Morgan Shangguan nodded and said nothing more. Their agreement was sealed: Morgan would not expose Prince Damien, the Ghost King, for feigning illness, and he would ensure she would not face trouble for refusing to kneel before Emperor Alexander.
Although the Shangguan Family clung to many ancient traditions—including the custom of kneeling—Morgan was the eldest daughter. If anyone should kneel, it would be others before her; she had never been accustomed to kneeling to anyone.
She glanced again at Prince Damien, the Ghost King, who sat with his eyes closed, resting. Morgan’s gaze flickered. He knew she was considered Emperor Alexander’s person, yet he seemed so certain she would not betray him. Did he trust her that much? Or did he simply not care about Emperor Alexander’s wrath, fearing nothing from him?
Still, it was surprising that someone as timid as Morgan Shangguan could become a pawn of Emperor Alexander, infiltrating the Ghost King's manor as a spy. Was she not afraid to enter alive and leave dead? It was odd that Emperor Alexander would choose her for such a role.
The family banquet was held in Lady Sapphire’s quarters. After the Empress’s death, Emperor Alexander never appointed another, and Lady Sapphire became his most favored consort.
When Prince Damien and Morgan Shangguan arrived, everyone else was already present. Besides Emperor Alexander and Lady Sapphire, there were Crown Prince Adrian and his consort, Prince Ethan and his princess, and several other consorts.
"This son greets Father Emperor."
"This daughter-in-law pays respects to Father Emperor."
Both stood upright, making no move to kneel. For a moment, the hall was silent. No one was surprised that Prince Damien did not kneel, but Morgan Shangguan’s boldness was shocking.
In both Silvermoon Kingdom and Azure Kingdom, the women of the Inner Palace do not hold the same status as princes. Except for the Empress and the birth mothers of princes, other consorts are not required to kneel before princes, but they must still show respect. Clearly, these consorts had forgotten this rule.
Emperor Alexander frowned. Morgan Shangguan was still useful to him, but her disrespectful behavior could not go unnoticed. His probing gaze landed on Morgan’s face. Why did she seem different now? In the past, even when she tried to hide it, he could sense her unease. But tonight, she was as calm as a still lake, not a ripple in sight. Had he misjudged her all along?
Before Emperor Alexander could reprimand her, Prince Damien coughed twice, then wrapped his arm around Morgan Shangguan and led her to their seats. With gentle affection, he said, "Princess Consort, sit quickly, don’t tire yourself. Tonight we still have to..." He suddenly realized he’d said too much, stopped abruptly, coughed again to cover his embarrassment, and a faint blush crept onto his cheeks.
Noticing the ambiguous glances from the consorts, Morgan looked at Prince Damien, her eyes flashing with a danger no one else noticed. Prince Damien responded with a tender smile and a gaze full of deep affection.
Morgan understood his intention—he wanted Emperor Alexander to believe he was completely captivated by her. The fact that she had stayed safely in the Ghost King’s manor for over three months was proof enough, and with Prince Damien’s flawless performance, even the shrewd Emperor Alexander might be fooled. But was he truly so certain that no other spies had infiltrated his household besides her?
She guessed that even without their agreement, Prince Damien would never have made her kneel, just to show how much he favored her and to highlight his unconventional behavior. What happened next only confirmed her suspicion.
Still, she didn’t lose out in their agreement—she had never intended to expose Prince Damien anyway.
Seeing that Emperor Alexander did not pursue the matter, Lady Sapphire hurriedly ordered the dishes to be served, and everyone quickly took their seats.
One exquisite dish after another was placed on the table, the aroma drifting through the air. Yet no one touched their chopsticks—the atmosphere was far too quiet.
Prince Ethan’s gaze toward Morgan Shangguan was thoughtful, though his expression remained refined. Crown Prince Adrian, on the other hand, looked at Prince Damien with a sinister glint in his eyes and a faint, unsettling smile.
Emperor Alexander raised his voice, "It’s just a family banquet, everyone needn’t be so formal. Please, relax!" As he spoke, he glanced at Morgan Shangguan, and after some thought, he still believed she was on his side.
He had already investigated Morgan Shangguan thoroughly. Even if she was hiding something, it couldn’t be anything too dangerous. If she were truly so capable, she wouldn’t have spent more than ten years in such a lowly position at the Shangguan Family residence. He was certain she wouldn’t dare betray him.
Before Emperor Alexander finished speaking, Prince Damien suddenly stood up and brought a plate of tofu from afar, setting it before Morgan Shangguan with a gentle smile. "Princess Consort, your favorite tofu." He completely disregarded palace etiquette.
Usually, Prince Damien, though frail, was always gentle and elegant—never so impulsive.
Morgan’s eye twitched. She suddenly remembered the investigation notes: Morgan Shangguan’s favorite food was tofu and her least favorite was pastries. If she could find out, surely Prince Damien had too.
Yet, although her previous life was once Morgan Shangguan, the difference between them was striking. She herself loved pastries and detested tofu—quite the opposite of her predecessor.
With everyone at the table watching, Morgan lowered her head, appearing shy, though inside she cursed Prince Damien. Did he really expect her to pretend to love tofu and eat the whole plate?
Crown Prince Adrian laughed heartily, "Third Brother and Princess Consort truly have a wonderful relationship!"
Prince Ethan also smiled gracefully, "With a beauty like Princess Morgan, how could Third Brother not be moved?"
Emperor Alexander smiled in satisfaction. "It seems I can finally be at ease!" His gaze met Morgan Shangguan’s, full of meaning, as if asking—could he truly trust her?
Morgan Shangguan offered a faint smile. How he interpreted it was up to him, but clearly Emperor Alexander took it as reassurance, his smile growing even brighter.
The consorts seated beside Emperor Alexander attentively served him, their smiles either charming or gentle.
Morgan Shangguan curled her lips. So many women surrounding one man—he must feel quite superior. No wonder emperors always keep three thousand beauties in the harem.