Having said this, Jun Beiyue studied Baili Weisheng closely, and Ziqing did the same with equal seriousness.

This fellow claimed to know everything about everything—he surely possessed some extraordinary abilities. Jun Beiyue and Ziqing’s journey to Nanzhao was meant to uncover the secret of the Solitary Isle, which, in a certain sense, was indeed fraught with genuine hardship and danger!

Could it be that Baili Weisheng was actually referring to the journey itself, while hinting instead at something awaiting them in Nanzhao?

As an honored guest of the Beast Clan, he would surely enjoy far greater freedom within Nanzhao than they would as mere wedding guests!

Yet, just as Jun Beiyue and Ziqing grew suspicious, Baili Weisheng scratched the back of his head, laughing awkwardly. “Er… lost items go unclaimed, doors unlocked at night—I really wouldn’t know about that, haha, my mistake, my mistake.”

At these words, Ziqing’s first instinct was again to glance at Jun Beiyue—and sure enough, his face had gone not merely pale, but outright dark with displeasure.

Clearly, Baili Weisheng had been toying with them, and in doing so, had slyly mocked Jun Beiyue as well—Great Zhou might be stable, but it certainly couldn’t claim such idealized peace and prosperity as “lost items unclaimed, doors unlocked at night”!

“Since it was a misunderstanding, Master Baili, please, take your leave,” Jun Beiyue said coldly.

“As the ancients say, in…”

“As the ancients say, those who walk different paths cannot make plans together.”

“How are our paths different? Aren’t we all heading to Nanzhao?”

“You’re going to the Beast Clan, we’re going to the royal capital.”

“Surely we’ll all pass through the southern border gate together first?”

“We’re taking the official road, you’re taking the civilian path.”

“Han Ziqing, we’re old acquaintances after all—letting me tag along and mooch a few meals off you, are you really being this stingy?”

Finally, Baili Weisheng turned to look at Ziqing, who merely looked away, saying nothing.

Jun Beiyue simply lifted the carriage curtain. “Master Baili, please. We’ll see you in Nanzhao.”

Baili Weisheng, good-natured as ever, narrowed his eyes with a smile. “Prince Yao, as the ancients wisely said…”

Jun Beiyue lifted his foot, aiming squarely at Baili Weisheng’s rear, instantly silencing him. Baili Weisheng withdrew sulkily, though he didn’t actually leave, simply trailing alongside the carriage instead.

Jun Beiyue didn’t spare him another glance, dropping the curtain, and at that very moment, Ziqing finally couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer.

She knew perfectly well Jun Beiyue wasn’t being stingy—he wouldn’t be so excessively rude to a guest without good reason!

Jun Beiyue was testing him. Baili Weisheng seeking them out for company must have some underlying reason—rejecting him two or three times would surely reveal whatever suspicious tail he was hiding.

Seeing Ziqing laugh, Jun Beiyue’s expression darkened somewhat. He said nothing, instead picking up a book and leaning to one side to read.

“Is he… really a veterinarian for the Beast Clan?” Ziqing wanted to ask seriously, but recalling his earlier remark about treating “any kind of beast or bird,” she couldn’t help covering her mouth and laughing again!

Jun Beiyue glanced up at her, saying coldly, “Yingzi, pass word down—clear all unrelated persons a full mile off the official road.”

Ziqing was delighted—she knew that since Baili Weisheng had already shown up, he certainly wouldn’t leave now. This journey wouldn’t be so dull after all!

Seeing that Jun Beiyue wasn’t paying her any attention, she took out her “Requiem of Parting” score to study seriously, still stuck on one particular passage no matter how she tried to finger it, always feeling something was missing.

Outside the carriage, every so often came the sound of Baili Weisheng spouting “as the ancients say… as the ancients say…” apparently arguing with Yingzi…

While this procession made its way toward Nanzhao, on the vast eastern sea, another fleet of ships was likewise sailing toward Nanzhao!

This fleet was so magnificent that anyone could immediately recognize it as belonging to Eastern Qin—across the entire continent of Longyuan, only Nanzhao and Eastern Qin possessed fleets of such grandeur!

Although Prince Nanzhao was marrying Xichu’s Princess Imperial this time, in order to avoid appearing to deliberately embroil himself in the conflicts among the continent’s major powers, he had also invited Eastern Qin’s royal household, sworn enemies of Xichu, as well as Xijing, currently at war with Xichu.

“Ha, Prince Nanzhao really is a spineless coward—loving beautiful women while also trying to protect himself from all sides. If he hadn’t invited both Eastern Qin and Xijing, this princess might have shown him a bit more respect!” Xuanyuan Zhaoxi stood on the deck, hands clasped behind her back. Though a woman, her bearing rivaled that of any man.

“Princess, the Crown Prince has been in there for quite a while now—could something have gone wrong?” an attendant asked quietly.

In previous years at Nanzhao’s grand assemblies, Prince Nanzhao had invited rulers from various nations several times, but Eastern Qin’s Empress had always cited poor health as an excuse, sending an envoy in her place. This time, however, not only had Xuanyuan Zhaoxi come herself, but the Empress of Eastern Qin had personally come as well!

The moment Xuanyuan Lige had boarded the main ship, he had been summoned immediately, and now, a full two hours later, he still hadn’t emerged!

“What’s there to worry about? He lost the battle at the Realm of Three Boundaries, and Mother has held it against him ever since—I don’t believe for a moment he could have persuaded Mother to pass the throne to him!” Xuanyuan Zhaoxi said coldly.

Within the royal household of Eastern Qin, no male heir had lived past the age of ten for several decades now. Her own elder brother had been the very first exception. As children, brother and sister had shared a deep bond, but later, when he’d given away his guqin to her, along with teaching her the sound-based assassination techniques of qin and sand, he’d refused to teach her further—a slight she had never quite forgiven!

And later, his exceptional treatment of Han Ziqing had only infuriated her further. Throughout Eastern Qin’s royal history, how many hopelessly devoted men had chosen beauty over the throne? She had every reason to be wary that her brother might one day hand all of Eastern Qin over to Han Ziqing!

Though Xuanyuan Zhaoxi appeared outwardly unhurried, the hands clasped behind her back were clenched tightly together.

Meanwhile, within the ship’s cabin, the Empress of Eastern Qin, Xuanyuan Qingqing, sat composed upon the seat of honor. Dressed with remarkable simplicity, she nonetheless radiated an unmistakable air of regal elegance. Around forty years of age, remarkably well-preserved, her skin flawless and smooth, her features exquisitely refined, a pair of sharp, phoenix-like eyes carried a cold, proud severity. From her appearance alone, one could never guess her true age—only in the depths of her eyes, in that worldly composure stripped of all frivolity, and in the refined bearing settled deep within her from years of experience, could one truly sense the weight of her age.

This woman, who had ascended the throne at thirteen and ruled Eastern Qin for over twenty years, was undoubtedly no ordinary person.

Xuanyuan Lige personally unrolled a map of the continent of Longyuan before her. The Empress watched coldly, and after a long silence, finally stepped forward, her long, crimson-tipped fingernails coming to rest on Eastern Qin’s northern border gate. She said flatly, “You mean, here?”

“Yes. As long as the war between Xijing and Xichu continues, we have our opportunity. As for the Xiongnu, I’ve already negotiated terms with them,” Xuanyuan Lige said flatly.

Once Jun Beiyue arrived in Nanzhao, he wouldn’t be able to leave easily—at least, not until the Xiongnu made their move, would he have any chance of departing to personally command his own troops!

The Empress of Eastern Qin was far too sharp not to understand immediately. She rested her hand gently on Xuanyuan Lige’s shoulder, then suddenly smiled. “My son, then why are you still here? Don’t tell me you also wish to go to Nanzhao?”

“The war won’t develop that quickly, and Prince Nanzhao isn’t someone we need to guard against entirely either. Chu Feiyan will soon be in a position to whisper in his ear,” Xuanyuan Lige explained flatly, avoiding meeting the Empress’s eyes.

“Is that so? This emperor has personally come all this way—shouldn’t you return to properly guard our Great Qin’s northern frontier?” the Empress said with a smile, suddenly seizing Xuanyuan Lige’s chin, forcing him to look at her, her voice turning sharp. “My son, when did you learn to lie to your own mother?”