Chapter 89 The Northern Frontier Eagle Only Recognizes Little Fisherman
The delegation from the northern frontier arrived in Beijing with great fanfare.
The leading envoy was Batu, the younger brother of the Great Khan of the Northern Frontier. He was tall and strong, with a full beard and eyes as sharp and unruly as a lone wolf on the grassland.
The palace banquet was held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, brightly lit and filled with melodious music.
The emperor sat high on the dragon throne, with his sons Chu Chongjin and Chu Huaijin sitting on either side.
Mu Fang, as the Duke of Protector of the State, was ranked alongside a group of military generals.
Mu Yu was granted special permission by the emperor to sit on an extra seat next to Mu Fang. Her small body sank into the large chair as she curiously observed the Northern Frontier people dressed in exotic clothing in the hall.
After several treatments, her eyes can now see people and objects within three feet. Although further away they are still blurry, it is a huge improvement for her.
"Father, their clothes are so strange, all furry," Mu Yu whispered to Mu Fang.
"That's a specialty of the northern frontier, made with wolf and fox fur, for warmth," Mu Fang explained in a low voice.
After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
Envoy Batu stood up and said in slightly broken Chinese, "Your Majesty the Emperor of Great Chu, on behalf of the Khan of the Northern Frontier, I present to you the most precious gift from our grasslands!"
He clapped his hands, and two warriors from the northern frontier carried up a huge cage covered with a black cloth.
The black cloth was lifted, and a magnificent, snow-white eagle appeared before everyone.
The snow eagle was pure white, without a single stray feather, but its beak and claws gleamed like black iron, and its eyes were sharp as lightning, exuding an arrogance that looked down upon all living beings.
"What a fine gyrfalcon!" a discerning minister couldn't help but exclaim.
This is the legendary god of ten thousand eagles, extremely difficult to tame.
"This eagle is named 'Azure Cloud,' the king of the skies of my northern grasslands," Batu said proudly. "It only submits to true warriors. Today, I present it to Your Majesty to show the sincerity of my northern frontier."
The emperor looked at the snow eagle with great interest and laughed, "Indeed, it is exceptionally magnificent. Someone, feed the divine eagle."
Immediately, a eunuch brought over a plate of fresh, tender raw meat.
However, the snow eagle merely glanced at it coldly before haughtily turning its head away, completely disregarding it.
The eunuchs changed the meat several times, even offering live rabbits, but the snow eagle remained unmoved. In fact, it irritably flapped its wings against the cage, emitting sharp cries.
The atmosphere in the main hall suddenly became somewhat awkward.
Batu looked a little embarrassed.
Chu Huaijin's eyes darted around, and he stood up with a smile, saying, "Father, I've heard that such a divine object cannot be touched by ordinary food. Why don't I give it a try?"
He ordered someone to bring him his treasured dried venison and personally handed it to the cage.
The snow sculpture remained unresponsive.
Chu Huaijin was rebuffed and retreated dejectedly.
Several military officers were also eager to try, but without exception, they were all ignored by the snow eagle.
Batu's face grew increasingly grim. He felt that this disobedient beast had made him lose face in front of the Emperor of Great Chu.
Just then, a childish voice rang out.
Is it hungry?
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Mu Yu slide off the chair, still clutching a small piece of dried fish that she hadn't finished eating.
That was a dish specially grilled for her by the imperial chef using bluefish, a tribute from Jiayu County. It was fragrant and crispy.
Mu Yu tilted her head and looked at the agitated bird in the cage. With her Eye of Luck, she saw that although it had an arrogant white aura, it was also faintly entwined with a trace of dark gray restlessness.
It doesn't seem to like the taste here.
"Little Yu'er, stop fooling around and come back quickly," Mu Fang whispered to stop her.
"Father, it looks so pitiful." Mu Yu looked up, her big eyes full of sympathy.
The emperor, however, became intrigued by the exquisitely beautiful little figure and laughed, "No problem, let the little princess try it out. Perhaps even the divine eagle of the northern frontier will take a liking to our great Chu's lucky star?"
With permission granted, Mu Yu immediately took off running with her short legs to the cage.
Everyone held their breath.
That snow sculpture used to be indifferent to everyone, but when it gets angry it becomes ruthless. What if it hurts the little princess?
Batu clenched his fists nervously; he couldn't bear the consequences if something went wrong.
Mu Yu wasn't afraid at all. She stretched her little hand to the edge of the cage, opened her palm, and revealed the piece of dried fish that she had crushed a little.
"Big bird, are you homesick?" she said in a tone used to coax a kitten or puppy. "Don't be afraid, I'll treat you to some dried fish, it's delicious!"
Her words carried a natural warmth and approachability.
More importantly, the pure, auspicious energy emanating from her is an irresistible temptation for these spiritually connected animals.
That scent was like the cleanest lake and the freshest breeze on the grasslands of my hometown.
A miraculous scene unfolded.
The snow sculpture, which had been restless and agitated, quieted down the moment Mu Yu approached.
Its sharp eyes curiously examined the tiny creature before it.
When it smelled the auspicious aroma of dried fish, it slowly lowered its proud head.
It cautiously approached Mu Yu's hand, extended its hook-like beak, and gently and tenderly pecked at the piece of dried fish.
Then, it tilted its head back and swallowed it with a "gulp".
The entire Hall of Supreme Harmony was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone stared in disbelief at the scene.
Batu's mouth was wide enough to fit an egg.
He personally captured this "Cangyun" from the snow-capped mountains. It was very fierce and would not eat anything fed to it by anyone other than him.
What's wrong with me today?
After finishing the dried fish, the snow eagle seemed to still want more. It gently rubbed its big head against Mu Yu's small hand, making a gurgling sound in its throat, similar to a cat's affectionate whining.
Mu Yu felt ticklish from its rubbing and giggled.
"You're so good!" She reached out her other hand and boldly touched the snow eagle's snow-white feathers.
Instead of resisting, the snow sculpture squinted its eyes in enjoyment.
The entire site was petrified.
The emperor clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "Good! Good! It is said that divine objects are spiritual beings and can discern auspicious omens! It seems that Princess Anguo of my Great Chu is indeed a lucky star sent from heaven!"
This one sentence is more effective than any explanation or argument.
All the previous rumors about "ominous signs" became a huge joke in the face of this scene.
Chu Huaijin and Consort De's faces instantly turned ashen.
Their meticulously planned propaganda attack was thwarted by a bird?
Chu Chongjin looked at Mu Yu and Xue Diao's intimate appearance with a smile and doting eyes.
His little koi fish always manages to create miracles unexpectedly.
Batu finally snapped out of his shock, and the way he looked at Mu Yu completely changed.
What started as disdain has now transformed into awe and curiosity.
He strode forward and bowed deeply to the emperor: "Your Majesty, it seems that 'Cangyun' has found a more suitable master for itself. I, from the Northern Frontier, wish to present this divine eagle to Princess Anguo!"
A potential diplomatic crisis was resolved in such a dramatic way.
Mu Yu was not only not made things difficult, but also gained a magnificent pet for free.
However, among the delegation, an inconspicuous warrior from the northern frontier, watching this scene, had a cold, murderous glint in his eyes.
He secretly touched a poisoned dagger hidden in his sleeve.
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