Hong Beimo looked at Long Xuan'en as he spoke. The Fragrant Kingdom was the southernmost country on the continent, surrounded by sea on three sides, with the Cloudridge Mountains forming a natural border with Great Kang to the north. Although the two countries shared a border, contact between them was rare. Yet there was an extraordinary connection between them: Long Xuanjiao, the Fragrant Kingdom's Empress Dowager, was Long Xuan'en's younger sister. After the king of the Fragrant Kingdom died, Long Xuanjiao had taken control of the country. But relations between the siblings were exceedingly cold. Ever since Long Xuanjiao married into the Fragrant Kingdom, no one had heard of her returning to her family in Great Kang, nor had she maintained any dealings with Great Kang.
During Great Kang's famine, Long Xuan'en had sent envoys to seek aid from the Fragrant Kingdom, but they never returned. Apparently, they had vanished mysteriously without even getting a chance to meet the Empress Dowager.
Long Xuan'en said, "Then send someone to investigate. We must get to the bottom of this."
Xu Fengyi's death caused a considerable stir at court. The officials came to offer their condolences, though most did so out of regard for Princess Yongyang, Qiqi. Hu Buwei still had not been reinstated, and Hu Xiaotian was merely a Deputy Imperial Bodyguard Commander. The Hu Family's present standing was not enough to command much attention.
Few people knew anything about Hu Buwei's whereabouts. Every day, Qiqi went to court to handle state affairs, and every evening, she came to the Hu Residence to keep vigil with Hu Xiaotian. He said nothing, but he was deeply moved. The little girl really had grown far more considerate as she grew older.
Although Long Xuan'en did not come in person, he sent Wang Qian to