At the negotiating table, Zhang Tingyu tossed down a treaty and said directly, "This is the Qing Dynasty's sincerity towards Japan. Please take a look."
The Japanese negotiators were actually quite mild-mannered. After all, Japan was a defeated nation, and the Emperor was afraid that sending a tough and ill-tempered person would cause things to go wrong.
Zhang Tingyu was asking for an exorbitant price, and the Japanese negotiating team naturally couldn't agree to it after seeing it. Zhang Tingyu acted in no hurry, as if he would just wait and see, which made the Japanese negotiating team even angrier.
Negotiations are progressing very slowly.
Neither side was willing to back down, but the Qing Dynasty was ultimately more assertive. In addition, Fuqing would occasionally cause some disturbances to demonstrate the strength of the Qing army, which gradually weakened the Japanese side.
"My lord, the situation in Japan is beginning to waver."
Zhang Tingyu was quite satisfied with this. It was good that he was wavering. He didn't seem to be in a hurry on the surface, but he was very anxious inside. After all, they were newlyweds, and he had already left home, making his family and wife worry. Zhang Tingyu also wanted to go back as soon as possible to put his family's minds at ease.
"Keep an eye on it."
At this time, the Japanese negotiating team gathered together.
"That Lord Zhang is too cunning; he won't budge an inch. What should we do now?"
Unable to defeat the Qing Dynasty, and dissatisfied with the negotiations, Japan was unwilling to make such a humiliating decision. Japan was also anxious, as it was uncertain whether the Qing Dynasty might be so enraged that it would send troops directly to Japan's capital.
After all, judging from the strength demonstrated by the Qing Dynasty, it was capable of doing so.
The negotiations have now reached a stalemate.
"How about letting the princess give it a try?"
"How can we try? We've been here for so long and haven't even seen a prince of the Qing Dynasty. What can we do?"
"It's not necessarily about meeting the Qing prince. I've noticed that the Qing prince relies heavily on Lord Zhang, and Lord Zhang isn't very old. With a beauty like the princess, it's impossible for him not to be tempted."
Although this idea sounds absurd, it is indeed the best method available today. The "beauty trap" has played an important role in the history of various countries throughout the ages.
That evening, Junko was told about this, and she was somewhat distraught. Being treated like a commodity to be exchanged made Junko feel that her pride and dignity had been trampled on. She did not want to be treated as a commodity and given to the Qing Dynasty as a trophy, but she had no choice.
Miko asked with some concern, "Princess, would you like something to eat?"
Junko seemed to have lost her mind, looking completely dazed: "No need, I'm not hungry."
After thinking for a moment, Meizi said, "I've heard that Lord Zhang, who is in charge of the negotiations, is only two years older than the princess. He is very handsome and refined. Princess, perhaps this isn't such a bad thing?"
Junko simply hummed in response. Miko, unaware of Junko's inner thoughts, and seeing the princess's demeanor, decided not to disturb her and withdrew.
Junko barely slept that night. The next day, she was woken up, dressed up as a Qing Dynasty princess, and taken to a banquet like a puppet.
Junko was indeed extremely beautiful. Dressed in Qing Dynasty attire and dressed up in a new style, she was truly a stunning beauty.
The main characters at this banquet were Zhang Tingyu and Fuqing. The Japanese mainly wanted to use Chunzi to win over Zhang Tingyu, since he was in charge of the negotiations with Japan. If he didn't budge, Japan would have no choice but to sign the treaty, which the Japanese were unwilling to accept.
Junko had resigned herself to her fate. Being looked at like an object, her face was expressionless, neither sad nor happy, like an emotionless rag doll.
The Japanese envoy said to Zhang Tingyu and Fuqing, "This is Princess of Japan, the most beautiful woman in Japan."
Fuqing asked with a hint of amusement, "Lord Watanabe, what does this mean?"
"By His Majesty the Emperor, Japan and the Qing Dynasty have always been friendly nations separated by the sea. Her Highness the Princess greatly admires the young talents of the Qing Dynasty, so she has come today to seek advice from you gentlemen and have a friendly conversation. Does Lord Zhang agree?"
Fuqing looked at Zhang Tingyu with a mocking gaze, his eyes full of scrutiny, as if to say: You're quite the ladies' man.
Zhang Tingyu gave Fuqing a look that seemed to say: You're not worthy of this, why don't you do it?
Fuqing quickly shook his head.
He can't afford it.
Given the Emperor and Empress's attitude towards Japan, if he dared to even consider bringing them back, he probably wouldn't even be able to return to the Fucha family. Wouldn't that be a matter of life and death?
Zhang Tingyu said, "Our Great Qing is a land of etiquette, and there is a saying in our Great Qing that boys and girls should not sit together after the age of eight. Lord Watanabe, it is probably inappropriate for you to send a princess to this place!"
Their conversation wasn't kept secret from Junko. Although Junko couldn't understand it, someone was translating for her. She wasn't stupid, and she naturally understood that Zhang Tingyu's words implied disdain for her.
Junko felt incredibly wronged. It was bad enough that she had been treated like an object by her beloved father, but now she was being looked down upon. Junko couldn't hold back her tears, which welled up in her eyes.
I must say, this side of Junko is even more captivating.
Even some of the people on the Qing side were absentmindedly glancing at Chunzi. However, Zhang Tingyu's eyes remained perfectly clear throughout. Fuqing was also looking at Chunzi, but there was no romantic interest in his eyes. He was just observing her, but nothing else was clear.
Fuqing looked at Junko, then said to Watanabe, "What's wrong with your Japanese princess? Has she been bullied? Could it be that Japan can't even appease its own princess? Why is she acting like she's about to cry at a banquet like this? In Qing Dynasty, elders dislike women like this the most. Lord Watanabe, why don't you send someone to appease her?"
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