"Haha, Your Majesty really knows how to joke." The man laughed awkwardly twice and spoke through gritted teeth.
"I never joke." Shen Qing leaned back on the dragon throne, looking at the man with a half-smile. "But I can give you a day to prepare."
"We have overstepped our bounds. If Your Majesty disapproves, we will take them back."
Shen Qing raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
The man waved his hand to signal these people to take away, and he returned to his seat and sat down.
Shen Qing continued to drink lazily as if nothing had happened.
The atmosphere was gradually becoming harmonious and peaceful.
The Japanese envoy suddenly stood up, looking a little drunk, with a malicious smile on his face, and said, "Your Majesty Dongli, as a token of respect, our country will present a special dance."
She hummed softly and nodded slightly, which was considered a nod of agreement.
The music started, and a group of dancers filed in. Amidst the many men, there was only one woman, standing out from the crowd. As they took their positions, they settled into their poses, poised for battle, and prepared to begin.
The drums suddenly sounded like thunder, and the dancers rose up with the sound. Their dance moves were vigorous and powerful. Every movement was full of strength and tension, and their eyes were full of undisguised provocation.
During the dance, the dancers kept making exaggerated movements towards the female dancer, pushing or blocking her. The woman danced very hard, as if she was struggling to move forward in strong winds and huge waves.
Shen Qing smacked his lips, picked up an orange nonchalantly, and deftly peeled off the orange peel with his slender fingers.
Wasn't this shabby dance a blatant allusion to the difficulties and obstacles faced by a woman ascending the throne? It even implied doubts about the legitimacy of her throne.
The music suddenly stopped. Although the female dancer was standing in the front, the male dancer behind her was still staring at her hungrily, as if ready to tear her apart at any time.
The Japanese envoy raised his head and drank a glass of wine, his mouth curled up and he said with a hint of provocation, "How is it, Your Majesty?"
The atmosphere at the banquet instantly became tense, and everyone held their breath, their eyes all looking at Shen Qing, wanting to see how she would deal with this tricky situation.
Shen Qing smiled slightly, looking calm and composed. He gently picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and then slowly put the glass down.
She looked at the Japanese envoy calmly and said slowly, "It's okay."
The Japanese envoy's eyes darkened, "Your Majesty, I feel bad, but I don't understand the meaning of this?"
"Then tell me, what is the meaning of this dance?"
The Japanese envoy stood up, bowed, and said with a forced smile, "Of course, it's to praise Your Majesty for ascending the throne as a woman. Despite all the difficulties, you have successfully sat on the throne."
"Haha, even someone as smart as you can see it, how can I not see it?"
The Japanese envoy's expression suddenly changed.
Why does Shen Qing curse people when he disagrees with something?
"But I'm afraid you've misunderstood. As a woman, I may encounter many prejudices and obstacles on my path to imperial power. But I tell you, what I rely on is not simply my gender, but my wisdom, strategy, and courage."
She is good at praising herself.
"Since I ascended the throne, I have reformed corrupt policies, developed agriculture and commerce, and strengthened military preparations. In what way have I failed? Isn't it better than your development in Japan?
"I have governed the people with benevolence, and all the achievements I have made can be easily overlooked in your eyes just because I am a woman?"
"If you think so, your mother might as well have given birth to an orange."
Shen Qing put the orange into his mouth and looked at the man with disdain.
"You are so sharp-tongued, I'm afraid you will act arbitrarily in the court and not give other officials a chance to speak, right?"
He had inquired about it. When Shen Qing first ascended the throne, he killed people if he disagreed with them!
"Emissary from Japan, this is not true. Your Majesty is open to all opinions, readily accepts good advice, and treats his subjects with generosity and kindness. Your Majesty's secure hold on the throne is not due to arbitrary rule and bloodshed, but to wise decisions and a caring heart for the people."
"You are so unscrupulous, are you deliberately trying to sow discord and harbor evil intentions?" A minister stepped forward and refuted righteously.
Although he was afraid of Shen Qing in the court, he still had to maintain the positive image of his emperor in front of outsiders!
Shen Qing raised her hand slightly, signaling the minister to withdraw. She looked at the Japanese envoy with a cold gaze, a faint smile on her lips, and said, "I'm afraid the envoy has heard some untrue things from hearsay. When I first ascended the throne, everything I did was to stabilize the government and benefit the people.
If there is killing, it is for the most heinous crimes, not just a disagreement. In the court under my rule, all ministers are free to speak their minds and make suggestions. How can I say that I am arbitrary? But the envoy has made such disrespectful remarks today again and again. I wonder what his intention is?"
At the banquet, everyone was whispering to each other, expressing dissatisfaction with the rudeness of the Japanese envoys.
After the Japanese envoy sobered up a little, he thought about what he had done and felt a little regretful.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. The wine you prepared was so delicious that I drank too much and ended up drunk."
"Oh, you're drunk." Shen Qing nodded in understanding.
The Japanese envoy looked at Shen Qing's expression and thought he had escaped a disaster, so he breathed a sigh of relief.
Only the court officials of Dongli looked at the Japanese envoys with sympathy.
The look on her face showed that she was about to kill someone or curse someone.
"Then I'll help you sober up." Chen Qing raised his hand to signal Hua Qiufeng, "Take him to my favorite observatory and watch the stars."
"That's not necessary," the Japanese envoy declined.
He didn’t really like looking at the stars, but since it was Shen Qing’s favorite observatory, wouldn’t she be attracted to him?
The Japanese envoy subconsciously lifted his hair.
The corners of Shen Qing's lips curled up slightly, and he gave Hua Qiufeng a look, "Treat him well."
After the Japanese envoy left, Shen Qing glanced at everyone present, "Is there anyone else who has prepared a special program for me?"
There was a moment of silence, and it seemed that there was nothing left.
"Then you should eat and drink."
The music started again, and Shen Qing looked at Jiang Zhuo and raised her eyebrows at him.
Jiang Zhuo chuckled, then turned around to find the Western Regions envoy staring at him. When he turned around, the man looked away.
"Changfeng, do I look so good today?"
Jiang Zhuo turned his head to look at Changfeng, who was stunned for a moment and nodded.
"Young Master looks good every day."
He dresses like a groom every day, very fancy.
"Even men like me very much." Jiang Zhuo stared at the man from the Western Regions and spoke softly.
Chang Feng was startled and quickly explained, "No, sir, I wouldn't dare to have any improper thoughts about you! You asked, so I praised you!"
Jiang Zhuo rolled his eyes and asked, "Who cares about you?"
After just a few words, he saw the envoy who had presented the beauty at the beginning go out from the back, and no one knew where he was going.
Jiang Zhuo raised his eyebrows, stood up and went out.
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