The Eldest Daughter Is Beautiful and Saucy
Chapter 1080: keepsake
Chapter 1080 Token
“I wondered if there were any words or pictures hidden in the jade cicada, so I tried it against the glass lamp on the way back, but there was no reaction.” Bai Qingyan looked at Murong Yan, “But when Xiao Si thought this was your jade cicada, the expression on the face of the king of Tianfeng Kingdom… I think this jade cicada seems to have a special meaning to the king of Tianfeng Kingdom. Perhaps… we need to put two jade cicadas together to know what this jade cicada can do?”
“This jade cicada is exactly the same as the one in the hands of the king of Tianfeng Country!” Bai Jinzhi also came to Bai Qingyan’s desk and stared at the jade cicada with interest, “How about… roasting it over fire and try it?”
“Stop messing around!” Bai Qingyu said.
“I was just joking!” Bai Jinzhi chuckled and asked Murong Yan, “Brother-in-law, have you in Dayan known about the existence of Tianfeng Country for a long time?”
Murong Yan shook his head: “If it weren’t for the businessman named Cui Fengnian who discovered the Tianfeng Kingdom and brought the Tianfeng Kingdom’s papermaking… and animal hide tanning technology to Xiliang, Dayan would not have known that there was a Tianfeng Kingdom on the other side of the snow mountain.”
“Separated by a snowy mountain, the hands of Queen Ji of Yan… and the hands of the king of Tianfeng Kingdom actually have the same jade cicada. This jade cicada is also the national treasure of Tianfeng Kingdom…” Bai Qingyu frowned, “Are there any people who used to serve Queen Ji still alive?”
Murong Yan thought of Feng Yao and nodded: “There is an elder who has been taking care of my mother… my brother. He is still here and is with Ah Li. He is here this time too.”
Murong Yan placed the jade cicada in Bai Qingyan’s palm and said, “Take the jade cicada first. I will go back and ask Uncle Feng if he knows anything.”
Bai Qingyan nodded.
After the meal, Murong Yan was still thinking about Yuchan, so he didn’t stay for long and said goodbye first…
Bai Jinzhi volunteered to escort Xiao Rongyan out of the city. When Bai Qingyu accompanied Bai Qingyan in the study to review the memorials sent by express horses, Bai Qingyan handed him the bamboo slips left by Queen Ji and asked him to read them.
Bai Qingyu could hardly put it down once she got it.
This was the first time that Bai Qingyu came into contact with the books left by Queen Ji. She was shocked and did not understand many things, so she discussed them with Bai Qingyan.
“A Yan said that Queen Ji sealed these books because she felt that… these ways of governing a country were not suitable for this era and were too advanced.” Bai Qingyan supported Yin Ji and slightly stood up. He pointed to a line of small words on the side of the bamboo slips and said to Bai Qingyu, “Look, here… although the handwriting is the same, Queen Ji wrote here… reforms need to be gradual. If the steps are too big and affect the interests of the aristocratic families, the imperial power may also be overthrown.”
“The situation of the Yan State’s aristocratic families separatist has been going on for a long time, so reforms must be carried out with caution. However, our Great Zhou Dynasty has just been established, and our goal is to unify the world. This is the time when everyone is united. So, sister… if you want to reform, now is the most appropriate time for our Great Zhou!” Bai Qingyu rolled up the bamboo slips and held them in her palm. “Don’t say that my Bai family is from an aristocratic family. Sister won the Great Zhou with military power and the hearts of the people. Now the army is united. It can be said that whenever you make a move, the soldiers will obey. So sister, don’t be too affected by Queen Ji’s record. The situations of the two countries are different…”
Since ancient times, only those who hold military power have the right to speak, but now… the military power is all in the hands of Bai Qingyan. No matter whether it is the troops led by the surrendered generals of Daliang, or the generals of the previous dynasty such as Lin Kangle, Wang Xiping… Xie Yuchang, etc., they now swear allegiance to Bai Qingyan until death.
She came to the throne of emperor through military power, and the whole country was united in its goal, so reform and change would bring the least resistance to Bai Qingyan at this time, and everything would come naturally.
“Sister, if we really judge the outcome based on the national policies of the two countries, my Great Zhou will definitely win because we have the advantage over Yan State!” Bai Qingyu believes in her sister even more.
The thirty-six lotus lanterns in the study were swaying. Chunzhi replaced them with brighter glass lanterns, replaced the strong tea for the two of them, and brought a few plates of snacks before she walked around the screen, opened the curtain and left.
The snow was getting heavier at night. Chunzhi closed the partition and stepped out from the cotton felt curtain. The southeast wind wrapped in snowflakes blew on her body. Chunzhi stood under the corridor with the palace maids and eunuchs who were guarding outside. She rubbed her arms and saw a ball of soft orange light outside the open courtyard door swaying in the heavy snow, slowly coming towards the direction of the courtyard. She hurriedly called Wei Zhong: “Eunuch Wei…”
Wei Zhong, holding a whisk, responded and looked towards the door.
Soon, the guard of the Bai family carrying a sheepskin lantern walked quickly to the outside of the courtyard, bowed and said, “Eunuch Wei, someone claims to be the King of Yan Li Zhijie and wants to see the young lady. This is the token that person has sent!”
Wei Zhong handed the whisk to the young eunuch beside him, held up the hem of his clothes and walked into the snow. He took the exquisitely carved seal held in the palm of the Bai family guard’s hand, raised it, squinted his eyes and carefully identified it under the light, and said, “Wait a moment, I will tell His Majesty.”
Wei Zhong held the seal in one hand and the hem of his clothes in the other, turned around and walked up the stairs. Chunzhi had already opened the curtain for Wei Zhong.
Wei Zhong pushed open the partition and entered the door. He stood behind the landscape painting screen and said, “Your Majesty, the Bai family guards said that someone claiming to be Li Zhijie, the King of Yan, asked to see him outside the prefectural government. He also brought Li Zhijie’s private seal. I have checked it and it is genuine.”
Bai Qingyu raised his eyes to look at Bai Qingyan, and said what he had guessed when the four countries met today: “Sister, I guess there is civil unrest in Xiliang, Li Tianfu has usurped the throne, Li Zhijie… maybe he is looking for sister’s help, either to help him ascend the throne, or to help Li Tianjiao restore his position, sister, will you see him?”
Bai Qingyan stroked the hidden table with his fingers, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his lips: “Since he is here… let’s meet him together and see what Li Zhijie wants to do.”
“Wei Zhong, please go and ask Li Zhijie to sit in the front hall. A Yu and I will be there soon.” Bai Qingyan said.
“Yes…” Wei Zhong responded and walked out of the door.
·
Li Zhijie, wearing a black cloak, stood under the swaying lanterns in front of the prefectural mansion. His face was red from the wind and snow, and his complexion looked even more haggard under the flickering light. His bloodshot eyes stared at the six black lacquered wooden doors with gold nails, but he still maintained the elegance that a royal family should have, with his back straight.
Hearing the sound of the main door of the prefectural government opening, Li Zhijie clenched his fists behind his back. Seeing that it was Wei Zhong coming out, Li Zhijie finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“King Yan…” Wei Zhong saluted towards Li Zhijie with a smile.
Li Zhijie nodded and said politely, “Eunuch Wei…”
“Your Majesty, please take a seat in the front hall. Your Majesty will be here later…” Wei Zhong stepped aside to make room at the main entrance. “King Yan, please.”
The third update is here. Good night, my dears! Please continue to ask for monthly votes!