Chapter 1257

"Please!"

Though it was an invitation, the words were filled with coldness. Pero Qiqia knew that if he did not agree, the other party would forcibly invite him to be a guest.

"Please lead the way." He nodded, agreeing to go.

"Please."

The place he was invited to was not far—just a breakfast stall not far from the Flying Fox Wine House, positioned diagonally across from the Flying Tiger Wine House, and perfectly placed to observe every single person entering and leaving the front door of the Flying Fox Wine House with complete clarity.

At a single glance, Pero Qiqia spotted a handsome young master in white, whose face seemed even more beautiful than his own by a few degrees, looking just like a woman—no, rather, the other party was a woman in disguise. His own sister had often disguised herself as a man and sneaked out of the kingdom with him to play, so he had quite a bit of insight into disguise.

It seemed the other party's status was extremely noble.

Because behind her stood a powerful martial artist, bearing on his back a greatsword taller and broader than himself, his face likewise covered by a silver mask. The martial artist's aura was steady and heavy, much like the greatsword he carried on his back.

This must certainly be an extremely powerful swordsman, for a greatsword is far harder to wield than a light sword—the force of the strike and the momentum of the sword are also swifter and heavier.

The Emperor Tianwu Empire truly lived up to its name as a great nation, with talents emerging in endless succession!

They were existences that their Chirperi Kingdom could never imagine.

Pero Qiqia dared not let his guard down. A young master who could have such a powerful expert as a guard, and who had recognized him after he had only just arrived a single day ago—such an identity could only belong to those true powerholders of the Emperor Tianwu Empire.

"Chirperi Kingdom's Pero Qiqia greets Your Highness." Pero Qiqia directly performed the highest ceremonial salute of his kingdom: with a flick of his left hand he sent his half-draped cloak behind him, then placed his right hand on his left shoulder. If the other party's identity truly matched what he had imagined, the other party would certainly be able to recognize it.

"Prince, you are far too modest. Please, please be seated. If you have not yet had breakfast, then kindly help yourself." Princess Yong'an, Li Li Changan, using a deliberately disguised male voice, extended her hand in a natural gesture to invite Prince Pero Qiqia to be seated, but she herself did not rise.

"The place and surroundings are somewhat humble. Please do not take offense, Your Highness."

"No, not at all. It happens that I have not eaten either."

Pero Qiqia noticed this detail—the other party had not risen. According to common sense, since the other party knew his identity, she would certainly have risen to receive him when he performed his salute. For her not to rise in receiving him, there were only two possibilities.

One: the other party was someone who did not understand propriety.

Two: the other party's status was so noble that she could completely disregard such etiquette.

Just as Qiqia had initially thought, the other party, being a member of the noble Emperor Tianwu imperial family, naturally did not need to deliberately rise to receive a prince of a small kingdom like him.

After taking his seat, he ate breakfast together with her. In truth he had already eaten, but to accommodate her he could eat a little more.

If the other party was a member of the noble Emperor Tianwu imperial family, then perhaps the imperial crisis had found another turning point. He hoped it was so.

After a while, when the two had nearly finished eating, Li Li Changan spoke in a comparatively formal tone: "I am of the Emperor Tianwu imperial family. I do not know why Your Highness has suddenly visited our nation, nor has any ambassador of your nation submitted a formal visit letter to ours. Compelled by circumstances, I have had no choice but to invite Your Highness to meet. I ask Your Highness to forgive me."

"Pero Qiqia greets the Imperial Prince."

This time, Qiqia used the half-kneeling salutation of the Emperor Tianwu Empire.

"Please rise quickly, so many people are watching."

Likewise, this time Princess Yong'an, Li Li Changan, also rose to receive him.

Pero Qiqia received the respect he was due. The dissatisfaction he had previously harbored now vanished entirely. He only hoped that the other party would listen to his plea and help their Chirperi Kingdom.

After returning to his seat, Qiqia also explained his reasons.

"Your Highness, I have come here out of sheer helplessness, because my homeland is currently suffering from war. I have come here also to seek a way to end the war."

"War?"

This time, a hint of genuine puzzlement did appear between Li Li Changan's brows. Speaking of which, the Chirperi Kingdom could be considered a neighboring nation of Emperor Tianwu. Because of the Chirperi Kingdom's special geographical position, relations between the two countries had always been quite good.

But why was it that such a major event as a war breaking out in the Chirperi Kingdom, she actually did not know about? Could the information have been deliberately or inadvertently concealed? And who would have such great authority?

"But we have not received any related information."

"How could that be? Trade between the Chirperi Kingdom and your nation ceased more than three months ago. That should not be—how could your nation possibly not know that a war has broken out in the Chirperi Kingdom?"

At first Qiqia had thought the other party was pretending not to know, but judging from the other's genuinely dumbfounded expression, it seemed she truly did not know.

"If this is truly the case, then undoubtedly someone is concealing something from the Emperor?" Li Li Changan's expression instantly turned icy. Could it be that even at this gateway of the Empire, there were treacherous and cunning schemers secretly plotting something?