The following morning, the Nanzhao royal family formally dispatched an official to announce the wedding’s postponement, and that very night, the King of Nanzhao personally hosted a banquet to entertain all the guests generously.

Among those in attendance at the banquet were Prince Yao’s household and Ziqing from Da Zhou; the Empress of Dongqin and Princess Xuanyuan Zhaoxi from Dongqin; Princess Qianqian from Xijing; and from Xiliang, only a single official, along with Situ Haonan, who represented the martial world’s alliance leader.

The Empress of Dongqin, being an empress in her own right, sat in the seat of honor alongside the King of Nanzhao, with Nanzhao’s three clan leaders and officials seated below the King, and the other honored guests seated below the Empress of Dongqin.

The young masters of the Medicine Clan and the Merfolk Clan both attended—only the Second Young Beast Master was conspicuously absent.

Ziqing’s attention, meanwhile, remained fixed on the Empress of Dongqin—this was her first time seeing the Empress in person, and she found herself thinking the woman was strikingly beautiful. No wonder Xuanyuan Lige carried such an otherworldly, refined air about him!

It was likewise the Empress of Dongqin’s first time seeing Ziqing. Da Zhou and Dongqin—never allies, and never would be.

Throughout the banquet, the conversation stayed polite and pleasant, though Jun Beiyue showed the Empress of Dongqin no particular deference, and the Empress showed him none in return either—the two essentially acted as though the other simply didn’t exist!

Yelu Qianqian’s attention was entirely fixed on Situ Haonan; she’d deliberately chosen the seat closest to him, ignoring the repeated startled glances from the Xiliang envoy.

The banquet itself was nothing extraordinary—idle chatter, drinking, watching song and dance performances. Everyone present was playing their own hidden games beneath the surface; none of them were foolish enough to lay their cards openly on the table at a banquet like this—every single person here was more than capable of trouble!

“Why don’t I see the Second Young Beast Master here?” Ziqing asked quietly, turning to Minister Bomiluo.

“Reporting to Your Highness, the Second Young Master has an odd temperament and generally disdains attending gatherings like this. What’s more, if he did come, he’d almost certainly say something offensive to His Majesty or the honored guests—so His Majesty tacitly permits him to stay away!”

“He really is quite the peculiar one,” Ziqing murmured.

“I’ve heard his name mentioned before—he certainly sounds like an unusual character,” Jun Beiyue added quietly as well.

The wedding was postponed for five days, and during that time, everyone found themselves with little to do. The King of Nanzhao had arranged a number of activities, though anyone with sense could tell these were merely meant to help pass the time. The King was clearly preoccupied with the matter of Chu Feiyan and had little attention left to spare for anything else.

The moment the dull banquet ended, Jun Beiyue was the first to leave. He’d already calculated these coming days carefully—once the person he was waiting for arrived, it would be time to make a trip to the Poison Den.

“What are your plans?” Ziqing asked with a smile. They hadn’t taken a carriage—she preferred walking hand in hand with Jun Beiyue through the empty nighttime streets, quiet and safe.

“Things won’t stay calm these next few days. Would you be willing to stay quietly in the compound and study the score?” Jun Beiyue asked.

Ziqing grew suspicious at once. “And you? Going to the Poison Den without letting me come along?”

“You can’t move as fast as I can. I’ll go quickly and come straight back,” Jun Beiyue explained.

Ziqing had originally meant it as a joke, but she hadn’t expected he’d actually refuse to let her come along!

“I won’t slow you down. My pace isn’t slow at all,” Ziqing said seriously.

“Someone needs to stay here. I’ll go quickly and return quickly,” Jun Beiyue explained again.

Only then did Ziqing understand. In truth, she’d been hoping to accompany Jun Beiyue to meet the old man at the Poison Den herself, curious how he’d negotiate with that eccentric old fellow. Unfortunately, he had a point—someone did need to stay behind in the royal capital!

The last time she’d secretly gone to the Poison Den, it had been because the Den was close to the Poison River. But now, with the Poison Den so far from the royal city, and the road full of potential complications, for a master of his caliber, bringing along any companion—no matter how skilled—would only be a burden, far less efficient than moving alone. Ziqing understood this better than anyone.

As they strolled slowly along, she realized that ever since leaving Da Zhou, Jun Beiyue had said not a single word about the Enchanting Fragrance, nor about her constitution!

Yet Ziqing knew this man was even more anxious about it than she was!

All they had in hand was that one totem as evidence. They had no idea what Chu Tiange held, nor what Consort Yi possessed. Chu Feiyan was safely detained at the border for now, but that didn’t mean the rest of them were safe in the meantime!

Every step they took in Nanzhao carried its own danger!

“Beiyue, once the Enchanting Fragrance is cured, I suppose I could be used to cultivate poison then.” Ziqing said it in a teasing tone, but Jun Beiyue’s expression turned grave at once—he understood exactly what she meant!

Someone immune to all poisons was a terrifying prospect—one that could be cultivated into the most fearsome weapon imaginable, turned into a living poison vessel, even a poisoned corpse!

“Don’t even think about it. This King has only two goals in seeking out the Lonely Isle—first, to cure the Enchanting Fragrance, and second, to find your true birth family. Beyond that, neither of us needs anything else from it.”

The moment they returned to their quarters, Yingzi arrived with an urgent report. “My lord, there’s been a development at Xisan City—a shipment of grain and provisions will be passing through the mountain road north of Xisan City! General Baihu has ordered the Night Wolf Army to remain in Xisan City, intending to seize the shipment!”

Jun Beiyue smiled coldly. “General Baihu really does specialize in raiding supply lines, doesn’t he. How is Jun Beichen doing?”

“General Baihu is personally overseeing things. My lord need not worry,” Yingzi said cheerfully. Once the Night Wolf Army seized that grain shipment, Western Chu would likely have no choice but to surrender!

Just then, Situ Haonan strode in, utterly at ease, offering a casual clasped-fist greeting to Jun Beiyue before plopping himself down. “Beiyue, going hunting or not?”

“No.” Jun Beiyue’s answer came so calmly it nearly drove Situ Haonan mad—he hadn’t even bothered to ask what the invitation was about!

“You’ve got nothing else going on these next few days—why not come? The Second Young Beast Master invited us. The Beast Clan’s hunting grounds, no less!” Situ Haonan said, glancing repeatedly at Ziqing as he spoke.

Sure enough, at these words, Ziqing’s interest was immediately piqued. “The Beast Clan’s hunting grounds?”

“Exactly!” Situ Haonan said cheerfully. He knew perfectly well that any skilled rider and archer dreamed of one day hunting at the Beast Clan’s grounds—hunting was, after all, the truest test of horsemanship and archery!

Yet Jun Beiyue merely smiled. “You’d like to go?”

Ziqing shook her head at once. She did want to go, of course—but she knew that with Jun Beiyue away, she needed to be all the more careful. Surely the Second Young Beast Master’s invitation wouldn’t be limited to just the few of them?

Seeing this, Situ Haonan quietly asked Jun Beiyue, “You’ve got something going on?”

“I’m heading to the Poison Den. Better to keep things simple these next few days,” Jun Beiyue said quietly. Even though he could see Ziqing wanted to go, he still didn’t agree to it—not only refusing to go himself, but also asking Ziqing not to go either.

“Understood. I’ll turn down the invitation, then,” Situ Haonan said, then added, “Whatever you need, just say the word—I’ll be right next door, brother!”

Jun Beiyue gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder, smiling, before letting him go.

Once he’d left, a flicker of disappointment crossed Ziqing’s eyes, though she said nothing. Jun Beiyue gently ruffled her bangs, seeming to want to say something but holding back. It was rare for something to genuinely interest this woman, and these were unusual times—he resolved to make it up to her afterward.

“You’ll head out shortly, then?” Ziqing asked quietly. Even at his fastest pace, the round trip to the Poison Den and back would still take some time.

“Mm.” Jun Beiyue had originally planned to leave the next day, wanting to spend tonight with Ziqing—but the person being delivered to him needed to be received personally.

A flicker of shadow crossed Ziqing’s eyes, though she still managed a smile. “Leave early, come back early. Please be careful.”

Jun Beiyue took her hand, instructing her seriously, “Keep an eye on the Empress of Dongqin. If the King of Nanzhao can’t find me, just say I’ll explain myself to him personally—I have my own excuse ready.”

Ziqing nodded, pressing her lips together. Though she tried hard to hide it, she couldn’t quite conceal her reluctance to see him go. This was, after all, the first time they’d been apart since reuniting on Liuxian Isle.

People, once they’d grown accustomed to being together, truly did find sudden separation difficult to bear.

Seeing this, Jun Beiyue smiled helplessly—it was rare indeed to see his Consort Yao display such reluctance to part. Without warning, he leaned in close, capturing her lips in a deep, lingering kiss before finally taking his leave.

…