Upon hearing Tian Jian's words, Qi Guozongzheng couldn't help but sigh softly, as if the sigh came from the depths of his weathered heart.
He immediately summoned his guards and ordered them to rush to the palace to fetch the three royal women.
A moment later, three beautiful young women followed closely behind the guards into the main hall. They had never set foot in this solemn place before, and they couldn't help but feel uneasy, wondering what the purpose of this sudden summons was.
They were only sixteen years old. Under the sharp, hawk-like gazes of the entire court, they were like frightened fawns, trembling and pitiful.
"Grand Commandant, are you satisfied?" Tian Jian asked hastily, seeing that his wicked husband looked calm.
The wicked man glanced casually at the three somewhat reserved girls. They were all tall and slender, with graceful figures and exuding a gentle and charming temperament. A faint smile appeared on his lips. "This trip was truly worthwhile. Wang Li, you owe me a big favor."
He quickly replied, "Your Majesty is too kind. Of course, I am extremely satisfied. The women of Qi truly live up to their reputation..."
He didn't take this marriage alliance seriously at all, nor did he have any expectations for the Qi women. The reason he chose Wang Li was simply because it happened that Wang Jian was in charge of Ye City. If Meng Ao were here, the marriage alliance would definitely have fallen to Meng Tian.
Unexpectedly, the State of Qi was quite generous, actually selecting three women of exceptional beauty and appearance, which benefited Wang Li, that brat, for nothing.
Seeing that her wicked husband was satisfied, Tian Jian immediately laughed and said, "Then, Grand Commandant, which one do you think is suitable to marry General Wang Li?"
"If all else fails... take them all with you. Choose one to marry General Wang Li, and the other two can stay with the Grand Commandant. Taking care of their basic needs won't be a problem!"
The wicked man quickly shook his head, cursing inwardly that the old man was a real sycophant. He pondered for a moment, his gaze shifting between the three girls before finally settling on the woman in the middle.
The woman had exquisite features and an extraordinary air about her; even in her nervousness, she maintained a composed demeanor. "She'll do," he said, pointing to the woman. "She does look somewhat like a married couple to Wang Li."
Tian Jian looked in the direction the wicked husband pointed and saw that although the woman seemed a little nervous, she had an extraordinary air about her and indeed had the demeanor of a royal woman.
"Very well, let's do as the Grand Commandant says!" Tian Jian nodded in agreement, secretly rejoicing that this marriage alliance was arranged well and might bring unexpected benefits to the State of Qi.
Then, Tian Jian signaled to the guards to take the three girls away and settle them properly, and to prepare for the wedding arrangements.
The wicked man then laughed and said, "Your Majesty, proposing marriage and giving betrothal gifts is a tradition that has been followed since ancient times. Why don't you take a look at the betrothal gifts from my Qin state?"
Tian Jian became interested, not because he cared about the value of the betrothal gifts, but because he could see how much Qin valued this marriage alliance, which would indirectly influence Qi's subsequent policies towards Qin.
How could the wicked husband not know the tricks involved? He had absolute confidence in the dowry.
"Haha, alright, since the Grand Commandant has invited us, let's go and see!" Tian Jian got up and walked down from the high platform, walking side by side with his wicked husband towards the outside of the hall.
In the square in front of the palace, Zhang Erhe saw the wicked husband and the King of Qi walking out side by side. He immediately called his brothers to take out the betrothal gifts they had brought and wait for the two of them to come and inspect them.
The wicked man led Tian Jian closer and pointed at the glassware in the soldiers' hands, laughing, "These are all betrothal gifts from my Qin state!"
Tian Jian's gaze was immediately drawn to the crystal-clear glass artifacts, which shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, like stars fallen from the heavens. Each piece was exquisitely crafted, uniquely designed, and clearly of considerable value.
Tian Jian couldn't help but exclaim, "Grand Commandant, the betrothal gifts from Qin are truly extraordinary. Such precious items are extremely valuable, and Qi is deeply honored." He understood that these gifts not only represented Qin's sincerity but also symbolized Qin's strength.
Although he knew that these glass artifacts were not as good as the one from Chu, they were all colorful and had the advantage of quantity. After all, Chu had a marriage alliance with Ying Zheng, and they definitely could not produce a second glass artifact of that quality.
Conversely, the Qi state was merely forming a marriage alliance with the son of one of its high-ranking officials, and such a generous dowry was a sign of its importance. This self-inflicted psychological manipulation made him feel exceptionally good.
The wicked man smiled slightly and replied, "Your Majesty flatters me. This is merely a small token of Qin's goodwill. I believe that the marriage between the royal woman of Qi and General Wang Li will surely bring lasting peace and prosperity to both countries."
The two looked at each other and smiled, both knowing that this marriage was not only about Wang Li's personal happiness, but also an important link in the relationship between the two countries.
Tian Jian glanced at Tian Dan, who nodded slightly, clearly moved by Qin's sincerity.
"Haha, Grand Commandant, it's almost noon. I've already ordered the food to be prepared. How about...?" Tian Jian suggested, intending to invite the wicked husband to dine together as a sign of Qi's hospitality.
The wicked husband readily accepted, understanding that this was not only a sign of respect for him personally, but also a subtle gesture of goodwill.
The two walked side by side toward the banquet hall, followed by civil and military officials and their entourage, creating a solemn yet harmonious atmosphere.
Upon entering a luxurious palace, a long table was laden with all sorts of delicacies, including dishes from various countries, clearly demonstrating the care and attention put into the production.
Tian Jian and her husband sat in the main seats, raising their glasses to each other in toasts. Amidst their laughter and conversation, their relationship actually became much closer.
As the banquet progressed, the Qi officials gradually relaxed and the atmosphere became more relaxed and lively.
Tian Jian noticed that the wicked man was particularly interested in the wine of the Qi Kingdom, so he personally poured him a full cup of wine. "Grand Commandant, this wine is called 'Qi Quan Chun,' a unique brew of the Qi Kingdom. I hope you will like it," Tian Jian said with a smile.
The wicked man took the wine cup, gently swirled it, and the aroma of the wine filled the air. He took a deep breath and exclaimed, "Fine wine! The wine of Qi is indeed worthy of its reputation. It is truly an honor to taste it today."
His words were not flattery. Having been in this world for so long, he had drunk all sorts of fine wines, but Qi Quan Chun was unique in its mellow and strong flavor.
His eyes darted around, and he casually asked, "Your Majesty, is the brewing process for this wine complicated?"
Tian Jian said nonchalantly, "It's not difficult. It just requires more grain to make the flavor richer. If the Grand Commandant likes it, I will immediately send someone to write the recipe and deliver it to you."
"Then I'll shamelessly accept it, haha!" The wicked man was overjoyed and didn't even bother to refuse, so he readily agreed.
"Of course, of course. It's just a simple recipe for wine. As long as the Grand Commandant likes it, that's all that matters!" Tian Jian replied with a smile, and then quickly sent an official to arrange the matter.
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