Star Luo Empire, Star Luo City.
Today was the Star Luo Empire's annual noble banquet, an occasion used by the royal family to unite the empire's core powers. Emperor Xu Jiawei of Star Luo and Eldest Princess Xu Jiujiu both attended. Even Dai Hao, the White Tiger Duke stationed in the Mingdou Mountain Range, had sent his eldest son, Dai Yueheng, to represent him.
Brilliant warm sunlight poured down from above. Noblemen wore exquisite formal attire, their pomaded hair gleaming with reflected light. Ladies sat gracefully in carriages, never forgetting to offer a kindly smile to the commoners by the roadside.
Royal guards opened the gates, and the extravagantly lavish decor beyond adorned the nobles' faces with brazen gold.
Star Luo nobles dressed in magnificent garments and brought along their most beautiful companions. They exchanged pleasantries while constantly probing for opportunities to trade their families' interests.
The crisp clink of wineglasses rang out. Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu each drained their glasses of fine wine. Xu Jiawei swept his gaze over the Star Luo nobles, then locked onto Dai Yueheng. Patting Xu Jiujiu's fair hand, he said softly, "Little sister, go have a chat with Yueheng."
"Mm."
Xu Jiujiu lifted a glass of wine and slowly made her way toward Dai Yueheng while expertly handling the conversations initiated by Star Luo nobles. But halfway there, she suddenly felt a cold current pierce through her body, as though a vicious ghost were staring at her.
The Princess alertly looked around, yet found no suspicious figures. Only when icy, bone-chilling breath struck the side of her neck did she abruptly turn back and see a young face she vaguely recognized.
"You are... Viscount Mo Xing?"
A trace of barely perceptible disgust flashed through Xu Jiujiu's eyes. Viscount Mo Xing was a notorious