This tone was not merely disrespectful—it sounded exactly like the tone used before interrogating a prisoner!

Baili Weisheng’s eyes widened, and he slowly turned to look at Jun Beiyue and Ziqing, only to find both of them remained perfectly composed.

Chu Feiyan, however, had already responded with fury. “Duoluo, what kind of tone is that to use with this Princess!”

“Princess Imperial, would you please come confirm whether this belongs to you?” General Duoluo remained extremely solemn, and he did not approach—but his voice was loud enough for everyone present to hear!

For a moment, Chu Feiyan froze, only then realizing something was wrong. She hurried over. “What’s the problem?”

But General Duoluo did not elaborate. He simply pointed to a jewelry box and said, “Princess Imperial, this jewelry box was taken out of this trunk. It’s part of your dowry, is it not?”

Uneasy as she was, Chu Feiyan had no choice but to admit that this was indeed hers—General Duoluo was merely confirming it!

“Just tell me exactly what the problem is!” Chu Feiyan demanded furiously!

But General Duoluo dropped all pretense of courtesy, turning unusually grave. “Princess Imperial, I’m sorry, but this matter must first be reported to the King. You may need to remain here for several more days.”

“Impossible!” Chu Feiyan immediately raised her hand. “You won’t even let me see what you found—how am I to know you’re not framing me!”

“Princess Imperial, this lowly officer will report the matter to the King, and everything will be handled according to His Majesty’s judgment. My apologies for any offense—I ask for the Princess’s understanding!” General Duoluo still would not budge, invoking the King directly!

He hadn’t expected something like this to happen—just moments ago he had been trying his best to avoid disturbing the King, yet what he’d found in the jewelry box now had to be reported, and it was even possible the King wouldn’t be able to give an answer right away, requiring urgent consultation among the leaders of the three clans!

This would inevitably cause a long delay!

For this wedding, the King intended to hold a grand celebration—it was the first time the Nanzhao royal family would marry a foreign princess. The King had even invited guests from Xijing, Dongqin, and even Xiliang!

Setting aside the severity of what had just happened, simply delaying the auspicious wedding date and hour would already be enough to cost the Nanzhao royal family face!

Only, what General Duoluo had seen was simply too…

“Someone, seal off everything else at once! No one is to touch anything!” General Duoluo issued the order decisively!

“How dare you!” Chu Feiyan slapped her hand down hard on the luggage. “General Duoluo, Nanzhao’s own border gate found nothing suspicious, yet the moment it reaches you, something suddenly turns up! Don’t think this Princess won’t accuse you of framing her!”

“Princess Imperial, the inspection standards at Nanzhao’s border differ from those there. Princess Imperial, this lowly officer will say it one final time—this matter is of the utmost gravity, and it is beyond this officer’s authority to decide. If the Princess Imperial insists on forcing her way through, do not blame this officer for what follows!”

At these words, Chu Feiyan stumbled back several steps, finally understanding!

How could she have been so careless!

Chu Tiange had reminded her time and again to keep a close watch on her luggage, to be sure to watch over it carefully!

But the moment they’d crossed Da Zhou’s border, she’d stopped paying attention to it—how was she to know the inspection standards at Da Zhou’s border differed from those at Nanzhao’s!

“Princess Imperial, please step aside and rest,” General Duoluo said, gesturing politely but firmly.

At this point, what else could Chu Feiyan do? Whatever had been found was certainly connected to the Lonely Isle. If she resisted, General Duoluo would undoubtedly resort to force, or simply seal the gates entirely and ignore her!

She would be right back to that same dead end she’d faced before!

She had no choice but to endure it. She shot Ziqing a venomous glare, stamped her foot, and finally went obediently to wait aside.

At that moment, Jun Beiyue lazily rose to his feet. “General Duoluo, why not inspect this King’s belongings first? This King has an appointment for tea with the King of Nanzhao, and would not wish to be delayed.”

At these words, Baili Weisheng, who had been leisurely making his way over to join Chu Feiyan, stopped short!

“Jun Beiyue! You’re ruthless!”

He muttered darkly under his breath, forced just like Chu Feiyan to wait aside—who knew how many days that might take!

Traveling together with them now was simply out of the question!

Of course General Duoluo understood this perfectly well too. Prince Yao had escorted the Princess Imperial here, essentially completing the King’s commission—it was only natural that he would want to proceed first!

“Of course, of course! Prince Yao, please wait just a moment.” General Duoluo hurried back to attend to him!

Chu Feiyan’s spirits lifted at once. She had no idea what Chu Tiange’s plan actually was, nor did she know where he might be at this moment!

All she could do now was hope that her brother would be clever enough to hold Jun Beiyue back as well!

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before the inspection of Jun Beiyue and Ziqing’s belongings was complete—everything had gone perfectly smoothly.

The moment the inspection concluded, General Duoluo immediately offered a bow. “Prince Yao, welcome to Nanzhao as our honored guest! Please, this way!”

These words were, without question, a pass through!

Ziqing took Jun Beiyue’s arm and glanced back at Baili Weisheng with a provocative look, causing him to practically leap from his seat. As for Chu Feiyan, whose face had twisted with fury, Ziqing didn’t spare her so much as a second glance!

Once they passed through the gate, General Duoluo could no longer hold back!

What he had found was simply far, far too serious. Even though he had already sent someone rushing the item to the royal city, he still couldn’t stop himself from trembling.

“Prince Yao, this matter is of the gravest importance, concerning the royal family’s honor. I do hope…” General Duoluo hesitated, the words trailing off!

“Rest easy, General. This King saw nothing just now. This King simply delivered the Princess Imperial here, and the Princess Imperial was merely delayed by some matter.” With a single sentence, Jun Beiyue washed his hands of the whole affair completely.

Only then did General Duoluo relax. This matter absolutely could not be allowed to spread!

“Many thanks for Prince Yao’s understanding. The reception minister has already been waiting a long while—forgive this lowly officer for being unable to escort you there personally.”

Upon entering Nanzhao, one would be met by reception envoys who arranged guards, maidservants, and even daily accommodations. The reception minister would never wait at the border—only at the royal city. Clearly, Jun Beiyue was treated as an exception in Nanzhao.

This time, the reception minister was named Bomiluo, a man in his fifties who was still remarkably robust—a minister who had received Jun Beiyue many times before, practically his designated escort by now.

The moment he saw Jun Beiyue and his wife arrive, he immediately stepped forward to apologize. “Prince Yao, last time when Her Highness the Consort personally visited, this subordinate was unable to rush back to the royal city in time to protect Her Highness. Please, Prince Yao, grant this one your forgiveness!”

At these words, Ziqing understood at once that this was one of Jun Beiyue’s own people!

“No blame falls on one who acted in ignorance. Rise,” Jun Beiyue said flatly. After introducing Ziqing, he asked directly, “Am I the first to arrive?”

“No, the Empress of Dongqin arrived first. She’s expected to reach the royal capital within these next two days,” Minister Bomiluo said in a low voice.

At these words, both Ziqing and Jun Beiyue were startled—the Empress of Dongqin had actually come in person!

Ziqing didn’t know much about this Empress, only having heard that she was an utterly formidable woman, a true sovereign in every sense!

Of course, she also knew quite well that this was Xuanyuan Lige’s mother.