The Emperor's arrival interrupted the silent riddle between the two. The palace maids and eunuchs hurried back to their posts, and Wei Ming and Chi Lian also separated, standing with their heads bowed in silence. When Emperor Qiansheng entered, they saluted along with the assembled officials.

Emperor Qiansheng was nearly fifty, with a long, pale face and a short beard. He was not particularly tall and wore a black, gold-threaded, narrow-sleeved informal robe. Surrounded by palace attendants and guards, he walked into the hall, with the Crown Prince, the other princes, and the officials following closely behind. Seen this way, Wei Ming was indeed strikingly handsome; in the same hall as the other princes, they hardly looked like they belonged to the same family.

He showed no acknowledgement when passing his own son, Wei Ming, but he paused before Chi Lian and said amiably, "The Grand Preceptor has arrived."

Chi Lian bowed slightly in response.

Emperor Qiansheng ascended to his throne and sat down. His retinue took their seats in order. An official from the Ministry of Rites announced the proceedings, and the five delegations came forward one by one to offer their birthday congratulations. Once all the guests had arrived, Grand Chief Eunuch Shang Heng held a glazed pitcher and filled a golden goblet with fine wine. Emperor Qiansheng raised his cup and declared in a clear voice, "Esteemed ministers, you have traveled far to my court. I am greatly pleased. I hereby bestow upon you imperial wine and a fine banquet to reward you for the hardships of your journey."

The emissaries from each country rose to express their thanks and drained their cups. Following the procedure rehearsed in advance with the Ministry of Rites, after three ceremonial exchanges, the emissaries took turns presenting their birthday gifts to Emperor Qiansheng. To the melodious music of the Jiaofang Division, a dazzling array of rare treasures from foreign lands flowed into the Golden Hall like a river. The fragrance of fine wine filled the air, dancing sleeves swirled, and beauties were as numerous as the clouds. The opulence and luxury surpassed that of a celestial palace in the heavens. Such a scene of prosperity would be enough to intoxicate any monarch, no matter their country.

The last to come forward with congratulations was Hengfang Country of the West Sea. Just as a piece of music ended and a temporary quiet fell, an emissary with red hair and green eyes, dressed in a long, dark blue robe, gracefully stepped forward. Placing a hand over his chest, he spoke in slightly stiff Chinese, "Hengfang emissary Bai Shi pays his respects to Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Our sovereign has long admired the majesty of your court and has prepared precious treasures, local gifts, musicians, and servants to celebrate Your Majesty's sacred birthday. We wish to perform a piece of music for Your Majesty."

Emperor Qiansheng nodded slightly. An imperial attendant relayed the order to allow them to enter the hall. The emissary raised his hand and clapped crisply. Suddenly, a flute's melody, sharp enough to tear clouds and split silk, rang out in the air. A gust of wind blew past, and thousands of flying flowers surged in from the hall's entrance, like a brocade of pale pink and light red unfurling overhead, splashing the sky with magnificent colors.

The officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty managed to suppress their astonishment, but the foreign emissaries had no such qualms and cried out in applause on the spot. A moment later, the melodious and clear flute solo gradually faded, and the sound of a pipa rose. Amidst the exotic music, countless petals rustled down from the air, revealing a troupe of dancers in embroidered clothes in the center of the great hall. Seven graceful women with high chignons adorned with flowers and colorful ribbons on their arms danced elegantly to the music. Each was as graceful as a startled swan or a soaring dragon, their beauty and elegance on full display. What was more wondrous was that the petals did not fall to the ground but instead floated in mid-air, twirling and spinning with the dancers' skirts, serving as both decoration and fellow dancers, making the dancing maidens seem like goddesses descending to the mortal world, captivating all who watched.

Wei Ming casually plucked a petal from the air. It felt soft and delicate to the touch, indistinguishable from a real flower. From its shape, it seemed to be a peony. It was not the season for them; even the Imperial Garden could not grow peonies at this time of year. Yet, the number of flowers used in the hall was at least a thousand. He wondered what ingenious method the Hengfang people had used.

He flicked the petal from his hand, his gaze falling, intentionally or not, on Chi Lian through the shower of colorful flowers. He was a truly unignorable sight in the crowd. The entire hall was filled with flying flowers, and not even the throne was spared, yet they only swirled a step away from his body, as if an invisible glass dome had been erected, enclosing him securely within.

Halfway through the song, the melody suddenly changed. A fragrant breeze swept up from the ground, and in an instant, the thousands of flying flowers transformed into butterflies, flapping their wings and flying toward the seated imperial clan members and officials. Among them were several exceptionally beautiful golden-winged, long-tailed swallowtail butterflies that drifted onto the shoulders of the Crown Prince and the various princes. The largest one circled continuously around the Emperor, scattering shimmering gold dust.

This act of flattery, though direct, was very effective. A faint smile appeared on Emperor Qiansheng's face, and he gladly allowed the butterfly to land on his dragon robe.

Wei Ming coldly watched a swallowtail butterfly circle before him, hesitatingly trying to land on his shoulder. His long fingers inside his sleeve curled slightly, and just as he was about to act, a familiar whooshing sound suddenly echoed in his ear. The butterfly instantly exploded into a small cloud of gold dust, and a wisp of black smoke, almost invisible to the naked eye, was abruptly exposed. It immediately panicked and tried to flee, but a second attack followed swiftly, bursting it with a 'pop'.

It all happened so quickly and quietly, swift and clean. Even the person sitting next to Wei Ming didn't notice. Only the beautiful Grand Preceptor across from him, holding his wine cup, raised it toward him in a toast as if nothing had happened.

Wei Ming: "…"

It was really hard not to overthink his actions. Such blatant protection often hid some earth-shattering secret. The three most common possibilities were 'he owes me', 'he likes me', and 'he's my father'.

Wei Ming gave a speechless look at his own father on the throne, who was currently being circled by a large fluttering moth, and decided to put aside his terrifying suspicions for now.

While the two exchanged glances, the butterflies all over the hall left the people's sides and flew toward the caisson ceiling. The seven dancing maidens simultaneously threw out their cloud-like sleeves and retreated in different directions. The chaotic butterflies and petals all dispersed, revealing in the center a brocade of 'A Hundred Butterflies Weaving Through Flowers' more than several zhang wide. The flower pistils and butterfly wings were embroidered with various gemstones, and the background was a deep green like peacock feathers, resembling the waves of a jade-green sea, shimmering with a dreamlike radiance under the candlelight.

Without need for introduction, anyone who had heard the rumors could guess that this magnificent brocade was the very Peacock Gauze that made the princes and nobles of the Jade Capital flock to it in a frenzy.

Bai Shi stepped forward from the side and bowed to the Emperor again, saying emotionally, "This is the supreme treasure of Hengfang Country, 'Peacock Gauze'. It was woven by hundreds of weavers, embroidered by hundreds of embroiderers, adorned with countless bird feathers, pearls, and jades, and took three months to create this exquisite, unparalleled brocade. It is presented to His Majesty, the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, with the wish for friendly relations between our two countries and an eternal bond for all generations."

Shang Heng signaled for a young eunuch to take the Peacock Gauze. The Emperor was not so easily moved by a few bolts of silk, but the Hengfang emissary's words and the flashy performance had indeed pleased him. So, with a rare pleasant expression, he said, "Your envoy is thoughtful. The songs and dances of Hengfang are indeed original and ingenious. Someone, see that they are rewarded."

The entire orchestra beamed with joy and hurriedly rose to give thanks. Emperor Qiansheng asked with great interest, "Where did all these flying flowers and butterflies in the hall come from? Is it Daoist spiritual arts, or the illusion arts of the hundred entertainments?"

Bai Shi said eagerly, "Replying to Your Majesty, this is a secret art passed down from ancient times in the West Sea. To this day, those who have mastered it can be counted on one hand. It is an orthodox immortal art, not something that common tricks can compare to. Not only can it create wondrous scenes of flowers from thin air, it can even summon wind and rain and change the color of the heavens and earth!"

Before his words had faded, a particularly clear scoff echoed in the Golden Hall, like a crisp slap directly across the Hengfang emissary's face. Everyone immediately followed the sound with their eyes, and upon seeing who it was, they all thought to themselves, 'Of course.'

Emperor Qiansheng's expression was inscrutable, but he did not mete out punishment. Instead, he asked, "What is the Grand Preceptor's esteemed opinion?"

Chi Lian sat relaxed in his seat. Even under the gaze of the entire hall, he remained completely unrestrained. His tone was indifferent, "It's merely an illusion. It is fine for Your Majesty to enjoy it as a novelty, but there's no need to praise it as if it's unparalleled in Heaven or on Earth."

The Hengfang Delegation had originally been determined to win His Majesty's favor, to use it to advance their standing, and ideally, to send one or two people into the palace. That was why they had racked their brains to prepare such a performance. Who would have thought that Chi Lian would interfere the moment it was unveiled? His dismissiveness was tantamount to provoking them in the worst way. The Hengfang emissary could not hold back and said resentfully, "Since Your Excellency feels our country's illusion art is but a petty trick, then please show us your true abilities to convince us. Otherwise, we will never be convinced!"

Seeing the Hengfang people looking furious, as if they had been utterly humiliated, Emperor Qiansheng had to speak up, "What does the Grand Preceptor say?"

Chi Lian set down his wine cup, rose gracefully, and said to the Hengfang emissary, "Since Your Envoy has so cordially invited me, I will play along with you."

Everyone saw him as a handsome pretty boy who spoke as gently as a mild breeze and soft rain. They subconsciously felt he wouldn't do anything reckless, that he would at most conjure up some more splendid romantic scenery, nothing too serious. Chi Lian strolled to the center of the hall, as if randomly picking someone with his eyes closed, then turned to Wei Ming and said, "This humble servant is so bold as to ask Your Highness to temporarily lend me a personal item."

Wei Ming had not rehearsed this with him beforehand, so his shock was quite genuine. He unfastened the Cloud-and-Thunder Patterned Green Jade Pendant from his waist and handed it over, taking the opportunity to whisper a warning, "Take it easy."

Logically, he shouldn't have been the one to say that; it was a bit too intimate for people who had just met for the first time. But before Wei Ming could regret his slip of the tongue, Chi Lian pressed down firmly on his hand, as if impatient with his nagging, "I know. I have my limits."

Wei Ming was skeptical, "Really?"

Chi Lian took the jade pendant, turned his palm to show it to the members of the Hengfang Delegation, and then with a wave of his sleeve, clouds and mist rose in an instant. Damp moisture rushed to their faces, and dark clouds quickly gathered at the ceiling of the hall. Purple lightning, like long serpents, tore through the cumulus clouds. An instant later, his gentle reply and an earth-shattering thunderstorm sounded at the same time.

"Really."

Wei Ming: "…"

The candle flames and sheer curtains in the hall danced wildly, and wine cups and dishes rattled. The civil and military officials all paled. The Hengfang Delegation was nearly blinded by the wind. Just as they were gripped by shock and doubt, a great flash appeared in their peripheral vision. They jerked their heads up to see a bolt of lightning, thicker than a man, streaking down from mid-air, striking straight at them!

The Hengfang emissary's pupils contracted, and he screamed frantically, "Help! Help—!"

His unseemly screams echoed in the hall. However, in the brief instant the lightning fell, all the wind, rain, thunder, and lightning faded away. The bright candles burned high, the curtains hung still, and even the moisture that had lingered in the air was gone. The scent of incense in the air was identical to a moment ago.

The hall was completely silent, leaving only the terrified gasps of the Hengfang Delegation.

Chi Lian stood elegantly beside the table, his voice as calm and steady as usual. "My apologies for giving Your Envoy a bit of a scare. I am ashamed."

"But please rest assured, Your Envoy, it was merely an illusion. It won't actually harm any of you." He turned and handed the jade pendant back to Wei Ming, his gaze sweeping lightly across his face, a hint of a smile in his eyes. "Isn't that right?"

He was like a lazy but very reliable large cat, acting according to a kind of trusting rapport cultivated over many years. He would often find new ways to act coquettishly and playfully with his master, yet when it was time to be serious, he understood his master's intentions better than anyone.

Wei Ming nodded woodenly, thinking to himself, 'This is killing me. This man must be a master of holding grudges.'

"Alright, on such a fine day, let's not hurt our friendly relations." Emperor Qiansheng raised his hand, putting a stop to this contest of spiritual arts. He said, arrogant yet magnanimous, "The State Preceptors of Zixiao Academy each possess unique skills. If Your Envoy is interested, you may as well come and exchange pointers often in the future. The esoteric arts are subtle; only through constant study and research can one make progress."

Bai Shi was helped up by two young eunuchs, his terror not yet dissipated. He didn't even dare to glance at Chi Lian out of the corner of his eye. He knew the situation was beyond salvage. Tonight, not only had he failed to gain favor, but he had also made a fool of himself for others to see. He could only swallow his pride and say, "Many thanks, Your Majesty."

After this episode with the Hengfang people, no one cared about what happened for the rest of the palace banquet. After it ended, Wei Ming returned to the Prince's Manor. Yi Dayou followed him to the inner courtyard, and while helping him change, he asked, "Prince, did everything go smoothly today?"

"More than just smoothly… you didn't see the scene today." Just thinking about it made Wei Ming's mind feel like a tangled mess of a thousand threads. After a long pause, he mused, "The Grand Preceptor is indeed a formidable character with real skill. Not only that, but judging from Father Emperor's attitude today, tacitly allowing him to embarrass the Hengfang people in front of all the civil and military officials and not pursuing the matter even when he filled the hall with thunder and lightning, it seems he intends to continue placing him in important positions."

If he were merely skilled in spiritual arts, it wouldn't be much. But when Wei Ming recalled the ambiguous and strange atmosphere between them from the moment they met, an indescribable sense of eager anticipation stirred in his heart, like a feather constantly tickling him.

Yi Dayou took the court robes he had changed out of, preparing to have someone wash them. But just as he was about to leave, his keen eye noticed something was amiss. He turned it over and asked, "Prince, when you went out today, it seems you weren't wearing this one?"

"Hm?"

Wei Ming looked down and saw that he was holding the jade pendant unfastened from his own sash. It was a carved lotus green jade pendant. The carving was delicate, ornate, and exquisite, and it was warm and smooth to the touch—clearly not the one he had given away earlier.

But he distinctly remembered that he had specifically glanced at it when he took it back—

It was Chi Lian's illusion.

Those things stirring restlessly in the depths of Wei Ming's heart finally found release, and his heart began to pound erratically.

For a moment, he didn't know whether to curse the man for being so forward as to exchange items privately, or to praise him for knowing what he was doing, at least enough to conjure an illusion to cover it up.