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nTranslator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

nMing Shu was eating at the banquet from beginning to end, which really shocked many people present.

nHad she been abused while she was missing? More importantly, how was it possible for her to stuff all that food inside her stomach?

nYou’re the royal princess, shouldn’t you pay attention to your noble image?!

n“Uncle.” Princess Rong Hua carried a glass of wine and walked to the seat next to Ming Shu, steps elegant and small. Her voice was so tender that it could be compared a puddle of spring water. “Here’s to you, Uncle, welcome home.”

nPrincess Rong Hua was standing in front of King Huai like an innocent lamb. Ming Shu felt that as long as one was not blind, one could tell what this little girl was thinking.

nMing Shu put her head on her arms, lying upon the table and looking at the two people next to her smilingly.

nPrincess Rong Hua and King Huai are biological uncle and niece?

nAlthough in ancient times people didn’t value much blood relations much, they didn’t have the precedent of marrying a princess to a lord, a brother of the emperor, right? Is this world too terrible, or is it that Princess Rong Hua is too scary?

nKing Huai was unmoved by Princess Rong Hua. He just mechanically drank his wine, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.

nThe shyness on Princess Rong Hua’s face was slowly replaced by grievance and embarrassment. She bit her bottom lip and tightened her hand around the wine glass. “Uncle…”

n“Brother King Huai, what’s this about? Rong Hua respects you, do you have to put on airs?” The emperor looked to the side, laughing still, but one could hardly tell his emotion or mood from his tone.

nHearing this, the ministers were startled again.

nAdditional Task: Gain Hatred Points from Princess Rong Hua.

nWhat?

nMing Shu blinked. She had found out that additional tasks are based on triggering conditions. They often measured the “good” points between two people. If zero, then the two are strangers and have no relation with each other; if negative, then the person could become a potential subject that Ming Shu needed to gain Hatred Points from.

nWhen the negative value reached a critical point, the Harmony System would issue a task.

nThis triggering mode was figured out by Ming Shu on her own. It should be correct, but as to the specifics, only the Harmony System knew.

nHowever… I didn’t do anything just now! Why does Princess Rong Hua hate me more? Inexplicable!

nBut it doesn’t matter. For the sake of the snacks… I’m sorry, Princess Rong Hua.

n“Your Highness, since Uncle is not willing to drink with you, allow me?” Ming Shu raised her glass and smiled widely.

nShen Ci had a good appearance, with white skin, delicate eyebrows, and tender as water. She was a typical Jiangnan woman. Now she was smiling like a bright moon, and her whole person was shining with gentleness. People couldn’t bear to talk to her loudly.

nIf Princess Rong Hua was smart enough, she would follow the words of Ming Shu so that no one needed to feel embarrassed. However, Princess Rong Hua didn’t care about Ming Shu at all. She didn’t want to hear any words from Ming Shu’s mouth, so she directly rejected.

n“Who wants to drink with you, I’m talking to my uncle, is it your turn to speak?”

n“Rong Hua.” The emperor called Princess Rong Hua and pretended to be angry. “Mind your attitude, you are talking to the royal princess, where are the manners of your daily studies?”

n“Father!” Scolded by the emperor, Princess Rong Hua’s eyes suddenly turned red. “I am your daughter. Why do you speak for an outsider every time?”

nShe just couldn’t understand, why did everyone think of a fake princess so highly? She was powerful, but she was also dependent on the royal family. Why did she, the orthodox princess, have to respect her?

nThe emperor’s face blackened. He was not really angry just now, but real anger started to gather. “Rong Hua, is it that I have spoiled you?”

nPrincess Rong Hua probably sensed the change of tone of the emperor. She didn’t dare talk back again, but she was extremely unwilling.

nIt was understandable that Princess Rong Hua was unconvinced at the bottom of her heart. After all, she was the biological daughter of the emperor. But every time it was she that was scolded. She just couldn’t understand why.

nHowever, if she didn’t take the initiative to challenge others, whether it was the Host or Ming Shu, they didn’t intend to play with her.

nWhat the emperor worried about was the Heavenly Temple, for he needed the ability of prophecy. That was why he valued the Host. But it was hard to say how much of his kindness was sincere.

nActually, the real beloved one was Princess Rong Hua, but she didn’t realize it.

n“Your Highness, are you afraid of losing to me in drinking?” I’m capable of provocation tactics as well.

n“Who is afraid of you?” Princess Rong Hua gritted her teeth; she had to prove her power. “I’ll drink! But it’s nothing interesting to drink like this, what about a race?”

n“Rong Hua.” The emperor frowned. “This is not a place for you to play. Royal Princess, Rong Hua is still young, she doesn’t know when to stop. Don’t take it seriously.”

nOffending the royal princess was the same as offending the whole Heavenly Temple.

nThe Heavenly Temple was a double-edged sword. If was not appropriately used, it would hurt the user. The former emperors had tried to weaken the power of the Heavenly Temple, but the results were unsatisfactory. That place was no longer under the control of the royal family.

nEvery time he scolded Rong Hua, he was trying to prevent things from going out of control and offending the Heavenly Temple. But she didn’t understand his great pains.

nMing Shu smiled again before opening her mouth. “Your Majesty, that’s nothing at all. I’m young as well. Perhaps allow me and Her Highness to have a bet?”

nThe Host and Princess Rong Hua were indeed the same age, with a few months’ difference.

n“Well…” Since she came, it seems she’s become a bit unpredictable.

nIs it…

nHis eyes fell on King Huai, who had stopped drinking and was focused on Ming Shu. King Huai’s staring was cold and strange, not like watching a familiar person.

nIs he thinking more?

n“Father, it’s just drinking wine, not something dangerous like fighting with weapons. There’s nothing to be scared of.” Princess Rong Hua waved her hand. “Take the wine. And this, this is my stake.”

nPrincess Rong Hua took out a dagger.

nJudging from the look of the ministers present, it was estimated that the dagger was not a common knife.

nThe emperor didn’t stop her, which was an acquiescence to the bet.

n“What about you?”

n“Whatever you want from me.” Anyway, the Heavenly Temple would pay the debt for her.

nAnd… it’s impossible for me to lose.

nWhere do you think all those snacks have gone for all these years?

n“Deal, that’s what you said, and no take-backs.” Princess Rong Hua continued immediately. She liked drinking since she was a child. It may be a bit exaggerated to say that a thousand glasses of wine wouldn’t get her drunk, but common people were not comparable to her, that was true.

nThis was also why the emperor didn’t try to stop the bet.

nMore importantly…

nShen Ci seemed a bit strange.

nThe strong fragrance of wine was floating in the air, forming an intoxicating atmosphere.

nTwo same wine glasses were placed in front of the girls, each of which was filled with strong liquor.

n“I want to drink too, I want to drink too.” Mu Ze suddenly got up. Deep in the bottom of his eyes he revealed a little worry, and he shouted, “I want to drink.”

nMing Shu looked up at him for a while, and Mu Ze kept shaking his head: Don’t drink it.

nBut in the eyes of outsiders, he was just going crazy. Ming Shu gave him a meaningful smile. Well, it seemed the prince really liked the Host in the beginning.

nEveryone’s appreciation was worth being cherished.

nBut some people’s appreciation was always coming late.

nShen Ci… has left this world, all right?

n“Take the prince away.” The emperor waved to the guards. He didn’t seem to be willing to see his stupid son.

n“Leave me alone, I will drink wine.” Mu Ze resisted.

n“Let go of me…”

n“I’m not leaving, I want the wine.”

n“Leave me alone…”

nMu Ze struggled hard but was eventually taken away.

nThe eunuch director, who was temporarily playing the role of the referee, stood in the middle of the two. He breathed into his belly, then gave the order: “Begin.”

nThe competition was very simple. Whoever first finished the wine on the table, then completely wrote out the Chinese characters set by the emperor, would win.

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