The Prince of Beiyan and his entourage, who had been waiting for Ji Changying and Xie Siheng at the inn for several days, now looked a little unhappy.

Luo Chengwu was furious: "Is Princess Hua trying to trick us? It's been several days since we agreed to meet, and she still hasn't shown up!"

Gong Yehong smiled and pushed a cup of tea over. "Although we wasted some time here, I didn't expect the situation in Dali to be even more dire than we imagined. It was quite a sight to behold. I'm afraid that Prince Xie and the Princess have forgotten us a long time ago."

Luo Chengwu was a little anxious: "How can that be! I've been wandering around here with King Zhuang for so many days, and he doesn't even dare to agree to the food issue. I think he's a useless person who can't make any decisions! The man of destiny that Wuyouzi mentioned still hasn't shown up. Are we just going to keep wasting time like this?"

Gong Yehong pondered for a moment and said, "Let's go to the palace and talk to the Emperor of Dali. Given their current situation, the Crown Prince will be in turmoil as long as he is not in power. I don't believe they dare to reject us so harshly."

Luo Chengwu stood up and muttered, "You should have done this a long time ago. Why waste so much time..."

At this point, he became a little angry again: "I think that Wuyouzi is just a charlatan who cheats people out of food and drink! He even deceived our Emperor of Northern Yan! When I get back, I will behead him and show him to the public! 'He who saves flowers can save the country!'"

"It's a shame we actually believed it. We've been squatting in that flower market for so many days, and several pots of flowers have died, and no one has come to save them. I just don't believe it! If the Emperor of Dali dares to refuse, I will immediately lead 300,000 troops to the border. I wonder if he dares to fight!"

The Grand Minister of Agriculture, who had been sitting on the side with a gloomy face, stood up immediately after hearing this: "Absolutely not! General Luo, don't be impulsive!"

"Purchasing grain this time is imperative! Otherwise, the situation will be even worse next year. Severe droughts are often followed by locust plagues. Let's not even talk about whether there's enough grain in the treasury, and whether it can be left for planting next spring. Even if we can plant next year, the land won't have recovered by then, and a half-yield reduction in these crops would be considered a good situation. If, as Wuyouzi predicted, there's nothing to harvest, the situation will be even worse! What will be the consequences of unstable public sentiment then?"

"It can be said that after this incident, the national strength of our Northern Yan will be reduced by more than half. We have no choice but to negotiate cooperation with Dali!"

"If not, why would the Emperor of Dali be so calm and unmoved as to not respond to us for so long?"

Gongye Hong could no longer maintain the smile on his face.

Indeed, the situation in Dali is not optimistic, but it is just internal fighting, and they, Beiyan, will have to face difficulties in the next three years. However, the pot calling the kettle black, no one will be much better off.

Although the national treasury is still relatively sufficient now, with so many people in the country, how long can it withstand such consumption?

"Without further delay, I will go to the palace and talk to the Emperor of Dali."

As soon as Gong Yehong finished speaking, Luo Chengwu immediately ordered his men to prepare the carriage, and several people rushed towards the Dali Palace together.

As soon as they reached the palace gate, they met Ji Changying who had just visited the Queen.

Seeing her, Luo Chengwu's nose was not a nose and his eyes were not eyes. "Who did I think it was! Isn't this the Princess Hehua who was so proud before and wanted to send a pot of the same flowers on behalf of Master Xie? Now it's already past the agreed time. Could it be that the Princess is so boastful that she feels ashamed to face people and has gone into hiding?"

Gongye Hong was standing aside in white clothes, with handsome features. He seemed not to hear what Luo Chengwu said.

She pulled out a folding fan from somewhere and fanned it gently, looking at Ji Changying with a smile: "This matter has nothing to do with the princess, so it doesn't matter if you can't produce it! But the princess is a girl after all, and it's really unbecoming of her to always speak so carelessly."

Ji Changying looked at him with an indescribable look in her eyes.

What a show-off!

Fanning yourself in the middle of winter requires a cerebral thrombosis that has lasted for ten years.

Seeing her strange look, Gongye Hong's smile slowly froze on his face, and the fan in his hand unconsciously stopped: "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Ji Changying finally came back to her senses: "You were talking about the Golden Branches and Jade Leaves! I've been so busy these days that I forgot about it. I'll send it to you later."

Not only did Ji Changying forget about it, but even Xie Siheng had put it out of his mind for the past few days.

If she hadn't been blocked at the palace gate, she wouldn't have remembered it now!

"Oh! Last time it was 'in two days', this time it's 'later'. Next time I see the princess, it won't be 'some other day' again, right? If not, then no. I, Luo Chengwu, despise people like you who don't keep their promises the most!"

Luo Chengwu vented all his anger that had been accumulating for several days when he saw Ji Changying.

Ji Changying looked at Luo Chengwu strangely: "Isn't it just a pot of flowers? You didn't seem to care much after it broke that day. You walked away without even looking at it. Why are you acting like you care so much now?"

Luo Chengwu didn't expect her to be so perceptive, and the anger on his face froze for a moment.

Gong Yehong smiled and said, "Princess, please forgive me for making fun of you. General Luo has a quick temper and he has been waiting at the inn for several days but Prince Xie and the princess haven't come. This is bound to make him feel a little resentful. I'm sure the princess won't mind, right?"

Hearing him say this, Ji Changying's face straightened: "I really forgot a few days ago. I will go back and have someone send the flowers to the post station. I always keep my word when I say it."

The flower has extremely tenacious vitality, and the temperature and soil in the space are just right for its growth. Not only has it recovered its vitality, but many new branches have also sprouted. It only needs a little pruning.

Luo Chengwu's expression changed, and he looked at her with some suspicion, trying to judge the truth of her words in his mind.

"Then wait for good news from the princess."

After Gongye Hong finished speaking, he led his men to make way.

Ji Changying nodded slightly at him and passed by him.

"Your Highness, do you think what she said is true?" Luo Chengwu stared at her back as she left, feeling a little doubtful.

"We'll know the truth later. Let's go see the emperor first."

After being informed, they were led into the Chuigong Hall by eunuchs.

Emperor Mingde happened to be working there with several court officials at the time. When he heard that the Prince of Northern Yan wanted to see him, he had him brought in.

"Greetings to His Majesty Dali."

After Gongye Hong and his men finished paying their respects, they looked around before looking at Emperor Mingde.

"Please take a seat!"

"I have been busy with government affairs for many days and have neglected you, Crown Prince. Are you used to eating and living here?"

Although Emperor Mingde was full of worries, he still showed an approachable attitude towards the prince of Northern Yan.

"Everything is fine, but His Royal Highness Prince Zhuang seems to be in a bad mood these past two days. He has been staying at home and has not come out. Without anyone to lead us, I really don't know what to do. So, we went to the palace to see His Majesty the Emperor."