Chapter 425: and translation of chapter title

Ying Zhiqi sat leisurely on a carriage pulled by eight galloping thunder beasts, sipping a unique West Qin grape wine.

All around were the elite Flying Dragon cavalry of the Great Qin state, each capable of taking on ten foes!

Among the cavalry were also many eunuchs and officials of the Great Qin.

Fengtian Surveillance

Ying's relative

But Ying Zhiqi is not the chief envoy; although he is the fourth prince of Great Qin and qualified, there are still three older brothers above him, each stronger than the last.

This time, the chief envoy is his second brother, the Second Prince of Qin, Ying Zhi hou!

He glanced at the front‑right carriage, where Ying Zhi hou sat upright in splendid yellow robes; though he appeared dignified and courteous with a unique bearing, only those who knew him well understood how wild he really was.

Minister of Education Le

Looking away from Ying Zhi hou, he turned his gaze to the left carriage, where a group of extraordinary individuals gathered—especially three of them. Whether they can pacify the Great Zhou this time rests on them.

Finally, he looked to the rear, where a silver‑white carriage drawn by sixteen spirit horses stood; inside sat the deeply backgrounded Han Fuyao and his own sister, Princess Wei Guo, Ying Zifu!

Great Qin

Up ahead they seemed to have reached the western gate of the Great Zhou capital; though still far off, they could see the gate in utter chaos.

Ying Zhi hou ahead asked coldly: "What's happening up front?"

A fierce‑looking general reined in his warhorse, turned, and reported: "Report to the Second Prince: this is the western gate of the Great Zhou capital; at the sight of our Great Qin army, the people have scattered in panic!"

Princess Taiping's Mansion

West City Gate

West Gate

"Er..." Ying Zhi hou pointed at the western gate with a doting smile, saying: "Little sister, look at these Zhou subjects—upon seeing our Qin heavenly troops, they tremble like before wolves and tigers, showing they have always harbored fear."

Her little face puffed up in anger as she said: "I don't care—I won't marry into Zhou; I'm just here to watch the fun, humph!"

Fourth Prince of Great Qin

Second Prince of Great Qin

Princess of Wei Guo

Ying Zhiqi immediately mimicked his sister's tone, saying: "I don't care either—I won't marry into Zhou, humph!"

King of Wu

Junior Secretary of the Fengtian Surveillance

Ying Zhi hou said: "This mission was originally to arrange a marriage for my little sister with the King of Wu, but I heard the Wu king still has an unmarried elder sister, whose beauty rivals the moon hiding and flowers blushing, fish sinking and geese falling—why not take her as well?"

As he spoke, they had already arrived at the towering, continuous western gate of Qijing; the townspeople at the gate continued to flee in terror.

Ying Zhi hou's eyes flashed with contempt as he said: "The Zhou people are so fearful—it shows these Easterners have enjoyed peace too long, timid as mice; we have greatly overestimated them!"

Ying Zhiqi shook his head and said: "Second brother, don't be so conceited—have you forgotten the aristocratic youth from that little Donglan town I told you about?"

Ying Zhi Hou gave a dismissive glance: "You always exaggerate!"

Just as he was speaking, the city gate ahead was suddenly pacified in an orderly manner by the soldiers of Great Zhou, and a delegation of welcoming officials and cavalry slowly approached.

Having stopped thirty meters ahead, the leader, dressed in a purple robe and wearing the Fèngtiān Jiàn cap, dignified in appearance, clasped his hands and said: "I am Situ Le, Junior Secretary of the Fèngtiān Jiàn of Great Zhou, leading the Ministry of Rites to receive the envoys of Qin."

Ying Zhi Qi stared for a moment, then lowered his voice and snapped: "Great Zhou is truly rude to the extreme—this scale of a reception is nothing but a joke!"

Ying Zhi Hou, however, didn't care, waving his hand and said: "Enter the city!"

The Qin deputy envoys and Situ Le's party made contact, whereupon most of the cavalry were left behind, and only three hundred men entered the gate.

Situ's brothers, including the Wei state princess behind them and Han Fuyao, were all visiting the Great Zhou capital for the first time; as they went forward, they couldn't help but be astonished by the prosperity of Qi Jing city.

The prosperity of the eastern Zhou capital far surpasses the bitter cold and sandy wastes of the western Qin!

At that moment, they reached a four-way crossroads, when suddenly a sharp, urgent sound of horse hooves came from ahead.

They saw a group of riders galloping toward them, at the head of which was a woman in a red long robe.

Strangely, the Zhou welcoming envoys and troops did not block them, but instead stepped aside.

As the group drew nearer and the leading woman in red became clear, Ying Zhi Qi, Ying Zhi Hou, and the generals beside them all froze in unison.

She wore her red robes flowing, her face like beautiful white jade, her vermilion lips naturally red, her eyebrows naturally dark, her expression fiery with passion, as if she had just seen her lover.

She was truly as beautiful as an immortal!

They had thought that Miss Han Fuyao in the carriage behind them was already a peerless beauty, but compared to this woman she paled considerably.

Seeing the woman and her entourage brush past, Ying Zhi Hou immediately asked: "Who is she?"

Situ Le's face also showed a hint of surprise as he slightly nodded: "She is the Great Zhou Princess Tai Ping!"

"Princess Tai Ping..." Ying Zhi Hou murmured, his eyes lighting up instantly.

Princess Tai Ping's residence.

It was already lunchtime.

Heng Xian went downstairs; as a proper eater, even though his cultivation allowed him to forgo grains, he still had to eat, or else life would lose some of its meaning.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from ahead, and a palace lady rushed forward, bowing: "Princess!"

Ji Yaoyue, clad in red, came running toward them, a fragrant breeze trailing her.

Heng Xian stopped and said: "How did you come..."

Before he could finish, Ji Yaoyue lunged into his arms, tightly embracing his neck, her gaze soft as she looked at him: "Have you missed me?"

Heng Xian laughed: "I have, I've been unable to sleep at night, unable to eat!"

Ji Yaoyue pressed her nose to his, her voice trembling like orchid-scented breath: "If it weren't for the formations blocking the capital, I would have flown to you at once; after your heavenly birthday, you should propose to the emperor, let us marry, and from now on I will follow you wherever you wish, to the ends of the earth."

Such water-like fervor almost overwhelmed Heng Xian, and he simply replied: "Good!"

Not far away, a group of palace ladies and Tàijiān, seeing this, quietly stepped aside and chuckled.

Inside the mansion's Jiangjun Garden cafeteria, eight meat and eight vegetable dishes, along with some snacks and rice wine, have already been prepared.

This is Heng Xian's deliberate instruction, the most frugal lunch.

The only ones eating are him and Ji Yaoyue.

Ji Yaoyue ate very little, looking at him she said: "People in the capital are very fickle, and more easily stirred by those with ulterior motives. These days they're targeting you, or perhaps it's just because they feel unbalanced inside; I regret inviting you to the capital!"

"It's fine!" Heng Xian laughed loudly and carelessly: "I came only for you, not for any Houjou title; anyway, there aren't many days left!"

"Mm!" Ji Yaofan smiled sweetly.

Just then, a large group of Tàijiān and palace ladies hurriedly came from outside; even Su Momomo and Wei Gonggong from Xianqing Palace came.

Su Grandma urgently said: "The chief envoy of the Da Qin mission is the Second Prince of Qin; he has just submitted a memorial, Qin's Princess who defends the state is marrying the Wu King, and the Second Prince seeks to marry the Princess of Peace!"

There is no palace intrigue drama; just these few chapters, they introduce the biggest foreshadowing and turning point of the whole book.

(End of chapter)