The Beloved Concubine of the Eastern Palace (book 2)

Chapter 385 - Envoys in Audience

With the Third Prince moved to the Yanqing Institute, Zhongcui Palace quieted down, and Yang Fei felt much more at ease.

Physician Wu checked her pulse and found no further decline, so he continued prescribing prenatal medication. As long as Yang Fei avoided stress, her pregnancy should stabilize and improve.

At Yuzhang Palace, Fang Yun kept an eye on Zhongcui Palace's activities while also preparing the banquet for the Shangyang envoys. The recent celebration banquet provided a convenient template for this event.

Fang Yun managed these affairs with ease, gaining the Empress's trust and allowing her to delegate responsibilities.

The day the envoy arrived, instead of having a formal audience with the Emperor in Jiluan Hall, they met directly at the welcoming banquet.

The banquet took place in the Taihe Hall.

Recently used for the celebration banquet, it was now set to host the Shangyang envoys. The guests exuded a mix of coldness and pride, reflecting Great Qi's victory in the conflict initiated by Shangyang.

"Announce the arrival of the Shangyang envoys!"

As the ceremonial officer's call echoed, all eyes turned to the hall's entrance.

A distinguished middle-aged man, followed by five or six others, entered the hall.

"Prince Lin Rongheng of Shangyang, pays respects to the Emperor of Great Qi!"

The middle-aged man bowed respectfully.

Shangyang, neighboring Great Qi, shared similar cultures, languages, and customs, though their ceremonial gestures differed slightly.

Those behind the prince followed suit in bowing.

The surname Lin indicated the prince's royal status in Shangyang, and his title suggested he was an uncle to Shangyang's ruler.

Fang Yun discreetly observed the group.

Given her role in organizing the banquet, she was well aware of the guest list and seating arrangements.

"Please rise and take your seats," Pei Yao said mildly, gesturing with a slight smile.

The envoys, led by palace attendants, took their seats opposite Fang Yun.

"Was your journey to the capital smooth?" Pei Yao asked, raising his cup.

Prince Lin Rongheng quickly followed suit, "Thanks to the care of local officials, the journey was very smooth. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Pei Yao simply smiled, "That's good to hear."

Seeing the small talk dwindling, Prince Lin Rongheng took the initiative.

"I have brought many gifts for Your Majesty. As it was inconvenient to bring everything to the banquet, I selected a few items to present today. The rest will be delivered to the palace tomorrow."

He signaled to an attendant, who quickly exited the hall.

Shortly after, eight attendants entered, each carrying a tray covered with red cloth, and lined up in the hall.

Prince Lin Rongheng stepped forward and personally unveiled each tray.

"Your Majesty, these eight items are unique treasures from Shangyang—jade, textiles, medicinal herbs, and weapons. They may not be unparalleled, but they are among Shangyang's finest, personally selected by our ruler for presentation."

The items were indeed exquisite and rare, though the Great Qi royal family had no shortage of such luxuries. Pei Yao was more interested in tangible benefits.

Smiling, he said, "The ruler of Shangyang's sincerity is noted. It seems we will have fruitful discussions during your stay."

He nodded, understanding the implication.

"Of course."

With the gifts presented and the formalities out of the way, the banquet officially began.

However, few attendees were inclined to engage with the Shangyang envoys. As representatives of a defeated nation, they faced cold and mocking remarks from the Great Qi officials, leaving Prince Lin Rongheng feeling quite humiliated.

In Shangyang, he was the esteemed uncle of the current ruler, Prince Lin Chen, enjoying great prestige. Though he anticipated such treatment during negotiations, experiencing it firsthand was still disheartening.

Pei Yao observed Lin Rongheng's expression silently. He had no intention of intervening, as suppressing Shangyang's arrogance and wearing down their resolve would strengthen Great Qi's position in the upcoming negotiations.

While Pei Yao focused on Lin Rongheng, Fang Yun's attention was drawn to the young woman beside him.

Shangyang had no known custom of women veiling their faces, yet this elegantly dressed woman wore a thin veil, revealing only her eyes. Even so, her beauty was evident.

The word that came to Fang Yun's mind was "bewitching."

Unlike the delicate beauty of Zhou Shi or Wan Lingyi, this woman's allure was intense and aggressive, like a poisonous flower. Her beauty seemed to emanate from her very soul, captivating and dangerous.

Fang Yun's intuition warned her to be cautious of this woman.

Moreover, Fang Yun hadn't been informed of any female envoy from Shangyang, raising further suspicion.

As Fang Yun was about to look away, the woman met her gaze and smiled—a condescending, mocking smile.

Fang Yun's heart sank, but she maintained her composure, calmly averting her eyes.

The woman's aggressive demeanor hinted at what was to come.

Historically, marriage alliances were a common diplomatic tool.

Sure enough, shortly after Fang Yun looked away, the woman stood and bowed towards Pei Yao.

In a melodious voice, she said, "Your Majesty, I am Lin Chan. I have long admired your renown. Today, seeing you in person, I am filled with deep respect. I wish to perform a dance to celebrate the friendship between our nations, with your permission."