Originally, when Jun Beiyue had come to pay his respects, the King of Nanzhao had publicly given him a show of force at the city gate, meeting with the Empress of Dongqin and Yelu Chenyi first!
Now, wanting to summon Jun Beiyue, he still couldn’t get the man to show up!
Where exactly did Jun Beiyue’s confidence come from?
Did he have enough confidence to put on airs in Nanzhao, or was he stalling for time, with some other scheme in mind?
The King of Nanzhao paced back and forth across the great hall, hands clasped behind his back, back hunched, making everyone present dizzy watching him, yet no one dared interrupt him!
If it had been anyone else resting in the diplomatic compound today without coming out, the King of Nanzhao certainly wouldn’t have been so courteous!
Though guests were to be treated with respect, there was still a distinction between ranks after all—no matter how noble a prince was, he still couldn’t compare to a sovereign ruler of a nation. Jun Beiyue was showing not the slightest bit of courtesy!
Unfortunately, it was precisely because it was him that the King of Nanzhao didn’t dare offend him too greatly!
That show of force at the city gate—he’d broken out in a cold sweat giving it!
Finally, he stopped, looking at the medicine clan’s chieftain, “I’ll ask you once more—are you certain Jun Beiyue is in his quarters?”
“This subordinate is certain. The guard captain outside heard the prince’s reply himself. His exact words were that once he’s finished resting, he’ll naturally come to see you,” the medicine clan chieftain answered hastily.
“Finished resting? So this means…” the King of Nanzhao said, stopping and turning to look back, continuing, “He means he’s holding a grudge? Holding a grudge against this king for not seeing him?”
Though the medicine clan chieftain thought the same, he didn’t dare say so directly.
The King of Nanzhao sneered coldly, “That boy’s confidence runs quite deep. Where does his confidence come from? Hasn’t he seen that the Empress of Dongqin and Yelu Chenyi have both come to lodge complaints with this king?”
The Jiao clan person hesitated for a moment, but still spoke up—after all, this matter was inextricably tied to the Jiao clan, “Your Majesty, could it be that this whole matter really is a misunderstanding?”
Seeing that the King of Nanzhao wasn’t denying it as angrily as before, he found the courage to continue, “Your Majesty, think about it—to this day we have no evidence, only the wreckage of the fleet. Though it can be seen to be the work of Jiao people, it’s not something we can be one hundred percent certain of, is it? Furthermore, the Empress of Dongqin came all this way to interrogate us, but she hasn’t produced any evidence either, just speculation, without even a single eyewitness. For Her Majesty to make the whole world believe our Nanzhao acted as an accomplice to tyranny—isn’t that going a bit too far?”
The moment these words came out, the King of Nanzhao’s originally furious expression gradually calmed, turning serious instead. The beast clan chieftain also couldn’t help stepping forward, saying in a low voice, “Your Majesty, Dongqin has always boasted of having an invincible navy. The Empress of Dongqin has even said before that if our Nanzhao didn’t have the Jiao clan, her Dongqin would be the undisputed ruler of the seas! I think this matter is certainly not without ill intent on her part!”
Though the three clan chieftains often schemed against each other, fighting fiercely for favor, on matters concerning the outside world, they generally stood united, absolutely refusing to do anything that would harm the interests of the Nanzhao royal family.
Seeing the King of Nanzhao’s expression shift again and again, the medicine clan chieftain, who had good personal relations with Jun Beiyue, also couldn’t help advising, “Your Majesty, don’t forget—this time, Prince Yao came here on his own initiative. We have no idea why he came here at all! The fact that he was willing to come here personally proves at least one thing for certain—he’s not afraid of not being able to leave!”
Though the King of Nanzhao had never shown favoritism in matters of state policy, in personal relations, he had always favored Jun Beiyue. After some deliberation, he had a clear sense of where things stood in his heart!
Once the three clan chieftains had withdrawn, he immediately summoned Eunuch Gao, saying earnestly, “Go to the diplomatic compound again, and ask when he’ll be finished resting!”
“Your Majesty, this… this… they’ll surely give plenty of excuses!” Eunuch Gao said, troubled. Having strutted about proudly at the city gate, he hadn’t expected to now be reduced to fetching people again.
“Enough nonsense! If you don’t bring him here, don’t bother coming back!” the King of Nanzhao said displeased, flicking his long sleeves and turning to leave.
At that moment, Consort Qin, who had been hiding to the side the whole time, finally cautiously stepped out. She didn’t linger long, quickly making her way back to her own palace!
The moment she reached her room, she immediately picked up her brush and began writing rapidly, soon filling two full sheets of paper. All these days, she had been faithfully reporting everything happening in Nanzhao to the man she deeply loved, Xuanyuan Lige!
She had never once received a reply, not knowing whether he hadn’t received her letters or simply hadn’t responded, but she continued writing as always, continued sending them off as always. Even now, she still faithfully guarded the second young master of the beast clan imprisoned in the heavenly prison on Xuanyuan Lige’s behalf—Mohagu Yi!
She hoped that one day, that man could accomplish his grand ambitions, that one day he could dominate the northern grasslands, soaring free like a golden eagle.
She also knew that to achieve all this, Da Zhou must fall, Jun Beiyue must die.
“My lady, do you think something might have happened to Young Master Xuanyuan? Perhaps…”
Before the maidservant could finish speaking, Consort Qin’s hand shot out with a sharp slap, “Silence! Who gave you permission to speak such nonsense! Nonsense! Someone, drag her out and slap her mouth!”
Terrified by Consort Qin’s ruthlessness, the maidservant didn’t even dare beg for mercy.
But just as the person was being dragged away, Consort Qin decided to keep her, “Wait, what were you about to say?”
The maidservant, her heart nearly stopping from fear, hurriedly said, “This servant meant, perhaps Young Master Xuanyuan was delayed by something—they took away all the people at the usual place, so why hasn’t he replied? Young Master Xuanyuan wouldn’t fail to reply to your letters. And… with something so major happening in Dongqin, why hasn’t Young Master Xuanyuan made a single move?”
These words did reach Consort Qin’s ears. Her brow furrowed as she pondered—indeed, with something so major happening in Dongqin, with the Empress of Dongqin personally coming to Nanzhao, with Xuanyuan Zhaoxi having been killed, Xuanyuan Lige, as crown prince, even if it was inconvenient to reveal his identity, should have at least followed along to Nanzhao too!
And his coming to Nanzhao—wasn’t that all arranged by her? Whether it was getting past checkpoints or reaching the capital.
Whether he’d come or not, no one would know better than she!
Their usual meeting place was in the northern border of Da Zhou—that was where she sent him letters, and there were always fixed people there to receive them!
“No, something must have happened.” Consort Qin hesitated, and in her anxiety, cast aside caution, wanting to go question the Empress of Dongqin directly!
But reaching the door, she suddenly stopped short. She understood clearly that doing so would bring no benefit—once she exposed herself, the Empress of Dongqin would certainly use it to blackmail her into working for Dongqin, which would only put her own position in danger.
“Gao Jin, take a few people to the usual place and search. Report back immediately with any news!” Consort Qin decided immediately, a vague sense of foreboding stirring in her heart.
Meanwhile, at that very moment, at the usual meeting place between her and Xuanyuan Lige, several guards were also growing anxious, having already received ten letters they couldn’t reach their master to deliver.
Where exactly was Xuanyuan Lige? Was he alive or dead?