Chapter 101 - "The Royal Banquet Begins"

I'm fine. And you?" Asked Liu Rushuang with a smile and a dull voice.

Qing'Er shook her head. "Young Miss, I'm fine too. I'm just a little uncomfortable being all tied up."

Mo Ye smiled at the sight of Liu Rushuang.

Other assassins looked at Liu Rushuang with a glimmer of hope in their eyes!

In the end, Nangong Ba only let go of Qing'Er under Liu Rushuang's request.

Liu Rushuang promised not to attack Nangong Ba, and so he untied the gold silk around Liu Rushuang's hands.

...

The next day at the royal banquet...

Nangong Ba and Lin Yimei arrived at the main hall early. Lin Yimei glared at Liu Rushuang with a vicious look in her eyes, as she sat beside Nangong Ba.

At the same time, Li Xiangling also glared at Liu Rushuang with envy and hatred in her heart.

Liu Rushuang helplessly pursed her lips. It wasn't like she wanted to sit beside Nangong Ba... Nangong Ba insisted on sitting beside her to take care of her.

Behind her, Qing'Er saw the way Nangong Ba pampered Liu Rushuang but didn't react until now. What the hell happened between them two?

When Chu Qingchuan of Donghua walked into the main hall, her face couldn't help but flush when she saw Nangong Ba. In actuality, she wanted to marry that man right now more than anyone else.

Following beside Chu Qingchuan was the prince of Donghua, Chu Yitian. With just one glance, Chu Yitian saw through what was going on in Chu Qingchuan's mind and grunted coldly. She really had the mindset of a little girl.

Donghua and Beiming's wealthiest merchant came to congratulate Han Moze's political marriage with Nanli, and so Ouyang Yaoyi was also in attendance.

Having healed from severe injuries, Ouyang Yaoyi was extremely happy but also quite frightened of Han Moze deep down inside.

Ouyang Yaoyi wore a dark blue dress which tightly wrapped her waist. The dress was embellished with red ribbons all over. If that wasn't enough! Her small breasts were squeezed so tight that it formed a deep ditch. Han Moze couldn't help but shudder. About her physical appearance, she tied her hair up high on her right side with a huge white flower attached on the left. She had curved brows, dark flickered eyeliner, a tall nose bridge, scarlet red lips and a skinny oval face. She didn't look too bad, but anyone who saw her could sense the strong impression left by a protitute.

After Han Moze saw Ouyang Yaoyi was seated in the lower seats, his mouth twitched, just as the others did.

With a cold and sullen look on his face, Han Moze walked up to the hall's seat of honour.

"Greetings your majesty. Long live the Emperor," exclaimed all the imperial chancellors.

"Rise," said Han Moze with an emotionless look on his face.

Thereafter, the prince of Donghua cried, "Greetings Emperor of Beiming from the Prince of Donghua."

Chu Qingchuan, the Fifth Princess of Donghua abruptly withdrew the look of astonishment on her face and elegantly cried, "Greetings Emperor of Beiming from the Fifth Princess of Donghua." She never imagined that the Emperor of Beiming would be so handsome. Her father only sent her there for a political marriage and hoped to ask the Emperor of Beiming for the Black Fire Pearl. According to what she heard, whoever wears it would be impervious to the cold, and it's also good for longevity. Her father said that if Beiming's Emperor wasn't willing to give it to her, then she had to get it even if it meant stealing it from him.

However, she now had her own plan. She wanted to marry the Emperor of Beiming and make him willingly hand her the Black Fire Pearl.

Han Moze looked over at Prince Chu Yitian and Princess Chu Qingchuan, and noticed they looked rather alike. The prince wore navy blue garments with gold lining and his hair was tied up in a navy blue crown with two bands. His eyebrows were tall and sharp; he had acute eyebrows, a tall nose brige, and his lips slightly slanted to the left. He gave off a reckless and audacious feeling about him but on the whole, he looked very handsome. When the prince looked at Han Moze, he wasn't all too stunned.

Chapter 102 - "Forcing You to Reveal Yourself"

As for Chu Qingchuan, she wore light green garments, had fair skin and beautiful facial features. Her golden hair was raised with two light green pear blossom hair accessories. She looked both refreshing and beautiful.

Han Moze scanned the two of them, then said, "Welcome, Prince of Donghua and the Fifth Princess. Having come from so far away, please do take a seat," he said with an enigmatic voice that shook everyone in the hall.

"Thank you Emperor of Beiming," replied Chu Yitian and Chu Qingchuan.

Chu Qingchuan's face flushed even more, as she glanced at Han Moze, who wore black garments with golden embroidery. His long and narrow eyes looked serene. He had sharp eyebrows, a tall nose bridge, and thin pursed lips which made his entire face seem carefully chiselled by the heavens. His boldness was also sculpted by the heavens! A woman loved by someone like him must be the happiest woman on earth.

After the Fifth Princess and the Prince of Donghua took their seats, Nangong Ba stood up and looked over at Han Moze. Then, with a clear and pleasant voice, he slowly said, "Greetings your majesty, from the lord of Baiyun City, Nangong Ba"

Han Moze instinctively looked over at Nangong Ba. After he caught a good look at the person beside Nangong Ba, his pitch-dark pupils glowed. Shuang'Er, why are you here?

"Lord of Baiyun City, please be seated," he said, whilst trying to contain the emotions in his voice.

"Thank you, your majesty," replied Nangong Ba, as he took his seat.

Liu Rushuang saw Han Moze's dark eyes look at her with confusion, and smiled coldly. What a truly tyrannical man!

Just then, Liu Rushuang thought about their two previous kisses and couldn't help but blush.

Han Moze clenched his fists and figured that he would ask for clarification after the royal banquet. However, seeing Liu Rushuang and Nangong Ba sitting so closely, his face had turned a little glum.

Any man can forget ever thinking about touching his woman!

Han Moze raised his wine cup and swept a cold look at everyone in the hall.

"I thank everyone here for coming to congratulate me. I raise my cup to you," he said with a profound voice.

"Thank you, your majesty." The high-ranking officials and noblemen seated in the hall all raised their glasses and drank to the Emperor in one gulp.

Liu Rushuang raised her wine cup and elegantly poured Nangong Ba's cup full. She pulled a smile and couldn't help but look at Han Moze, who was all high and mighty.

Han Moze finished his wine and also looked over towards Liu Rushuang. Their eyes met.

Liu Rushuang thought about what happened and her heart couldn't help but seize up.

Nothing good happens every time she crosses paths with this wicked tyrant!

Ouyang Yaoyi looked over at Han Moze's ice cold face with a quivering gaze and smiled enchantingly. "Emperor of Beiming, I choreographed a new dance and would like to perform it once for you, your majesty. I wonder if that is possible?" She said with a soft voice.

Han Moze thought about the last time Ouyang Yaoyi danced and scorful smile. He lowered his eyes and glanced at Liu Rushuang, then said with a clear voice, "My Empress' dance skills are out of this world. How about she come out and perform just once?"

Liu Rushuang's whole body tensed up and looked up at Han Moze's frosty gaze. Did he want to expose her identity in front of everyone?

All the high-ranking officals of Beiming found themselves suddenly deep in conversation. Where was this Empress of Beiming?

Ouyang Yaoyi glared at Liu Rushuang with a violent glint in her eyes. She really regretted not killing her back then, as she wouldn't have the chance to step forward and steal her thunder right now.

Chu Yitian squinted. From what the Emperor of Beiming said, it sounded like the princess from this political marriage should be in the hall... but where was she exactly?

Chu Yitian instinctively scanned the hall for that woman, then looked up and forced a smile. "Emperor of Beiming, if your Empress is here, then it would be great for her to perform. However, where is she?"