With Jia Wuqun present, Mai Deman, who had been keeping his official airs in check and accompanying them with lowered brows and obedient eyes, instantly perked up. In the blink of an eye, he assumed the bearing of an envoy representing a nation and said coolly, "The Noble Consort and Princess are female members of the household, so naturally it would be inconvenient for us to disturb them. But even if I were to visit the Imperial Palace to pay respects to His Majesty the Jin Emperor, His Majesty would make time to receive me. There is no reason to casually send guests away. Lord Guo, I represent the face of Song Kingdom, and you know how distinguished Mr. Jia's status is. You led us here from so far away, only to say at the foot of the mountain that the timing is unfortunate. Are you now telling us to scram back where we came from? Is this Jin Kingdom's way of receiving guests?"
Jia Wuqun clasped his hands behind his back and lowered his head to look at the ground beneath his feet.
Relations between nations placed great importance on etiquette. Guo Wenshang was somewhat embarrassed. He had brought guests out for an excursion, only to take them back once they reached the foot of the mountain. That truly was inappropriate. Never mind diplomatic etiquette between states—even ordinary households did not treat guests this way.
There was also a reason he had come personally to accompany them. Jia Wuqun's appearance in the Wei Kingdom military camp to meet with the Song Kingdom delegation had already aroused Jin Kingdom's vigilance. This "Hidden Chancellor," who rarely showed himself, had suddenly gone to the battlefield, then suddenly come to Jin Kingdom. No one knew whether Song Kingdom had some plan in motion.