晏子使吴，吴王謂行人曰：「吾聞晏嬰蓋北方之辯於辭、習於禮者也。
」命儐者：客見則稱天子請見。
明日，晏子有事，行人曰：「天子請見。
」晏子憱然者三，曰：「臣受命弊邑之君，將使於吳王之所，不佞而迷惑入於天子之朝，敢問吳王惡乎存？
」然後吴王曰：「夫差請見。
」見以諸侯之禮。
Once, when Yanzi48 came as an emissary to Wu, the Wu king49 said to his master of protocol, “I hear that Yan Ying is one of the best speech makers in the north and is also well versed in the rites.” Then he said to his head receptionist, “When the guest appears, announce that the Son of Heaven wishes him to appear for an audience.” The next day, Yanzi had a matter that he wished to see the king about, so the head receptionist said, “The Son of Heaven wants to invite you to appear for an audience.” Displeasure showed in Yanzi’s face several times as he said, “I have received an order from the ruler of my humble settlement to go as an emissary to the place where the king of Wu resides, but owing to my lack of skill I appear to have wandered into the court of the Son of Heaven; so I must presume to ask where the king of Wu is to be found.” After this was reported to the king of Wu, he said, “Fuchai invites the guest to appear for an audience.” The audience was carried out with the ritual proper for rulers of states.