Ye Tian and Zhang Xinlan exchanged a glance, caught completely off guard by this sudden developnt. People from the Imperial City were actually arriving at this very mont.
Their lie would be exposed in an instant, and they didn't dare to imagine the consequences. Leaving now would be inappropriate, but so would staying. They were truly in a bind.
"What do we do? Should we go or stay?" Ye Tian asked Zhang Xinlan, knowing she was full of ideas and might have a solution.
Zhang Xinlan glanced at Ye Tian. "You're asking about such a thorny problem? Ye Tian, shouldn't you be the one to make a decision? There is a way—we just have to play it by ear. So what if people from the Imperial City are here? If they provoke , they'll et a nasty end all the sa.
"You should know that coming here is just for training. Your real ho is in the Holy Land. What's the Celestial Dragon Empire? I've seen empires far larger than it and thought nothing of them. It's just that the Holy Land is going through a tumultuous ti right now, so you can't go there yet."
Ye Tian rolled his eyes at her. 'Isn't that obvious? If I could go to the Holy Land, why would I need to head to the Imperial City? At the end of the day, it's all because I'm too weak. And this 'playing it by ear' plan sounds tricky.'
'It will be too easy to get exposed. How could a Prince and a Commandery Princess have never seen the so-called Prince and Princess before? I really regret being so impulsive. It's going to be really hard to co up with a plan now.'
Ye Tian's expression was troubled. Perhaps the pressing situation had forced him to think of an unusual solution. "Xinlan, could we say we're the current Emperor's illegitimate children? This trip to the Imperial City is to be officially recognized. What do you think?"
"Heh, you actually ca up with such a terrible idea," Zhang Xinlan said. "But it's not entirely out of the question. If they really ask about our identities, we can still bluff our way through. The only problem is you're not in disguise. It'll be troubleso if we get to the Imperial City and actually run into the Emperor."
"Let's take it one step at a ti," Ye Tian said. "We'll see how they react and go from there!"
Just then, Xue Jinshan walked up to them. "Princess, Prince, this servant must go to welco the Prince and Commandery Princess shortly. Why don't you wait for them in the main hall? You probably haven't seen each other in a long ti and must have a lot to talk about."
"Go and attend to your business," Ye Tian said with a serious expression. "We've been traveling all day and are tired. We want to rest early. If they wish to see us, we can talk then. For now, prepare rooms for us so we can wash up. Otherwise, our Imperial Uncle and sister will laugh at us when they see us looking so travel-worn."
Xue Jinshan had been a bit suspicious of Ye Tian's identity at first, but after hearing him speak like that, his doubts completely vanished. 'If they were impostors, they would have been scared witless long ago. But their composure proves they're genuine.'
"Then this servant will make arrangents at once," Xue Jinshan said with a bow before turning to leave. "A maid will show the Prince and Princess to the guest suites shortly. This servant will now go to welco the Prince and the Commandery Princess, and prepare a welco banquet for you all!"
Ye Tian and Zhang Xinlan looked around the City Lord's Mansion. The grounds were beautiful, with its rockeries, ponds, and dazzling floral displays, showing that Xue Jinshan really knew how to enjoy life.
Before long, a pretty maid ca over. "Prince, Princess, please follow . Your suites are ready. I'll take you there now!"
Ye Tian nodded, and the two of them followed the maid to the guest suites, which the City Lord's Mansion kept specially for honored guests.
Xue Jinshan and his retinue soon appeared at the city gate. After waiting for the ti it takes to burn half an incense stick, he finally saw the carriage procession of the Prince and Commandery Princess. The retinue wasn't large; including the guards, there were only about ten people.
This carriage was far superior to the one Ye Tian and Zhang Xinlan had ridden in. It was magnificently decorated and incredibly grand; one look was enough to tell that it belonged to soone of extrely high status.
The Prince and Princess's carriage, however, was just an ordinary one. They didn't even have a single attendant, which really didn't fit their status. Even if they were traveling incognito, the difference was too great. If not for Ye Tian and Zhang Xinlan's extrely calm deanor, the simple comparison alone would have aroused suspicion.
Just then, a middle-aged man and a young woman stepped down from the carriage. The middle-aged man had a powerful aura, and his eyes were sharp and full of spirit, making it obvious at a glance that he was a very powerful expert.
The young woman, on the other hand, wore a veil that obscured her true appearance. There were only two reasons for soone to conceal their face: one was that they were so ugly they feared being mocked, and the other was that they were so beautiful they didn't want to cause a stir with their stunning looks.
It went without saying who these two were. Seeing them step out of the carriage, Xue Jinshan imdiately went forward, bowed, and said, "This servant pays his respects to the Prince and the Commandery Princess! You've had a long journey. This servant has already prepared a banquet to welco you!"
The middle-aged man glanced at Xue Jinshan and smiled. "Then we shall be a bother to you, City Lord. We rushed back from so far away this ti specifically so the Commandery Princess could attend the Imperial City Academy. The bumpy journey has been a bit tiring!"
The carriage procession then entered the city with great pomp, far more impressive than Ye Tian and Zhang Xinlan's entrance. The middle-aged man and the young woman did not get back into the carriage, instead walking with Xue Jinshan and the others. Although it was already night, Wei City was well-lit, and the streets were still quite bright.
However, they hadn't walked for long when the middle-aged man stopped. Not far ahead, there was a blaze of fire that looked like a burning building, but he couldn't hear anyone fighting it.
"What exactly is going on?" the middle-aged man asked Xue Jinshan, his tone displeased. "There's a fire in the city, and you're not doing anything about it? You're being too derelict in your duty as City Lord. Don't tell you had to abandon the matter because of our arrival?"
"My Prince, please calm your anger!" Xue Jinshan said. "It's not that this servant doesn't want to put out the fire, but that I cannot, and dare not! In fact, this servant was the one who ordered my n to set it!"
The middle-aged man was slightly stunned. "What in the world is going on? You are the City Lord of Wei City. You're telling there's sothing you dare not do?"
"My Prince, you are unaware," Xue Jinshan said truthfully. "The ones who demanded Xiangmantang be burned down were none other than the current Prince and Princess. They also arrived in Wei City today. It's just that the shopkeeper didn't know their identities and offended them, which is why this happened.
"Xiangmantang is the most famous restaurant in Wei City, practically a local landmark. But I dare not disobey a command from the Prince and Princess, and that is why you see what you see."
"What did you say? The Prince and Princess are in Wei City? Which Prince and Princess? I haven't seen them in so long. Let guess who they are… How could that shopkeeper not have recognized their identities? It's strange that a Prince and Princess could arrive in Wei City without you knowing, leaving them to eat at a restaurant like this!" the Commandery Princess, who had been silent all this ti, spoke, her voice like silver bells…
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