Chapter 13 — The Heir to the Throne with the Wicked Face

Envoy from the West

In the early days of winter, news that the Western Liang Three Kingdoms delegation was about to arrive in the capital Vân Khánh to renew the border trade treaty and pay regular tribute caused both the court and the people to stir up discussion. This is the most important visit in many years, because the old peace treaty is about to expire, and the relationship between Đại Hạ and the three Western countries is always a sensitive factor that directly affects the stability of the court.

Khưu Bá Trạch personally directed the reception, seeing this as an opportunity to show off the prestige and stability of the court under his regency, while also strengthening its legitimacy before conducting the investiture ceremony for Khương Bạt Nghi.

Leading the envoy this time was Ứng Bạt Nguyên, an envoy with many years of diplomatic experience, famous throughout the Three Kingdoms of Western Liang for his integrity and reputation in previous trade negotiations. Accompanying him was a female assistant named Ứng Diệu Trân, who was in charge of records and private meetings. She always appeared quiet and spoke little, but had extremely sharp eyes, observing everything around her with unusual caution.

Nhược Hi, through Thông Bảo Trang's trading network, which had long-standing trade relations with the merchant guilds in Tây Lương, quickly got news of the upcoming envoy group, and discovered a notable detail: Ứng Diệu Trân, although she had the Ung family name of a prestigious family in Tây Lương, according to rumors in the merchant community, she was not a native, but was adopted at a young age, and her origin was unclear.

"A Đại Hạ woman, adopted by a Western Liang envoy three years ago, now holds the position of his closest aide." Tang Dịch Phong reported, his voice full of thought. "The time she appeared in Tây Lương coincided almost perfectly with the time after the night of the incident."

Nhược Hi sat up straight, her heart beating faster. "Do you think she could be the Queen Mother's maid who disappeared a long time ago?"

"Just speculation, but not without basis," Tang Dịch Phong replied. "If that's true, this could be a rare opportunity for us to reach the most important witness we've been searching for in vain for so long."

Before the official welcoming ceremony took place, Khưu Bá Trạch convened a secret meeting with close ministers to discuss the strategy for negotiating this peace treaty. "The Three Kingdoms of Western Liang always closely monitor the internal situation of Đại Hạ," he said, his voice filled with caution. "We need to present an image of a stable and strong court, absolutely not revealing any signs of instability that could make them doubt the legitimacy of the current court." Uất Nguyệt Hàn, sitting in the highest position in the meeting, nodded slightly in agreement. "I will personally welcome the envoy at a private banquet, so that they can see the solemnity and stability of the royal family. The establishment of a new army should also be cleverly announced on this occasion, as a way to further affirm legitimacy in the eyes of neighboring countries."

No one in that meeting could have imagined that the very messenger group they were trying to make a good impression on was secretly carrying an important piece of the puzzle that could overthrow everything they had worked so hard to build over the past three years.

The ceremony to welcome the envoy took place solemnly at Kim Loan Palace, with full court rituals, bells and drums ringing, and civil and military officials gathered. Nhược Hi, under the identity of the owner of Thông Bảo Trang, was invited to attend the banquet for the embassy held immediately afterward as a representative of the capital's merchants, who played an important role in organizing the logistics for the visit.

During the banquet, Nhược Hi deliberately tried to stand near the banquet table of the envoys, observing Ứng Diệu Trân from afar. That woman had a delicate face but always maintained an unusually alert look, her eyes often scanning the crowd as if searching for something, or hiding from some invisible fear from the past.

When the opportunity arose, Nhược Hi cleverly approached, using the excuse of discussing the silk trade to start a conversation with Ứng Diệu Trân.

"I heard that you are knowledgeable about the silk market on both sides of the border." Nhược Hi opened her mouth, her voice gentle and friendly. "I wonder if you could give me some advice about the market needs in Western Liang?"

Ứng Diệu Trân looked at her, her eyes lingering for a while on Nhược Hi's face, as if trying to find something familiar in those lines. "The owner of Thông Bảo Trang is truly famous. She is still young and already has such a respectable fortune."

"I'm just lucky to have a few good relationships," Nhược Hi replied humbly, still constantly observing every smallest expression on the other person's face. "You came from Đại Hạ before going to Western Liang, right? Your voice still has a hint of your hometown accent."

That seemingly unintentional question caused Ứng Diệu Trân to pause for a brief moment, her hand tightening its grip on the wine cup, her eyes flashing with sharp vigilance.

"The past is long gone, I don't want to repeat it," she replied, her voice completely cold, then cleverly excused herself to avoid having to continue the conversation.

Nhược Hi watched her leave, feeling even more sure of her hunch. That reaction was not that of an innocent person, but of someone trying to bury a painful past.

"She is the person we are looking for," she whispered to Trường Phong, who was standing nearby as a military officer guarding the party. "But she's very wary, it won't be easy to convince her to open up."

"We need time, and a more tactful approach," Trường Phong replied quietly, still looking around to make sure no one was paying attention to their conversation. "The envoy will stay in the capital for at least a month to complete the peace negotiations. We have enough time to find a way to approach her more privately."

That night, when the banquet was over, Nhược Hi stood alone in the hallway overlooking Kim Loan Palace's courtyard, where the lantern light still glimmered in the night. She felt a change in the flow of fate, as if after years of groping in the dark, there was finally a real ray of light appearing from the farthest place that she had never expected.

Returning to Thông Bảo Trang, she immediately called Tang Dịch Phong to discuss how to approach Ứng Diệu Trân more safely. "She clearly has a very high psychological defense, reacting as soon as I just mention the past. If she continues to ask directly, it will only make her more wary, and she may even report it to Ứng Bạt Nguyên or worse, to people of the court."

"Maybe we should approach another way," Tang Dịch Phong proposed. "Thông Bảo Trang has had a long-standing business relationship with a number of commercial associations in Tây Lương, including close partners with the Ung family. If she can create a more natural, private meeting opportunity, without direct questioning, perhaps she will gradually become more open."

"You're right." Nhược Hi nodded, her eyes shining with new hope. "I will invite the envoys to visit Thông Bảo Trang's main warehouse in the name of introducing Đại Hạ's special products in preparation for the upcoming trade exchange. It will be a good opportunity to approach her in a more comfortable, less wary setting," Trường Phong, who had been listening quietly, reminded them, "But do not forget: Khưu Bá Trạch will send someone to monitor the envoys throughout their stay, including commercial visits. The meeting must appear completely natural, without revealing our intentions."

"I took that into account," Nhược Hi replied. "I will invite not only the Western Liang envoys, but also a few other major commercial associations in the capital to attend, so that the meeting will look more like a normal business event than a purposeful private meeting. In the midst of that crowd, I will find an opportunity to speak privately with Ứng Diệu Trân as discreetly as possible."

The plan was meticulously outlined down to the smallest detail that night, from the guest list, warehouse layout, to every gossip that would be used to lead the conversation with Ứng Diệu Trân in the most natural way, without revealing any loopholes that could cause the plan to fall apart midway.