Chapter 412 perhaps also represents the friendship between the states of Jin and Yu.
The third son of the Shen family, who is also Shen Jiaqing's third brother, was once the top scholar in the imperial examination and is now an official who has risen to the rank of Minister.
There was also the third master of the Shen family, who was an official.
The Shen family was large and powerful, with some members engaged in business and others in martial arts. The two were the only members of the Shen family to enter officialdom.
Therefore, the task of talking to Xie Yunyang naturally fell mainly to them.
Young Master Shen gestured and said, "Your Highness, this way please. The children can go play, and we'll go in for tea."
Xie Yunzhang smiled and said: "Okay."
When the three of them drink tea together, they inevitably talk about political matters.
The women all left the room on their own initiative, saying they wanted to watch the children play.
Apart from Shen Jiaqing, who was accompanying them, the other young masters and the masters of the first and second wives said they were going to the kitchen to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner.
Xie Yunyang looked puzzled, so Shen Jiaqing explained, "The men in our family are equally adept in the living room and the kitchen. Your Highness, please excuse our ignorance. Every New Year, the men are the ones who vie to do the kitchen work. Firstly, so that the women can rest, and secondly, so that it's lively. It's said that the New Year's Eve dinner cooked by men tastes better."
“How could that be? This harmonious and lively atmosphere is the warmest thing in the world. The men are willing to do things for the women. This thoughtfulness and warmth are more precious than any delicacy,” Xie Yun said. “To be honest, we have been impolite to bother you on the eve of the Lunar New Year.”
Master Shen waved his hand: "What are you talking about etiquette, Your Highness? Our Shen family comes from the countryside and we've never been concerned with such things. Besides, your presence here with Jiaqing is an honor to our humble abode!"
After the two men declined, Shen Jiaqing found it amusing, shrugged, and quickly interrupted them: "Third Uncle, His Highness the Crown Prince is still just a young man who hasn't come of age yet, so please don't be so polite with him."
Master Shen was somewhat surprised: "His Highness the Crown Prince hasn't even reached adulthood yet?"
"Indeed." Xie Yun nodded.
Master Shen nodded repeatedly: "Truly, he is a young man of great talent."
A teenager, with his younger sister who is a few years old, traveled thousands of miles to get here. Even with guards by his side, his spirit is truly admirable.
Xie Yunyang looked at the group of men who were all eager to head to the kitchen, their faces full of the lively atmosphere of cooking, which was much more interesting than the rigid banquets in the palace. He was quite moved and couldn't help but sigh, "So this is what a family reunion looks like, full of warmth and joy."
Xie Yun watched their laughing and chatting figures heading towards the kitchen, her tone tinged with a hint of melancholy, yet also with an undeniable warmth, "Although the banquets in the palace are luxurious, they lack this genuine liveliness, and even more so, the ordinary warmth of men tilling the fields and women weaving."
Shen Jiaqing smiled upon hearing this: "Your Highness, being in such a position, naturally has many more responsibilities. Our Shen family is merely looking after our own small family, hoping for harmony and happiness."
Xie Yun smiled and said, "Actually, it's not really a burden. My brothers and sisters are all wonderful people, and being able to spend time with them every year is quite fulfilling. It's just..."
But ultimately, the Empress Dowager's share was missing.
But Xie Yun-yang didn't continue.
Young Master Shen smiled knowingly and changed the subject, "Life always has regrets. Otherwise, why would we yearn for perfection?"
The maid quickly brought over a set of purple clay teaware. The silver kettle on the charcoal fire gurgled, and the boiling water emitted fine white steam.
Young Master Shen personally held the teapot, his movements of warming the cups and cleaning the utensils were fluid and graceful. The tightly rolled Longjing tea leaves were put into the purple clay cup. The moment boiling water was poured in, the tea leaves unfurled, and the fragrance spread out, creating a warm and gentle feeling.
"This is top-quality Longjing tea. What do you think, Your Highness?"
Xie Yun-yang savored it carefully, put down the teacup, and said with approval in his eyes: "It is green in color, fragrant, sweet in taste, and beautiful in shape. It is indeed a fine Longjing tea. It makes your mouth water and leaves a lingering aftertaste."
Seeing this, Master Shen nodded and said, "Your Highness is very good at appreciating tea."
Xie Yunyang chuckled, and the Third Young Master Shen asked again, "I heard from Fourth Brother that Your Highness passed through Qingyang City when you traveled through the Song Kingdom?"
Xie Yun nodded: "Not bad."
"With various forces vying for dominance in the Song Dynasty, and with Elder Mo Wen in Qingyang City, things are probably not going to be peaceful."
Xie Yun paused, pondering how to answer the question.
He was the Crown Prince of Yu, and sitting in front of him was not only the Minister of Jin, but also the third brother of the Queen of Jin.
The identities of these individuals dictated that this was not just a simple conversation. Even if they were simply having a casual chat, they could not disregard their identities and positions.
The Divine Physician Shen loves Sheng Sheng. He is a member of the Shen family, and the Shen family also loves Sheng Sheng.
There is no history of hostility between the states of Jin and Yu, and the current emperors of both states advocate peace and would not easily start a war unless absolutely necessary.
Now, by a twist of fate, he and Shengsheng have become friends with the Shen family again.
On one side were the crown prince and princess of the State of Yu, and on the other side was the maternal family of the Empress of the State of Jin.
Although no one has said it publicly, these details may represent the friendship between the states of Jin and Yu.
Xie Yun could sense that the Shen family's kindness was genuine and heartfelt.
Most importantly, the Shen family had no reason to antagonize them, not to mention that they were the ones who needed Shen Jiaqing's help from the very beginning.
If they wanted to, given Shen Jiaqing's status—he was both the Empress of Jin's brother and a renowned physician—they could have simply refused to see them from the start.
These thoughts flashed through Xie Yun's mind in an instant, and after some consideration, Xie Yun chose to state her opinion truthfully.
"Indeed, everyone in the Song Kingdom is now living in fear. The scholars in Qingyang City are gathering together no longer just for studying."
Master Shen sighed, making no attempt to hide his disdain: "The Emperor of Song is old and senile, and now he turns a blind eye to these matters. Alas, in my opinion, few of those princes are any good either. Even if they manage to fight to the end, what difference will it make? Struggle is a game for those in power, and in the end, it is the people of Song who suffer."
“Third Uncle, please tone it down.” Young Master Shen smiled helplessly. “However, what you say makes sense. Since ancient times, the struggle for the throne has rarely been peaceful. Even Ziyi and Lili, didn’t they step by step through crises to get to where they are today?”
Seeing Xie Yun's puzzled expression, Shen Jiaqing explained, "Ziyi is His Majesty's courtesy name, and Lili is our younger sister. Because of Lili, we have known His Majesty since childhood, so we are close and usually call each other by our given names."
"So that's how it is."
Xie Yun once again refreshed her understanding of the Jin emperor. Logically speaking, no matter what kind of emperor it is, almost all of them would have some reservations about their maternal relatives.
However, the emperor of Jin seemed to have complete trust in the Shen family.
"To be honest, however internal strife the Song Kingdom may cause, it has nothing to do with our Jin Kingdom. I'm just a doctor, and wherever I go, I'm only responsible for practicing medicine and saving lives." Shen Jiaqing shrugged. "But Your Highness, you may not know, but a few days ago, the second prince of the Song Kingdom, under the pretext of competing with the fourth prince for merit, even harassed the border of our Jin Kingdom. If they dare to harass us today, they might dare to attack us tomorrow!"
"Is that so?" Xie Yunyang thought carefully for a moment. "But we didn't hear about this when we came here from the State of Song."
"It's normal that you don't know. This happened two months ago and has been suppressed for a long time. Besides, the road you took is far from that place."
Xie Yun nodded: "If this matter concerns the relationship between our two countries, then it is a very serious matter. At first, the Song Kingdom only harassed the border of our Yu Kingdom, and it only developed into what it is now. Lord Shen, this matter should not be taken lightly. The emperor of the Song Kingdom is incompetent and easily swayed by slander."
"Your Highness, rest assured, the State of Jin has been free from war for many years, but that does not mean it has lost its former glory."
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