She exited the main hall.
Jiang Yuechu narrowed her eyes.
Commander of the Region... who would have thought.
Just a few months ago, she was the daughter of a criminal official, exiled to the frontier, her fate unknown.
Now.
She was already a Dao Demon Suppressing Commander.
If she were to return to the Region now.
What expression would that boy Xu Changfeng have if he knew she really became the Commander of the Region?
"Heh."
Jiang Yuechu couldn't help but smile slightly, thinking with a hint of mischief.
She shook her head and flipped her wrist.
The Official Seal vanished into thin air, dropping into the Sumeru Space.
No rush.
She definitely had to return.
But before going back, she needed to settle the affairs in the Capital City first.
Even if she couldn't rescue her cheap old man, at least... she had to find a way to meet him.
If she could figure out the whole story.
While she was thinking.
Jiang Yuechu subconsciously looked up at the sky.
"..."
Jiang Yuechu's body suddenly stiffened.
Damn it.
Tonight was the banquet at Prince Jings Estate... Wei Residence.
Wei Qing held up her skirt and paced back and forth at the entrance.
"Why isn't she back yet... She didn't change her mind, did she? If she dares to stand me up, I'll..."
Bang.
The courtyard gate was slammed open by a strong gust of wind.
A figure, covered in the dust of travel, rushed in.
"I'm back."
Jiang Yuechu stopped abruptly, slightly out of breath.
Wei Qing immediately pounced on her.
"Look at the time!"
"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
Giving no explanation.
Wei Qing grabbed Jiang Yuechu's arm and dragged her straight into the room.
"What are you all standing around for?!"
"Put on makeup! Change clothes!"
Four or five waiting maidservants, holding clothes and jewelry, swarmed forward.
Jiang Yuechu sat stiffly on the embroidered stool.
"Quick! Bring that box of Luozidai tribute from the Western Regions!"
"And that! That rouge is too bright, change it for a lighter one!"
Wei Qing's appearance made Jiang Yuechu couldn't help but mutter.
Good heavens.
You should be the Commander.
"Can we hurry up?"
Jiang Yuechu sighed, just about to raise her hand to rub her itchy nose.
*Slap.*
Wei Qing slapped the back of her hand unceremoniously.
"I told you not to move!"
Wei Qing glared at her. "This requires meticulous effort. If it's drawn crookedly, we'll have to wipe it off and start over."
Jiang Yuechu was helpless and could only put her hand back down.
Letting those brushes smelling of fragrant powder sweep back and forth across her face.
Although the maidservants nearby were quick, every one of them held their breath and dared not breathe loudly.
Although up close her skin was so fair and delicate that not a single pore could be seen, the coldness emanating from Jiang Yuechu still made their hearts pound.
Especially when Jiang Yuechu occasionally opened her eyes and those cool, clear pupils swept over them.
The maidservant responsible for styling her hair trembled, nearly poking the hairpin askew.
"M-My Lord, please forgive me!"
The maidservant was terrified, her face pale, and she immediately dropped to her knees.
Jiang Yuechu frowned slightly.
She just wanted to reach out and help her up.
But Wei Qing pressed her shoulder down.
"She doesn't eat people, why are you afraid?"
"..."
Time passed bit by bit.
The sky outside the window had completely darkened.
The candles inside the room were lit one by one, illuminating the small space as bright as day.
Finally.
"Done!"
Following Wei Qing's long sigh of relief.
The surrounding maidservants also stopped what they were doing.
Yet no one spoke.
Jiang Yuechu was somewhat unaccustomed to this silence.
She slowly opened her eyes.
What met her eyes.
The group of senior maidservants, who usually saw all sorts of things, were now standing with their mouths slightly open and their eyes glazed over.
"What is it?"
Jiang Yuechu frowned slightly. "Did you mess up?"
As she spoke.
She turned her head and looked at the bronze mirror beside her.
The reflection in the mirror turned its head as well.
In that instant.
Jiang Yuechu herself was stunned.
The girl in the mirror wore a pale purple Shu Brocade Immortal Skirt, layered upon layer.
Yet it didn't look bulky; instead, it made the figure, which was usually wrapped in a tight outfit, appear even more slender and graceful.
Her dark hair, which was usually tied up casually, was now styled into an extremely complex and exquisite Flowing Cloud Bun.
A few wisps of hair hung by her ears, making her look more languid.
A red-gold hairpin inlaid with rubies was slanted in her hair, shimmering and glittering slightly with her movements.
Of course.
What was most captivating was her face.
She was naturally beautiful, but she usually wore a cold expression, coupled with the chilling Evil Qi she carried, causing people to often overlook her looks and only dare to keep their distance.
But now.
The perfectly applied light makeup neutralized the overly sharp edge between her brows, yet retained her unique cold and proud demeanor.
Jiang Yuechu snapped out of her daze and turned her head to look.
She saw Wei Qing staring blankly at her, with even a suspicious sparkle at the corner of her mouth.
"Have you seen enough?"
Jiang Yuechu tugged uncomfortably at her collar.
"Prodigy... This is the true Prodigy!"
Wei Qing murmured subconsciously.
She immediately came back to her senses and slapped her forehead in annoyance.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Yuechu asked, puzzled.
"I regret it."
Wei Qing looked heartbroken. "I shouldn't have let you wear this outfit. When we get to the banquet, those stinky men's eyes will probably be glued to you, and won't I just become the supporting green leaf?"
Jiang Yuechu rolled her eyes.
"Then I won't go?"
"Don't you dare!"
Jiang Yuechu sighed.
It was only for this one night anyway.
Just endure it, and it will be over... Night fell.
West of Chang'an City, Chongren Ward.
This place was where the imperial relatives gathered, and every inch of land was precious.
Normally, it was a scene of wealth and prosperity.
Today, Prince Jings Estate was especially decorated with lanterns and colored streamers, bright as day.
The massive vermilion mansion gates were wide open.
Outside the gates, traffic was heavy, and luxurious carriages clogged the wide street.
The Prince's Estate Steward, dressed in brocade, was beaming and greeting guests.
"Young Master Wang from the Ministry of Revenue Minister's Estate has arrived—"
Following the announcements, graceful scholars and charming beauties entered one after another.
Inside the banquet hall.
For this Liushang Banquet, Prince Jing had truly spared no expense.
He even had live water channeled into the estate, carving out a winding, twisting stream in the courtyard paved with white jade.
The stream water was clear, and delicate Winged Wine Cups floated on top.
The cups flowed with the water, and whoever they stopped in front of had to drink wine and compose a poem.
If they couldn't compose one, they would be penalized three cups of wine and mocked by those around them.
At the head of the stream.
A young man dressed in white, holding a folding fan, attracted the most attention.
This man had a jade-like countenance, but his eyes held a hint of arrogance.
He was precisely the great scholar who was currently famous throughout the Capital, Su Qingzhou.
It was said that he learned to read at three, composed poetry at five, and now, barely twenty years old, his fame as a poet had spread across most of the Great Tang.
"Brother Su!"
A brocade-robed Young Master raised his cup, his face full of flattery.
"We heard Brother Su recently produced another masterpiece? Could you perhaps give us a glimpse tonight?"
Su Qingzhou gently fanned himself, a smile playing on his lips, but his tone carried a hint of reserve.
"It's hardly a masterpiece; it's just something I scribbled down when inspiration struck."
"If you don't mind, after three rounds of wine, Qingzhou will certainly present my humble work."
As soon as he finished speaking, sounds of applause immediately erupted around him.
Not far from Su Qingzhou sat a young woman wearing a goose-yellow silk skirt.
Her features were picturesque, and her demeanor was gentle and refined.
She was the daughter of the Libationer of the Imperial Academy, Xue Wan'er.
In the circle of talented women in Chang'an City, if she claimed second place, no one would dare claim first.
Xue Wan'er covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her eyes shifting.
"Young Master Su is too modest. Who doesn't know that Young Master Su is immensely talented? Tonight's Liushang Banquet will probably turn into Young Master Su's solo show again."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of pride crossed Su Qingzhou's eyes, but his expression remained humble.
"Young Miss Xue flatters me. With Young Miss Xue present, how dare Qingzhou try to steal the spotlight?"
The two of them playing off each other immediately drew agreement from the surrounding crowd.
The hall was filled with sounds of flattery and sycophancy.
In the corner.
Next to a mahogany table.
Gu Changge was alone, holding a wine cup, looking utterly impatient.
As the direct descendant of the Gu Family of the Capital, these occasions should have been handled by his Older Sister, the Right Demon Suppressing Envoy.
But now, his sister was far away in the Jiangnan West Circuit, completely overwhelmed dealing with the matter of the Demon Saint.
Naturally, this task fell to him.
"What damn scholars..."
Gu Changge muttered, tilted his head back, and drained the wine cup.
"Young Master Gu?"
Someone nearby approached with a wine cup, trying to curry favor.
"Get lost."
The person's smile froze, and he sheepishly retreated.
He cursed him silently as a Boorish Martial Artist.
But he didn't dare truly offend this Young Master of the Gu family.
Just then.
A sudden commotion arose at the entrance.
The previously noisy banquet hall fell silent in an instant.
All eyes turned simultaneously toward the entrance.
"The Young Miss Wei Qing from Duke Wei's Residence has arrived—"