"You've already made up your mind to divorce Chu Chenyi and have no feelings for him, so why worry about them acting out a real drama."
Feng Jin deliberately said this to gauge Lin Yuwei's true reaction.
Lin Yuwei was speechless, her eyes flickered, and she found an excuse to bluff, "I... I'm just worried that if he can't control himself, and is infatuated with the beauty of the Xiliang princess, he might impulsively go to Xiliang and become a consort, which would be a waste of all our long-term planning."
"At that time, you will definitely divorce, and it will not involve you or the Pingyang Marquis Manor. There's no need to worry."
Feng Jin knew that Lin Yuwei didn't mean that, but still deliberately followed her words.
"I... I..." Lin Yuwei was flustered, finding it so difficult to say what was on the tip of her tongue.
Amused by her anxious state, Feng Jin held back a laugh.
"Sister Feng Jin, you're deliberately teasing me!" Lin Yuwei said, finally realizing.
"I just wanted to see your true reaction."
Feng Jin took a deep breath and sat beside Lin Yuwei, "Don't you want to know how deep Chu Chenyi's feelings for you are?"
Lin Yuwei lowered her head and was silent for a moment, then raised her head and said, "If he doesn't say it, how can I know."
"Aren't you worried he'll marry the Xiliang princess? Then let's see if he will marry the Xiliang princess. Chu Chenyi wants to sow discord between you two, so let's play along with his plan. Let him think he's succeeded and reveal his true colors. This way, you can catch Chu Chenyi's weakness and test his sincerity towards you. It's killing two birds with one stone, what do you think?"
"I'll do whatever my wife says," Ling Mohan agreed unconditionally.
"Then... then let's try it," Lin Yuwei said after some hesitation.
...
"Your Highness, His Majesty has an edict, ordering you to go and welcome the Xiliang envoys."
"I'm not going, get out!" Chu Chenyi shouted angrily, throwing the wine bottle in his hand. The bottle shattered in mid-air before it even hit the ground.
Ling Mohan retracted his hand, which had just flicked a stone, and walked calmly to Chu Chenyi, who was drunk and in a stupor. He frowned and said, "Someone, bring a basin of cold water and sober up the Prince of Jing."
Ling Mohan, with a cold expression, watched as the servants poured a basin of cold water over Chu Chenyi, who remained unmoved.
Suddenly doused with bone-chilling cold water, Chu Chenyi shivered, his alcohol-fogged consciousness clearing.
"Since you're awake, stop pretending to be dead. Get up and come with me to receive the Xiliang envoys."
Ling Mohan dropped these words and turned to leave.
Chu Chenyi paused for a moment, then staggered to his feet, changed into clean clothes, and followed him out.
Although spring had arrived, the sudden dousing with cold water made Chu Chenyi sneeze a few times.
"Drink some medicine first, then we'll go out together." Ling Mohan's tone was tinged with displeasure. He didn't want to go out with a half-dead person who might falter at a critical moment.
"If you hadn't doused me with cold water, I wouldn't be like this."
"If I hadn't thrown cold water on you, you still wouldn't be awake."
He didn't know there was an important event today and still dared to drink himself into such a state. If it reached the Emperor's ears and was exaggerated, he would be in trouble. Why couldn't he learn his lesson?
Chu Chenyi, knowing he was in the wrong, guiltily touched his nose. After drinking the medicine, he hurried to the city gate to welcome the Xiliang envoys.
The Xiliang contingent entered the city gate in a grand procession. The leading Xiliang envoy dismounted and approached Ling Mohan, his gaze appraising, "General Ling, it's been a long time. I heard General Ling was poisoned, but I didn't expect you to recover."
"Thank you for your concern, General Baili. This general is rather tenacious. I apologize if this displeases General Baili."
Ling Mohan, worthy of being a top scholar and former imperial tutor, was as eloquent as ever.
Baili Xi, a mere general skilled in warfare, was no match for Ling Mohan's verbal prowess and was left speechless.
"You..."
"General Baili, show some respect. We have traveled a long way, and General Ling has kindly come to greet us. General Ling has worked hard. We were unaware of General Ling's recent marriage, so we specifically brought this fine wine from Dongchu to celebrate your wedding."
A clear voice emanated from the carriage, drawing many gazes.
Ling Mohan glanced at the gift from the Xiliang envoy, "Thank you, Princess. Lu Shi, take it and distribute it among the soldiers so they too can taste the flavor of Xiliang's fine wine."
"Yes, General."
"Ling Mohan, you are truly arrogant. This was gifted to you by our Princess. To give it to the soldiers is to show disrespect to our Xiliang."
Baili Han, a man of fiery temper, immediately lost all composure, determined to seek justice.
"This general is distributing the wine to the soldiers so they may also feel the Princess's good intentions."
"General Ling, you are too kind. Since the gift was given to General Ling, how he chooses to dispose of it is his affair," the voice of the Xiliang Princess came through the thick curtains.
"The post station has been prepared. Please rest for a while, and a banquet will be held in the palace tonight to entertain you."
Ling Mohan did not want to quibble further with them. He finished speaking and strode away. If Emperor Xuanwen had not ordered him to accompany the welcoming party, he would never have come. He needed to finish this quickly and return to cuddle his wife for a lie-in.
"Everyone, please," Chu Chenyi said perfunctorily.
Upon arriving at the post station, Baili Xi complained loudly, "This post station is so rudimentary. My Princess, of noble birth, cannot possibly stay here. This is how Dongchu treats its guests. I will report this accurately to my Emperor."
"General Baili, we are here for peace negotiations, not for luxury." The Xiliang Princess gracefully emerged from the carriage, her crimson robe embroidered with gold thread making her even more radiant and alluring.
"Princess, this place is extremely simple and utterly uninhabitable. They must change our accommodations!"
"If you don't change our accommodations, we will leave Dongchu immediately!" Baili Xi insisted.
"Preparations were rushed, and new accommodations have not yet been arranged. Please make do here for tonight. Tomorrow, everything will be properly arranged."
Chu Chenyi hurriedly tried to placate them. The task of welcoming the Xiliang envoys had fallen to him, and any slight misstep would lead to severe repercussions.
"You have one day. If it is not properly arranged tomorrow, we will return to Xiliang immediately!"
Baili Xi's attitude was firm. This time, they had come for peace negotiations, and they intended to seize the initiative, not be dictated to by the Dongchu people.
"We trouble General Ling and Your Highness," the Xiliang Princess said, her voice as gentle as water. Her gaze was fixed on Ling Mohan, never wavering.
Ling Mohan seemed to notice this, his face darkening considerably, his expression icy and unwelcoming.