It was in the afternoon when the envoys were led into the Palace. They were General Yuancang, Mrs. Yuancang, ten servants, and ten warriors.

The Palace was full of palaces and pavilions.

The palace roads were wide, and the honor guards were spectacular. All kinds of silks, jades, and swords shone.

The magnificence of the Palace overwhelmed the envoys.

There was no need to welcome these people from Ying State with such magnificent things.

But the envoys aimed for Kunhuang Island, and they were arrogant and aggressive naturally. Huanan Xin did not want others to blame the Royal Family for not being generous.

The courtiers and concubines of Da Yi were patient and gentle, and they were used to being submissive. Even though starving for a long time, they also stood well and did not dare to complain about anything.

Then came the sound of gun salute and beautiful music.

Seeing that Wang Can led General Yuancang and his wife into Chengtai Hall, the Emperor walked down the steps.

"General Yuancang and Mrs. Yuancang, I have been looking forward to you." Huanan Xin said gently.

General Yuancang was surprised and moved when seeing the magnificent things prepared for welcoming them. At the same time, he also thought of his arrogance and rudeness at Luyuan Garden.

So, his face was red from being ashamed. He said something to the handsome Emperor and then lowered his head violently.

The interpreter translated what the General said to the Emperor.

"The General said that he and his wife were very grateful to Your Majesty for your kind reception. There are many talented people in Da Yi. Your Ninth Uncle is really a god." the interpreter said.

Huanan Xin looked at him coldly with his delicate eyes.

Huanan Xin then smiled and made a gesture, saying, "Please go ahead."

They walked up the steps.

As she passed the line of palace concubines, Mrs. Yuancang inadvertently saw Gu Yunxi. Gu Yunxi looked into Mrs. Yuancang's eyes with surprise.

They were shocked for a few seconds. Then they smiled as looking at each other.

Chengtai Hall was the palace where the Emperor of Da Yi met foreign Emperors and envoys. And it was also a place for holding rituals.

The hall was paved with gold tiles. And it was decorated with beaded curtains and carved jade pillars.

Seven-colored silk mantles hung in the hall with embroidered dragons. Twenty-four gold and jade screens were carved with flowers and mythical creatures, which made a beautiful scene. It was just like a wonderland.

Refreshments were served. After a small talk, General Yuancang directly said something to the Emperor and asked the interpreter to translate his words to Huanan Xin.

"Two years ago, the Emperor of Ying State, His Majesty, heard that the Emperor of Da Yi personally went to Kunhuang Island to explore the underground palace and obtained numerous jewels."

"The underground palace was built by Tianyan Faction. The location of the palace in the Eastern Sea is within the domain of Ying State. It is in the territory of our Ying State."

"It was not proper for your deceased emperor to ask the soldiers to build Wangxian Rise on the island."

"This time, our Emperor sending envoys into Da Yi is not to retrieve the treasures in the underground palace, but to sign a convention with your country, clearly claiming that Kunhuang Island should be owned by Ying State."

Hearing that, Huanan Xin and Wang Can looked at each other.

Knowing what Huanan Xin meant, Minister Wang made a fist-and-palm salute and said to the General seriously.

"General Yuancang, you're wrong."

"Although Kunhuang Island is adjacent to the Eastern Sea, it is in the Wei Sea, which belongs to Da Yi. It is just a famous uninhabited island."

"You can't tell whom the island belongs to based on its geographical location."

"And we built Wangxian Rise for worshiping heaven, not for exploring the treasures in the underground palace."

"It should take a long time for the deceased emperor to build Wangxian Rise on the island. No one in your country mentioned this matter during the building. Why does your Emperor send envoys to inquire about it now?"

"When the underground palace was explored, there were no treasures in it. It was just an empty cave."

"If your Emperor's final purpose is to seize treasures on the pretext of the ownership of Kunhuang Island, he is a bad guy. We despise such a state."

After saying that, Wang Can flicked his sleeve angrily.

The interpreter was overwhelmed by Wang Can, so he got angry. He breathed sharply, pointing at Wang Can hurriedly.

"You deliberately misunderstand what I said. I have correctly conveyed the meaning of the General." The interpreter said.

"Kunhuang Island is in the Eastern Sea of Ying State. I have never said that it is adjacent to the Eastern Sea!"

Wang Can was calm. He narrowed his eyes, smiling. He pointed at the interpreter.

He said, "What? Do you mean that Kunhuang Island is in the Eastern Sea, so it belongs to Ying State?"

"Now, the envoys of Ying State are in our territory and stand on our land."

"So, are the General and his men our people from now on?"

"If it is true, please stand up from the seats and kneel to His Majesty!"

"You have pushed us too far!" The interpreter said.

The interpreter got crazy and rolled his eyes. He said that weakly.

After talking to General Yuancang in their language, the interpreter said to Wang Can more excitedly.

The interpreter said, "In short, those who drew the map and built the underground palace were all disciples of Tianyan Faction. Tianyan Faction's headquarter was in Ying State and the disciples were the people of Ying State. You can't deny this, right?"

Wang Can stood upright and breathed smoothly. He looked confident.

Wang Can said, "Well. I know what the General means."

"Tianyan Faction is originally from Da Yi. Then they went to Ying State. Its former thirteen leaders were from Da Yi."

"You can't prove that Kunhuang Island belongs to your country. Your General seems desperate to achieve his goal."

"You..." The interpreter said.

"Stop." Huanan Xin said.

Seeing that they argued with each other, Huanan Xin tried to stop them.

Huanan Xin said, "You have just arrived here. It's time to relax."

"I have heard that when Xingzhi welcomed you, you came across the Great Imperial God of Amaterasu of Ying State who said that the friendship between our two countries would last forever. So, if you argue any more, it will destroy our friendship."

"In the evening, I'll hold a reception banquet in Jinli Pavilion in the Imperial Garden to entertain you, and there will be a firework show for three days. I hope you can enjoy yourselves."

Knowing that there would be entertainment activities, General Yuancang calmed down slightly. He said to the interpreter.

"It is said that there are many delicious meals in Da Yi. So, the Emperor of Ying State, His Majesty, sent five skilled chefs here to compete with your imperial chefs. I hope that the Emperor of Da Yi will choose good chefs to take part in the competition and provide a suitable competition venue."

Huanan Xin curled his lips.

Huanan Xin said, "There are many skilled imperial chefs in the Palace. I thought of a candidate now."

"Before asking her to come here, I want to see the chefs who serve your Emperor."

At the request of Huanan Xin, the General made a gesture to a warrior beside him.

That warrior came out of the hall and brought in five men wearing simple pants with special belts of Ying State around their waists.

One of them was about 27 or 28 years old. He was obviously younger than the other four. The color of his clothes was dark green, which was nobler than the color of other chefs' clothes.

The interpreter led the chefs to bend towards Huanan Xin. He introduced them to Huanan Xin smugly.

The interpreter said, "This is the major chef of Dachui Kitchen, Sakata Aki, who serves our Emperor. The other four chefs are his assistants, and they are also the members of Dachui Kitchen."

"The General has said that your Emperor can select good imperial chefs to take part in the competition in three days..."

Huanan Xin was calm and interrupted the interpreter, "Three days are not necessary."

"I will ask one woman to come here. Liang Zhen, take Concubine Yun here."

The honor guards dispersed after the envoys, together with Huanan Xin, went into Chengtai Hall.

Because Huanan Xin asked her to stay here, Gu Yunxi did not dare to leave.

Gu Yunxi walked into the hall gently and slowly with a nice sound of jade rings clashing. She was charming. She bent towards Huanan Xin slightly.

She said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Rise, my Dear." Huanan Xin said.

Stunned, Mrs. Yuancang was surprised and curious. She tilted her head to look at Gu Yunxi with a delicate smile.

Sakata Aki frowned. He examined Gu Yunxi up and down and then laughed dismissively.

He turned towards the gate of the hall, looking outside coldly. He said something that people of Da Yi could not understand.

Huanan Xin asked, "Xingzhi, what did he say?"

Wang Can was gloomy and lowered his head.

He said, "Your Majesty, he said that a man will not compete with a woman. Her Grace, Concubine Yun, can't be his opponent. He asked Your Majesty to replace another male chef as his opponent."

Huanan Xin looked at the chef coldly and slapped the armrests of the golden chair.

"How dare him! I am the Emperor. It is not for him to ask me to do anything on my turf!"

Gu Yunxi blinked her eyes cunningly with a smile.

"Only a woman can compete with him. It is not necessary to ask our imperial chef to come here. Minister Wang, please translate what I said to him."