Royal Capital, Prime Minister’s Residence.
Inside a certain pavilion, numerous flower pots were arranged, their blossoms swaying gently in the breeze, filling the air with fragrance that intoxicated the mind.
Beside the upstairs railing, a beautiful woman leaned against it.
She had the classic almond-shaped face of a beauty, her eyes enchanting like phoenixes, red lips as bright as lacquer, and a figure full of alluring curves—especially her hips, which were accentuated even more by her seated posture, giving off a sensual, mature wife aura from head to toe.
Perhaps because she was in her boudoir, her clothing was slightly loose, revealing a delicate collarbone, round, fair shoulders, and half of a plump, white bosom.
Further down, a pair of long, slender legs stretched out—truly a feast for the eyes.
Her slender, pale fingers held needle and thread as she embroidered.
Bang, bang, bang.
A series of dull thuds sounded, followed by a maid hurrying over.
She bowed to the beautiful woman.
“Eldest Miss, the Second Miss is throwing a tantrum again.”
Hearing this, the beauty set down her needle, rubbed her forehead, and exhaled.
“Honestly, my little sister is truly bewitched by that man.”
Shangguan Xue, the eldest legitimate daughter of Prime Minister Shangguan Su.
Three years ago, she married the Heir Apparent of Huai, becoming the Princess Consort.
Unfortunately, on their wedding night, the Heir Apparent died mysteriously, and not long after, the Princess Consort also passed away.
The strategist of the Huai Prince claimed Shangguan Xue was cursed and brought death.
The Huai Prince believed this completely, because the strategist said the next to die would be the prince himself.
Frightened, the Huai Prince immediately sent Shangguan Xue back to the Prime Minister’s Residence.
The maid dared not say much more.
“Master said to place the Second Miss under house arrest and deny her food. Madam couldn’t persuade him otherwise, so she hopes Eldest Miss will try.”
When it came to his daughters, Shangguan Xue and Shangguan Ling, Shangguan Su doted on them immensely.
Unlike her gentle and virtuous elder sister, Shangguan Ling was a notorious, spoiled young lady, causing her father endless headaches.
Shangguan Xue stood up and changed into more formal attire.
Inside the hall, a middle-aged man sat massaging his forehead with a sigh.
Seeing his eldest daughter approach, his frustration lessened slightly.
If only his younger daughter could be as trouble-free as the eldest.
Shangguan Xue saw her father’s distressed expression and quickly poured him a glass of water.
“Father, please calm down.”
But the moment she said this, Shangguan Su’s anger reignited.
“Ling’er has truly been bewitched by that Jing Kun. Now the Sage himself has ordered Jing Kun’s arrest, and Ling’er dares to ask me to protect him? Hmph! If the Sage finds out, what will happen to the dozens of lives in the Shangguan Family?”
“Father, little sister is still young, easily deceived by a man’s sweet words. Please calm down—just keep her under house arrest. In time, she’ll forget about him naturally.”
As for Jing Kun, Shangguan Xue had no favorable impression.
At their first meeting, his gaze had brazenly raked over her, as if wanting to stick to her.
She knew that kind of look all too well.
In short, her first impression of Jing Kun was terrible.
Shangguan Su was thoroughly troubled by his youngest daughter.
As if recalling something, he pulled a letter from his sleeve.
“Xue’er, the Holy Maiden of the Dan Sect from the Seven Star Sect sent an invitation just now, asking to meet with you.”
Shangguan Xue’s eyes lit up at these words.
She accepted the letter and opened it, recognizing the handwriting of an old friend.
Because Lu Qian had a close friend among the Great Yu Dynasty’s royal family, she often visited.
The Qin Family Sisters had also visited the Great Yu Dynasty several times, naturally forming some friendships.
That was how Shangguan Xue became acquainted with Qin Mengyu.
Seeing that her close friend had come to the Royal Capital, Shangguan Xue couldn’t help but smile with happiness.
Shangguan Su, seeing his eldest daughter so pleased, felt his mood improve as well.
After all, having close ties with the Holy Maiden of the Seven Star Sect was nothing but beneficial for the Shangguan Family.
“The Holy Maiden is at the Seven Stars Sect Branch. If you wish to go, you may visit her.”
Shangguan Xue immediately set out for the Seven Stars Sect Branch.
At the branch, the Duty Disciple who saw Shangguan Xue was briefly stunned.
Of course he recognized her—she was a famed beauty in the Royal Capital.
Since she came to visit the Holy Maiden, and the letter bore the Holy Maiden’s unique mark, he let her in without question.
Though Shangguan Xue wasn’t as monstrously talented as Qin Mengyu, her aptitude was still impressive.
She had already formed a Golden Core and was a Golden Core expert.
Relying on her senses, Shangguan Xue quickly locked onto the room’s location.
She pushed the door open and paused at the scene inside.
She saw her close friend, Qin Mengyu—who had never had much interaction with men—seated with a sleeping young man resting on her thigh.
Qin Mengyu gazed down at the sleeping face, her expression soft and gentle.
Sensing someone’s arrival, Qin Mengyu looked up.
When she saw it was her close friend Shangguan Xue, she smiled with joy, then waved her slender hand, and a small soundproofing array enveloped Mu’er.
Shangguan Xue froze for a moment, then slowly approached her friend.
She looked at the boy sleeping soundly on Qin Mengyu’s plump thigh, confusion written across her face.
“Mengyu, he is…”
Qin Mengyu tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“Him? He’s Mu’er—the little brother I often mention to you, Xue’er~”
Looking at the young man’s face, Shangguan Xue recalled that Mengyu had indeed spoken of this before.
“I didn’t expect you to dote on your brother so much, Mengyu.”
Seeing the youth sleeping so sweetly, Shangguan Xue couldn’t help but reach out and poke his cheek with curiosity.
So soft.
Unable to resist, Shangguan Xue gently pinched the cheek.
The sensation was amazing!
It was her first time feeling something like this.
She wanted to pinch again.
The sleeping Qin Mu’s brow furrowed at the touch, as if about to wake.
Qin Mengyu quickly swatted her friend’s misbehaving hand away.
“Alright, alright, Mu’er is still sleeping. When he wakes up, you can pinch him all you want.”
As for why Qin Mengyu, who was normally so wary of other women approaching her brother, was so generous now—
On one hand, it was because Shangguan Xue was her close friend.
On the other, it was because Shangguan Xue wasn’t particularly interested in men.
Yes, the famous beauty of the Royal Capital, the Prime Minister’s daughter, preferred the Lily path.
Very few knew this secret.
If not for that time when Qin Mengyu and Shangguan Xue bathed together and she saw Xue’er’s eyes shine and try to get closer—
Qin Mengyu might not have believed her friend’s tastes were so unique.
“Sigh, how nice—you have such an adorable, well-behaved brother.”
Shangguan Xue sighed softly, thinking of her own little sister.
She could only feel helpless.
Qin Mengyu had also heard of Shangguan Ling—the famous, willful young lady.
Fortunately, her own Mu’er was well-behaved~
“Actually, Mu’er isn’t that well-behaved.”
Qin Mengyu said.
“Oh?”
Shangguan Xue pressed.
“For example?”
“Mu’er is actually quite lecherous. If not for me and Miss Ruoshuang keeping an eye on him, he’d be completely out of control by now.”
Although her friend had little interest in men, Qin Mengyu, just to be safe, decided to set a bad impression of her brother in advance.
There’s a saying: beware of fire, thieves, and even close friends.
Besides, for someone as gentle and virtuous as Shangguan Xue—a mature wife type—she was a lethal weapon to Mu’er, utterly irresistible.