The moment she secured Baili Weisheng’s agreement, Chu Feiyan’s gloomy mood instantly lifted!

That Han Ziqing, having such a wonderful man as Jun Beiyue yet failing to truly cherish him properly—well, this time, she’d see just how long she could keep enjoying his favor!

Her spirits lifted, Chu Feiyan led Baili Weisheng boldly toward the dining hall, not forgetting to straighten her clothes and hair ornaments along the way.

Baili Weisheng sighed with great feeling, “Princess Imperial, truly, a woman adorns herself for one who delights in her! Prince Yao personally escorting the Princess Imperial—you two must be very good friends indeed!”

Hearing this, a pang of pain struck Chu Feiyan’s heart.

A woman adorns herself for one who delights in her—a woman dresses up for someone who brings her joy. Yet Jun Beiyue only ever brought her sorrow!

“Master Baili, if someone made you unhappy every single day, would you still adorn yourself for their sake?” Chu Feiyan stopped at the doorway, asking flatly.

“I wouldn’t know.”

His answer still carried that same scholarly tone, yet had Chu Feiyan turned around, she would have seen just how severe and solemn the expression on the man behind her had become in that brief moment!

“Ha, Princess Imperial, this humble scholar is famished—shall we go eat?” Baili Weisheng quickly shed all traces of seriousness.

The moment Chu Feiyan entered, she saw Jun Beiyue and Han Ziqing seated across from each other, with Jun Beiyue placing food into Ziqing’s bowl!

She deliberately stomped her footsteps loudly, but unfortunately, neither of them so much as glanced her way.

Very well then!

She smiled and called out loudly, “Master Baili, what would you like to eat?”

At these words, Ziqing turned her head sharply to look, and even Jun Beiyue, though composed, glanced over as well. There they saw Baili Weisheng trailing behind Chu Feiyan, carrying some square wooden book chest he’d apparently acquired from somewhere, slung across his back, giving him a passably scholarly appearance.

“This humble scholar is accustomed to simple, plain fare—as long as I’m full, that’s fine,” Baili Weisheng said hastily.

Ziqing’s mouth twitched—the jade piece adorning this fellow’s hair alone was worth tens of thousands of taels, yet he called it “simple, plain fare.”

“Let’s eat,” Jun Beiyue said flatly, paying no further attention.

Ziqing shot Baili Weisheng a thoroughly contemptuous look, then likewise paid him no more mind, bowing her head to eat her porridge.

Of course, they didn’t share the same table—Baili Weisheng and Chu Feiyan sat at the table directly behind Jun Beiyue and Ziqing.

The room fell silent. Aside from placing food in Ziqing’s bowl, Jun Beiyue kept his gaze fixed entirely on his own bowl.

Chu Feiyan wasn’t foolish enough to provoke Han Ziqing at this particular moment, and Jun Beiyue certainly wasn’t foolish enough to actually try driving Baili Weisheng away—and so this breakfast proceeded in remarkable, awkward silence!

Baili Weisheng ate with the most obvious relish, his mood clearly excellent, his appetite matching it. The Beast Clan’s invitation letter had been forged by him personally—had Jun Beiyue opened it at the time, he surely would have detected the fraud, but fortunately, one glance at the envelope had been enough to stop him from investigating further!

Now, Chu Feiyan had become his ticket through!

“Master Baili, eat more,” Chu Feiyan said warmly, actively placing food into Baili Weisheng’s bowl. Baili Weisheng accepted everything without complaint, though all of it simply piled up untouched at the bottom of his bowl.

After the meal, as Jun Beiyue and Ziqing rose to leave, Chu Feiyan, unable to contain herself any longer, stood up as well. “Prince Yao, this is my friend, Baili Weisheng. He’ll be traveling to Nanzhao along with my entourage.”

“The Princess Imperial’s entourage falls outside this king’s jurisdiction—there’s no need to inform me of such matters,” Jun Beiyue said flatly, not even looking up. Ziqing, however, turned back, glancing first at Chu Feiyan, then at Baili Weisheng, seeming as though she wanted to say something but held back.

This only further confirmed Chu Feiyan’s suspicion that Han Ziqing was feeling guilty about something!

She said cheerfully, “Master Baili, please, come to my carriage.”

By early afternoon, the convoy finally reached the southern border gate, where General Zhao Shiming had prepared everything since dawn to formally welcome Jun Beiyue!

“This humble general, Zhao Shiming, greets Prince Yao! Long live Prince Yao, long live, long live! Greets Princess Yao, long live Princess Yao, long live, long live!”

General Zhao led his troops in a formal, respectful salute—an honor Ziqing had never received on her previous visit here!

Witnessing the entire army arrayed in formation, Ziqing couldn’t help but feel a swell of emotion—a prince truly was a prince. She found herself unable to resist a flicker of anticipation: with Jun Beiyue by her side this time in Nanzhao, how much less restricted would she be?

She had to admit, on her previous trip to Nanzhao, she had secretly harbored this very hope deep in her heart—wishing this man could be by her side. And now, that wish had finally come true.

With Baili Weisheng beside her, Chu Feiyan certainly wouldn’t be enjoying this kind of treatment at all!

“General Zhao, please rise. Now for the border inspection—this is a matter of great importance, please be thorough,” Jun Beiyue said flatly. Even though Chu Feiyan was traveling for a political marriage, she still had to undergo inspection at this border checkpoint!

“Should Your Highness go first, or the Princess Imperial?” General Zhao asked earnestly.

Jun Beiyue turned to look at Chu Feiyan, seeking her preference.

“You go first, it won’t take long,” Chu Feiyan replied hastily. That single word “you,” rather than the formal title “Prince Yao” she least wished to use, spoke volumes.

Jun Beiyue nodded, and the border inspection proceeded!

Jun Beiyue brought only Physician Gu and Yingzi, while Ziqing brought Guxi and Hongyi. Upon entering Nanzhao, they would be provided with attendants and servants, even specially prepared clothing—so they carried very little luggage!

The inspection concluded quickly, naturally without any issues at all.

Next came Chu Feiyan’s turn. Baili Weisheng stood beside her, watching everything with careful attention, a flicker of suspicion hidden in his clear, dark eyes—no one could tell exactly what he was looking for!

Chu Feiyan had brought relatively few attendants herself—Baili Weisheng, a handful of maids serving as her dowry attendants, and two or three servants, with the bulk of her belongings consisting of dowry gifts.

Back when Xichu had been at the height of its power, the Emperor of Xichu had once proclaimed that whoever married Chu Feiyan would receive half of Xichu’s military forces as dowry. Though this proclamation had long since become a hollow joke, Chu Feiyan’s dowry certainly remained substantial regardless!

The border inspection would take some time. At that moment, Jun Beiyue and Ziqing stood atop the city gate, gazing southward across Nanzhao’s vast lands, not paying much attention to Chu Feiyan’s inspection at all.

Meanwhile, Baili Weisheng rubbed his chin, scrutinizing each item one by one with such intensity it looked as though he were the one being inspected instead.

“What are you staring at? So troublesome—once this princess is married, I’ll definitely abolish this ridiculous custom!” Chu Feiyan said with displeasure.

Baili Weisheng immediately answered earnestly, “Princess, this humble one has simply never seen so many fine treasures before, and got a bit carried away…”

He lowered his head, looking somewhat embarrassed as he spoke.

Just then, a guard approached and asked respectfully, “Princess Imperial, does this gentleman have any luggage?”

Chu Feiyan glanced at Baili Weisheng’s square wooden book chest and said, “Just that one chest, I suppose?”

“Yes, yes, exactly!” Baili Weisheng nodded repeatedly, dragging the wooden chest forward for the guard’s inspection.

High atop the city gate, Ziqing and Jun Beiyue had, at some point, both turned their attention downward.

“What exactly is that fellow up to?” Ziqing asked, thoroughly puzzled.

“His invitation letter is probably forged. Once we reach Nanzhao, we can simply inquire with the Beast Clan and find out,” Jun Beiyue said flatly.

“The Merfolk?” Ziqing asked quietly—she knew Jun Beiyue had been investigating this matter all along.

“No. At the very least, among Nanzhao’s Merfolk clan, there’s no one matching his description.”

“How strange indeed…”

Ziqing sighed helplessly. By now, Baili Weisheng’s belongings had all been inspected, revealing nothing unusual at all—leaving only Chu Feiyan’s final chest of jewelry and accessories remaining.

Baili Weisheng still watched intently, unwilling to look away, as though wondering whether this very last piece of luggage might finally reveal whatever it was he’d been hoping to find all along.