It was after Yuwen Yue noticed the uncharacteristic countenance on Yuwen Tong's and Ling Zhang's faces that she came to realize she had spilled the beans. She hurriedly shut her mouth and looked at Ling Zhang, appearing somewhat apprehensive.

Yuwen Qi and all the others had shifted their gaze in this direction. Ling Zhang, not inclined to embarrass Yuwen Tong in the presence of the children, did not dress Yuwen Tong down. "Show Daddy what you've learned. If your moves are up to standards, you'll have Daddy's permission to continue learning it," he said to Yuwen Yue.

Yuwen Yue had been worried, but unexpectedly Ling Zhang not only did not tell her off but also said that he might allow her to continue learning kung fu. Her eyes instantly lit up. "I'll show you right away, Daddy!"

Yuwen Yue was into kung fu and did have a knack for it. Yuwen Tong had only demonstrated to her the couple of self-defense moves several times, but she had lodged them firmly in her mind.

As she had indeed mastered those moves well, Ling Zhang permitted her to continue to learn kung fu, but he also stressed that she must pay more attention to her manners when out of the palace, that she should at least restrain herself in the presence of outsiders.

Yuwen Yue, having been allowed to learn kung fu, was very happy and naturally promised she would behave herself. This was the reason why for a very long period following this day, this only princess of the Great Wen enjoyed a sterling international reputation for being beautiful, elegant and refined, and nobody knew that in private she was actually a tough girl who was ready to roll up her sleeves, mount a horse and go to war if the occasion arose, and whose kung fu was as good as, if not better than, that of many men.

...

After another half a month, Ling Zhaowen and Fu Caiwei, along with Ling Xiaobao, returned to the capital city. At the same time, Ling Zhaowu also came back from out of town. Apart from members of the Ling family, many officials of provincial cities and envoys of foreign countries also arrived in the capital city one after another.

Ling Zhaowen, of all prefectural officials returning to the capital, had got the most attention, outshined only by foreign envoys. Aside from him, there were also Xu Lingyun and Xiao Ziyan, a married couple, and Jiang Yu.

Ling Zhaowen was the only one in the Ling family who was pursuing a political career, and he had been doing pretty well. After the reunification of the three countries, in particular, he had requested to be transferred to a prefecture which used to be southern Wan Kingdom. It had just been subjected to the Great Wen's rule, so the people there naturally had been unaccustomed to a lot of things, and there had even been many conflicts, and some even had tried to take advantage of the unstable situation to make trouble. At that time, it had not been easy for one to perform his duty as a governor. Ling Zhaowen, however, had done a very good job. The residents in Nanhe which used to be in southern Wan Kingdom had smoothly integrated themselves into the Great Wen, and the situation in all the cities there had stabilized, and people's livelihood had been improving steadily, their sense of national identity strengthening, the gulf dissolving.

Many people in the capital city conjectured that in a few years Ling Zhaowen would be transferred back to the capital city. This, coupled with his identity as the empress's uncle, drew even more attention to him.

Xu Lingyun and Xiao Ziyan, high-ranking officials in a prefecture located in the area which used to be northern Luohai Kingdom, had been doing well in their official career as well. They had rendered meritorious service in Shengzhou and then Cangzhou, and now they had made quite some achievements in this prefecture as well. On top of that, Yuwen Tong had always valued their talents pretty much, so many people in the capital speculated that this time around Xu Lingyun would stay in the capital city after the celebration. They just wondered which position the emperor would appoint him to.

As for Jiang Yu, he used to be the empress's adviser. After the three countries were reunified, the empress had had him enter the imperial court before Yuwen Tong made him assistant governor in a prefecture located in an area which used to be northern Wan Kingdom. That place was barren and dry and only a small part of it was suitable for growing crops. Also, as it bordered a couple of micro-states in the Western Regions, international communication and trading was no small matter. At that time, many people had wondered how far Jiang Yu would go. It had transpired that Jiang Yu had done a very good job and made quite some achievements. Trading between the Great Wen and the micro-states in the Western Regions had returned to normal; in addition, commercial activities at the border had been booming, and the living conditions of people there had improved greatly. Jiang Yu's superior thought very highly of him and had sent several memorials to the throne to report Jiang Yu's meritorious deeds.

All these people had always been in the limelight, and they had got more attention and given rise to more discussion because of their achievements. Apart from them, there were also many officials who had made their presence felt not long ago.

Now the territory of the Great Wen had been expanded, and there had been more and more talents showing up in various cities. Yuwen Tong, by reunifying the three countries, created opportunities for these people to display their talents and fulfill their potential. In the past few years, residents in the capital city from time to time had heard about people making remarkable achievements in their respective fields, but they had never seen any of those people in person.

Because of this celebration, these talents would be making their first public appearance in the capital city. Apart from ordinary residents of this city, the dignitaries and even Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong were looking forward to seeing them.

As a result, after Ling Zhaowen returned, he and Fu Caiwei had brought Ling Xiaobao to the palace to have an audience with Yuwen Tong, but Ling Zhang had never found a chance to pay the Ling Mansion another visit. Every day he and Yuwen Tong were busy dealing with envoys or officials from various prefectures who had come to seek audience with them. Most of their attention was on those newly-emerged talents. Testing them was a matter high on Yuwen Tong's priority list. Also, Ling Zhang had told his father to do some careful background check on them. These people would become the pillars of the Great Wen if they kept improving themselves the way they had been doing.

...

When Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong were occupied with meeting a variety of visitors, some members of the Millennium Pavilion finally arrived in the capital city.

This time around Ji Yanlai had a higher profile than he had the last time. His bodyguards alone numbered dozens. On top of that, he had also brought many elders of his clan.

All of them were wearing modified versions of maester's robes, and their carriages were quite sumptuous. Their bodyguards, different from common guards, had a faintly otherworldly air about them, which made them obtrusive compared with others entering the capital city.

Most importantly, their identities were a mystery to almost everybody. People only knew that their passes were of the highest clearance, that they entered the city without being asked any questions by the guards.

"Wow. Who are these people? It seems they're from some powerful background!"

"Their pomp is even greater than that of the princesses and princes of those foreign countries. They're equaled by only the envoys of the Fangcun Kingdom who arrived yesterday."

"Guards of honor have to comply with certain stipulations. How come these people are keeping such a high profile but nobody knows who they are?!"

"Is it the king of some newly established country in the south, by any chance?"

"It doesn't seem like it. They strike me as kind of otherworldly. Do you think it's possible they're some sort of Taoist sect? Look at their clothes. They seem like special Taoist robes, don't them?"

"Yeah, yeah. Those people working in the Imperial Observatory, those who specialize in astrology or astronomy or something – I've seen them wear similar robes."

"..."

Residents who had seen members of the Millennium Pavilion entering the capital city were discussing it animatedly, but the carriages of the ones they were talking about had directly gone to the imperial palace.

After seeing them visit the palace, residents of the capital city seemed to be silent for a while, but after that they started discussing the matter with even greater gusto.

"Wow. These people did not go to a courier hostel. They directly went to the imperial palace. Wh–What's going on?"

When the residents were agitatedly indulging their passion for gossip, Ji Yanlai, along with Ji Xiaocong and a group of elders, had arrived at the front gates of the palace.

After a guard sent word of their arrival and the routine security check, Ji Yanlai took Ji Xiaocong and a couple of elders into the palace, leaving the others waiting outside.

Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong were both surprised to learn that Ji Yanlai had come to the city with such pomp, wondering why Ji Yanlai was doing this. Was he not afraid that their cover might be blown?

"I'm honored to kneel before you, Your Majesty, Your Highness."

Ji Yanlai had entered the audience hall, followed by the others. Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong had not seen Ji Yanlai for many years, but Ji Yanlai looked as though he had not changed a bit during the past decade. Ji Xiaocong was the only one that was now different – he had grown into a slender-figured teenager. He was very like Ji Yanlai and also had a scarlet mole in the middle of his forehead, looking like a handsome young man in a painting that had come alive, and his temperament was extraordinary too.

"You may rise," said Yuwen Tong.

Ling Zhang rose, walked down the stairs and supported Ji Yanlai to his feet.

"Clan Leader, we haven't seen each other for so many years," said Ling Zhang.

"Ten years," said Ji Yanlai, looking Ling Zhang all over. After a while, he added, "You are indeed suitable for the internal-energy cultivation method of our clan, Your Highness. You've made great progress over the last ten years. The air about you is growing increasingly different."

Ling Zhang smiled, "I'm glad you've come to this city again. There are a lot of things I've been meaning to ask you about. You've got to do me this favor."

Ji Yanlai inclined his head. "Don't worry. So far there hasn't been a single question I couldn't answer when it comes to internal energy."

Ling Zhang chuckled and then looked at Ji Xiaocong standing beside Ji Yanlai. "You've grown so much taller, Cong. It's been a long time. Do you still remember me?"

Ji Xiaocong smiled an unreserved smile, a hint of slyness at the corners of his mouth, looking casual, candid and natural. "Of course I do. I was naughty and caused you a lot of trouble in my childhood. Thank you for your being tolerant of me."

The forthright look in his eyes forcibly reminded Ling Zhang of the smart young boy Ji Xiaocong used to be. "Maomao has been looking forward to seeing you since the moment he was informed you'd come," he said.

Ji Xiaocong's smile was tinged with shyness at these words, but his eyes became even brighter than they had been a moment ago. "I'm eager to see Brother Maomao too."

He put it explicitly, but Ling Zhang detected a note of mingled naturalness and closeness in his voice, so he concernedly asked Ji Xiaocong a couple of questions about his life these years, his attitude as cordial as it had been the last time they had met.

Ji Xiaocong answered the questions one by one.

Then Ling Zhang glanced at the couple of elders of the Millennium Pavilion and said to Ji Yanlai, "Clan Leader, this visit of yours has a high profile. Are you planning to reveal the existence of the Millennium Pavilion to the world?"

Ling Zhang knew what kind of person Ji Yanlai was. Also, he was linked to the Millennium Pavilion in many ways and had an affinity for the clan, so he directly asked Ji Yanlai about it without beating around the bush.

Ji Yanlai said, "Revealing its existence to the world might bring us some unexpected trouble, but this time around I have no choice but to cast aside those misgivings."

Ling Zhang's face turned grave at these words. Had something happened in the Millennium Pavilion, by any chance? But if that was the case, why had his maternal grandfather not mentioned anything to him?

The next moment he heard Ji Yanlai continue, "I've got some information about my father's whereabouts just recently, but I'm unable to find anything out about his safety through divination. This time I did it because I had no other choice. Anyway, things are a little complicated. I'll tell you the details later."

Ling Zhang remembered Ji Yanlai telling him his father had been missing for a very long time. Nobody could have foreseen that Ji Yanlai would suddenly get some information about his father's whereabouts. In addition, even Ji Yanlai, with his amazing powers of prediction, was unable to figure out specifically where his father was or whether he was safe, which struck Ling Zhang as even more surprising than the sudden news of his father.

"Let's go to the side hall and talk," said Ling Zhang.

At this time, Yuwen Tong also arrived. He had someone make arrangements for the couple of elders to be accommodated properly and then went to the side hall with Ling Zhang and the others.

The side hall was very quiet and they could talk in it without having to worry about anybody disturbing them.

Ji Yanlai had come to the capital city with such pomp because of his father, but there was no sign of nervousness on his face.

"It was after his resignation that my father left, and I hadn't received any messages from him since then, but I could always vaguely sense his whereabouts and his vital signs. However, a month ago, this perception of mine became unstable and intermittent. A few days ago, I lost it completely. I could only faintly feel that he's still alive.

He's more powerful than me, and I never worried about his ability to protect himself, but this time things are different. Before coming here, I performed divination and the results showed that it's more likely he's trapped by someone or something. If someone trapped him, seeing as how strong my father is, they are definitely no common person, and I don't know what they want, but maybe their target is the Millennium Pavilion, so I came here with pomp to see if anybody would come to me to negotiate. If he accidentally intruded into somewhere and got trapped, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to go to the trouble of helping me find him."

Yuwen Tong said, "That won't be a problem. Where was your father when you last sensed him?"

Ji Yanlai said, "Approximately in the south."

Ling Zhang was somewhat surprised. "The south?"

If he was in the south, it would be a better choice if Ji Yanlai sent his own men to look for him, given that the island where the Millennium Pavilion was located was also in the south. Why had Ji Yanlai made such a detour and come to the capital city?

Ji Yanlai, knowing what they were wondering, explained, "Further south, presumably a southern mini-state."

Yuwen Tong had a general ideal of what was going on. The Millennium Pavilion, though having secret intelligence network in the outside world, might get themselves into trouble if they precipitously went to a foreign country to look for someone.

Also, this time around, several southern mini-states had sent diplomatic corps to this city to attend Yuwen Tong and Ling Zhang's tenth wedding anniversary celebration and offer their congratulations to the two of them, so Ji Yanlai had come here to see if anybody from any of those countries would show up and contact him.

"I get your point. I'll sound out those envoys from the couple of micro-states in the next few days," said Yuwen Tong.

Ji Yanlai nodded. "Thank you."

This time Ji Yanlai had brought a lot of men with him, and it was inconvenient to accommodate them in the Ling Mansion, so Yuwen Tong made arrangements for them to stay in another residence which was not far away from the Ling Mansion.

Residents in the capital city became even more curious as they came to know that the group of people had been given such hospitality. For several days they discussed who Ji Yanlai and the others might be.

Yuwen Tong summoned the envoys from the couple of southern mini-states. All of them had spent quite some time on the sea before arriving in the Great Wen, which did not border any of their countries. There were many cultural differences, and the literacy levels in those countries were relatively low, so the envoys held the Great Wen's culture in very high regard and respected Yuwen Tong very much.

Yuwen Tong tried to worm some information out of those envoys, but they all said that they had never heard of anybody like Ji Yanlai's father in their counties. None of them provided anything useful.

They did not seem to be lying and probably really did not know anybody as powerful as Ji Yanlai's father. Seldom anybody would go to their countries except for merchants engaged in maritime trade. If anybody like that showed up in any of those countries, residents there would easily find out about it and there would probably be a stir.

"If a kung fu master as powerful as Your Majesty described visits our country, everybody there would be talking about him."

"I don't dare lie to Your Majesty. Our country is far smaller than the Great Wen. Whenever anything special happens, news of it soon spreads through the whole country."

Envoys from the couple of mini-states racked their brains but none of them remembered hearing about someone matching the description provided by Yuwen Tong. They appeared rather nervous, fearing that Yuwen Tong would be unhappy.

Since they couldn't remember anything about it, Yuwen Tong told them to go back and give it some more thought, saying that anybody who provided a clue would be rewarded with a wish, one that he would grant as long as it was not too much to ask.

The reward was very tempting. All those envoys wished they could think of a clue right away, looking even more anxious than Yuwen Tong.

These envoys soon returned to their rooms and, after staying up all night discussing the matter, gave Yuwen Tong a fairly satisfactory reply.

Though none of them had ever heard of anybody who was from the Great Wen and fit Ji Yanlai's father's description, they knew about a somewhat special occurrence which might be related to him.