Chapter 144 Buch's Despair
Everyone followed the Emperor to the banquet hall, except for Hongzhao, who had just ridden a horse and had to freshen up and change into a robe with horseshoe sleeves before arriving late. As soon as he entered the hall, he heard the resounding voice of Lord Zhang Tingyu.
"As far as I know, the current Khan of the Dzungar Khanate is not without wives and children. Does he expect to become a concubine in your Dzungar Khanate if he wants to marry my dynasty's legitimate princess?"
Nabuhe was already uncertain and unlike when he first arrived, he dared not speak up. The solutions the Khan had given him were now churning in his mind, but he dared not utter them. He was sweating profusely in the dead of winter and was visibly restless.
Hongzhao strode confidently to the front of the palace without stopping, rolled up his sleeves, knelt down, and bowed – “Your subject greets Your Majesty.”
As soon as he entered the hall, everyone in the hall except the emperor stood up and bowed their hands – “Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Yinzhen looked at Hongzhao in the hall with shining eyes, his admiration overflowing – “Get up, get up, come to your father’s side.”
After saying that, he pointed to the seat next to him that had been reserved long ago and had been empty.
Hongzhao stood up, walked to his father's side, and sat down. Only then did everyone else return to their original seats.
While sitting on horseback, Buhe couldn't see clearly. Now, watching the young prince of the Qing Dynasty walk past him, he was shocked. He knew the prince was young, but seeing him in person, he realized how strong the contrast was. He was able to produce firearms with many times greater destructive power and organize such a large-scale military review, all for a child who was not even ten years old.
The Qing emperor is still in his prime, and his successor is so...unbelievable. If things continue like this, the Qing dynasty's strength will only grow stronger. And what about the Dzungars...?
After everyone bowed and took their seats, Buhe had some time to think. He stood up and, unlike his usual disdainful attitude during his visits, unusually lowered his stance. "Your Majesty the Great Qing should know that the Dzungar marriage custom is to have three wives. The princess will naturally be the principal wife when she marries into our country, and there is no reason for her to be a concubine."
His words were pure deception, and there was no need for the emperor to respond to him personally. Anyone who knew the inside story secretly rolled their eyes.
The Fourteenth Prince chuckled and raised an eyebrow, speaking sarcastically, "Your envoy is truly eloquent. Do you think everyone in this hall is someone you can fool? The Dzungars may indeed have three wives and four concubines, but there is only one legitimate Khatun. Our Qing Dynasty sent a princess as a tribute. Do you intend to humiliate her?"
Humiliation—that's no light word. Buhe's already pounding heart tightened even more... Perhaps the Khan had truly intended to humiliate him before. But now... who dares to humiliate him? Humiliation is a death sentence!
"I had no such intention!" he blurted out without thinking, but finding a way to justify himself proved difficult.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is..."
Seeing his flushed face, Hongzhao twitched the corner of his mouth and rolled his eyes, saying, "Envoy, there is no need to worry. I know that the Dzungar Khan has probably just made a mistake. I have two methods now, and you can choose one to do. It is a solution for both of us."
"Your Highness, please speak." When he couldn't find a reason to speak, having someone offer some advice was certainly a relief... at least that's what Buhe felt at the moment.
Hongzhao, a smile playing on his lips, picked up his wine cup and examined it, speaking casually, "The first one... Princess Chaogui has been engaged to the Dzungar Khan for a year, yet the wedding has yet to take place. This has delayed her marriage, both in terms of age and reputation. Since the Dzungar Khan cannot offer her the title of Khatun, the Qing Dynasty should naturally initiate the annulment, but..."
"The Dzungars have gone back on their word on this matter, so we can't just let it go by announcing the engagement. In the past, the Dzungars have harassed our Qing borders and killed our people. It's only right and wrong that we have to give them an explanation and some compensation, isn't it?"
Buhe cursed himself for being careless. Even so, he had underestimated this little prince. How could such a small child think so fast and say so many cold and ruthless things?
Seeing him frown and remain silent, Hongzhao naturally knew that he would not agree so easily, so he spoke again—"If the Dzungars do not want to annul the engagement, there are naturally other options."
He paused deliberately to keep everyone in suspense, and then Buhe couldn't wait to speak up—"Please enlighten me, Your Highness."
He now sees the second option as better than the first, no matter what it is.
Hongzhao glanced back at his father, and after receiving an encouraging look, he spoke with full confidence: "The legitimate princess of the Qing Dynasty is of incomparably noble status. Even if this matter succeeds, it will be because your Dzungars were not well prepared and were negligent. There are naturally reasons for negligence. Why not follow the ancient example and let the Qing Dynasty fund the construction of the princess's residence in Dzungar?"
He spoke clearly and logically, as if he had planned it all along, just waiting to fleece the Dzungars. "The princess is of noble status. According to ancient custom, she does not need to live with the Khan. She will live in the princess's residence. She does not need to address the Khan's mother as 'mother' but as 'sister-in-law.' Everyone else will naturally be one generation lower in front of the princess."
Upon hearing this, Buhe felt his vision go black and wished he could immediately cover his ears and pass out.
After hearing the second one, he actually intended to ask how the interest was calculated for the first one...
The more Yinzhen listened, the deeper his smile grew. You'er had naturally discussed the matter of building the princess's residence with him beforehand, and he still remembered what the little devil had said.
“Whether the princess’s mansion sends twenty people or two thousand, it’s all the same. Whether they bring hoes or bows and arrows, it’s all the same. Whether it takes a month or several years, it’s all up to us. If there’s any mishap, and we’re accused of colluding with someone from the inside, it’ll be a perfect excuse from heaven.”
As expected of someone who started learning military strategy and writing, his mind was full of military calculations at such a young age. Yinzhen couldn't hide his smugness. His face was all wrinkled with laughter, and his voice was filled with obvious joy and self-satisfaction.
"Of all the people in the world, only the Crown Prince truly wins my heart!"
"The Crown Prince's intention is also my intention. The envoy should return and discuss this thoroughly with the Dzungar Khan. I expect a reply within a month." Yinzhen slammed his hand on the table, and there was no turning back on this matter.
In the past, he might have needed to be more conciliatory, but today, with the military review just completed, Buhe had witnessed the Qing Dynasty's strength firsthand. If he didn't take advantage of their moment of weakness to ruthlessly exploit them, when would he ever get another chance?
"The dishes today are truly delicious. Dzungar envoy, don't just look at them, have a bite!" Prince Yi smiled knowingly, seemingly oblivious to Buhe's almost tearful face, and gestured to the eunuch beside him to keep serving him food.
Buch prayed silently in his heart.
"Hope is poisonous, hope is poisonous!"
If he's poisoned to death, there's no need to go back and report this whole mess of unexplainable troubles to the Khan.
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