Chapter 92

On the day of the royal banquet.

Inside the imperial palace of Y Guo, lights blazed, nobles in splendid attire gathered together.

Mu Youyu stepped onto the gold-threaded velvet carpet and walked toward the front row in the middle of the banquet hall.

She wore a dazzling deep-red gown, its bright, flamboyant hue giving her an air of spirit.

With her peerless beauty, every frown and smile exuded a captivating nobility, like a celestial being who had strayed into the mortal world.

On either side of her stood Mu Xi and Mu Xin.

Song Yusui, Lu Yuchu, Song Huaixian, Qing An, and Jun Chenling followed closely behind.

Everyone exuded a unique temperament.

Among them were several well-known figures in noble circles, drawing sidelong glances from the surrounding nobles.

A lady gazed in astonishment at the girl surrounded by the crowd, exclaiming, "Who is she? She looks exactly like Young Master Ai Luoxiu!"

"Oh my goodness! That appearance must be the famed young lady from the Duke's Mansion—I'm dazzled by her beauty!"

"Ah! Look, that's Lu Yuchu!"

"Ahhhh, Young Master Ai Luoxiu! He's still as dazzling as ever..."

Amid the chatter, someone noticed Qing An in the crowd and gasped, "Isn't that Prince Qing An of M Guo? Why is he here too?"

As soon as those words were spoken, the surrounding murmurs instantly grew louder.

The arrival of Prince Xun Li and the people from the Duke's Mansion is no surprise, after all, it's a royal banquet!

But, Prince Qing An…

Everyone who knows of him understands that Qing'an Mo Heng He is M Guo's most favored—and most formidable—little prince.

His temperament is notoriously domineering and cruel, yet his father and siblings dote on him, giving him immense intimidating power on the international stage.

Speaking of which, although Prince Qing An of M Guo used to frequently visit Y Guo to see Ai Luoxiu, he hasn't appeared in public there over the past year.

So why has he suddenly come now?

"Is he here to discuss royal affairs, or to see Young Master Ai Luoxiu?"

After all, Prince Qing An and Young Master Ai Luoxiu are close friends!

Amid the chatter, a melodious violin sound rang out.

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw Mu Xianyan dressed in a light pink gown, holding a violin, her fingertips lightly lifted.

"Ah! Miss Yan has also come!"

「……」 No names.

Mu Xin gestured with his eyes for bodyguard Song Ze Yi to step forward.

Song Ze Yi held in both hands a delicate princess crown, its circlet woven from shattered diamonds and rubies, exquisite as a treasure from a fairy tale.

Mu Xin took it, personally placing it on his sister's head with a gentle motion, saying, "Dear, this is your gift."

Nearby nobles:!!

Mu Youyu laughed, tilting her head up, "Brother is the best!"

Mu Xin tidied her up a bit, then said softly, "All right, go on."

She nodded.

The king and queen stood together on the dais.

The king's visage was stern, slowly sweeping over the crowd.

The queen wore a black gown, wore a crown, her bearing majestic and splendid.

After the crowd quieted, the king first cleared his throat and delivered a set of official remarks.

After the crowd politely applauded.

Only then did the king turn sideways, gently raising his hand toward Mu Youyu, indicating she should stand beside him.

The girl lifted the skirt of her dress and stepped forward, standing beside the king; the deep red fabric shimmered with fine light, complementing the crown on her head and the diamond necklace against her fair neck.

Her spine was straight as a rod, her chin slightly lifted; her clear eyes held no trace of fear, bearing the liveliness of a maiden and the preciousness nurtured by countless affections.

【Youbao character design~ (can be seen in Tomato Free Novels)】This image is for display only, for the little treasures to enjoy~

In an instant, it captured the focus of the entire venue.

The brothers below all gave her encouragement with their eyes.

The king's voice, amplified through the sound system, filled the banquet hall: "I held this banquet to formally announce an important figure to you all, Miss Mu Youyu."

Duke Pweiwoka Le Ke La stepped forward one pace, his aged yet stalwart figure standing beside the king, speaking solemnly: "She is my, Le Ke La of the Pweiwoka Dukedom, the only granddaughter in my lifetime, and moreover the only sister of Ai Luoxiu of the Pweiwoka Dukedom in his lifetime!"

Mu Xin nodded in satisfaction.

An uproar rose from below.

The nobles never expected that the king was holding this banquet for an obscure young lady of the Duke's Mansion!

The murmurs grew clearer, astonishment, envy, awe… all kinds of gazes intertwined upon Mu Youyu.

Someone couldn't help but exclaim: "Good heavens, she's the one who occasionally appears with Young Master Ai Luoxiu at the Duke's Mansion, looking exactly like him! She truly is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Pweiwoka family!"

"No wonder the Pweiwoka Duke's Mansion hasn't tried to suppress her!"

Everyone in Y Guo's noble circles knows the weight of the Pweiwoka Duke's Mansion in Y Guo!

As a century-old noble house, the Pweiwoka family's influence spans the military, political, and commercial realms!

Moreover, they know the weight of being the younger sister of Y Guo's most watched young noble, Ai Luoxiu Pweiwoka!

The sole heir of the Y Kingdom Royal Family, the beloved little prince of M Guo who commands awe abroad—all are her brother's friends!

With her status as the favored eldest daughter of the Duke's Mansion, in Y Guo and M Guo… speaking broadly, in all countries she can walk sideways!

The king raised his hand to quiet the crowd, his eyes turning once more to Mu Youyu, his smile deepening a fraction: "The Pweiwoka family has served Y Guo and the royal family for many years, achieving great merit! Today, I wish to announce before you all another matter…"

His volume suddenly rose, carrying undeniable authority: "In the name of the Y Guo king, I hereby confer upon Miss Mu Youyu the title of Y Guo Mingxi Princess, bestowing the royal surname and Mingxi Castle, granting her the same treatment as a royal princess of the direct line! Henceforth within Y Guo's borders, to see Princess Mingxi is to see Xun Li Si Er Wen; no one shall dare to slight her!"

"……"

The whole audience was stunned.

What?

The king personally granted the title of the eldest daughter of the Peiweika Duke's Mansion to an outsider girl, making her a legitimate princess?

This is the first time in Y Guo's hundred-year history!

What's more, they directly bestowed the royal surname and a castle, granting her the same treatment as Princess Xun Li!

This isn't just a simple announcement of identity; it's clearly elevating this duke's mansion's eldest daughter to the utmost height!

Someone exclaimed enviously: "The eldest daughter has the backing of the duke's mansion's power and the status of a royal princess; from now on, who here would dare to slight her in the slightest?"

Mu Youyu's exquisite eyes were full of astonishment.

... Just announcing an identity, and she's been made a princess?

Lekele gave the king a doubtful glance: "You didn't tell him? Also, changing the surname is a bit excessive."

The king understood and deliberately looked away.

After finishing her performance below stage, Mu Xianyan's eyes were full of pride.

Mu Xin remained silent, looking toward Jun Chenling beside her, her eyes asking what was going on.

Jun Chenling gave a light cough, somewhat guiltily averting his green eyes, and explained in a low voice: "I had long wanted Father to adopt you as his foster son, but you weren't willing, so I could only first abduct Youbao."

Mu Xin: "……"

Mu Xi: "……" Abduct?

Lu Yuchu saw the two cousins silent, raised an eyebrow, and said, "What a great identity this treasure has!"

Song Yusui agreed with his brother: "Exactly! From now on, in Y Guo she'll be the most noble little princess!"

Qing An bumped Jun Chenling with her shoulder: "Damn, why didn't I think of that trick!"

He originally, like Jun Chenling, also wanted Father to adopt Mu Xin as a foster son, giving her a noble status.

But they were all rejected by Mu Xin.

Jun Chenling proudly said: "You're not as smart as me."

Song Huaixian smiled and comforted: "Even if you thought of it, you still need to ask Youbao if she's willing."

Qing An: "……" Seems so too.

"……"

The king raised his hand to signal; a servant immediately presented an exquisite gold tray, on which lay a gold badge inlaid with a pigeon-blood ruby.

The badge's center bears the exclusive emblem of the Y Guo royal family, shining brilliantly, clearly worth a fortune!

The queen herself stepped forward, carefully took the badge, and gently placed it on Mu Youyu.

"Thank you, king and queen."

Mu Youyu was about to kneel when the queen pulled her back.

The queen looked at her lovingly, eyes full of kindness: "My dear, from now on you are our Y Guo's princess; you need not bow to anyone."

The queen laughed hysterically inside, "My dear finally counts as her family's treasure!"

Mu Youyu froze for a moment, then turned to face all the nobles.

She stood tall, her brown hair styled into a full princess updo, wearing a red crown; her deep-red gown's skirt swayed slightly, and the badge on her chest gleamed.

Standing high and looking down upon the crowd, she was like a blooming rose, so beautiful one couldn't look away.

Mu Xi and Mu Xin led the applause, and the banquet hall instantly erupted in clapping.

Next, the female nobles performed a curtsey, the male nobles a bow, and the uniform voices rang throughout the banquet hall: "Princess Mingxi, we swear by our family's honor to forever be loyal to you; may your glory endure with the kingdom!"