The Duchess was led away by a maid in full view of everyone, leaving the onlookers with varying reactions.
This family drama had everyone squirming in their seats. Before they could even figure out what was happening, an argument had inexplicably broken out.
Huo Yuhao stared coldly in the direction the Duchess had departed. Perhaps all of this had been a coincidence, giving him an opportunity to push her into hysterics at such an important occasion, utterly disgrace her, and have her punished by the imperial family. Or perhaps this had been a double act he and Huo Qiu'er had planned together the moment the Duchess appeared.
Xu Jiawei had regained his smile by now and said warmly, "Honored envoys of the Sun Moon Empire, I offer you my apologies. But you must believe that peaceful coexistence is the shared aspiration of the Star Luo Empire and the Sun Moon Empire."
"Courtesy demands reciprocity. To demonstrate the Star Luo Empire's sincerity, I will also dispatch a Star Luo Diplomatic Mission to the Sun Moon Empire."
Since Xu Jiawei had personally intervened, Huo Yuhao naturally had to give him some face. He stopped pressing the matter and replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Once the Sun Moon Emperor emerges from seclusion, he will surely receive the Star Luo Diplomatic Mission in person in Mingdu."
Xu Jiawei nodded slightly. "Countless affairs demand my attention every day, so I will not keep you from enjoying yourselves. Resume the music."
At his command, the palace music that had stopped began playing once more, its soothing notes washing away the earlier conflict.
The members of the Sun Moon Diplomatic Mission returned to their conversations and laughter. Although they were quite curious about the White Tiger Duke's family affairs, they all restrained themselves. No one privately inquired