"Well..." The Emperor looked hesitant.

The Eighth Princess of East Shu, Chu Yue, rose to her feet. "Your Majesty, as the Eighth Prince’s aunt, I have yet to meet the boy. He has been on my mind, and I humbly request your permission to see him."

The Empress gave the Beili Emperor a discreet nudge. He turned his head and smiled. "Very well. After the banquet, We shall have the Empress take you to see him."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Chu Yue said with a curtsy. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

’There’s definitely more to her wanting to see Sang Zhi,’ Ye Qianning thought. ’The people from East Shu have been incredibly tight-lipped, revealing nothing. If I could see Sang Zhi, maybe I’d finally get some answers.’

Prince Yu of Nanyuan, Helian Zheng, gripped his cup, hesitating. Xi Yan’s birthday gift had been astonishing. After seeing the complicated expressions from the East Shu delegation, he had assumed their gift wouldn’t be particularly impressive.

But to his surprise, it was a red jadeite Buddha statue, which was leagues better than the gift they had brought.

Nanyuan was not as prosperous as the other kingdoms, and after seeing the gifts from two nations, theirs suddenly felt too shabby to present.

"Uncle?" Helian Chen asked, turning his head.

Helian Zheng slowly rose to his feet and produced a gift list from his robes. "Nanyuan presents this gift list to the Bei Emperor. May your fortune be as vast as the East Sea and your life everlasting."

"It has been many years, Prince Yu, yet you haven’t changed a bit." The Beili Emperor raised his hand, and a young eunuch walked down from the dais.

"It is you, Your Majesty, who remains as impressive as ever."

"Hahaha," the Beili Emperor boomed with laughter.

The young eunuch delivered the gift list into the Beili Emperor’s hands.

The Beili Emperor gave it a brief look before closing it. "Nanyuan is growing more prosperous. Excellent, excellent."

"Indeed," Helian Zheng replied with a smiling nod.

Nanyuan’s birthday gift was far more modest. No one knew what it was, and the Beili Emperor didn’t mention it.

’The Nanyuan in my memory isn’t just poor, it’s destitute,’ Ye Qianning recalled. ’The difference is like that between a modern city and a primitive tribe. Nanyuan has long winters, and its people are tall and somewhat barbaric.’

’You rarely saw anyone on the streets in fine, respectable clothing. Most people dressed more like barbarians. True silk and fine fabrics were things only landowners, the wealthy, and officials could afford to wear.’

Nanyuan’s gifts were local specialties and some precious medicinal herbs.

In the eyes of the other three kingdoms, these items were indeed insignificant, but in Nanyuan, they were considered the finest of goods.

The drum music in the palace hall ceased, and the gentle strains of a zither began to rise.

A dancer with flowing sleeves began to dance, her movements graceful and light.

Ye Qianning was bored. ’First dancing, now music,’ she thought. ’I heard these palace banquets last late into the night. Judging by the sky, it’s only about eight o’clock now. This is going to be a long night.’

The Beili Emperor was in high spirits. After several rounds of wine, his gaze had grown hazy.

The zither music on the stage faded, and the dancer withdrew.

The red-robed woman who had played the zither rose to her feet. "Your humble servant wishes the Emperor a long and healthy life, and may your future blessings be without end."

"’A long and healthy life, and may your future blessings be without end.’ A fine sentiment! Beloved Minister Song, you have raised a fine daughter," the Beili Emperor praised.

"Your Majesty is too kind."

"We recall that Miss Song has already come of age. It is time she found a fine young man."

"I shall leave it to Your Majesty to decide," Song Feifei said, her voice light.

"Talented and beautiful... In Our opinion..." The Beili Emperor’s gaze swept over the officials below before finally landing on Zhan Chi. "In Our opinion, young Master Zhan seems like an excellent match."

A jolt went through every member of the Zhan family, and on the dais, the Noble Consort was also stunned.

Ye Qianning was thrilled. She settled in to enjoy the drama.

’To be fair, Minister Song’s daughter is quite beautiful,’ she mused. ’She and Zhan Chi would certainly make a handsome couple.’

Song Feifei stole a glance at Zhan Chi, a shy blush on her face.

"Your Majesty, you absolutely must not!" Zhan Yi exclaimed, scrambling to his feet.

"And why not?" the Beili Emperor asked.

"Well..." Zhan Yi didn’t know how to refuse.

’We already have a granddaughter...!’