When foreign envoys come to court, they must first go to the Taiji Hall to pay homage to the emperor, and then the chief ceremonial officer will host a banquet in honor of the emperor.
On the day of the visit, all the officials were waiting in the Taiji Hall. Shen Huan was standing behind Xichen, but Xichen still looked indifferent.
"The envoys from the Western Kingdom have come to see you -" Xiao Shizi shouted sharply, and the two envoys slowly walked into the main hall one after the other. The first envoy was a strong man with piercing eyes. He raised his head and pointed directly at Xichen's face. At a glance, the ministers on both sides immediately frowned. The person behind him was probably his attendant, lowering his head and following behind him, and his appearance could not be seen.
Seeing that the two of them showed no courtesy, Xiao Shizi was stunned for a moment.
Xichen whispered: "Sure enough, a barbarian country doesn't know etiquette." His voice was not loud, but it was enough for people to hear.
The corners of Shen Huan's lips raised slightly, and all the officials also showed a mocking smile.
The muscular man's big copper bell-like eyes widened and he said loudly: "I am from the Western Kingdom, so naturally I only worship the emperor of my country!"
Xichen said leisurely: "Since you have arrived in my country, you should abide by the etiquette of my country."
The muscular man's eyebrows were raised. He took a step forward and was about to get angry, but was stopped by the person behind him. The person winked at him, but he remained obedient. He quickly calmed down his anger and knelt down obediently. salute
Xichen raised his eyebrows slightly, and Shen Huan's eyes were fixed on the person behind him.
The strong man stood up and was very angry. He raised his hand and raised the book in his hand and said: "This is the peace treaty written by His Majesty. Take it and read it. If you have no objections, I can go back and resume my life."
He immediately went down to pick up the pebbles and presented them to Xichen
Xichen unfolded it to check, and Shen Huan's eyes also fell on it.
The essence of this eloquent manuscript is nothing more than that the Western Kingdom is willing to form a good relationship with the Northern Kingdom between the Qin and Jin Dynasties and enjoy a hundred years of peace.
Shen Huan frowned slightly, marrying Qin and Jin? This is probably a bit difficult. The emperor's sisters are all married, and the princess and the emperor are too young. There are still no suitable princesses and princesses in the collateral line.
Is it necessary to select a woman from among the ministers, make her a princess and then get married?
However, all the daughters of important officials in the court have been drafted into the palace. It is probably very difficult to choose a girl to marry.
Shen Huan's concerns were also those of Xichen. He put down the book, looked at the messenger and said, "Your country wants to marry Qin and Jin, but I don't know who you are asking for marriage for?"
The messenger said angrily: "It's for the second prince of our country. He is deeply loved by the emperor and the queen. If he hadn't begged the emperor and the queen this time, we wouldn't have come to this damn place to ask for peace talks! By the way, we The second prince said that if you give him someone else, he doesn’t want it. What he wants is the one behind you, who is said to be the most beautiful woman in your country. Whose name is Shen?"
When Shen Huan heard him talking about the second prince, she was already confused. When she heard what he said again, the blood in her body suddenly solidified, and she stared at him dumbfounded, not caring that all the courtiers' eyes were on her.
With a "snap" sound, Xichen closed the scroll and handed it to Xiao Shizi beside him. He said coldly: "A fourth-grade imperial minister from my country is probably not worthy of the second prince of your country." There was already a hint of sadness in his words. cold anger
The messenger said: "Of course I know she is not worthy, but our second prince only wants her. Didn't I just say that I don't want anyone else except her? If it weren't for her, the peace talks would be unnecessary!"
Xichen said in a deep voice: "This matter is related to the long-term peace and stability of the two countries. We will discuss it later! I see that the envoy is also tired, so we should go to the post house to rest first. I will see you another day and retreat from the court!" Without waiting for Xiao Shizi to sing the salute, he Get up first
Shen Huan followed him and did not dare to neglect. When the officials knelt down, she turned her head and met the eyes of the person behind the envoy. Her heart sank. Although this person's face was unreal, his eyes must have been seen somewhere. I have never felt so familiar before, and I feel even more worried.
Xichen returned to Shangyang Palace, and Xiangming was busy serving tea. He knocked the teacup to the ground and said angrily: "Ye Canghao! If I had known, I would have dug him out even if I dug three feet into the ground. !" He turned back and stared at Shen Huan, as if he wanted to penetrate her. Shen Huan lowered her eyes. He felt that she was guilty, so he suddenly clamped her jaw and said: "He will take you away when he is hunting. Now. I still don’t want to give up and want to marry you! Tell me, when did you two hook up!”
Shen Huan raised her eyes, met his angry eyes with disdain, and said coldly: "Since the emperor thinks that we are hooking up, why do you care about when? Trading Shen Huan for a hundred years of peace in the Northern Kingdom is a good deal, isn't it? ?”
Xichen glared at her, but she smelled blood from his breath. Not only was she shocked, the anger in Xichen's eyes gradually faded away, and a layer of deep pain gradually appeared.
At this time, Xiao Shizi came in and reported: "Sanzai and several adults are waiting for the emperor in Liangyi Pavilion."
Xichen let her go and said coldly: "They must be discussing peace talks with me. I know what they are going to say without going there!" After that, he walked out.
Xiangming stepped forward worriedly and said: "Miss, Sanzai must persuade the emperor to make the marriage happen. What if the emperor agrees?"
Shen Wen sneered and said: "Isn't this great? By then, I will be the second imperial concubine of the Western Kingdom. I heard that the emperor and queen of the Western Kingdom loved Ye Canghao very much, and almost all of his requests were fulfilled. When the time comes, we can use his hand to counterattack the Northern Kingdom..."
Xiangming said in shock: "Young lady, this is absolutely unacceptable!"
Shen Huan just said casually, not expecting Xiang Ming to be so frightened, so he asked: "Why not?"
Xiang Ming said: "The current prosperity of the Northern Kingdom is all under the sole control of the Prime Minister. If the Northern Kingdom is destroyed by the Western Kingdom, wouldn't all the hard work of the Prime Minister be in vain?"
Shen Huan was stunned. The Northern Kingdom enjoyed unprecedented prosperity in the hands of the late Emperor. All of this was due to his father. If it was destroyed due to the war, then he would have destroyed his father's hard work. In this way, even if he took revenge, he would still be under the Nine Springs. How do you face your father and mother?
She slowly exhaled and said slowly: "You are right, if I leave here, I will not be able to take revenge." Then she sneered and said: "If the Western Kingdom really wants peace talks, why put all the bets on a weakling like me?" For a woman? A hundred years of peace? Will I live for a hundred years? I want war or peace, even if they don’t say a word, what does it have to do with me, a woman!”
Xiang Ming also said: "What the lady is saying is that during the reign of Emperor Taizong, the two countries also had a peace treaty, but they only made war while making peace. Therefore, in the hands of the late emperor, there was no more peace, and a major war was nothing more than that."
Shen Huan said: "The ambition of the leader of the Western Kingdom will never be ignored just because he loves his younger son. What's more, Ye Canghao doesn't care about political affairs in the Western Kingdom. If the eldest prince ascends the throne in the future, will he care about today's peace talks?"
What she said was what Xichen said to Sanzai in Liangyi Pavilion, but Sanzai said that he might as well give it a try, especially since Mr. Liu Zhao had a tough attitude and said that if one woman could be exchanged for a hundred years of peace, why not? Even if When the Western Kingdom breaks the contract and the Northern Kingdom justly condemns it, the Western Kingdom will be defeated.