Chapter 85 Only a true dragon's son like Her Highness the Princess is worthy of wearing it.
Li Yuanshu sat in the second seat below Li Yuanzhao.
To be honest, Li Yuanzhao's words just now were so powerful that they forced the arrogant Tibetan prince to kneel down in obeisance.
His composure and charisma in commanding the entire room earned her a deep sense of admiration.
She gradually came to understand why her father doted on her so much.
But this admiration didn't last long. She turned to the side unintentionally, and her gaze happened to meet Pei Huaijin, who was diagonally behind her.
His gaze didn't fall on the Tibetans presenting gifts in the hall at all; instead, it was fixed on Li Yuanzhao.
The admiration and affection in his eyes were undisguised, dazzlingly bright.
Li Yuanshu instantly flew into a rage, her nails almost digging into her palms.
This wasn't the first time she'd seen Pei Huaijin looking at Li Yuanzhao with that kind of gaze during this period.
At palace banquets, in the imperial garden, and even in his father's study, whenever Li Yuanzhao appeared, his gaze would involuntarily follow him.
She simply couldn't understand how Li Yuanzhao, no matter how capable he was, could have such an immoral private life.
Pei Huaijin was such a refined and upright person, born into a distinguished family and of impeccable character. How could he have fallen for someone like that?
Didn't he know that she already had many male lovers?
Or was he willing to be one of those men, crowding around Li Yuanzhao and becoming one of her many "pillow partners"?
The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she felt, as if something was blocking her chest.
Suppressing her anger, she quietly raised her hand to summon the maid beside her and whispered a few instructions in her ear.
At this point, the atmosphere at the banquet was no longer as tense as before.
After standing up, Chizu Dezan continued, "The assassination attempt was actually the act of our border general, and was by no means the intention of the Zanpu. Now the Zanpu has ordered his execution and is willing to return the two prefectures of Shan and Kuo, to restore the old friendship with the Great Qi, and to forever end the war."
As he spoke, he raised his hand.
The guards outside the hall immediately carried two brocade boxes forward. When they were opened, a pair of golden geese, each about half a person's height, came into view.
The golden goose is entirely gilded, with its feathers carved to lifelike detail and gleaming with a dazzling luster, making it clear at a glance that it is of great value.
"On behalf of the Zanpu (King), your humble servant respectfully presents this pair of golden geese to His Majesty the Emperor."
This time, Trizan spoke with exceptional respect: "Tibet is willing to be as loyal and devoted as this golden goose, forever relying on the celestial dynasty's wings, and daring not to have any disloyal thoughts again."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor immediately burst into laughter, his laughter filled with unbridled joy.
He didn't value the pair of golden geese; after all, the Great Qi treasury was full, and such treasures were not uncommon.
What truly delighted him was the undisguised submission in Chizudezan's words.
"Your Majesty's piety is commendable, and I am greatly pleased. By imperial decree, I bestow upon the Tibetan Majesty a thousand bolts of brocade and a hundred catties of tea cakes. You have come a long way and have had a tiring journey; tonight, let us drink until we are drunk!"
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Chizudezan bowed in gratitude, but instead of returning to his seat as required by custom, he turned his gaze to the high seat where Li Yuanzhao was, and continued to speak.
"Although we are in Tibet, thousands of miles away, we have long heard of the Great Qi's Princess Zhenguo, who is skilled in both literature and martial arts, has extraordinary courage and wisdom, and is renowned far and wide. The Zanpu (Tibetan king) admires the princess greatly and has specially sent me to bring a small gift to express his gratitude."
As he spoke, he took a brocade box from his attendant.
Upon opening, a bracelet featuring alternating turquoise and red coral is revealed.
Each stone is plump and large, clearly a rare and precious find.
"This turquoise was born on the snow-capped peaks of Tibet and is a sacred object bestowed by the gods."
Chizudezan held the brocade box in both hands and looked at Li Yuanzhao.
"Such a spiritual object is only worthy of being worn by a true dragon's son like Your Highness. I hope Your Highness will accept it with a smile."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanzhao narrowed his eyes almost imperceptibly, but did not respond.
Su Qingci, who was below, felt a chill run down her spine and instantly sensed that something was wrong.
Inside the palace, the imperial concubine, princes, and princesses gathered, but Chizu Dezan skipped everyone else and presented a gift only to the eldest princess.
What's even more problematic is the phrase "son of the true dragon," which clearly implies "the true dragon emperor."
With His Majesty still in power, these words will inevitably bring the charge of "coveting the throne" upon Her Highness, drawing criticism from court officials and even putting her in the eye of the storm.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, the Emperor subconsciously turned his gaze to Li Yuanzhao, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
Just then, Li Yuanzhao suddenly smiled slightly and stood up.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty and Prince, but I have never been fond of such vulgar things as gold, silver and jade. Although this bracelet is exquisite and rare, it is still not as good as a common piece of jewelry or jade that my father once gave me. It is really unworthy of the title of sacred object."
This is blatant denigration.
This means that no matter how good your item is, it's not as good as something the emperor would casually bestow as a reward.
Chizudezan's gaze darkened.
Li Yuanzhao changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, his tone becoming increasingly frank: "Moreover, in this world today, Father Emperor is the only true Son of Heaven, and all the people under Heaven are Father Emperor's subjects. If we're talking about the true son of Heaven, all the officials in the court and the people from all directions can be considered as such. Since it belongs to all the people under Heaven, how can it be enjoyed by me alone? Your words, Prince, make me dare not accept them."
As the Emperor looked at her composed demeanor, the complex emotions in his eyes gradually faded.
He nodded slowly. “Yuan Zhao is absolutely right. I appreciate the Tibetan prince’s good intentions on her behalf. But this bracelet is a sacred object of Tibet. How can Great Qi possibly take it away from us? Take it back.”
This statement was seen as giving Chizudezan a way out.
He no longer persisted, saying, "It was my oversight that led me to fail to consider things properly. I hope Your Majesty and the Princess will forgive me."
After saying this, he gestured for his attendant to accept the brocade box and returned to his seat.
The banquet then officially began.
The scale of this banquet far exceeded that of ordinary palace banquets.
Each guest's table was set with silver tableware containing roasted camel hump, smoked venison, and various kinds of roasted meat and fresh fruit...
There were also grapes and wines from the Western Regions, as well as famous wines and spirits from all over the Central Plains.
Thoughtfully, to accommodate the dietary habits of the Tibetan envoys, they also prepared Tibetan foods such as cheese and barley wine.
Dozens of dancers gracefully twirled on the Persian carpet in the hall.
With flowing sleeves and the gentle tinkling of golden bells at her waist, her dance is as graceful as flowing clouds.
The musicians put on an even more enthusiastic show, with the strings, bamboo instruments, chimes, and drums harmonizing together. The melodies were sometimes melodious and gentle, and sometimes exciting and lively, pushing the lively atmosphere in the hall to a climax.
After several rounds of drinks, Chizudezan, feeling the effects of the wine, announced that the Tibetan delegation had also brought performers who were willing to dance "Tibetan dances" to entertain His Majesty.
His Majesty gladly agreed.
Several men dressed in traditional Tibetan attire entered the hall, holding sheepskin drums and bone flutes, and began to dance the "Tibetan Dance" to the accompaniment of rough music.
The guests applauded and cheered, and even the Emperor put down his wine cup with great interest, watching intently.
For a moment, the sounds of string and wind instruments, laughter, and toasts mingled together in the hall, creating a harmonious scene of guests enjoying themselves.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com