"Look at you, your face is messed up!"
Hai Feng looked up at him.
Noticed he bore a sixty percent resemblance to the Emperor of Great Chu.
However, his face was entirely different from the fierce one seen earlier.
His face held a gentle smile, making people feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.
She looked again at the handkerchief in his hand, white and clean.
She hesitated before taking it and haphazardly wiped her face with it.
She spoke faintly.
"Thanks!"
The Fifth Master laughed.
"It’s getting late, it’s not safe for you to leave the palace alone, let me escort you back."
Hai Feng clutched the handkerchief, feeling a bit at a loss.
She wanted to refuse, but looking around, it seemed impossible.
"Let’s go!"
The Fifth Master pulled her along.
Hai Feng frowned and broke free from his arm, asking warily.
"Who exactly are you? Why are you helping me?!"
The Fifth Master’s body stiffened, he turned around, face somewhat uneasy.
"Commandery Princess..."
Hai Feng seemed puzzled.
"What’s wrong? Why is your face red?"
Zhao Junzhe quickly regained his composure, covering it with a smile.
"It’s nothing, Commandery Princess, I’m called Zhao Junzhe, the Emperor is my Imperial Brother!"
"Today’s incident, I was rash, if the Commandery Princess minds, I apologize here!"
"However, it’s late now, if the Commandery Princess doesn’t object..."
Hai Feng looked at his embarrassed and hurried explanation.
The discomfort in her heart was unexpectedly alleviated quite a bit.
She let out a long breath.
"Forget it, forget it!"
"I should thank you!"
"But..."
Suddenly Hai Feng remembered something.
Zhao Junzhe looked up abruptly, with a look eager for details.
Hai Feng thought for a moment, but then didn’t want to say anything.
"Never mind, let’s not speak of it, let’s leave the palace!"
Zhao Junzhe didn’t push.
Nodded in agreement, then smiled and led her out of the palace.
Once outside the palace.
The post-house wasn’t far.
The Fifth Master stood at the crossroads near the post-house, smiling.
"It should be safe here, to prevent unnecessary misunderstandings, I’ll escort you this far!"
Hai Feng thought it over as well.
"Very well! Thank you for today!"
Zhao Junzhe inclined his head.
"The Commandery Princess is too kind!"
"However... I have an impertinent request! I wonder if the Princess..."
Hai Feng was somewhat confused.
"What? Speak your mind!"
Faced with a visage resembling deeply her heart’s desire, she couldn’t bring herself to dislike him.
Couldn’t help but want to sneak an extra glance! Simply...!!!
Zhao Junzhe thought for a moment then laughed.
"I think the Commandery Princess is unfamiliar around here!"
"There are many enjoyable places around the Capital City, I’d be honored to personally host you!"
"How does the Commandery Princess feel about this?"
In other words, I want to take you out on a date! Would you like to?
Hai Feng perked up reflexively with delight.
"Really?!"
"Of course it is, there’s also the most famous snack street of our Great Chu Dynasty, temple fairs, and many folk trinkets you’ve never seen!"
Hai Feng immediately felt joyful, with a face full of anticipation.
But then a wave of sadness washed over her.
"But..."
"My father asked me to meet with Ministers, I’m afraid I won’t have the time to go!"
Furthermore, she wasn’t in the mood.
Diplomatic relations between nations weren’t merely emperors feasting together.
Officials often visit each other, an invitation posted directly will suffice.
It promotes communication, and mutual understanding between nations as well.
Especially those old scholars at Honglu Temple.
Always under the pretext of drinking, drag Crown Prince Hai Yue out.
Sometimes for the entire day, even refusing to let him return until night.
Honglu Temple specializes in foreign affairs.
They specialize in this field, knowing which country’s language is used, how it should be used? Customs and taboos?
Even how many concubines foreign emperors marry, how many offspring they have, and where our Emperor ranks among the nations.
They’re aware of it all!
So this opportunity is absolutely their golden chance.
Knowing the enemy and oneself leads to a hundred battles won.
Thus, becoming an intimate is crucial!
The Fifth Prince smiled and remarked.
"Most you can decline!"
"They have their own feasts, you should have your own outings, should you not?"
Hai Feng thought for a moment, it indeed seemed right, nodding.
"Then I’ll ask my father!"
"I should be going back!"
"Thank you for today, much appreciated!"
The Fifth Master was taken aback.
"The Commandery Princess is jesting, it is I who am humbled!"
Hai Feng looked at him, said nothing more and simply left.
But he himself.
At the crossroads, he waited until the Commandery Princess’s silhouette could no longer be seen, reluctantly leaving.
Returning to his dwelling.
Hai Feng swiftly dined and returned to her courtyard.
Her two maids inquired.
"Was it the Emperor who escorted the Commandery Princess home?"