Arriving at the gates of the royal court to await the North Sea Emperor's summons, he could not help feeling uneasy.
Before long, a eunuch hurried over with short, quick steps. "Minister Chen, it has been a long time. His Majesty requests your presence."
Clearly, as foreign minister, Chen Song had visited the Han Palace Royal Court more than once.
Seeing that it was Eunuch Hai, a trusted attendant of the North Sea Emperor, Chen Song dared not slight him. He hurriedly cupped his fists and bowed. "Ah, Lord Hai. My respects."
Eunuch Hai's heart instantly blossomed with delight. No one in the Han Palace Royal Court had ever treated a eunuch like him with such courtesy, even addressing him as Lord Hai. For that alone, he found this foreigner of over fifty rather handsome and wondered whether he should invite him home that evening for a candlelit conversation!
As he was thinking this, Chen Song proved unexpectedly adept at playing along. He approached and took his hand. "Sorry for the trouble, Lord Hai. Please lead the way."
Feeling something unusual in his palm, Eunuch Hai understood and quietly tucked it away. Then he caught Chen Song's hand as he tried to withdraw it and said reluctantly, "Minister Chen, you truly know the way to my heart!"
He stroked it, but seeing Chen Song's increasingly stunned expression, Eunuch Hai did not want to frighten him. He leaned closer and whispered, "You must be careful, Minister Chen. While you were confined to the guesthouse, something major happened at the front. Apparently, someone named Jiang Hao appeared from who knows where in your Shenzhou Kingdom and turned the rear of our North Sea Army upside down."
As he spoke, he stole a look at Chen Song. Sure enough, Chen Song did not