The Eldest Daughter Is Beautiful and Saucy
Chapter 1300: rest assured
Chapter 1300 Don’t worry
“I will live up to your majesty’s trust and do my best to assist the Regent and the Great Zhou to finalize this matter!” Even though Zhong Xingxiao was extremely unwilling in his heart, he had to pretend to be willing on the surface. He must have felt so painful in his heart.
Who would be willing to go to Da Zhou and risk losing their head when they can stay in Yandu safely?
If they could stay in Yandu, even if the Great Zhou had to attack the State of Yan in the end, at least they would have soldiers blocking them in front of them and a chance to escape. If they went to the Great Zhou, they would lose their heads if the emperor of the Great Zhou was unhappy!
Now Zhong Xingxiao can only place his hope on the Queen Mother, hoping that she can persuade His Majesty and the Ninth Prince to let him stay in Yandu.
The three of them went to see Queen Mother Yan together. When Queen Mother Yan heard that Zhong Xingxiao was going to Da Zhou with Xiao Rongyan, she was stunned and almost blurted out: “Lord Zhong can’t go! Too…”
Too dangerous…
When the words came to her lips, Queen Mother Yan swallowed them back and looked at Xiao Rongyan. Her palms tightened and she felt extremely panicked.
She knew it was too dangerous, but she still asked Xiao Rongyan to go. How could she protect her brother at this time and not allow her brother to go on the grounds of danger? Such favoritism would definitely chill A Yan’s heart.
Xiao Rongyan held a teacup in his hand, lowered his eyes, and hid his emotions behind the mask. How could he not hear the meaning of Queen Mother Yan’s words? It was precisely because he understood it that he found it boring.
Murong Li couldn’t help but suppress his anger and said, “Uncle Jiu can go to the Great Zhou for Yan State, so why can’t uncle go?”
Queen Mother Yan glanced at her brother who was standing beside her with his head lowered, frowned and said, “It’s not that I don’t want your uncle to go, but your uncle has always been a person with no ability. If you let your uncle go, I’m afraid he will hinder your uncle.”
“Uncle is good at socializing. He will go to the Great Zhou with Uncle Jiu. He can help Uncle Jiu by interacting with the officials of the Great Zhou!” Murong Li had already made up his mind. He did not give Queen Mother Yan another chance to speak. He said directly to Zhong Xingxiao, “Uncle, I’ll leave this matter to you!”
“Your Majesty, rest assured. I will sacrifice my life for the State of Yan!” Zhong Xingxiao knelt down and kowtowed again.
Queen Mother Yan looked at her son and brother, but felt guilty and did not dare to go to see Xiao Rongyan. She knew in her heart that the matter was probably settled and there was no room for negotiation. Otherwise, if she forced her brother not to go, it would make A Yan and A Li alienated from her.
After a while, Queen Mother Yan looked at Xiao Rongyan, who had been silent for a long time, and said, “Ayan, A Li’s uncle… I’ll trouble you to take care of him along the way!”
After all, she was the one who betrayed the Great Zhou this time, and Zhong Xingxiao was her biological brother. Zhong Xingxiao did not owe the Emperor of the Great Zhou a life-saving favor. If Bai Qingyan could not see her, he would take it out on his brother. She was afraid that her brother would not be able to come back in one piece.
“Don’t worry, Queen Mother. As long as I, Murong Yan, am still alive, I will definitely protect Master Zhong’s life.” Xiao Rongyan casually placed the teacup in his hand on the small table and asked in a low voice, “Then, Queen Mother, may feel more at ease?”
“Ayan…” Queen Mother Yan was so ashamed of her guilt, “You should also pay attention to your safety! Sister-in-law and Ayan… are in Yandu, waiting for you and your brother to return safely!”
“The Queen Mother must take good care of herself! Your Majesty must have had a hard time without me here. If I have not come to pay my respects to you on time, please forgive me!” Xiao Rongyan said as he stood up and saluted the Queen Mother. “I still need to discuss the matter of the diplomatic mission to the Great Zhou with Your Majesty and Lord Zhong, so I will not disturb the Queen Mother while she is recovering.”
“Okay! Your business is more important. I’m fine here!” Queen Mother Yan raised the corners of her lips with difficulty.
“Mother, I will take my leave now…” Murong Li also stood up and said goodbye to Queen Dowager Yan.
“Empress Dowager, I take my leave. I hope you take good care of yourself. I will come back safely! Please don’t miss me, Empress Dowager!” Zhong Xingxiao saluted to his sister, but he felt that his sister was too soft. As the Empress Dowager, she could just be tough and not allow him to go, so he would stay!
It seems that I can only go back and send a letter to the Queen Mother before leaving, asking her to find a way to keep me here.
Murong Li and Xiao Rongyan discussed and decided to bring along the minister and vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue, as well as officials from the Honglu Temple.
After all, this time they have to discuss the strategy of “one country, one policy for both countries” to determine the outcome, so the Minister of Revenue is definitely indispensable. The Honglu Temple has always been in charge of reception and envoys, so naturally they have to be brought along, plus the sociable uncle-in-law Zhong Xingxiao. Xiao Rongyan will not be brought along as well and will leave the others in the country.
Xiao Rongyan also made arrangements for the domestic defense. He said to Murong Li: “It is estimated that the main force of Yan State in Xiliang will not be able to return for a while, so we can only transfer all the troops that can be mobilized in Yan State to the border of Yan State, especially the line from the Great Zhou garrison to Yandu. The troops must be concentrated! In case of any unexpected events…”
Murong Li nodded, and glanced at Zhong Xingxiao who was craning his neck to look at the map, but he didn’t pay much attention to it. Instead, Wang Jiuzhou came over with hot tea, smiled and served Zhong Xingxiao tea, and used his body to block Zhong Xingxiao.
Xiao Rongyan had already arranged what could be heard by Zhong Xingxiao, and had also written down what could not be heard by Zhong Xingxiao. Before leaving for Da Zhou, he would ask Wang Jiuzhou to hand it over to A Li. Xiao Rongyan would arrange the rest when he returned home.
Three days later, the Regent set out for Da Zhou with a huge team.
Murong Li arrived at the Regent’s Palace early in the morning.
Murong Li came too early. Xiao Rongyan packed his luggage and arranged state affairs last night, and only took a short nap until dawn. When he heard that Murong Li had arrived, Xiao Rongyan got up and ordered people to change clothes, and went to the front hall to meet Murong Li.
Yue Shi brought Murong Li directly to Xiao Rongyan’s courtyard. Seeing that his uncle had washed, dressed and walked out of the main room, Murong Li smiled and said, “Uncle Jiu!”
Xiao Rongyan was not wearing a mask. Because he had been up all night, his eyes were bloodshot and he looked a little tired. He waved to Murong Li to come over: “Why are you here?”
Murong Li smiled as he took a heavy brocade box from Wang Jiuzhou’s hand and trotted over to Xiao Rongyan: “Uncle Jiu, let’s go in and talk!”
Xiao Rongyan glanced at Murong Li, nodded, and personally lifted the curtain for Murong Li.
After the two entered, Yue Shi asked the other servants to leave, leaving only Xiao Rongyan and Murong Li, uncle and nephew.
Murong Li then said, “Uncle Jiu, this is a gift for my brother and sister. It’s to celebrate their birth. Please help me bring it to my brother and sister, Uncle Jiu!”
Xiao Rongyan was slightly stunned. He took the extremely heavy wooden box, opened it and took a look. Inside was a pair of jade pendants and a pair of jade stones that could be engraved with seals.