Chapter 60 The Debt Collectors Arrive
The "interest" from Rock Castle was collected neatly and efficiently. The rich gold and silver treasures, the maps clearly marking the new islands and sea borders, and the letter from the King of Fuying, which was filled with tearful words and promised to "never commit the crime again", were all counted, sealed and escorted in an orderly manner by Nangong Ye.
The soldiers at the border received generous rewards, their morale was high, and their admiration for Princess Fuxing reached its peak.
However, none of this could extinguish the raging anger in Dongfang Yuning's heart that was ignited by her brother-in-law's letter of reconciliation! She was like a small moving volcano. Even when sitting in a comfortable and luxurious carriage, her whole body exuded a low pressure of "I am very unhappy, stay away from strangers".
Nangong Ye stayed beside her, calmly reading a book, occasionally handing her her favorite snacks, his eyes full of indulgent smiles. Dongfang Liezheng rode beside the carriage, looking towards the capital, silently lighting rows of candles for his brother-in-law, the emperor, and praying:
[Sister, please be gentle and leave some underwear for your brother-in-law... Oh no, save some face! ]
Far away in the capital, in the imperial study.
Emperor Nangong Yu, who was reviewing memorials, suddenly shuddered without warning, and a chill ran from his tailbone to the top of his head!
He looked up at the bright spring light outside the window in confusion, then touched his forehead.
[Strange, did I... catch a cold from reviewing memorials last night? Or was I scolded behind my back by some old, foxy censor?]
Thinking of the censor, he subconsciously shrank his neck.
Then, a more terrifying thought emerged:
[No! This chill... this familiar palpitation... could it be... that little ancestor Ning'er... is coming back?!]
He stood up suddenly and shouted outside:
"Someone! Quick! Call the imperial physician! I...I feel a little unwell! Take a look at me quickly and prescribe a calming prescription!"
He rubbed his arms, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that the chill carried the murderous aura unique to his sister-in-law.
[No, no! I have to be at Wu'er's tonight! If I'm not in the right mood and Wu'er turns me away... how am I going to live?! It's all Fuying's fault! This is the wrong time to ask for peace!]
A few days later.
On the official road leading to the capital, flags fluttered and armor shone brightly. The ceremonial procession of Prince Yong, Nangong Ye, and Princess Fuxing, Dongfang Yuning, arrived in a mighty procession, guarded by elite border troops and Dongfang Liezheng's troops.
In the center of the team, several special carriages guarded by heavy soldiers and covered with thick oilcloth were particularly eye-catching - inside, they were loaded with the "Round PLUS" exclusive version of the national defense artifact that made Fuying terrified!
The outline of the tall city walls of the capital is already in sight.
Outside the city gates, a crowd of people had already gathered. Yellow earth paved the road, and clean water was sprinkled on the streets. Emperor Nangong Yu, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe and a crown with twelve tassels, personally came out of the city ten miles to greet him, surrounded by civil and military officials, as well as members of the imperial clan and nobles. The scale and grandeur of the event were unprecedented!
On the surface, His Majesty the Emperor came to welcome the triumphant Prince Yong, Princess Fuxing and... the national treasure that shocked the world!
But in reality, Nangong Yu's heart was beating like a drum, his eyes fixed on the gorgeous carriage that was getting closer and closer:
[Here they come! The debt collectors are here! Artifacts? That's secondary! The main thing is to keep that little ancestor safe! My private vault... my treasures... wuwuwu...]
The carriage finally stopped.
The curtain of the carriage was opened, and Dongfang Yuning, dressed in a goose yellow palace dress and looking radiant, walked down with grace, supported by Nangong Ye.
With a standard, impeccable aristocratic smile on her face, she bowed perfunctorily to the emperor:
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Long live Your Majesty."
The voice is clear and pleasant, and the manners are considerate.
[Haha! Brother-in-law! I'm back! Surprised? Unexpected? Happy? Get ready to receive the iron fist of justice... oh no, is that a warm greeting?!]
The villain in her heart had already sharpened his knife, but the smile on her face became sweeter.
System 118:
[Beep—Target detected: Emperor Nangong Yu of Dayan. Status: Guilt Index 99%, Panic Index 90%, Pain Index (predicted) about to explode. Host, please begin your performance (debt collection).]
Nangong Yu looked at his sister-in-law's perfect demeanor with a fake smile, and his heart skipped a beat. He quickly put on his most amiable smile and stepped forward to support her:
"Ning'er, please don't be so polite! You've worked so hard on this journey! My Princess Fuxing has made an unparalleled contribution this time, enhancing our nation's prestige and deterring the scoundrels! This is truly a blessing for Dayan! I am so relieved! Very relieved!"
He tried hard to steer the conversation towards merit.
[Unparalleled achievements? Intimidating scoundrels? Humph! Brother-in-law, you're really good at changing the subject!]
Dongfang Yuning sneered inwardly, but remained respectful on the surface.
"Your Majesty, thank you for your compliment. I have only done my best. It is all thanks to your Majesty's great fortune and the loyalty of your officers and men."
Who doesn’t know how to say polite words?
[You did your best? Host, your efforts nearly sank Fuying Island.]
System 118’s precise complaints.
[Shut up! That’s not the point!]
The villain in Dongfang Yuning's heart stood with his hands on his hips.
[The point is, he actually dared to ask me to stop! He dared to make empty promises to me! He dared to question my determination to do what I said! I'd be a traitor if I didn't take revenge! Brother-in-law Lao Deng, your good days are over!]
Her anger burned within her like a substance.
Nangong Ye stood beside Dongfang Yuning, looking calmly at his brother's kind smile, which he was trying hard to maintain. The corners of his lips curved slightly. He took a step forward, bowed and said:
"Royal brother, the artifact has arrived safely. Please give your instructions."
He succeeded in temporarily directing everyone's attention to the carriages covered with oilcloth.
[Brother Aye did a great job! Let's give him some time to relax! Let him get nervous for a while!]
Dongfang Yuning gave a thumbs up in his heart.
Nangong Yu, as if pardoned, hurried down the stairs:
"Good, good, good! Aye, thank you for your hard work! All the soldiers, thank you for your hard work! The arrival of the national protective artifact in the capital is a blessing for the country! Ministry of Rites! According to the highest regulations, welcome the artifact to the Imperial Ancestral Temple for enshrinement! Ministry of Works! Select a site for the construction of the Shenji Pavilion and properly house and research it!"
He shouted orders, trying to use the aura of the artifact to dilute the invisible debt-collecting aura.
All the officials immediately responded in unison:
"Your Majesty is wise!"
He looked eagerly at the divine carriage, filled with awe.
However, at this solemn moment, Dongfang Yuning's penetrating voice, like a devilish sound, resounded once again in the minds of everyone present who could hear it! Moreover, because the distance was closer, it was even clearer!
[Hmph! There's no point in changing the subject! The artifact is important, but my face is more important! My mental loss is more important! Brother-in-law, do you think this is the end? You wish!]
The villain in Dongfang Yuning's heart began to count on his fingers:
【First! Mental trauma compensation!】
Do you know how hard I yelled "I've got it!" from the tower? My throat was splitting! And you told me to stop? Do you know how much of a blow this is to the reputation of a beautiful girl (crossed out) who always keeps her word? This wound, even a hundred thousand taels of gold, can't heal my wounded heart!
"puff--!"
The Minister of Revenue, standing in the front row, nearly burst out laughing. He quickly covered his mouth tightly, his face flushing red and his shoulders shaking wildly. "One hundred thousand taels of gold?! Princess, is your heart made of gold?!"
【Second! Face compensation! 】
"I said that in front of all the soldiers of Rock Fort! All three armies were listening! And now, when the imperial decree arrives, you call off the fight? How will the soldiers view me? How will the world view me, Princess Fuxing? Don't I, Dongfang Yuning, have any respect for myself?! This loss of face, converted into silver... well, five hundred thousand taels! Not a penny less!"
Dongfang Yuning is confident and justified.
The Minister of Rites stumbled, only to be caught by a quick-witted colleague. They exchanged glances, each witnessing the same pain: internal injuries from stifling laughter! Five hundred thousand taels of silver for face?! Princess, your face is worth more than the Imperial Seal!
[Also! Lost wages!]
[I was originally busy researching... no, new weapons in Rock Castle! I was about to redouble my efforts and plow through Fuying Island in one fell swoop! But your letter interrupted my grand plan! How much precious research time has been lost? This loss, converted into top-grade medicinal herbs... I'll have the system list you later!]
She almost let slip that she was farming.
When the director of the Imperial Hospital heard this, his eyes went dark, as if he saw the century-old medicine treasured by the Imperial Hospital leaving him. He was so heartbroken that he couldn't breathe, and could only pinch his thigh desperately to stay awake.
【Finally! Surprise fee!】
[Brother-in-law! Do you know how furious I was when I saw that letter from you? I was so mad I almost exploded right there! It scared my heart out! I have to make up for this shock! I think that set of suet white jade carvings of the twelve zodiac animals in your private vault is pretty good, and there's also that night-shining pearl...]
Dongfang Yuning began to order dishes accurately.
Nangong Yu: “…”
The smile on his face froze completely, the corners of his mouth twitching wildly, veins throbbing in his forehead, and his back teeth chattering. Listening to the list of "astronomical claims," he felt his heart bleed! Private vault! His private vault! That was the money he'd saved by scrimping and saving (not really), for his wife's money (Wu'er would have beaten him to death if she knew) and his retirement savings!
[Little bastard! I'm your biological brother-in-law! The biological father of your eldest nephew and niece! Wuuuuuu... How could being the emperor make me feel so miserable? I was blackmailed by my sister-in-law in public (inner voice) and I couldn't even refute her! I must have a good talk with Wu'er tonight and ask her to control her sister!]
He was wailing in his heart, but on the surface he tried hard to maintain the majesty and kindness of an emperor.
The entire welcoming scene was engulfed in an extremely eerie atmosphere. On the surface, the emperor appeared amiable, and all officials stood respectfully, welcoming the divine artifact with an air of profound solemnity. In reality, every minister, noble, and guard who could hear the inner voices, even Nangong Ye and Dongfang Liezheng, were engaged in a challenge to the very limits of human ability to suppress laughter!
Bow your head! Bow your head firmly! Study the ants moving on the official road!
Pinch your thighs! Pinch them hard with your fingernails! As if your thighs weren't your own!
Biting tongue! Cheeks puffed up, face turned from red to purple!
Shake your shoulders! The frequency is comparable to sifting chaff! And you have to try hard to control the amplitude!
Fake coughs! One after another, the scene looked like a collective cold!
The entire welcoming team was filled with a strong, extremely suppressed "grunt" sound, and countless people were frantically scrolling through the screen:
[The princess is mighty! Your Majesty, hold on!]
[One hundred thousand taels of gold! Five hundred thousand taels of silver! Your Majesty's private treasury is in danger!]
[White jade carvings of the twelve zodiac animals! Oh my god! Your Majesty is about to cry!]
[Hold it! Please hold it! If you leak it, your entire clan will be killed!]
Nangong Ye looked at his fiancée's innocent yet aggrieved face, then at his brother's colorful, forcedly calm expression, and the smile in his eyes deepened. He coughed lightly and gracefully at the right time, took a step forward, and his voice was clear and clear, like the sound of nature (or perhaps a death warrant for Nangong Yu):
"Royal brother, Ning'er has truly toiled at the border. She's devoted herself to developing the national defense artifact, and to boosting morale, she's led the charge without hesitation. Now that I've been summoned back to the capital, interrupting my plans, I can't help but feel a little... disappointed."
He paused, and glanced at Dongfang Yuning with just the right amount of heartache and understanding.
"I believe that Your Majesty, sympathizing with the meritorious officials, should show some consideration and comfort Ning'er for his hard work."
[Beautiful! Brother Aye’s great assist! ]
Dongfang Yuning cheered in his heart,
[Lost! Yes! Lost! This word is so accurate! It's more subtle than angry, and more advanced than aggrieved! Brother-in-law, did you hear that? I'm lost! Very lost! The kind of loss that requires so many good things to fill!]
She immediately cooperated by lowering her head slightly, and her shoulders shrugged slightly, almost imperceptibly, as if she was really trying hard to suppress her loss.
Nangong Yu looked at his brother's righteous face that said "I am completely concerned about your reputation, my royal brother", and then looked at his sister-in-law who was so disappointed that she was about to cry, and he almost vomited blood!
[Aye! You…whose side are you on?! My own brother! You're helping an outsider (does my sister-in-law count as an outsider?) steal your brother's girl! And you're saying this with 'some consideration'? She's probably trying to empty my private vault!]
He roared inwardly, and with the muscles on his face stiffened, he forced a smile that was uglier than crying:
"Aye... what you said... is absolutely right. Ning'er has worked hard and made great contributions, so I... will naturally reward him generously!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
All the officials finally found an outlet to vent their emotions. They held back their laughter and shouted in unison, their voices so loud that it seemed as if they were cheering the emperor on.
[Host, His Royal Highness Prince Yong's assists are truly textbook-level! The word 'lost' is priceless! This system suggests that the list be made more detailed later.]
System 118 added fuel to the fire.
[Must! List? I want to make a list!]
The villain in Dongfang Yuning's heart has already taken out a small notebook and started to keep accounts.
Nangong Yu felt his vision go dark. He took a deep breath, tried to maintain his imperial composure, and decided to use his last "shield":
"Ning'er, I will remember your contribution and will reward you generously! However, there is one matter that I need to decide on."
He waved his hand, and an official from the Ministry of Rites came forward holding a document.
"In addition to presenting a letter of credence and documents certifying the cession of territory, the King of Fuying also dispatched a special envoy bearing valuable gifts, who has been waiting at the post station for several days. The King has stated that this apology requires the personal forgiveness of Princess Fuxing before he can rest assured."
Nangong Yu handed the document to Dongfang Yuning with a subtle hint of flattery in his tone.
"Ning'er, look... do you want to meet this Fuying envoy or not? If they are not satisfied, I will ask them to leave immediately! Yuanchu... cough cough, I can give them a few more shots from the national protection artifact at any time!"
He tried hard to act like he would obey his sister-in-law in everything.
Dongfang Yuning took the document and glanced at it casually. Seeing another long list of rare treasures, she felt a little relieved. She raised her little face and showed a "kind" smile:
"Meet him! Of course I have to! He's come all the way here to apologize, and he's so sincere, how can I not meet him?"
[Humph! A fat sheep delivered to my door, it would be a shame not to slaughter it! Just to see what good things they can come up with to soothe this princess's 'disappointment'! Not satisfied? Hehe, over at Rock Castle, the stock of 'Round and Round Plus' is still hot!]
Her inner calculations were clattering.
Soon, the Fuying Kingdom's special envoy was brought to a side hall of the imperial palace. The envoy was a skinny old man, dressed in the highest standard Fuying formal attire. As soon as he entered, he sensed the eerie atmosphere within the hall. The Emperor's expression was strange, Prince Yong's expression was unpredictable, and Princess Fuxing's beautiful smile sent a chill down his spine. The entire court, both civil and military officials, lowered their heads, their shoulders heaving slightly, as if they were straining to endure something.
The messenger fell to his knees with a thud, performing the highest standard of Fuying's ritual of descending from the ground. His forehead pressed tightly against the cold floor tiles, his voice filled with tears and immense fear:
"I, the criminal envoy of this country, kowtow to His Majesty the Emperor Dayan! I kowtow to His Royal Highness Prince Yong! I kowtow to Her Majesty Princess Fuxing! The King of Fuying knows that he has committed grave sins and offended the majesty of heaven. He has specially ordered this criminal envoy to present a small gift and beg Her Majesty to appease her anger! I only ask Her Majesty to show mercy and forgive me, the ignorant people of Fuying!"
Behind him, his followers were carrying more than a dozen large boxes filled with jewels and precious stones, which were obviously the items on the list.
Dongfang Yuning slowly picked up the teacup, gently skimmed the foam with the cup lid, and said nothing.
silence.
Suffocating silence.
Big drops of cold sweat dripped from the Fuying messenger's forehead onto the floor tiles, and his body was shaking like a sieve, as if he was waiting for the final judgment.
Finally, Dongfang Yuning put down the teacup. The crisp clinking of porcelain was particularly clear in the silent hall. She leaned forward slightly, her face still wearing that sweet and harmless smile, and her voice was crisp and pleasant, like pearls falling on a jade plate:
"Mr. Messenger, please stand up and speak."
The messenger raised his head tremblingly as if he had been pardoned, but did not dare to stand up.
Dongfang Yuning looked at him and said with a smile:
"I have seen the sincerity of your ruler."
She pointed to the boxes.
A hint of joy appeared on the messenger's face.
Dongfang Yuning suddenly changed the subject, and his voice suddenly became a little colder:
"But..."
[System, what did Fuying mean by 'sincerity'?]
Dongfang Yuning asked in his heart.
System 118: [Drip - Sincerity (Magokoro)]
Dongfang Yuning nodded, imitated the pronunciation, and said to the messenger word by word:
"Your lord's...Magokoro, this princess has sensed it."
puff--!
This time, even Nangong Ye almost couldn't hold it in, and hurriedly covered it up with a cough. The entire court was even more shocked! Some pinched their thighs, bit their tongues, covered their stomachs, and all kinds of small movements instantly got out of control!
The entire hall was filled with extremely suppressed, fart-like "puffs"! One after another! Continuous!
The Fuying messenger was bewildered:
"Horse...Horse Dog?"
He had no idea what the princess meant by this strange pronunciation, but seeing the distorted expressions on the faces of the high-ranking officials in the hall, he felt even more terrified! Could it be some terrible curse?!
[Host! It's (Magokoro)! Not Magokoro! Your pronunciation... is very creative!]
The electronic sounds of System 118 are all vibrato-laden.
[Who cares! As long as the meaning is conveyed!]
Dongfang Yuning didn't care at all and continued to show an even brighter and more "kind" smile to the frightened messenger:
"It's just that this princess is narrow-minded and has a good memory. The envoy should have heard what I said last time on the tower of Rock Castle, right?"
She leaned forward slightly, her voice not loud, but with great force, clearly carried throughout the hall:
"I'm saying—you Fuying! I, Dongfang Yuning, will definitely step on you!"
boom--!
It was like thunder exploding in the messenger's ears! He was so frightened that his soul flew away and he was about to kneel down and kowtow again.
"But..."
Dongfang Yuning changed the subject again, sat up straight, resumed his lazy posture, and tapped the table lightly with his fingers.
"Considering that your horse and dog expansion is quite sufficient this time, and for the sake of His Majesty and the ministers..."
She paused, and in the messenger's gaze, which was a mixture of despair and expectation, she slowly spoke:
"This princess can temporarily... lift her feet for a while."
She smiled at the messenger who instantly collapsed and added:
"But, when will you step on me again, and how hard will you step... That all depends on how you, Fuying, behave in the future. If you dare to have any evil intentions again..."
She didn't finish her words, but just glanced meaningfully in the direction of the artifact carriage parked outside the hall.
The messenger understood instantly and kowtowed profusely:
"I wouldn't dare! I absolutely wouldn't dare! My country will submit to you forever! I will always be grateful to the princess for not killing me!"
Done!
Dongfang Yuning made a victory gesture in his heart.
[Call it a day! Collect the interest! And scare some more! Perfect! I feel much better now! Brother-in-law, since I'm in a good mood today, your private vault... well, you can give me a 99% discount if you consider it appropriate!]
She picked up the tea happily and took a sip with relish.
Nangong Yu looked at his sister-in-law, who was so "heroic" that she could manipulate the Fuying envoy and even took a large sum of money from him, and tears streamed down his face.
[99% off? Thank you! My private vault… my treasure… wuwuwu… I must hug Wuer and cry to her tonight! My sister-in-law is so bullying!]
He forced a smile and said to the messenger:
"In that case, please rise, Your Excellency. Your Majesty is magnanimous and I hope your country will take care of itself!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Princess!"
The messenger survived the disaster and crawled back to express his gratitude.
A massive crusade (debt collection) and a sincere apology (extortion) came to an end in this strange atmosphere where all the civil and military officials in the court were trying to hold back their laughter until they were injured, the emperor's heart was bleeding, Princess Fuxing was complacent, and Prince Yong was hiding his merits and fame.
At least at this moment, Nangong Yu looked at Dongfang Yuning's finally genuine smile, and then looked at Nangong Ye's "planned" eyes next to him, and could only silently comfort himself:
[Losing money can ward off disasters...Losing money can ward off disasters...At least, Fu Ying was truly defeated, and Ning Er has calmed down for the time being...right?]
He expressed deep doubts about this.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
