A few days of peace had barely settled when the delegation from Dali arrived in the capital.
Mu Baiyu helped the Prince of Gong alight from the carriage. When it came to welcoming Princess Huian, the Emperor had only dispatched sons of court officials. Now, with Dali's officials dead in Linyuan, and Dali having come for an explanation, it would be too much to send only the sons of court officials to greet their prince.
According to the protocol of a higher level of welcoming礼节, the Crown Prince should have been the one to welcome them. However, the Emperor was in his prime and had no sons or brothers, so he could only settle for the next best option: a prince.
But Linyuan only had two princes.
Prince Gong and the Regent.
Setting aside the irreconcilable animosity between Ji Jinmo and Ji Hongshui, Ji Jinmo’s enmity with Dali was also a factor. If Ji Jinmo were to appear for the welcome, those who knew would say it signified Linyuan's great respect for Dali. However, those who didn't know might very well interpret it as Linyuan slapping Dali in the face.
Therefore, this task could only fall to the Prince of Gong.
The Prince of Gong usually stayed out of court affairs, preferring to stay in his manor, drinking tea and listening to music. He was reluctant to get involved in such matters, but at this moment, there was no one more suitable to welcome them in Linyuan. The Prince of Gong reluctantly accepted the task.
He stepped down from the carriage, gazing out towards the city.
The grand procession kicked up dust, and the Dali royal flag could be vaguely seen fluttering in the air.
The Dali procession stopped a hundred meters from the city gate. Soldiers dismounted, and Dali envoys emerged from their carriages, then stood beside a meticulously crafted carriage that was being escorted in the center.
Yu Chengxuan lifted the curtain and stepped out. Clad in moonlight-colored brocade, he looked as refined as jade. However, it was not yet spring, and the weather was still bitter. He held a folding fan in his hand, giving him an air of affected casualness.
The Prince of Gong, accompanied by Mu Baiyu and the Minister of Rites, along with their retinue, went to meet them.
...
The Dali procession entered the capital and proceeded to the Imperial City.
After Yu Chengxuan paid his respects to Ji Hong in the palace, he returned to the guesthouse to rest. The welcoming banquet was scheduled for the following day.
At the guesthouse.
The court officials who had accompanied Yu Chengxuan sat in the lower seats.
Ji Fei, a retainer of the Zhang family, had, from the moment the Emperor assigned the Seventh Prince to be an envoy to Linyuan, arranged for court officials secretly supported by the Zhang family to be part of the accompanying entourage.
Today was merely their arrival in Linyuan; the palace banquet tomorrow would be the focal point of their mission to Linyuan.
Yu Chengxuan leaned against a soft couch, his elbow resting on the table, his head propped by his hand. The hem of his robe dangled to one side as he leisurely examined the furnishings and ornaments in the room.
"Minister Ji, would you accompany me for a stroll?"
"Your Highness, this is Linyuan, after all. If..."
Yu Chengxuan subtly cast a glance at Ji Fei. His eyes were clear and bright, and his face seemed to be shrouded in a faint smile, yet Ji Fei felt a profound chill. He dared not say more, swallowing the words of caution that had reached his lips. "This subject is honored."
Yu Chengxuan did not bring many attendants. A general, dressed in military attire, had shed his armor and donned brocade. He merely wrapped his long spear in its scabbard and slung it over his back.
More than the Dali officials, Linyuan was more concerned about Yu Chengxuan’s safety. Hearing that he had not rested at the guesthouse but had gone out sightseeing, the commander of the patrol camp nearly lost his temper. Not only the patrol camp, but also the Capital Prefecture's Yamen became anxious, dispatching additional personnel to secretly protect his safety.
Yunlan Street was bustling and lively, filled with a sea of people. Even for an event as significant as the Dali court officials entering Linyuan's capital, the common folk were more concerned about the day's vegetable prices.
"Young Master Yu, this is Linyuan's most famous establishment, Dongbolou," a Linyuan official introduced. "Dongbolou has a history of a hundred years. Its founder was a cook from the Xuanjia Army who fought alongside our ancestors."
The official briefly touched upon Dongbolou's history without going into detail, then moved on to introduce other places, until they reached Tongji Pharmacy.
"This... is a pharmacy?"
Since when did pharmacies become so crowded?
The Linyuan official replied with a chuckle, "It is a pharmacy. However, because the owner of the pharmacy is a direct disciple of an elder from Medicine King Valley, and with disciples from Medicine King Valley currently practicing outside the valley providing consultations, this is the situation you see."
Even though the official was being quite restrained, Ji Fei could still detect a hint of pride on his face.
Indeed, it was Medicine King Valley, capable of snatching people from the King of Hell. But Medicine King Valley had always kept its distance from all countries, and due to past events, it particularly detested Linyuan. How had they become so friendly with Linyuan now?
This was not good news for Dali!
He exclaimed with feigned astonishment, "Is it that Medicine King Valley, the one that says, 'The King of Hell wants you dead by the third watch, but I can keep you until dawn'?"
The Linyuan official puffed out his chest, raising his chin slightly. "Yes, it is that Medicine King Valley!"
"But Medicine King Valley isn't..." He looked at the Linyuan official, deliberately pausing, which only made the latter more pleased. "It's precisely because Fengluan is on good terms with the Regent."
Ji Fei: "..."
If Medicine King Valley becoming friendly with Linyuan was bad news for Dali, then this current development was akin to a catastrophe.
A direct disciple of a Medicine King Valley elder was on good terms with Ji Jinmo?
Ji Fei's heart skipped a beat, and his smile froze slightly. Yu Chengxuan, however, remained utterly unchanged. He didn't even glance at Tongji Pharmacy again, nor did he intend to investigate. As he was about to step forward, a small, snow-white ball of fur leaped onto his shoulder and burrowed into his embrace.
Nan Shiying had failed to catch Little Flower and watched as it leaped into the arms of a tall, slender man.
"Whimper, whimper~"
Little Flower sniffled aggrievedly, nudging Yu Chengxuan with its head while urging him to turn and look back.
"You, you actually remembered to come back!" Yu Chengxuan gently tapped Little Flower's little head, his tone filled with affection. Ji Fei had always known that the Seventh Prince kept a white moon fox. He hadn't seen it on the journey and had thought the Prince had left it behind in Dali. To his surprise, His Highness had actually allowed it to roam freely, and it had managed to find its way to the right place unharmed. Ji Fei wondered if he should be relieved or impressed.
Little Flower shook its head, then grabbed Yu Chengxuan's finger, chattering as if it had a million things to say.
"Alright, alright!"
Yu Chengxuan, growing impatient with its urging, turned around.
Nan Shiying had approached as soon as Little Flower jumped into the man's arms. As Yu Chengxuan turned, they both froze. They could smell the same scent on each other.
The fragrance of iris flowers became even clearer in the biting cold.