Huan Yunhe sent a special ship to pick up Jiang Ye.
The special ship showed his influence; it was a military spacecraft model, but its identification number could not be found.
A spacecraft identification number was akin to an ancient license plate. If a spacecraft committed a violation, penalties would be issued according to its identification number. When passing through certain route nodes, there were also traffic restrictions, requiring spacecraft to hover in specific areas, with traffic departments assigning departure order based on identification numbers.
This spacecraft, lacking an identification number, meant it was above existing traffic rules. It could fly as it pleased and would not be penalized for violations, while all other spacecraft had to yield to it.
Jiang Ye boarded the ship, accompanied by a small squad of guards pushing gift boxes.
There were over ten gift boxes, each as large as a double-door refrigerator, containing gifts for Old Dragon. Many had been hastily prepared within a week, costing a fortune and thus being priceless.
The spacecraft left Jiang Ye Star and immediately initiated warp. Just 48 hours later, a sapphire planet appeared outside the ship's viewport.
Jiang Ye had information about this planet on his phone.
Thousand Island Star.
Ninety-five percent of the planet's surface was ocean, with roaring waves, vast seaweed forests, and schools of fish that swirled like underwater tornadoes.
Only a few hundred high-altitude islands emerged from the sea, forming landmasses resembling small cities.
The spacecraft landed swiftly, and Jiang Ye saw… a complex of palaces.
Indeed, a palace complex. There were no skyscrapers, only ancient-style buildings spread across the land, vast and imposing.
Their scale was comparable to the Forbidden City, though less densely packed.
Vermilion walls and golden tiles gleamed under the sun, colors of blood and earth, symbolizing authority. The paving stones were all white marble, an almost unbelievable extravagance. The temperature was slightly cool, around ten degrees Celsius, and people coming and going within the palace complex wore dark robes.
Were it not for some flying vehicles taking off and landing, and the presence of some robots, Jiang Ye would have thought he had traveled back to some ancient dynasty.
Upon disembarking, a luxurious motorcade awaited at the spaceport. The cars were all white, and the guards standing by them were also dressed in white. Most of the guards were female, and the beautiful ones looked like models from fashion posters. However, judging by the aura emanating from them, Jiang Ye knew these were no mere ornaments but seasoned elites.
Huan Yunhe was quite casually dressed in a thick, warm coat adorned with large red flowers, shorts, and sandals, with sand on his lower legs and sunglasses perched on his head.
Jiang Ye walked over and shook his hand.
"You arrived three hours earlier than expected. I was out gathering seafood, and I rushed over as soon as I got the call," Huan Yunhe said in a very relaxed tone, like a wealthy man enjoying his retirement.
"Fortunately, I didn't bring any seafood. I didn't expect this planet to have such a vast ocean," Jiang Ye asked, "Is Director Dai at home?"
"He's already waiting for you. Get in the car; the road is a bit long, it would take an hour to walk," Huan Yunhe replied.
Jiang Ye and Huan Yunhe got into the lead car. The guards behind them busied themselves securing the gift boxes onto the car roof. After a considerable effort, the motorcade finally set off.
When viewed from above, the palace complex seemed incredibly vast. Traveling by car and looking out, Jiang Ye's feeling intensified.
The roads between the palace walls were as wide as four lanes, with long flowerbeds in the middle of some main roads. The flowers in these beds appeared to be of considerable value, and at the circular intersections, there were even giant trees whose trunks resembled ancient trees over two hundred years old.
There were even several artificial rivers, their waters seemingly connected directly to the sea, as Jiang Ye spotted shark fins and a school of flying fish leaping past, their bellies flashing silver in the sunlight. Some girls were fishing from bridges; Jiang Ye wondered if they would catch any octopuses.
The grandeur of the architecture was also impressive. Although not skyscrapers, the buildings were enormous, occupying far more land than ancient palaces. The eaves were golden, and the heads of the five-ridged beasts on the roofs were raised high, facing the sun and reflecting dazzling light. Jiang Ye had no doubt that these ridge beasts were made of pure gold.
Why build such a palace complex that far surpassed the palaces of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors?
Was it Dai Zhixing's personal aesthetic preference?
On what basis was this preference founded? Was it a desire to be an emperor?
Jiang Ye fell into thought.
The motorcade gradually slowed down.
"That's Director Dai," Huan Yunhe suddenly said.
Jiang Ye looked out the window. A moderately sized palace, and a short man standing at the foot of the steps, wearing a black robe like a bathrobe.
Jiang Ye was very surprised.
He had originally imagined that Director Dai, an ancient being with immense power, would be a monstrous figure, nine feet tall with broad shoulders and a tiger-like face. Instead, he turned out to be short? He looked to be only about 1.6 meters tall, even with shoes on.
The car stopped in front of Dai Zhixing.
Jiang Ye got out of the car and bowed deeply, "Greetings, Director Dai! I am Jiang Ye!"
"Hello, young man, you have a distinguished appearance," Dai Zhixing said with a smile, extending his hand.
Jiang Ye quickly extended both his hands and respectfully shook Dai Zhixing's hand.
Although Dai Zhixing was not tall, his hands were surprisingly large.
Jiang Ye himself had large hands, about a knuckle larger than those of people of similar height. Dai Zhixing's hands were even larger, making them absolutely gigantic by proportion.
Moreover, his hands were hard, rough, and well-defined, gripping like the talons of a bird of prey.
Jiang Ye recalled a widely circulated superstition about men having large, soft hands, like cotton to the touch, signifying immense wealth. Now, it seemed superstitions weren't entirely accurate.
"Jiang Ye has brought some gifts for you," Huan Yunhe also got out of the car.
"Oh? So many cars of gifts? Young Jiang has spent too much," Dai Zhixing said, glancing at the following motorcade and smiling. "Traditional etiquette dictates that gifts are opened after guests depart, but I'm rather impatient. Please forgive my impudence, but what have you brought?"
"I haven't brought any gold or silver treasures; you surely have no shortage of those," Jiang Ye said. "I thought about the ancient times when various nations paid tribute. Small, remote countries would offer local specialties, not valuable items, just for the emperor's novelty. So, I've brought some vegetables and fruits developed on Jiang Ye Star."
"Good. If you had brought gold and silver, I might not have wanted them, but I'll accept anything edible you bring," Dai Zhixing laughed heartily. "Don't stand at the door; this is not how guests are treated. Come in and sit; the tea is already being brewed."
Dai Zhixing led the way, with Jiang Ye and Huan Yunhe following behind.
The interior of the palace was not luxurious. There were wooden floors and wooden furniture, with doors and windows wide open, allowing a gentle breeze to flow through. The scenery in each direction was different: to the north was a bamboo forest, the thick and thin bamboo rustling in the wind; to the south was a large swimming pool; to the east faced the palace complex; and to the west was an area resembling an imperial garden.
The three sat down near a tea table, and Huan Yunhe helped pour the tea.
Before they could drink, the guards dragged the gift boxes inside.