Xiang Jimin said, "Black Hu sent its delegation at the personal invitation of the Great Yong Emperor, and Great Yong has attached considerable importance to their visit. As far as I know, the Great Yong Emperor not only arranged for the First Prince, Xue Daohong, to accompany and entertain them throughout their stay, but will also receive him personally today."
Both were diplomatic delegations representing major nations, yet the treatment they received here was worlds apart. Whether in the standard of hospitality or the importance their hosts attached to them, there was simply no comparison. Even Xiang Jimin felt the injustice of it.
Hu Xiaotian thought to himself, A phoenix stripped of its feathers is worth less than a chicken. Great Kang's sun is sinking in the west, and Great Yong no longer considers it an opponent in the same weight class. With our national strength reduced to this, how can we expect anyone's respect?
During his service as an envoy in the Yong Capital, Xiang Jimin had long since learned how fickle the world could be, how readily warmth turned to cold. He sighed. "A weak nation has no diplomacy. Who would have thought the once-glorious empire of Great Kang would sink to this?"
"By the way," Hu Xiaotian asked, "why didn't you come looking for me at Qichen Palace? Why choose this place?"
Xiang Jimin sighed. "There is something you don't know, Lord Hu. Black Hu's Fourth Prince mistakenly believed you were staying at our quarters. He sent his men over to make trouble this morning, and even threatened to make you pay a heavy price."
Hu Xiaotian chuckled. "Does he think he's still in Black Hu? Wanyan Chixiong really is arrogant."
"Lord Hu, you must not let your guard down," Xiang Jimin said. "The Hu people have