonating throughout the sky. Guests were lined up to welcome the visitors, and the sound of firecrackers filled the air. However, inside the grand hall, an atmosphere of solemnity prevailed. High above, Mo Xiao Li wore a faint smile that was barely perceptible, his gaze fixed intently on everything happening in the court. No one could discern what meaning lay hidden in his inscrutable eyes.
"The envoy from Nanyang Kingdom is here to pay their respects," shouted a eunuch outside the hall. All officials instinctively turned their attention toward the entrance. A group of elegantly dressed individuals entered in an orderly fashion under the guidance of the Palace Eunuch, bringing a momentary pause to the proceedings.
There appeared to be about a dozen people among them. The difference between the civil officials and military officers was easily discernible by their attire. Leading them was a tall man dressed in a purple ceremonial robe with a matching gold-threaded belt at his waist. His black hair was tied up and secured with a crown adorned with blue and gold. He stood tall and straight, exuding an innate nobility that made him seem both unattainable and grounded.
The man then slightly bowed and said, "Yun Cheng from Nanyang Kingdom pays his respects to Yan Huang." Upon hearing this, those behind him knelt down in unison and greeted, "We pay our respects to Yan Huang."
Mo Xiao Li smiled lightly, saying, "No need for formalities." Although his expression remained unchanged, a hint of coldness flickered in his eyes. He had heard of Yun Cheng long before but did not expect him to have such a demeanor. More surprisingly, he did not perform a grand gesture of respect as expected from a prince of the Nanyang Kingdom. This stirred some anger within Mo Xiao Li, though he managed to conceal it well.
Yun Cheng smiled back while also observing Mo Xiao Li on the throne. Suddenly seeming to recall something important, he said, "Yan Huang, I come bearing a small token from my royal brother as a gesture of goodwill." With that, he snapped his fingers, and several individuals entered carrying large boxes.
"Everything here is produced in Nanyang; I hope Yan Huang will not find it lacking," Yun Cheng said softly while pointing at the boxes, appearing humble and courteous.
Mo Xiao Li watched quietly before throwing back his head in laughter. "Then please thank the Southern Emperor for me. Since that is the case, I also hope we can maintain peaceful relations with your esteemed nation."
The rare treasures contained within those boxes left everyone astonished. This only deepened their confusion about why the Nanyang Kingdom had suddenly come to visit. General Mu furrowed his brow as he observed everything happening in the hall, unable to comprehend their true intentions.
Yun Cheng stepped forward a few paces and looked at Mo Xiao Li with calmness and composure, showing no signs of fear. "I have long heard that Nanyang is a place of outstanding people and beautiful landscapes; seeing it today truly lives up to its reputation," Mo Xiao Li remarked with a gentle smile.
At that moment, however, one of the military officers behind Yun Cheng respectfully clasped his hands and said, "Yan Huang, I have something I am unsure whether I should mention."
Hearing this, Mo Xiao Li finally put away her smile. Is this your purpose? But she still maintained her composure. "If there is something to discuss, just say it directly."
The man slightly furrowed his brows before speaking: "I have long heard that the beauties of Western Yan are like clouds. We have come here to seek a woman and hope to receive the help of Yan Huang."
"Oh? What kind of woman are you looking for that you would travel so far?"
"This woman is not an ordinary person; she must be born on the seventh day of the seventh month during the hour of the dragon. To be honest, we have come to select a suitable consort for Wise King," the military officer said straightforwardly, then turned his gaze towards Mo Xiao Li.
Upon hearing this, Mo Xiao Li was momentarily taken aback. She did not expect such a reason, but she quickly organized her thoughts and laughed heartily. "Since that is the case, I cannot refuse to help!" She smiled again.
At this moment, Yun Cheng spoke up: "I will not forget the kindness of the Yan King," he said while cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.
Mo Xiao Li did not wish to delve deeper into this matter. The two engaged in casual conversation about state affairs, while General Mu continued to ponder over the earlier words, still unable to understand why Nanyang had come here seeking that woman. Her image involuntarily appeared in his mind.
That night, a banquet was held in the palace. All the concubines, regardless of their rank, were required to attend. Mu Junqi did not want to participate in such an event, but as the National Mother of Western Yan, she had no choice but to attend the banquet welcoming foreign envoys.
Before nightfall, all the concubines in the harem began to prepare themselves. Today, they represented all of Western Yan and hoped to attract the emperor's attention, so each one put in great effort into their appearance.
Mu Junqi remained indifferent and did not pay much attention to it. Nevertheless, she had to find her formal attire with the help of Ziyue and a newly arrived maid named Huixin. The palace dress was even more elaborate than her usual formal wear, and it took considerable effort for them to assist her in getting dressed.
Next came hairstyling and makeup. Ziyue was responsible for her hair while Huixin handled her makeup. Ziyue's fingers danced skillfully, and soon a magnificent Lingyun bun was completed. She then took several hairpins and ornaments from a jewelry box and inserted them into Mu Junqi's hair. Following that, Huixin began applying makeup. Because Mu Junqi's skin was as smooth as jade, a light layer of blush enhanced her delicate beauty. Her lip line was finely drawn, making her rosy lips irresistible.
Finally, everything was ready. When Mu Junqi looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but feel surprised. During this time, due to her poor mood, she hadn't properly dressed up. She didn't expect that after being tidied up like this, she would look stunningly beautiful. A smile involuntarily appeared on her face; after all, she was still young at heart. Unable to contain herself, she turned to Ziyue beside her and asked, "How do I look?"
Ziyue smiled and praised, "Your Majesty, you are truly beautiful. Tonight, you will definitely outshine everyone, and the Emperor will love you even more." After saying this, she noticed Mu Junqi's expression change and realized she had said something wrong. She hurriedly knelt on the ground and anxiously said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I spoke out of turn."
Mu Junqi gently smiled and reached out to help her up. "It's alright, This Palace will not blame you." As she finished speaking, the newly appointed Chief Eunuch of Jingxian Palace, Wang the Eunuch, respectfully said from outside the hall, "Empress, the Phoenix Palanquin is ready. Please make your way."
Mu Junqi glanced at her reflection in the mirror one last time to ensure everything was perfect before walking out with Ziyue and Huixin.
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