To begin with, the status of "Commandery Princess" was already remarkable.
Typically, only the daughter of a Royal Family's Prince could be addressed as a Commandery Princess.
In the early days of the Cangqiong Kingdom, there were a few families of non-royal lineage who were granted the title of Prince. However, as time went on, these families either fell into decline for lack of heirs or were stripped of their princely titles by successive emperors on various pretexts.
Now, aside from the Royal Family, not a single family of non-royal lineage with the rank of Prince remained in the Cangqiong Kingdom.
In other words, in the Cangqiong Kingdom of today, every Commandery Princess had Royal Family blood running through her veins!
Never mind that Lianyi wasn't the biological daughter of Xu Ji and his wife—even if she were, it would have been nearly impossible for her to be named a Commandery Princess. Even Luo Xinlan, as the Duchess, was merely a titled lady of the First Grade.
What's more, a unique honorific had been added to her title: Vermilion Bird!
The Cangqiong Kingdom had four great Divine Beasts that protected the nation: the Cyan Dragon, the White Tiger, the Vermilion Bird, and the Black Tortoise.
Of these, only the Royal Family was qualified to use the Cyan Dragon and White Tiger, and even then, titles like "Cyan Dragon" or "White Tiger" had not been bestowed for many years.
In the Cangqiong Kingdom, the Vermilion Bird represented high-ranking Military Merit Clans.
Most of the residents on Vermilion Bird Avenue were high-ranking Military Generals of the Cangqiong Kingdom.
But none of these Military Generals, not even a man as powerful as the Duke of the Country Xu Ji, who commanded immense military power and stood at the apex of the court, could use the Vermilion Bird as their family emblem.
Without a decree from the Royal Family, doing so would be a major taboo.
Therefore, with the Emperor's decree, the Xu Family could now openly and legitimately use the Vermilion Bird as their family emblem!
Simultaneously, Xu Lianyi, a young woman of formerly common and even humble origins, suddenly possessed a status second only to a Royal Princess… perhaps even higher than that of some ordinary Princesses!
She was the Princess of Vulture—she was one of a kind!
This was extraordinary!
One couldn't say it would never be repeated, but it was certainly unprecedented in the history of the Cangqiong Kingdom.
Nearly all who came to the Xu Mansion today were friends and guests who had been close with the Xu Family for generations, so their relationship was naturally strong. Even so, the eyes of many still revealed thick envy, tinged with a hint of jealousy.
Luo Xinlan stiffened slightly. Instead of joy, her heart filled with vigilance. 'The Emperor is suddenly showing such favor to the Xu Family… what is he planning? Is this merely compensation for what happened before? But if so, why has this compensation once again ignored Xu Luo, the one who truly deserves it?'
Lianyi was also stunned, standing there at a complete loss.
The Crown Prince smiled warmly and cleared his throat. "Commandery Princess Lianyi, will you not accept the decree and offer your thanks?"
Lianyi turned to look at Luo Xinlan. It was clear the young woman was at a loss.
"Accept the decree and give your thanks," Luo Xinlan sighed softly, her heart a tangle of emotions. It wasn't that she was jealous of Lianyi—she had long considered the girl her own daughter. It was just that the Emperor's sudden decree was deeply intriguing and impossible to decipher.
Lianyi carefully glanced at Xu Luo, who stood beside her. As a young woman raised in the General's Mansion, she lacked nothing but a noble birth, and her intelligence was especially sharp. After her momentary daze, she quickly realized this reward was far too generous.
Xu Luo, however, was looking at her with a smile, his eyes full of encouragement.
For some reason, Lianyi's heart suddenly felt much lighter.
'As long as the Young Master isn't angry, there's nothing to fear!' she thought, before accepting the decree and giving her thanks.
Just then, the Crown Prince noticed Huangfu Chongzhi nearby. He smiled, walked over, and nodded. "Big Brother, you're here too? You haven't come to visit me much lately. A few days ago, someone sent me some excellent medicinal herbs from the South Pole. They're still fresh. They're no use to me, so I'll have someone send them over to you."
Huangfu Chongzhi chuckled. "You're too kind, Your Highness. How could I possibly accept a gift from the Crown Prince?"
"What are you saying, Big Brother? We're full brothers. Why be so formal with your own younger brother?" The Crown Prince glanced at the Eldest Prince, a hint of displeasure in his voice. "You're not allowed to refuse. It's just a small token between brothers."
Huangfu Chongzhi could only nod with a wry smile.
Then, the Crown Prince turned to Xu Luo. A faint hint of apology flickered in his gentle eyes as he walked over, looked at Xu Luo, and said with a soft chuckle, "Xiaoluo, it's been a while."
"Greetings, Crown Prince!" Xu Luo said, bowing to the Crown Prince with a composure that was neither humble nor arrogant.
"Sigh… We haven't seen each other in so long, and you've grown distant. You used to always call me Brother Chongxi." The Crown Prince sighed softly, then looked up at Xu Luo and said earnestly, "There are many things I'm powerless to change right now. But sooner or later, I believe the people of the Imperial Capital will come to know a different second young master of the Xu Family."
At a semi-public occasion like this, the Crown Prince's words were tantamount to declaring his position!
Whether this declaration represented the Royal Family or just himself, however, was a matter of opinion.
At the very least, one could see no sign that the current Emperor held any particular fondness for Xu Luo.
On both occasions the Xu Family had been honored, Xu Luo had been completely overlooked.
Xu Luo glanced at the Crown Prince and smiled faintly. "The distinction between ranks cannot be discarded. However, I must first thank the Crown Prince for his concern."
The Crown Prince nodded, his eyes filled with encouragement, and said nothing more.
Even Little Fatty Liu Feng, who despised the Royal Family more than anyone, had to admit that the man's suave, magnanimous, and gentle demeanor was genuinely pleasant and not at all detestable.
The arrival of the Crown Prince and the news of Xu Lianyi being named the Princess of Vulture made the guests at the Xu Mansion's banquet even more enthusiastic.
The flicker of jealousy from a moment ago was now buried deep in their hearts.
The Emperor's word was law. From this day forward, Xu Lianyi was a genuine Commandery Princess. Beautiful as a flower, a young woman like her was now one of the most sought-after ladies in the Imperial Capital. What young master of a noble house wouldn't want to marry such a girl?
Thus, the female guests, who were already quite animated, became even more fervent.
But an even bigger surprise was yet to come.
Just as the Crown Prince raised his cup, preparing to offer a toast before departing, the gatekeeper's high, resonant voice rang out once more.
"The Master of the Fengyue Building, Phoenix, has arrived! Presenting a Deep Sea Coral Screen, a set of jewelry from Bilan Residence, and a cartload of powders and paints from the Rouge Pavilion… Congratulations to the Xu Family on their new daughter! Congratulations to the Princess of Vulture!"
The lively banquet fell silent once more.
Normally, everyone qualified to be here today was either rich or noble; they were not people who shocked easily.
But there was something uncanny about the day's events.
First, the Crown Prince had arrived unexpectedly to offer congratulations on behalf of the Royal Family. Then, the Emperor had inexplicably created the unprecedented title of Princess of Vulture. The crowd was already reeling from the shock.
But who would have imagined that halfway through the banquet, the master of the Fengyue Building, Phoenix—a woman famous throughout the Imperial Capital for her mysterious identity—would arrive uninvited!
And that wasn't even the most shocking part. What truly stunned the crowd were the gifts Phoenix had brought.
Even the Crown Prince showed a flicker of shock, lowering the cup he had just raised to his lips and gently placing it back on the table.
"What's the relationship between the Phoenix Pavilion Master and the Xu Family? This gesture… isn't it a bit too extravagant?"
"Gods, deep sea coral is already incredibly expensive, but a whole Deep Sea Coral Screen… That's a national treasure, isn't it? Something you could pass down as a family heirloom!"
"I've been coveting the jewelry from Bilan Residence for ages, but it's just so expensive. A single jade hairpin can cost several hundred taels of gold…"
"I use the powders from the Rouge Pavilion too, but I can only afford to buy them one box at a time. Even then, my husband calls me a wasteful wife. Look at her—she sent a whole cartload!"
After a moment of silence, the banquet erupted in discussion. The guests today were mostly women, and this time, the envy and jealousy in their eyes were far more pronounced.
Jewelry, rouge, powders… a woman's greatest loves!
Luo Xinlan was genuinely stunned. She had no idea who Phoenix had come to see!
Only Huangfu Chongzhi and Xu Luo's other brothers were nudging him and winking, clearly believing Phoenix had come for him.
Xu Luo, for his part, wore an innocent expression. 'She couldn't possibly be here for me,' he thought.
Having just experienced the most unforgettable moment of her life, Lianyi's reaction was swift this time. She hurried out to greet the guest, flanked by two Maids.
"I've come uninvited. I hope I'm not disturbing all you esteemed guests. Please accept my apologies." Dressed in red, she glided in, her movements as graceful as a startled swan. Phoenix's voice was languid, carrying an allure that was captivating without being vulgar.
Even though many of the women at the feast disliked places like the Fengyue Building, they all had to admit it was difficult to feel any animosity toward this Red-clothed Woman.
It was as if she possessed a natural charisma that made people instinctively want to draw near.
Crown Prince Huangfu Chongxi's eyes brightened, and he smiled faintly. "I'm sure everyone is delighted to welcome Miss Phoenix."
"So Your Highness is here as well. Forgive my lack of courtesy," Phoenix said softly, lifting her skirt to perform a slight curtsy to the Crown Prince.
"There's no need for such formalities, Miss Phoenix. Today, I am merely another guest," the Crown Prince said with a smile, no longer mentioning his intent to leave.
Phoenix walked up to Lianyi and said with a smile, "The Commandery Princess looks truly beautiful today. I've brought a few humble gifts, and I hope the Commandery Princess will like them."
"Phoenix Pavilion Master, you are too kind. The gifts are so precious, I am unworthy of them." For some reason, Lianyi found that she didn't quite like Phoenix. A faint, baseless sense of resistance stirred in her heart.
Phoenix simply smiled without saying more and walked toward the table where Huangfu Chongzhi and the others were seated. Though she stopped right beside Xu Luo, she looked at Huangfu Chongzhi's group and asked, "Will I be disturbing you if I sit here?"
"Not at all, not at all! We'd be honored…" Little Fatty Liu Feng said hurriedly, wiping down the already spotless chair with his sleeve in an eager attempt to curry favor.
Sui Yan rolled his eyes, clearly displeased with the Little Fatty for fawning over a pretty face and forgetting his friends.
Xu Jie remained expressionless. In his mind, forging iron and sharpening swords held far more appeal than fine wine or beautiful women.
Huangfu Chongzhi simply smiled. "You're welcome here."
The Crown Prince, sitting beside Huangfu Chongzhi, had a peculiar expression on his face but said nothing.
At a banquet like this, he was, as he'd said himself, just an ordinary guest. Therefore, he didn't think much of Phoenix taking the initiative to sit with them.
He did, however, glance at Xu Luo a couple of times, thinking, 'Could the rumors be true? The attitude of Phoenix, the master of the Fengyue Building, toward the second young master of the Xu Family… is different from how she treats others? This is… rather interesting.'
Xu Luo couldn't help but purse his lips. 'It's not like you'd leave even if I said you weren't welcome,' he grumbled inwardly, while his mind raced with a different question: 'This woman… what is she doing here?'