Chapter 476 A Gift
The banquet was in full swing, with envoys from various countries presenting a dazzling array of gifts, including rare and precious treasures, drawing continuous exclamations of admiration from the audience.
Huo Lin sat upright, his gaze sweeping over the tribute items, while his mind raced with calculations.
This coral tree is quite nice, a perfect red. I'll put it there for her; she'll probably like it.
[The mutton-fat jade ruyi from Xiling...tsk, it seems like they used the same formula last year, nothing new.]
[Hmm? That jewel-encrusted scimitar from the northern desert… that's some kind of nouveau riche aesthetic.]
When it was the turn of the Southern Xinjiang delegation to present their gifts, an envoy dressed in a colorful brocade robe and wearing silver ornaments stepped forward slowly.
He was about forty years old, with a thin face and slightly deep-set eyes. As he walked, the silver ornaments clinked together, producing a crisp, delicate sound, which, against the backdrop of the music in the hall, gave him a touch of exoticism.
Huo Lin glanced at it, raising an eyebrow in his mind.
This person seems steady, but his eyes are too lively; he doesn't seem like someone who stays put.
Behind the envoy from the southern border were two attendants dressed in equally distinctive attire.
They were carrying an object that was completely covered with red silk. The object was about two feet tall, quite large, and looked rather heavy.
When the envoy from the southern border arrived at the foot of the imperial steps, he placed his right hand on his chest and bowed in salute.
"The Southern Frontier admires the splendor of the Celestial Empire and presents a jade carving crafted from the jade of our clan's centuries-old jade vein, to congratulate the Emperor and Empress on their long and prosperous reign, and to wish for an everlasting alliance between our two nations."
Having said that, he turned slightly to the side, signaling his attendant to unveil the red silk.
The red silk slipped down, as if a trace of blood had faded, and in an instant, a jade sculpture about two feet tall appeared before everyone's eyes.
The jade is warm and smooth like grease, with a white color tinged with a very faint crimson. It is carved with a pattern of a hundred birds surrounding a phoenix, with the feathers clearly visible and lifelike. The craftsmanship is exquisite.
What's even more peculiar is that the moment the red silk is unveiled, a cool and ethereal fragrance fills the air, refreshing and delightful.
A murmur of amazement rippled through the hall; the jade carving was truly exquisite in terms of material, craftsmanship, and symbolism.
Jiang Huan nodded slightly, about to say something polite, when she suddenly heard the system's sharp alarm.
"Beep! Gu-attracting incense detected. This substance comes from the Hidden Ephemeral Flower in the Secret Valley of Southern Xinjiang. It has a delicate fragrance, but long-term exposure will erode the nervous system and gradually affect the mind, causing hallucinations and dependence."
"Immediate isolation is recommended! Again, immediate isolation is recommended!"
Jiang Huan's smile froze, and a chill ran down her spine.
She glanced quickly in He Ling's direction and saw that He Ling's face was also pale, staring at the jade carving in disbelief. Their eyes met briefly in mid-air before parting, both seeing the horror in each other's eyes.
Jiang Huan clenched her fingers in her sleeve, maintaining a calm facade, but her momentary change did not escape Huo Lin's notice.
[Hmm? Why did her face suddenly turn pale? Is there something wrong with this jade carving?]
Huo Lin's eyes darkened, but his face remained calm and his voice was steady and authoritative: "The envoy from the Southern Frontier is very thoughtful. This item is exquisite. The Empress and I will accept it. Wang Degui, keep it safe and register it in the warehouse."
"Yes." Wang Degui immediately stepped forward and directed the young eunuch to lift the jade carving and send it to the storeroom.
The envoy from southern Xinjiang maintained his smile, bowed in gratitude, and returned to his seat, as if everything were normal.
Huo Lin turned his head and, under the guise of pouring her wine, gently touched the back of her hand, asking, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Feeling the warmth from Huo Lin's hand, Jiang Huan felt a little relieved: "It's nothing, it's just that the fragrance of this jade carving is a bit peculiar, and it makes my chest feel a little stuffy."
She couldn't directly talk about the system; she could only give vague hints.
Huo Lin glanced at her, already understanding the situation.
[It really was because of that jade carving. Looks like we'll have to have someone investigate this thoroughly after the banquet.]
His anger surged within him, but his face remained calm and composed. He even raised his glass in a distant toast towards the envoy from the southern border, as if it were just a casual greeting.
Only Jiang Huan, who was standing right next to him, could feel the chill emanating from him for that instant.
The banquet continued after the brief interlude, with the music starting again and a new group of dancers performing. As their flowing sleeves fluttered, a lively scene of singing and dancing filled the air once more.
Jiang Huan slowly sipped the fruit wine in her glass, forcing herself to calm down. Her gaze swept over the people in the hall as if by accident, but she suddenly noticed that Consort Li, who was sitting not far away, seemed to have an unusual expression.
Consort Li lowered her eyes slightly, looking at the exquisite dishes on the table, seemingly unconcerned about the noise around her.
But Jiang Huan keenly noticed that her fingertips were unconsciously stroking the smooth rim of the wine glass, again and again, and she would occasionally look up in the direction of the Southern Frontier delegation, showing some anxiety.
This subtle anomaly, which might not normally attract attention, was particularly striking to Jiang Huan at this moment.
Is there any connection between Consort Li and Southern Xinjiang?
Jiang Huan seemed to be deep in thought. During a break in the singing and dancing, when everyone was toasting each other, she picked up her wine cup, stood up, and walked towards Consort Li.
"Sister Li Fei," Jiang Huan said with a smile, sitting down in the empty seat next to Li Fei and gently placing her wine cup on the table.
"I've seen you sitting here all day, just watching others have fun. It's so boring. Here, try this. It's made from fruit, sweet and not intoxicating. It's much smoother than those strong liquors."
Consort Li seemed startled, then suddenly came to her senses. She looked up and saw that it was Jiang Huan. She hurriedly tried to get up and pay her respects, but Jiang Huan pressed her wrist down.
"Hey, there are no outsiders here, why bother with all that formality?" Jiang Huan used a little force to prevent her from getting up.
"I noticed that you seemed a little restless, sister. Is it because it's too noisy in the hall, or did you drink too much and feel unwell?"
Her gaze fell on Consort Li's face with concern, but she was on edge, carefully observing every change in the other's expression.
Consort Li looked into Jiang Huan's bright eyes and subconsciously avoided her gaze.
Her relationship with Jiang Huan has improved, but they are far from being close.
But at this moment, she did feel inexplicably uneasy and desperately needed an outlet.
She pursed her lips, her fingertips twitched slightly, and finally spoke: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I'm fine, it's just..."
Consort Li hesitated for a moment, glanced in the direction of the Southern Frontier delegation, and then continued, "Just now, when I saw the Southern Frontier envoys presenting gifts, I suddenly remembered some old things at home and became a little distracted."
"Oh? I wonder what old story it is?" Jiang Huan's heart stirred, but she didn't show it on her face. She just picked up her glass of wine and took a small sip.
Consort Li's gaze wavered slightly, as if she was weighing her options. After a moment of silence, she leaned closer to Jiang Huan.
"To be honest, Your Majesty, one of my uncles had some old acquaintances with the Southern Frontier in the past. A few days ago, my mother sent a letter to the palace and mentioned in casual conversation that the envoy from the Southern Frontier had visited our home after arriving in the capital, seemingly to catch up with old friends."
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