Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Go Kill Someone.
A few days later, the official list of those responsible for receiving the Qi Kingdom delegation was finalized.
Xu Ming's name was not on the list. However, Xu Pangda, along with the son of the Minister of Rites, was allowed to bring a study attendant each. Having someone familiar around would help ease any nerves. Xu Ming would accompany Xu Pangda as his attendant.
As for who the attendants brought by Xu Pangda and the Minister's son were, no one particularly cared.
On the day the list was announced, Xu Pangda and Xu Ming headed together to the Hanlin Academy to learn etiquette. They would need to pass an assessment after their training, and only those deemed qualified could proceed.
In Wu Kingdom, which prided itself on martial strength, etiquette tended to be simpler and less intricate. Thus, Xu Ming found the learning process rather easy and passed the academy's assessment with ease.
During this period of studying etiquette, Xu Ming also gained something valuable: a noticeable refinement in his demeanor.
Time passed quickly, and in just over twenty days, the Qi Kingdom delegation arrived at Wu Kingdom's capital.
On the main street of the royal city, the residents of Wu Kingdom curiously gathered to catch a glimpse of this thousand-year-old dynasty's delegation.
Inside one of the carriages in the middle of the procession, a young girl quietly lifted a corner of the curtain. Her large, sparkling eyes blinked as she took in the sights of the foreign capital.
For her, this was her first trip abroad.
She observed that the attire of Wu Kingdom's people wasn't all that different from her own Qi Kingdom's. The only distinction seemed to be that the people of Wu Kingdom appeared taller, stronger, and most of the men carried blades at their waists.
The young girl let the curtain fall back into place and turned to her mother. "Mother, why do so many people in Wu Kingdom carry swords?"
Lady Zhu gently stroked her daughter's head. "Because Wu Kingdom esteems martial prowess, and it's their ancestral tradition that every household's sons must learn martial arts."
"Oh!" Zhu Cici nodded earnestly. "I see now. So, this is what the books meant by 'a fierce and robust people.'"
Lady Zhu paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded. "Yes, you could understand it that way."
Roughly half an hour later, the Qi Kingdom delegation gradually came to a stop. The welcoming delegation from Wu Kingdom was already waiting at Sifang Pavilion.
As the name suggests, Sifang Pavilion was a venue built by Wu Kingdom to host guests from all corners of the world.
Outside the pavilion, the Wu Kingdom's welcoming delegation was assembled in full. Xu Ming stood among them, observing the Qi Kingdom's procession.
The Qi Kingdom's convoy was highly organized, with ten carriages in total, each drawn by black qilin beasts. These black qilins were national treasures of Qi Kingdom—jet black in color and resembling true qilins in appearance, though they couldn't compare in terms of combat prowess. However, they were capable of traveling a thousand miles a day without fatigue and were known for their gentle temperament.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Firecrackers exploded in front of Sifang Pavilion, and two rows of heavily armored soldiers, members of the infamous Blood Pagoda, pounded the ground rhythmically with their halberds. The sound was heavy and orderly, exuding a menacing aura.
As the firecrackers faded, the Blood Pagoda ceased their pounding.
Xiao Mochi stepped forward and bowed courteously to the delegation. "Honored guests, you have traveled far to be here. I, Mochi, extend my apologies for any lack of hospitality."
Members of the Qi Kingdom delegation began disembarking from their carriages one by one.
Xu Ming's attention was immediately drawn to two young children in the group. These were likely the renowned prodigies of the Qi Kingdom.
One of them, a boy about the same age as the Minister of Rites' son Zhou Liu—around thirteen or fourteen—carried himself with a haughty demeanor. Despite his youth, he exuded an air of arrogance, as if declaring that "everyone else is beneath me."
The other was a young girl dressed in a pink ruqun (traditional dress). Her bangs curled delicately over her forehead, and her almond-shaped eyes sparkled with curiosity. Her oval-shaped face was adorable, her nose dainty, and her lips the color of vermilion—a classic beauty with an intelligent, lively charm that was unmistakable even at a glance.
At the head of the delegation, an elderly man stepped forward, his face adorned with a gentle smile as he returned Xiao Mochi's bow. "Lord Xiao, there's no need to apologize. With such a grand reception from your kingdom, we are the ones who feel overwhelmed by your generosity."
"Master Fang, please don't say that," Xiao Mochi quickly stepped forward to help the elder to his feet. "You are a scholar whose works are renowned across the world, a role model for all of us who study literature. No level of courtesy could ever be considered excessive."
"Haha, Lord Xiao, you flatter me," Fang Jingchun chuckled, clearly enjoying Xiao Mochi's praise.
Xiao Mochi continued, "We've prepared a humble meal to welcome you all and wash away the fatigue of your journey. I hope you won't find it too plain."
"Not at all, not at all," Fang Jingchun replied with a smile. "In fact, this old man is quite hungry."
"Please, come inside," Xiao Mochi said, stepping aside to lead the way.
The lunch that followed was a simple affair. It consisted mainly of casual chatter among the adults and mutual exchanges of compliments.
However, Xu Ming could distinctly sense something beneath the surface. Despite their polite demeanor, many among the Qi Kingdom delegation carried an air of arrogance and superiority.
This reminded Xu Ming of something his mentor at the Hanlin Academy (When he was studying etiquettes), Teacher Xiao, had once said: "We see the Northern Wastelands as barbarians; the Qi Kingdom views us in much the same way."
After lunch, the Qi Kingdom delegation retired to rest. Xu Ming, along with Xu Pangda, returned home, as there was to be a banquet that evening.
Once home, Xu Pangda was visibly tense. It was highly likely that there would be a literary contest during the evening banquet, and he needed to prepare. However, much like a knowledge quiz, last-minute cramming was unlikely to yield any meaningful results—it was more of a psychological comfort than anything else.
While much of the capital was abuzz with discussion about the Qi Kingdom delegation, in a secluded courtyard in the eastern part of the city, a man was lounging under the sun.
At his feet lay four dogs. Each stood about three feet seven inches tall and looked utterly lazy, their postures exuding an air of indifference.
As the man dozed off, a woman dressed in a black robe strode into the courtyard without even bothering to knock.
The man slowly opened his eyes and said, "In the Wu Kingdom, trespassing is punishable by law."
The black-robed woman rolled her eyes at him. "What? You going to report me to the authorities?"
The man shook his head, visibly annoyed. "What do you want?"
"What do you think?" the woman replied impatiently. "Have you found the princess?"
"No," the man answered bluntly. "Maybe she's not even in the city."
"Oh, really?" The woman let out a cold laugh. "The Prime Minister says to stop looking for now. He'll send someone else to handle it."
"So, can I go back now?" the man asked, a trace of delight in his voice. "Honestly, I can't stand human food—the seasoning is just too overwhelming."
"There's something else you need to do first. After that, you can leave."
"And what's that?"
"Kill someone."
"Who? The Emperor of Wu? Forget it, I can't beat him," the man replied, shaking his head.
"Not him," the woman said.
"Xiao Mochi, then? That's tricky too. That scholar is in a good position, and his cultivation level isn't low. I'd need to plan carefully and lure him out of the capital first."
"Not him either," the woman replied.
"Then who?" the man asked.
"A child."
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