The Sacred Academy's Skyfaring Tower Ships could fly straight into the capital, but the Miscellaneous School's Skyfaring Tower Ship stopped outside the capital's southern gate.
Under normal diplomatic protocol, even if the ruler did not receive them personally, the kingdom's Left Prime Minister should have gone outside the city to welcome them.
This time, however, the Jing Kingdom officials who went out to welcome the Miscellaneous School's envoys were led by Right Prime Minister Cao Dean.
As they descended from the Skyfaring Tower Ship to the ground, the members of the Miscellaneous School saw no sign of Fang Yun. Some felt disappointed; others wore angry expressions.
Hong Maoshan, who was responsible for the negotiations, smiled throughout. He greeted the Jing Kingdom officials as though they were old friends, chatting and laughing all along the way before finally settling into the quarters for foreign envoys at the Jing Kingdom Academy.
Since a visit from Great Scholars of the Sacred Academy was a rare occasion, they were received with the highest honors.
Fang Yun dared to deny them face, but the other officials did not.
After reaching their quarters and taking a brief rest, Hong Maoshan came straight to the point. There was no time to lose, he said; the two sides should begin peace talks as soon as possible.
Soon, Hong Maoshan and the others received a reply.
Fang Yun was unwell. The negotiations would be postponed.
The officials delivering the reply poured out their grievances to Hong Maoshan and the others, saying that they had tried every possible means to persuade Fang Yun to attend, but he had flatly refused. Without Fang Yun's approval, not only the Negotiation Bureau but even Jing Kingdom's empress dowager could hardly proceed directly with peace talks. They could only wait until he recovered.
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