Chapter 265: Laying the Net
The next day.
Gu Huan woke up before dawn.
"Ma'am, why don't you get some more sleep?"
"It's okay. Wake up early. The generals will be here soon. Donghua, tell mother and call Zhilan. We will go and have breakfast with her."
"yes."
Dong Qing dressed her up and asked: "Which dress are you wearing, Madam?"
"The one with narrow sleeves in azure blue."
Gu Huan asked Dong Qing to comb her hair into a high bun, and she only pinned it with a Hetian jade auspicious hairpin and a pair of white jade earrings.
She didn't wear any makeup, except to make her eyebrows thicker, which made her look fresh and neat.
Donghua reported to the old lady that she had gotten up and someone had sent breakfast to the kitchen.
Gu Huan took out the token from the wooden box.
She tied the commander's token given by Mu Junyan into a necklace with a dark red rope overnight, which fit perfectly on her hand. Holding the token, she went to the house where the old lady lived.
The three of them finished their dinner quickly. Gu Huan wrote down a few key points that she had been thinking about all night on a piece of paper and showed it to the old lady.
"It's not difficult to get the King of Dali not to marry Jiang Ruoxi. Just tell her about her shameful deeds and any man will be disgusted. But I don't want to keep this scourge any longer."
Gu Huan's expression was calm, and when she said the last sentence lightly, the old lady and Zhou Zhilan looked at her with admiration.
Zhou Zhilan's eyes sparkled, and she was eager to try: "Whatever you think, I'll do it. You're carrying a pair of babies, don't get involved in blood."
Gu Huan smiled and said, "She was given the title of a first-rank princess because of the marriage. If we take action with her status, it will be disadvantageous to us. None of us should take action personally. Her death has nothing to do with us."
Gu Huan whispered the plan. The old lady and Zhou Zhilan widened their eyes and gave her a thumbs up.
The old lady smiled and said, "I told you you can do it."
Gu Hua blushed: "How can such petty skills compare to mother's great strategy and wisdom?"
"Don't be so modest."
Gu Huan smiled and said, "As for the prince's safety, leave it to Akabane. Generals, just ensure the safety of the border and the travel between the two countries' envoys."
"As for Wang Heng and the new governor, let them do whatever they want. They can't take away the trade we have."
Gu Huan looked at Zhou Zhilan and said, "Leave the transaction with Uncle Pei to Sister Zhilan. We'll do our thing and they'll do their thing. Just don't let Wang Heng and the others get involved."
"Don't worry."
Zhou Zhilan nodded.
Gu Huan tilted her head and thought for a moment: "I will face them together with the princess. Miss Yuan cannot show up, please mother, please keep an eye on her."
The old lady nodded: "Okay, don't worry."
Akabane walked in from the Chuihua Gate and stood outside the door and said a few words to Donghua.
Donghua came in through the curtains: "The four generals and the captain of the guard are here."
"Okay, let's go."
The old lady held Gu Huan's hand, Zhou Zhilan supported the old lady, and the three of them went to the front hall together.
The four generals had already heard Chi Yan's message about their lord's intentions, and knew about the peace talks and the arrival of the marriage team. They were all filled with righteous indignation and at the same time worried about their lord's safety.
Seeing the three people coming in, the five of them stood up and bowed to them.
Four of them had been seen before.
Two of them were rescued from Bian Jing, the other one was General Luo whom I had met before, and one I had not met before.
Gu Huan bowed slightly and said, "Thank you for your hard work, generals."
When General Fang and the others saw Gu Huan again, their eyes couldn't help but turn red. Seeing her saluting with her big belly, they all quickly returned the salute.
"Madam, please don't be so polite. You're just stabbing us."
Gu Huan saw that they had regained their spirits and her eyes became red as she recalled those days of torture.
General Fang pointed to a young and handsome general and said, "This is General Luo, General Qi Jun's deputy general. He has been promoted. There are two others you met last time. They are stationed at the front and cannot come."
Gu Huan nodded: "It's okay."
The old lady waved her hand: "Everyone sit down and talk."
After serving tea, Donghua and several maids retreated together, closed the door, and stood a few steps away from it.
The generals explained their respective responsibilities in detail.
General Fang led the cavalry, General Qian led the infantry, and General Luo led the vanguard.
Military Supervisor Luo is in charge of all matters in the rear of the military camp.
Gu Huan held the command in her hand and did not refuse politely. She directly told the generals the arrangements she had discussed with the old lady.
Several generals stood up, bowed, and responded in unison with loud voices: "As you command!"
Gu Huan waved her hands and said, "Sit down quickly. No need to be polite. I am a woman. I am very grateful that you generals are willing to listen to my arrangements."
General Fang said in a clear voice: "Madam is a heroine, brave and resourceful. We admire her."
Gu Huan blushed, but she didn't shy away: "Then please act according to circumstances."
"yes."
Gu Huan looked at Chi Yan: "Chi Yan, is there any new news?"
"Madam, the peace negotiation team is moving very slowly. At their current speed, it will take them two months to arrive. The scouts will keep a close eye on them and report any abnormalities in a timely manner. However, there is a strange situation reported from Bian Jing."
Gu Huan was so nervous that her heart skipped a beat.
Mu Junyan must not get into any trouble.
"The Jiang family has sent people to the northern border. We don't know what they are doing yet. If there is any movement, they will report it immediately."
Gu Huan thought for a moment and said, "It will take at least a month to get from Bian Jing to Northern Xinjiang, so there is no need to worry about it for now."
After seeing them off, Gu Huan breathed a sigh of relief, and her clenched palms became sweaty without her noticing.
"Mother, Mr. Min, Sister Zhilan, and I are going to meet the Dali envoy."
"Okay. Be sure to stay safe."
"Don't worry, mother."
It was noon.
Pei Jinglei came with the Dali envoy.
The Dali envoy bowed respectfully when he saw Gu Huan: "Your humble servant greets the madam."
Gu Huan bowed in return: "Your Excellency, I am honored."
She smiled and said, "It's lunch time now, why don't you honor me, Your Excellency, and have a meal here?"
The Dali envoy was extremely pleased: "I heard that the chefs here are from Bian Jing. I have long wanted to try them. I am just waiting for Madam to call me."
Gu Huan smiled and said, "Your Excellency, please tell me earlier that you can come for dinner anytime."
She leaned forward and made a gesture of invitation: "Sir, Uncle Pei, please."
Everyone walked towards the side hall together.
The Dali envoy walked away and said, "Madam, you may not remember me. Last time, I came to Juzhou with the late king and met you from afar."
Gu Huan was slightly surprised: "My status was inconvenient at that time, and I was not able to entertain you well."
"At that time, I admired Madam very much. Now it seems that Madam is indeed incomparable to ordinary women."
Gu Huan couldn't help but look at him.
What a sweet mouth.
The Dali envoy felt her gaze and smiled at her. "I was a lowly official at that time. I knew that it shouldn't have happened, but I was powerless to stop it. Now, our new king is very happy that Daliang is willing to negotiate peace and send princesses to each other for marriage. In fact, the people of Dali all hope to stop the war. After so many years of fighting, the people are living in misery."
Gu Hua nodded: "Your Excellency is right. The two countries are fighting for power, and the people are suffering."
"Exactly."
The Dali envoy agreed very much.
As long as there is a certain consensus, the conversation will be very pleasant and the meal will be very enjoyable.
After the meal, the maids served exquisite snacks and then both sides started to talk.
Pei Jinglei explained to Gu Huan all the cooperation projects that he had discussed with the envoy.
These were all discussed by Gu Huan and him in advance, and it would be fine as long as the Dali envoy agreed.
Moreover, Gu Huan sent a gift of five hundred taels to the envoy through Pei Jinglei, and promised to give him a share of the profits from future trade.
Nothing will happen without benefit. Feelings alone will not last long. There must be mutual interests binding each other.
After finishing the main business, Gu Huan changed the subject.
"Because of the goodwill shown by the new king towards the truce between the two countries, there is one thing I have to remind you of in advance."
Seeing her serious expression, the Dali envoy hurriedly bowed and said to Gu Huan: "Madam, please feel free to speak."
Gu Huan was embarrassed: "I shouldn't say this, and it's hard for me to say it. But for the sake of long-term friendship between our two countries, we must tell the truth."
"The last time you came to Juzhou with the late king, it was for the princess's marriage. That princess is now the widow of our General Qi."
The Dali envoy nodded and said, "I have heard a little about this matter. I have also met Princess Xuan just now. I admire the princess for her loyalty and righteousness."
"Yes. But the one who is getting married this time is not a real princess. She is Concubine Jiang's niece, named Jiang Ruoxi, who was originally a princess."
The Dali envoy was slightly startled: "Oh? We don't know about this. However, the surname is Jiang, and he is a member of the Queen Mother's clan. The Queen Mother of Daliang was once in power, and the old officials in the court listened to her. If it is a younger generation that she favors, my king should not mind."
Gu Huan smiled and said, "But Princess Jiang doesn't have a very good reputation. You can ask around first."
The Dali envoy's expression changed slightly: "Really?"
Gu Huan nodded: "For the sake of long-term friendship between our two countries, I suggest that you first get to know her character. Otherwise, if the person who becomes your queen is criticized and behaves badly, wouldn't it bring shame to your country's new king?"
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