Inside the main hall, Shen Qingtang and Elizabeth's business negotiations were proceeding smoothly.
Elizabeth greatly admired Shen Qingtang's talent, and not only bestowed upon him a large amount of jade and spices, but also personally accompanied him to visit the market of Loulan Kingdom.
The two had a very pleasant conversation.
They had become close friends who appreciated each other. Pei Wuwang stayed by Shen Qingtang's side the whole time.
Watching her chat and laugh with Elizabeth.
His eyes were full of tenderness. He might not understand the novel objects Shen Qingtang mentioned, nor the unfamiliar language.
But he knew.
He would fully support Shen Qingtang in whatever she wanted to do.
Pei Nian'an, holding Jenny's hand, curiously looked at the various exotic goods at the market, and occasionally ran to Shen Qingtang's side to share her discoveries.
The family's figures are bathed in the foreign sunlight.
It felt especially warm and cozy.
To celebrate the agreement, Elizabeth hosted a grand banquet in the palace’s open courtyard.
As night falls, the courtyard is filled with lanterns adorned with jewels, their light shining like a galaxy.
The long table was laden with golden-brown, crispy roasted lamb, a specialty of the Western Regions.
Raisins coated in honey, and chilled yogurt served on a silver platter.
The aroma filled the air.
Musicians played exotic tunes, dancers swayed gracefully in light gauze dresses, and guests raised their glasses in laughter, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
Elizabeth took Shen Qingtang's hand and sat her down in the main seat, enthusiastically introducing the delicacies on the table to her: "Shen Qingtang, this is our Loulan's most famous roasted whole lamb. It's made with free-range lambs from the grasslands, and the meat is exceptionally tender. You must try it."
Shen Qingtang smiled and thanked him, then picked up a silver knife and cut off a piece of mutton. It was indeed tender and juicy.
It also has a faint spice flavor.
Pei Wuwang sat beside Shen Qingtang.
He silently peeled grapes from the plate for her, gazing at her tenderly, occasionally exchanging a glance with her, their eyes filled with unspoken understanding.
Pei Nian'an and Jenny sat to the side, the two children holding small silver spoons, sharing yogurt bite by bite, their eyes crinkling with laughter.
Just as the banquet atmosphere reached its climax, Lu Jiaojiao quietly slipped into a corner of the courtyard.
She was dressed in plain, coarse cloth, and her face was smeared with ash, making her look like a servant.
She stared at Shen Qingtang in the main seat with a sinister look in her eyes, and took out a small cloth doll from her bosom, which she had made with evil magic.
A yellow talisman with Shen Qingtang's name on it was pasted on top. Taking advantage of everyone's inattention, she secretly squeezed the doll, muttered incantations, and directed the evil power towards the two drunken nobles.
The two nobles were already dissatisfied with Shen Qingtang, this "outsider," and now, bewitched by evil magic, they became even more irritable.
They suddenly stood up, pointed at Shen Qingtang, and shouted: "You're just a woman from the Central Plains, what makes you think you deserve His Majesty's attention? You even want to cooperate with Loulan? I think you're just trying to steal our treasures!"
One of the tall noblemen stepped forward and reached out to overturn the plate in front of Shen Qingtang, cursing, "People of unknown origin like this don't deserve to eat the delicacies of Loulan!"
The guests fell silent instantly, all turning to look at Shen Qingtang with curiosity and worry in their eyes. Elizabeth frowned, about to speak and stop them.
Shen Qingtang stood up first, looking calmly at the two nobles: "Your Excellencies, my cooperation with Loulan is based on the principle of mutual benefit and win-win. It can bring resources and technology from the Central Plains to Loulan, and also allow the people of the Central Plains to enjoy Loulan's special products. How can it be said that I stole treasures?"
She paused, her sharp gaze sweeping over the two men, and continued, "As for whether I am worthy to eat Loulan's delicacies, that is probably not up to you two to decide. His Majesty's invitation to this banquet is a sign of respect for me and an indication of the importance placed on cooperation between our two nations. Your rudeness is not only an offense to me, but also a disrespect to His Majesty."
As soon as the words were spoken, the two nobles seemed to have been hit where it hurt, or as if the power of the sorcery had weakened, and their eyes became somewhat confused.
Elizabeth seized the opportunity to speak, her tone authoritative: "Both of you were drunk and spoke carelessly, why don't you apologize to Shen Qingtang! If you dare to be rude again, don't blame me for being impolite!"
The two nobles then came to their senses. Seeing the strange looks from the guests around them and remembering Elizabeth's imposing presence, they turned pale with fright.
He quickly bowed to Shen Qingtang and apologized: "Miss Shen Qingtang. We were foolish and offended you. Please forgive us."
Shen Qingtang nodded lightly, not pursuing the matter further. She turned around and sat back down, continuing her lively conversation with Elizabeth as if the earlier incident had never happened.
Lu Jiaojiao, hiding in the corner, was trembling with anger as she watched her scheme fail.
But he dared not make any further moves and could only grit his teeth and quietly retreat from the courtyard.
She knew that she would have to think of other ways to deal with Shen Qingtang.
Just as the banquet interlude ended, a handsome figure stood up from the guests' seats, his long silver hair tied back, and his deep blue eyes like the night sky of the Western Regions.
His tall and straight figure was accentuated by a black robe with gold embroidery. He was none other than Elizabeth's younger brother, Prince Lyon of Loulan.
When Jenny saw him, she immediately smiled and waved: "Uncle Leon!"
Lyon simply nodded, his gaze fixed directly on Shen Qingtang.
His tone held a hint of scrutiny: "Shen Qingtang's response just now was indeed clever, but eloquence alone is not enough to prove your ability. Our Loulan Kingdom is thousands of miles away from the Central Plains. After the trade routes are opened, what countermeasures do you have if we encounter sandstorms that block our trade, bandit attacks, or clashes between our two customs?"
These words silenced the courtyard once more. Everyone knew.
Although young, the Prince of Lyon had been stationed on the border for many years and was very familiar with the risks of trade routes. The question he raised was precisely the most difficult problem in the cooperation.
Elizabeth also looked at Shen Qingtang, her eyes filled with anticipation. Although she trusted Shen Qingtang, she also wanted to know if this woman from the Central Plains was truly capable of handling these challenges.
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