From then on, Xiao Yuanyuan got a brother, and Biaozi began to take good care of her. Even Su Muer didn't understand the changes between the two of them.
The group soon arrived at Ning'an City, the capital of Guning Kingdom, and the person who received them was Yu Xingbang, the governor of Ning'an City.
Sitting in the main hall of the government office, he recognized Doudou at a glance. Seeing that this group of people interacted with the prince and princess, he naturally did not dare to neglect them.
Su Muer also got straight to the point and said:
"Sir Yu, we are here to discuss a business with Guning State. I have just handed over the sample salt to Mr. Yu, and our price is also the most favorable. Please help us contact the officials of the Ministry of Revenue.
."
Yu Xingbang nodded slightly, raised his hand, and motioned for them to drink tea, "You guys will stay in the post house for now. Later I will ask the emperor for instructions, because the purchase of salt is related to people's livelihood and should not be taken lightly. Our emperor of Guning Kingdom has always been
A loyal minister who loves the people, he has always personally taken care of people's livelihood matters."
Su Muer hurriedly clasped her fists and said:
"Then it's time for you, sir. Let's go to the inn to stay first, and wait for news from your Majesty."
Yu Xingbang didn't try to hold them back, and directly ordered people to send them out of the government office.
Xiaoqian's expression was obviously a little disappointed, "Third sister, why don't we go directly to see the emperor? Why do we have to come to the government office?"
"How can we, the people like us, enter the palace's deep-walled compound? Don't say that Guning Kingdom and the Eastern Jin Kingdom are already enemies. Even if they are not enemies, we can't get in. We want to fight with the Ministry of Husbandry
The only way to contact people is to go to the government office."
Qing'er mumbled and said nothing, if she couldn't see Liu Jin this time, wouldn't her trip to Guning Country be in vain?
Naturally, Yu Xingbang did not dare to neglect the arrival of their group, and he quickly reported the news to the emperor.
The emperor looked at him with surprise,
"You said people from the Eastern Jin Dynasty came to sell salt?"
"Exactly, and it's the salt they picked themselves. This is the kind of salt."
As Yu Xingbang spoke, he asked the eunuch beside him to bring a sample of salt to the emperor. The emperor picked up a few salt grains and licked them with his tongue, then nodded.
"Okay, how many people did they come?"
"Back to the Emperor, there are a group of six people, three boys and three girls, and the little boy who came with the little princess last time."
After hearing Yu Xingbang's words, the emperor's expression suddenly became deserted.
After pondering for a long time, he waved his hand directly,
"Let them go back. Just say that our salt has been purchased from neighboring countries and there is no need to temporarily change it."
Hearing this, Yu Xingbang looked at the emperor with some confusion,
"Your Majesty, their prices are very low and the quality of the salt is good. Why, Your Majesty?"
"Stop talking." The emperor waved his hand to interrupt him, "Just do as I say."
When Yu Xingbang saw the emperor's resolute attitude, although he felt a little pity, he did not dare to speak out again.
After seeing him leave, the emperor hurried to the queen's palace. He immediately screened away everyone, leaving the queen alone.
The Queen looked at him in surprise when she saw this move.
"What's going on, Your Majesty? You look very nervous?"
The emperor first sat down on the couch, then picked up a glass of water, took a sip, and said softly:
"The female bandit leader is here."
Hearing this, the queen was also surprised,
"What is she here for? She doesn't want to find Jin'er and Qian'er, does she?"
The emperor put down the tea cup in his hand, then shook his head lightly, "No, they came in the name of selling tea. I was just afraid that Jin'er and Qian'er would know that they were coming, so I came to you to discuss it."
Hearing this, the queen was pacing in place at a loss.
"What should I do? In order to prevent these two children from going back to see them, I pretended to be sick for several months, but now they are here. What will I do if they see me?"
When the queen finished speaking, they both fell into silence.
Suddenly, the emperor narrowed his eyes and said:
"Now there is only one way."
"any solution?"
"Let Jin'er get married as soon as possible. As for Qian'er, she is still young and is not in a hurry."
"But what should I do if Jin'er doesn't agree? He doesn't talk much these days. He spends all day painting in the house, and the girl named Qing'er is all in the paintings. I'm still worried about what to do."
The emperor's heart sank, and then he sighed:
"People change. As long as you find a girl that Jin'er likes, why don't you worry that Jin'er doesn't want to marry you? Tomorrow you will bow down and invite all the girls of the right age from these ministers' families in the name of your recovery from a serious illness.
Come to the palace and let Jin'er choose one of them to be his little princess."
"Tomorrow? This is too urgent."
"There's no rush." The emperor hurriedly waved his hand, "This matter should be done sooner rather than later. As long as Jin'er can choose a good match as soon as possible, and then distribute the marriage invitations widely and inform the world, the bandit's girl will give up."
After hearing what the emperor said, the queen also felt that what he said was reasonable, so she hurriedly responded,
"Okay, I'll do it right away, but Your Majesty, it's better to let them leave the city as soon as possible to avoid long nights and too many dreams."
"I know, but if you let them go as soon as they arrive, they will definitely be suspicious. You can go and take care of the matter tomorrow. Once you decide on the candidate, immediately post a notice in the city, and they will naturally give up."
After saying that, the queen nodded heavily and quickly picked up her skirt and walked out.
The emperor sighed helplessly. He and the queen had managed to find these two children. He did not want them to marry casually with people from the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
Not to mention that they are all bandits. If this was revealed, it would bring disgrace to the royal family.
But Liu Jin didn't know about it, Xiaoqian didn't know about it, and neither did Su Mu'er who lived in the post house.
Master Yu received the emperor's order and came to inform them that afternoon.
"Miss Su, I'm really sorry. The emperor has said that our trade with the salt merchants of neighboring countries cannot be cut off, so we can no longer cooperate with you. Please forgive me."
Hearing this, Su Muer's brows tightened, and then she asked:
"Then can I see the emperor?"
Yu Xingbang hurriedly shook his head, "The Emperor is busy with many things and has no chance to meet Miss Su. I hope Miss Su will forgive me."
Hearing this, Su Muer frowned. She did not expect that the emperor of Guning Kingdom would not even think about their old relationship with Liu Jin and Xiaoqian, and would not even allow them to see them.
After seeing Mr. Yu off, she kept looking nervous. Ye Shihan sat opposite her and looked at her, asking with some confusion:
"Mu'er, don't you think it's strange? Why would the emperor reject us directly? Logically speaking, the price of our salt is much lower than that of other salt merchants. He wouldn't really refuse because of his loyalty to neighboring countries.
Us, right? I think there must be something hidden in this."
Su Muer suddenly grinned bitterly,
"If I'm not wrong, I'm afraid he is afraid that we will see Liu Jin and Xiaoqian."
"Why?"
Ye Shihan's eyes were full of confusion, "When we come to Guning Country, shouldn't we meet them? Putting aside their relationship with Qing'er and Doudou, we are also old acquaintances with them."
Having said this, Ye Shihan noticed the change on Su Muer's face and suddenly said as if he thought of something:
"Is it possible that they sincerely want to prevent them from meeting us? They have no intention of letting Liu Jin and Qing'er be together? Or do they not intend to give Doudou and Xiaoqian a chance to meet?"