A hint of mischief flashed across Feng Zexuan’s eyes.
A light reserved specifically for causing trouble.
Inside the Golden Throne Hall, all the officials instantly perked up.
What?!
The Prince of the Northern Frontier is going to personally join the gossip?!
How could this year’s greatest drama be without its most loyal audience!
In an instant, countless officials silently canceled their evening engagements.
Colleagues’ drinking parties?
Move them aside!
Concubines’ gentle affection?
Also move aside!
When heaven and earth clash, gossip comes first!
Fang Ziqin stood in the ranks, his heart beating wildly out of control.
The Prince of the Northern Frontier was going to personally… watch his gossip?
Alone, he ran wildly by the lake…
What was there even to see?
On the dragon throne, Xiao Juechen swept his gaze over the glittering-eyed ministers below.
His eye twitched.
A bunch of shameless old men.
What improper conduct!
He snorted coldly and rose with a flick of his sleeves.
“Court dismissed!”
I’ll change into casual clothes first… and then pick a good viewing spot.
“Respectfully see off Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!”
Amid the resounding chants, many officials quickly rushed out of the hall, hurrying home to arrange tonight’s “gossip-watching” schedule.
Feng Zexuan stretched lazily, clearly in a very good mood.
【Tonight’s going to be lively! Expectations fully maxed out!】
Feng Zekai walked over and asked in a low voice:
“Xuan’er, do you have plans after work?”
Feng Zexuan blinked mysteriously at him.
“Brother, if you’re free after work today, I’ll take you to watch a good show!”
Feng Zekai immediately nodded.
“Alright, be sure to call me when you go.”
If his sister showed that expression, she was definitely up to something!
But… he was actually looking forward to it.
……
That night.
Bilu Lake in the outskirts of the capital, moonlight like flowing water.
The usually tranquil reed marsh was unusually crowded tonight.
Feng Zexuan and Feng Zekai changed into inconspicuous plain clothes and lay behind a dirt slope with an excellent vantage point.
Feng Zekai had just pulled out a handful of melon seeds, preparing to share them.
Suddenly, the bushes to the left rustled.
A tuft of gray-white goat beard poked out, fluttering messily in the wind.
Feng Zekai looked closely.
That was… Prime Minister Lin?
Then he looked to the right—behind a large rock…
The face of Marquis Yongchang emerged, written all over with “family disgrace.”
Behind them, under a large willow tree…
A figure of bright yellow clothing was faintly visible in the dense canopy.
And that carriage parked deep in the shadows, seemingly low-key but actually made of gold-threaded nanmu wood…
Feng Zekai’s mouth twitched violently.
Good heavens.
This isn’t the outskirts of the capital.
This is clearly the second branch of the Golden Throne Hall!
Feng Zexuan had clearly also noticed these “unexpected guests” and asked the system in her mind:
【System, what’s going on here?】
【Have all the big shots in the capital stopped sleeping? Are they all out moon-gazing together?】
【Host, in order to ruin the Eldest Princess’s reputation, the Second Princess deliberately spread rumors among noble ladies—】
【Saying that the Eldest Princess is promiscuous and goes out every three days to meet secret lovers!】
【They even claimed she keeps a wild man outside!】
Feng Zexuan rolled her eyes.
【Hah. She’s the one playing the dirtiest games, yet assumes everyone else is like her?】
【Classic projection.】
【So they all came to catch an adulterer… ah, no, to verify the truth?】
System: 【Probably~】
Under the moonlight, countless heads nodded in unison.
Yes!
We are here to verify the truth and protect the royal family’s honor!
Definitely not here for gossip!
【Heh, even His Majesty is hiding under that willow tree!】
【What a grand setup… tsk tsk.】
The Emperor Xiao Juechen, suddenly called out, awkwardly touched his nose.
I… I’m just concerned about my daughter’s reputation.
At that moment, the window of the lakeside pavilion opened silently.
The Eldest Princess stood there without makeup, wearing only a thin moon-white cloak, leaning against the window frame.
Moonlight fell upon her face, outlining a cold, pale beauty.
She was waiting.
Soon, footsteps broke the silence of the night.
Fang Ziqin arrived.
He did not dare remove his clothes, and was wrapped tightly from head to toe.
He ran wildly along the lakeside path, lap after lap.
As if trying to drain all his shame, affection, and unspoken inferiority through sweat.
On the pavilion, the Eldest Princess quietly watched that foolish running figure.
Her gaze, once indifferent, gradually softened into an indescribable warmth.
In this world, there are too many clever people, too many schemers.
Only this fool…
Roamed at the edge of her world in such a way.
The “audience” in the reeds began to stir.
Prime Minister Lin rubbed his aching old waist.
This is too boring.
Just running like that?
Not even a face-to-face meeting?
Feng Zexuan was also getting bored.
【Boring! Too boring!】
【How long is he going to run? Till dawn?】
【Fang Ziqin is hopeless. Can running alone get you a wife?】
【This is when a professional wingman like me steps in!】
Her eyes lit up as she contacted the system.
【System, give me something wild!】
【Give me and my brother animal skins! Something that creates chaos—preferably enough to trigger the Eldest Princess’s protective instincts!】
【Haven’t exercised in a while, perfect time to warm up.】
【Ding! Animal Transformation Talisman exchanged!】
【Duration: one incense stick. Please choose forms.】
【Let’s start with an appetizer—village tyrant: giant white goose!】
Feng Zexuan tugged at her brother.
“Brother, close your eyes. I’ll take you to experience flying.”
Feng Zekai felt an ominous premonition, but trusted his sister blindly and closed his eyes.
“Alright.”
The next moment.
A flash of golden light.
The bushes were suddenly empty—replaced by two massive, snow-white geese.
Feng Zexuan raised her head proudly, walking with a domineering stride, murderous light flashing in her bead-like eyes.
Charge!
“GA—!!”
A shrill goose cry pierced the night sky.
Before Feng Zekai could adjust to his new vision, he was dragged forward.
Fang Ziqin was still running when he suddenly felt a murderous wind behind him.
He turned around.
Two gigantic white geese, as large as calves, flapped their wings and stretched their necks like arrows shot from a bow, charging straight for his backside!
“Holy—!!”
All his scholar-like composure vanished instantly as he sprinted for his life.
These weren’t geese—
These were death gods!
“GA GA GA!”
Feng Zexuan led the charge, aiming specifically at his heels.
Run, will you! Be timid, will you!
Fang Ziqin fled in utter panic, stumbling left and right, nearly falling into the lake several times.
On the pavilion, the Eldest Princess froze for a moment.
Then her usually ice-cold eyes curved into a crescent moon.
She laughed.
A clear, melodious laugh echoed through the night, more beautiful than the rippling lake water.
The officials in the bushes were stunned.
The Eldest Princess… was laughing?
How many years had it been since they last saw her laugh like that?
Feng Zexuan, still chasing, complained:
【What are you laughing at! Don’t just laugh!】
【Shouldn’t you be worried right now?!】
【Seems like goose-level intimidation isn’t enough. He’s just running, and she’s just laughing.】
【Time to escalate!】
【System, switch forms! Bring out the king of beasts!】
The two white geese suddenly dove into the dense reeds.
The reeds shook violently, rustling as if some colossal creature was awakening.
Fang Ziqin stopped, hands on his knees, gasping for breath.
The faint smile from earlier still lingered on his face.
But in the next second—
That smile froze completely.
Two massive male lions slowly parted the reeds.
Under the moonlight, golden manes fluttered wildly in the wind, powerful muscles rippling with explosive strength.
Those amber eyes carried overwhelming dominance, locking onto the tiny human before them.
“ROAR——!!!”
A stench of wild fury swept forward.
The roar shook the lake surface.
It shook the officials to their knees.
And it shattered Fang Ziqin’s soul completely.
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