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Xuanyuan Cheng finally managed to calm down the commotion after much effort. Regardless, the situation took a turn for the better, and it set the stage for Zhan Beiye to back down. Or would he insist and worsen the commotion?

He waved his hand and ordered, ”Vice Minister, please continue the ceremony!”

Meng Fuyao turned around leisurely, receiving the Gold Seal from the trembling vice minister and bowed to the throne.

As she stood there elegantly, all the officials heaved a long sigh of relief.

It was certainly not an easy task for her to be crowned the Empress…

Zhan Beiye could only gaze at her, wondering when she would don on this dress for him.

The Emperor of Dahan turned to look at the skies and too, heaved a sigh.

The road ahead would be long, the climb, steep… The beauty as unreachable as the clouds in the sky!

With ”her saving his life” as an excuse, it would naturally be reasonable for Zhan Beiye to propose a toast to her during the feast where the guests from various countries arrived.

As the Emperor and the Empress walked over to him, he lifted his golden cup up with a smile. But unlike the others, wishing the couple 'a harmonious union', he instead apologized. ”I am very apologetic for the commotion I had caused previously. Would the Emperor of Xuanyuan allow me to propose a toast to the Empress in private, to apologize as well as to thank her?”

Xuanyuan Min stepped aside with a smile and generously replied, ”Of course. Please.” With the wine cup in his hand, he went over to Shangyuan's courageous and loyal Gong Yan Lie to have a conversation.

With a smile plastered on her face as she toasted to Zhan Beiye, Meng Fuyao covered half her face with her sleeve. With a menacing voice, she cursed under her breath. ”Zhan Beiye, you've gone too far—”

Zhan Beiye ignored her comment and said, ”I finally found you!”

Meng Fuyao paused. Then, she suddenly realized that he looked a lot more haggard after a mere few months. His eyes were bloodshot with dark eyebags underneath. One could tell the weariness in his eyes.

After some reflection, Meng Fuyao felt that perhaps she had gone too far. Even though she was mad at his actions, she should still leave behind a letter before she left.

The twist of fate had brought upon him suffering for no reason. Watching him attempt to stop the sedan chair without a care for his own safety, without a care for his dignity as an emperor, risking his authority and rushing into another country's place out of worry for her made her forget what his subordinate had done. In fact, just seeing his haggard looks itself would be enough for her to bury the hatchet.

She sighed and toasted. The two held their wine cups as they politely ”caught up”.

”Have you seen Little Seven? I ordered him to come to find you,” asked Zhan Beiye.

”No, he came alone?” asked Meng Fuyao, surprised.

”He should take responsibility for his wrongdoing.” Zhan Beiye explained Little Seven's thinking behind his actions, and after listening, Meng Fuyao frowned and grumbled, ”He's still a child. Such harsh punishment… What if something really happened to him? Ah…”

As so, in between the toasts, the two exchanged brief updates on their situation. Zhan Beiye's face remained stoic throughout, only frowning slightly at the mention of Shadow Blade.

”Just to save someone, did you really have to play the role of this fake Empress? Did you really… Ha…” His sentence was cleanly cut off by the expression of Meng Fuyao's face. He could only change the topic. ”You want to help Xuanyuan Min defeat Xuanyuan Cheng, but this might not benefit Zong Yue at all.”

”Do I have to?” Meng Fuyao laughed coldly. ”Just watch.”

The two gold cups in their hands clinked, and they both went their separate ways. Meng Fuyao continued to go around and propose a toast to the guests. When she came to Yan Lie, she smiled. ”Shangyuan's Yan family is renowned, especially Yan Jingchen, taking over the sect at such a young age. Despite living in the relatively secluded north of Xuanyuan, I've admired his actions for a very long time.”

Yan Lie's eyes darkened as he bowed slightly. ”For his name to enter the ears of the Empress is his honor.” He lifted his cup and then quickly gulped it down as though he was forced to consume some sort of bitter tea.

Meng Fuyao glanced at him thoughtfully. She had been occupied lately and did not have any news of Yan Jingchen…

'I wonder how Yan Jingchen, whose wife and teacher have been killed by me, is doing? Apparently, he doesn't seem to be doing very well?'

The next table of guests were actually acquaintances from the True Martial Arts competition. The Wang Hua Yan from Xuanji that had lost to Yun Hen. Beside sat his wife, Feng Yu Chu, the eighth princess from Xuanji.

Just by noticing her identity as a Xuanji princess, Meng Fuyao immediately wanted to slaughter her. Thank goodness this eighth princess actually looked normal—in comparison to Princess Lotus, most people were, unsurprisingly, normal.

Her status was even higher than her husband. As she stood up in a sophisticated manner, she gently apologized with a toast. ”The Emperor has fallen ill and is unable to come personally. He has sent me in his stead to congratulate Your Highness.”

'That Old Man Feng has fallen ill? As a result of sadness over Princess Lotus' death? Aiya, with that bunch of sons and daughters that are all able to inherit the throne, wouldn't chaos ensue once that old man drops dead? To be sent out here at such a critical moment—that princess should be out of the game?'

Smiling slightly, Meng Fuyao finished her wine.

After toasting to all the guests, it was time for the guests to give their gifts. Most of the presents were gold and jewelry that was valuable but lacked any sort of consideration. The most shameless present was from Da Han, where he had directly moved over a statue of a gold Buddha. It was huge, but the craftsmanship was rough. God knew which family workshop had manufactured such a 'piece of art'. Meng Fuyao glanced over at Zhan Beiye who was currently gulping down the wine with a black face.

'Well, managing to give a gift is good enough, just look at the depressed, haggard face,' Meng Fuyao thought to herself.

But the last present caught everyone's attention.

From Wuji.