3341 Mortified

"Boom, boom-boom!" Firecrackers and celebratory bursts rang out.

Today, the main gates of the Mu family mansion stood wide open, welcoming esteemed guests. Servants, their faces beaming with joy, guided guests like flowing water to their respective male and female sections.

As per tradition, the birthday banquet would commence at noon. Before that, Mu Jingfeng, along with his brothers, was busy entertaining guests in the front courtyard. Meanwhile, Madam Mu the Elder accompanied the Old Madam in the back courtyard, receiving the female guests.

The clan competition could begin at the start of the banquet and would conclude before the evening dinner. Those who wished to stay and watch could enjoy the matches and dinner before heading home.

It could be said that this was an annual grand event for the Mu family. Many from other noble families quite enjoyed the Mu family's banquet. It offered a chance to test the younger generation's family knowledge and witness a series of exciting sparring matches.

This type of banquet had become very popular among cultivators in recent years. Many noble families followed the Mu family's lead and began hosting similar birthday banquets, inviting various sects and families. While celebrating, they could also offer guidance to one another.

"Miss Mu has arrived." In the back garden, amidst a group of women adorned with jewelry, someone called out. All eyes turned to the woman slowly approaching.

The woman wore a long dress of pure white with a yellow gauze overlay and a strapless top. Her hair was simply styled into a lively maiden's bun, adorned with a single jade hairpin. She approached with a gentle smile. Her face was elongated, with apricot eyes and rosy cheeks, exuding an air of tranquility and dignity.

"Greetings, Miss Mu." The women stepped forward to greet her, smiling as they spoke.

"Greetings, ladies." Mu Rouxuan nodded, her expression serene.

"Hehe." A clear laugh rang out from nearby.

Inside a small pavilion sat three young maidens. The one in the center, with a slightly pale complexion, was Mu Rouqin, the delicate fourth daughter. Beside her sat two women, each with their own unique beauty. Both were daughters from a branch of the Mu family: the one on the left was Mu Yuanyuan, and the one on the right was Mu Lixiang.

It was Mu Lixiang who laughed brightly. She was looking at Mu Rouxuan with great interest, a strange smile on her face. "Oh, the Eldest Miss has arrived."

Mu Lixiang smiled, adjusting a strand of hair by her temple, and said teasingly, "I heard that in yesterday's preliminary round, the Crown Princess also participated. And in just half an hour, she drew sixty talismans! Many of them were talismans we'd never even seen before, which apparently made Eldest Miss faint on the spot."

Mu Rouxuan's face instantly darkened. Thinking of yesterday's incident, she felt a surge of anger in her chest, making her feel quite choked up.

"I wonder if this is true or just someone's fabrication!" Mu Lixiang observed Mu Rouxuan's expression and immediately confirmed it in her mind.

She didn't have the qualifications to compete, nor did she want to help others stand out, so she hadn't gone to see the excitement of yesterday's preliminary round. However, her sisters who had gone came back and told her about it, laughing endlessly as if it were a joke.

"I heard our Crown Princess drew sixty supreme-grade purple talismans in one go! Oh my heavens, it's simply miraculous. And she finished before even half an hour was up, and then the Crown Princess left, right?"

Everyone gasped, somewhat incredulous. Although they weren't talisman masters, they had heard their elders speak of the art of talismans and naturally knew what a supreme-grade purple talisman represented.

"The Crown Princess has arrived!"