Chapter 296 A Two-Sided Attack

"Such a grand gesture! It seems they have big ambitions!" After listening to Song Zhimin read the memorial, Ye Yunshu, who was lying on the couch, was finally willing to look at the gifts that the Kachin envoy had given to Song Zhimin.

A huge, pigeon-blood red ruby, the size of an egg.

Song Zhimian carefully categorized and placed all the memorials on the table, then signaled the eunuch to send them to a designated place for archiving before she began to complain.

"Your Majesty, have you ever seen a gift given like this?"

She gave it away in front of so many people, as if she was afraid others wouldn't know she was giving a gift.

Believe it or not, tonight news will spread throughout the mansions of all the officials in the capital that His Majesty's personal lady-in-waiting accepted gifts from foreign envoys. Who knows what they'll say about me behind my back!

"Maybe the Censorate has already prepared a memorial impeaching me!" Song Zhimian felt more and more depressed as she spoke.

That Dana...

It was definitely intentional.

"No! The Censorate wouldn't dare to impeach anyone close to me."

"Even if someone wants to impeach someone, they must inform me first. In other words, it is all at my behest that the Censorate wants to impeach someone," Ye Yunshu said immediately.

Song Zhimian snorted before taking a sip of the tea that Zheng Wanwan had poured.

Ye Yunshu looked at Song Zhimian and suddenly smiled.

"Then take two bodyguards with you when you go to the banquet tomorrow."

Even though it's the Kachin envoy who arranged the banquet for you at Jiuyaolou, I still have to be careful.

"She wouldn't dare to assassinate or poison you. What if she tried to seduce you with her charm? Then I would be missing a great general!" Ye Yunshu said with a smile.

Song Zhimian...

"Your Majesty!" Song Zhimian said with some dissatisfaction.

Ye Yunshu quickly waved her hand.

"Alright, alright! I was just joking with you! But if you really take a fancy to any young master, just tell me, and I'll grant you a marriage!"

Then I'll give you a grand wedding with a magnificent dowry, so you can have a spectacular marriage.

However, let me make this clear from the start: even if you get married, you will still have to serve me.

"But you can't serve in the inner palace at that time. I need to think about which of the Six Ministries to assign you to..." Ye Yunshu was already thinking about this question.

Song Zhimian had a bit of a headache.

Does every pregnant woman experience a drastic change in personality after becoming pregnant?

Since His Majesty became pregnant, his thinking has been so unpredictable that she can hardly keep up with him!

Look, we're talking about foreign envoys right now, but His Majesty's thoughts are already so far ahead...

"Your Majesty, why don't you rest early?" Song Zhimian said, getting up.

Ye Yunshu smiled and gestured for Song Zhimian to sit down.

"I was just joking with you! Alright, let's talk about something serious, you know... Dana, right!"

Why did that envoy Dana invite you to a banquet? Whatever the matter, she should have been hosting a banquet for Minister Lin and his people, but instead she went out of her way to invite you. This must be something special.

"Zhimian, think carefully about what she really wants to achieve by inviting you to this banquet." Ye Yunshu's expression turned serious.

After a moment's thought, Song Zhimian understood what it meant.

"They definitely still want to seek the protection of Da Yu."

Or rather, she no longer simply wanted Da Yu to acknowledge their status.

The Kachin people are the old royal family of the Biao Kingdom, and in terms of bloodline, they have the blood of the original royal family of the Biao Kingdom, the Wei family.

However, their strength is weak, and in recent years they have been suppressed by the former royal family, which has almost depleted their former resources.

The Kachin State is currently in chaos, with various powerful clans declaring themselves kings. Clans like those in Shan State and the Bai family are more powerful than the Kachin people.

Unfortunately, the Kachin people are caught between these two forces, caught in a pincer movement, and are in danger of being annexed at any time.

The Kachin king sent his sister to Dayu, partly to tell other forces that he had close ties with the Dayu royal family and that they should not touch him.

Secondly, she also wanted to see if the Dayu region could lend them troops so they wouldn't have this problem. Song Zhimian analyzed slowly.

Ye Yunshu nodded. Yes, it was just as she had thought.

That Dana envoy probably came to borrow troops.

Moreover, they wanted to borrow the Southwest Army.

"With the Seventh Prince there, I am not worried about the Southwest Army."

Zhimian, just go as usual tomorrow. You can handle whatever requests they make. You can discuss the matter in the southwest with Lao Qi.

There must have been a reason why they sent a female envoy.

Furthermore, I clearly issued an edict instructing the Seventh Prince to handle the affairs of the Southwest as appropriate, yet he still brought the matter to the capital, which must be because he wanted to have a legitimate reason for his actions.

You decide what to do tomorrow!

Tomorrow's court assembly... you don't need to accompany me, just let Wanwan accompany me.

Take that Dana envoy around and let them see the prosperity of the capital.

"If someone invites you to dinner, you have to invite them for tea!" Ye Yunshu yawned.

Song Zhimian immediately approached with a smile.

"Your Majesty, is the Imperial Household Department paying for it?"

Ye Yunshu...

"It's definitely the Imperial Household Department that will pay for it, but you can also ask the Court of Colonial Affairs to pay for it."

Tomorrow you can find two more tea masters to brew tea, and two more zither masters to play the zither. Find as many as you want!

"I'm tired, you should go back and rest too!"

Song Zhimian readily agreed.

This is tea ordered by imperial decree, and you can even find the Tea Master and the Musician... Oh my, it's so good to be in the system, you can get reimbursed for anything you do.

...

The next day, Song Zhimian changed out of her official robes as a palace maid and left the palace in casual clothes.

After waiting for quite a while at her residence, Envoy Dana finally saw Song Zhimian.

When Danna saw Song Zhimian, the anxiety that had been weighing on her mind finally subsided.

Fortunately, the female official came to the banquet, which means that the Empress of Dayu had given her permission.

As for the purpose of my visit... there should be hope!

"Song Shanggong looks so different today, I almost didn't recognize her!" Dana greeted her with a smile.

Song Zhimian smiled and looked Danna up and down.

Although he had changed into the attire of Dayu, it was still immediately obvious that he was not from Dayu.

"I am honored to be invited to this banquet by Envoy Dana! Please!" Song Zhimian gestured for them to enter.

Dana quickly gestured for Song Zhimian to go first...

...

The third floor of Jiuyaolou, the largest restaurant in the capital, was booked out today, with only Song Zhimian and Envoy Danna present. The second and first floors remained open as usual.

As guests streamed into Jiuyaolou, and looking out the window at the crowds on the street, along with the scenes she had witnessed along the way, Envoy Dana felt a pang of envy.

When will the Kachin people's region be like that of Dayu...?

The country is prosperous and the people live in peace and contentment; everywhere is a scene of flourishing development...

"Dayu is truly a superior nation!" Dana couldn't help but exclaim.

Song Zhimian glanced at Danna, took a small sip of the fragrant tea brought by the waiter, and then gestured for the servants in the room to leave.

The table was laden with delicious food, but only Song Zhimian and Danna were present.

Song Zhimian didn't mention official business, but simply gestured for Danna to try the food at Jiuyaolou.

After a long while, Dana finally couldn't help but speak up.

"Lady Song, I have a favor to ask of you today!"

Song Zhimian responded with an "oh".

"Whether it's official or private matters, according to the rules, if it's official, you should first submit it to the Court of Colonial Affairs, which will then submit it to His Majesty's desk."

If it's a private matter...

I've been staying in the palace the whole time, so I probably can't be of much help!

“But His Highness the Prince of Qi of Dayu said that only you can help me with this matter!” Dana hurriedly said.

Song Zhimian...