The bureau director from the Ministry of Rites looked taken aback and hurriedly offered an apologetic smile.
"Department Master Yang, the Minister said that the Iron Clothes Department should receive the Great Dream Dynasty's envoys this time. We officials from the Six Ministries need only lend a hand."
Yang Ling looked thoughtful. "What brings the Great Dream Dynasty's envoys to our Rong State this time?"
The man smiled sheepishly. "This humble official isn't too sure either..."
"You're an official of the Ministry of Rites, and you don't even know that?"
Yang Ling frowned. "Then surely you know who this envoy is?"
"This humble official does know a little about that."
The man hastily nodded.
"I heard the envoy sent by the Great Dream Dynasty this time doesn't hold a particularly high official rank. He seems to be just a Fifth-Rank Official."
"If the Great Dream Dynasty weren't so powerful that our Rong State had to show it some respect, a Fifth-Rank Official from any other country would have had only me coming out to meet him today, at most."
A Fifth-Rank Official?
What sort of Fifth-Rank Official could have the Grand Ancestor of the Cicada-Holding Directorate accompanying him?
Seeing that these fellows genuinely knew nothing of the inside story, Yang Ling stopped asking.
Since they knew nothing, neither did he.
Before long, the ships docked one after another.
Apart from Yang Ling, no one present seemed to recognize the Grand Ancestor of the Cicada-Holding Directorate.
With a faint smile on his face, he disembarked alongside a young man who looked only eighteen or nineteen.
Over a hundred people followed behind them.
The others seemed to have no intention of coming ashore and remained aboard.
Yang Ling did not spare the Grand Ancestor a glance. In any case, the Grand Ancestor