Chapter 36 – Keep Dreaming

“Huh? What?”

The officials of Great Qian immediately perked up their ears.

【The Fifth Prince of the Great Wei Kingdom isn’t really the Fifth Prince. He’s actually one of the emperor’s secret guards in disguise. The real Fifth Prince is the young guard standing behind him.】

The Great Qian officials quickly glanced at the young guard behind the so-called “Fifth Prince,” then hastily averted their eyes before anyone could notice.

【Wow, that secret guard is a Fifth-Rank Grandmaster—and also an expert in poison. He came here this time to poison both the Emperor and the National Preceptor.】

What!?

A poison master.

And he intends to assassinate the Emperor and the National Preceptor?!

The Great Qian officials immediately broke into a cold sweat.

The “Fifth Prince” of the Great Wei Kingdom seemed to notice their unusual stares and lifted his eyes toward them.

The officials instantly plastered on warm smiles of “cordial welcome.” The Minister of Rites stepped forward and made a polite gesture.

“Fourth Prince, Fifth Prince, please—this way.”

【The Fourth Prince of the Great Chen Kingdom isn’t disguised, but he brought along the most beautiful princess of his nation to form a marriage alliance.】

【And that princess… isn’t ordinary. She was born with a bewitching constitution. Anyone who so much as glances at her will fall hopelessly under her spell. Those who share a bed with her will experience ecstasy beyond imagining. So intoxicating that they’ll crave her endlessly until they’re addicted, unable to live without her.】

【Tsk tsk, looks like His Majesty is risking his life just to celebrate his birthday. Luckily, our Emperor doesn’t lust after beauty, or the Great Chen Emperor’s little scheme might’ve worked.】

All the Great Qian officials silently wiped imaginary sweat from their foreheads.

The envoys from the Great Chen and Great Wei Kingdoms were too absorbed in admiring the bustling streets of the capital to notice the Great Qian delegation’s shifting expressions.

Little did they know that along the way, Mu Nanjin had already exposed every one of their hidden plots.

After listening to her inner voice, Deng Xingchao suddenly felt that bringing her along to receive the foreign envoys might not have been such a bad idea after all.

The State Residence was the grand estate designated for visiting princes and foreign envoys when they came to the capital to pay homage. In both scale and splendor, it far surpassed the city’s princely mansions. The palace maids and guards there were all specially trained, every bit as disciplined and refined as those within the Imperial Palace itself.

As the Minister of Rites guided the two groups of envoys through the estate, he enthusiastically introduced the gardens, halls, and courtyards along the way.

Mu Nanjin followed behind, expression calm but eyes brimming with envy.

【When I’m rich someday, I’m going to build a mansion even grander than this one! Then I’ll hire a hundred men to serve me, one to give me massages, one to bathe me, and one just to keep me entertained, hehe.】

The officials: “…”

Keep dreaming.

The Minister of Rites instructed the steward of the State Residence to escort the envoys to their assigned courtyards to rest before leading them to the main hall for a welcome banquet.

As one exquisite dish after another was brought to the table, Mu Nanjin’s gaze couldn’t help but follow the maids carrying the food into the hall.

【It’s already noon. I’m starving… How nice would it be if I could just go in and eat with them?】

【If I say I’m helping them test for poison, would they let me join the meal?】

【I only need one bite of each dish, that’s not too much to ask, right?】

The officials: “…”

That’s very much too much to ask.

【Do I really have to stand here and watch them eat before I can leave? That’s so cruel. Huh? Why is the Fifth Prince of the Great Wei Kingdom looking at me? Don’t tell me he’s taken a liking to me? Sorry, handsome but you’re not my type.】

Deng Xingchao followed her line of sight and noticed that the so-called Fifth Prince’s disguised guard was indeed staring in their direction. Whether he was truly looking at Mu Nanjin, however, was another matter.

Just then, the “Fifth Prince” of the Great Wei Kingdom, Jin Beiyun, stepped forward and began walking toward them.