The envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom raised his wine cup and toasted Xiao Huaishi. "I, the envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom, would like to toast Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless longevity and may your reign never fall!"
Xiao Huaishi also raised his cup. "Thank you. I'll take your kind words. I hope there will be no wars between our two countries, and that the common people can live happily and in peace without being displaced."
Then, Xiao Huaishi pointed in the direction of Xiao Hanzhi and introduced him to the envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom. "This is my fourth prince. I believe you've heard of him before."
The envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom was immediately surprised. He quickly raised his cup in Xiao Hanzhi's direction. "Yes, yes. I've long heard of the great name of the Fourth Prince. I never thought I'd finally get to meet him in person today. The Fourth Prince is truly elegant, talented, and peerless!"
Everyone could tell that the envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom was just flattering, but they still echoed his words. After all, he was praising the current prince.
Xiao Hanzhi raised his cup and nodded slightly. He said softly, "You're overpraising me. It's just a rumor in the market. It's not trustworthy."
Suddenly, as if he had just remembered something, Xiao Huaishi scanned the crowd with his eyes and asked, "At noon today, I said I would hold a banquet in the evening to welcome the Seventh Princess of the Western Yue Kingdom. But I wonder where the princess is. Hmm? Could it be that the envoy's words at noon were just a delaying tactic? Are you still trying to deceive me now?"
The envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom could only bow and say, "Your Majesty is joking. The princess will arrive soon. She must be on her way into the palace at this moment."
Speak of the devil. Just as the envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom finished speaking, they heard a eunuch shout, "The Seventh Princess of the Western Yue Kingdom has arrived."
The envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom lifted the corner of his mouth slightly and said with a smile, "It seems my words are quite accurate."
The Seventh Princess of the Western Yue Kingdom was tall and beautiful. Her dressing and demeanor exuded an air of nobility. As soon as she entered, she bowed politely and said, "Greetings to Your Majesty."
Seeing that the Seventh Princess of the Western Yue Kingdom had finally arrived, Xiao Huaishi nodded. Although he was dissatisfied in his heart, he didn't show it. He waved his hand lightly and said, "Rise. I'm sure the Seventh Princess of the Western Yue Kingdom has had a long and tiring journey. Why don't you take your seat quickly and end this banquet so you can rest earlier."
The Seventh Princess of the Western Yue Kingdom immediately stood up and took her seat opposite the envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom. Only then did she look up and see Xiao Hanzhi's appearance. Xiao Hanzhi's eyes were unusually deep, like the dark blue sea or the brilliant stars. Unconsciously, people would be immersed in them. Even as a princess, she rarely saw such a good-looking person.
The Seventh Princess of the Western Yue Kingdom stared at Xiao Hanzhi somewhat obsessively. Although she was answering Xiao Huaishi's words, her eyes were firmly fixed on Xiao Hanzhi. "Your Majesty is right. I'll go to rest after dinner. I'm disturbing Your Majesty today. I wonder if Your Majesty could arrange for someone to show me around the capital?"
The envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom naturally saw the obsession in the princess's eyes. He thought to himself that maybe the princess had fallen in love with Xiao Hanzhi. This was not good. So he immediately said to the princess, "Princess, His Majesty has a lot of state affairs to attend to. Don't make such unreasonable requests."
The emperor saw that the Seventh Princess of the Western Yue Kingdom was staring fixedly at his fourth son. He couldn't help but feel more vigilant in his heart, but on the surface, he still kindly agreed to the princess's request.
"How can this be unreasonable? I understand the purpose of the Seventh Princess's visit. The person sitting opposite is my son. Young people should get to know each other more... How about letting him show you around the capital during this period?"
The Seventh Princess of the Western Yue Kingdom gave the envoy a sideways look. Her elder brother had told her to listen to the envoy during this trip to the capital. So the envoy could scold her. She was afraid of being punished by her elder brother when she got back, so she didn't refute the envoy's words.
The princess's words exactly suited Xiao Huaishi's intention. He gave Xiao Hanzhi a look, and Xiao Hanzhi immediately smiled brightly. Looking at the princess, he said, "The princess is new here and must not be familiar with the capital. It would be a great honor for me to accompany the Seventh Princess of the Western Yue Kingdom on a tour. I will definitely find time to accompany the princess around the capital tomorrow."
Hearing this, the Seventh Princess of the Western Yue Kingdom nodded repeatedly. Looking at Xiao Hanzhi's smile was like drinking wine. It was really intoxicating.
"My name is Helian Shu. If you always call me the Seventh Princess, it would seem a bit distant. Besides, there is also a Seventh Princess in the Eastern Ling Kingdom, right? If someone who doesn't understand hears you call me like this, they might think there are two Seventh Princesses in the Eastern Ling Kingdom."
Helian Shu seemed to be joking, but she was actually hinting that Xiao Hanzhi should be closer to her and not be so unfamiliar.
The Eastern Ling Kingdom was not as open as the Western Yue Kingdom. Some ministers blushed when they heard Helian Shu's shameless hint to Xiao Hanzhi.
Xiao Hanzhi nodded and looked at Helian Shu very gently. He said softly, "Princess Shu has a point."
The envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom couldn't stop it. But then he thought that maybe he was overthinking. Letting the princess and Xiao Hanzhi play around and make it real might be a good thing. It would be better to complete the task given by Helian Cheng. But he still couldn't forget what he should tell the princess.
In the banquet hall, after Xiao Huaishi left, the envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom immediately walked up to the princess. He scanned the surroundings and found that there was no one around. Then he whispered, "Princess, there is an important thing I have to tell you."
The princess of the Western Yue Kingdom didn't like the envoy very much. She thought his instructions and rules were too many. He always liked to restrict her actions and liked to report to her elder brother at every turn. But now that they were far away from home and the emperor couldn't control her, she didn't care. She picked up a pastry with her hand and put it into her mouth to taste. She didn't take the envoy seriously at all. "What important thing can there be? I think in the envoy's eyes, forgetting to wash your hands before eating pastries is a very important thing."
The envoy was choked speechless by the princess of the Western Yue Kingdom. He still held back his anger and thought to himself that she was just a child and he shouldn't argue with her. He continued to smile. "I'm old, so I do pay more attention to rules. But being old also means having more experience. Otherwise, the emperor wouldn't have told you to listen to me, right? I just hope you can keep some distance from Xiao Hanzhi in your heart. Remember what the emperor told you. You mustn't fall in love with Xiao Hanzhi."
The princess of the Western Yue Kingdom pouted and rolled her eyes. "You don't need to tell me. My elder brother emphasized this again and again before I came. I only have a fleeting fancy for Xiao Hanzhi because of his good looks. Besides, it's my first time in the capital. Of course, I'm curious about the people who are different from those in our country. I'm just acting like this to make Xiao Hanzhi let down his guard. As the eldest princess of the Western Yue Kingdom, I naturally know what to do and what not to do. Don't impose your ideas on me."