Jin would never call this residence the Hostage Mansion. By allowing the Fourth Prince to name his residence, Jin was treating the Fourth Prince as an honored guest they had invited.
“Thank you for the Crown Prince’s concern!” Murong Yu smiled and nodded. “This legitimate second son of mine has been spoiled since childhood… If he commits any improprieties in the future, I hope the Crown Prince will help mediate for this child!”
“Your Majesty speaks too seriously!” The Crown Prince laughed. “Your Majesty and the Fourth Prince have traveled far and must be tired. Your Majesty and the Fourth Prince should rest well. Tomorrow, I will personally come to escort you both into the palace.”
“Much obliged to the Crown Prince!” Murong Li bowed to the Crown Prince.
“Feng Yao, see the Crown Prince out for me…” Murong Yu smiled.
Before leaving, the Crown Prince couldn’t help but look up at the Great Yan Emperor once more. He was truly beautiful beyond daring to stare directly at, and from this, one could see what kind of stunning beauty Empress Ji must have been back then. Perhaps now only someone who could compare to Empress Ji’s beauty would be…
The Crown Prince’s mind suddenly conjured up the image of Bai Qingyan.
Actually, speaking honestly, if not for Bai Qingyan’s military attire and overwhelming aura of killing intent, she truly… could be called a stunning beauty, surpassing that Miss Liu Ruofu of Nandu Commandery who was known as the greatest beauty by who knows how much.
But unfortunately, Bai Qingyan possessed such a rigid backbone that people would often overlook her beauty due to the excessively stern pride emanating from her.
“Your Highness, please…”
The shrill voice of Feng Yao, the Great Yan Emperor’s head eunuch, rang in the Crown Prince’s ear. Only then did the Crown Prince come back to his senses and lead his people in bowing farewell.
While being escorted out by Feng Yao, the Crown Prince suddenly thought of Xiao Rongyan and asked with a smile as they walked: “I have a good friend named Xiao Rongyan. I heard he is acquainted with Eunuch Feng…”
Feng Yao was startled, then smiled: “Hardly acquainted. It’s our Ninth Prince showing favor, feeling that this old servant has worked hard serving Empress Ji for a lifetime and then serving His Majesty, so he lets this old servant earn some pocket money alongside Master Xiao.”
The Crown Prince smiled and nodded: “Rongyan did tell me about his encounter with your Great Yan’s Ninth Prince. Rongyan’s name shares the same character as your Ninth Prince’s name, yet he bore no grudge. Your Ninth Prince is truly a magnanimous person.”
“Our Ninth Prince said that Master Xiao is, after all, a person of Wei, and his name was bestowed by his parents, so Master Xiao cannot be blamed. It’s also considered fate between our Ninth Prince and Master Xiao.” Feng Yao kept his head properly lowered, his respectful demeanor completely concealing that he was a favored eunuch beside the Great Yan Emperor.
As soon as the Crown Prince’s carriage emerged from the alley where the hostage residence was located, he headed straight for the palace.
Previously, Great Yan had said they would send a hostage to Jin, but had never mentioned it would be a legitimate son. The Crown Prince needed to immediately enter the palace to inform the Emperor of this matter.
Because tomorrow was the Great Jin Emperor’s birthday, envoys from various countries who had come to offer congratulations were all in the capital city. Upon hearing that the Great Yan Emperor had arrived, they all personally went to where the Great Yan Emperor was staying to present gifts.
Xiao Rongyan had business dealings in Great Yan and also had a partnership with Head Eunuch Feng Yao, who served beside the Emperor, so naturally, he too needed to come bearing gifts. He had prepared two sets of gifts – one for the Great Yan Emperor and one for Head Eunuch Feng Yao.
When Xiao Rongyan arrived, the envoys from various countries presenting gifts to the Great Yan Emperor had not yet left. He waited outside the residence for over an hour before Feng Yao slowly emerged from within.
Seeing this, Xiao Rongyan immediately stepped forward and bowed: “Xiao Rongyan pays respects to Eunuch.”
Feng Yao put on airs, smiling as he said, “Master Xiao is too polite.” Xiao Rongyan then had Yue Shi present the small wooden box containing account books to Feng Yao, lowering his voice to ask: “Why did little A’Li come this time?”
“Don’t you know, young master? The Fourth Prince has had his own strong opinions since childhood. This time it was the Fourth Prince himself who insisted on coming in place of the Second Prince!” Feng Yao still maintained his superior attitude while speaking to neither servile nor arrogant Xiao Rongyan. “Young master, you need not worry too much. The Fourth Prince has always been clever and wise.”
What was done was done – could Xiao Rongyan say it wouldn’t work?
He pressed his lips together and said: “I just saw that Rong Di’s envoys came…”
“Yes, but His Majesty did not receive them.”
“Please trouble old uncle to tell brother that privately, he can send people to make contact with Rong Di’s envoys. This time… our Great Yan can use the pretext of helping Rong Di quell the rebellion to send troops. We can both seize Rong Di, this natural horse pasture, and prepare for future pincer attacks on Jin and battles with Great Liang! Though this matter is risky, the opportunity is rare. If brother dares to take the gamble, it would benefit Great Yan tremendously.”
After speaking, Xiao Rongyan smiled and bowed deeply to Feng Yao.
Feng Yao nodded with a smile, raised his hand to touch the box containing the accounts, looking completely satisfied as he turned and returned to the residence.
In the hostel.
Upon hearing the news that the Great Yan Emperor had brought his son to Jin but would not attend the palace banquet at noon today, Xiлiang’s Prince Yan Li Zhijie pressed his thin lips tightly together.
After the physician finished changing his medicine and left the room, Li Zhijie tied his clothing and instructed Lu Tianzhuo: “Prepare a generous gift and send it to the Yan Emperor.”
“Yes!” Lu Tianzhuo responded and left.
Li Zhijie finished dressing, picked up his teacup, and thought for a moment, then called someone in: “Go tell the Princess to rest well in the hostel today, to restore her energy for tomorrow’s birthday celebration for the Jin Emperor. We need not attend today’s noon banquet.”
Today’s banquet had not invited the Great Yan Emperor who had already arrived in Jin. It was presumably a celebration banquet for the great victory in Nan Jiang. If they from Xiliang joined in at this time… they would only be humiliated. Better that he claim his injuries were severe and the Princess claim fatigue and poor adaptation – neither would attend.
Tomorrow at the Great Jin Emperor’s birthday banquet, when Princess danced, she would make a stunning impression.
·
Because tomorrow was the Emperor’s birthday banquet, today’s lunch was kept simple. The Emperor only invited the meritorious officials from the Nan Jiang victory and their families.
When the Emperor heard that Xiliang’s Prince Yan claimed his injuries had not healed and the Princess claimed to be fatigued from poor adaptation to the climate, saying they wanted to conserve energy to attend the Emperor’s birthday banquet tomorrow, he felt that Xiliang was still quite sensible.
Upon hearing the Crown Prince’s report that the Great Yan Emperor had brought his legitimate second son, after a moment of surprise, he felt that Great Jin’s imperial majesty had awed all under heaven, which was why the Great Yan Emperor had brought his legitimate second son to show goodwill to Jin.
After all, Great Yan had now become a poor and weak small Kingdom. Even after reswallowing Nanyan, they dared not act presumptuously before Jin!
The Emperor’s mood improved even more than in the morning, and he instructed the Crown Prince: “Since the Great Yan Emperor shows such sincerity in sending his legitimate son as hostage to Jin, our Jin cannot lose its dignity. During the Yan Fourth Prince’s days in the capital, remember to bring him to various spring outings and poetry gatherings, and greet all those young wastrels in the capital to ensure they don’t provoke this Fourth Prince.”
“Your son understands! Father Emperor, rest assured.” The Crown Prince respectfully supported the Emperor as they emerged from the inner chamber. “On the sixth of the fourth month, Third Imperial Uncle is hosting a polo match and has invited your son to attend. At that time… your son will bring the Yan Fourth Prince along, and will help the Great Yan Fourth Prince become familiar with the people in the capital early, letting those wastrels in the capital led by Lu Yuanpeng become good friends with the Fourth Prince!”
Those near vermilion become red, those near ink become black. Befriending wastrels…