The next day, Xin Yi woke up quite early. He had gone to bed late last night, so he hadn't slept much. Today, he still had to host the foreign delegation with Hu Yong, so he didn't dare to sleep in. When he woke up, his waist ached a little. Drowsily, he felt Bai Jiu's firm arm, then fumbled to Bai Jiu's face. Bai Jiu had clearly just woken up too, letting out a confused "Hmm?" and pulled him closer.

It was a while later before Xin Yi managed to get up, and Bai Jiu was also awake. After accompanying him through his morning routine and meal, Bai Jiu watched him leave.

Xin Yi drove together with Hu Yong. It happened to be quite hot today. Hu Yong saw Xin Yi's tightly buttoned stand-up collar, tugged at his own lapels, and advised, "The Young Master isn't often in the capital. In autumn, the capital still stays hot for a while."

Xin Yi touched his stand-up collar, nodded at Hu Yong with a smile, but his ear tips suddenly burned. His fingertips rubbed against the buttons, his heart filled with embarrassment.

No need to mention the casual conversation along the way; suffice it to say, upon arriving at the foreign delegation's residence, Xin Yi and Hu Yong waited for a full hour before seeing anyone. As soon as Chagatai appeared, he repeatedly expressed shame, saying he had drunk too much at the palace banquet last night and couldn't get up this morning. Hu Yong quickly and politely responded that the Prince valued his health and that no harm was done. Once the atmosphere was sufficiently managed, they turned to the question of where to go today. Hu Yong did not mention the previous trip to Flower Street, only proposing the Bu'er Teahouse and asking Chagatai for his opinion.

Chagatai naturally wouldn't decline. Once both sides agreed, they set off.

Xin Yi was mute, so he wouldn't be asked to lead upfront. He merely had to remain seated, as the Emperor's original intention in calling him was simply to provide entertainment for Great Yuan. However, he held the title of Heir, so he couldn't be ignored entirely. As a result, he sat with Arslang. Hu Yong and Chagatai conversed happily upfront, while the two below were silent.

Xin Yi idly rubbed the rim of his cup, as if listening to a storyteller. 'The tea at Bu'er Teahouse is still so hot,' he thought. 'It's making my back sweat, but there's no way I can unbutton my collar. I just have to bear it.' Arslang beside him wasn't faring any better; their Great Yuan ceremonial robes were more than twice as heavy as Great Lan's. Just sitting there was already a test of endurance.

Midway, a waiter came to pour tea. Perhaps intimidated by the Lion King's prestige or new to the teahouse, his hands trembled severely. Arslang frowned, and just as he seemed about to scold, someone next to him took over.

Xin Yi steadied the pot, gesturing for the waiter to leave. The waiter quickly retreated, and Xin Yi poured tea for Arslang. His movements were fluid, the tea leaves swirling and floating in the cup. When his hand stopped, and he set the pot down, their gazes met.

"Excuse me," Arslang said, raising the teacup and drinking it all in one go without even blowing on it. A moment after finishing his tea, Arslang suddenly asked, "How does the Prince of Ping treat you?" Xin Yi smiled, and Arslang answered himself, "He's always been vengeful; how could he treat you well?" Seeing Xin Yi's calm, downcast eyes, he continued, "The Emperor keeps you here, probably because he doesn't want to let you return to Beiyang." Finally, he asked, "Where is your father buried?"

Where is he buried?

That year, his mother died suddenly in the palace. Her ashes should have been returned to his Prince of Yan's Manor in Beiyang, but unexpectedly, due to fear of misfortune, an order was given to come to the capital and every excuse was made, allowing the capital to retain them. They were eventually placed in the Empress Dowager's palace. His second brother was buried in the Prince of Yan's tomb forest in Xiajin, Beiyang. His eldest and third brothers were buried along the demarcation line between Beiyang and Great Yuan. His father died in battle with incomplete remains. The Prince of Ping sent his remains back to the capital. Due to a sudden fit of sorrow, the Emperor had his father cremated and placed in the palace, only erecting a cenotaph in Xiajin, Beiyang.

That his family was scattered across the land was the primary source of Xin Yi's heartache and his reason for willingly coming to the capital. He wanted to place his mother's and father's ashes in Beiyang, at least by his second brother's side, to avoid the pain of separation they experienced in life.

Seeing his lack of action, Arslang understood where it was. He repeatedly gazed at the teacup in his hand but ultimately said no more, merely sighing deeply in his heart.

After the meal, they headed to Xiaoxiao Restaurant to aid digestion and enjoy the scenery. The carriage didn't travel fast. Before long, another carriage suddenly rushed out from a side road, crashing directly into Arslang's. The horses, startled, neighed and began to bolt wildly, dragging the carriage. Arslang suddenly leaned out from behind the curtain, snatched the runaway reins, and firmly reined in the horses at a dangerous spot.

"Ah," the perpetrator said gruffly from his own carriage, "I didn't expect to meet the Lion King even here in the capital. Has the Lion King sustained any injuries?"

Arslang's gaze was like a torch. He said, "I also didn't expect to meet Deputy General Meng here." Then, turning towards the curtain behind Meng Chen, he added, "I suppose Deputy General Ji Baiyue must also be present."

At this, the onlookers were hesitant to speak up.

Because it was obvious at a glance that this was a Beiyang carriage. Beiyang had a fierce reputation, and was incompatible with Great Yuan, like fire and water. Not to mention the Prince of Yan's lineage, even their past grievances were complex. Now that they had met in the capital, if a provocation were to occur, even the Capital Guards Bureau might not be able to control it.

As if on cue, the carriage curtain was indeed lifted, revealing a figure seated upright. He lacked a certain refinement, but had a scar on his eyebrow; it was Ji Baiyue.

"It is truly an honor that the Lion King still remembers Ji Baiyue."

"Deputy General of the eldest son Xin Jing, who in the Great Yuan army doesn't know him? Deputy General Ji Baiyue's Wind-Breaking Arrow during the Battle of Wan Ze truly 'shocked heaven and made ghosts weep'," Arslang said with a hint of admiration, then changed his tone, "However, after Xin Jing's death, Deputy General Ji Baiyue was no longer seen moving about the border. Did he retreat back to Lijin in Beiyang?"

It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it. The moment Xin Jing's death was brought up, Ji Baiyue's eyes flickered with coldness. He lightly traced the scar on his eyebrow with a finger and sneered, "What business is that of yours!"

Arslang didn't respond but also didn't get angry. He truly admired Ji Baiyue; this man's archery was quite exceptional. He had repeatedly taken the heads of enemy generals and commanders on the battlefield, creating the fearsome reputation of 'piercing clouds and breaking wind,' which earned him the moniker Wind-Breaking Arrow. Moreover, he was highly accomplished in troop deployment and formation, serving as Xin Jing's right-hand man and trusted general back then. However, after Xin Jing's death, the Three Jins of Beiyang, vying for military supervision authority, divided the Beiyang Army into three regions for separate management. Ji Baiyue succeeded Xin Jing in commanding Lijin, rarely appearing on the border since.

After all, without the Prince of Yan's Manor, who could consolidate the forces of the Three Jins and command Beiyang? The Emperor, wary, made no moves, while the Crown Prince engineered the division to weaken Beiyang's military might. It was truly a pity that such a brilliant military talent had to retreat to the rear.

Xin Yi had already alighted from the carriage and was quietly watching from the side. When Ji Baiyue saw him, his emotions instantly fluctuated violently. Xin Yi felt that he only bore a thirty percent resemblance to his eldest brother, yet he hadn't expected it to be enough to deeply stir this man's heart.

Xin Yi knew Ji Baiyue, but they had only met a few times.

"Your Beiyang no longer has its alpha wolf," Arslang said, dismounting from his horse and glancing at Xin Yi. "You've fallen into such a state of decline."

Ji Baiyue's eyes grew colder. He said, "What kind of situation? No situation is as pathetic as the thirty-two tribes fleeing in a panic to the glacier border. The Lion King, having weathered many storms and ups and downs, surely understands the principle of 'fortune cycles'? As the saying goes, a good blade needs repeated sharpening. Beiyang's blade has yet to be fully honed, so the Lion King's impatience is futile. Moreover, these days the Lion King spends his days watching eagles fly and rabbits run on Jianan Mountain, keeping company with cattle and sheep. I, Baiyue, would like to offer a reminder: Lion King, do not let your war blade grow rusty. One never knows when we might meet again; perhaps tomorrow we'll see each other on the battlefield."

Arslang didn't get angry; instead, he laughed, stroking his horse's mane. He said, "Indeed, fortune cycles. Today you can mock Great Yuan's old shame of fleeing in panic along the glacier border, but tomorrow, won't Great Yuan be able to scoff at your current complacency? Beiyang has millions of people, but only one Xin Jing. Even when Xin Jing was alive, he couldn't get past Jianan Mountain, where cattle and sheep reside. What do I have to fear now?"

"You say Young Master couldn't get past Jianan Mountain?" Ji Baiyue suddenly dismounted, stepping closer and closer to Arslang. "Young Master wielded his whip at Wan Ze; if not for treacherous officials ruining things, could you still be called the Lion King today? Arslang!" Ji Baiyue's voice was cold and sharp. "Once, you could be called Batu'er, but after Young Master, you're just an old lion on a leash!"

"Stop spouting nonsense!" Chagatai's voice suddenly cut in, furious. "You Beiyang brat!"

Hu Yong quickly intervened, saying, "Easy now! Easy, everyone! Don't quarrel, don't quarrel!"

Arslang showed no hint of anger. The Lion King remained silent, as if tacitly agreeing with Ji Baiyue's statement. Ji Baiyue's eyebrow scar, seen up close, was startling. He said, "Baiyue still thanks the Lion King for the 'gift' at Wan Ze. As long as this scar remains, Baiyue will spend his life sharpening Beiyang's blade." His last sentence, he whispered, leaning closer, enunciating each word: "You... all... will... pay... with... your... lives!"

Arslang remained silent from beginning to end, not uttering a single word.

"What is going on!" Xiao Jin finally arrived, dismounting and rushing to stand between the two, but he couldn't separate them. In his haste, he slapped his thigh and said, "Why bother, both of you! Are you going to fight here on the capital's main street? At least you're both established seniors, don't—" As he spoke, the saber at his waist suddenly scraped with a clink and clanged between the two men. The blade, somehow, slid out halfway, a cold gleam forcing them apart. Xiao Jin's tongue tied, "Eh, eh! This, who touched my—"

He looked back, only to see Xin Yi standing behind him, elegant and harmless. Xiao Jin suddenly pulled his voice back, changing tack: "Hey, no, who touched me!"

'Damn it!'

'Who knew Xin Yi had this trick up his sleeve!'

Ji Baiyue retreated a few steps, brushed past Xin Yi, who was standing on the other side of Arslang, and said to Meng Chen behind him, "Let's go."

Meng Chen quickly got out of the carriage, tossed the horsewhip to Xiao Jin, and hurried after Ji Baiyue, shouting, "Little Marquis of Huiyang, he's all yours!"

"Call me Lord, Lord Xiao!" Xiao Jin took the horsewhip, twirled it in his hand, properly sheathed his saber, and said to Arslang, "Lion King, don't let this spoil your mood. Shall we proceed?"

Arslang looked at Xin Yi again and again. He said, "I nearly misjudged you."

Xin Yi's dimples subtly swirled, as if he hadn't heard.

Arslang silently untied his horse, not even bothering with the reins, and mounted to follow the carriage.

Hu Yong had to accompany Chagatai and bore the important task of mediating and calming tempers. Cleaning up this scene naturally fell to Xin Yi. Seeing the carriage drive away, Xiao Jin immediately stomped his foot, pointing at Xin Yi and fuming for a long time before finally managing to blurt out, "You're something else!"

Xin Yi raised his left hand, which had been hanging down, and a note suddenly appeared between his fingertips. He read Ji Baiyue's words, then smiled at Xiao Jin, humbly saying, "Not bad."

"You rascal." Xiao Jin shivered. "You're like a completely different person when you're away from Bai Jiu."

Xin Yi sighed, hands behind his back, and said with a mature tone, "It's just that everyone has different attitudes towards different people. You're not like this when you see Sister Yan, are you?"

"My sister doesn't get along with me," Xiao Jin puffed out his chest, patting it loudly. "If I get a wife in the future, I'll dare to act tough in front of her!"

"Alright," Xin Yi laughed. "I'll remember that. I'll be sure to tell your esteemed wife in the future."

The two chatted idly about this and that for a while, until Xiao Jin suddenly thought, "Then why didn't Ji Baiyue acknowledge you?"

Xin Yi's note had already been crumpled away. He said, "He was shy."

"..." Xiao Jin wisely shut his mouth, had someone give him a new carriage, and immediately got on his horse and left, not wanting to say another word to this person.

Xin Yi regretfully got into his carriage, thinking, 'I'll have to hold it in again.'