Inside the magnificent palace of Rong Kingdom, the atmosphere was solemn and dignified. The Emperor of Rong Kingdom sat on his dragon throne, his gaze slowly sweeping over Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen below. His voice was steady and authoritative as he spoke: "My two beloved ministers, although Rong Kingdom has temporarily achieved peace, the surrounding situation remains turbulent. I intend to send you on a diplomatic mission to other countries. The purposes of this mission are threefold: first, to mend fences with other nations and eliminate past grievances; second, to seek alliances to jointly address potential threats; and third, to promote Rong Kingdom's culture and strength, enhancing our nation's prestige. This is a crucial mission concerning the safety and long-term development of Rong Kingdom. Do you two have the confidence to undertake this mission?"

Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen exchanged a glance, both seeing determination and resolve in each other's eyes. They knelt down in unison, and Xiao Yichen declared loudly, "Your Majesty's grace is immense. Your subject and Wan'er will do our utmost to live up to Your Majesty's trust and will surely usher in a new era of peace and stability for Rong Kingdom."

Thus, under the watchful eyes of many, they embarked on a diplomatic journey fraught with uncertainty.

Their first stop was the neighboring country of Yao. Yao was a vast country with a strong military, and had always been a formidable neighbor of Rong. Xiao Yichen knew that this mission would be arduous, and he discussed countermeasures with Lin Wan'er along the way.

“Wan’er, Yao Kingdom is quite powerful, and its ruler is very shrewd. When we go there, we must first treat them with courtesy to show Rong Kingdom’s sincerity, but we must not lose Rong Kingdom’s dignity.” Xiao Yichen said, sitting on his horse, his brows slightly furrowed and his eyes focused.

Lin Wan'er nodded gently: "Yi Chen, I understand. I will use mind-reading to try to understand their thoughts so that we can better deal with various situations."

When they arrived in the capital of Yao Kingdom, the king personally came out of the city to greet them in a grand and solemn ceremony. However, Lin Wan'er keenly sensed a hint of doubt and wariness hidden deep in the king's eyes.

Upon entering the main hall of the palace, the two sides began formal talks. Xiao Yichen spoke first, expressing Rong Kingdom's desire for peace and common development, and detailing the many benefits of establishing an alliance, such as trade and military cooperation.

After a moment of contemplation, the King of Yao Kingdom slowly said, "I understand the implications of what General Xiao said. However, the matter of the alliance is of great importance, and I need to discuss it with my ministers. Moreover, the war between Rong Kingdom and Mu Kingdom has just ended, and I am also worried that it might backfire."

Lin Wan'er, using her mind-reading ability without making a sound, discovered that the King of Yao Kingdom was not entirely opposed to the alliance. He was simply weighing the pros and cons, worrying about whether Rong Kingdom had enough strength to stand shoulder to shoulder with him, and the potential risks of forming an alliance.

She gently tugged at Xiao Yichen's sleeve, and he understood immediately. Xiao Yichen continued, "Your Majesty's concerns are understandable. Although Rong Kingdom has suffered from war, it has now recovered its strength, and our country possesses many unique advantages. For example, our silk weaving techniques are unparalleled in the world. If we form an alliance with Yao Kingdom, we can share these techniques with your country, promoting trade between our two nations. Furthermore, our army has accumulated rich experience and unique tactics in its battles against the mysterious organization, which can provide strong support for military cooperation after the alliance."

Upon hearing this, the King of Yao's eyes flashed with a hint of interest. However, he did not immediately express his opinion, but simply said, "You two have come from afar and must be tired. Please rest first, and we will make a decision after discussing it with our ministers."

Back at the inn, Lin Wan'er said to Xiao Yichen, "Yichen, the King of Yao is interested, but he is still hesitant. We need to find a way to further dispel his concerns."

Xiao Yichen pondered for a moment and said, "I've heard that Yao Kingdom is currently facing harassment from northern nomadic tribes. Perhaps we can start from this angle. If we can help Yao Kingdom solve this problem, they will probably be more willing to form an alliance with us."

Lin Wan'er's eyes lit up: "This is a great plan. I'll go and find out the details right away."

Using her mind-reading ability, Lin Wan'er inquired throughout the city and finally learned some information about the northern nomadic peoples. It turned out that they were skilled in horsemanship and archery, and extremely mobile. Although Yao Kingdom had a large army, it often felt powerless to deal with their guerrilla warfare.

After Lin Wan'er informed Xiao Yichen of the situation, Xiao Yichen immediately devised a countermeasure. They proposed to the King of Yao that Rong could dispatch an elite cavalry force to fight alongside the Yao army. This cavalry would employ flexible and varied tactics, targeting the characteristics of nomadic peoples.

After listening to their plan, the King of Yao finally decided to form an alliance with Rong. He said, "You two are so sincere and your plan is so detailed. I believe that the alliance between Rong and Yao will surely create a glorious future together."

After their success in Yao Kingdom, Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen embarked on a journey to other countries. They visited several countries, facing different challenges and opportunities in each one.

When Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen visited the Yun Kingdom, they learned that while Yun was renowned for its cultural prosperity, its military strength was relatively weak. They feared that an alliance with the Rong Kingdom would draw them into war. Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen then emphasized the Rong Kingdom's peaceful philosophy and inclusive cultural attitude, promising to respect Yun's choices after the alliance, not to force it into military action, and to help Yun enhance its cultural influence. Ultimately, Yun was moved by their sincerity and agreed to join the alliance.

When they were sent as envoys to the Kingdom of Yan, the king of Yan was suspicious and doubtful of their mission. Lin Wan'er, through her mind-reading ability, learned that the king of Yan had been deceived in past diplomatic incidents and was therefore wary of any goodwill shown by other countries.

Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er decided to demonstrate Rong Kingdom's sincerity through action. During their stay in Yan Kingdom, they actively participated in the country's infrastructure development and helped resolve some local problems. They also invited Yan Kingdom officials to visit Rong Kingdom, allowing them to experience firsthand the realities of the country.

After a period of effort, the King of Yan finally put aside his doubts and established an alliance with Rong.

During their missions to various countries, Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen not only had to deal with the various thoughts and attitudes of the monarchs and ministers of those countries, but also had to handle some unexpected situations.

On one occasion, they were attacked by a group of bandits on their journey. The bandits were numerous and well-equipped. Xiao Yichen led his guards in a valiant resistance, his spear wielded with incredible skill, each thrust repelling the enemy. Lin Wan'er, using her mind-reading ability, anticipated the bandits' attack intentions and promptly alerted Xiao Yichen and his guards, enabling them to better prepare for the battle.

After a fierce battle, they finally repelled the bandits. This encounter did not deter them; instead, it strengthened their resolve to complete their mission.

After months of travel and hard work, Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen finally completed their mission. They successfully established alliances with several countries, creating a relatively stable external environment for Rong Kingdom.

When they returned to Rong Kingdom, they were warmly welcomed by its people. Their achievements will be forever etched in Rong Kingdom's history, becoming a significant milestone in its path to prosperity. They also knew that this was merely a new beginning, and many more challenges and missions awaited them in the future.

Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen led their envoy delegation, departing from the border of Rong Kingdom in a grand procession, heading towards the unknown distance. They knew full well that this mission would be arduous, and that the journey would likely be fraught with difficulties and dangers.

Initially, the journey went smoothly; the roads were flat, and the weather was pleasant. However, it wasn't long before they entered a remote mountainous area. The mountain paths were rugged and the terrain treacherous, posing significant challenges to the team's progress.

"Everyone be careful, the mountain path here is difficult to traverse, don't fall behind." Xiao Yichen, riding on horseback, loudly reminded the people behind him.

The procession moved slowly forward, the soldiers carefully leading their horses, inching along the mountain path. Lin Wan'er stood by, constantly watching her surroundings. Although her mind-reading ability was of little use in this desolate wilderness, her experience in the martial world gave her a keen intuition for danger.

Suddenly, dark clouds filled the sky, and a fierce wind howled. The once clear weather instantly turned into a downpour, with large raindrops pelting down and chilling everyone to the bone. The mountain path became even more muddy and slippery, the horses frequently slipping, and the soldiers struggling to maintain their balance in the wind and rain.

"The weather is changing too fast, we need to find somewhere to take shelter from the rain," Lin Wan'er said loudly.

Xiao Yichen looked around, trying to find a place to take shelter from the rain in the vast mountains and forests. Finally, he found a cave not far away. Although it looked a bit small, it could at least provide temporary shelter for everyone from the wind and rain.

"Go to that cave over there!" Xiao Yichen shouted, and then took the lead in heading towards the cave.

The group followed, finally reaching the cave with great difficulty. The cave was dark and damp, filled with a putrid stench. The soldiers tied their horses to the entrance, then entered the cave, huddling together to try and keep warm.

Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen stood at the cave entrance, gazing at the raging wind and rain outside, their hearts filled with worry. This sudden downpour would undoubtedly disrupt their journey considerably.

"I hope this rain will stop soon," Lin Wan'er said softly.

Xiao Yichen nodded: "We can only wait. Everyone should rest for a while and recover their strength."

After resting in the cave for several hours, the rain finally subsided. Xiao Yichen decided to continue their journey; they couldn't let the rain delay them for too long.

The team resumed their journey, but they encountered new troubles before they had gone very far.

"Halt! This road is mine, these trees are mine, if you want to pass, leave your toll!" A boastful shout came from the woods.

A group of bandits suddenly emerged from all directions, armed with weapons and with fierce eyes, completely surrounding Lin Wan'er and her group.

Xiao Yichen frowned. He knew that these bandits were just a rabble, but they were numerous and he couldn't let his guard down.

"Who are you bandits? How dare you block the way of my Rong Kingdom's envoy!" Xiao Yichen shouted.

The bandit leader sneered, "I don't care if you're an envoy from Rong Kingdom. On this territory, you have to listen to me! Hand over your money and supplies, or don't blame me for being impolite!"

Xiao Yichen sneered: "You think you can rob us?"

Having said that, he drew his longsword and charged at the bandits. Seeing this, the bandits brandished their weapons and pounced on Xiao Yichen.

Lin Wan'er was not to be outdone. She drew her sword and followed closely behind Xiao Yichen. Using her mind-reading ability, she sensed the bandits' intentions and promptly alerted Xiao Yichen.

"Yichen, there's a bandit on your left trying to ambush you!" Lin Wan'er shouted.

Xiao Yichen flashed away, easily dodging the attack from the bandit on the left, and then with a backhand sword strike, knocked him back.

The soldiers of Rong Kingdom also joined the battle; they were well-trained and possessed considerable fighting power. Led by Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, they engaged in a fierce battle with the bandits.

Although the bandits outnumbered the soldiers, their fighting skills and discipline were far inferior to those of the Rong Kingdom's soldiers. After a fierce battle, the bandits gradually lost ground and began to scatter and flee.

"Trying to run? Not so easy!" Xiao Yichen shouted, leading his soldiers in pursuit. They wiped out the bandits, with only a few managing to escape.

Although the team was somewhat exhausted after the battle, their morale was even higher. They continued their journey, hoping to reach their next destination as soon as possible.

However, fate always seems to enjoy playing tricks on people. While traversing a dense forest, they lost their way. The trees were tall and the foliage thick, making it difficult for sunlight to penetrate, which made it hard for them to distinguish east from west.

"What should we do? It seems like we're going in circles." Lin Wan'er said anxiously.

Xiao Yichen looked around at his surroundings, pondering a solution. He remembered reading about methods for determining direction in the wild in military texts, and began to try to apply them.

"Don't panic, everyone. We can determine the direction based on the growth of the trees. Generally speaking, the branches and leaves on the south side of the trees will be more lush than those on the north side," Xiao Yichen said.

Following Xiao Yichen's method, the group began to carefully observe the surrounding trees. After some effort, they finally determined a general direction and continued onward.

After several days of arduous trekking through the forest, they finally emerged. However, they now faced a new challenge—a food shortage.

Having spent too much time in the forest, their food supplies were dwindling. The soldiers began to march on empty stomachs, their strength gradually waning.

"We can't go on like this. We have to find a way to find food," Xiao Yichen said.

Lin Wan'er nodded: "I'll go and look around, maybe I can find some wild fruit or prey."

Lin Wan'er walked into the woods alone, using her survival skills honed in the martial world to search for food. After some effort, she finally found some wild fruit and a few rabbits.

She returned to her unit with her harvest, and the soldiers' eyes lit up with joy at the sight of the food. They started a fire and roasted the wild berries and rabbits. Although the food was simple, it at least filled their stomachs and restored some of their strength.

After solving their food problem, they continued their journey. Finally, they arrived at a small town. The people in the town looked at their group with curiosity.

After resting for a night in the town and replenishing their supplies, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er continued their journey.

During their journey, they encountered several small-scale bandit attacks and some sudden natural disasters, but they successfully overcame all difficulties by relying on their wisdom, courage and tacit understanding with each other.

As their journey progressed, they drew ever closer to their destination. Although the journey was fraught with hardship and challenges, Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen never gave up. They knew they bore the mission of the Rong Kingdom, and no matter what difficulties they encountered, they had to persevere.

After a long and arduous journey, Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen finally arrived at their envoy country—the Starry Empire. The moment they stepped onto this unfamiliar land, a rich exotic atmosphere enveloped them, but they had no time to appreciate it, for they were about to face a series of complex and severe challenges.

The capital of the Starshine Empire was magnificent, with palaces soaring into the clouds and wide streets that exuded an unfamiliar layout and atmosphere. The clothing, language, and customs of the city's inhabitants were vastly different from those of the Rong Kingdom. People wore brightly colored and uniquely styled clothing, spoke with a distinctive rhythm and intonation, and the street markets were filled with all sorts of strange and unusual goods and foods, emitting enticing aromas.

However, Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen knew that they were not here for sightseeing, but to carry out an important mission entrusted to them by the Emperor of Rong Kingdom. The primary challenge was dealing with the complex political situation in the Starry Empire.

The Starry Empire's court is riddled with factions, each vying for power and holding differing opinions on the purpose of Rong Kingdom's mission. Some conservatives fear that an alliance with Rong Kingdom would disrupt the existing political balance and threaten their vested interests, thus harboring hostility towards Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen, secretly plotting to sabotage the diplomatic mission. Meanwhile, some far-sighted reformers see potential opportunities in cooperation with Rong Kingdom, such as expanding trade and strengthening military defenses. However, their influence within the court is relatively weak, and they must act cautiously to avoid giving the conservatives any ammunition against them.

Using her mind-reading abilities, Lin Wan'er subtly observed the thoughts of various figures in the court. At a palace banquet, she sensed that a conservative minister harbored ill intentions, attempting to deliberately provoke a dispute over etiquette, embarrass the Rong Kingdom envoy, and thus damage relations between the two countries. Lin Wan'er calmly informed Xiao Yichen of this, and Xiao Yichen immediately became vigilant.

As the minister, as planned, began to challenge the Xingyao Empire, arguing that Rong Kingdom's toasting etiquette did not conform to its traditions, Xiao Yichen calmly stood up and responded respectfully and appropriately: "My lord, although Rong Kingdom and the Xingyao Empire are far apart and have slightly different cultural customs, we have come here with respect and admiration for your culture, hoping to enhance exchanges and understanding between our two countries. In Rong Kingdom, toasting is a way to express friendship and respect, just as some of the Xingyao Empire's etiquette is also full of profound meaning to us. We are willing to learn and follow your country's etiquette, and we hope that your country can be tolerant of our differences and seek ways to cooperate, rather than getting bogged down in trivial details and hindering the general trend of friendly exchanges between our two countries."

Xiao Yichen's words were neither arrogant nor humble; they upheld the dignity of Rong Kingdom while skillfully defusing a potential diplomatic crisis. Many insightful individuals present nodded in agreement, and even some conservative ministers were moved by his words and demeanor, temporarily setting aside their hostility.

Besides the complexity of the political situation, cultural differences are also a major challenge they face. The Starry Empire's culture emphasizes hierarchy and ritual; in diplomatic settings, every action and every word has strict norms and meanings. For example, the way of greeting, the terms of address, and the seating arrangement are all completely different from those in Rong Kingdom.

Although Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen had done some preparation before their mission, they still inevitably made some mistakes when they were actually on the mission. On one occasion, when they went to pay a visit to an important member of the royal family, they almost caused a misunderstanding due to their inaccuracy regarding the depth and duration of the proper bow. Fortunately, Lin Wan'er quickly used her mind-reading ability to sense the other party's displeasure. She hurriedly tugged at Xiao Yichen's sleeve, and the two quickly adjusted their posture, sincerely apologized, and explained the differences between the Rong Kingdom's etiquette and the Xingyao Empire's etiquette, thus resolving the awkward situation.

To better adapt to the culture of the Starry Empire, Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen decided to immerse themselves in the local life, learning about local customs and traditions. They visited markets, temples, and schools, interacting with ordinary people, scholars, and monks. In this process, they not only learned a great deal about the Starry Empire's culture but also made friends with some friendly locals who became their companions in this foreign land, providing them with considerable help and support.

Diplomatic etiquette is equally important. The Starry Empire's diplomatic etiquette is intricate and meticulous, with strict regulations governing everything from the presentation of official letters and the use of diplomatic language to the selection and presentation of gifts.

When presenting the letter of credence, Xiao Yichen, following the etiquette of the Starshine Empire, held the letter aloft with both hands and walked solemnly towards the emperor of the Starshine Empire, reciting words to express the Rong Kingdom emperor's greetings and respect to the Starshine Empire emperor. However, the wording of the letter almost caused controversy. Some ministers of the Starshine Empire felt that certain terms in the Rong Kingdom's letter were not humble enough and lacked respect for the Starshine Empire. After Lin Wan'er used her mind-reading ability to understand their thoughts, she discussed with Xiao Yichen and decided to adjust the interpretation of the letter appropriately. They explained in detail to the Starshine Empire emperor and ministers the meaning and background of these terms in Rong Kingdom culture, emphasizing Rong Kingdom's friendliness and importance to the Starshine Empire, and ultimately gained the other side's understanding.

They put considerable thought into the selection of gifts. Rong Kingdom's traditional handicrafts, such as silk, tea, and porcelain, are very popular in the Starshine Empire, but they also considered the cultural characteristics of the Starshine Empire and the personal preferences of the royal family members. In addition to these traditional gifts, they carefully selected some paintings and calligraphy works, musical instruments, and a book detailing Rong Kingdom's history and culture, all imbued with Rong Kingdom cultural significance. These gifts not only showcased Rong Kingdom's cultural charm but also demonstrated their respect and thoughtfulness towards the Starshine Empire.

While addressing these challenges, Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen also actively engaged in diplomatic activities, striving to promote an alliance between Rong Kingdom and the Xingyao Empire. They held multiple rounds of talks with the emperor and ministers of the Xingyao Empire, elaborating in detail on the advantages and prospects of the alliance between the two countries.

During the talks, Xiao Yichen analyzed the balance of power among various countries and potential threats in light of the current international situation. He pointed out that after the alliance between Rong Kingdom and Xingyao Empire, they could support each other militarily to jointly resist aggression from neighboring countries or other forces; in trade, the two countries could exchange goods and promote economic prosperity; and in culture, they could exchange and learn from each other, enriching the spiritual world of their people.

Lin Wan'er, speaking from the perspective of people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding, recounted their observations and experiences in the Xingyao Empire, as well as the friendly attitude of the Rong Kingdom's people towards the Xingyao Empire. She emphasized that the alliance between the two countries is not only cooperation between governments, but also a friendly bond between the two peoples, which will lay a solid foundation for the long-term development of both nations.

However, the alliance was not without its challenges. Some conservative factions within the Star Empire were constantly obstructing progress, raising various harsh conditions and raising numerous questions in an attempt to prevent the alliance from being formed.

Faced with these obstacles, Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen did not back down. On the one hand, they continued to maintain close communication with the emperor and reformist forces of the Starry Empire, seeking their support and assistance; on the other hand, they were also thinking about how to deal with the challenges from the conservatives and find a way to break through the predicament.

During a private meeting with the Emperor of the Starry Empire, Xiao Yichen made a bold suggestion: In order to dispel the Starry Empire's concerns, Rong Kingdom was willing to take the lead in conducting a joint military exercise with the Starry Empire to demonstrate the two countries' armies' ability to coordinate operations and Rong Kingdom's sincerity; at the same time, in terms of trade, Rong Kingdom could open some important trading ports and grant the Starry Empire more preferential policies to promote the rapid development of trade between the two countries.

The Emperor of the Starry Empire showed great interest in Xiao Yichen's suggestion and decided to convene his ministers for discussion. After a heated debate, the Starry Empire finally agreed to Rong Kingdom's proposal, deciding to conduct joint military exercises and trade negotiations first, before considering the formal matters of the alliance.

This outcome gave Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen a glimmer of hope. They knew that the upcoming joint military exercises and trade negotiations would be even more crucial tests, but they were full of confidence that through their own efforts, they would be able to overcome all difficulties, lay a solid foundation for the alliance between Rong Kingdom and Xingyao Empire, and complete the important mission of this mission.