What kind of explanation do you want?
After a long while, Xunyi's voice rang out again in the main hall.
The emperor laughed and said directly, "We in Beiyan have always been law-abiding and will not take advantage of you. Since you have killed so many of our people, you should show sincerity if you want to explain. Five thousand taels of silver will be given to each household as a compensation fee. In addition, since you have crossed the border of Beiyan and provoked us maliciously, you should repay us fifty thousand taels of silver before you can leave."
No matter how you look at it, the emperor's request wasn't unreasonable. But the other party was a poor island nation that was currently in turmoil, with various factions constantly at war. Where would they get so much money?
Xun Yi clenched his teeth, forcibly restraining himself from killing this dog emperor.
To make such a demand when the island nation is clearly in a predicament is obviously an attempt to embarrass him.
But if these issues aren't resolved, the emperor won't let them leave, and he won't be able to keep his promise to Lan Jiu. Staying here like this is a waste of time.
"Sure, I'll have the Emperor of the island nation send someone to deliver the money."
After saying that, he turned and left, showing no regard for the emperor.
The emperor knew from Jiang Jiuniang that this person was no ordinary person and was also very skilled, so he had the right to be arrogant. Therefore, he did not bother with him. After making sure that he left the palace, the emperor got up and said, "Let's go and have a look around the Imperial Academy. I haven't paid attention to the children's studies for a long time."
When people are happy, they are in high spirits; even the emperor walks with a swagger.
After returning, Xunyi wrote directly to the Emperor of the island nation, saying that he had obtained the Pangu Jade, but the methods used were somewhat unethical, which angered the Emperor of Beiyan. The Emperor demanded compensation, and Xunyi asked the Emperor to send someone to deliver the money as soon as possible.
He didn't consult with any islanders before writing this letter; it was entirely his own decision, and he wrote whatever he wanted.
The other party would be very happy to see this letter, since obtaining the Pangu Jade means obtaining a treasure, and they would no longer need to care about such a small amount of money. So they would readily send money to Beiyan.
During this period, the island nation's envoys were completely under house arrest. Except for Xunyi, who was able to leave on his own, all the others lost their freedom to go out. They could only be taken away when the island nation sent someone to deliver money.
From the time the letter was sent out until the Emperor sent someone, several more months would pass. Xunyi simply didn't have enough time, so after sending the letter, he feigned illness and refused to see anyone, but in reality, he had already continued searching for the whereabouts of the treasure.
With so much in Beiyan Mountain, how can we not hurry?
Sometimes he couldn't understand whether the information provided from the other side was wrong. How could such a treasure become the burial goods of an ordinary person? It would be more accurate to say that it was the burial goods of the Northern Yan royal family.
He had already visited the imperial tombs of Bei Yan. There were indeed many burial objects, but they were not the treasures he was looking for.
Jiang Jiuniang knew he had secretly left, but she didn't make a fuss. She didn't care where he went, as long as he wasn't in the capital's way.
Before the arrival of winter, Lu Xiaoyang and his group are finally returning.
I received their message a month in advance, saying that they had already arrived in Beiyan territory and would soon reach the capital.
Logically, they should have received news soon, but there has been no word at all, causing great anxiety among the Lu family.
“I know the way they came back well. Why don’t I take some people to look for them along the way? Maybe the weather is too cold and it has delayed their journey.”
Lu Lao Er took the initiative to step forward. During this period, he acted as a manager at home, running errands for whatever happened in the shop or gambling den, and he felt quite fulfilled.
After going out, he was no longer as confused as before, and he could just focus on doing what he could.
Since he was born mediocre, he should cherish that mediocrity and live his life peacefully.
Everyone else in the family is busy these days, and he's the only one with nothing to do, so it's only right that he goes out to pick up the children.
Madam Qin also said, "Yes, it's snowing heavily in many places. The snow has probably blocked the roads and delayed our journey. It would be good to have Youya's father take some people to meet us."
Jiang Jiuniang, however, felt a vague unease, sensing that things were not so simple.
"Forget it, it's freezing cold, so let's not let Second Brother go on a long trip. I'll go to the Emperor and ask a few Jingwei to help go and check. If nothing's wrong, that's good. If something is wrong, the Jingwei can help save people."
Lu Lao Er has no martial arts skills. If he goes there and doesn't help but gets into trouble instead, then he will really lose out.
Sun understood Jiang Jiuniang's meaning and said, "Yes, it's best for the second son not to go out at this time, so that I don't have to worry about both sides."
With the family in agreement, Jiang Jiuniang quickly went to the palace to inform the emperor about the matter. The emperor was quite generous and readily agreed.
Feeling guilty for asking others to help with missions in the dead of winter, Jiang Jiuniang gave the Jingwei a lot of good things.
These were all items for self-defense and survival, and the Jingwei people accepted them without any hesitation.
Meanwhile, in the border area between Beiyan and Xiteng, Lu Xiaoyang and his companions were tied up and thrown into a dilapidated woodshed.
Some members of the team were bribed to drug their food. After eating it, they felt weak all over, and when they woke up, they were in this state.
This situation has lasted for seven or eight days. The other party is quite nice; they will let them resolve their personal issues and then come back to be tied up again.
They were drugged, and their daily food was also laced with a drug. Fortunately, it wasn't poison, just a muscle relaxant. After taking it, they felt weak all over, even walking was tiring, let alone running.
"This can't go on any longer, maybe... I should just agree to his request..."
Seeing everyone's pale faces, looking like they were about to die, Zhang Lanxiang felt incredibly guilty, and she couldn't stop crying.
The person who kidnapped them was someone she had once been attracted to. His family held a high position in Xiteng, having been in business for generations. However, after Xiteng and Beiyan cooperated, they also followed Beiyan's lead. Business families could also produce scholars who took the imperial examinations and became officials. His family managed to get a few minor officials, thus successfully entering the imperial court.
The man's name was Bal, and he had once pursued Zhang Lanxiang passionately. Zhang Lanxiang was deeply moved, but after receiving Jiang Jiuniang's reply, she thought about it carefully for a few days and finally decided to go home and be with her parents.
So she clearly rejected Baal, saying that it was impossible for them to be together, and then she never saw him again. They even secretly left to return to Beiyan without letting Baal know.
But little did they know that Baal already knew about their plan, yet he didn't expose it, but followed them from a distance until they reached Beiyan before making his move.
What's most infuriating is that Bei Yan and Xi Teng trade with each other. Baal's family are merchants, so he can naturally come to Bei Yan without any hindrance. Moreover, his family also has businesses here, so he can move around freely.
He even bribed people in the group to drug them all, keeping them there so they wouldn't leave, with only one goal: to get Zhang Lanxiang to agree to marry him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com