Her lips said no, her body said yes

[Ta-da-da-dah-!]

The system's voice could barely conceal its excitement.

An antique ring, crimson all over with faint flame patterns flowing across it, appeared in Shen Yuxi's space.

The system explained, [The Mystic Fire Ring. Wear it on your finger, and you can harness the power of fire spirits between heaven and earth. Its fiery force penetrates flesh, burns bones, and scorches meridians. Anyone struck will have their skin charred and flesh seared in an instant, with no way to resist. Ordinary water cannot extinguish it at all.]

[It can also summon a skyful of fiery rain to sweep in all directions, creating a vast sea of fire. Flames surge and waves of heat scorch, turning everything within several zhang into purgatory. Enemies ignite on contact, suffering burns en masse.]

[The flames move at your will, and their power is controlled by the user. Suitable for both close combat and ranged attacks, they are extremely intimidating.]

Shen Yuxi's large, almond-shaped eyes shone astonishingly bright. Unable to help herself, she scooped up the system and showered it with kisses.

[System, I love you so much! Mwah, mwah, mwah!]

The system grew terribly shy, its cheeks burning hot as its nearly transparent body instantly turned a faint pink.

It feigned disdain. [Oh, would you stop? You're a grown woman, and you're still doing this kissing thing.]

In truth, its grin nearly stretched to its ears.

A classic case of lips saying no while the body said yes.

Shen Yuxi gave a haughty little huff and, after speaking, lowered the hands holding the system. [Fine, no more kisses.]

Suddenly deprived of that soft touch, the system swayed, unused to the change.

A faint trace of disappointment rose unbidden from deep within it.

But seeing Shen Yuxi joyfully put on the ring, the system shook its head and cast that strange feeling behind it.

Xue Min watched as an ancient ring appeared out of thin air on Shen Yuxi's slender, fair, tender ring finger.

Great waves surged through her heart.

Could such a tiny ring truly wield such immense power?

Xue Min found it hard to believe, but the astonishing, magical scenes unfolding before her eyes told her she had no choice but to believe.

Duke Dingguo sat upright in the seat of honor, his gaze slowly sweeping over the assembled guests. It paused in Shen Yuxi's direction before returning to normal.

His expression was dignified yet gentle. He raised a hand and pressed it down in the air, his steady, resonant voice ringing through the banquet hall.

Raising a cup of wine, he said heartily, "Today is my birthday. Thank you all for honoring me with your presence. With court affairs keeping us busy and worldly matters entangling us, it is rare for us to gather like this. Please speak freely, enjoy yourselves to the fullest before you leave, and stand on no ceremony. Make yourselves at home."

With that, he drained his cup in one gulp.

[Host, host! There's so much gossip! It's even juicier than the gossip about those ministers at court. Want to hear it?]

The system gave an excited shout, and at once, everyone stopped talking.

[We haven't finished the gossip about Shangguan Qing from a few days ago. Keep going. Since we're right here at Duke Dingguo's Residence, we can find a chance to expose Shangguan Niao's vicious deeds.]

Shen Yuxi had not forgotten Shangguan Niao insulting her. She was holding a grudge. Hmph!

The ladies and young misses hearing Shen Yuxi's inner voice for the first time all marveled at it.

Ever since Shen Yuxi's inner voice had been exposed at court, the officials had all gone home and sternly warned their families not to approach her, and to keep as far away as possible if they ran into her.

But most had not believed this business about an inner voice, finding it far too inconceivable.

Only after hearing it with their own ears did they stare at Shen Yuxi with curiosity filling their eyes.

Shen Yuxi was studying how to use the Mystic Fire Ring when she looked up and suddenly discovered the ladies and young misses around her staring straight at her.

She felt particularly like a gorilla in a zoo right now, being gawked at by visitors.

[System, I've noticed something strange. Wherever I go, those people look at me with this really strange expression.]

How could she describe that look? It was as though they had spotted some novel species.

Shen Yuxi wondered, [I'm not ugly, am I? Or am I too beautiful? They can't help admiring me?]

The moment she finished, everyone sneaking looks at Shen Yuxi hastily withdrew their gazes.

[This is your first banquet, host. Those ladies and young misses have never seen you before. You're also this dynasty's first female official, deeply favored by the old emperor. Naturally, they're curious about you and can't help taking a few extra looks.]

Then the system changed tack, its tone light. [Of course, it could also be because you're too beautiful, host. Look at the young ladies from distinguished families here. In terms of looks, few of them can compare to you.]

What women could least accept was being told they were not pretty enough.

Every young lady from a distinguished family present was used to being surrounded like the moon amid a host of stars. With pride in their very bones, how could they bear the system's disparaging remarks?

Yet when they glanced at Shen Yuxi's radiant, lovely face, they had to admit that they truly could not compare.

The girl's skin glowed like creamy white jade, without the slightest flaw, and her features were exquisitely delicate.

Though her appearance was strikingly beautiful, there was not a trace of vulgar allure. Instead, hers was a fresh, radiant beauty, like a peony newly blooming in spring, or flowing moonlight-one glance, and people could no longer look away.

Having been praised, Shen Yuxi waved a hand in feigned modesty.

[Nothing special, nothing special. Only third in the world.]

Someone at the banquet laughed at Shen Yuxi's self-praise.

[We've gotten off topic. Let's keep eating melons.]

The system said eagerly, [Where was I?]

[Shangguan Qing's face was ruined by Shangguan Niao.]

[Oh, right, right, right!]

That single sentence was like a thunderclap out of a clear sky, blasting everyone into a daze.

The entire hall abruptly fell deathly silent.

A falling pin could have been heard.

Most shocked of all was Duke Dingguo's family.

Shangguan Qing abruptly raised her eyes toward Shen Yuxi. Her normally calm eyes contracted sharply, filled with disbelief, and the blood throughout her body seemed to freeze in an instant.

Shen Yuxi did not notice the changing atmosphere around her. When it came to eating melons, she was utterly focused.

Minister Shen's family appeared unusually composed.

Since they had dared bring their youngest daughter/younger sister to the banquet, they had long anticipated a scene like this.

It was hardly the first or second time their daughter/younger sister had eaten melons. They could not stop her, so they could only join in.

[The woman standing behind Duke Dingguo, wearing a white veil, is Shangguan Qing.]

[Because her face was ruined, leaving an ugly scar, she has kept her face covered with a veil all these years, not daring to show it to anyone.]

Shen Yuxi instinctively glanced toward the seats of honor, and Shangguan Qing hurriedly looked away.

The system's voice continued. [Shangguan Niao is a concubine-born daughter. Duke Dingguo values her far less than his legitimate daughter. She envied Shangguan Qing's noble status, the way everyone surrounded her like stars around the moon, and her superior beauty.]

[Shangguan Qing was kindhearted. Knowing how difficult her younger, concubine-born sister's circumstances were, she was very indulgent toward Shangguan Niao. Whenever she had anything nice, she would give it to her younger sister even if she did not use it herself. She was one of the few people in the residence who treated Shangguan Niao sincerely.]

[Yet Shangguan Niao believed Shangguan Qing was deliberately humiliating her, handing her charity from a victor's lofty position.]

[Shangguan Niao hated Shangguan Qing, but rather than killing her, she wanted even more to drag her legitimate elder sister into the abyss, making her someone everyone spat upon and subjected to endless ridicule.]

[A vicious plan quietly took shape in her heart.]

The entire hall was terrifyingly silent. Everyone held their breath and concentrated, unwilling to miss a single word from the system.

[On the day of the Flower Festival, Shangguan Niao told Shangguan Qing that she had fallen for a man and wanted to confess her feelings, but she was shy, so she begged Shangguan Qing to accompany her.]

As the system spoke, Shangguan Qing's thoughts drifted back to that day.