Chapter 187: with translation of chapter title

The words fell, and the room instantly fell silent.

Xiao Ningchen's brows tightened instantly: "Since we are receiving envoys from all nations, Tuan Tuan doesn't need to go. She is still young, not qualified as an envoy; it's safer for her to stay at the Yiguan."

Xiao Ze slowly shook his head: "I'm afraid not. The Emperor of Xia explicitly stated that the 'Seven Princes of Lie Kingdom and the Immortal Envoy' must attend. Since he specifically named to see Tuan Tuan, we probably can't get out of it."

"Can't get out of it?" Xiao Ningchen glared, "My sister is sick! Unaccustomed to the local water and soil, she has a headache and fever, can't get up! Could the Emperor of Xia still send people to the Yiguan to carry her into the Palace?"

Xiao Ze looked helpless, silently gazing at Xiao Ningxun.

Xiao Ningxun thought for a moment, voice gentle: "Second brother, let Tuan Tuan go."

"Precisely because all the foreign envoys are present, the Emperor of Xia will have to save face and won't go too far. Under everyone's watch, safety is more assured."

He paused: "This time we feigned illness to get away, but what about next time?"

"Now there is still time before the 'Manifest Holy Grand Ceremony'; if the Emperor of Xia is determined to see Tuan Tuan, can we keep feigning illness every time?"

"If we keep avoiding them, they can simply use the pretext of visiting the sick to come straight to this Yiguan. Hiding won't work."

He looked at Tuan Tuan: "Fortunately, when entering the city today, Tuan Tuan dispersed the crow flock, and the locals no longer resent her as the 'Lie Kingdom Immortal Envoy'; many even show goodwill. If the Xia imperial house wanted to stir up public anger against her again, it would not be easy."

Tuan Tuan walked up to Xiao Ningchen, her soft little hand grabbing his clenched fist.

"Second brother, don't worry! Going to the Palace to eat, there will be the most people there! They can't do anything!"

Xiao Ningchen lowered his head to look at his sister, then glanced at Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ze, and wrapped Tuan Tuan's small hand tightly in his own palm: "Alright! Then we'll all go! Let's see what tricks the Xia Palace banquet is up to!"

Inside the Yinghua Hall of the Xia Palace.

Wu Luo stood silently before the window in a black Dao robe, voice flat: "In three days, at the palace banquet, that Immortal Envoy from Lie Kingdom will surely attend."

Bang—crash!

Gongsun Chi violently flung the teacup in his hand!

The teacup struck the pillar, shattering, tea and porcelain fragments flying everywhere.

"What is she even?" Gongsun Chi's chest heaved violently, "A wild girl from Lie Kingdom! Does she deserve to be called an Immortal Envoy? I forbid you to call her that!"

Veins throbbed on his forehead, his eyes full of madness.

Wu Luo slowly turned, brows slightly furrowed.

The palace maid carefully combing Gongsun Chi's long hair was startled, her hand trembling; the comb accidentally snagged a few strands of hair, pulling painfully on Gongsun Chi's scalp.

Trash!

Gongsun Chi snapped his head back, without thinking, backhanded a slap!

Smack!

The maid was struck and fell sideways, half her face swollen red; she didn't even dare cry out, immediately struggled to kneel, kowtowing repeatedly, trembling like a sieve: "Your Highness, spare me! I didn't mean to! Your Highness, spare me!"

"This little thing you can't even do right! What use are you?" Gongsun Chi, still not appeased, jumped up, kicked the maid's shoulder, sending her rolling out: "Drag her out! Beat her! Fifty lashes, not one less! Beat her hard!"

After the beating, send her to the Northern Camp Army to become a prostitute!

The servants fell silent like cicadas, hearing this they immediately stepped forward, quickly lifted the limp maid on the ground, and dragged her out.

Wu Luo's brows furrowed tighter: "Chi'er, don't forget, you are still the Shen Tong of Xia!"

"With such tyrannical behavior, if it spreads, how will the world still respect and trust you as before?"

"Before?" Gongsun Chi felt as if this sentence had pierced him through; he lunged at Wu Luo, grabbed his wide sleeve, and rubbed it hard on his own face.

The seemingly fair and smooth disguise was violently rubbed off, revealing a face completely different from before.

His skin was ashen and dark, lacking any vitality or luster, completely unlike his former bright, mirror-like complexion.

"Look! National Preceptor! Look at me properly!" He lifted his head, voice trembling with tears, tone full of resentment: "What kind of ghostly appearance is this! How can I be the same as before? Look!"

Wu Luo silently gazed at his face, pondered for a moment, sighed, and gently brushed away Gongsun Chi's hand.

"It's just a skin; it just needs time, it will surely heal."

Having said that, he turned and left.

In the empty hall, only Gongsun Chi's heavy breathing remained.

He stared fixedly at the direction Wu Luo departed, "Immortal Envoy? Hah, the suffering I endure today will have to be repaid a thousandfold!"

The day before the palace banquet, at the Yiguan.

Xiao Er strode in from outside, his face solemn.

He walked straight up to Xiao Ningchen and handed over a crumpled slip of paper.

"Second Young Master, just now on the street, a little beggar bumped into me and shoved this into my hand."

Xiao Ningchen took the note, opened it, and saw again that familiar handwriting:

Beware of song and dance; do not eat ice cream.

Xiao Ningxun was shocked: "This mysterious person can even discern affairs of the Xia Palace? How extensive is his network of eyes and ears?"

Xiao Ze said slowly: "Song and dance, ice cream—it seems this palace banquet indeed hides danger. Xia appears courteous on the surface, but secretly employs such nefarious means!"

Xiao Ningchen clenched his fist, slammed the table, and pulled Tuan Tuan, who was playing with a small clay figurine nearby, to face him: "Tuan Tuan, you must remember: at tomorrow's palace banquet, no matter how lovely the song and dance, do not let them approach you."

And the ice cream on the table—you must not touch even a bite, got it?

Tuan Tuan nodded: "Mm! Got it! I'll listen to the kind uncle's words! Second brother, don't worry!"

Xiao Ningchen looked at his sister's obedient appearance, his heart softened, he reached out to ruffle her hair; when he lifted his head again, his eyes were full of killing intent.

Who dares hurt my sister—do they really think I wouldn't dare assassinate the king and overthrow the throne?

The next day at noon, in the Lindian Hall of the Xia Palace, the banquet began.

The hall glittered with gold and jade, cups and wine vessels interlaced.

Elegant music floated, envoys from all nations in splendid attire gathered together.

Upon the throne sat the Emperor of Xia, Gongsun Chi, clad in a black Dragon Robe, his countenance calm.

The Consort Shu, dressed in scarlet palace robes, sat below the emperor, radiant.

Gongsun Hong sat upright, solemn and composed.

On the table beside him was the child prodigy Gongsun Zhi, his face still like a silver basin, his features delicate, yet impossible not to stare at.

Upon close inspection, one would notice that the facial skin looked as if it were glued on, and his expression was stiff.

And the most striking was a Daoist seated below the Emperor, holding a rank second only to the sovereign and above all myriad subjects—the National Preceptor, Wu Luo.

In the hall, the dancing girls' silk sleeves fluttered, and the strings and bamboo played a languid melody.

The attendants bore gilt trays, setting out bowl after bowl of translucent, milky-white cheese that exhaled thin chilly vapors, respectfully before each person.