Under the wise leadership of Qi Jingxuan, the State of Qi grew increasingly powerful, and the foundation laid by the first ten years of conquest had been laid.
Countless surrounding small countries have become vassal states, paying tribute every year.
However, the vast western regions, from the Western Regions to Mongolia, were the only areas that could not be attacked.
The area was so vast that, coupled with the fact that the people of the Central Plains had no control over the local nomadic tribes, they could only build a protective barrier to ensure their own safety, and that was all.
Winter has arrived again this year, and various tribes in the north have begun their hibernation.
To ensure his country could weather this crisis, the prince from the Western Regions had already sent a letter and set off for the State of Qi.
After Qi Jingxuan returned to the palace with Ruan Yumu, she acted like a kitten, seemingly quite frightened by what she saw in Liu Ruhua's palace.
This also satisfied his vanity as an emperor.
"Your Majesty, please stay here with me tonight." Upon hearing Ruan Yumu say this, Qi Jingxuan's eyes instantly lit up.
It was her own body after all, and her affection for it was indeed different from that for the other concubines.
"Really? Hmm?" Qi Jingxuan answered while already impatiently pouting his lips at Ruan Yumu's red lips.
Soon after entering the green tent, the sound of two people panting could be heard.
"Your Majesty, please be gentle, I... I can't take it anymore, Your Majesty."
Ruan Yumu began to beg for mercy, but the man on top of her continued to take advantage of her domineeringly.
"Your Majesty, I have just given birth to the eldest son. I hope Your Majesty will cherish him. I am not going to make it, Your Majesty."
It wasn't until he heard these words that Qi Jingxuan suddenly realized what was happening and began his gentle offensive.
"How about this? Is it okay? Hmm?" Her warm breath tickled Ruan Yu Mu's ear.
It caused her mind to go blank, and she even fainted.
After a passionate encounter, Ruan and Mu were so exhausted that they fell into a deep sleep.
Early in the morning, Qi Jingxuan went to court. There was no way around it; to enjoy life, one must also bear corresponding responsibilities.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Rise, all of you!" Upon hearing this, everyone stood up in an orderly fashion.
Among the ministers stood a man who was quite different from the common people of Qi. He had blond hair, blue eyes, and a tall stature, making him stand out from the other ministers.
Qi Jingxuan then realized that it might be an envoy from the Western Regions.
"Is that an envoy from the Western Regions standing in the hall?"
"Your Majesty, I am both an envoy from the Western Regions and a prince of the Western Regions. I have come today to sign a treaty of non-interference on our borders. Here are some precious agate and medicinal herbs that our Western Regions Kingdom has brought to Your Majesty. Please accept them!"
The prince from the Western Regions placed his right hand on his chest in a gesture of respect.
Qi Jingxuan immediately told him not to bother with the formalities, "The prince from the Western Regions has come in person, Eunuch Wu, please take a seat! We cannot be negligent."
"The Western Regions are indeed a land of outstanding people and abundant resources. The prince is much taller than us people from the Central Plains!"
"Yeah yeah!"
Indeed, the people of the Western Regions grew up eating beef and mutton. Even though Qi Jingxuan was 1.8 meters tall, he looked half a head shorter than him.
Eunuch Wu counted the boxes of tribute items, seemingly quite satisfied, and nodded repeatedly to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, the reason I was summoned here is because my father wishes to arrange a marriage between us. I am now almost twenty years old and still have no wife. I implore the Qi Kingdom to send a princess to us in marriage, so that peace may be preserved on our borders forever!"
"This...this matter should be discussed properly. He has come from afar and must be tired. Someone, take the envoy away to rest!"
After taking the prince from the Western Regions away, several ministers followed him into the imperial study.
"Your Majesty, our Qi Kingdom is powerful enough that we have no need for a marriage alliance! Damn it, let's just fight!"
"Your Majesty, no. Your sister is currently unmarried. I find that the prince from the Western Regions to be of extraordinary bearing. It would not be impossible for them to marry."
"Your Majesty, this is unacceptable! In my opinion, we should select a daughter from a noble family to marry in place of the princess!"
"General Xu, it's easy for you to talk when you don't have any daughters in your family! If you're so incompetent, just send yourself to conquer the Western Regions!"
"You bunch of civil officials, when it comes to making decisions, all you do is send us to fight! Those are the lives of our soldiers!"
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"Shut up!" Qi Jingxuan was speechless.
He would like to fight, but Qi has only just begun to recuperate. If it were three years later, it wouldn't be a problem. But now? How can he fight? He has no money!
Winter is a difficult time not only for the nomadic peoples of the north, but also for their own countries, which tremble with fear.
But to marry a princess?
The State of Qi only has one princess, Qi Yuandong. How can she marry?
Last night, Ruan Yumu mentioned Qi Yuandong's marriage to her. Could it be that he had already been bribed by the prince from the Western Regions?
"My esteemed ministers, I have only one princess sister, who certainly cannot be married off to a distant land. Our Qi kingdom is currently beset by internal and external troubles, and it seems we cannot begin fighting until after next autumn's harvest. I have raised you all for a thousand days; please offer some reliable advice!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the ministers of Qi all fell silent. It was clear that the emperor did not want his sister to marry.
"Your Majesty, I just remembered someone, your cousin, Qi Jingming's sister Qi Yuanchun."
When Xu Yunchuan dealt with Lü Ling back then, he sent her family to Hanzhong. They're probably around that age now, and it's only been a year. They probably haven't gotten married yet.
"Indeed, my cousin Qi Yuanchun is practically a princess. This task is entrusted to you, Xu Yunchuan. Go and bring Qi Yuanchun back immediately. I will draft an imperial edict! Eunuch Wu! Come here!"
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