Behind Lou Shishi, General Che Zhao of Loulan laughed and said, "Grand Preceptor of Da Gan is really too arrogant. How could your poem frighten my Loulan princess?"
The high priest silently observed Qin Chuan, seemingly secretly using his ancient divination techniques once again.
The Empress rose from her dragon throne and looked at Qin Chuan: "Qin Chuan, have you perhaps come up with some earth-shattering, awe-inspiring lines of poetry? Feel free to share them with everyone..."
"Do you really want to tell me?" Qin Chuan hesitated, afraid of getting beaten up if he said it.
"It's alright, go ahead and say it!"
As soon as the Empress finished speaking, Lou Shishi let out a sneer. With her slender body swaying, the gold ornaments on the hem of her red dress clinked together, making a tinkling sound.
"You Central Plains people have a word, 'nagging and indecisive,' which perfectly describes you right now! Asking you to compose a poem, and you're still so hesitant and coy. As the Grand Preceptor of the State, have you run out of ideas?"
"Your Majesty, if I speak, you must forgive me; otherwise, I will not speak and would rather admit defeat," Qin Chuan said to the Empress.
The Empress thought to herself, "How can I, a great and mighty nation, admit defeat to a mere Loulan?" So she said to Qin Chuan with some impatience, "Just say it, and I will forgive you!"
"Alright, then I'll tell you!"
Qin Chuan stepped two steps from the desk, head held high and chest puffed out, and began to recite:
"I am willing to draw my sword and slay the Loulan."
This one sentence alone caused Lou Shishi's expression to change, and everyone present also changed their expressions.
Qin Chuan ignored him and instead sped up his recitation:
"Last year we destroyed Kucha, this year we will slay Loulan."
"All my life I've relied on the Heavenly Sword, and now I await the day I can slay Loulan."
"Why is it so late for the vassal states to return? Loulan has not yet been slain!"
"Let it hang in the empty study as a zither companion; there's no need to take it to slay Loulan!"
"I yearn to ascend to the heavens, but fear the perils that lie ahead; who will be there to vanquish Loulan for me?"
"A man who beheads the Loulan king, leisurely savors tea and pays homage to the immortal Yu."
"I want to slay Loulan with a three-foot sword, but I will leave behind the regretful words of the pipa."
"I wipe my sword at my waist, and I will not rest until I have slain the Loulan."
"..."
By this point in the reading, the hall was already in an uproar. The ministers whispered among themselves, criticizing Qin Chuan for going too far and for lacking hospitality.
Loulan is a friendly nation, yet he keeps saying he wants to "slay Loulan." Has he gone mad from drinking?
Everyone from Loulan, including the princess, general, high priest, and merchants, turned pale. They dared not eat or drink, and stood there dumbfounded for a moment.
Qin Chuan continued reciting:
"..."
"Having fought a hundred battles, clad in golden armor, we will not return until Loulan is conquered!"
"Enough!!"
Upon hearing this, Lou Shishi could no longer contain herself and retorted sharply, "Qin Chuan, what have I, Loulan, done to offend you?! Every word you utter is an attempt to kill Loulan?!"
Meanwhile, on the Da Gan side, Right Chancellor Li Zongmin stood up, his round, chubby face twitching with his mustache, and said with a fierce look in his eyes, "Has the Grand Preceptor gone mad? Loulan has been a friendly ally of Da Gan for generations. In front of the Loulan princess, you are saying that you want to kill Loulan. Such rudeness and nonsense should be severely punished!"
"Your Majesty, I humbly beg forgiveness for the Imperial Preceptor's indiscretion!" Li Zongmin bowed to the Empress.
The Empress's expression was complex, neither pleased nor angry, but rather somewhat disappointed. "Qin Chuan, I asked you to compose a poem praising Loulan, and look at what you've written! You've angered the Loulan princess; how can we negotiate this deal now?"
Lou Shishi stood up and said, "Your Majesty, since the Grand Preceptor has treated my Loulan delegation so rudely, there is nothing more to discuss. This princess will now lead the delegation back..."
After speaking, Lou Shishi prepared to leave, and the high priest, general, merchants and others also stood up, ready to leave with the princess.
"Princess Loulan, wait!"
Li Zongmin stopped Lou Shishi, turned to the Empress and shouted urgently, "Your Majesty! You should remove the Imperial Preceptor from his post and send him to the Dali Temple prison for trial, to be punished for his indiscretion!"
Seeing that many ministers in the Da Gan court were dissatisfied with Qin Chuan, Lou Shishi paused, a plan forming in her mind. She turned to the Empress and said, "If Your Majesty of Da Gan is willing to punish Qin Chuan, then this princess will reluctantly stay!"
The Empress sneered inwardly. "The little Loulan Kingdom is so arrogant. If it weren't for the great enemies like the Xiongnu and Da Jiang, why would I do business with Loulan?"
Qin Chuan's poems, each one so moving and poignant, perfectly suit my taste...
However, if Qin Chuan is not punished, Princess Loulan will lose face, and the business deal will not be able to proceed.
"Qin Chuan, I just said I wouldn't punish you, and naturally I won't."
Upon hearing this, Lou Shishi was taken aback, gritting her teeth: "Your Majesty, what do you mean by this!?"
The Empress smiled faintly and said, "Princess Loulan, do not be anxious. If I say I will pardon him, I will pardon him; if I say I will punish him, I will punish him. Princess Loulan, why don't you tell me how you wish to punish him?"
Lou Shishi looked Qin Chuan up and down, then sneered, "Doesn't he look down on Loulan so much? Then hand him over to me and make him my slave, to wash my clothes, shoes and socks every day!"
Che Zhao said, "Princess, wouldn't that be letting him off easy?! So many people would love to wash your socks but never get the chance!"
"General Che, you shouldn't interrupt me!" Lou Shishi scolded.
"yes."
Che Zhao dared not speak further.
Lou Shishi's desire to make Qin Chuan her slave was naturally not permitted by the Empress.
The Empress laughed and said, "Princess, please don't joke. How could the Grand Preceptor of the Great Gan Kingdom possibly wash other people's socks..."
Lou Shishi thought for a moment, then her emerald eyes lit up: "Then let him fight against the general of my Daloulan. If he wins, he'll be pardoned; if he loses, hehe..."
"What if we lose?" Qin Chuan asked.
"If you can defeat my general from Daloulan, I, the princess, will even wash your socks!" Lou Shishi said disdainfully.
Che Zhao laughed and said, "Princess, please rest assured, I will definitely give him a good beating. How dare he look down on my Loulan! I will smash his face!"
As he spoke, he twisted his shoulders, his strong muscles seemingly about to burst out of his clothes, and then cracked his knuckles, his fists, the size of sandbags, looking quite intimidating.
Seeing this, Xiao Yunteng stood up, his face resolute: "The Grand Preceptor is a civil official. If General Loulan wants to fight, why not fight me?"
Che Zhao was highly competitive and had long heard of Xiao Yun's great reputation. He shouted, "General Xiao wants to compete, then let's have a competition!"
"No!"
Lou Shishi raised her hand to stop him, "It's not General Xiao who offended Loulan, but Qin Chuan. Since he's so arrogant as to want to kill Loulan, let's see if he has the ability!"
"right!"
Che Zhao nodded, looked at Qin Chuan like a hungry wolf eyeing a fat sheep, and chuckled: "Is the Imperial Advisor afraid? It's alright, I'll go easy on you, I won't kill you..."
Disdain!
Naked contempt!
Qin Chuan couldn't stand this insult and shouted, "Let's compete! Do you think I, the Grand Preceptor of the Great Gan Dynasty, am afraid of you?!"
The Empress frowned, torn between her own feelings. If she competed, Qin Chuan would surely be hurt; if she didn't, the Loulan delegation would definitely leave in a huff...
Thinking of this, the Empress slowly spoke: "Qin Chuan, let's stop competing. I'm not doing this business..."
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