In the main hall of the City Lord’s mansion, the lights were bright and the sound of the zither lingered in the air.
Cups were raised and exchanged, the clinking of glasses filling the room.
Xiao Minghuang sat at the head of the table, with Ye Ruoshui beside her.
“Where did Wanqiu go…” Xiao Minghuang glanced around at the guests, but all she saw were unfamiliar faces—there was no sign of Lin Wanqiu.
Lin Zhengquan, sitting not far away, noticed her searching and smiled.
“Is Your Highness looking for my daughter?”
Caught out, Xiao Minghuang kept her expression calm, though she felt a bit awkward inside.
After all, Lin Zhengquan was Lin Wanqiu’s father, and even as a princess, she couldn’t ignore that relationship.
Xiao Minghuang didn’t know how to respond, so she just nodded lightly.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness.
My daughter will be here soon.”
As he spoke, Lin Zhengquan tapped the table three times.
The sound wasn’t loud, but it had a rhythm to it, as if it could carry far.
With those three taps, the music in the hall stopped abruptly, and all the lights went out.
Besides the officials of the City Lord’s mansion, the guests included members of all the major families of Beiyang City, but none of them knew what was happening.
But in the next moment—
A pearl-like glow suddenly lit up in the center of the hall, quickly expanding to illuminate a space about three meters across.
In that bright light, a flash of vivid red appeared.
A woman stood there in a striking red dress, her skin like porcelain, her beauty blazing, her eyes deep as autumn water, her smile enchanting—so stunning that no one could look away.
Those bright, lively eyes were fixed directly on Xiao Minghuang at the head of the table.
Maybe it was because everyone else was in darkness, but the flicker in Lin Wanqiu’s gaze went unnoticed.
And her entrance was so dazzling that everyone’s attention was drawn to her breathtaking beauty and extraordinary presence, making it hard to notice the subtle movement of her eyes.
Almost all the guests were prominent figures in Beiyang City, closely connected to the City Lord’s mansion—they’d practically watched Lin Wanqiu grow up.
They suddenly realized that the quiet, reserved little girl from before had grown into such a peerless beauty.
An elderly man with graying hair sighed, “If I had a son, I’d spend my whole fortune to have Miss Lin as my daughter-in-law.”
A noblewoman glanced at her own daughter, knowing she couldn’t compare, and said in disappointment, “If my daughter had even half of Miss Lin’s looks, she wouldn’t still be unmarried at over thirty.”
After the elders finished sighing, the younger generation couldn’t sit still and started whispering among themselves.
“It’s only been a few months—how did Miss Lin suddenly become so beautiful?”
“Maybe she took a Beautifying Pill? The Lin family is rich, buying one for their daughter wouldn’t cost much.”
“Come on, Liu, you’re joking.
No Beautifying Pill could have such a dramatic effect—she’s practically a different person.”
“Everyone, is it possible—just possible—that Miss Lin was always this stunning, and we just never noticed before?”
As the whispers continued, the pearl light grew brighter, spreading to fill the entire hall, and everything became clear again.
But everyone’s eyes were still on Lin Wanqiu, as if they were still trying to figure out how the once unremarkable Miss Lin had suddenly become so beautiful.
Lin Zhengquan glanced at the head of the table and saw Xiao Minghuang looking at Lin Wanqiu with admiration, a hint of satisfaction flickering in his eyes.
“Wanqiu, go pour a drink for Her Highness.”
Lin Wanqiu nodded slightly and walked over to Xiao Minghuang.
Seeing Lin Wanqiu in her gorgeous red dress standing before her, even Xiao Minghuang couldn’t help but look a little stunned.
In all her life, aside from herself, she’d never seen a woman so beautiful.
Lin Wanqiu’s red dress and peerless beauty were now firmly imprinted in her mind—she’d never forget it as long as she lived.
At that moment, this breathtaking beauty looked at Xiao Minghuang with eyes full of tenderness, never looking away.
Being stared at like that, even though Xiao Minghuang was used to storms and battles, her cheeks flushed slightly and a strange feeling rose in her heart.
“That’s odd, why do I feel so warm?” She tried to calm herself, then thought, “Maybe making a contract with Lin Wanqiu isn’t a bad idea.
She was born with blocked meridians, it’s so pitiful—I have to help her.”
As she thought, a gentle smile appeared on Xiao Minghuang’s face, her eyes curving, her cheeks pink and soft, no longer cold.
Maybe that look gave Lin Wanqiu courage, because she raised the cup and stepped forward.
Standing behind Xiao Minghuang, Ye Ruoshui’s face was full of confusion and panic, as if she was thinking, “Her Highness said I was the most important person to her… it has to be true… it has to be…”
Lin Wanqiu bent slightly and poured Xiao Minghuang half a cup of wine.
But Xiao Minghuang didn’t drink it.
Instead, she picked up the cup and said gently, “Wanqiu, would you drink this for me?”
For some reason, she really wanted to see what this peerless beauty looked like with a hint of drunkenness.
Lin Wanqiu’s cheeks turned pink.
She took the cup with her small hand and drank it all in one go.
The warm wine slid down, making Lin Wanqiu’s fair face even redder, her beauty even more striking and irresistible.
Not far away, Lin Zhengquan smiled, comparing Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu in his mind, secretly pleased.
“How could a mere maid compare to my daughter? I’m sure it won’t be long before Her Highness’s heart belongs to Wanqiu.
Then, Beiyang City will finally have a powerful backer.”
Ever since the old City Lord of Beiyang died, he’d been plagued by a hidden illness and couldn’t break through to the Divine Sea Realm.
The court had long wanted to recall the Lin family to the capital.
If he couldn’t find a backer in the court, the Lin family would collapse before long.
“Wanqiu, sit next to Her Highness.”
As he spoke, Lin Zhengquan looked at Xiao Minghuang, as if seeking her approval.
Naturally, Xiao Minghuang had no objections and nodded.
A fragrant breeze drifted by, and a beautiful figure floated over.
Lin Wanqiu walked gracefully to Xiao Minghuang’s side, her gaze soft as she looked at her.
After thinking it over all afternoon, she’d made up her mind.
Even if that little maid by Xiao Minghuang’s side looked hard to deal with, she would never give up! Not just for her family’s sake, but for her own feelings, too.
Maybe back in that pitch-black cave, when she first met Xiao Minghuang, she had already fallen for her.
Most people probably don’t believe in love at first sight, but Lin Wanqiu knew that was only because they’d never met someone as stunning and unique as Xiao Minghuang.
“We were betrothed as children, and then met by chance as strangers—this is fate, we’re meant to be together!” Lin Wanqiu thought to herself.
After that, Lin Wanqiu kept pouring wine for Xiao Minghuang, and Xiao Minghuang didn’t refuse, drinking every cup, and even poured some for her from time to time.
Before long, both of their cheeks were tinged pink, a little tipsy, their eyes moist and dreamy.
Unnoticed, the bright moon hung high, and the night was already half over.
Maybe they’d had too much to drink—even with a martial artist’s body, it was hard to handle.
Many guests staggered to their feet to say their goodbyes.
Sitting at the head of the table, Xiao Minghuang had also been made to drink a lot.
Her body leaned softly against Lin Wanqiu, eyes half-closed, as if half-awake and half-dreaming.
Behind them, Ye Ruoshui kept glancing at the two snuggled together, her eyes full of confusion, a sudden irritation rising in her heart for no reason.
“Her Highness said I’m the most important person to her.
I should trust Her Highness! I should trust her!”
