Quite a few people had come to the meeting. The Dragon King, the Unrivaled King, the Shule Regent, and Wei Song represented four armies, each bringing two attendants. The Central Plains delegation had also sent two people: a deputy envoy and an attendant.
The deputy envoy was named Sun Chengqi. He was an affable official, but now his face was stern, tinged with grief. He had come to demand an explanation on behalf of the late Lord Ma Lian.
Sun Chengqi had already reached a preliminary secret agreement with Zhong Heng to bring down Wei Song, but he pretended not to know the Dragon King. He gave a slight nod, treating all the Western Region men alike.
No one introduced the attendant who had come with the deputy envoy. Gu Shenwei did not recognize him, so he realized this must be Zhang You, the eunuch attendant Zhong Heng had mentioned.
Zhang You was weak and pale, as if a gust of wind could blow him away. Sending him to the Western Regions had been a truly cruel decision. Yet he had a meek, long-suffering face and stood behind Sun Chengqi, so humble he seemed invisible. By comparison, Shangguan Hong was like a swordsman who had learned only a few clumsy tricks, yet had barged into Biyu South City, where blades ruled all.
The Four Truths Blue Lotus had not sent another eminent monk to preside. Only the abbot and several guest monks had come.
Sun Chengqi delivered an impassioned speech. In his account, the envoy Ma Lian had been a devoted servant of the state, who had given his all for the court. He had gone undercover to fulfill his mission, only to be brutally assassinated. This was a misfortune for the Central Plains, and for the Western Regions as