Chapter 97 Chapter 97 General Tuke and...
General Tuke and the officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty all breathed a sigh of relief. No one on either side wanted anything to go wrong at this time.
Only the deputy envoy's expression became even uglier.
Jiang Wan curled her lips and said, "Deputy Envoy, in our Great Zhou, a concubine is required to offer tea to the mistress on the second day after entering the house."
The deputy envoy looked at her in confusion.
"If a concubine is dissatisfied with her mistress, she'll pretend to accidentally break the cup when serving tea, preventing her from drinking it." Jiang Wan smiled. "I didn't expect that after just a few days in Beijing, the deputy envoy has already learned all the tricks the women in the harem use to compete for favor, and he's even putting them to use right away."
The court officials who could sit here were all as shrewd as humans. They heard the sarcasm in Jiang Wan's words, and low laughter could be heard one after another in the hall.
Jiang Wan placed the Lai Tong cup intact on the tray and stood up. "The Deputy Envoy's learning ability is amazing. I really admire him."
The sarcasm in this sentence is even more obvious. The man's face turned purple and his lips moved, but he couldn't utter a word.
If the Lai Tong cup hadn't broken, it wouldn't have escalated to the point of provocation. General Tuke thanked Jiang Wan and turned to scold the deputy envoy, "You disgraceful fool! Get back here! When you get back to Chigu City, you'll receive thirty military sticks!"
Then he stood up and said to Emperor Chengde in his half-fluent Central Plains dialect, "Please forgive me, Emperor Zhou. I will punish him severely when I return. The Emperor's gift is exquisite, and the craftsmanship used is unmatched among us Wusun. I will report this to Kunmi, and he will surely be pleased."
After a pause, General Tuke looked at the interpreter beside him and spoke a few words in Wusun dialect. Since this was his first time in the Great Zhou, he had only been cramming in the last month or two to learn the Central Plains dialect. He could barely use it for daily conversation, but he had to rely on a translator for more obscure words.
The interpreter said, "Your Majesty, the envoy said that he saw along the way that the Great Zhou had strict administration, the people were harmonious, the roads of the Nine Provinces were free of wolves and tigers, and that long journeys could be made without waiting for an auspicious day. [1] This made him yearn for it. The envoy hopes to visit Lin'an more often in the future."
Emperor Chengde laughed heartily: "Your Excellency, thank you for your compliment."
He looked at Jiang Wan: "Are you the founder of Qingjiangju? Your name is Jiang..."
"I am Jiang Wan." Jiang Wan kowtowed.
"Jiang Wan, I've heard the Queen mention you. You're skilled in porcelain making, quick to react, and your words are very much to my liking." Emperor Chengde said, "The Great Zhou Dynasty has always had four imperial merchants. I remember one passed away two years ago, and his position has been vacant ever since."
He said kindly, "If you succeed him, you will have the rank of a fifth-rank official and no longer need to call yourself a commoner."
Jiang Wan looked up in surprise and saw Queen Wen nodded slightly at the main table.
Jiang Wan quickly changed his tone: "I thank the Emperor for his grace!"
In her peripheral vision, Aigu picked up the wine glass and took a sip without looking at her, but she understood that it meant congratulations.
I thought it would take some time to fulfill my promise to him, but I didn't expect it to happen on the first day he arrived in Lin'an.
Jiang Wan returned to her seat and the song and dance show began.
Using the music as a shield, Hua Qingzhi looked at her with starry eyes: "You're amazing, Wanwan! Haha, now all the problems in our Qingjiang Residence have been solved!"
"Yeah," Jiang Wan was also very happy, "I didn't expect it to be so smooth."
The two of them began to eat and watch the show, while the ministers at the front seats became busy, taking turns toasting the envoys and discussing the conditions of the alliance in both open and covert ways.
After a satisfying meal and a few drinks, Jiang Wan vaguely heard General Natuk say something in broken official language, "I wish to establish a friendly relationship between Qin and Jin."
Hua Qingzhi whispered, "What do you mean, a marriage?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Aigu also stood up: "My mother passed away. My father sent me here this time because I have reached the age to marry. I want to ask His Majesty to marry another princess to continue the brotherhood between Loulan and the Great Zhou."
Hua Qingzhi: "Why are you asking for marriage one by one? The princesses of our Great Zhou are not cheap. And how can His Majesty bear to marry two daughters at once?"
Jiang Wan whispered, "It is said that a noblewoman can be chosen to be crowned as a princess."
"Which aristocratic family would be willing to marry their daughter to the Western Regions?" Hua Qingzhi muttered. "If a marriage really happens, it will be another game of chess between the aristocratic families."
Jiang Wan fiddled with his chopsticks: "The most regrettable thing is the girl who was married off. Isn't there an ancient poem that goes, 'Once you leave the purple palace, you will be in the desert, leaving only the green tomb facing the sunset?'" [2]
Hua Qingzhi: "Is there such a poem?"
Jiang Wan: "No, I dreamed about it."
Hua Qingzhi:?
————
Lin'an is bustling at night, its lights ablaze. The West Lake breeze, wrapped in moisture, wafts through the city's streets and alleys, gentle and moist.
At 2:45 PM, an hour and a half had passed since the banquet ended. Jiang Wan's carriage stopped in front of the Sifang Pavilion. She got out and asked the Loulan guard at the door, "Is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince back?"
Guard: "Are you Mr. Jiang from Qingjiangju?"
Seeing her nod, the guard stepped aside and said, "Your Highness has returned early and was waiting for you."
Jiang Wan thanked him for his hard work and walked in.
Sifang Pavilion was a posthouse specifically designed to receive envoys. Its interior was much more ornate than that of an ordinary inn. The bright red candles on the table, each decorated with delicate patterns, illuminated the entire room.
Aigu sat at the table, writing something on a parchment scroll.
If it were in the past, she would have gone up and taken a look directly, but now Aigu is the crown prince, and if the content of the parchment scroll is related to state affairs, she has to avoid suspicion.
Therefore, Jiang Wan did not get close. Fortunately, the sound of the door closing caused Aigu to look up and see her hesitating at the door.
"Jiang Wan!" Aigu's eyes lit up and she stood up quickly. "You're finally here. What are you standing there for? Sit down quickly. I'll go get some tea."
"Don't bother, I drank enough at the dinner." Jiang Wan waved her hand and looked at him carefully. "You've become much calmer, a bit like the crown prince."
He had changed a lot in the three months since we last met. Just now in the palace, he had managed to keep his emotions under control. When he mentioned the deceased Princess Qingrong, his tone was calm and composed, completely unlike the tearful outburst he had been three months earlier.
In her memory, he was straightforward, unassuming, and disliked literary matters. Now, he had learned how to navigate the courtiers, something that had even frightened Jiang Wan.
I don’t know what he has been through in these three months.
"You're not bad at all. You've become a royal merchant so quickly." Aigu sat across from her. "When can you open a shop in Loulan? I'll have all the royal children buy your products."
Jiang Wan retorted, "That sounds nice, but can you be the master of your father?"
"Father? My mother was killed by Yao Ji, and not only did he not punish her, he even continued to sleep with that woman. From then on, he is no longer my father." Aigu said in a cold tone, "Anyway, he also had a stroke and can only lie in bed. Now, inside and outside the Loulan Palace, I have the final say."
Jiang Wan took a deep breath and asked, "What about Yao Ji and her son? How did you deal with them?"
"Yao Ji bewitched the old king, causing him to indulge in pleasure; as for my third brother, he poisoned our mother and should naturally be executed according to the law."
Aigu looked at her and said, "I told you that when you open your new store, I will dig out Yaoji's heart blood as a celebration."
Hiss—I was thinking of going to Loulan to help him after I was done with my work, but I didn’t expect this guy to be so ruthless. I’ve already solved the problem.
But it’s not surprising when you think about it. It seems that his mentality had changed when he was outside Loulan City.
Seeing Jiang Wan remained silent, he showed some trepidation in his eyes, but his tone was fierce: "Do you think I'm too cruel?"
Jiang Wan leaned back on the soft pillow and playfully gave him a thumbs-up:
"I think you did a great job."
"Come to think of it, if the King of Loulan didn't force you, then why did you come here to ask for marriage?" Jiang Wan looked puzzled. "Have you taken a fancy to a girl from the Central Plains? I can help you find out."
Aigu turned her face away and said, "Since Loulan's founding, every Loulan queen has been a princess married into the Great Zhou. Our tiny country of Loulan was able to join the ranks of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions thanks to the support of the Great Zhou."
The candlelight reflected in his eyes, and his eyelashes cast a small shadow on the young crown prince's face, making him look particularly sad.
"You know, if I want to secure my position as crown prince, I must ask for marriage from the Great Zhou."
Jiang Wan was stunned. In her past life, in the history books, she had seen many princesses who were married off to foreign countries, and also many hostages from foreign countries. Some became ill from longing and died in a foreign land; some endured hardships and left their names in history, but could not make up for their regrets.
She didn't think much of it when she read history books, but when such a thing really happened to her or to her friends, she still sighed.
But she was just a businessman, and she hadn't even received the official documents to be named a royal merchant.
She couldn't help him.
"While the marriage candidate hasn't been decided yet, you should go out and explore more. If you meet someone you like and they're willing, tell me." Jiang Wan said, "The Great Zhou has precedents of royal daughters and noble ladies marrying off to foreign countries. Although I can't stop it, I will do my best to help you choose someone you like."
The delegation stayed in Lin'an for only a few days, and it was difficult to meet someone who was in love with them. She knew that the hope was slim, but this was the only way to comfort her.
Aigu stared at her.
"What if I like you?" He said jokingly, "How about you come back to Loulan with me? I promise to marry only you and treat you well for the rest of my life. How about that?"
"Huh?" Jiang Wan was stunned and pointed at herself. "I'm not a noble lady. I can't be a princess who marries a foreign prince."
After a pause, looking at his lost look, Jiang Wan wasn't sure whether he was joking or really confessing his feelings - this made her not know how to respond for a moment.
After thinking for a moment, she forced a smile and said in a teasing tone, "Don't talk nonsense. I already have a lover. If he knew, he would be angry."
"Ah, ah," Aigu slowly turned away and laughed, "You are so devoted to porcelain, and you still have a sweetheart? Which brave man has poor eyesight and is attracted to you?"
"That's the one I found by the Duolun Lake. I mentioned it to you." Thinking of Wen Shen, Jiang Wan unconsciously curled up the corners of his mouth, and his eyebrows softened a little. "He's amazing, both civil and military, handsome, and has a good temper."
"Then remember to buy me a glass of wine when you get married," Aigu laughed along with her, "I wish you happiness."
Take my blessings and be happy for me.
Aigu concealed her expression by lowering her head to drink tea, thinking secretly in her heart.
[1] From Du Fu's "Two Poems Reminiscing the Past"
[2] From Du Fu's "Ode to the Past"
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