Zhao Mian was young after all, and usually took good care of his body. With Bai Yu’s meticulous care, his fever subsided within a day, and he would fully recover after two more days of rest.
After escaping from Mount Nangong, Wei Zhenfeng no longer concealed his identity. Now, everyone in the city knew that the young prince of Beiyuan who had annihilated Western Xia was currently in the capital.
Inside the palace of Dongling, all the civil and military officials were on edge, jumpy and suspicious. However, some common people in the capital showed great curiosity about the rumored young prince, and various rumors about him circulated widely. Most of them claimed he had superhuman strength, arms thicker than an average person’s thighs, and a fierce appearance that would make children cry.
When these rumors reached Zhao Mian’s ears, they drew a scoff from the Crown Prince. Given Wei Zhenfeng’s physique, he was far from “burly,” and his arms weren’t much thicker than his own.
The Imperial Advisor must be blind, causing the common people to suffer from the same eye disease.
On the other hand, Nanjing had always tried its best to conceal Zhao Mian’s identity as the Crown Prince. Nanjing’s envoys publicly declared that Zhao Mian’s name was Xiao Jue, the nephew of Southern Jing’s Prime Minister Xiao Shiqing, currently serving in the Ministry of Foreign Rites. Regardless of whether Dongling believed this claim, at least on the surface, they dared not expose Zhao Mian’s true identity.
Two days later, an invitation from the Dongling court was sent to the Nanjing embassy. Lu Wang, in the name of the Empress Dowager of the state, invited Lord Xiao Jue, Grand Tutor Rong Tang, and Marquis Anyuan to the Dongling Imperial Palace on the 20th day of the tenth month for a state banquet along with the Beiyuan delegation, a gathering of three nations.
When the group discussed the matter, Rong Tang said, “This banquet, I shall not attend.”
Zhao Mian also thought this was for the best. Firstly, the teacher’s old illness had recurred due to the long journey from Shangjing to the capital, and he was currently in need of rest. Secondly, if Dongling invited three of them and all three went, it would be giving Dongling too much face.
After concluding official matters, the others withdrew, leaving only Zhao Mian and his teacher, Rong Tang.
Zhao Mian held deep respect for his teacher, though they were not particularly close. Rong Tang’s temperament was too aloof; over all these years, Zhao Mian had never seen his teacher show warmth toward anyone.
Yet now, there were some heartfelt thoughts he could only confide in this teacher.
“On the fifteenth, I thought of His Majesty,” Zhao Mian said. “At the time, I was thinking that if it were my father, he would never have taken an innocent person’s life to save me.”
Precisely because of this, he had refrained from acting against Wei Zhenfeng. As a result, not only had he ended up burning with fever, but even now, a certain part of his body still ached faintly.
Rong Tang fell silent for a moment, then shook his head lightly. “Not necessarily.”
“What does Teacher mean?”
“Your father may show benevolence toward ordinary people, applying leniency where circumstances permit. But if you were in peril, and killing another could ensure your safety, then I believe he would certainly act.” Rong Tang paused, his brow furrowing slightly. “Over the years, influenced by the Prime Minister Xiao, and with you and the Second Prince in his life, he is no longer the naive young emperor he once was.”
Zhao Mian was taken aback. “Does the teacher truly believe His Majesty would do such a thing?”
“Whether he would or not, Your Highness may return to the capital and ask His Majesty yourself.” Rong Tang coughed lightly, suppressing his discomfort before continuing, “There is one more matter. Prime Minister Xiao has asked me to relay a message to Your Highness.”
Zhao Mian’s heart tightened: “What?”
Rong Tang replied softly, “Prime Minister Xiao said that Your Highness may… do as you please in the capital.”
On the twentieth, Zhao Mian changed into the official robes of Nanjing, applied a simple disguise, and set off with Marquis Anyuan and the others to attend the banquet at the Dongling Imperial Palace.
The banquet was held at a place called Tiantai Pond, built above the Five-Colored Jade Pool. As evening fell, the setting sun stretched across the jade waters, its dazzling hues filling the late autumn sky and tinting the youthful cheeks of the palace maids a soft pink.
Amid such splendor, admiring beauties and savoring fine wine felt like stepping into a paradise on earth, utterly delightful.
Unfortunately, none of the attending guests were in the mood to appreciate either the beauties or the wine. No matter how dazzling the Jade Pool appeared, beneath its shimmering surface lurked undercurrents, dark and unfathomable.
Zhao Mian followed the female official to Tiantai Pond and saw Wei Zhenfeng and others in Beiyuan official robes approaching them from afar.
Wei Zhenfeng also saw him, his gaze passing through numerous people of all kinds and landing on him.
A young prince who cared little for romance, preferring instead to conquer the world with unbridled ambition, Wei Zhenfeng looked particularly dashing in his crimson official robes, the twin teardrop moles beneath his eyes adding a touch of rakish charm. Even if he had no intention of stirring hearts, his mere presence could ripple the spring waters beneath the bridge, secretly capturing the affections of many fair maidens.
A young man riding the wind needs no steed, perhaps he is the finest in the world.
Zhao Mian had to admit, Beiyuan’s official robes were… quite striking, in no way inferior to the deep blue of Nanjing’s.
After Wei Zhenfeng turned and said something to Yi Qian, he walked towards Zhao Mian.
He stopped in front of Zhao Mian, the picture of refined elegance and grace: “Lord Xiao.”
Zhao Mian snapped out of his thoughts and returned the courtesy with dignified poise. “Prince Wei.”
Wei Zhenfeng smiled. “How has Lord Xiao’s health been lately? A few days ago, I sent some excellent medicine for colds. Did you take it?”
Zhao Mian politely replied, “Of course, I have. Thank you for your concern, Young Prince.”
The medicine Wei Zhenfeng sent? There was no way he’d use it; let it gather dust at the bottom of his trunk.
Wei Zhenfeng smiled: “You’re welcome.”
Zhao Mian: “…”
Wei Zhenfeng: “…”
Zhao Mian had grown up in the palace and was well-versed in this kind of refined, diplomatic small talk. If necessary, he could keep it up endlessly.
Yet for some reason, he disliked speaking to Wei Zhenfeng this way.
Perhaps it was because he had grown accustomed to being supercilious and outspoken in front of Wei Zhenfeng. Or maybe, since Wei Zhenfeng had seen him at his most vulnerable – he’d almost cried in front of him – Zhao Mian felt he could just let go. He could abandon the demeanor of a Crown Prince, say what he wanted, curse who he wanted, slap cheeks, bite shoulders, and be completely free and uninhibited.
Wei Zhenfeng seemed to share the same feeling. As the two walked side by side into Tiantai Pond, he suddenly said, “Is it going to snow in the capital? It’s freezing.”
Zhao Mian glanced at Wei Zhenfeng.
To wear Beiyuan’s official uniform with such flair, the last thing you’d want was bundle up. With the Winter Solstice just days away, it was indeed the coldest time of year in the capital.
Zhao Mian said lightly, “You’re from Beiyuan; are you afraid of the cold?”
Wei Zhenfeng smiled, “You wouldn’t understand. Dongling’s damp chill is nothing like Beiyuan’s dry cold.”
Zhao Mian said, “Then wear long johns.”
“Long johns?” Wei Zhenfeng asked curiously, “What is that?”
Zhao Mian condescendingly explained, “It’s a kind of cold-weather garment invented by my Imperial Father.”
The topic of long johns accompanied them all the way until they were led to their respective seats for Nanjing and Beiyuan, positioned on either side of the main table, directly facing each other.
Before long, Lu Wang and the young Emperor of Dongling arrived and took their seats.
The young emperor of Dongling was three years younger than Zhao Mian, a frail and slender youth much like Wan Huameng. Though he was the ruler of a nation, his pallid face carried a faint trace of perpetual unease, devoid of any regal bearing whatsoever, clearly the result of living under oppressive control.
In contrast, Lu Wang, in his splendid and ornate Dongling court attire, always wore a smiling face, no matter the time or place. He was undoubtedly a rare beauty; when he smiled, his eyes curved like crescent moons, yet his entire face exuded a dangerous, wicked aura. He possessed the quintessential look of a femme fatale who ruins nations, and naturally, he was no stranger to actions that brought disaster upon the country and its people.
Wan Huameng was not present at the banquet. It was rumored that Wan Huameng had committed a grave error and had been placed under house arrest by Lu Wang.
Everyone exchanged polite greetings as usual, and the state banquet began.
To the sound of strings and flutes, young and beautiful dancers gracefully performed, and exquisite dishes were presented to everyone by beautiful palace maids.
Donglig was near the sea, so the dishes were mostly seafood, including many uncooked raw and cold foods. Wei Zhenfeng was not used to these and barely touched his chopsticks.
Lu Wang noticed this and asked with a smile, “”Does Dongling’s cuisine not suit the Young Prince’s liking?”
Wei Zhenfeng said, “It’s alright.”
Lu Wang then asked, “If Dongling’s cuisine does not appeal to the Young Prince, then what about Dongling’s beauties?”
Wei Zhenfeng raised his eyes: “What do you mean?”
“These dancers are all carefully selected by the inner court of Dongling, with skin like snow, faces like flowers, skilled in singing and dancing, and come from respectable backgrounds. If the Young Prince likes them, why not choose one or two to keep by your side for company and amusement?” Lu Wang smiled. “This old Dowager knows that the Young Prince has been constantly on the move, and with a beauty by your side, it will surely alleviate some of the fatigue of your journey.”
Wei Zhenfeng chuckled and said, “This prince left home young and has seen more than just one or two beauties. As for singing and dancing, who can compare to the dancers of my Beiyuan’s desert, with their myriad of charms?” The young man’s lips curved in polite amusement, but his words were far from courteous. “What makes the Empress Dowager think I’d be interested in them?”
The corner of Zhao Mian’s mouth lifted in silent derision.
Beiyuan’s desert? Western Xia had only been destroyed two years ago, and the young prince already regarded the desert and its dark-skinned beauties as his royal backyard?
Lu Wang subtly glanced in the direction of the Nanjing envoys and smiled, “Indeed, this old Dowager was overthinking.”
“I have a suggestion. Let’s put the pleasantries and small talk aside for now,” Wei Zhenfeng said in a relaxed tone. “Why don’t we first discuss why this prince and Lord Xiao were inexplicably cursed with gu in Dongling’s territory? What does everyone think of that?”
At these words, everyone at the table’s expression changed. Marquis Anyuan, who loved wine, also put down his cup and turned a wary gaze toward Lu Wang.
Yet Lu Wang’s expression remained unperturbed, smiling, “Since the Young Prince has brought this up, this old Dowager also would also like to know why the Young Price and Lord Xiao appeared so unexpectedly within our borders. This old Dowager has certainly not seen the travel permits for either the Young Prince or Lord Xiao.”
According to the border regulations of the Three Kingdoms, anyone, whether they are royalty, court officials, or even commoners traveling between the nations, requires a valid travel permit from the destination country to enter its territory.
By bringing this up, Lu Wang was clearly shifting the blame onto Wei Zhenfeng and Zhao Mian—if you hadn’t trespassed into Dongling, none of this would have happened.
Wei Zhenfeng raised an eyebrow and asked, “So, that’s your Imperial Advisor’s justification for poisoning us?”
“Not at all.” Lu Wang replied with an apologetic look. “The two of you being afflicted with Gu was indeed the Imperial Advisor’s unintentional mistake. His peculiar habits are well-known throughout Dongling. He merely, as he usually does, found two people he liked to play a game with, and who would have thought he’d stumble upon Your Highness and Lord Xiao?” Lu Wang even chuckled lightly, “If the two of you had revealed your identities earlier, how would the Imperial Advisor have dared to lay a hand on you?”
Wei Zhenfeng also smiled: “It seems the Empress Dowager intends to cling to this point.”
“The Young Prince exaggerates,” Lu Wang said. “Ultimately, this matter is still the Imperial Advisor’s fault, and the Imperial Advisor is willing to offer the antidote formula to cure the two of you. However, he truly has no ready-made antidote left. The two of you probably know that not only you, but the Imperial Advisor also has gu within him.” Lu Wang’s expression darkened. “This old Dowager doesn’t even know if A-Meng himself can live until the sixteenth of next month.”
Wei Zhenfeng’s feigned smile vanished completely. He looked at Zhao Mian, only to see that Zhao Mian was still enjoying a steamed sea fish, seemingly indifferent to his confrontation with Lu Wang.
…This isn’t good, Your Highness. You should at least say something.
Lu Wang saw Wei Zhenfeng’s intention to involve the Nanjing delegation and preemptively said, “Nanjing is a nation of propriety, valuing reason above all else. Lord Xiao will surely be able to distinguish right from wrong, without this old Dowager needing to say more.”
Only then did Zhao Mian put down his silver chopsticks and slowly said, “What the Empress Dowager says is absolutely right. Nanjing has always been reasonable. It’s just a pity…”
All eyes converged on this “nephew of Prime Minister Xiao.”
The young man, dressed in a vibrant blue official’s robe, rose and looked down at everyone. “It’s a pity that Nanjing, today, has no desire to reason with any of you.”
After Zhao Mian finished speaking, he said nothing more, even disregarding the etiquette of a farewell, and simply left the main hall.
Marquis Anyuan and a group of Nanjing officials followed closely behind, and within moments, no person of Nanjing could be seen at the state banquet.
Lu Wang’s eyes narrowed to slits. The Dongling officials exchanged glances, including the young emperor, none daring to speak. Only silence remained in the grand hall.
Breaking this silence was a young eunuch who rushed in, whispering a few words into Lu Wang’s ear. For the first time that evening, the ever-smiling Empress Dowager of Dongling’s expression finally shifted.
Lu Wang slowly opened his eyes, his face now dark and sinister, exuding an aura of violent fury. “…Heh.”
Wei Zhenfeng, puzzled, noticed Yi Qian entering with a grave expression, clearly bearing unexpected news.
“What happened?” Wei Zhenfeng asked in a low voice.
Yi Qian replied, “Reporting to Your Highness, one hundred thousand elite Nanjing troops have arrived at the southeastern border, poised for action – Nanjing has declared war on Dongling.”
It was well-known that the tiger tally, which commanded the Nanjing army, was split: half was with the Emperor and the other half with Prime Minister Xiao.
Wei Zhenfeng was stunned for a long time, then chuckled softly: “Truly worthy of being the most esteemed Crown Prince, treasured by both Emperor Jing and Prime Minister Xiao. It seems even I won’t have many peaceful days ahead.”
With that, he raised his cup, drained the wine, rose from his seat, and strode away.