That night, Ling Qiyan fell ill with a high fever. Fortunately, it wasn't serious. After the imperial physician was called to see him, he took some medicine and rested for a day, and then he was well again.

However, because of this, Wen Ying found it even harder to get a pleasant look from Ling Qiyan.

For the next few days, Ling Qiyan paid no more attention to Wen Ying. After recovering from his illness, he was back to his lively self, leaving early and returning late every day. Without Wen Ying, there were still plenty of people to keep him company.

The delegations at the State Guesthouse had not yet left. Shangjing City was too prosperous, and they could eat and drink for free. According to regulations, they could stay for a month, so naturally, they would stay for the full duration before leaving.

On the third day after the Longevity Festival, the Emperor issued an imperial edict, taking the dancing girl who had stolen the show at the Longevity Banquet into the imperial harem and conferring upon her the title of Jieyu*. The monarch from that small southwestern kingdom was endlessly grateful to Ling Qiyan for this and went to great lengths to flatter him.

*T/N: Third-rank Consort

Ling Qiyan spent his days enjoying himself outside, so happy he forgot to go home. He soon cast the poor scholar in his manor to the back of his mind.

Late in the afternoon on this day, Ling Qiyan returned from outside. He changed his clothes, sat down for half a cup of tea, and was about to go out again.

He was off to another banquet, invited by the young prince of the Mobei Cilie Tribe, Jiang Rong.

When Jiang Rong had come to Prince Yu's Manor to deliver gifts that day, Ling Qiyan had verbally accepted his invitation. However, too many invitations were sent to Prince Yu's Manor, and Ling Qiyan was too busy to attend them all. This time, he finally graced the young prince's banquet with his presence.

As he was leaving, he ran into Wen Ying who had come to pay his respects. Ling Qiyan ignored him and started to walk away.

Wen Ying took a step forward, blocking Ling Qiyan's path.

Ling Qiyan's brows furrowed, his face turning cold. "What are you doing? Move."

Wen Ying offered him a packet of candied fruit. Seeing that Ling Qiyan wouldn't take it, he urged in a low voice, "Your Highness, keep this with you. When you drink too much, it can at least help sober you up."

Before Ling Qiyan could say anything, Wen Ying had already taken his hand and pushed the oil-paper packet into it. "Your Highness, please take it. This student went out to buy it today. The shop just made them."

Ling Qiyan curled his lip. What delicacy hadn't he tried? These candied fruits were somewhat interesting the first time, but after eating them more, they were just so-so. He didn't care for them at all.

Having given him the item, Wen Ying took a step back and cleared the way.

Ling Qiyan casually tossed the oil-paper packet to the servant behind him and strode away.

Wen Ying stood under the corridor, watching Ling Qiyan's departing figure. The golden afterglow of the sunset reflected in his pupils, gradually dimming in the depths of his eyes.

Jiang Lin didn't follow Ling Qiyan. After seeing him off, he turned back and saw Wen Ying still standing there, an unsettling chill in his expression.

Jiang Lin grumbled to himself. This kid was clearly a frail scholar, so why did he always give off an indescribable sense of gloomy discomfort?

Unsure of his own motives, he walked over and said with a tone that was half-mocking, half-smiling, "His Highness has already left, yet you're still rooted here. Thinking of ways to curry favor with His Highness now? This one advises you to save it. Don't be delusional. His Highness is such a precious person; how could he tolerate being coveted by someone of your status?"

Wen Ying gave him an indifferent glance. His pair of black pupils were calm and rippleless, which only made one feel more uncomfortable.

Jiang Lin was displeased. He wanted to say a few more things, but Wen Ying had already retracted his gaze and walked away.

Ling Qiyan left the manor by carriage. The place Jiang Rong had invited him to was not the State Guesthouse, nor was it any of the brothels or pleasure quarters, but a very elegant private estate in the capital.

The owner of the estate was said to be a good friend of the young prince, who had generously lent him the place.

When Ling Qiyan arrived, Jiang Rong was already waiting at the entrance. He welcomed him out of the carriage, raised a hand to his chest, and bowed, his attitude respectful but not fawning—very proper.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for gracing this banquet with your presence. The fine wine and delicacies have all been prepared. This way, please, Your Highness."

Ling Qiyan smiled and lifted his chin slightly, motioning for him to lead the way.

The two walked in together. Jiang Rong, familiar with the place, gave Ling Qiyan a tour. Although this estate was far from being as extravagant and opulent as Ling Qiyan's own mountain villa, the Jiangnan-style garden scenery inside was a novelty in the north. Ling Qiyan looked around with some interest.

"I didn't expect that friend of yours to be from Jiangnan."

Ling Qiyan said it casually, and Jiang Rong explained, "His ancestral home is in Jiangnan. His family are merchants who often lead caravans to trade beyond the passes, and they also have business dealings with my Cilie Tribe."

"You certainly have a wide circle of friends. No wonder you speak the language of Great Cheng so well."

Ling Qiyan didn't ask any more questions and followed Jiang Rong to the side of a stream where mats and low tables were already set up. Jiang Rong invited him to take a seat.

Ling Qiyan was a little surprised. Quite a few people had invited him to banquets these past few days, but this was the first time it was just the two of them.

He didn't think too much of it and sat down cross-legged. The dishes Jiang Rong had prepared included both Mobei-style roasted meat and wine, as well as exquisite Jiangnan cuisine, which completely exceeded Ling Qiyan's expectations.

Ling Qiyan took just one sip of the wine and gave a thumbs-up. He felt that this person was very skilled at pleasing him. Crucially, he was also good-looking, and Ling Qiyan found him very easy on the eyes.

Jiang Rong looked at him and smiled. "It's good that Your Highness likes it."

But the wine was a bit too strong. Ling Qiyan had only drunk two or three cups before he started to feel tipsy. Seeing that he seemed drunk, Jiang Rong ordered someone to bring sobering fruit tea and had more roasted meat carved for him, reminding him, "Your Highness, please eat more food. Don't just drink."

Ling Qiyan hiccupped from the wine, propped his head up with one hand, and gave a casual grunt of acknowledgment.

The eunuch beside him was perceptive. After a moment's thought, he took out the packet of candied fruit Ling Qiyan had tossed away earlier, opened it, and offered it to him. "Your Highness, would you like a piece of this to sweeten your mouth?"

Ling Qiyan shot the eunuch a sidelong glance. The eunuch shrank his neck, thinking he had displeased Ling Qiyan, but Ling Qiyan said nothing to him. After a moment of hesitation, he picked up a piece of candied fruit, tossed it into his mouth, and chewed twice.

The sweetness of the candied fruit spread through his mouth, and it seemed the discomfort from the strong wine truly did subside a little. Ling Qiyan picked up a second piece and tossed it into his mouth.

Jiang Rong asked with a smile, "Does Your Highness like sweets? Do you like candy?"

Ling Qiyan grunted, "They're alright."

"My Cilie Tribe makes a kind of goat's milk candy that's also quite delicious. Unfortunately, I didn't bring any this time. If Your Highness enjoys sweets, I will bring some for you the next time I come to the capital."

...Hm?

Ling Qiyan glanced at him with some suspicion. Was this person always this enthusiastic?

He clearly didn't seem like a sycophant, yet he was quite willing to put in the effort to please him. Tsk, if only that poor scholar could learn half as much.

Thinking of that boy Wen Ying, Ling Qiyan couldn't help but feel annoyed again. He still hadn't gotten over his anger from that day.

They chatted and laughed while they ate. After three rounds of wine, Jiang Rong took advantage of Ling Qiyan's good mood to ask about official business. "Your Highness, I must return in a few days. I'm afraid that if I delay too long, things might change. I wonder when the matter of my Cilie Tribe can be presented before His Majesty?"

Ling Qiyan asked groggily, "What matter of the Cilie Tribe?"

Seeing his completely clueless state, Jiang Rong was slightly surprised. He hesitated, "Does Your Highness not know? It seems my father khan and my elder brother have dealings with the khan of Balindun. It's as if they've been bewitched by him and have developed rebellious intentions. I came to the capital this time precisely to find an opportunity to report this matter to His Majesty."

Ling Qiyan instantly sobered up by half. "There's such a thing? Why has no one mentioned this to this prince?"

"Your Highness truly does not know?"

Of course he didn't know! No one had mentioned it to him at all!

Although he was unlearned and unskilled, he wasn't completely ignorant about court affairs. Not to mention, he had been in charge of tributary affairs recently, so he naturally had a general understanding of the situation in Mobei.

Balindun was a large tribe on the northwest border of the Great Cheng Dynasty. Since the founding of Great Cheng, it, like the other Mobei tribes, had been a vassal state. But over a decade ago, the khan at the time found an opportunity to rebel against Great Cheng, established his own khanate, and even annexed several small surrounding tribes. After his ambitions grew, he continued to send troops eastward, attacking and occupying the Cilie Tribe, which was located at a strategic point leading to the fortresses of the Great Cheng Dynasty.

That must have been a few years before Ling Qiyan was born. At that time, his Imperial Father was still a prince. He led troops to Mobei, repelled Balindun's rebel army, and recaptured the Cilie Tribe. For the past dozen years or so, it was his fifth uncle, Prince Jing, who had been stationed at the northwest border year-round, successfully thwarting Balindun's designs on the Great Cheng Dynasty.

But now, this young prince from the Cilie Tribe was telling Ling Qiyan that the khan of the Cilie Tribe had been bewitched by the Balindun people and had developed rebellious intentions.

Jiang Rong's expression was somewhat grave as he explained to Ling Qiyan, "When I first arrived in the capital, I had already informed the Bureau of Receptions. The officials from the Bureau of Receptions said they had already reported it to you, and that it was your intention not to spoil His Majesty's mood for the Longevity Festival, so the matter should be suppressed for a while and reported to His Majesty after the festival."

Ling Qiyan was instantly furious. "Who told this prince? Absolutely no one has mentioned this matter to this prince!"

His not-so-clear mind spun, and he immediately understood. This matter was, in all likelihood, related to Liu Shang, the head of the Bureau of Receptions. Damn it!

"Forget it. This prince understands now. Tomorrow, this prince will enter the palace to speak with His Majesty." Ling Qiyan took another gulp of wine to suppress his anger. Since things had already come to this, there was no point in saying more. He just had to report the matter to his Imperial Father as soon as possible tomorrow.