Princess of Xijiang let out a soft “eh” in surprise, drawing everyone’s attention.

“My apologies, I was somewhat surprised to see a young lady here.”

“This is my fiancée,” Shao Mingyuan explained indifferently.

Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée?

Princess of Xijiang and Prince Gong exchanged glances.

“Master Zhang, we shall take our leave first.” Shao Mingyuan nodded slightly toward Minister Zhang, then nodded to Prince Gong in acknowledgment before leading Qiao Zhao and the others out.

Minister Zhang withdrew his gaze and gestured toward Prince Gong and Princess of Xijiang: “Your Highness and Princess, please come inside.”

Those Great Liang officials and Xijiang guards who had followed along all remained in the tavern’s main hall, while Minister Zhang led Prince Gong and Princess of Xijiang into a private room.

Once the wine and dishes were served, Princess of Xijiang took a light sip and asked with a face full of curiosity: “Master Zhang, who is Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée?”

Minister Zhang was slightly taken aback.

Why did young ladies always focus on such strange points?

Princess of Xijiang smiled and explained: “In our Xijiang, everyone thinks your country’s Marquis Guanjun has three heads and six arms – no girl would dare marry him!”

Xijiang placed great emphasis on literary culture and admired talented, elegant young men, like that Young Master Chi she had just seen, rather than fierce men who could snap someone’s neck with one hand.

“Haha, it’s not like that in our Great Liang. Everyone envies Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée for her good fortune.”

Princess of Xijiang’s interest grew even stronger: “Oh, then what kind of family’s daughter could marry Marquis Guanjun? Could she be from royal or noble lineage?”

“Not at all. Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée is the daughter of a Hanlin Academician.”

“Hanlin Academician?” Princess of Xijiang raised her delicate eyebrows with a look of bewilderment. “Could it be that your country differs from our Xijiang? In our land, a Hanlin Academician holds the sixth rank.”

Upon hearing this, Minister Zhang silently added in his mind: From the sixth rank.

“From what I understand, this official position holds equivalent rank in both countries,” Prince Gong interjected.

Minister Zhang inwardly snorted coldly.

Of course, it’s the same – when you Xijiang people didn’t even have historical records, didn’t you directly take these cultural elements from our Great Liang and use them!

Damn it, after using them, you still come here saying they’re the same as yours – what kind of nonsense is that!

Minister Zhang cursed silently for a few moments, but his face still maintained a courteous smile.

When in office, one must fulfill one’s duties. He was the Minister of the Court of Imperial Receptions, whose job was to receive foreign guests. He couldn’t let personal emotions make the Xijiang people think that Great Liang officials lacked proper etiquette.

“Oh, I see. No wonder everyone envies that young lady’s good fortune. In our Xijiang, this would be called ‘a sparrow flying up to become a phoenix,'” Princess of Xijiang said with a smile.

Minister Zhang silently twitched the corner of his mouth.

The phrase “a sparrow flying up to become a phoenix” was also theirs. These Xijiang bandits were just as detestable as the Northern Qi barbarians.

No, speaking honestly, they were even more hateful. For those like him who had been well-read in poetry and books since childhood, some things could never be taken away by force. But the Xijiang people were too infuriating – they read Great Liang’s Four Books and Five Classics, learned Great Liang’s rules and etiquette, and then somehow these treasures became theirs without anyone knowing when.

He couldn’t continue thinking about this. If he kept thinking, he, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Receptions, wouldn’t want to do his job anymore. He’d quit and roll up his sleeves to splash tea water on these bandits’ faces first.

“Master Zhang—” Princess of Xijiang called out with furrowed, delicate brows.

Minister Zhang came back to his senses: “Eh, what did the Princess want to say?”

Princess of Xijiang smiled charmingly: “How did Master Zhang become distracted? This Princess was asking you – do the princesses of your country hold an extraordinarily high status? I noticed Master Zhang was quite courteous to that Young Master Chi just now.”

Minister Zhang smiled faintly: “Young Master Chi is the son of the Eldest Princess, and the Eldest Princess is His Majesty’s biological younger sister, so naturally, he’s different from ordinary princesses.”

“I see.” Princess of Xijiang lowered her eyes and took a sip of wine.

Seeing Princess of Xijiang like this, Minister Zhang felt smugly pleased: No matter what, Great Liang princesses are all golden and precious people, unlike Xijiang princesses who marry their cousins!

Prince Gong and Princess of Xijiang returned to their lodgings and dismissed their attendants for private discussion.

“Brother Prince, did you also notice that Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée was very special?”

Prince Gong crossed his legs and sat casually: “Indeed very special.”

Princess of Xijiang rested her chin on her hand and smiled: “Brother Prince conceals things better than I do. The moment I saw Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée, I was simply shocked – she bears nine-tenths resemblance to a dancing girl you keep in your residence. Oh, Brother Prince, perhaps you haven’t paid attention to that dancing girl in your residence?”

Brother Prince kept quite a few dancing girls in his residence. Although that particular dancing girl was beautiful, being among a crowd of women, she might be secretly ostracized and had no opportunity to appear before Brother Prince – that was certainly possible.

Prince Gong’s eyes flickered slightly. His slender fingers lightly tapped the glass tea table as he smiled without speaking.

Xijiang placed great emphasis on literary culture. Literary men and powerful nobles liked to pursue elegance, and having a preference for young girls was an unspoken understanding among the aristocracy.

He kept many dancing girls in his residence, most between fourteen and fifteen years old, and these dancing girls generally began pleasing him and distinguished guests when they were twelve or thirteen.

The dancing girl his sister mentioned was indeed one he quite favored.

The dancing girl who was so tenderly affectionate toward him actually resembled Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée so closely – just thinking about this point made him find it interesting.

“Brother Prince, did you not notice?” Princess of Xijiang gently tugged at Prince Gong’s sleeve.

Prince Gong came back to his senses and curved his lips in a smile: “With such stunning beauty, how could I not notice?”

It was said that Great Liang men were all sanctimonious fellows who wouldn’t consummate marriage with women under fifteen even after wedding them – in his view, this was utterly ridiculous.

Little girls of twelve or thirteen, in their golden hairpins and budding years, were precisely the most heart-stirring time. That kind of innocent beauty could directly scratch at one’s heartstrings.

Princess of Xijiang sighed regretfully: “I wish I could see Marquis Guanjun’s expression upon seeing Brother Prince’s dancing girl. What a pity.”

Prince Gong reached out and tapped Princess of Xijiang’s forehead, smiling indulgently: “Sister Princess is being mischievous again. This isn’t a pity at all – Marquis Guanjun should never know.”

Before coming to Great Liang, Brother Prince had specifically instructed him to pay attention to this Marquis Guanjun, stating bluntly that with Marquis Guanjun in Great Liang, they would be worry-free for at least twenty years.

He and Sister Princess were on a diplomatic mission to Great Liang, and Marquis Guanjun was the top priority among the people he was focusing on. When he and Brother Prince were strategizing, they originally had no clue how to deal with Great Liang’s Marquis Guanjun. Now he was beginning to have some ideas.

Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée, his dancing girl… between these two, there might truly be something to exploit.

“Brother Prince is speaking in riddles again.”

Prince Gong laughed: “You don’t need to worry about these matters. You just need to display the grace of our Xijiang Princess before the noble ladies of Great Liang and make them feel ashamed of themselves – that’s enough.”

Princess of Xijiang pursed her lips in a smile and said with full confidence: “Naturally. Brother Prince need not worry.”

Qiao Zhao and the others left Chunfeng Tavern and went their separate ways.

Zhu Yàn had drunk quite a bit. After returning to the heir’s quarters at Marquis Taining’s residence, he had just taken off his outer garments and changed into casual clothes when Du Feixue came rushing in like a whirlwind.

“Cousin?” Young Master Zhu’s drunkenness was instantly half-frightened away.