Chapter 465: Embassy Ball
Li Guangzong looked back and saw that Wenxian had scored two more points than him. He curled his lips and said, "I will definitely win in archery! Go!"
After saying this, Li Guangzong urged his horse forward, and while riding, he drew his bow and arrows. With three whooshing sounds, all three sharp arrows hit the target.
Li Guangzong laughed triumphantly on his horse, while Wenxian was not in a hurry. He slowly urged his warhorse until the horse ran at its fastest speed. He stood up from the horse and shot three arrows in succession.
Unfortunately, Wenxian was still a little inferior to Guangzong in archery, and two of his arrows missed the mark.
Wenxian rode up to Guangzong and said, "Even if we end up in a draw!"
"What do you mean by even if? It was a draw in the first place! Will you come back this time?" Li Guangzong asked.
"No, mother is in poor health. Her health was also an important reason for her abdication. I want to spend more time with her when I go back this time, so that I can show my filial piety to her. You won't go back." Wenxian said.
"I won't go back. My next step is to travel around North America. Then I will cross North America and take a boat back to Ming Dynasty. I want to be the first Ming Dynasty person to travel around the world." Li Guangzong said.
"Alas, I have no hope. My father asked me to go back early. I heard that he has chosen a marriage for me, with the granddaughter of the Chen family." Wenxian said with a sigh.
"What about Sophia? That girl comes to see you every day. Look at how beautiful her sapphire eyes are. As long as you nod, she will come to warm your bed in minutes!" Li Guangzong said with a smile on his face, and pointed to Sophia in the stands not far away.
"She and I are not destined to be together! In my eyes, they all look the same. Only the women from the Ming Dynasty can make me fall in love." Wenxian said.
"Then you can also marry a few concubines!" said Li Guangzong.
"Does Aunt Li know what you are doing outside? If she knew that you took a princess as your concubine in Italy, I wonder if Aunt Li would break your legs when you return to Ming Dynasty?" Wen Xian said with a sinister smile.
"I was drunk. If I slept with the princess, I will be responsible. Besides, my mother would be so happy to know that she is going to be a grandmother!" said Li Guangzong.
"Okay! Then just keep doing it!" Wenxian left the arena with a smile.
At night, the Ming Dynasty embassy was very lively, with exquisite dishes and desserts, as well as many gorgeous nobles.
There is a clear distinction here: on one side are the officials and wealthy businessmen of the Ming Dynasty, and on the other side are the noble ladies and gentlemen of Europe.
Ming Dynasty Ambassador to France Wen Yiming stood in the center, picked up the microphone, and said, "Thank you all for coming to our Ming Dynasty embassy to attend this dinner. We solemnly invite two of our most distinguished guests: Crown Prince Zhao Wenxian, and Mr. Li Guangzong. Now, Crown Prince will speak!"
Wen Yiming was originally just a scholar. He had taken the imperial examinations for many years but failed, and had long given up the idea of taking the imperial examination.
Later, he encountered the looting of peasant army in Shanxi and his family was already destitute. Unexpectedly, he met the Kenan Army and saved his life. When the court posted a recruitment notice for ambassadors to the Western Yi, he went with the intention of giving it a try.
Unexpectedly, Wen Yiming had a talent for languages and learned foreign languages very quickly, so he became one of the first envoys stationed abroad by the Ming Dynasty.
Zhao Wenxian picked up the microphone and said, "Thank you all, gentlemen and ladies, for coming. You are all the most friendly and distinguished guests of the Ming Dynasty. Cheers to the everlasting friendship between the Ming Dynasty and other countries!"
"Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses and drank the Moutai in their hands.
The most expensive alcohol in Europe right now isn't whiskey or French red wine, but Ming Dynasty liquor. Of course, they usually just drink their own liquor, because they honestly can't outdo the Ming people. But Moutai is indeed expensive, and not something most people can afford.
Moreover, when drinking red wine in France, it is best paired with a drink from the Ming Dynasty, which is Sprite.
You call that unsophisticated? Oh! No! It's a symbol of civilization, a luxury only afforded to the nobility. In France, a bottle of Sprite costs much more than a bottle of red wine.
After a few polite words, Zhao Wenxian ended his speech, and the Ming Dynasty merchant, with his translator, began a cordial exchange with these nobles.
Sophia walked straight up to Wenxian, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, may I dance the waltz with you?"
Sophia was wearing a blue Hanfu outfit today, a light green cross-collared top, a blue horse-faced skirt, a blue bodice, and a golden hairpin on her head.
Wenxian stood up and said, "It would be a great honor for you, beautiful lady!" He extended his hand in invitation. Sophia extended her hand, and the band started playing a waltz.
Yes, you heard right! The waltz. It wouldn't appear for another hundred years, but it was already invented by the Ming dynasty, who had a cheat program. Once introduced, it was highly acclaimed by the upper classes of various countries, becoming a must-have social skill!
So you saw such a funny scene: noble ladies from various countries, wearing Ming Dynasty Hanfu, dancing waltz with Ming Dynasty men. The scene felt very strange, but no one thought it was a big deal, and everyone thought it was a scene of the upper class.
In fact, one of the reasons why Zhao Xiaofei wanted to sneak on board and travel around Europe with his two sons was that he wanted to see what kind of damage his presence would do to European culture.
I guess Zhao Xiaofei would feel very accomplished if he saw this scene.
In the middle of the dance floor, Sophia and Wenxian were dancing and chatting.
Wenxian said, "I'm going back to China next week, so I might not see you again."
Sophia shuddered upon hearing this, but she quickly calmed down and said while dancing, "Your Highness, knowing you is the greatest fortune of my life. I love the culture of the Ming Dynasty and I really hope to have the opportunity to visit it to broaden my horizons."
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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