Chapter 448: The Xiyu Marriage Envoy Arrives in Beijing
The huge convoy of the Xiyu marriage delegation meandered along the official road in the twilight.
The heavy wheels rolled over the rutted loess road, making a monotonous and tired groan.
In the middle of the convoy, there was silence in a luxurious carriage decorated with the emblem of the Xiyu royal family but not ostentatious.
Thick curtains block out the dust and prying eyes of the outside world.
About a mile away from the mission camp, an inconspicuous path branched off from the official road and led to a long-abandoned courtyard.
The broken walls and ruins outlined a hideous outline in the dim light, and the overgrown weeds and chirping insects added a sense of desolation and mystery.
Deep in the courtyard, in the southwest corner, a sparse forest almost completely blended into the deepening night.
A figure, like the thickest ink dripping into the dark night, appeared silently under a gnarled old tree.
He was wrapped in a tight nightgown, with only a pair of eyes showing, as sharp as an eagle.
He seemed to be a part of the night, his breath was so restrained that not even the most alert night owl was alarmed.
The man in black stood still for a moment, as if confirming something.
The only sounds around were the whimpering of the wind through the dead branches and the slight rustling of the grass.
He moved suddenly, facing the seemingly empty darkness in front of him, and with neat and clear movements, he clasped his fists together and bowed deeply with a respectful attitude.
"military adviser."
His voice was so low, almost a whisper, yet it penetrated the silence of the night with extraordinary clarity.
"As you expected, Princess Taiping of Dayan, Yan Shishu, has completely fallen out with the Emperor and Empress of Dayan. Yesterday, she stormed into the Cining Palace, carrying Princess Jiahe's belongings, and delivered a passionate appeal. Her words were so vehement that the Empress Dowager fell ill and has not yet awakened."
He paused, then continued his report at a steady pace, each word like a cold stone dropped into a deep pond:
"The Emperor of Dayan is furious and has ordered Princess Taiping to be confined to her palace, with the Imperial Guards keeping her under strict guard. However, to care for the critically ill Grand Empress Dowager, the Emperor has instructed Prince Lin to act as regent, temporarily managing state affairs. The Emperor himself has moved to the Cining Palace, attending to the Grand Empress Dowager day and night. Both inside and outside the palace, there is now a sense of panic and anxiety among the people."
After the man in black said the last sentence, he kept his fists clasped together and lowered his head slightly.
He seemed to be waiting for invisible instructions, or just completing a necessary etiquette.
The forest was dead silent. There was no response, no unusual sound of the wind, and even the chirping of insects strangely stopped at this moment.
The man in black was not surprised by this.
He maintained this posture for about three breaths, then, as abruptly and without warning as he had come, he stood up.
But those cold eyes finally swept across the deep darkness in front of them, as if confirming some invisible existence.
Then his figure flashed, and he retreated like a ghost. After a few rises and falls, he merged into the deeper and thicker shadows of the courtyard.
Disappeared without a trace, as if it had never appeared.
Only the dead forest in the southwest corner and the gnarled old tree remained, silently witnessing this silent report in the night.
…
A month and a half later, Beijing, West Gate.
In midsummer, the air in the capital is scorching hot.
The midday sun shines on the towering city walls and bustling streets, casting a dazzling golden glow on them.
Outside the city gate, at the end of the official road, smoke and dust gradually rose.
A large-scale team with distinctive ceremonial guards, like a winding giant python, slowly appeared in the eyes of the soldiers defending the city and the people who were eagerly watching.
The golden flag of the King of Xiyu fluttered in the wind, revealing the identity of the visitors - the Xiyu marriage delegation.
At the front of the team were two teams of Xiyu cavalrymen in distinctive armor and solemn expressions, leading the way and guarding the team.
Following them were several carriages lavishly decorated with draped gauze.
The one in the middle is the largest, with auspicious clouds and phoenixes painted all over it in gold lacquer. Exquisite silver bells are hung on the four corners, which tinkle as the car moves, with crisp sounds carrying an exotic and gentle melody.
This is the phoenix carriage of Princess Xiyu Yuyao.
Following the phoenix carriage came a heavy boxcar loaded with the so-called "treasures that cost the country a fortune."
Pulled by strong packhorses, the wheels made a dull sound as they rolled over the road.
Further behind was a long line of accompanying personnel: maids, eunuchs, musicians, clerks, and infantry guards.
They wore uniform Xiyu clothing, which was brightly colored and had unique styles.
In the eyes of the people in the capital, it was full of exotic charm and attracted whispers.
"Tsk, is this the carriage of Princess Xiyu? What a grand display!"
"I heard you ceded three cities and gave away so many treasures, just to ask for peace?"
"Who knows? We've been fighting for so many years, and so many people have died... It would be better if we could just stop fighting."
"Hmph, who knows if he's harboring evil intentions? That 'Ghost-faced Military Advisor' from Xiyu hasn't been apprehended yet!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down and don't get yourself into trouble..."
The crowd was buzzing with discussion, curiosity, vigilance, and worry intertwined.
The officials from the Ministry of Rites who were in charge of welcoming them had already lined up at the city gate waiting.
The leading Minister Ge took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, put on a smile, and walked forward.
The leader of the guards at the front of the delegation stopped his horse and conducted routine handover and document inspection with officials from the Ministry of Rites.
Everything is done according to plan and process.
No one noticed a figure at the back of the delegation, mixed in with the ordinary servants and grooms.
The man was tall, but his back was deliberately hunched. He was wearing a coarse linen shirt that was washed white and covered with dust and grass debris.
The unkempt beard covered most of his face.
He was leading a docile but unremarkable brown packhorse, with a heavy bag on its back.
Mixed in with the servants who were busy moving and organizing miscellaneous items in the carriage, he was inconspicuous.
This is none other than Su Muyang, Marquis of Pingnan, who has been sneaking into the diplomatic mission for nearly a month.
He sneaked in as a taciturn "horse slave" with a clean background.
During this month, he was like a real low-level servant, doing the dirtiest and most tiring work: feeding horses, brushing, carrying goods, and cleaning the stables.
He restrained all the dignity of a superior, learned to speak vulgarly, and endured being ordered around by some petty officials in Xiyu.
He was like the most patient hunter, observing everyone in the delegation silently every day.
From the high-ranking envoys to the lowest servants, they tried to catch some clues about the legendary "Ghost-faced Military Advisor" from their subtle words and actions.
However, this military advisor was like a real ghost.
Su Muyang paid attention to the core figures of the delegation:
The envoy was a trusted and old minister of the Lord of Xiyu. His words were humble and respectful, but his eyes were full of shrewd calculations.
The deputy envoy was a young noble general, very sharp and capable, and he seemed to know very little about the "Ghost-faced Military Advisor", and his words were occasionally filled with resentment;
Princess Yuyao lived in seclusion and rarely showed her true appearance. The maids who served her were all trusted by Xiyu.
The clues didn't lead to any progress.
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