Chapter 40
Bai Tianting lowered his head, closed his eyes tightly, and his heart was like a thousand horses galloping. He cursed in his heart: A bunch of idiots!
The emperor half-opened his eyes and looked down at the ministers. These people were talking to each other, and it was as if a bunch of flies had entered the Golden Throne Hall. The emperor never said a word until his voice gradually faded away, and the ministers realized that the emperor had not replied until then. So the entire Golden Throne Hall returned to calm, and even a little cold. This coldness came from the ministers. Living with the emperor is like living with a tiger. For them, if the emperor didn't speak, it would be a matter of their heads falling off.
"Why don't you say anything, my dear ministers?" The emperor finally spoke, and the ministers broke out in cold sweats again.
"When did my throne room become a market place?"
As soon as these words came out, all the ministers kowtowed in unison, their chests pressed against the ground and they shouted, "Your Majesty, please forgive me."
This was exactly what the emperor wanted. He did not ask to stand up, but stood up and left. The chief eunuch Fude immediately followed him. The emperor changed into his regular clothes in the imperial study, and then went to the imperial garden. Under the lush shade of the trees, he half-bent his legs and breathed in and out. After two cups of tea, the emperor sat in the garden and told Fude, "If there is nothing else, I will leave the court."
"Trash." Fude took the order and went to the Golden Palace to report.
The ministers in the Golden Palace did not dare to raise their heads. Even though they were dissatisfied, they still knelt down obediently. It was not until Fude said, "If there is nothing else, leave the court." Then the ministers stood up, panting. They leaned on their legs, supported their waists, and even their feet were shaking. At this time, the advantage of the military generals was reflected. However, this time, even the military generals suffered a lot. They did not laugh at the weak civil officials. The military generals themselves had a dull pain in their waists, let alone the civil officials.
Feng Nianxiang never participated in discussions with the emperor, he always left the palace alone. This time, Prime Minister Bai called him from behind. Feng Nianxiang was a little surprised, but his expression did not show it, "What do you want, Prime Minister Bai?"
Bai Tianting chuckled, "What's the matter between you and me?"
“Then…” Feng Nianxiang said.
"Brother Feng, let's talk while we walk."
Bai Tianting asked, "What do you think about the recent events in the Western Region?"
Feng Nianxiang said: "I dare not guess."
Bai Tianting said: "There are only you and me here, so you can talk."
Feng Nianxiang saw that he couldn't escape, so he smiled and said, "Prime Minister Bai, I am telling the truth, I really don't dare to guess."
Bai Tianting asked: "You really don't have any ideas at all?"
Feng Nianxiang said: "What ideas can this old man have?"
Bai Tianting was silent for a moment, then laughed, "In that case, I won't bother Minister Feng any more."
After Feng Nianxiang walked away, Bai Tianting put away his hypocritical smile. However, Feng Nianxiang didn't care what expression Bai Tianting had behind him. Thinking about it carefully, it wouldn't be a good expression. This old fox would never come to the temple for no reason. If there was no big trouble, he would definitely not come to him.
It's not that he didn't have any ideas about the visit of the Western Region Prince, but he didn't dare to say it, and couldn't say it. How could the Western Region Prince come to ask for protection? Although the Western Region people are good at business, they are also good at riding and shooting. They are all big and strong, and their body shape gives them an advantage. What do they need protection for? In Feng Nianxiang's eyes, the sudden show of goodwill from the Western Region should be an attempt to exchange something from Qingzhao. In this case, it makes sense for the Western Region Prince to pay tribute in person.
But these have nothing to do with Feng Mansion. The emperor has been more and more lazy in managing state affairs recently, and is obsessed with the way to immortality every day. He has to be very alert, because the two children are of marriageable age, and they must not be taken advantage of by thieves.
When thinking of his child, Feng Nianxiang looked ten years older. He felt sorry for Qingci.
The more you fear something, the more it will come to you. The prince of the Western Regions soon arrived at Qingzhao. That day, the nine markets in the east and west were full of people, all wanting to see what the prince of the Western Regions looked like and what he brought to Qingzhao. Outside the imperial city, there were many imperial guards, and inside the palace gate, there were ministers standing, giving the prince of the Western Regions enough face - you came to pay tribute in person, and we will come to greet you in person.
Inside the Golden Palace, the emperor was already sitting on the dragon throne waiting.
The prince of the Western Regions took vigorous steps and knocked his hand on his chest, "Long live the emperor."
"No need for formalities, Wusun," said the emperor.
Wusun raised his face, and the emperor was slightly surprised. This prince from the Western Regions looked completely different from his father, breaking the traditional appearance of the Western Regions people. Wusun did not look rough, but rather like a warrior, especially his eyes, which were bright and clean.
"It took a lot of trouble for Wusun to get here this time. Thank you for your hard work," said the emperor.
Wusun bowed again: "Thank you, Your Majesty, Xingyan is not tired. When I think about being able to come to Qingzhao to pay tribute in person, I am full of energy."
After saying this, Wusun Xingyan showed his big white teeth and raised his head with a smile. The emperor also laughed when he saw it. The smile of this prince from the Western Regions was very contagious.
"Your Majesty, Wusun has brought many rare items this time. Please take a look." Wusun Xingyan said.
"Okay! Present it." said the emperor.
As a result, the ministers in the Golden Palace all stood to the side, leaving the entire space in the middle empty. The eunuchs passed the message one by one, and soon, the tributes from the Western Regions were presented one by one -
"Thirty rolls of peacock velvet."
"The Persian glass mirror is lifted."
"One hundred and twenty carts of Ruilin incense."
"Ninety-eight silver-threaded colored glass bottles."
"A pair of mica gilded hairpins."
"Sixty rolls of cashmere and gold-thread blankets."
…………
"The secret medicine of the Wuma tribe in the Western Regions can cure all kinds of poisons and prolong life. Three pills."
The eunuch reported for a whole hour, and the Golden Palace was already full. The ministers were dazzled by the sight. Even Bai Tianting, who had seen countless treasures, was no longer shocked. He had never even heard of many of them. The happiest person was the emperor, because of the secret medicine of the Wuma tribe in the Western Regions. The medicine of the Wuma tribe is not something that anyone can ask for. As long as the sky does not agree, they will not give it to you even if you are a god. The medicine of the Wuma tribe is said to be a natural force. Every medicinal material and every production step strictly abides by the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, and the harmony of yin and yang, mutual generation and mutual restraint, and mutual complementation.
"You have come all the way from afar to send me so many good things, but I am now having a headache about what to give in return." The emperor smiled from ear to ear, showing satisfaction to his eyes.
Wusun bowed and said, "As long as the emperor likes it, this is the sincerity of the Western Regions."
"These items are treasures collected by the Western Region Royal Family in recent years. They were taken from the national treasury and come from all over the world."
After Wusun Xingyan said this, the ministers present finally realized that they were going to negotiate terms. Of course, the emperor also reacted, and the smile on his face had long since disappeared.
"I am deeply gratified by the sincerity of the Western Regions' royal family." After all, he was the emperor, and he left no room for Wusun Xingyan to speak. But Wusun Xingyan had already talked about the fact that Emperor Qingzhao would not give in easily, and he had planned to take the initiative to state his conditions.
"Xing Yan has come here to ask for a favor. These items are all my most sincere gifts from the Western Region." Wusun Xing Yan bowed.
The emperor narrowed his eyes and looked down at Wusun Xingyan. It seemed that the prince of the Western Regions was going to force his words. He turned the ring on his thumb and said, "Oh? I wonder when I can make Wusun so distressed."
Wusun Xingyan's eyes lit up and he smiled widely: "Xingyan likes a girl from Qingzhao and wants to marry her as the prince's consort. I hope the emperor will help. The Western Region is willing to become a vassal state of Qingzhao."
Wusun Xingyan's words were like a heavy stone, hitting all the ministers' chests. At this moment, the emperor was choked by these words and was a little breathless. It seems that sometimes, when the good news from heaven is too big, it is easy to be overwhelmed. Is it that simple? The emperor asked seriously, "Which girl does Xingyan like?"
Wusun Xingyan smiled again: "She lives in Feng Mansion, her name is Feng Huanhuan."
The Jinluan store was silent for a moment, and then it was noisy like the New Year. The ministers who had recovered from their shock cast celebratory glances at Feng Nianxiang, some with envy and some with blessings. But Feng Nianxiang's ears were buzzing, and he seemed to be unable to hear the blessings of his colleagues.
The emperor was overjoyed. This was simply a sign from heaven. How could he not agree? He granted the marriage on the spot, and Feng Nianxiang had no room to refuse. He didn't know how he got back to the Feng Mansion, nor how he walked out of the Golden Palace amid the blessings of so many colleagues. The bright yellow scroll in his hand was like a huge rock pressing down on his shoulders, very heavy. Feng Nianxiang wandered at the entrance of Huanxin Garden for a long time, so long that his feet were numb. He finally reacted and lowered his head and tapped his legs.
The servant of the Feng Mansion who had been waiting not far away saw Feng Nianxiang finally move, so he dared to step forward and persuade him, "Master, you have been standing for several hours, don't hurt yourself."
Feng Nianxiang couldn't hear anything at this moment. His mind was full of thoughts about what to do with his Huan'er. Feng Nianxiang remained silent until Feicui came out. She looked like she was going to leave the house. She didn't notice the person standing at the door at all. So, she faced Feng Nianxiang. They were both stunned for a moment. Feicui reacted first and hurriedly saluted, "Master."
Feng Nianxiang nodded and stopped talking.
Feicui looked up quietly. The master's face was very solemn, as if something bad had happened. Feicui's heart skipped a beat. Feicui did not retreat. Feng Nianxiang still stood with his hands behind his back and looked towards Huanxin Garden. Feicui felt that for a person like Feng Nianxiang, such a solemn expression must mean that something difficult had happened, and it was related to Huanxin Garden. So she bravely asked: "Master...but what happened--"
Feng Nianxiang waved his hand and said, "Go out and come back later."
Feng Nianxiang directly interrupted Feicui's question. At the moment, he didn't want to care about anyone's thoughts at all - he failed to protect his most beloved daughter after all.
Feicui opened her eyes wide, her chest heaving, and she kept swallowing her saliva. Feng Nianxiang obviously didn't want Feicui to test her anymore, and Feicui wisely turned around and left, but she didn't leave the house. She hid under a tree not far away. It was just past noon, and the sun was burning people's faces. Feicui was sweating even under the swaying leaves under the tree. Her eyes were blank, and if it weren't for the rise and fall of her chest proving that she was still alive, she would have looked like a lost wooden man. Feicui couldn't get Feng Nianxiang's expression off her mind. She was sure that something had happened in the Feng Mansion.
Not long after Feicui left, Feng Nianxiang stepped into Huanxin Garden. Feng Huanhuan was very happy to see Feng Nianxiang.
"Daddy, why are you here?" Feng Huanhuan stood up from the stone bench. The process was not as smooth as usual and she felt a little strenuous.
Feng Nianxiang took a few steps forward and said, "Huan'er, don't move. Your father will go."
Feng Huanhuan did not try to show off. In her current state, showing off would only cause trouble for others. She lowered her head and took out a new cup from the tea basket. Feng Nianxiang trotted a few steps and came under the wintersweet tree. Feng Huanhuan poured tea for him. She caught a glimpse of the bright yellow scroll in Feng Nianxiang's hand. She did not think much about it, thinking that her father had been rewarded again, so she pushed the teacup forward and said, "Huan'er is using tea instead of wine to congratulate Daddy for getting another reward."
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