Chapter 39: Many Countries Come to Pay Tribute
The atmosphere in the Golden Palace was solemn.
Emperor Nangong Yu frowned, tapping the armrests of the dragon throne with his fingers irritably. Looking at the letters on the imperial desk that came from different countries and were delivered almost simultaneously, he felt his heart pounding.
He picked up the top letter from the Dirong Kingdom, which was inlaid with a golden wolf totem. He then looked at the letter from the Yuezhi Kingdom, which was painted with a crescent moon and sand dunes, the letter from the Fuying Kingdom, which was printed with pink cherry blossom branches, and the letter from the Tianyuan Kingdom, which had intricate patterns and a hint of mystery. The Snow Kingdom, the Spice Kingdom... He snorted unhappily.
"Dirong, Yuezhi, Fuying, Tianyuan, Xiangxiang, Snow Country... huh, they're all here! Have they agreed to come to Dayan as a group for sightseeing? Or... are they up to something, planning a collective show of force against me?"
He raised his eyes and glanced at the ministers standing solemnly below. "My dear ministers, what do you think?"
All the civil and military officials in the court looked at each other in confusion, with different expressions.
These multiple countries sent envoys simultaneously, and their status was quite high. Not only were they legitimate envoys, but they also brought along princes and princesses, and even stated that they were bringing their own traditional treasures for exchange. Something must be wrong when things are out of the ordinary!
Dongfang Yuning, who was sitting on the exclusive luxurious little stool under the dragon throne, was playing with the Xuanji bell on his wrist out of boredom. When he heard the words "traditional treasures" and "prince and princess", his ears immediately pricked up and his little head was instantly filled with question marks.
【Tongzi~Tongzi! 】
She immediately called the gossip assistant frantically in her heart,
[Quick! Get the melon seeds, peanuts, and small stools ready! Something's happening! What are these four groups doing in Yan Country? Are they sincerely visiting to promote international friendship? Or are they just looking for trouble?]
System 118's electronic voice carried a hint of gloating:
[Host, based on my in-depth (gossip) analysis of the international situation, this visit... has a very pure purpose!]
[Half of them are bringing their best traditional tricks to show off their cultural skills and gain a sense of presence. Ideally, they could outdo our Dayan, earn some respect, and even slap him in the face!]
[As for the other half, hehe, it's just the usual stuff. Strengthening the (common interests) friendship! Like... a marriage or something?]
System 118's voice suddenly rose, with a hint of excitement from the audience:
[Here comes the point! Host! Your sister, the Queen, Dongfang Qiwu's position is, in the eyes of some, a glittering and coveted position! After all, the news that your brother-in-law's harem is empty (only the Queen remains) has probably spread!]
[As for your fiancé—His Royal Highness, Prince Yong, Nangong Ye…tsk tsk tsk! He's a walking Tang Monk!]
[Just think about it, he has a noble status, commands a large number of troops, has made great military achievements (good at fighting), is good at business (rich), and has a body shape... well, according to our scan, it is definitely a top-notch configuration with broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, and looks thin when dressed and has muscular body when undressed!
Add to that incredibly handsome face...with this combined destructive power, what princess wouldn't be a hot commodity? Wouldn't she be drooling?]
【The throne of the queen?!】
Dongfang Yuning's eyes widened and she became furious instantly!
[Heh! Although my sister might not be interested in this crappy position, this is a matter of principle! How dare you covet my sister's things?! No way!]
The villain in her heart has already waved the banner of justice (protecting her sister):
[That dirty cucumber was something my sister personally disliked, discarded, and thrown away! How could anyone else get to snatch it?! As for my brother Aye... hehehe...]
Dongfang Yuning showed an extremely kind smile on his face, but his eyes were like knives tempered with ice:
[Who dares to try? This princess is giving away a free 'Kacha' set! I'll make sure they can only hiss at the portrait for the rest of their lives, completely destroying their dreams! I've given her all the power! Let's see how they can still dream!]
This voice was like thunder, instantly striking all the male creatures present!
"hiss--!"
All the civil and military officials in the court, including Emperor Nangong Yu, almost gasped in unison and in unison!
An inexplicable chill shot up from my tailbone to my crown! I clamped my legs together reflexively! The movements were so perfectly timed, as if they'd been rehearsed countless times!
Emperor Nangong Yu: "..."
His face turned pale and blue, and he roared madly in his heart:
[Dirty cucumber?! I?! Sister-in-law! I'm your brother-in-law! My dear! And... why is it always me who gets hurt?! How did my position as queen become a broken position?! How did I become a dirty cucumber?! I've clearly turned over a new leaf, okay?!]
Nangong Ye, who stood at the head of the generals, appeared to be as calm as a mountain on the surface, but a closer look revealed that his knuckles of the hands behind his back were slightly tightened, and his Adam's apple rolled imperceptibly.
A mixture of sweetness (Ning'er protecting the food?), helplessness (being implicated by the emperor again) and a hint of fear (click?) surged into my heart.
He glanced sideways at the puffed-up, ferocious-eyed little figure on the stool, but there was a barely perceptible smile and indulgence in his eyes.
All the ministers exchanged glances, and saw the same determination in each other's eyes:
How dare Princess Fuxing's (fiancé) covet her things? These barbarians/island barbarians/Westerners are so shameless! We must defend them with utmost caution! There's no door! The windows are welded shut!
A few days later, a grand reception for the four-nation delegation was held in the Taiji Hall. Within the magnificent hall, flags fluttered and music filled the air. Civil and military officials of the Dayan Dynasty lined either side, solemn and dignified.
The first to enter the palace were the Dirong envoys from the northern grasslands. Leading the group was Prince Tuoba Hong, a man as burly as an iron tower, with a rugged face. He was dressed in a thick wolfskin coat and walked with a brisk pace, exuding a fierce and wild aura.
The envoys and guards following behind him also had defiant expressions on their faces. The "traditional treasures" they presented were a huge Sun-Shooting Bow that was said to be able to shoot down the stars, and several exceptionally majestic Ferghana horses.
Tuoba Hong's voice was like a bell, and his words carried the unique boldness and subtle provocation of the grassland people:
"I've long heard that Dayan is a land of outstanding people and beautiful scenery. I wonder if there are any warriors who can draw this bow?"
[Tsk, it's just a larger compound bow, but you blow it up like it's a magical artifact.]
Dongfang Yuning complained in his heart,
[The horse is a good one, but unfortunately, its brain is just like their prince's. It doesn't look very smart.]
Next came the Yuezhi delegation from the Western Desert. Princess Loisa of the Yuezhi, veiled in a veil, revealed only a pair of emerald eyes as deep as the desert starry sky, her gaze radiant and radiant. Her graceful figure, the jingling of her jewelry as she walked, evoked an exotic charm.
The treasures she presented were several pieces of glittering "star stones" that were said to be able to predict good and bad luck, and a box of "Desert Soul" spices that exuded a strange and rich fragrance.
Luo Yisha's voice was as clear and pleasant as the camel bells in the desert, but her eyes drifted towards Nangong Ye, who was standing in the front row with a posture as straight as a pine tree.
[Oh, the goal is very clear! ]
Dongfang Yuning narrowed his eyes.
[Spices? No matter how fragrant they are, can they be better than my snail noodles? And that stone… who are you trying to fool? Tongzi, scan it and see if it's dyed with luminous stone?]
System 118:
[Ding... Scanning... Component Analysis: Main ingredients are fluorite (the raw material of night-shining pearls) and a small amount of radioactive minerals... Host, it is recommended to stay away from it. Long-term contact may cause hair loss!]
Dongfang Yuning:
[Poof! Hair loss?! Haha, that's a really bad gift! Is Princess Yuezhi giving a Mediterranean meal to anyone she dislikes?]
Then came the delegation from the Tianyuan Kingdom. Located amidst the mountains of the southwest, the Tianyuan Kingdom was shrouded in mystery. The envoy was a gaunt, gloomy old man who called himself a "Wuji."
The treasure he presented was an ancient bronze tripod with a strange shape and covered with strange runes. A faint blue flame was burning inside the tripod, emitting a cold breath.
The witch priest's voice was hoarse and low, with a strange rhythm: "This is our sacred object, the Netherworld Cauldron, which can connect yin and yang and ward off evil and misfortune. I have long heard of the wisdom and bravery of His Majesty Emperor Dayan, so I offer this cauldron to ensure the longevity of our country."
The faint blue fire and the cold aura made the ministers who were approaching take a step back involuntarily.
【Playing tricks! 】
Dongfang Yuning was disdainful in his heart.
Tongzi, what's going on with this fire? 】
System 118:
Low-temperature phosphorus fire + special fuel formula, visual effects are perfect, practicality is zero. The runes on the tripod are randomly drawn, with no energy fluctuations. Summary: A large atmosphere set prop.
Dongfang Yuning:
[Tsk, bad review! Who are you trying to scare? The fire in my little kitchen in Fengyi Palace isn't even as strong as it is!]
The last to enter were the Fuying Kingdom delegation.
When I saw that group of people walking in, wearing familiar wide-sleeved robes, tapping wooden clogs, with strange buns on their hair, and the old man in the lead with a signature small mustache and a habitual slightly bent posture when walking -
Dongfang Yuning felt as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning from the sky! He instantly froze on the small stool!
Her pupils trembled, her mouth slightly open, and she stared at the group of people in disbelief. A huge wave of emotion surged in her heart, and a groundhog-like scream almost burst out of her throat:
【What the hell!!!! Tongzi!!!!!! Why the hell didn’t you tell me that Fuying Country is the country that lives a very good life?! ahh ...
[That hairstyle! That outfit! That walk! That creepy mustache! I'd recognize him even if he turned to ash!!!]
System 118's electronic voice carried a hint of innocence:
[Host, calm down! I have reminded you that this is a parallel world! The timeline and historical development deviate from your original world!]
This Fuying Nation is currently still at the 'ancestral' stage as you know it, and hasn't evolved to... uh... that stage yet! Strictly speaking, they're not really...]
I don’t care!!!
Dongfang Yuning's patriotic spirit exploded like dry wood doused in gasoline! The raging fire instantly swept away all her rationality!
What's wrong with our ancestors?! Did they never do anything immoral?! It's better to be prepared than to worry, don't you understand?!
Her fists were clenched so tightly that they made a crackling sound, and her eyes were as sharp as knives, staring intently at the old envoy from Fuying Country who was wearing a hypocritical and humble smile, speaking the official language of Yan Country with a half-familiar understanding, and preparing to present the so-called traditional treasures (a few samurai swords that were said to be able to "cut iron like mud" and a few Ukiyo-e erotic paintings).
Seeing their hypocritical faces makes me physically sick! A dragon gives birth to a dragon, a phoenix gives birth to a phoenix, but a mouse's son knows how to dig holes! With this kind of character from our ancestors, how can we expect our descendants to be good birds?!
[Tongzi! Listen to me!]
Dongfang Yuning issued a resolute and murderous command in his heart:
[Who cares about his ancestors from a parallel world! Since you've fallen into my hands...don't blame me for being ruthless!]
[To prevent their unworthy descendants from causing trouble and bringing disaster to China (Parallel Version)! Today, I will—]
[Strike first and gain the upper hand! Cut the grass at its roots! Prevent future troubles! Nip them in the bud! Nip them down completely! Never let them stand up again!!!]
This voice, filled with overwhelming rage and determination to "destroy the country," exploded like a depth charge in the silent hall (for those who could hear it)!
“Puff—cough cough cough!!!”
The Minister of Rites, who was drinking tea to hide his emotions, was the first to lose control and sprayed a mouthful of tea all over the back of his colleague in the front row!
"Bang!"
The tablet in the hands of the Assistant Minister of War fell directly to the ground!
“Hiss… Ouch!”
Several elderly people were so shocked that they bit their tongues while gasping for air and winced in pain!
Even Nangong Yu, who was sitting on the dragon throne, suddenly sat up straight, and the jade beads on his crown shook wildly!
[My sister-in-law's murderous intent... is too strong, isn't it?! Eliminate the roots? To prevent future troubles?! Is this... is she going to directly destroy the Fuying Kingdom?!]
Nangong Ye, standing in front, though his back was to Dongfang Yuning, his broad shoulders tensed imperceptibly for a moment before slowly relaxing. A flash of understanding flashed in his eyes (so Ning'er hated this country so much), then turned into a cold, murderous look.
He glanced sideways, his gaze like a solid ice blade, coldly sweeping over the group of Fuying envoys who were still unaware of the impending disaster. Dare to provoke Ning'er into such anger? Very good.
Fujiwara, the old envoy from Fuying Province, who was preparing to present a gift with a humble smile on his face, felt an inexplicable chill as if from the Netherworld of Hell instantly enveloped him!
He shuddered subconsciously, looked up and looked around blankly, only to see that the emperor of Dayan and his ministers all looked a little... weird?
Like he was suppressing a laugh, or perhaps suppressing immense anger? He was completely bewildered, muttering to himself:
[The people of Dayan... their etiquette is indeed strange! ]
Dongfang Yu would rather not care what others think. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress her surging anger (temporarily). Her face instantly changed to an innocent, harmless, sweet smile. Her voice was as clear as an oriole, and with just the right amount of curiosity, she suddenly spoke, interrupting the Fujiwara envoy's prepared speech:
"Eh? This envoy grandpa~"
She blinked her big eyes and pointed at the samurai behind Fujiwara, holding the katana in a gorgeous scabbard, "
"Your Fuying Country swords look so special! Are they really as legendary as they say, able to 'cut through iron like mud'?"
Fujiwara was stunned for a moment, then a hint of pride flashed in his eyes, and he bowed humbly and said:
"Reporting to Her Royal Highness, the Honorable Princess Fuxing, our country's samurai swords are forged from fine steel, hammered and tempered a thousand times. They can cut through hair and slash through iron like mud. They are truly the quintessence of our nation! Today, I present them to His Majesty Dayan as a token of my appreciation..."
"Oh~~~ Hundred-fold Refined Steel! That sounds amazing!"
Dongfang Yuning interrupted him with an admiring look on her face, then changed the subject, with a little girl's innocent and... eager to try,
"Well... could you give us a live demonstration? For example... find a piece of iron and try whittling it? Let everyone see! Talking without practice is just empty talk, right, brother-in-law?"
She looked at Nangong Yu sitting on the dragon throne with a smile.
Although Nangong Yu felt a little uneasy when his sister-in-law called him "brother-in-law" so sweetly (which usually meant nothing good), he instantly understood her intention.
He suppressed his murderous intent towards his "ancestor" (if his sister-in-law wanted to play, he would play with her), put on a stern face, and nodded majestically:
"Princess Fuxing is quite right. Envoy Fujiwara, since your country's precious sword is so miraculous, why not test it publicly, so that Lord Dayan and his subjects can also witness it?"
Fujiwara's smile faltered. The sword he brought was naturally top-grade, but the claim of "slicing iron like mud" was a bit of an artistic exaggeration. Demonstrating in public? What if he failed... He was just about to find an excuse to shirk responsibility.
Dongfang Yuning didn't give him a chance at all. She clapped her hands and excitedly instructed the eunuch chief Gao Dehai beside her:
"Eunuch Gao! Go quickly! Bring us the big, thick-backed bone-chopping knife that Fatty Wang from the Imperial Kitchen uses to chop bones! Oh, right! And find a few pieces of... um... bluestone slabs from the pig pens! The thickest, hardest kind! Let the precious sword of Fuying Kingdom try it out. See if it can crack the slabs and break the bone-chopping knife in two with one stroke? That would be real skill!"
She smiled innocently, as if she was talking about an interesting game.
Gao Dehai: “…As you command!”
The corners of his mouth twitched as he quickly retreated to make his arrangements. He silently mourned for Fatty Wang from the Imperial Kitchen and the soon-to-be-sacrificed bone-chopping knife and bluestone slab.
All the civil and military officials in the court: "..."
Chipping... chipping the bluestone slabs that line the pigpen? And chopping off the thick-backed bone-chopping knife in the process? Princess Fuxing... aren't your test standards a bit... too down-to-earth (or brutal)?
The Fujiwara envoy's face turned completely green! Cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead! He looked at Dongfang Yuning's little face, which was smiling like a flower but made him feel cold in his heart. For the first time, he truly felt -
This legendary, eccentric Princess Fuxing, beloved by the Emperor and Empress, is perhaps the biggest obstacle to their journey! And also their most formidable enemy!
System 118 silently lit a candle in Dongfang Yuning's mind:
[Host, as your first step to eliminating future troubles... are you planning to publicly execute the quintessence of our nation with a bluestone slab and a bone-chopping knife? That's ruthless! I like it!]
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