Chapter 1967: Concern Leads to Chaos
Finally, the time came when she had to speak. Nan Yan hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, why did you bring her back?"
Zhu Feng paused for a moment as he was picking up food with his chopsticks.
He did not answer immediately, but picked up another piece of meat and put it in Nan Yan's bowl. It was rare that she did not feel nauseous and retching from time to time during dinner tonight like before, so he asked her to eat more.
Then he said calmly, "Why do you ask this first?"
“…”
"I thought you would first ask whether the meeting with the Parthian envoy went well and what I discussed with them."
“…”
Nan Yan also hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "That's right."
“…”
"Maybe my thoughts are a little confused."
Zhu Feng glanced at her but did not ask why her thoughts were so confused. After all, everyone knew that caring too much would lead to confusion.
The first thing she asked was Xue Yun, which showed that she attached the most importance to this matter.
But Zhu Feng still said: "Let me tell you about the meeting first."
Nan Yan nodded and said, "Okay, actually, I have been worried about this these past few days."
Zhu Feng said, "This time, I met the envoys from the Parthian Empire at the Lotus Heart Guild Hall in Bailong City. Judging from their attitude, they truly do want to establish friendly relations with our country, and they hope that we can open up a few cities for trade. In the future, more merchants from the Western Regions, and more goods from the Western Regions, will enter our Yan Kingdom."
“…”
"Not only that, they also gave me a map."
“…”
"That map details the route westward from Yumen Pass, and how to reach the various countries in the Western Regions. This map is extremely important to me."
When Nan Yan heard this, a smile immediately appeared on her face.
“That’s wonderful,” she said.
“…”
"The Emperor has long hoped to open the northwest gate and retrace the Silk Road. With this map and the goodwill of the Parthian ruler, this will become a reality."
Zhu Feng nodded.
He said: "Even if I can only accomplish this one thing during this trip, I will be satisfied."
Having said that, he put down his bowl and chopsticks, took the teacup offered by Xiao Shunzi beside him, and took a sip of tea.
Nan Yan blinked.
As soon as she heard Zhu Feng's words, she understood that this meeting not only accomplished this one thing.
She was not anxious, but only smiled and said, "The King of Parthia has good intentions for peace between the two countries, which I understand. However, why did he give the map to the emperor? This gesture of goodwill is a bit too enthusiastic."
Zhu Feng said, "Because they also have something to ask of me."
Nan Yan asked, "What?"
"Golden Jade Clothes."
"Golden Jade Clothes?"
Upon hearing these four words, Nan Yan was stunned.
Although the Si family had already declined when she was born and grew up, it was once a wealthy family. From childhood to adulthood, she had heard of many people and events in ancient books.
She was also familiar with the four words "Golden Thread Jade Clothes".
But it felt strange.
"Why would the King of Parthia ask for this? This golden jade burial suit has been lost for thousands of years, even in the Central Plains."
Zhu Feng sighed and smiled bitterly, "In Ye Zheng's words, it was the concubine who made the trouble."
"Um?"
Nan Yan looked at him in surprise.
Zhu Feng told her how the King of Parthia doted on his concubine, and how the concubine loved the Central Plains culture so much that she was determined to get the Golden Jade Clothes.
After hearing this, Nan Yan burst into laughter.
Said: "It was really the favorite concubine who made trouble."
“…”
"Now that I think about it, I'm really easy to support. All I need is to have enough food to eat every day. I've never asked the emperor for anything."
Zhu Feng glanced at her and said, "What do you want? I won't give it to you."
“…”
Nan Yan did not respond immediately.
She just tilted her head and looked at him with a smile.
After a long time, she said, "Let me think about it."
Although such conversations were common between two people when bickering and joking, for some reason, after saying this today, Zhu Feng felt a little uneasy, and Nan Yan's heart also seemed to have a ripple.
The two were silent for a moment.
Nan Yan coughed lightly and continued, "Has the Emperor agreed?"
Zhu Feng said, "Compared to such major events as the friendly relations between the two countries and the resumption of the Silk Road, this is just a small matter."
“…”
"Of course I won't refuse."
“…”
"However, the Golden Jade Cloth is very expensive and cannot be obtained overnight. Even if it is to be made, someone must look through ancient books and verify the exact method. This consumes a lot of manpower and material resources."
“…”
"I want the two countries to have good relations and hope to do business with them again, but I will not do business at a loss."
Nan Yan looked at him and immediately said, "The Emperor also made a request?"
"Um."
"What does the Emperor want?"
Zhu Feng looked up at her, his eyes flickering slightly: "Tell me, what do I want?"
“…”
“…”
Both of them fell silent.
But this time, the silence wasn't inexplicable. Instead, both of them understood. Nan Yan looked at the glint in his deep eyes and whispered, "But the emperor can only provide a few clues. It's probably just the sachet."
Zhu Feng said: "Not bad."
"Can they do that?"
"If the King of Parthia dotes on his concubine enough; if they really want to obtain the Golden Jade Robe so desperately..."
“…”
"Then they must do it."
Nan Yan thought about it, then smiled.
Although the exchanges between two countries cannot be equated with the exchanges between people, sometimes it is not impossible to use some means of interpersonal communication.
Whoever forces whom is not forcing.
Nan Yan thought for a moment and then said, "However, if the emperor really wants to give them the Golden Jade Clothes, he will have to put in some effort. This item has been lost for thousands of years and no one has ever seen it, but there are many books that describe it."
"Um."
"That favorite concubine of the Parthian Empire actually mentioned such an ancient object. I'm afraid someone must have told her about it. Who knows who it was and how much they knew about it."
“…”
"If the Golden Jade Burial Suit doesn't fit the specifications and is criticized by them, it will become a major issue in the diplomatic relations between the two countries."
Zhu Feng nodded and said, "This is exactly what is giving me a headache."
“…”
"Everything else is fine, but the most important thing about the Jade Clothes is the 'jade'. No one seems to know what kind of jade it is and where to find it."
“…”
"You're right. I don't know who's behind them. If they really do something against the rules, it will be a big deal."
Speaking of this, Nan Yan also frowned.
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