The next morning, Feng Zexuan went to court with her father and brothers in a carriage.
Even two hours of deep sleep last night were still far from enough.
After getting off the carriage, she was still half-dazed, yawning nonstop.
“Little sister, you’re going the wrong way! Today the court is at the Taihe Hall!”
Feng Zekai called out from behind her.
“Ah? Oh, oh!”
Feng Zexuan immediately turned and headed toward the Taihe Hall.
Before even entering the hall, she already heard murmurs inside:
“The Crown Prince… looks exceptionally handsome today.”
“That aura… he’s like a completely different person!”
“Did he take some kind of immortal elixir?”
As soon as she stepped inside, Feng Zexuan was stunned by what she saw.
The Taihe Hall was filled with an unusual atmosphere.
Xiao Mingxuan, the Crown Prince, stood at the front of the court lineup with his back straight and chin raised high.
He radiated unprecedented confidence.
His usual modest and gentle demeanor was gone, replaced by a mysterious “I am the most handsome man in the world” aura.
He even kept adjusting his robes and striking poses, grinning brightly whenever he heard praise.
“Thank you all for your compliments. I… simply slept better last night.”
【System, isn’t the Crown Prince’s acting way too obvious?! He’s clearly enjoying it but still pretending to be calm!】
【Host, look! The Third Princess has arrived!】
The moment Xiao Mingyue stepped into the hall, the entire court fell silent.
Today’s Third Princess was breathtakingly beautiful—so stunning that even the veteran ministers who had seen countless beauties were momentarily stunned.
She wore a light pink palace dress, moving gracefully with every step, exuding indescribable elegance.
“The Third Princess today is…”
“Like a fairy descended from heaven!”
One official blurted out, then immediately covered his mouth, realizing his失言 (slip of the tongue).
The surrounding ministers nodded repeatedly:
“Indeed!”
“Her Highness is especially radiant today!”
“She truly looks like a celestial maiden!”
Xiao Mingyue lifted her chin slightly after hearing the praise.
“I have always been like this. It’s just that you were all blind before.”
She elegantly adjusted her hair, her movements so beautiful that several young officials were completely stunned.
Feng Zexuan stood among the crowd, barely holding back her laughter.
【I’m dying of laughter! These two are basically peacocks in full display!】
【Host, look at the Third Prince—he’s been completely turned into a background figure!】
Only then did everyone notice Xiao Mingrui standing off to the side.
His face was dark, fists clenched tightly, his jealousy practically burning in his eyes.
Normally, he was one of the most outstanding figures of the royal family—but today, standing in the glow of the Crown Prince and Third Princess, he looked like a firefly next to the moon.
Why… why were they both like this today…?
He gritted his teeth, nails digging into his palms.
“His Majesty arrives—!”
At the eunuch’s announcement, Xiao Juechen strode into the hall.
When he saw the Crown Prince and Third Princess, he paused slightly.
Why did these two children look… especially outstanding today?
Their auras were completely different too—the Crown Prince now carried a regal presence, while the Third Princess was dazzling beyond comparison.
“Rise.”
The Emperor sat on the dragon throne, stealing glances at them.
【Even the Emperor got charmed! As expected, he’s a looks-based judge!】
Xiao Juechen: …
Feng Zexuan stepped forward:
“Your Majesty, last night I successfully dug through beneath the dragon throne and discovered the treasure.”
“Is that so? What was there?”
The Emperor’s eyes lit up, though he still kept glancing at the Crown Prince and Princess.
“Three treasure halls, hundreds of chests of gold and silver jewels, as well as governance texts and high-yield seeds.”
The court erupted in shock.
“Hundreds of chests?!”
The new Minister of Revenue almost trembled.
“How much wealth is that?!”
“High-yield seeds? How high-yield?”
The Ministry of Agriculture officials couldn’t sit still.
Xiao Juechen was overjoyed.
“Good! Excellent! You have worked hard, Minister Feng!”
Chu Tiankuo silently thought: How did the Prince of the North dig ten meters so quickly?
But if it was Feng Zexuan, then anything seemed possible.
At this moment, the Crown Prince suddenly stepped forward.
“Father! I also participated in the treasure excavation last night!”
“Oh? You went too?”
The Emperor was surprised, but seeing his unusually handsome son today, he felt inexplicably pleased.
“Of course!”
Xiao Mingxuan lifted his chest proudly.
“I knew this concerned the nation’s livelihood—how could I stand aside?”
He grew more and more excited, gesturing dramatically.
“I personally witnessed the miracle of Emperor Xiyan’s treasure! Mountains of gold and silver, profound governance texts—each word like a pearl!”
“Especially that book New Ideas for Governing the Realm—it is truly an unparalleled masterpiece! After reading it, I gained sudden enlightenment!”
The Emperor blinked.
The ministers exchanged awkward glances.
Is this still the shy and reserved Crown Prince?
Why has he become so… expressive?
Xiao Mingyue wasn’t to be outdone and stepped forward:
“Father, I was there too!”
“I even personally solved Emperor Xiyan’s word puzzle and opened the secret chamber!”
“And I discovered the high-yield seeds left behind by Emperor Xiyan! If they are spread across the land, the people of Great Xia will surely have enough food and clothing!”
Her beauty stunned half the court again.
The ministers whispered:
“Today the Crown Prince is unusually assertive…”
“And the Third Princess is especially radiant…”
“Did something happen during the excavation last night?”
Feng Zexuan was laughing internally.
【It’s over, they’ve been completely brainwashed by the beauty filter!】
【They jumped straight from background characters to main leads! This shift is insane!】
The Emperor, though confused, was delighted:
“Good! Both the Crown Prince and Princess are very proactive!”
He then added:
“I hereby order that the treasure be transported to the treasury immediately, and officials shall study the seeds and texts!”
“The Crown Prince shall oversee the matter, and the Third Princess shall assist!”
The Crown Prince and Princess became even more pleased:
“Your son/daughter obeys!”
At that moment, Xiao Mingrui finally couldn’t hold back.
“Father! I also wish to participate!”
His eyes burned with unwillingness.
“Though I did not take part last night, I also wish to serve the nation!”
The Emperor looked at him, then at the shining Crown Prince and Princess.
Today they were so dazzling that Xiao Mingrui seemed… ordinary in comparison.
“This matter shall be handled by the Crown Prince and Princess. You need not interfere.”
Xiao Mingrui’s face darkened, fists tightening—but he dared not argue.
Feng Zexuan sighed internally.
【The Emperor is definitely a looks-based judge too!】
【But honestly… today those two really are too eye-catching!】
【The Third Prince has been reduced to a background extra!】
Xiao Juechen: …Oops. You noticed.
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