The vast Eastern Sea stretched calm and still, the sky clear for ten thousand miles in every direction. Yet the great ship raced swiftly across the water’s surface, leaving two neat trails of wake behind it.

With no wind at all, heaven only knew how much manpower it took to keep a vessel this massive moving at such speed.

Within the ship’s cabin, on a clean bed, this man’s features remained exquisitely handsome, his nose bridge high and straight, his lips thin as gossamer. Even in this quiet, sleeping repose, if placed among any crowd, his very presence would have overshadowed every hero and champion gathered there with its noble, commanding air!

Under Physician Gu’s meticulous care, his complexion had recovered considerably, and his injuries had stabilized quite a bit as well. Yet no matter what Physician Gu or Yingzi said to him, no matter how they tried to coax or deceive him, he simply would not wake.

Physician Gu and Yingzi remained nearly inseparable from the cabin, and even now, both still wore expressions of deep worry.

“Old Gu, tell me honestly—will the prince actually wake up or not?” Yingzi asked quietly, speaking up for the first time in many days.

“At this point, he truly cannot wake. This old man is simply powerless!” Physician Gu said with a weary, defeated laugh.

“And once we reach Immortal Retreat Mountain? Once his internal energy is restored, once his meridians are healed, will he wake then?” Yingzi asked again.

For a long, long moment, Physician Gu offered no answer at all!

“Answer me.” Yingzi finally couldn’t hold back any longer, shouting.

Physician Gu suddenly shouted back just as fiercely, “I don’t know! I truly don’t know! All I can do is keep him alive—right now, that’s the only thing that matters, keeping him alive!”

With that, he immediately rushed out of the cabin, shouting, “Someone, increase our speed, quickly!”

Yingzi bit down on his own fist, staring at his master who remained entirely oblivious to everything happening around him. Finally, words he’d kept hidden for so long escaped in a low murmur, “Master, you cannot afford to sleep too long. Countless eyes across the continent of Longyuan are watching Prince Yao’s mansion right now, watching the princess consort!”

…

Meanwhile, Ziqing’s group had just passed through the gates of Nanzhao’s royal capital, being escorted toward the diplomatic guest residence. Along both sides of the road, crowds of common folk gathered thick, only thinning out as they drew closer to the guest residence itself.

Just as Ziqing was stepping down from her carriage, three other carriages arrived at the very same moment. Three carriages—Ziqing froze slightly. Eastern Qin had sent envoys as well? Who could it be?

“Princess consort Yao, this way please.” Lord Changming, the official specifically assigned to receive them, bowed respectfully in invitation.

Though Nanzhao maintained little contact with the various kingdoms of the continent of Longyuan, it wasn’t outright hostile toward any of them either. Whenever Nanzhao extended an invitation, every nation typically showed proper respect—regardless of whatever grievances might exist between them, once within Nanzhao’s borders, at most they simply ignored one another, rarely engaging in open conflict.

Ziqing returned his greeting with a smile, walking first toward the main gate. “Lord Changming, has Eastern Qin sent envoys as well?”

“Indeed. Did they not pass through your Da Zhou territory?” Lord Changming asked back, curious.

“That’s not something I would have jurisdiction over—I’m not entirely sure myself.” Ziqing said with a smile, inwardly marveling at the situation. With such enormous upheaval having occurred across the continent of Longyuan—Xichu’s military defeat, the treaty that followed—and yet Nanzhao remained entirely unaware of any of it. One truly had to admire a kingdom capable of surviving in such splendid isolation!

“How is Prince Yao’s condition faring these days?” Lord Changming asked with genuine concern. Though Nanzhao remained isolated from the wider world, even they knew of Da Zhou’s Prince Yao by reputation—surely a source of great pride for Jun Beiyue!

“He’s recovering. The physicians say he still needs several more days of rest, and given how sweltering Nanzhao’s climate is, it wasn’t suitable for him to travel here just yet—otherwise, he would have come himself.” Ziqing said with a smile, wishing desperately that what she’d just said were actually true!

Word from Yingzi a few days ago had indicated his condition had stabilized considerably, and they were nearly at Immortal Retreat Isle by now—though she had no idea how things stood at this very moment.

If only, upon her return from Nanzhao, he could be the one waiting to greet her at the city gates—how wonderful that would be.

“What a genuine shame. Still, having Princess Yao herself grace us with her presence is truly an honor for our Nanzhao as well!” Lord Changming said politely. Whoever had described these people as “southern barbarians” clearly hadn’t met them—they were considerably more courteous than certain faces back in Da Zhou!

Just as Ziqing was about to step over the tall threshold, a sharp, furious female voice suddenly rang out from behind her. “You there, stop right where you are!”

Ziqing’s brow furrowed. Was that directed at her? The voice carried a familiar note of spoiled arrogance, yet the voice itself was entirely unfamiliar.

She was just about to turn around when suddenly a gust of wind rushed past beside her—Situ Haonan had vanished.

Immediately afterward, an angry curse rang out from behind. “Situ Haonan, you heartless scoundrel, stop right there! If you’ve got any guts at all, don’t you dare run!”

Could it possibly be…

Ziqing turned around at once, and the moment she caught sight of who stood behind her, her heart genuinely sank.

Truly, enemies really do gather where they least expect it—what an astonishing coincidence, both her great adversaries had arrived at the very same time: Eastern Qin’s envoy, Xuanyuan Zhaoxi, and Xichu’s envoy, Chu Feiyan!

Off to the side, being restrained tightly by an elderly official while struggling fiercely and cursing Situ Haonan without pause, was a woman with striking, deep-set features, large eyes, and a high nose bridge, delightfully playful and adorable—none other than Yelu Qianqian, the Xijing princess who had famously rejected the crown prince of Xiliang’s marriage proposal on multiple occasions, and who had chased Situ Haonan all over the continent countless times before.

Chu Feiyan’s expression remained grimly cold, as though Ziqing owed her a great debt yet to be repaid, while Xuanyuan Zhaoxi’s face was even more sour, her gaze sharp enough to kill.

Standing tall at the entrance, Ziqing surveyed the scene with cool disdain, her sheer presence alone enough to overwhelm them both!

She didn’t linger, turning to head through the gate. At this, Yelu Qianqian called out loudly, “Da Zhou’s Princess Yao, stop right there! What exactly is your relationship with Situ Haonan, why is he traveling with you?”

Ziqing simply pretended not to hear, striding through the gate. Lord Changming, meanwhile, quickly shot meaningful glances toward the officials specifically assigned to receive the three visiting envoys.

“Distinguished envoys, you’ve traveled far and endured a difficult journey. Please, come inside first to bathe and change—whatever matters need discussing can certainly wait a little longer.”

“Princess Qianqian, please, whatever you need to say to Princess Yao, it can wait until after you’ve settled in as well.” Lord Zhushou, specifically assigned to attend her, urged quickly.

Only then did Yelu Qianqian finally shake free of the elderly attendant restraining her, saying with displeasure, “Let go of me already, I know this is Nanzhao, with all sorts of rules—I won’t go running off recklessly!”

The moment these words left her mouth, both officials looked distinctly embarrassed, and even the elderly official who had accompanied her from Xijing looked mortified as well. Yet Yelu Qianqian simply strode straight toward the main gate on her own.

Such an artless, thoughtless girl who spoke without ever thinking first—how had she managed to win over the crown prince of Xiliang so completely? And what exactly was going on between her and Situ Haonan, who had accompanied Han Ziqing here?

Xuanyuan Zhaoxi couldn’t quite figure it out, and neither could Chu Feiyan. Both harbored their own private thoughts, exchanging secretive, knowing smiles as they gracefully followed the receiving officials through the gate.

The diplomatic guest residence displayed distinctly Nanzhao architectural style, built entirely atop a vast lake. The entire lake was enclosed by a stone wall, with the main gate itself also constructed of stone—yet within, everything consisted of bamboo structures floating directly on the water’s surface, with waterside pavilions, terraces, towers, and winding corridors arranged in elegant, staggered patterns. Blooming lotus flowers dotted the water’s surface everywhere one looked, as breathtakingly beautiful as a realm from myth and legend!

The residences assigned to the four envoys stood quite close to one another, close enough that from any of the towers, one could easily see the others.

Soon, maidservants arrived bearing fresh flowers and garments for each of the envoys to bathe and change into. At the center of each pavilion lay a sunken pool—the architecture appeared deceptively simple, yet was in truth extraordinarily luxurious.

Ziqing soaked in the pool, thinking to herself that for such an isolated, conflict-averse kingdom as Nanzhao, it possessed remarkable wealth indeed—its people must surely live in peace and contentment, thoroughly happy and fortunate.

When might Da Zhou ever achieve such a state—no longer needing to conscript soldiers and grain year after year, no longer constantly on guard against border unrest? Surely this was Jun Beiyue’s own deepest hope!

And what about her? What did she herself hope for?

Her hand unconsciously drifted up to touch her own face once more. She hoped, more than anything, to finally understand everything about this face of hers.

“Mistress, you’ve been soaking far too long, come out already. Once you put on this Nanzhao outfit, you’ll look absolutely gorgeous! You have no idea, those three princesses outside have all emerged already, and they’re so beautiful, even Young Master Situ is standing outside completely dumbstruck!” Hongyi, already changed into her own new outfit, hurried over urgently.