CHAPTER 1066: CHAPTER 588: GIVING THE COURT A SHOW OF FORCE

Sun Lianying nodded, "Not surprising, for peace talks, they must send someone of importance, but not someone truly crucial, to avoid being detained by the court as a hostage."

Zhao Douan closed the scroll, casually tossed it into the charcoal brazier on the ground, letting the flames lick it, as the scroll quickly turned to a charred black ash.

He folded his sleeves, chuckled, "The information on paper is meaningless; to understand the truth, you must meet the real person."

Sun Lianying said, "Aren’t you going to set out and have a look?"

Zhao Douan wasn’t in a hurry at all, pulling out a chessboard and two boxes of pieces from a drawer under the table, cheerfully said, "I have no interest in braving the cold to await some Princely Heir or Commandery Princess. Let’s play chess to pass the time. I’ve already arranged for someone to keep watch; once they enter the city gates, we can go join the excitement, and it won’t be too late."

...

...

A few miles outside the capital, there stood a pavilion named the "Ten-mile Pavilion."

Yesterday, the Peace Negotiation Delegation led by Prince Hejian’s princely heir had already been able to enter the capital, but instead, they made a detour outside the city, going from the west to the north, specifically waiting here today.

A grand convoy of carriages stopped near the Ten-mile Pavilion, and Fat Prince Xu Wenyan and Mr. Feng sat inside a spacious carriage.

The attendants lit a charcoal brazier, placed a rack over it, boiling water and warming wine for the princely heir to drink.

"In this bitter cold, warmth comes better from wine than words." The chubby and somewhat dull-looking Xu Wenyan looked up, seeing a team approaching from afar, smiled and said, "They’ve arrived."

Under many watchful eyes, the Yanshan King’s delegation came from afar, compared to the Hejian soldiers who, despite their Xiping-specific ruggedness, still liked to flock in groups.

The soldiers under the Yanshan King were exceptionally tall and formidable, though fewer in number, but the most eye-catching was not the carriage carrying the Commandery Princess, but the half-human-sized wolf following beside the carriage.

The giant Northern wolf’s fur was almost translucent, reflecting white in the snow, its eyes faintly green, with a massive collar around its neck, the other end of the chain tied to the carriage shaft.

When the two convoys approached and stopped, Xu Wenyan took the initiative to get out of the carriage, holding a bottle of freshly heated wine with a cheerful yet silly smile, ran over from afar and exclaimed, "Xueling sister, I’ve waited for you for so long."

Then, Xu Wenyan was taken aback by the giant wolf baring its teeth at him, ready to pounce, almost falling, causing frowns among the Yanshan Royal Mansion’s people.

The carriage curtain lifted, and the Commandery Princess, beautiful of appearance but with thin lips, exuding an air of arrogance and haughtiness, holding an iron chain in one hand, a whip tucked at her waist, dressed in a padded jacket, with a string of gems hanging on her forehead, stood on the carriage, glanced disdainfully at him, and sneered:

"After so many years, Xu Wenyan, you are still as foolish. No wonder your father sent you for the peace talks, it’s simply waste utilization."

Hearing this, the soldiers on the side of Prince Hejian all showed angry expressions.

Steadying himself, Xu Wenyan had a simple smile, as if he hadn’t understood the sarcasm at all, holding up a bottle of wine with both hands, like presenting a treasure:

"I’ve been reading at home with nothing much to do, unlike other younger brothers who are busy, so I came this time. I was initially feeling lonely, upon hearing that Xueling sister is also free and came, I am very pleased."

Xu Xueling’s expression froze, a bit suspecting she had been verbally maneuvered, but she had no proof.

"Ahem," at this time, Mr. Feng, in loose wide sleeves, hurried over, pulled the princely heir back, respectfully yet confidently said to the Commandery Princess, "My princely heir is warm-hearted, knowing the cold weather, specially warmed wine to await the Commandery Princess. How about taking a seat to rest before entering the capital?"

Xu Xueling was stunned for a moment, her eyes turning as she looked towards a thickly robed, white-bearded old retainer in the convoy, who smiled and said, "The Commandery Princess might as well take a rest."

Xu Wenyan suddenly said, "Isn’t it inappropriate? We agreed on the hour to enter the city, it seems to be getting late, I’m afraid the court people might be waiting anxiously."

Mr. Feng chuckled, "It’s precisely good to let them wait a bit."

The old retainer also stroked his beard with a smile, "Exactly."

Commandery Princess Xu Xueling’s eyes lit up with understanding, smiled, "So it’s to test the bottom line of that emperor sister in the court?"

Entering the capital may seem simple, but in reality, it’s the first confrontation between the vassal king and the court.

Both sides need to test each other’s weight and attitude in this initial encounter to seize the initiative.

Deliberately being late is to make a stance, letting the court people wait, a tactic that won’t overly offend the Empress yet can suppress the court slightly.

Xu Xueling understood this, also guessing that Xu Wenyan waiting for her here was certainly at Mr. Feng’s behest.

Although she was reluctant to chat with this silly fellow, she still disembarked and drank to warm up in the Ten-mile Pavilion.

Throughout, Xu Wenyan happily kept chatting with her about family matters, asking if the snow at the Yanshan Royal Mansion was beautiful.

Mr. Feng and a certain family retainer from the Yanshan Royal Mansion discussed peace negotiation matters on the other side.

No doubt, in these negotiations, Prince Hejian and Yanshan King are undoubtedly allies, advancing and retreating together to negotiate with the Empress for benefits.

After dragging on for an hour, when Xu Xueling was about to lose her patience and wanted to lay Xu Wenyan flat with a whip, the group finally set off.

And when the negotiation delegation reached the north gate of the capital, the pale sun had risen high above the clouds.

Officials led by the Minister of the Ministry of Rites had been waiting at the city gate since first light, their faces blue and purple from the cold, legs stiff, with white frost forming on their eyebrows.

Seeing the two teams finally arrive late, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites suppressed his anger, stepped forward to greet them, and asked, "The time was set beforehand, why have you come now?"

As the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, he had to ask for an answer because after the delegation’s arrival, they still needed to enter the capital for an audience.

Thus, it wasn’t just them waiting idly for the delegation, but also their Majesty and the entire court, missing even the morning assembly.

"Haha, you’re talking about that," the Fat Prince, out of breath, got out of the carriage and laughed, "I was drinking and catching up with Xueling sister."

Hearing this, the faces of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites and the other officials changed.

If the other party had said the snowy roads were slippery, delaying their journey, there would have been a mutual face-saving excuse.

But this princely heir from Hejian was so candid, claiming to have been drinking, it was akin to an open mockery.

Xu Xueling, being one not to shy away from stirring things up, also dismounted, climbed onto the giant white wolf, and condescendingly looked down at them, "Knowing it’s late, why not quickly open the gates and lead us in? Delay any longer, and I shall report to my imperial sister, blaming you all."

As if the delay was the fault of the court.

And this commanding tone was as if ordering servants, making the court’s side flush and seethe with anger.

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites suppressed his anger, gritted his teeth, turned and ordered the gates to be opened, and personally led the convoy into the palace.

Though holding the title of "Minister," he dared not rashly act, lest it disrupt the peace talks.

Thinking enduring would suffice.

Yet once the delegation entered the inner city, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites realized he was too optimistic.

Once inside, Xu Wenyan emerged from the carriage, wearing a splendid robe on a high horse.

Xu Xueling, even more, flamboyantly rode the gigantic white wolf through the streets.

With an ostentatious attitude, if that was all, it would be tolerable, but the two of them frequently found excuses to stop, either sending people to buy things from street shops or admiring the scenery.

As if they weren’t here for peace talks but for a leisurely outing.

Luckily, the path to the palace had been cleared of idlers for the talks, or else the embarrassment could have been worse.

As the Minister of the Ministry of Rites and the other officials marched on, the stares from the citizens peeking from gaps in roadside houses felt like arrows to their backs.

"If Mr. Zhao were in the capital, he would never tolerate such arrogance from these people." This thought arose in the minds of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites and the other civil servants.

With Zhao Douan not present, the grand capital without orders from Your Majesty, no one dared to speak up.

...

Meanwhile, as the delegation leisurely paraded through the streets,

Atop a distant observation tower covered with light snow, Zhao Douan, wearing a white mask, and the flamboyantly dressed Sun Lianying looked down at the delegation from afar.

Sun Lianying looked angry, turning to him, "These people are trying to give the court a hard time."

Zhao Douan gave an "Hmm."

"Can you endure this?" Sun Lianying asked.

Zhao Douan, without shifting his gaze, looked into the distance and softly said, "What does it have to do with me?"