With that said, he drained the cup in one go.

Sang Yan lifted the wine pot and refilled the cup.

The envoys from the three kingdoms watched Sang Yan tilt his head back and drink, each lost in their own thoughts.

Chu Yue had already considered many countermeasures, but she never expected Sang Yan to start with such a speech. It was a blatant slap in the face to East Shu.

Prince Yu idly spun the jade thumb ring on his finger. ’This Third Prince of Beili is truly something else,’ he thought.

Ye Qianning remained silent, quietly watching Sang Yan’s performance.

The Third Prince Mansion was just a few streets away from Immortal’s Drunkenness, a journey that took only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. The reason for this became clear with a little thought—she had set the stage perfectly for him.

’Truly perfect!’

She couldn’t help but praise herself.

After downing three cups, Sang Yan’s throat burned. He set the cup down. "Consider me the host today."

"Third Prince, you are too kind," Chu Yue said, a flash of awkwardness crossing her face.

"It is the Princess who shouldn’t stand on ceremony. How could we let an envoy host a banquet in Beili? If word of this got out, wouldn’t the world think my Beili is a petty nation?" Though Sang Yan’s tone was gentle and refined, his voice now carried more authority than usual.

Chu Yue was so embarrassed she couldn’t say another word.

Even Prince Yu felt incredibly awkward. Fortunately, they hadn’t done anything.

Xiliu Yuan remained indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Whoever set this trap would be the one to lose face. They were merely guests, nothing more.

"Third Prince, *they* certainly weren’t being polite with us," Ye Qianning chimed in at the perfect moment.

Chu Yue’s heart tightened.

Hearing this, Sang Yan looked down at the little girl beside him. "Is that so?"

"Of course! They hosted a banquet for the three kingdoms at Immortal’s Drunkenness but didn’t invite us from Beili. You tell me, is that polite or not?" Ye Qianning looked up, puffing out her cheeks as if she were furious.

Sang Yan lifted his eyes and glanced at Chu Yue.

Chu Yue forced a smile and explained, "I submitted my letter of departure to the Beili Emperor yesterday. I thought I would invite the envoys from Nanyuan and Xi Yan for a meal before leaving the capital, as a courtesy."

"Is that so," Sang Yan said coolly.

"Naturally. I am aware that the thief in the Imperial Palace has not yet been caught and that the Prince is busy, so I did not dare to disturb you. I hope the Prince can forgive me," Chu Yue said with utmost sincerity.

"It sounds like the Princess was being quite considerate of Beili. How thoughtful," Sang Yan said slowly, a false smile on his face. He then asked, "And what was this matter of state that Qian Ning mentioned?"

"It was just some casual talk. I can’t believe a child would take it so seriously," Chu Yue said.

Sang Yan didn’t look at her, instead looking down to ask Ye Qianning.

Ye Qianning shook her head. "The Crown Prince of Xi Yan said it was a waste of time if they weren’t discussing state affairs and was about to leave. She wouldn’t let him go, which means she *did* have state affairs to discuss. Then the Crown Prince of Xi Yan said he doesn’t discuss state affairs with women, so she immediately sent someone to invite you, Prince. Do we even need to guess whether there were state affairs? In any case, they wouldn’t let me listen and just wanted to drive me away."

Sang Yan’s expression grew complicated.

A murderous urge rose in Chu Yue’s heart once again. Her perfect plan had been ruined by a little brat.

Ye Qianning caught her breath and added indignantly, "Even if they tried to chase me away, I couldn’t leave. My father is Beili’s Great General, and protecting Beili is the duty of the General’s Mansion. As the daughter of a general, I also have a duty to protect Beili! With the three of them gathered together, who knows, they might have been bad-mouthing our Beili. I couldn’t let her get away with it."

Listening to her words, Sang Yan looked at her and felt she truly resembled Xiang Minghou in spirit. The saying "a tiger father will not have a dog for a daughter" must have been coined for her.

He reached out and stroked her head, his gaze falling upon Chu Yue. "Princess East Shu, what matter of state did you wish to discuss with Xi Yan? Perhaps you wouldn’t mind letting me listen in as well."

Chu Yue’s eyes flickered. Finding it difficult to speak, she forced a stiff smile. "It’s a private matter between Xi Yan and East Shu."

"I am quite curious what private matter would move the Princess to such lengths," Sang Yan asked tactfully.

An unspeakable look appeared on Chu Yue’s face.

"I, too, am curious about this ’private matter’ between Xi Yan and East Shu," Xiliu Yuan said, lifting his eyes.

"Sigh... This matter concerns the reputation of the East Shu Imperial Family. I had hoped to discuss it privately with Xi Yan, but I never imagined it would cause such a misunderstanding. I suppose I have no choice but to speak plainly." Chu Yue offered a few pained words before pausing and looking at Xiliu Yuan. "Nine years ago, my imperial sister married into Xi Yan. A few years ago, the Sixth Prince of Xi Yan divorced her on the grounds of unfaithfulness and sent her back to East Shu. Shortly after returning, she gave birth to a son. The child is now four years old. My sister hopes the child can be officially recognized by his paternal family. Thus, she entrusted me to find the Xi Yan envoy and discuss this matter thoroughly. My sister was framed back then. As long as the child is brought back to Xi Yan for a blood-recognition test, it will surely prove the injustice she has suffered..."

She was so moved by her own long-winded speech that her lovely face was filled with sorrow...

"..."

Ye Qianning’s lips twitched again and again. ’She can really spin a tale,’ she thought.

Even though she spoke with such apparent sincerity, Sang Yan’s expression remained cold. He didn’t believe a word of it.

Prince Yu wanted to curse out loud as he listened. ’What the hell does this chain of events have to do with us from Nanyuan?’

’It’s a private matter between Xi Yan and East Shu, so why invite Nanyuan?’

’Don’t they know to handle this crap in private? Why deliberately invite people to be an audience?’

’They’re insane!’

After Chu Yue finished speaking, the room fell silent.

The silence was so profound that she could barely maintain her act. It was too awkward!

"Ridiculous," Xiliu Yuan said coldly, standing up.

"Crown Prince, the child is, after all, of the Imperial Family..."

"Kill him. I will announce it to the world." His utterly chilling words radiated cold arrogance.

Chu Yue froze.

"Third Prince, I have other matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave." As soon as Xiliu Yuan finished speaking, he strode out of the room without waiting for Sang Yan to reply.

By the time Chu Yue snapped back to her senses, Xiliu Yuan was already gone. She looked utterly horrified.

’Kill him?’

’Announce it to the world? What is he going to announce?’

’A princess’s reputation being damaged is a slap in the face to an entire nation. East Shu went to great lengths to suppress my imperial sister’s scandal...’

"Tsk, the Crown Prince of Xi Yan is so young, yet his coldness makes one shiver." Prince Yu clicked his tongue and stood up. Inwardly, he was cursing the entire East Shu Imperial Family, but on the surface, he didn’t dare to offend them.

"Seventh Princess, you should be more considerate in your actions. He is the noblest person in Xi Yan, a man of celestial bearing. Wouldn’t dealing with such matters dirty his hands?" Sang Yan advised.

Chu Yue’s mind was consumed by Xiliu Yuan’s words. If he really announced it to the world, her Imperial Father would be furious.

"Seventh Princess, I will take my leave," Prince Yu said. He turned his head. "Chenchen, let’s go. Back to the courier station."

"Uncle, didn’t we say we were going to the Prime Minister’s residence to pick up the zither?" Helian Chen asked.

"It’s a bit late today. We’ll pay a visit tomorrow."

"It’s not late."

"Are you planning to go empty-handed to pick up the zither?" Prince Yu sighed inwardly. ’What can you do when your nephew is so dense?’

Helian Chen suddenly understood. He looked at Ye Qianning. "Little fatty, I’ll come visit you tomorrow then."

"Okay," Ye Qianning said with a smiling nod.

Prince Yu clasped his hands in a farewell salute to Sang Yan, then led Helian Chen away.

Ye Qianning looked up at Sang Yan.

Sang Yan patted her head. "Are you full?"

"Mhm."

"Let’s go too," Sang Yan said, then looked at the dark-faced Chu Yue. "Seventh Princess, we’ll take our leave."

Chu Yue dazedly raised her head, her gaze instantly shifting to Ye Qianning.

Ye Qianning smiled and shook her head, looking like a cat that got the cream.

Sang Yan looked down with a resigned expression, then bent over and took the little girl’s hand. As they reached the door, he turned back to offer one last piece of advice: "For matters of state concerning East Shu, it would be more appropriate for your Monarch to submit a letter to Xi Yan. Inviting Nanyuan and Xi Yan to discuss it in public damages the Imperial Family’s prestige."

With that, he led Ye Qianning out the door.

Chu Yue’s fingers clenched inside her sleeves. After Sang Yan left, her beautiful face twisted into a vicious snarl. She snatched a cup from the table and hurled it to the floor, where it shattered with a sharp CRACK.

Then, she bent down, grabbed the table with both hands, and violently flipped it over. Dishes and bowls went crashing to the ground in a cacophony.

Although Qin Huai was an imperial son-in-law, he was still wary of Chu Yue and didn’t dare speak when she was in such a rage.

"What a fine General’s Mansion," Chu Yue snarled, her face contorted with fury.

"Your Highness, the urgent matter at hand is to figure out how to handle the Crown Prince of Xi Yan. If he truly announces the princess’s affairs to the world, the Emperor will certainly be enraged." Qin Huai had wanted to stop her when he heard her story earlier, but her subtle glares had repeatedly prevented him from speaking up.

She had been putting on such a deeply moving performance; if he had interrupted, she would have taken her anger out on him afterward.

"Of course I know that!" Chu Yue snapped. "I’ll leave the matter with Xi Yan to you. But this all started because of that little brat from the General’s Mansion. I will not let her go."

"Your Highness, please listen to my advice. You cannot touch the young lady of the General’s Mansion."

"What? Are you afraid of a mere child?"

"It’s not about fear. Her status makes her untouchable. We are in Beili and have kept a low profile. We absolutely cannot stir up other trouble right when we’re about to make our move on that other matter. The Hidden Guard by the young lady’s side is highly skilled. It won’t be easy to dispose of her." Qin Huai analyzed the situation.

He had observed the child closely at the banquet when the Beili Emperor betrothed her to the Crown Prince.

She seemed cute and harmless, but her powers of observation were exceptionally strong. You simply couldn’t treat her like a six-year-old child.

"He’s just one mid-level Hidden Guard. I’ll deal with him myself." Chu Yue clearly didn’t think much of Luo Wen.

"Princess, even though Xiang Minghou is not here, the General’s Mansion is not an easy place to breach. I’ve heard that the Zhan family couple, their young son, and Qian Fanji are all living there. There are definitely more than just three or five Hidden Guards in the residence."

"So what if there are many of them?"

Qin Huai was exasperated. "Your Highness, don’t forget the Emperor’s instructions. The most important thing before we leave is the Eighth Prince. We cannot afford any mistakes with him. Once that matter is settled, Your Highness will have plenty of opportunities to deal with the young lady of the General’s Mansion. It will just be a little later, that’s all."

Chu Yue glared at him, her eyes wide with fury.

"Your Highness, I will make contact with the Xi Yan side in secret. In the meantime, please refrain from taking any action. Tomorrow, you can use the pretext of your departure to visit the Eighth Prince more. Once that matter is handled, will East Shu have any reason to fear Xi Yan in the future?" Qin Huai pleaded earnestly.

He had told her before that hosting the two kingdoms was inappropriate, but alas, the Princess hadn’t listened. Instead, she had arranged this entire setup without his knowledge.

Now, it was a difficult mess to clean up.

Chu Yue’s anger hadn’t subsided, but she nodded with a grim expression.

"Your Highness, you must listen to me this time. You absolutely cannot take any other action." Qin Huai could tell at a glance that she wasn’t taking his words to heart at all.

"I know, you’re so long-winded," Chu Yue snapped irritably, flicking her sleeves and storming out of the room.

Qin Huai sighed to himself and shot a meaningful look at a nearby guard.

The guard bowed, then turned and followed Chu Yue out the door.

---

As Sang Yan led Ye Qianning to the second floor, they heard a series of CRASHES and SMASHES from upstairs. They both paused, exchanged a look, and simultaneously glanced in the direction of the upper floor.