Chu Feiyan’s last trunk of luggage was quickly inspected, and nothing was found!

A flicker of suspicion crossed Baili Weisheng’s eyes, and he pursed his lips, but soon returned to his usual foolish, smiling scholar’s expression as he said, “Princess Imperial, how smoothly that went!”

Chu Feiyan glanced at him, thinking the remark sounded odd, but didn’t dwell on it. Impatiently, she said, “Let’s go. You’ve dawdled so long, it’s such a bother!”

Everything had been inspected, so of course they could pass through!

Jun Beiyue’s men were all left behind at the checkpoint, while Chu Feiyan’s entourage was taken along in its entirety.

Da Zhou’s southern border gate and Nanzhao’s northern border gate faced each other, only a few li apart, and as evening approached, they arrived at Nanzhao’s northern border gate!

Jun Beiyue was indeed a man of standing—just as at the southern gate, the garrison commander of the northern gate personally came out of the city to welcome them.

“This lowly officer Duoluo pays respects to Prince Yao!”

He came forward and immediately performed a deep bow with clasped fists. Chu Feiyan stood beside Jun Beiyue and Ziqing, watching coldly, waiting for General Duoluo to next offer her the same grand courtesy!

As she was still a princess for now, in the eyes of Nanzhao’s garrison commander, her status was equal to Jun Beiyue’s, and naturally she should be treated with the same courtesy!

Yet she held another identity as well—the future princess consort—which naturally placed her a rank above even Jun Beiyue!

If this General Duoluo simply didn’t understand proper etiquette and didn’t know he ought to curry favor with her first, that would be one thing—but instead, he was favoring Jun Beiyue over her!

But just as Chu Feiyan straightened her back and stood composed, waiting her turn, General Duoluo clasped his fists again—this time toward Ziqing. “This one pays respects to Consort Yao. Consort Yao, I trust you have been well—you remain as beautiful as ever!”

At those words, Chu Feiyan’s expression immediately darkened! She might yield precedence to Jun Beiyue, but that certainly didn’t mean she would yield it to Han Ziqing!

No matter how one looked at it, by rights, she was the one who ought to take center stage!

She was the central figure of the escort, and the central figure of this whole invitation!

Only then did General Duoluo turn to face her, offering the same respectful clasped-fist bow. “This lowly officer Duoluo pays respects to the Princess Imperial!”

The corners of Chu Feiyan’s lips curled into a cold smile. She watched him coldly and said nothing.

General Duoluo frowned. Back when the Princess Imperial had tried to pass through Da Zhou’s southern gate, she had been turned away, but she had ended up staying at his post for a while.

He had learned firsthand just how difficult this Princess Imperial was to serve, how spoiled and hot-tempered she was! He had done his best to attend to her properly the whole time!

And yet, they had only just met again, and he had no idea how he’d already managed to offend her!

Left with no choice, General Duoluo tried again. “This lowly officer Duoluo pays respects to the Princess Imperial. The Princess Imperial must be exhausted from the journey—please, have a seat and rest a while.”

“Rest a while? What for? Can’t you see it’s nearly dark? Don’t you know the King is eagerly awaiting my arrival? Are you refusing to let me through?” Chu Feiyan said, giving a light, mocking laugh, arms crossed over her chest, utterly imperious!

General Duoluo’s heart pounded with unease—so this really was deliberate difficulty!

He couldn’t help glancing toward Jun Beiyue, but Jun Beiyue avoided his gaze, taking Ziqing’s hand and moving aside to rest.

He had already delivered her safely to the gate of the southern border—from this point on, whatever became of Chu Feiyan was no longer any concern of his. He had no interest in how long she chose to make a scene here.

Having no other option, General Duoluo forced himself to press on. “Princess Imperial, the border inspection is a rule of the royal household. This subordinate has received no notice from the royal family stating that the Princess’s belongings are exempt from inspection. I beg the Princess’s understanding… and cooperation.”

At those words, Chu Feiyan flew into a rage at once. “General Duoluo, these are all dowry gifts given to me by my Imperial Father—they are all mine! And you dare to lay hands on them?”

General Duoluo could only sigh inwardly. In all his years guarding this border, he had heard every excuse imaginable for refusing inspection. Even when the Emperor of Western Chu himself had once needed to pass through this border, he had still carried out the inspection—so why should a mere princess be any different!

Even though this princess would one day become the King’s consort, and perhaps even queen, he had no intention of currying favor with her—he could only try his best not to offend her!

“Princess Imperial, why not wait a few days? This lowly officer will report to the King, and if His Majesty says no inspection is needed, this officer will certainly let you pass. How does that sound?”

Hearing this, Chu Feiyan felt a bit uncertain deep down. In truth, she only meant to put the garrison commander in his place, to show off her authority in front of Han Ziqing—she hadn’t actually intended to make the matter escalate.

The taboos surrounding the Nanzhao border—she understood them well enough!

She pursed her lips, ready to let the matter drop, when Ziqing suddenly spoke up. “General Duoluo, you really ought to report to the King of Nanzhao first. The Princess Imperial is of noble birth, and her belongings are all the more precious—they’re not something you can simply touch as you please!”

These words seemed to flatter Chu Feiyan directly, yet they also made it impossible for her to gracefully back down on her own.

Chu Feiyan glared furiously—she knew that if she backed down easily now, Han Ziqing would surely mock her for it!

And General Duoluo had no idea how to respond either. If even Consort Yao had said such a thing, then continuing the inspection would seem like a refusal to acknowledge the Princess Imperial’s noble status. But if he stopped the inspection and truly had to report all the way to the royal city, the matter would only grow bigger, and time would be wasted!

Jun Beiyue set down his teacup, unable to hold back a laugh. This woman had cornered the poor officer with a single sentence, leaving him no way forward or back!

If Chu Feiyan were clever, she would go along with Ziqing’s words, offer a modest demurral, and give herself a graceful way down!

But Chu Feiyan was not clever, nor was she the type to be modest!

For a moment, neither Chu Feiyan nor General Duoluo knew what to do. They stared at each other—Chu Feiyan refusing to yield, General Duoluo not daring to say another wrong word!

Just then, however, Baili Weisheng spoke up. “Princess Imperial, as the ancients said, without rules, nothing can be accomplished. If one does not hold oneself to strict standards, how can one someday be worthy of ruling as an example to all under heaven?”

Baili Weisheng’s words were exceedingly skillful—urging Chu Feiyan to comply with the rules, while flattering her with the phrase “an example to all under heaven”!

One part offense, one part flattery—the two balanced each other out, and Chu Feiyan immediately brightened. “That makes sense. Fine, I’ll listen to you—go ahead and inspect!”

Baili Weisheng gave a modest smile. “This lowly scholar merely borrowed the words of the ancients.”

As he spoke, he cast a seemingly careless glance toward Ziqing and Jun Beiyue, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

You want to trap Chu Feiyan here, keep her from traveling with you—fine, go ahead.

But as for trying to shake off this young master—not a chance!

Jun Beiyue acted as though he hadn’t seen anything, while Ziqing returned the look with a smile—a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

General Duoluo let out a breath of relief and, not daring to delay any further, hurriedly began the inspection!

Chu Feiyan, with Baili Weisheng in tow, walked forward with an air of composed confidence. Once she arrived in Nanzhao, she would no longer be within Da Zhou’s territory, and she wouldn’t need to worry about offending anyone or being denied passage through the southern gate again!

Even if, in the future, she wished to return to her natal family in Western Chu, as the Nanzhao King’s consort, Da Zhou’s southern gate would forever be open to her!

She had swallowed enough grievance along this entire journey. From here all the way to the royal city, she would absolutely not make things easy for Han Ziqing.

As she passed by Ziqing, Chu Feiyan deliberately paused, casting a cold, sidelong glance filled with open provocation.

Yet Ziqing merely looked back at her with lazy indifference, seemingly in rather good spirits, meeting her gaze with a smile!

Watching this, Baili Weisheng immediately grew uneasy. Just as Chu Feiyan was about to speak, General Duoluo’s voice suddenly rang out from behind them—tense and edged with sternness.

“Princess Imperial, please come with me for a moment!”