Nine out of ten gamblers lose; I've run into a jerk!

Chapter 235 The mantis stalks the cicada

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. Shen Qing led his subordinates and a group of former officials of Anguo to meet the imperial envoy ten miles from Andu and wait for his arrival.

After waiting for about half an hour, the outline of a troop appeared faintly in the distance, with banners waving as they drew closer until the character "宣" on the banners became completely clear.

Shen Qing spotted Jiang Se at a glance. To be precise, everyone present focused their attention on Jiang Se at first glance. There was no way around it; the cloud-patterned robe bestowed by Emperor Yongxi was even more eye-catching than the female lead on the stage, dazzling wherever it was placed.

But Shen, the movie star, had tried all sorts of fancy costumes and makeup in his previous life, so naturally he wouldn't stare at people's faces like he'd never seen anything like it. It's just makeup, what's the big deal? He naturally stepped forward to greet them.

"This humble general, Shen Qingxi, greets the Marquis of Changyi."

Sigh~ It's true what they say about comparing people~ As a fellow graduate, Shen Qing thought he had already started high enough, but after going on a business trip to Jin, he was granted a title. But considering the cost involved, he figured that if Jiang Se had a choice, he probably wouldn't care about the official position and title. So Shen Qing felt no envy, jealousy, or hatred.

Jiang Se nodded slightly. "General Shen, it's been a long time."

He wasn't a talkative person to begin with, so this was enough of a greeting. As for the real business of this trip, it wasn't appropriate to discuss it in detail in front of the former officials of Anguo.

Seeing this, Shen Qing understood that Guo Yu must have already informed him in advance. He then turned to the side and greeted them politely, "Young Master Wei, Attendant Reader Song, how have you been?"

Originally, it was just a matter of exchanging pleasantries and going through the motions, but then Song Yuan looked at him with a complicated expression. That was fine, but Wei Chao's gaze was even more complex, containing three parts inquiry, three parts resentment, three parts melancholy, and one part unwillingness.

"After several months apart, Third Sister is even more charming than before."

Looking at Wei Chao's fan-shaped face, wait, what's going on? There's no such person in Shen Qingxi's revolving lantern, so why is he looking like he's been dumped?

Shen Qing's polite smile was almost faltering, but fortunately, the delicate atmosphere didn't last long. Shen You then used his social skills as the Minister of Rites to step forward and start a conversation.

"Your Excellency has traveled a long way and must be tired from your journey. I have prepared a banquet to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey."

Jiang Se remained noncommittal. As the welcoming party entered the city, she first went to her lodgings to freshen up, bathe, and change clothes before readily attending the banquet.

This banquet was really devoid of any substance. Shen Qing sat to one side, watching with amusement as the former officials of Anguo offered empty flattery to Jiang Se, who was seated at the head of the table.

Jiang Se remained indifferent to everyone, partly due to his personality, and partly because he was actually bewildered by the current situation. He came to Anguo to investigate the cause of the border war, but he had only traveled halfway when he heard that Xuanjun had won a great victory. He wanted to come and see for himself whether it was true or not. When he was almost at Andu, he received news that former officials of Anguo were preparing to hold a ceremony to return Xuanjun to the capital and asked him to participate in the ceremony. The problem was that His Majesty did not even know that his territory had expanded. What was he supposed to say on the altar?

Song Yuan and Wei Chao were equally impressed, thinking to themselves, "What kind of mess is this?"

Outsiders had no idea about the complex inner thoughts of Jiang Se and the others; they only thought that the people of Xuan Kingdom were really arrogant, and that one or two of them were all like that.

Several officials in the audience exchanged a knowing glance. The saying goes, "Heaven will destroy those it desires, and make them mad." The best time for their counterattack would be when they felt everything was settled and their spirits were at their most relaxed.

Shen Qing downed a cup of wine, fiddled with the wine vessel, and twirled his wrist. "Come on, let me see how many moles are about to pop up."