This street leads directly to the imperial city, and all families attending this palace banquet must pass through it. Two carriages were blocking the way, preventing those behind from passing, and naturally, people were curious about what was happening ahead.
Hearing that the carefree king and the regent of the Eastern Lin Kingdom had clashed, many people craned their necks, waiting to see what would happen.
Xie Liwei glanced at his follower who had lost an arm, his brows furrowing slightly, a look of displeasure appearing between his brows.
"How about it? If Your Highness still feels it's not enough, I'll have him apologize with an arm as well." Dongfang Yi looked at Xie Liwei with a smile.
Xie Liwei pursed his lips and said, "Perhaps it's due to different customs in different countries, but this is the first time I've seen such a unique way of apologizing. In our Great Chen Dynasty, we apologize by giving the other party a gift that they like. Why doesn't Your Majesty follow local customs?"
Dongfang Shi originally intended to embarrass Xie Liwei, but he didn't expect him to say such a thing, and his face stiffened for a moment.
"What does Your Highness desire?"
Xie Liwei pondered for a moment, then said, "Your Highness's carriage is truly magnificent, and those four steeds are also exceptionally rare..."
Dongfang Shi felt like he had been tricked. He never expected Xie Liwei to be so shameless as to directly ask for his belongings!
When did the people of Dachen become like this?!
"Is Your Highness reluctant to part with it?" Xie Liwei looked at Dongfang Shi with regret, then immediately said, "Oh dear, I understand, Regent. Such a fine carriage must have taken a lot of effort to create. I shouldn't have asked Your Highness to part with it; I'm truly sorry. Alas... a gentleman doesn't take what others cherish. Since Your Highness is reluctant, let it be! I'm not a petty person; why make such a fuss over such a small matter!"
Dongfang Shi: "......"
What's wrong with Xie Liwei? Did he drink too much Longjing tea before going out?
It was their royal carriage that hit them; they were the ones at fault! How come, after he says it, it sounds like he's the one at fault?!
Behind the two, a number of servants and young men sent by various families to investigate gathered, all peeking inside, eager to know what sordid things the two had done.
They arrived late and were unaware of the previous events. Upon hearing Xie Liwei's tactless remarks, they immediately assumed that the regent of the Eastern Lin Kingdom had been offensive and couldn't help but point and whisper.
"Why is this happening? Wasn't it supposed to be an apology? Why is the Regent so reluctant to make amends?"
"Look at that carriage, it's studded with so many jewels. I wouldn't want it either. But I've already said it, and now I don't want to give it to you. Tsk tsk tsk, why make such a boast if you don't have the guts?"
"Those Donglin people are so pathetic. They come up here and break the arm of one of their slaves first, just to force our Prince Xiaoyao to back down. They don't value their slaves' lives, unlike us in Da Chen, where at least we have some protection."
"That's terrible! Luckily, I'm from the Great Chen Dynasty. If I had been reincarnated in the Eastern Lin, and accidentally become a slave, I would have been completely doomed!"
Various sounds drifted into Dongfang Shi's ears, and his baby face could barely maintain its composure.
He walked up to Xie Liwei and met his gaze.
"As expected of Xie Wanqing's brother, I underestimated you."
Xie Liwei lowered his head and said, "Your Highness, please don't stand so close to me. I have to bend over to talk to you, which is really bad for my health."
"You!" So what if he's short! You can argue with each other, but why resort to personal attacks!
"Hmph, I have come from afar, is this how your Great Chen treats its guests?"
“If Your Highness were a guest, I would naturally welcome you with open arms. But is Your Highness a guest?” Xie Liwei smiled and looked at Dongfang Shi, then raised his voice and said, “If Your Highness is reluctant to part with something, I am not a reasonable person. It was my presumption, Your Highness. I am not a petty person. It is just a small matter. You can just apologize verbally and it will be over. Why do you have to send me something? Your Highness, please leave quickly. Look, the back is blocked. If you are delayed in meeting the Emperor, that would not be good.”
Dongfang Shi clenched his back teeth, his face twitching.
He took a deep breath and said with a forced smile, "Your Highness is magnanimous; I was overthinking it."
After saying this, he boarded the carriage and left in a huff.
After this incident, the crowded streets quickly returned to order.
"Dongfang Shi did this on purpose," Xie Liwei said solemnly as he boarded the carriage.
"Knowing it was my carriage, they deliberately crashed into it." After getting out of his carriage, he observed the positions of the carriages on both sides. Although the other carriage was large, it shouldn't have caused the two carriages to collide.
"What is he trying to test?" Song Yaozhu was a little confused.
"I don't know, let's wait and see. They just want to take a bite out of Da Chen."
Xie Liwei rubbed his temples. First Bei Qing provoked him, and now Dong Lin followed suit. He was truly exhausted.
"Be careful." Xie Liwei gripped Song Yaozhu's hand tightly.
Song Yaozhu pursed her lips. Back then, Da Chen and Dong Lin had fought several battles. She had some connection with Dongfang Shi.
Once, when the Great Chen army was defeated, she was captured and taken to Donglin as a war slave. Because of her beautiful appearance, she was selected to be a maid in the Regent's Palace.
After being enslaved for three months, she stole the border defense map of Donglin, which infuriated Dongfang Shi to the point of madness.
Therefore, when news of Xie Wanqing's death reached Donglin Kingdom, Dongfang Shi even sent Yuwen Wuji a gift to mourn his wife—eighteen beautiful maidens.
Her current appearance is very similar to her former appearance. It's hard to say that Dongfang Shi might harbor resentment upon seeing her face.
Dongfang Shi acts solely on his whims, sometimes treating matters of national importance as child's play. Even if he knows Song Yaozhu is not Xie Wanqing, he might still hold a grudge against her because of their resemblance.
"Don't worry, if he can learn from my mistakes, he can learn from them again."
Song Yaozhu patted the back of his hand to comfort him.
The two entered the palace hand in hand. The palace was crowded today. At a glance, all the men were dressed in red silk robes, and the noblewomen in dark blue robes. It was the young men and women who had not yet entered officialdom or married who were dressed in bright and beautiful clothes.
The group went in to pay their respects to the Emperor and then took their seats.
Xie Liwei was a prince, so he was naturally allowed to sit in the main hall. As soon as he entered the hall, everyone's eyes fell on him.
Xie Liwei calmly bowed with Song Yaozhu, and was then reprimanded by Yuwen Wuji.
"Brother Li, I heard you just had a disagreement with the Regent of the Eastern Lin Kingdom?" The tone was reproachful. "The Regent has come from afar; you should have acted like a host!"
Yuwen Wuji was very displeased. In his view, Xie Liwei was in the wrong. Since Dongfang Shi was within their Great Chen territory, they should have shown a more tolerant attitude.
Xie Liwei's behavior today was truly petty and narrow-minded, and a disgrace to Da Chen!
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