Even cultivators have astonishing stomach capacities, but drinking nearly a quarter of one’s body weight in alcohol was too much even for Zhao Yun with his profound cultivation. Feng Miaojun could guess that he was using spiritual power to force out the alcohol, and now he was hurrying to relieve himself.

Zhao Yun’s temporary departure was merely a small interlude. The banquet continued with cups clinking as guests enjoyed their drinks and conversation.

After three more rounds, Xu Guangxiang drained her cup in one go, then refilled it to toast Feng Miaojun: “May Your Majesty’s future celebrations surpass today’s, and may Wei and Xia forever maintain their alliance!”

Feng Miaojun felt that the Princess of Meiji had an unusual expression tonight. While drinking, she often stared unblinkingly at her, with incomprehension, anger, and other complex emotions in her gaze that Feng Miaojun couldn’t fully decipher. Now she could only respond gently, “I appreciate General Xu’s kind words,” and drink her wine.

Xu Guangxiang remained standing and refilled her cup again: “The second cup, to Your Majesty’s success in all endeavors and boundless good fortune!”

She bit down hard on the final words, with such intensity that even Fu Lingchuan, standing beside Feng Miaojun, detected a hint of hostility and looked over.

Feng Miaojun frowned slightly, casually drank the wine, and seeing Xu Guangxiang about to pour a third cup, she spoke up: “Please sit, General Xu.”

Just then, a guard hurried in from outside and whispered something in Fu Lingchuan’s ear, causing his gaze to instantly sharpen.

After a moment’s hesitation, he turned to Feng Miaojun and said quietly: “The State Preceptor of Wei has arrived and is waiting outside the court.”

Yun Ya had come!

Has this person gone mad? Feng Miaojun’s pupils constricted sharply as countless thoughts raced through her mind. After a long moment, she said: “Receive him with proper courtesy and invite him in.”

With Xu Guangxiang already serving as Wei’s envoy, what was he doing here?

Thus the master of ceremonies loudly announced: “The State Preceptor of Wei arrives—”

The hall immediately fell silent, with only the occasional clink of cups.

Everyone turned toward the entrance to see a man walking in with measured steps, his robes billowing, handsome as an immortal.

Wearing a white jade crown and crimson robes, though he entered with a smile, his aura was expansive and domineering, as if he were the true protagonist of today’s banquet.

Feng Miaojun unconsciously pressed her temple. This was unmistakably Yun Ya himself—this demeanor, this way of drawing all eyes—no one else could imitate it.

While all eyes in the hall were fixed on Yun Ya, his gaze remained unwavering. Those peach blossom eyes appeared clear and spirited today, focused solely on her. Though there were no fewer than a thousand people at the banquet, he couldn’t be bothered to spare even a glance for anyone else.

Their eyes met, and Feng Miaojun saw the undisguised arrogance, spirit, brilliance, and… affection in his eyes.

Had he come for her, or was this another scheme?

Suppressing the tangled thoughts in her heart, she said softly: “State Preceptor Yun has arrived, please be seated.”

Yun Ya sat smiling at the Wei envoy’s table, right beside Xu Guangxiang. The latter glanced up at him, her expression inscrutable, then quickly lowered her head.

Feng Miaojun suddenly understood. Yun Ya must have informed Xu Guangxiang beforehand. She believed he had come to the banquet for the New Xia Queen, even revealing his true appearance and taking an enormous risk.

And precisely because of this, Xu Guangxiang hated her even more, didn’t she?

Feng Miaojun wanted to feel touched, but deeper worry surfaced in her heart. Everyone present had witnessed Yun Ya’s appearance; within three days, news of the Wei State Preceptor entering Wusei City would spread throughout the entire city.

By then, with so many New Xia people hating him to the bone, Yun Ya’s safety would be greatly compromised. As they say, obvious arrows are easily dodged, but hidden ones are hard to guard against. This fellow had arranged such a grand entrance for himself—she hoped he wouldn’t drag her down with him!

Meeting her worried gaze, Yun Ya’s eyes brightened slightly, and his smile grew wider.

His smile was too provoking. Feng Miaojun silently resolved: after this banquet, she couldn’t let him parade around with that face drawing hatred anymore—her life was at stake!

Fu Lingchuan’s gaze shifted between her and Yun Ya, observing their eye contact, and he felt deeply uneasy. Long Le had mentioned she had spent some time with the Wei State Preceptor, and since then, Fu Lingchuan had been pondering the exact nature of their relationship. How many women could resist such an outstanding man?

Now, Yun Ya had come. The two people who had once been close day and night—one occupying the main seat, one sitting as a guest, one a monarch, one a state preceptor—could never return to how they were before. Fu Lingchuan had to consider why Yun Ya was risking his appearance in Wusei City.

Had he come for Long Le, or did he have other undisclosed purposes?

Fu Lingchuan laughed heartily: “State Preceptor Yun is late; he must be penalized with three cups of wine.”

Yun Ya didn’t decline, promptly agreeing with a “very well,” and unhesitatingly drank three large cups of wine brought by the attendant.

The pale red wine spilled from the cup’s rim, flowing down his jade-like skin, past his neck, and over his moving Adam’s apple—indescribably pleasing to the eye. Xu Guangxiang sat beside him, watching in a daze.

Each cup could hold half a jin of wine. After consecutively drinking one and a half jin of peach blossom wine, he tossed the cup back onto the tray and casually wiped the wine from his lips: “I’ve penalized myself with three cups to show Your Majesty my sincerity.”

He drank with such abandon, in stark contrast to Zhao Yun’s earlier restraint. The envoys from the small southeastern states of New Xia, known for their bold customs, applauded and cheered.

He had gulped down the wine too vigorously; a faint flush colored his cheeks, making him appear even more extraordinarily handsome, while his eyes grew brighter. Meeting his burning gaze, Feng Miaojun was slightly startled: “Sincerity? Has he come to demonstrate his sincerity?”

A few days ago in her dream, she had told him she would only consider cooperating with Wei if he showed tangible sincerity. Had Yun Ya removed his disguise and revealed his true face at the banquet for this reason?

She opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say. Her rational mind secretly cursed him as a madman who couldn’t be judged by normal standards, yet simultaneously, another voice whispered: he had finally come to see her, standing honorably before everyone.

Fu Lingchuan’s expression grew darker, though his lips curved upward: “For Wei to send two envoys, with State Preceptor Yun personally taking charge—this is truly a pleasant surprise.”

Earlier, it was Xu Guangxiang who had entered the palace for an audience, and it was Xu Guangxiang who had come to the banquet from the beginning. What was Yun Ya doing joining in now?

Yet Yun Ya replied calmly: “State Preceptor Fu may not know that I am the chief envoy, with General Xu as my deputy. I went to handle some urgent matters midway, which is why General Xu entered the palace first. But for the New Xia Queen’s celebratory banquet, I had to arrive no matter what.” As he said the last sentence, he turned to Feng Miaojun, his voice noticeably softening.

If another woman had received such flattery from him, she would likely have been delighted, but Feng Miaojun wanted to challenge him. She asked unhurriedly: “I’m quite curious what urgent matters State Preceptor Yun went to handle midway.”

Since he claimed to be the chief envoy, his most important task should be the diplomatic mission to New Xia. With matters having different levels of urgency and importance, what did he mean by detouring to handle private matters and arriving late? Was he not taking the New Xia monarch seriously?