The news of the Fifth Prince’s arrival is still top secret; within the Xuanqing Guard, only those with the rank of Hundred Households or higher are informed. Very few people locally know about it, all quietly making preparations for the welcome.

The Black Banner Battalion’s duty is much easier compared to the other Xuanqing Guard units; they don’t have any old scandals to cover up, just need to be cautious and avoid any mishaps when the time comes.

A few days passed in a flash.

May seventeenth, overcast. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

The teleportation array in Fengri City has been temporarily restricted; all people entering and exiting the city are blocked half a street away and not allowed to get close. Those guarding the area, besides the Thousand Households Guard of the Xuanqing Guard, include a squad of the Royal Guard clad in red armor.

People with some experience, seeing these burly soldiers in red armor, immediately understand why the teleportation array is sealed: members of the Royal Family have come to Fengri City. And it’s the direct lineage too; otherwise, there wouldn’t be a Royal Guard leading the way.

The Fifth Prince’s high-profile arrival has added pressure to Fengri City’s security detail.

Shen Hao doesn’t have many people in the Black Banner Battalion; aside from some elites who must be ready to respond to emergencies at any moment, the rest are scattered along the path from the teleportation array to Cyan Mountain Manor outside the city, patrolling the route. Shen Hao himself is standing with Wu Changhe and other Xuanqing Guard higher-ups outside the teleportation array, waiting.

It’s not just the Xuanqing Guard—everyone in Fengri City who has any status has come, a crowd of hundreds.

Shen Hao stands behind Wu Changhe, looking around; the people nearby clearly have different expressions. Some can hardly hide their excitement, some are very composed, and some are smiling but their eyes dart around, trying to hide themselves.

So Shen Hao naturally concludes—not everyone welcomes the Fifth Prince’s visit to Fengri City.

Early in the morning, the teleportation array bursts into light—someone is about to arrive—and next, the first group out is some twenty-something members of the bright red Royal Guard.

After forcefully taking over security at the teleportation array exit, about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense later, the teleportation array flickers again. This time, besides several Royal Guard members, a handful of attendants and officials emerge, and a tall man in a sky-blue brocade robe.

This man’s bearing is unlike anyone else around—an uncommon nobility, standing center-stage, clearly the leader.

This is none other than the current ruler’s fifth son, Prince Shou, Yang Lin.

Shen Hao’s first impression of Prince Shou, from afar, is impressive—he appears in his thirties, meticulously groomed from head to toe, even his stride seems measured, giving an impression of steadiness mixed with a hint of swagger.

But Shen Hao knows well the saying "you can’t judge a book by its cover." Although his first impression of Prince Shou is good, looks alone can’t reveal someone’s true nature. He’s already heard some rumors about Prince Shou, whose reputation isn’t exactly stellar.

As he sizes up the Prince, Shen Hao moves forward with the crowd, quickly stepping up to greet him. Following Qi Zhanzhan and others, he bows and calls out loudly, "Greetings, Prince Shou!"

Yang Lin smiles and waves his hand, "No need for formality. Xiaowang is just passing through—didn’t expect to cause so much fuss."

"Your Highness, that’s not the case! Your visit is the highest honor for all of Fengri City—how could it be considered a disturbance?"

Shen Hao can barely watch; goosebumps cover his skin. He didn’t expect Xie Youlin, the chief local Steward of Fengri City, to fawn this shamelessly.

But Xie Youlin only says this because he’s certain that even if others are unhappy, no one would dare show it. With Prince Shou, you can’t be too careful.

"Steward Xie? Hehe, I remember you once taught at the Imperial Forest Academy, right?" Yang Lin’s smile is friendly as he walks up to Xie Youlin, thinking for a moment before laying out Xie’s background.

Xie Youlin beams. He’s an official who came from the academy and used to lecture on local governance at the Imperial Forest Academy before being assigned to Fengri City, eventually working his way up to Steward. His current status owes much to the relationships he built in the Academy, and it’s his proudest credential.

With Xie Youlin setting the tone, others rush to follow. When it comes to flattery, the civil officials leave the military ones in the dust.

Of course, there are skilled flatterers among the military, too. For example, Zhang Qian and Gan Lin, also here to welcome Prince Shou, are experts. But today, both hang back, not moving closer.

In the blink of an eye, several rings around Yang Lin are packed with civil officials; the Xuanqing Guard and Garrison folks have already been squeezed out.

Shen Hao lowers his head, quietly snickering. He saw that Wu Changhe in front tried to squeeze in, but the guy has too much pride—he couldn’t bring himself to use his Cultivation to shove past, and his skin isn’t thick enough to push his way in; even if he did, he probably wouldn’t get to say much.

And so the people welcoming the Prince are split by their thickness of skin—those near are thick-skinned, those pushed out are thin-skinned.

Luckily, they won’t linger long at the teleportation array. Once on the carriages, they head straight out to Cyan Mountain Manor.

Cyan Mountain Manor lies twenty li outside the East Gate, surrounded by small hills, cut through by two streams, linked by official roads—great environment and convenient transport, a Royal Family villa built over many years in Fengri City. Normally, it’s maintained by the Local Government Office, reserved specifically for Royal visits.

There’s such Royal villas not only in Fengri City; every major city in the Jingjiu Dynasty has one.

Shen Hao doesn’t really want to go, but there’s a luncheon to welcome Yang Lin organized by city officials. Shen Hao, as a Black Banner Battalion Hundred Households, really shouldn’t be absent, so he lazily hangs out on the fringes, not bothering to mingle inside.

Only a few follow Yang Lin all the way into the manor’s main hall: Garrison Thousand Households, Xuanqing Guard Thousand Households, Local Government Office Steward, Master of the Dental Practice, leaders of the main merchant guilds—a pretty good representation of Fengri City’s top ranks.

Zhang Qian and Gan Lin stand outside too; they nod to Shen Hao and walk over.

"How come you’re not going in either, Shen?" Gan Lin looks around, making sure nobody is too close, then smiles and teases.

"Both of you didn’t go in; why would I?"

"Tsk, me and Old Gan are just loafers—are you one too?"

"Exactly! I’m just following your lead—loaf if you can loaf, sneak a drink at lunch and then sleep in the Public Office later. Hey, you guys don’t know, today’s lunch is supplied from the Zhang Family’s shop—a real treat."

"Wuliangye?"

"Of course."

"Hey, then I’ll definitely have a few extra cups later!"

"But seriously, why are you two conspicuously avoiding that guy inside?" Shen Hao leans in and whispers. Zhang and Gan are famous for being socially adept and expert flatterers—why are they keeping their distance this time?

Zhang Qian shrugs, dropping his voice too. "Prince Shou is here to recruit allies. We’re on Lord Jiang’s team now; since Lord Jiang hasn’t said anything, how can we make a move on our own? If you were going in, we were ready to drag you back. You’re smart—you don’t even need anyone to remind you."