Chapter 442 We're all family, no need to be polite
Wang Yushi rarely made a grand entrance when she traveled, but if she really did set out to do so, the procession was quite large, with a long line of ceremonial guards, palace maids, and eunuchs.
When Qin Mo heard the announcement "The Empress has arrived" outside the door, she opened the main gate to prepare to welcome her. Just as the gate opened, the Empress's entourage arrived at the door, and the magnificent phoenix palanquin stopped. A beautifully dressed woman stepped out.
"This humble general pays his respects to Your Majesty the Empress!"
"Your subordinate greets Your Majesty the Empress!"
Qin Yumu and Qin Yuanze, both holding military ranks, immediately rushed forward to pay their respects to Wang Yushi upon seeing her.
"No need for formalities!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After the two had finished exchanging greetings with Wang Yushi, Qin Mo bowed slightly and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty the Empress!"
"Oh! We're all family, no need for formalities!"
Listening to Qin Mo and Wang Yushi's conversation, Qin Yumu and Qin Mo felt a surge of emotions. Their former little brother was now a powerful figure in the empire. Although they still joked around when they were together, their status was completely different. For one thing, they were both royalty and shared the surname Qin. Why didn't Wang Yushi ever say "family" to them?
Once inside the Duke's mansion, the situation became even more discouraging. The palace maids had only placed two chairs in the living room, and everyone except Qin Mo and Wang Yushi was standing.
"It's been several years since we last met, and Prince Heng's demeanor is even more impressive than before, which is truly enviable!"
"...Your Majesty flatters me. It's just a pretty face..."
"Prince Heng is too modest. A powerhouse at the Earth Realm in his twenties is a rare sight in the entire Great Xia!"
"Well...."
Qin Mo greatly admired Wang Yushi's ability to make polite remarks. The two of them had been fishing together just a few months ago, yet they said they hadn't seen each other for years, and that people in their twenties were a rare sight in the world. Wasn't Wang Yushi one of them?
Wang Yushi glanced at Qin Mo lightly, then looked at Qin Yumu and Qin Yuanze expressionlessly.
"Your subordinate takes his leave!"
Qin Yuanze reacted quickly, pulling Qin Yumu along to take their leave immediately.
After the two left, the living room became quiet. Wang Yushi looked at Qin Mo's clothes, a slight smile playing on her lips, a hint of smugness on her face.
"Danfeng, you shouldn't have come today, especially with such a grand entrance. It's too conspicuous!"
"How else can I make those people understand what I mean? They've gone too far this time, a bunch of insatiable bastards!"
"They haven't done it yet, they're just overthinking it. I'm not going to give in, let them think what they want!"
"Dare to touch my people? You won't even get a chance! Humph!"
"......"
The empress, dressed in her finest attire, was originally graceful and beautiful, but when she spoke of this, she became domineering and imposing. Qin Mo was mesmerized and her heart was stirred.
"Oh! What exactly do they want from me?"
Wang Yushi waved her hand impatiently and said, "It's nothing more than money, weapons, and your nautical charts. Don't listen to their talk about national righteousness. As long as you don't agree, let's see what they dare to do to you!"
"Oh! Actually, if war really breaks out in the Western Regions, it wouldn't be impossible for me to provide some financial and military supplies..."
"They won't owe you any favors. Those civil officials are all bottomless pits of greed. Once I find the right opportunity, I'll take them all down one by one!"
Qin Mo finally saw Wang Yushi's ruthless side, but he didn't think there was anything wrong with it. Since she was in this position, she couldn't be too soft-hearted!
"Of course I know the character of those civil officials, so why would I hand over the goods directly to them? Don't we have our own people in the west?"
"...With the assistance of your 'volunteer army,' the situation in Suyab has stabilized, and I don't want to owe you any more favors..."
"We're all family, no need to be so polite! Hehehe!"
Wang Yushi's birth mother, Xu, is currently in Suyab City in the Western Regions. It is located at the westernmost edge of the Great Xia Empire's territory. If the Holy Temple and Great Xia have indeed agreed to send troops from the Western Regions, then Suyab City will inevitably be the first to be affected. Qin Mo's support for the Western Regions is naturally support for Suyab City.
"This matter is still open to discussion. The Empire is very cautious about directly sending troops to the Western Regions. The war in the north has just ended in the past few years, and the national strength has not yet been fully replenished. The ministers in the court may not support a large-scale war; at most, they will just put on a show!"
Wang Yushi narrowed her eyes and stared at Qin Mo for a while before continuing, "Your fleet is quite a surprise to me. I never expected you to have traveled so far without making a sound. His Highness Qin Lan left you a nautical chart, didn't he? When you asked me for that 'exploration right,' did you already have a plan in mind?"
It was no secret in Daxia that Qin Lan had spent over a decade searching for Qin Mo's mother, Luna, exhausting his family fortune. So when news of Qin Mo's fleet arriving in the Red Sea came, everyone assumed that Qin Lan had laid the foundation for Qin Mo's future.
"Absolutely not. My father couldn't have even reached India, let alone the Abbasid Caliphate. Even the high-ranking officials back then wouldn't have been that poor!"
"Sigh... Danfeng, those rights to expand were obtained in exchange for artillery technology! The imperial family won't go back on their word, will they?" Qin Mo interjected, complaining.
"Why would I go back on my word? Aren't you still helping me make money? I'm not a heartless person."
Wang Yushi said somewhat angrily, "I just want to tell you that even the imperial court is eyeing your nautical charts this time. They will definitely bring up your father, so you need to be careful!"
"I paved those sea routes with my own lives. Why don't they explore them themselves? They're afraid of death and unwilling to take risks. Do they just want me to obediently hand them the nautical charts? Dream on!"
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