Yunxi said: "Have you seen the portrait of my brother painted by Borunevsky?"
"I saw it." Yunzhi said: "The painting is really similar. My sister never thought that the portrait could be so similar to me. My sister even wants him to draw a portrait for her." Yunxi asked Bolu before Nevsky painted several portraits of him, but he thought they were all bad and destroyed them all. In the middle of this year, he finally painted one that satisfied Yunxi, and it was hung in the Qianqing Palace. When Yunzhi entered the palace today Saw it.
"My brother's plan is to ask Borunevsky to paint a portrait of the empress, which will make the noble family's hearts move and ask Borunevsky to paint their portraits. Wen Yao can use the portrait to identify who the queen is. Isn’t it right?” Yunxi said.
"Brother Imperial, it seems difficult to judge whether it is eye-friendly or not by looking at the portrait. After all, it is different from seeing the real person with your own eyes. Moreover, the portrait is different from the person in some details. Thirdly, the noble family They will definitely ask Borunevsky to paint their portrait, but they may not let him paint their daughter. After all, there are differences between men and women, and Borunevsky is still a lustful person." Yun Zhi thought. After thinking about it, he said.
"I don't know what you are talking about, but there is no better way. The third point can be solved by cultivating female painters, but it does not happen overnight."
"But it's okay. Although Wen Yao is Bao Qin's son, he has a very good relationship with Min'er and Siqi. He listens to what they say and believes that after all, his peers know what he likes better than their elders, so they can let Min Er and Siqi help each other look at each other."
"Besides, he himself has met the candidate for the daughter-in-law chosen by brother Wei and your sister-in-law for Wen Yao."
"Wen Yao has met before? It's my uncle's family (Chang family), Xu family, Cao family, and the daughter of my sister-in-law's family, which one is it?" Yunzhi said. The only people Wen Yao has met are: These few.
"I can't tell you this first." Yun He said: "We haven't mentioned it to Baoqin yet, and Wen Yao himself doesn't know. If it is accidentally leaked, the little girl will have no choice but to marry Wen Yao."
Hearing this, Yunzhi didn't ask any more questions. If it really leaked from her, the little girl wouldn't hate herself. It would be better to put away her curiosity.
They then chatted about other things. At this time, Min'er had finished what Xiyao had asked her to do, and sat next to Yunzhi, teasing her little cousin and chatting and laughing with her.
"Fourth sister, Min'er, you guys talk first, I'll deal with one thing first." Yunxi said, got up and walked out of the house.
"A painter and a sculptor recommended by Borunevsky came to Ming Dynasty this time?" Yunxi asked.
"Guan family, I just asked Ambassador Ke again, and he told me that those two people did come to the capital this time." Wang Xi replied.
"Okay, okay. I want to settle the matter for the statue of my grandfather. You will immediately tell me to prepare life-size stones, and be sure to find at least one piece before the year." Yunxi happily ordered.
"Yes, the official family." Wang Xi agreed hastily.
"Also, try to take care of these people's lives as much as possible. Go to the Governor's Mansion and tell Lan Zhen to select a few local girls from semu families to serve them. The salary can be more." Yunxi said again. At present, the Ming Dynasty All the Semu people legally existing in the non-border areas within the territory are military households, so the Governor's Office was ordered to do this.
"This," Wang Xili hesitated a little. There was no precedent for women to be served by foreign envoys. But he immediately thought: 'The officials did not regard them as foreign envoys, but as semen who would stay in the Ming Dynasty.
Ambassador Ke and Mr. Bolu built a house in the capital and hired servants. (According to the law, Semu people have no right to buy Han people as servants).'
"Well, they came with the envoys of Castile. At least for now, they are still envoys. It is not appropriate to do so. But after I receive them after the new year, as long as they are willing to live in the Ming Dynasty for a long time, I will allow them to settle in the Ming Dynasty.
In the capital, you can give Semu Junhu some fresh air first." But just as Wang Xica was about to agree, he heard Yunxi say this again.
"This slave knows." He agreed again.
Yunxi gave several instructions one after another, and Wang Xi agreed one by one. Then he asked: "Besides Quijano, who else is the envoy from Castile this time?"
"Officials, not only is Castile sending envoys to the Ming Dynasty this time, but there are also three other countries. Their names are Venice, Genoa and Florence. The servants didn't understand clearly."
"Because of the novelty, the slave asked some questions with the Ambassador of Grammar and learned that these three countries have very small territories and small populations, but they are very powerful, especially the navy is not much worse than Castile. At that time, the slave
I didn’t have time to ask in detail, but it’s very strange: How can three countries with small territories and small populations be strong? But I have never heard Ambassador Ke tell lies, it’s really strange.” Wang Xi said.
"Venice, Genoa and Florence?" Yunxi said a little out of tune, but fortunately the voice was not too loud.
"Yes, official."
"Are these three countries republics?"
"Republic? What is a republic?" Wang Xi asked blankly.
“Did Clavijo introduce the systems of these three countries?”
"Please forgive me for your sins. I didn't ask Ambassador Ke about this and just came here in a hurry."
"You are not at fault. I was too demanding." Yunxi had returned to normal at this time and said with a smile: "You came to report this to me in a hurry. I should reward you. How can I blame you for this? This year from the second day of the lunar new year
I'll let you rest at home for a few more days."
"Thank you for your grace." Wang Xi knelt down and said.
"Is Claviyo still waiting at Qianqing Gate now?" Yunxi asked again after he got up.
"Officials, since today is a holiday, I saw the Fourth Miss coming back to the palace to visit you. I felt that I would not summon him, so I let him go back." Wang Xi apologized hurriedly.
"That's all, you did the right thing." Yunxi frowned for a moment, but then returned to his normal expression and ordered: "But you send someone to Fanguan to tell Claviyo that in the afternoon and tomorrow morning, let him come to the Qing Palace.
Wait, I have something to ask him after the court."
"I understand, my slave." Wang Xi quickly saluted and agreed.
"There is nothing more to say, please step back." "Yes, official." Wang Xi bowed and left.
Yunxi stood there for a while, seemingly thinking about something very important, and then turned around and returned to the palace.
…
…
"Gezelaizi, what did the emperor of the Ming Dynasty say?" Seeing Claviyo return, Quijano immediately stood up and asked. Although he complained that it was not good to rest on the ship, he couldn't sleep in broad daylight, so he just sat down
Waiting for Clavijo's return at the gate of the courtyard.
"How can I possibly see His Majesty the Emperor?" Clavio said with a smile: "You cannot equate the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty with the King of Castile, or even with the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. His status is actually quite equal.
Regarding the Pope, do you think I, a middle- and lower-level official, can directly see the Pope?"
"It's okay if there are special circumstances." Quijano replied with a smile.
"It is no longer a special situation for the European envoys to come to the Ming Dynasty. You have already met His Majesty the Emperor three times, so it is not a special situation. I only met the guards and the eunuch leader." Clavier said.
Quijano shrugged and did not continue to comment on this, but asked again: "Did you tell the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty? No, it was the leader of the eunuchs you met. This time there were also the three republics of Venice, Genoa and Florence.
Send an envoy?"
"I said that there were envoys from three European countries, and I also mentioned the names of these three countries, but I didn't say they were republics. I really don't know how to translate this word. There is no similar word in the Ming Dynasty. In many years
Previously, around 800 BC, there was no king or emperor in the regime established by the Seres. Instead, two dukes handled the government. This situation lasted for about fourteen years, and then they selected a
The more outstanding princes serve as kings. The Seris people call this situation a 'republic' (he said this word in Chinese). This is the closest word to a republic, but there are differences. I really don't know how to translate it."
Clavijo said.
"If you say the word Republic in English, maybe the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty will make a very suitable translation." Quijano said with a smile.
"Although I know you are joking, you are probably right. The Emperor of Ming Dynasty was very proficient in English. I really want to find the person who gave His Majesty the Emperor English to thank him because he allowed me to communicate with the Emperor.
It’s a lot easier,” Clavijo said.
"Haha, Ge Zelaizi, you have become humorous in the past few years in the Ming Dynasty." Jijano said with a smile.
"The Seris people, at least the Seris people in the capital city of the Ming Dynasty, are a group of people with a great sense of humor, although what they find funny is different from that of Europeans. When you are with them, it is difficult to maintain a constant sense of humor."
"In this way, the life of the Seris people is very good." Jijano said. Although there is also a saying that there is joy in suffering, but if it is really miserable to the extreme, it will only make you feel numb to life.
Claviyo did not answer. Quijano did not seem to expect him to answer either, but said again: "It just so happens that there is still half an hour before lunch. I have something to tell you." With that, he walked towards
own house.
After the two of them entered the room, Quijano picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea. At the same time, he said: "This tea is not the tea distributed by Banguan, but I bought it from the servant with ten silver coins. It should be able to
a little better."
"You have been fooled. Although this tea is better than the one distributed by Banguan, it is definitely not worth ten silver coins, at most three silver coins." Clavijo took a sip.
"As long as it's better than the one distributed by Bifankan." Jijano didn't care that he was cheated.
After drinking tea, they sat face to face and chatted for a while. Claviejo's face suddenly became serious. "Alonso, what on earth do you have to say to me? You can say it now. I think it must be something else."
