Inside the main hall, graceful dancers were moving their supple waists with abandon, their steps light and graceful, like blooming flowers in the mortal world.

Unaffected by the outside disturbances, if it were envoys from other countries who came and demanded them with such certainty.

Perhaps these dancers would lose their composure and feel a sense of fear and unease.

However, if the Japanese make such impolite demands, they need not panic, for this stems from the innate confidence and pride inherent in the Tianxuan people.

The sounds of silk and bamboo instruments lingered and echoed, like a clear stream flowing through the air.

After a brief period of regret and disappointment, the ministers quickly returned to their cheerful and talkative manner.

They all know perfectly well that there will always be a time when their true colors are fully revealed. There's no need to be anxious and impatient like ants on a hot pan; they just need to wait calmly and patiently.

Princes Ning Jun and Ning Yu happened to exchange a glance, their eyes revealing their disgust and dissatisfaction with Japan.

Especially Ning Yu, whose fiefdom is right next to the sea. That vast blue sea should have been a place where people lived in peace and prosperity and where trade flourished.

However, due to the repeated raids by Japanese pirates, the area became a chaotic mess. He often heard the people of his fiefdom complaining and grieving.

Those vicious Japanese pirates were like wolves on the sea, wantonly plundering the property of passing ships on the turbulent sea, causing the people to suffer unspeakably.

Ning Yu had also sent capable men to search for and annihilate the Japanese pirates on several occasions, but each time he could only watch helplessly as the fleeing pirates disappeared into the vast sea.

It wasn't that his soldiers weren't trying their best; it was simply that their ships were too slow and their performance couldn't keep up with the Japanese pirates' ships. They had plenty of enthusiasm, but it was difficult to completely kill those despicable bastards.

Upon hearing Qin Qianluo mention shipbuilding, Ning Yu's heart was filled with anticipation. He was certain that the ships Qin Qianluo spoke of must possess excellent performance.

They were able to brave the winds and waves on the vast and boundless sea and completely defeat the Japanese pirates.

Ning Jun was more curious about the mysterious gunpowder. He found it quite novel just by hearing its name, but he couldn't quite understand it at the moment.

But he knew in his heart that something that Qin Qianluo called a terrifying existence capable of causing the destruction of a nation and the extinction of a race must have extraordinary power and unique characteristics.

He secretly thought that if the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War could speed up the process of related matters, he might be fortunate enough to witness this magical object with his own eyes.

Thinking this way, he decided to stay in the capital for a while and wait. In any case, his fiefdom was being carefully managed by reliable people, so there was no need to rush back.

Moreover, the invading barbarians had already been successfully dealt with before they entered the capital, so there was no need for them to worry about anything else.

Deep down, he was filled with a strong desire to explore the power of what Qin Qianlu was about to bring out.

He even secretly thought that if this thing was really as powerful as Qin Qianluo said, he would do everything in his power to get it.

He tricked Qin Qianluo into coming to his fiefdom and letting her stay there for a while.

The Emperor was completely unaware of his elder brother's thoughts. If he had known, he would probably have been furious and raged in the palace.

After all, that young lady from the Qin family had only been attending court for a few months before she "claimed illness" to take leave, and then she even embarked on a military expedition.

The Emperor had very little time to spend in the capital, and he hadn't had a chance to get to know the little girl well enough, especially since she was still so young.

She should have grown up carefree with her family, but now she's constantly on the move, enduring wind and rain. This will definitely damage her health in the long run.

In the Emperor's heart, he still hoped that the young girl could take good care of her health in the capital and not overwork herself like this anymore.

Outside the palace, the bare branches shivered in the biting air, as if whispering the chill of winter.

Inside the main hall, however, a warm atmosphere permeated the space due to the gathering and activities of the crowd.

In the grand hall, candlelight flickered amidst the carved beams and painted rafters, signaling the approaching end of the New Year's feast.

The envoys from various countries, dressed in their finest attire and following diplomatic protocol, rose first and respectfully offered their farewells to the emperor and empress in the high hall.

They then filed out with steady steps, their figures gradually disappearing outside the palace gates, leaving only the lingering scent of exotic spices in the air.

Immediately afterwards, all the court officials straightened their clothes and, according to their rank, stepped forward in an orderly fashion to perform the grand kowtow to the Emperor and Empress before slowly retreating.

For a moment, the court was filled with the sounds of boots clattering and robes fluttering, yet all was silent except for the soft echoes of footsteps in the empty hall.

Qin Qianluo secretly rubbed her waist, recalling the Japanese envoy at the banquet, and the vexation in her heart lingered like dark clouds obscuring the sun.

But the thought of the upcoming holiday was like a gentle breeze, slightly dispelling the gloom in my heart.