That peculiar invitation, personally designed by Emperor Xiao Che of the Great Liang Dynasty and stamped with a crooked cartoon "dumpling" head seal, stirred up unprecedented waves in the diplomatic circles of various countries around the world, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.
When this unorthodox letter was delivered to the desks of monarchs of various countries by express messengers, the shock it caused was no less than that of a small earthquake.
Within the capital, the embassies of various countries were in an uproar.
"This...this is really a letter of state from the Great Liang?" An envoy from a small country in the East Sea trembled as he held the expensive yet strangely styled invitation. "This seal...could it be a forgery?"
"Forgery?" The deputy envoy beside him gave a wry smile, pointing to the powerful and sharp calligraphy on the invitation. "Who in the world, besides His Majesty, could imitate this handwriting? Besides, who would dare to forge something like this?"
For a time, the entire diplomatic circle fell into an eerie silence and a frenzy of speculation.
Instead of using the imperial seal, which symbolizes imperial power, they used a... seal with a baby's head?
Is this simply the iron-fisted emperor's complete abandon after the bloody palace coup and consolidation of power? Or is it a profound and enigmatic political demonstration that they cannot comprehend?
Soon, the envoys from various countries were divided into two distinct factions based on their respective positions.
The first group consists of those "fence-sitters" countries that wavered in their stance during the struggle between the regent and the emperor, or even secretly colluded with the regent.
Inside their embassy, the atmosphere was as heavy as if the end of the world had come.
"He's gone mad! His Majesty must have gone mad!" An envoy paced back and forth in his residence, his face filled with terror. "He dares to treat even such a matter of national importance so lightly, what else is he incapable of?!"
Recalling the recent palace coup, the capital was stained with blood, and the regent's faction was eradicated. The ruthlessness and terrifying efficiency of the methods still send chills down their spines in the middle of the night. This young emperor has already proven with iron and blood that he is by no means a weak and sickly monarch to be underestimated.
"He's giving us a warning!" another envoy pointed out incisively. "He's telling us that if he can disregard ancestral laws and traditions, why would he care about the feelings of us vassal states?!"
This conclusion sent chills down everyone's spine.
Thus, these nations, which had previously harbored ulterior motives, dared not be negligent or complacent in the slightest. Urgent secret letters flew back to their respective capitals like snowflakes. Upon receiving the messages, their monarchs almost immediately issued the same order—to spare no expense in selecting their nation's most precious and unique national treasures as a congratulatory gift!
In an instant, the deep-sea ice of the East China Sea that has never melted for thousands of years, the "blood-sweating horses" secretly hidden in the ancient kingdoms of the Western Regions, the fist-sized luminous pearls mined from the deep mountains of the Southern Frontier... these rare treasures that only exist in legends were listed one by one on the congratulatory gift list and converged on the capital of Daliang at an unprecedented speed.
They had only one goal: to appease any possible dissatisfaction of the capricious emperor with the most lavish gifts.
The other faction consists of those countries that have long since submitted to the Great Liang or have received great benefits from the new policies.
Inside their embassy, however, there was a relaxed and joyful atmosphere.
"Haha, I knew His Majesty was no ordinary ruler!" An envoy from a major grain-producing country in the south stroked his beard, his face beaming with smiles. Thanks to the new waterwheels and improved rice varieties promoted by the Great Liang Dynasty, his country's grain production had doubled this year, completely solving the famine problem that had plagued it for many years.
"Her Majesty the Empress's wisdom is truly a miracle!" Another envoy from a major Silk Road city exclaimed with admiration. His city-state, thanks to the new trade route pioneered by Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan despite opposition, is now a bustling hub of merchants and incredibly wealthy.
What they saw in that adorable "dumpling" seal was not the emperor's unconventionality, but an unprecedented tenderness and pride belonging to a father. They understood that this emperor, while possessing ruthless methods, also had a soft heart. And this softness was precisely what the legendary empress had protected.
Therefore, the congratulatory gifts they presented were completely different in style.
Instead of priceless jewels, there were seeds of "high-yield millet" that could increase crop yields by 30%; instead of magnificent steeds, there were a complete set of exquisite blueprints for new household machinery that could greatly improve weaving efficiency; and there were also construction manuals from the land of craftsmen, detailing how to build stronger dikes...
These gifts, though not expensive, were full of heartfelt sentiments, each one perfectly touching the hearts of Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan.
Inside Kunning Palace, Lin Wanwan and Xiao Che were reviewing the preliminary list of "Gifts from All Over the World" submitted by the Ministry of Rites.
When Xiao Che saw the list of national treasures sent by those wavering countries, which was tantamount to "cutting off a piece of flesh," he simply snorted disdainfully and casually tossed it aside.
“A bunch of sycophants. My son has no interest in these dead things.”
However, when he saw those gifts from the country he longed to return to, gifts brimming with the spirit of everyday life, a rare smile appeared on his usually stern face.
“These are thoughtful things.” He picked up the report that recorded “high-yield millet” and handed it to Lin Wanwan. “Wanwan, look, with this, the people of the northern border of our Great Liang will have a better chance of survival next year.”
Lin Wanwan accepted it with a smile, her eyes full of approval.
A nation's true strength lies not in how many rare treasures it receives, but in its influence, which enables nations around the world to willingly contribute to its prosperity.
This sense of accomplishment is far more satisfying than receiving any national treasure.
Meanwhile, as the full moon banquet drew ever closer, the threshold of Kunning Palace was practically worn down by envoys from various countries.
They all came under the pretext of "offering congratulations" to request an audience with the Empress.
Everyone knew perfectly well that their real purpose was to see for themselves who this Empress was, who had driven the iron-fisted emperor to such an extent as to neglect his duties. Was she, as rumored, a "living goddess" with divine wisdom, or... a "femme fatale" who was arrogant and bewitched the monarch?
Lin Wanwan accepted all these attempts at probing.
She set up a tea ceremony in the main hall of Kunning Palace, calmly accepting the "inspection" from all over the world.
She was dressed in a dignified yet approachable empress's everyday dress, without any makeup, yet her complexion was rosy, and her eyes and brows shone with a gentle glow from becoming a new mother.
She handled the envoys' overt and covert probing with grace and without slipping up.
When an envoy subtly inquired why Her Majesty used the "Dumpling" seal, she simply smiled gently and said softly, "Your Majesty believes that the most important matters of the nation begin with succession. Although the Crown Prince is young, he is still the foundation of the nation. That seal is simply Your Majesty's most basic expectation and love for your son as a father. In Your Majesty's eyes, family and country are no different."
His words not only explained Xiao Che's actions but also elevated "family matters" to the level of "national affairs," demonstrating a grand vision that was truly impressive.
When envoys flattered her for offering divine strategies and saving the people from suffering, she would simply shake her head humbly: "I have only fulfilled my duties as a wife and mother. I cannot bear to see my husband worrying about the country, nor can I bear to see children of the world displaced. What truly makes the Great Liang strong is Your Majesty's wisdom and the unity of the people."
She attributed all the credit to the emperor and the people, demonstrating the humility and virtue of the nation's mother.
After one meeting after another, all the envoys who came to spy on him came with high hopes but left disappointed.
No, to be more precise, they returned with a deeper sense of awe and shock.
They didn't see a spoiled and arrogant concubine, but rather a gentle, wise, and humble queen whose aura was so powerful that no one dared to look her in the eye. They finally understood why that iron-fisted emperor had fallen so deeply in love with her.
This Empress herself is the greatest soft power of the Great Liang!
When the news reached other countries, the rumor that "Empress of Liang is worthy of being called a saint" spread like wildfire, even subtly overshadowing the emperor's own prestige.
Amidst this harmonious atmosphere of celebration, on the eve of the full moon banquet, an envoy from the small Western Region kingdom of Yuezhi arrived to confirm the final congratulatory gifts.
The envoy was respectful and humble, and reported on the gifts prepared by the Yuezhi Kingdom, including gems and spices.
Lin Wanwan listened with a smile, preparing to offer a few words of praise as usual.
However, just as the envoy was about to leave, he suddenly bowed again and said in an extremely fervent tone:
"Your Majesty the Empress! To celebrate the Crown Prince's one-month birthday and to pray for his future good fortune, our King has another special gift to offer to Your Majesty and Your Majesty!"
"Oh?" Lin Wanwan raised an eyebrow slightly. "What gift is it?"
The envoy revealed a mysterious and proud smile, and then suddenly clapped his hands.
Outside the hall, the sound of string and wind instruments filled the air as two maids led a graceful, veiled woman from a foreign land into the hall. The woman possessed an alluring figure and captivating eyes; even through the veil, her breathtaking beauty was palpable.
"This is the most beautiful woman in our country, named 'Yue Ji'." The Yuezhi envoy's voice was filled with pride and allure. "Our king wishes to offer this woman to the palace to serve His Highness the young crown prince personally. After the prince comes of age, she can... bear him children. In this way, we pray for His Highness's well-being, wishing him many children, abundant blessings, and a long and prosperous life!"
Upon hearing this, the entire main hall of Kunning Palace fell into a deathly silence.
The faces of all the palace maids and eunuchs changed instantly.
A future "concubine" is being sent to the crown prince who is only a month old?
This is hardly a congratulatory gift.
This is clearly the most blatant provocation in front of the Empress!
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