"I refuse."

Chen Ji flatly rejected Princess Liyang with decisiveness.

Princess Liyang looked at Chen Ji in surprise, "Mr. Chen, that is the Chief of the Military Intelligence Department. The Military Intelligence Department acts recklessly in the Southern Dynasty. As a Southerner, don't you want to tear him apart?"

Chen Ji did not avert his gaze, "I am weak and don't have the ability for that."

Princess Liyang was utterly puzzled.

Using the Chief of the Military Intelligence Department as bait, any loyal official of the Ning Dynasty would be expected to take the bait. She couldn't see through Chen Ji at this moment. If he wasn't loyal, why would he fight so hard outside Chongli Pass? If he was loyal, why would the lead about the chief not interest him at all?

The long procession passed through the Great Ming Gate, with the Yulin Army forming two lines to escort Princess Liyang on horseback. The rooftops along the way were lined with spies holding crossbows, walking on the ridges, closely following, with strict security.

At the center of the procession, Princess Liyang was still unwilling to give up.

She rolled her eyes and spoke softly, "Mr. Chen, don't you want this immense credit? If you could capture him, your title as the Marquis of Wuxiang might just be elevated to Marquis Wu Xiang. As far as I know, only in the Ning Dynasty can marquises and dukes have hereditary titles."

Chen Ji brushed the red official robe on him, "Coincidentally, my small title of Marquis of Wuxiang is also hereditary."

Princess Liyang was slightly taken aback.

Chen Ji took a glance at the backs of the Yulin Army ahead and said leisurely, "The truth is, Your Highness, you aren't that afraid of death, so much so that you called me over for escort and dismissed your attendants just to discuss this matter with me... I must say, Your Highness is indeed a capable ambitious person, never missing any chance to eliminate political enemies. Yet, Your Highness should seek the Spy Department; they might be more interested in this matter."

Princess Liyang remained silent.

Chen Ji chuckled, "What is it? Is Your Highness worried that collaborating with others and revealing information about the Military Intelligence Department could be reported back to the Jing Dynasty, labeling you as colluding with the enemy? If that happens, you might just end up being placed under house arrest again."

Princess Liyang, having her thoughts exposed, laughed, "I trust Mr. Chen's character, which is why I dared to discuss this with you. If it were someone else, I wouldn't dare hand over such leverage."

Chen Ji knew, in fact, that he was aware of Princess Liyang's secret of poisoning the Third Prince, and Princess Liyang also knew about his practice of the Sword Seed Path, making them the firmest allies, with no need to fret over this additional secret.

However, he wasn't interested in the Chief of the Military Intelligence Department; all he wanted was to capture Si Caoding. As for the Chief... why complicate matters further?

The more you know, the more trouble you have; if the Chief were so easy to capture, wouldn't the Spy Department's Twelve Signs have caught him long ago?

At this moment, the procession entered Chengtian Gate, and Princess Liyang shifted the conversation, lowering her voice, "Actually, I don't know who the Chief of the Military Intelligence Department is, but I know one clue: Twelve years ago, the mother of Lu Er, the Great Commander of Hu Ben Army, was gravely ill. Lu Er secretly returned to the capital without a summons but was caught red-handed by Yuan Cheng. Yuan Cheng accused him of rebellion, implicating three generations, and executed his entire family of 246 members. During that time, Lu Jin secretly sent Lu Er's orphaned child to the Southern Dynasty to live under an assumed identity, along with the Deputy Commander's daughter. These two should still be quite young now."

Chen Ji replied impatiently, "I don't want to know, yet Your Highness insists on telling me?"

Princess Liyang smiled slightly and continued, "Previously, Lu Jin retired over this incident. Three years ago, the Jiang Family captured the Death Soldier who had escorted the orphans. After several months of interrogation, the Death Soldier finally revealed Lu Jin and disclosed that Lu Er's orphan has a plum blossom birthmark on her elbow, and the Deputy Commander's orphan has an arrow scar on her back. The Death Soldier delivered the orphans to Yangzhou to be cared for by the Chief of the Military Intelligence Department, before returning to the Jing Dynasty to work at Lu Jin's side... Nowadays, if we can find these two orphans, perhaps we can find the Chief."

The Imperial Palace Gate was now in sight, with over a hundred Jiefan Guards already standing before it.

Chen Ji said in a low voice, "So you also don't know who the Chief is. Finding someone based on these clues is as difficult as climbing to heaven. Your Highness should really abandon this idea."

Princess Liyang earnestly said, "Mr. Chen, to live under an assumed name, appropriate household registration and travel documents are required. These two children couldn't possibly live in this world without support, nor could they appear out of thin air. They must have parents, have kin, and it would be a great challenge to avoid arousing suspicion among those around them. To hide these two, so many things would have to be orchestrated... Mr. Chen, there are no real secrets in this world, only secrets yet to be discovered."

After she finished speaking, she added, "Lu Er's orphan would not remain obscure. The Chief of the Military Intelligence Department would surely cultivate them with care. There is no need to look slowly in the marketplace. They must be among the Ning Dynasty's political circles... I'm not trying to pressure Mr. Chen; who knows, you might find it useful?"

At this point, the procession finally arrived at the Imperial Palace Gate, and both fell silent.

The minister of the Ministry of Rites, Hu Xuanzhen, stood before the gate, leisurely stroking his grizzled beard, and said, "Princess Liyang, according to protocol, you should have been holding the national letter for the exchange at the Imperial Palace Gate. However, circumstances dictate otherwise, and considering that the Jing Dynasty doesn't value ritual, it is waived."

Princess Liyang smiled and said, "This old gentleman should know what happened in between. Why stand here specially to sneer, tarnishing the Southern Dynasty's demeanor for no reason."

Hu Xuanzhen continued speaking to himself, "Furthermore, according to ceremony, envoys from other countries, when meeting the emperor of our dynasty, must address themselves as subjects. Princess, you should no longer call yourself 'This Palace,' but rather 'This Subject's Daughter.' Upon entering the Imperial Extreme Hall, you must also perform the grand kneeling ceremony to the emperor."

Princess Liyang shook her head, "I am not a subject of the Ning Dynasty, so how can I call myself a subject, how can I kneel? All else can be conceded, but not this matter. If my lord insists, then I have no choice but to return to the Jing Dynasty."

Hu Xuanzhen did not get angry, calmly saying, "The Jing Dynasty has come this time to seek peace. If Your Highness wishes to return, you may do so today."

No one expected the ceremonial procession to come to a stalemate at the Imperial Palace Gate.

In the past, envoys coming to the dynasty indeed addressed themselves as subjects according to ceremony, as did both parties.

But this time, the one coming was a princess, a royal bloodline, and nobody knew how she should address herself — calling herself 'This Palace' was disrespectful to Emperor Ning, but calling herself a 'subject's daughter' would diminish the Jing Dynasty's royal dignity.

No matter how much Princess Liyang wanted to return to Yuan Cheng, she could not undermine her country's dignity, otherwise, she would face widespread reprimand upon returning to the Jing Dynasty. Meanwhile, Hu Xuanzhen upheld the ceremony, and there was nothing one could find fault with.

Qi Zhenzhuo dismounted and came to Chen Ji's side, whispering, "The civil servants are deliberately creating difficulties, trying to sabotage this peace talk between the two countries. How did they come up with such trivial matters to choke us?"

Chen Ji calmly said, "Because this is what they ponder every day, and this is all they ponder."

Outside the Imperial Palace Gate, it grew quiet. Princess Liyang neither avoided nor retreated, and the Minister of the Ministry of Rites was neither hurried nor impatient, seemingly ready to wait until sunset.

However, at this moment, Bai Long walked out from the Imperial Palace Gate: "Director Hu Junyan of the Imperial Observatory has entered the palace, stating that last night the Northern Dipper Star appeared, symbolizing heaven's blessing, earth's pardon, and water's resolution of woes. It is an excellent day for nurturing one's spirit and guiding one's cultivation, prolonging life and receiving the Star Lord's protection. His Majesty will retreat to Renshou Palace today to practice Taoism, making it inconvenient to handle affairs of state. The Crown Prince will meet Princess Liyang of the Jing Dynasty at Zhongcui Palace to discuss state matters."

Chen Ji felt a stir in his heart, wondering who came up with this solution. Having the Crown Prince meet the princess deftly resolved the civil servant's hindrances. Moreover, even if the princess were truly to return to Yuan Cheng, the Crown Prince would bear the blame, not transferring it to Emperor Ning.

Before the Minister of the Ministry of Rites could devise a response, Bai Long stepped aside, forcibly using his back to push aside the Minister, clearing the way to enter through the Imperial Palace Gate.

The Minister stumbled outside the Imperial Palace Gate, almost falling to the ground had it not been for the temple minister who stepped forward to support him.

He steadied himself, his beard trembling with anger, "The Eunuch Party is a disaster to the country! The Eunuch Party is a disaster to the country!"

Bai Long ignored his curses and gestured to Princess Liyang, "Your Highness, please."

"Thank you, Lord Bai Long," Princess Liyang entered through the Imperial Palace Gate with a smile, heading towards Dongliu Palace.

Chen Ji followed behind the two, the ceremonial procession grandly passing through the red-walled and gold-tiled palace paths, not knowing from when he had become a regular guest of this Forbidden City.

As he passed Jiefan Building, he instinctively looked up at a certain window on the top floor. The wooden window was tightly shut, yet it seemed he could see through it to someone inside writing with a pen.

In front of Zhongcui Palace, Bai Long turned to Chen Ji and said, "The Marquis of Wuxiang is not part of the ceremonial procession, please wait outside Zhongcui Palace."

Princess Liyang intended to call for Chen Ji, but saw Bai Long turn and fix a piercing gaze at her, "Rest assured, Your Highness. With me here, no one dares harm you."

Princess Liyang hesitated for a moment, then finally smiled brightly, "Alright."

Standing outside the Zhongcui Palace, Chen Ji sensed something, turned around, and saw Princess Bai Li standing on the palace path of the distant Jingyang Palace, looking over.

This was yet another opportunity Bai Long had created for the two of them to meet.

Who exactly was Bai Long?