Chapter 180 Hidden Murder

The urgent report from the prefect of Hangzhou Prefecture arrived in Xiajing at 3:00 am. As soon as the palace gate opened, it was sent directly to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

At that time, Emperor Qingyuan had already stood up and was stretching his arms while the palace maids were changing his clothes for him.

Yu Jue walked in and whispered softly, "Your Majesty, an urgent report has been sent from Hangzhou Prefecture."

Emperor Qingyuan hadn't slept well the previous night, and now he felt uncomfortable all over and had a severe dizziness. He said gloomily, "Bring it here for me to see."

Yu Jue presented the urgent music with both hands.

Emperor Qingyuan opened it and, upon reading the first sentence, his spirits lifted, his dejection vanishing. "This Fu Aiqing is indeed a close friend of Du Aiqing. Like Du Aiqing, he possesses remarkable abilities."

Fu Rui's eyes moved slightly. With his excellent memory, he recalled the Master Fu Ci who confessed his identity six years ago.

Could it be her?

Emperor Qingyuan tossed the urgent report to Fu Rui, "Lord Fu has indeed not disappointed me. Not only did you lead the fleet back safely, you also brought back hundreds of overseas visitors. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they will arrive in Xiajing today."

Fu Rui was stunned for a moment, then smiled joyfully, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! Once the distinguished guests from abroad see how rich and powerful Daxia is, our dynasty's prestige will surely spread abroad, and the arrival of all nations will be just around the corner!"

These words made Emperor Qingyuan feel extremely comfortable. He looked out the window and merged into the deep night.

He saw a giant dragon resting on its roost, about to soar into the sky, pointing straight to the heavens.

It will shock the world and make all countries tremble in fear!

The palace maid put on the bright yellow dragon robe for Emperor Qingyuan. Fu Rui handed the urgent report to Yu Jue, took out the twelve-tassel crown and put it on Emperor Qingyuan.

Emperor Qingyuan raised his hand to fiddle with the tassels hanging in front of his eyes. He felt dizzy, closed his eyes, and exhaled a breath of foul air: "Give me the painkillers."

Fu Rui frowned, unable to conceal his worry. "Your Majesty, your headaches have been getting more frequent lately. Why don't you ask Dean Lan to come over and see you and give you some medicine to help you recover?"

Emperor Qingyuan waved his hand: "No need, I just didn't get enough rest, it's nothing serious."

Lately, he has been having dreams frequently.

Dreaming of his sons.

He was imprisoned in the remote and cold Guangming Palace and died of poisoning.

He died of vomiting blood in a beautiful villa outside the city.

In the silent and deserted night, his head was chopped off and his body was mutilated.

Dreamed of Qingyu and her son.

He was hanged on the beam of Yufu Palace with a piece of white silk.

In the pond outside Yufu Palace, his body was pale and his neck was covered with hideous fingerprints.

The various tragic ways of death made him feel as if he was there himself. The overwhelming blood turned into ghost hands, tightly strangling his throat, causing him to wake up from suffocation again and again. After waking up, he could hardly fall asleep again because of his splitting headache.

Emperor Qingyuan couldn't tell anyone.

This is his sin, and he alone must bear it.

Fu Rui had no choice but to get some painkillers.

Emperor Qingyuan ate two pills, then boarded the dragon carriage surrounded by palace servants and headed for the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Yu Jue stood in front of the Qianqing Palace and watched the dragon carriage go away.

The young eunuch beside him asked respectfully, "Deputy Steward, would you like to eat first?"

Yu Jue made great contributions in the case of Cao Yuan usurping the throne. On the second day of the first lunar month, His Majesty personally appointed him as the deputy chief steward of the imperial court. It was a time of glory and success.

The palace maids vied with each other to curry favor, hoping that they would be lucky enough to catch the eye of the deputy steward. Even if a little bit of his talent slipped through his fingers, it would be enough to keep them entertained for many years.

If I could be adopted as his godson, I would be very successful and would have a stable life of wealth and glory.

Yu Jue waved his hand and said, "No need. I need to go to the Imperial Study first and clean up the main hall. If the room is clean and tidy, His Majesty will feel relieved when he sees it after the court session, and it will be easier to handle government affairs."

The eunuch's eyes flashed with envy, and he nodded and responded, "Well, okay, I respectfully send the deputy general manager off."

Yu Jue went to the imperial study alone with an urgent report in his hand.

The palace maids serving in the imperial study were sweeping the floor. When they saw Yu Jue, they all stopped and saluted.

Yu Jue walked into the main hall without looking around, ordered the palace servants to open the glazed windows for ventilation, rolled up his sleeves, and began to tidy up the messy imperial desk.

The reviewed memorials were placed aside, and those to be reviewed were placed on the other side. The inkstone was cleaned to ensure that it was free of dust. After it dried, a piece of Hui ink was taken out and ground carefully.

After grinding the ink, Yu Jue ordered the palace servants to close the glass windows, light the ambergris and put it into the incense burner.

Yu Jue lowered his eyes, flicked his fingertips, and fine powder fell on the ambergris, covering it with the dragon and phoenix lid.

The curls of green smoke slowly rise up, like clouds and mist in a fairyland.

The fragrance is pervasive, rich and lingering, yet it also hides a murderous intent.

......

On the other side, in the Golden Palace.

After all the officials knelt and saluted, chanting "Long live the emperor" three times, Emperor Qingyuan discussed the fleet's return: "...the distinguished guests from overseas will arrive at the train station this afternoon. I will host a welcoming banquet at the Bixiao Palace tonight. All of you, my dear ministers, should bring your families to attend."

"Send someone to clean up the inn and let the overseas distinguished guests stay."

"While the overseas distinguished guests are in the capital, we will send people to strengthen patrols throughout the capital. Anyone who stirs up trouble will be sentenced to six months in prison. The streets must also be swept clean, without a trace of dirt."

"If you leave a bad impression on our overseas guests, I will not forgive you!"

All the officials responded in unison, their expressions unable to conceal their excitement: "Your humble servants obey your orders!"

In fact, from the very beginning, they had no hope at all.

There are many unknowns and dangers overseas. Even with tens of thousands of guards and crew members, it is not certain that we can return safely, let alone bring back any useful news.

As expected, the fleet went out to sea for four years without any news.

They once thought that the fleet was shipwrecked overseas and the entire army was wiped out, but unexpectedly they had an unexpected surprise.

Not only did the fleet return safely, it also brought back many distinguished guests from overseas!

"Lord Du."

Emperor Qingyuan's deep voice struck him, and Du Qingtang suppressed all his thoughts and stepped out to salute: "Your humble servant is here."

"Lord Du, you have a close personal relationship with Lord Fu, and you are also my right-hand man. You will go to the train station to greet Lord Fu and the overseas guests." Emperor Qingyuan twirled his beard and teased, "Lord Du, with his graceful demeanor and elegant demeanor, is the face of our Great Xia. You will be responsible for the reception and will surely leave a very good impression on the overseas guests."

Officials: “???”

No, what do you mean, Your Majesty?

Du Qingtang is the face of Da Xia. Does that mean they are not worthy enough in the eyes of His Majesty?

Everyone seemed to have drunk ten jars of aged vinegar, their hearts bubbling, and they gritted their teeth as they looked at the young woman standing in the hall.

Her eyebrows and eyes are gorgeous, as if outlined with thick ink, but her temperament is as cold as the moon. The two mixed together give people a strong sense of oppression.

Officials: "......"

I have to admit that this woman is still quite pretty.

But who is Fu Aiqing, and why does he have such a close personal relationship with Du Qingtang?

Everyone's brains were working rapidly, trying to recall which officials in the court had the surname Fu and happened to be on good terms with Du Qingtang.

"Seems not?"

"No, there is still one."

"Why don't I remember?"

"The man who disguised himself as a man to take the imperial examination alongside Lord Du happened to be surnamed Fu. His Majesty pardoned both of them from death because Lord Du had invented firearms. He sent Lord Du to support Loushan Pass, while Lord Fu went to the shipyard in Hangzhou Prefecture to participate in shipbuilding. Once a seagoing vessel was built, he would sail on it, thus redeeming his sentence for meritorious service."

Officials: “???”

Officials: "!!!"

Because Fu Ci did not achieve many outstanding achievements like Du Qingtang did back then, he was just an ordinary official in the Hanlin Academy, and seemed unremarkable compared to Du Qingtang.

Later, he went overseas and no longer appeared in the court. Over time, people forgot about him.

"It's bad! Du Qingtang is already difficult enough to deal with, and with Fu Ci coming along, won't the court be even more chaotic?!"

"We shouldn't have allowed Fu Ci to go to sea in the first place. The fleet has returned this time, bringing back many distinguished guests from overseas. This is truly a great achievement. A promotion is inevitable. Who knows, if His Majesty is in a good mood, he might even confer a title on Fu Ci."

When these words were spoken, everyone was shocked and felt that the road ahead was dark.

Du Qingtang listened to the officials' whispers behind him and curled his lips subtly: "Your Majesty, I will obey your majesty's command."

After Du Qingtang returned to the ranks, the censor stepped out and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Emperor Qingyuan was in a good mood and smiled: "Approved."

The Imperial Censor bowed his head and said in a resounding voice, "In recent years, several of Your Majesty's sons have passed away one after another, and now there is no successor to the throne. I request Your Majesty to order a selection of concubines to fill the harem so that a prince can be born as soon as possible to strengthen the foundation of the country and reassure the ministers."

As soon as these words were spoken, several more officials came out.

"Your Majesty, please order a selection to expand the family lineage."

"I second the motion!"

"I second the motion!"

Although Your Majesty is already in old age, many old ministers who have served in two dynasties remember clearly that when the late emperor was Your Majesty's age, several concubines in the harem were still pregnant.

If a prince is born, he will most likely become the master of the Great Xia Empire in the future, and the status of the prince's mother's family will also rise accordingly.

I don't want to be as powerful as Cao Yuan in the past, but at least I can be a close minister to the emperor and enjoy great glory.

Therefore, when the censor proposed a beauty contest, officials who were interested in sending their own girls of marriageable age to enter the palace all agreed.

Du Qingtang raised his eyes slightly, but Emperor Qingyuan's face was hidden behind the tassel beads, and his specific expression could not be seen clearly.

But she wasn't worried.

Emperor Qingyuan had sent his own son to his death more than once for Princess Zhaoyang. How could he agree to a beauty contest and give birth to a few children who would threaten Princess Zhaoyang's position?

As expected, Emperor Qingyuan sternly refused: "I am old, and in the past two years I have often felt that I am unable to carry out my duties. There is no need to discuss the selection of candidates anymore. I already have a candidate for the crown prince. The most urgent task now is to find out the purpose of the overseas guests and to reach cooperation with them as much as possible to establish long-term exchanges."

Du Qingtang: “…”

Among the hundreds of emperors throughout history, Emperor Qingyuan is probably the only one who refused the selection by claiming that he was not qualified.

However, Du Qingtang was happy to see this happen. Without waiting for the censor to persuade her again, she stepped out again and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Emperor Qingyuan ordered the censor and others to return to their ranks. Although the latter were unwilling, they did not dare to continue to argue and retreated with gritted teeth.

Emperor Qingyuan raised his hand and asked, "What's the important matter, Lord Du?"

Du Qingtang bowed and said slowly, "I believe that all the overseas countries are now aware of Daxia's existence. Hundreds of overseas visitors have visited Daxia today, and there will be more in the future."

"Regardless of the purpose, whether it's establishing diplomatic relations on behalf of another country, simply coming to Daxia to trade, or even being ordered to gather information, a corresponding department must be established to handle diplomatic affairs on behalf of Your Majesty and Daxia, and to control foreign personnel to safeguard Daxia's security and interests."

Although Daxia had the Honglu Temple, Du Qingtang believed that its functions were not perfect. It was only equivalent to the Protocol Department in the modern Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible only for receiving foreign guests, court ceremonies and other matters.

There are currently two options: either expand the scale of the Honglu Temple and increase its functions, or start a new one and establish a Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be specifically responsible for negotiations and cases with overseas countries, and even accepting overseas immigrants, import and export tariffs, etc.

Emperor Qingyuan pondered for a moment and did not agree immediately: "What do you think, my dear ministers?"

All the officials held their own opinions and argued endlessly.

"If the overseas countries know about Daxia's existence, doesn't that mean Daxia has another group of enemies?"

"Lord Hu is wrong. There are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. As long as we maintain mutual benefit and win-win results, the relationship between our two countries will be unbreakable. Even if the other side has ulterior motives, our dynasty has hundreds of thousands of troops, firearms that can split mountains and split the earth, and firearms troops that can defeat a hundred with one. We are completely invincible."

"Master Du is absolutely right. Just as the six ministries and five temples each have their own responsibilities, overseas countries also need targeted departments."

"In addition to firearms, our dynasty can exchange materials and technology with overseas countries, leveraging their strengths to overcome our own weaknesses."

"I think this department could be called the 'Ministry of Foreign Affairs', with 'wai' meaning overseas. This would reflect the importance our dynasty attaches to overseas countries."

Emperor Qingyuan clapped his hands and made the final decision: "Let's call it the Ministry of Foreign Affairs! Lord Du, please write a detailed charter for me to review later."

Du Qingtang responded respectfully and returned to his original position.

Emperor Qingyuan looked at the anxious Minister of the Honglu Temple and said reassuringly, "Minister Guo, don't worry. Even with the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Honglu Temple will still be responsible for receiving guests from neighboring countries and overseas countries."

"By the way, later on, you will take a few officials from the Honglu Temple with you and go to the train station with Lord Du to welcome the overseas guests and personally arrange for their accommodation at the post station."

The Minister of Rites breathed a sigh of relief and bowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. I will do my best to receive our distinguished guests from overseas."

......

After the morning court session ended, officials filed out of the Golden Palace.

Du Qingtang was wearing a first-rank purple official robe and walked down the stairs holding a tablet.

The early morning sunlight penetrated the mist and fell gently on her, as if coating her with a layer of golden light.

Everyone suddenly realized that some people are born to be God's favorites. Even the sun favors them and bestows light and glory on them.

"Never mind, never mind. Let's take it one step at a time. Your Majesty has placed such high hopes on her, and she can hold her own."

"To be honest, they both entered the court by mistake and were forced to serve as officials. Nowadays, the body searches during the imperial examinations are very strict. No woman would risk being beheaded to disguise herself as a man to take the exam. Let them shine for a while, and after many years, the court will still be dominated by men."

"That's right! That's right!"

In this way, after some self-comfort, everyone's anxious hearts were relieved a lot, and the slight uneasiness was completely dissipated.

They are just two women. Even if they have extraordinary abilities, they cannot shake the traditional idea of "men work outside and women work inside" that has lasted for thousands of years.

After they retire and leave the court, who will remember them in a few decades?

By then, men will still be commanding officials in the court and killing enemies on the battlefield.

The women lived in the backyard, gave birth to children for them, took care of their parents, and did housework.

Wonderful! It is truly wonderful!

......

Du Qingtang was walking on Youchangguan Road.

Two young officials in green robes approached from a distance. Seeing her, they hurriedly stopped and saluted: "Your humble servants greet you, Your Excellency."

Du Qingtang nodded slightly, and the two officials stepped aside and bowed their heads respectfully.

The corners of the purple robe fluttered as he walked away with the sound of light footsteps.

The two of them raised their eyes and looked at Du Qingtang's thin and tall back at the same time, their eyes revealing a strong yearning.

"I wonder when you and I will be able to wear the purple robe and ascend the throne like Lord Du."

"Perhaps even in my entire life, I will never be able to reach the level that Lord Du has reached."

The two looked at each other, sighed, and continued forward holding the documents.

"Mrs. Du is extremely capable. No matter how big the problem is, she can handle it. However, she has always been a loner. I have never seen her interact closely with any other lord."

"Lord Du is of an unusual status, and he is also a loyal minister. It is most appropriate for him to maintain a nodding acquaintance with the others."

"I just feel that it's really pitiful for Lord Du to be alone and without anyone to accompany him."

"What's there to be pitiful about? Lady Du lost the opportunity to make many friends, but she gained a first-rank official position and the title of Duke. Everyone has their own aspirations, and she just happened to choose power."

"That's true..."

The cold wind blew the conversation between the two into Du Qingtang's ears, causing subtle ripples in her heart.

She also had good friends who shared the same interests and with whom she could talk all night long.

But that was a few years ago.

And she never liked to look back.

In other words, she had no way to retreat and could only keep moving forward.

Things are different now.

In a few hours, her best friend would be back.

From now on, they will go in and out together and be inseparable.

She is not pitiful at all.

Du Qingtang raised the corners of his mouth, and there was a bright smile in his dark eyes.

-

On the train from Hangzhou Prefecture to Xiajing, cheers and screams filled the carriage.

Changxia held Fu Ci's arm affectionately and chattered non-stop.

"Master Fu, is it true that the train is not the incarnation of the dragon?"

"Master Fu, do you always take the train when you go out?"

"It's so blissful to be born in Daxia. There are beautiful clothes and jewelry, all kinds of exquisite decorations and food, as well as cement roads and trains and buses. If I didn't have to take over the throne when I grow up, I really want to stay in Daxia."

Fu Ci looked at the scenery outside the window. It was nothing but endless wheat fields and some dead branches and leaves. It was bare without a trace of green, but she couldn't get enough of it.

During the years she spent overseas, she had been to vast deserts, lived with savage tribes, visited magnificent palaces, and lived in houses made of gold.

But without exception, none of them can compare to the plants and trees in my hometown.

It seemed that only when she returned to Daxia could she breathe freely and thrive like a tree.

Fu Ci placed his hand on the glass window, and the warmth from his fingertips caused a thin layer of mist to form on the window.

She meticulously described the scenery outside the window through the glazed window, and replied helplessly: "To be honest, I haven't been back to Daxia for a few years. Everything here is a little unfamiliar to me."

Especially the many strange and bizarre things that made her feel at a loss even if they were made by Xianyu.

"Okay." Chang Xia dragged out his words, holding his face in his hands and muttering, "When I get to Xiajing, I must go to see Wen An Hou and see if she has three heads and six arms. Otherwise, how could she build a miraculous train..."

Fu Ci smiled and continued to look at the scenery outside the window.

The train traveled at high speed and stopped at a railway station in Shandong Province for a break of about an incense stick's length.

The envoys from various countries got off the train, had their meals at the train station and took care of their physiological needs.

There is a rest area at the train station, which includes a washroom, a steamed bun stall, a noodle stall, and a wonton stall.

All three stalls were run by people specially assigned by the government, and all profits were turned over to the national treasury.

Four or five hundred men and women dressed in strange clothes, chattering incomprehensible words, rushed into the rest area, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

"Are they foreigners?"

"No, I've been to the northwest doing business, and I've never heard any of these languages."

"Surprisingly, many people have short hair. Their hair and body are given by their parents. Are they doing this to be worthy of their parents who gave birth to them and raised them? This is extremely rebellious and will be punished by heaven!"

"Look at those girls over there, they're actually exposing their arms and legs in public. How shameless!"

Changxia was happily eating a meat bun when she keenly noticed several contemptuous glances falling on her. She pricked up her ears and looked down at her own clothes.

Today she was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts unique to the royal family of Nanzhao State. They were brightly colored, light and comfortable, revealing her smooth wheat-colored arms and calves.

Chang Xia dressed like this all year round and thought there was nothing wrong with it. She scratched her head in confusion, her short hair sticking up playfully. "Master Fu, can't I dress like this? Or does Da Xia have some special customs?"

"The customs of the people in Daxia are quite conservative." Fu Ci took a bite of the vegetable bun and said tactfully, "No matter if you are a man or a woman, you are not allowed to show your arms and legs in public."

Chang Xia showed an expression of disbelief: "This is too... Aren't you hot? Or is Da Xia always cool from the beginning to the end of the year?"

Fu Ci shrugged: "It's hot, but there's nothing I can do."

Especially for women, let alone arms and legs, if a man sees their feet, they will lose their chastity and have to marry him.

Chang Xia puffed up his cheeks and said, "No wonder many Da Xia men haven't dared to look us in the eye since we boarded the ship. I thought I was too ugly, so ugly that they couldn't bear to look at me, so they just walked away when they saw me."

Fu Ci smiled and took a sip of the ginger soup. A warmth quickly spread throughout his body. "They are avoiding suspicion and showing respect to you."

Chang Xia was extremely puzzled by this and said bluntly, "You Da Xia are really strange. You have so many things that Nanzhao doesn't have. You are prosperous and powerful, yet you are terribly conservative. Nanzhao wasn't like you a hundred years ago."

Fu Ci was speechless.

This is an indisputable fact, and even if she is eloquent, she can't say a word to refute it.

Chang Xia also took a sip of the ginger soup, gasping for air due to the spiciness, his cheeks flushed red. "In our Nanzhao Kingdom, no matter if it's a man or a woman, as long as they can defeat the contenders for the throne, they can become the next king..."

Fu Ci stayed in Nanzhao Kingdom for more than a month and had a clear understanding of the throne succession system and customs there. He was surprised at first, but after a deeper understanding, he envied the people of Nanzhao Kingdom very much.

For gender equality.

For women to have equal rights with men.

Fu Ci was born in Daxia. Since childhood, she has been instilled with the idea that women are inferior to men. People around her are always belittling women and praising men.

If she hadn't met Du Qingtang, she would probably have been squeezed dry of every last bit of value by her parents and brother, and died in that nunnery in a very undignified way.

During her time in Nanzhao, she often fantasized that if there was gender equality in Daxia, there wouldn't be so many women oppressed or even abandoned at birth.

However, Fu Ci did not regret being born in Da Xia.

In Daxia, there is Du Qingtang and the sisters of the Du family, all of whom are relatives she cannot part with.

......

After dinner, the group boarded the train again.

At that time, Du Qingtang had finished his official business and sorted out the specific regulations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He took the opportunity to send them to the Imperial Study during lunch break for Emperor Qingyuan to review.

Emperor Qingyuan read it carefully from beginning to end, his face showing satisfaction. "Lord Du, your regulations are perfect. We will follow your instructions without any changes."

"Distinguished guests from overseas have arrived in Xiajing today. I plan to have someone show them around tomorrow or the day after, and then we can discuss establishing diplomatic relations."

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs to be set up as soon as possible. At least the basic staff must be in place. Minister Du Aiqing will be the Minister..."

Du Qingtang frowned slightly and interrupted Emperor Qingyuan's speech: "Your Majesty, I don't have three heads and six arms, nor do I have the ability to clone myself. I can't take care of the cabinet, the research institute, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the same time."

She has her own research project in the research institute, and the cabinet also has a lot of official business. Emperor Qingyuan is treating her like a donkey.

If she really takes over the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs, she will have to keep her eyes open for twelve hours a day, and she is afraid that she will die suddenly within two months.

Emperor Qingyuan had truly forgotten about the research institute. He put his fist to his lips, coughed lightly, and said nonchalantly, "Lord Du, who do you think is qualified for the position of director?"

Du Qingtang said without hesitation: "Fu Ci."

Emperor Qingyuan: "...Hmm?"

Fu Rui couldn't help but glance at Du Qingtang. Lord Du really didn't hide his desire to promote his own people at all.

Du Qingtang met the inexplicable look from Emperor Qingyuan and said confidently, "Fu Ci has been ordered to go to sea. He is very familiar with overseas and has contacts with various countries. He is the most suitable candidate."

Emperor Qingyuan pondered for a moment, but did not agree immediately. He slowly turned the jade ring and said, "Please allow me to consider it."

Hearing the tone of Emperor Qingyuan's voice, Du Qingtang knew that the matter was settled. He felt relieved and said, "Your humble servant has to go to the train station. I will take my leave first."

Emperor Qingyuan waved his hand and said, "Go ahead and tell Fu Aiqing that I will be waiting for her in the Imperial Study tomorrow."

He had to find out the details of the overseas situation, including how many countries there were, their military strength, and whether they were enemies or friends.

Du Qingtang responded and turned around to glance over. Yu Jue was standing in front of the incense burner, putting the ambergris into it.

Perhaps noticing Du Qingtang's gaze, Yu Jue raised his eyes and smiled slightly.

Du Qingtang averted his eyes, walked out of the imperial study, and reunited with the Minister of the Ministry of Rites and others. Surrounded by five hundred imperial guards, the group marched out of the city in a mighty procession.

The people recognized the purple-robed woman riding the tall horse, and watched the imperial guards go away, talking among themselves.

"What happened?"

"Could it be that Duke Wen has created something new?"

"I recognize the man behind Duke Wen. He's my neighbor and works at the Honglu Temple."

"Honglu Temple? Isn't that where foreign guests are received?"

"Mostly foreign envoys."

"No matter what, we'll find out what happened eventually."

Du Qingtang left the city, but did not go to the train station immediately. Instead, he went to the research institute.

The Minister of Rites was puzzled: "Master Du, aren't we going to the train station to welcome the overseas guests?"

Du Qingtang held the reins and said calmly, "We can't let our distinguished guests walk to the posthouse."

The Minister of Rites slapped his head and said, "I see! I had overlooked this. This not only demonstrates the etiquette of our great nation, but also showcases the strength of Great Xia to our distinguished guests. It's a win-win situation! It's truly a brilliant idea!"

When the group arrived at the research institute, Du Qingtang went to the researcher in charge of manufacturing public buses and asked, "How many buses have passed the trial run but haven't been shipped yet?"

The researcher glanced at the officials from the Honglu Temple and the imperial guards, took a deep breath, and said respectfully, "Your Excellency, there are four vehicles, and they are being prepared to be sent to Guizhou Province."

Du Qingtang said bluntly: "I will requisition these four vehicles first. I will arrange for four drivers to accompany me to the train station to pick up the people."

The researcher, unsuspecting, hurried to make arrangements. Half an incense stick of time later, he returned and said, "Sir, the bus is ready and we can depart immediately."

Du Qingtang led the officials of the Honglu Temple and the imperial guards onto a public bus and headed straight to the train station along the tracks.

It was also a coincidence that just as Du Qingtang got off the public bus, a loud gong sound was heard from the train station.

——The gong sound is to remind passengers that the train has arrived and to prepare to board.

Du Qingtang adjusted his official robe and smoothed out the slight wrinkles on his wide sleeves before striding towards the slowly stopping train.

Officials from the Honglu Temple followed closely behind, while the imperial guards stood solemnly outside the train station with swords in one hand.

Du Qingtang barely stood still when the door of the first carriage opened and a thin figure walked out.

Du Qingtang paused for a moment, and watched without blinking as the man slowly approached and stopped in front of her.

Fu Ci looked at Du Qingtang, whose cold features and unparalleled dignity hadn't changed at all from six years ago. The corners of his mouth trembled as he forced a smile, but his eyes were red.

"Xianyu, I'm here to keep my appointment."

Du Qingtang curled his lips and whispered, "I'm waiting for you to keep your appointment."

Fu Ci sniffed, poked Du Qingtang's purple official robe with his fingertips, and said in a very low voice: "It looks really good."

"You will have it too." Du Qingtang said firmly, raising his hand to stroke Fu Ci's flying hair.

"Zizhan, welcome home."