Chapter 74 Refusing to Admit
Although the chaos last night did not affect the post station, it caused such a big commotion. The envoys were not deaf or blind, so how could they not know anything about it?
They sent people out overnight to inquire about the news.
"Are you really arresting corrupt officials?"
"The information I got from Baotou should be correct. It's said that so many corrupt officials were arrested this time that the entire Jinyiwei and Jinwuwei were mobilized, which is why the whole city was alarmed."
The Second Prince of Western Xia, Wei Mingliang, waved him off. He looked at the two people listening and said in Western Xia, "Today is the Queen Mother of Sheng's birthday, yet the Emperor of Sheng was rounding up corrupt officials all over the capital last night. I suspect the Emperor of Sheng was trying to intimidate us envoys and demonstrate the power of his country."
The warrior Tuoba Yong nodded in agreement: "The Emperor of Sheng has always been treacherous and cunning. We cannot fall into his trap."
Advisor Zhao Shiqi said nothing, but just made tea skillfully.
Wei Mingliang looked at him and asked, "What do you think, sir?"
Zhao Shiqi poured a cup of tea and pushed it to his hand, saying, "Since the new emperor ascended the throne, this is the first time I have set foot in Sheng Kingdom. I know very little about it and have no way of guessing its intentions."
Wei Mingliang curled the corners of his lips, obviously extremely dissatisfied with this answer.
He asked, "Sir, six years ago, you accompanied the late Crown Prince to Sheng State to celebrate the old emperor's birthday. Didn't you meet the new emperor then?"
Zhao Shiqi shook his head, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes. "Emperor Rende had many sons, all of whom were distinguished by their appearance and talents. Six years ago, the current prince was only seventeen years old. Compared to his brothers, he wasn't particularly outstanding, aside from his slightly better looks."
If he is not outstanding, it is naturally not worth his attention.
Wei Mingliang put his finger on the rim of the cup and said with a smile, "Sir, even you can make mistakes sometimes."
Zhao Shiqi ignored the teasing, but Tuoba Yong beside him said, "Sir, you are also human, so naturally you will make mistakes. Your Highness, please don't be too harsh on me."
Wei Mingliang and Zhao Shiqi both looked at him, thinking that this guy's bravery must have been bought with his brain.
Wei Mingliang dismissed him: "Go to the princess and ask her to dress up properly and not bring shame to Xixia at tonight's banquet."
Tuoba Yong took the order and left.
The remaining two continued talking.
Wei Mingliang said, "I heard that this new emperor personally killed his two half-brothers when he seized the throne. Several members of the royal family also died at his hands. His methods were truly ruthless."
Zhao Shiqi didn't care about it. It was not surprising if many people died in the fight for that supreme position.
He said, "If Your Highness wishes to make further progress, do not be soft-hearted."
Wei Mingliang frowned, "What do you mean, sir?"
"The Emperor sent Your Highness to the Sheng Kingdom, firstly to celebrate his birthday, and secondly for that matter. If Your Highness can accomplish that matter, upon Your Highness's return, the position of Crown Prince will be yours."
Wei Mingliang's eyes moved slightly.
Zhao Shiqi continued, "The princess is as beautiful as the crescent moon. She was specially chosen by His Majesty as a gift to the Emperor of Sheng. As far as I know, that brat Helan Shan has already pursued her to the capital, and even met the princess at Wanfang Tower last night. To avoid further complications, Your Highness should make early plans."
Wei Mingliang hesitated. "The Helan clan stands behind Helan Shan. If I attack Helan Shan, the Helan clan will definitely betray me and become my enemy."
Zhao Shiqi smiled and turned the teacup upside down on the table.
"Your Highness, please send someone to capture Helan Shan and keep him under guard. Once the princess enters the Sheng Kingdom's harem, everything will be settled. Will that brat still be able to force his way into the Sheng Kingdom's palace?"
"Even if this matter were to spread back to the country and reach the ears of the Helan clan leader, for the sake of the family, he would only be grateful to Your Highness."
Wei Mingliang picked up a new teacup, poured tea himself, and placed both hands in front of Zhao Shiqi: "Thank you very much for your guidance, sir."
At the same time, in the courtyard where the envoys from Annan and Japan lived, the delegation also listened to the reports from the guards and learned the truth about the quarrel last night.
While the Annan envoys were just listening to the fun, the Japanese envoys were so surprised that they accidentally dropped a vase.
"Who are you talking about?"
The guard said, "Sir, Lord Gu has been captured by the Jinwu Guards."
After confirming the news, the Japanese ambassador and his two deputy envoys looked at each other and waved their hands to let the guards withdraw.
The chubby deputy envoy said, "Sir, the letter has been delivered to the Gu residence, but the Jinwu Guards suddenly raided the house. What if the letter is discovered?"
Another deputy envoy also said, "The general has ordered us to buy more firearms from Sheng Kingdom this time. Now that Lord Gu has been captured, and we return empty-handed, the general will definitely force us to commit seppuku to apologize."
The Japanese ambassador paced back and forth in the room anxiously with his hands behind his back, but he could not think of any good solution.
He could only command, "Confess immediately. No matter who asks, deny it. If anyone leaks the news, I will personally chop off his head and throw it into the river!"
"yes!"
*
Nongyun Garden.
Caiyue fed Chu Liuzheng the medicine soup, and after she calmed down, she brought the hot meal over, mixed it with a spoon and fed it to Chu Liuzheng.
"The recipe my sister recommended worked wonders for me. I didn't even cough when I woke up this morning."
Chu Liuzheng had food in his mouth. He smiled at her with his eyes curved when he heard her words.
Caiyue added, "I can't stay with my sister tonight. Aunt Qiu Sui, who works for the Queen, wants me to help out at the birthday banquet."
Chu Liuzheng swallowed his food and asked, "What are you doing?"
Caiyue said, "It's just some work like serving food and wine."
"Just now, Doctor Li and I went to get my sister's medicine, and we happened to run into Aunt Qiu Sui. When she saw that my cough had healed, she said there weren't enough waiters at the birthday banquet, and asked me to help out. I'm pretty nimble, and Aunt Qiu Sui thinks highly of me, so I agreed."
Chu Liuzheng nodded. "Since the late emperor passed away, Your Majesty has not held a grand banquet in the three years since he ascended the throne. Whenever there is a festival, he only holds a family banquet to make it lively, and does not even invite the ministers."
"Today's birthday banquet is the first grand one, and with so many envoys coming to celebrate, we might be short of some smart people. Be careful and just serve the dishes and wine, don't offend the nobles."
"I understand." Caiyue agreed obediently, mixed the food together, scooped up a spoonful and fed it to Chu Liuzheng.
"I heard that several princesses are coming this time, all of them are beautiful. When I see them, I will come back and tell you in detail."
Chu Liuzheng nodded, and suddenly heard someone calling her outside the door.
Caiyue asked doubtfully, "It doesn't sound like Eunuch Xia's voice."
She put down the bowl, stood up, and walked over to open the door.
The young eunuch in the courtyard saw the door on the right suddenly open and a beautiful palace maid walked out. He hurriedly smiled and greeted her.
"Miss, do you know which room Miss Liu Zheng lives in?"
Caiyue didn't answer, but only asked: "What do you want to see Sister Liu Zheng for?"
The young eunuch looked her over before saying, "Eunuch Chen asked me to bring something to Miss Liu Zheng."
When Chu Liuzheng in the room heard the three words "Eunuch Chen", he remembered who the person was.
Isn’t he the little eunuch who stopped her on the palace road last time and delivered a letter from home to her?
"Caiyue, I know him, let him in."
Hearing this, Caiyue moved aside and said, "Sister Liu Zheng is in the room, come in with me."
"Yes!" The young eunuch agreed and hurried into the house.
(End of this chapter)
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