If King Liang supported it, King Pan would naturally oppose it. The court officials were divided into two factions, arguing endlessly.
The Empress remained silent. If spending some money could delay the attack of the Hu people, then when the Empress grew up, these barbarians could naturally be exterminated. Moreover, there was no need to take the risk of the generals having troops outside.
However, if what Xu Xian said was true, Great Xia was currently facing an unprecedented crisis. The Hu people were not sincere about the marriage but were merely testing the waters. Once they showed weakness, it would be a bad thing.
During this process, Xu Xian remained silent. He knew that with his status and age, no matter how reasonable his words were, no one would believe him.
Moreover, the Empress seemed to detest him. If he spoke out against the marriage, not only would it be useless, it might even have the opposite effect.
"The marriage does not only concern the state, but also the person involved. Since the Khan of the Hu people wants to marry Princess Hong Xiu, why don't we invite Princess Hong Xiu to the palace to make a decision?"
King Liang had been inquiring about the matter recently and knew that Princess Hong Xiu had the intention to agree to the marriage. As long as the person involved agreed, no one could say anything.
The Empress said, "That's right. The late Emperor once promised that Hong Xiu could choose her own husband and no one could obstruct her, not even me. In that case, please invite Princess Hong Xiu to the palace!"
While waiting for Yin Hongxiu to come, King Liang reminded, "The Dongying envoy is also waiting outside the palace. Why don't we invite them in first?"
The Empress nodded slightly, and the eunuch summoned the Dongying envoy into the palace. The short maids with strange hair walked into the palace and bowed. Then, they opened the letter and read aloud, "The Emperor of the Sunrise Nation sends a letter to the Emperor of the Sunset Nation …"
Their arrogant appearance had already caused the officials to frown. When the letter was read, it caused an uproar.
A mere barbarian actually dared to call himself the Emperor of Great Xia. He was on equal footing with the Emperor of Great Xia and even seemed to suppress Great Xia. Didn't the so-called Sunset Nation mean that the sun was setting in the west?
However, the Dongying envoy continued reading as if there was no one else around. The general meaning was that Great Xia wanted to return the fugitive, Muto Cheng, or else he would personally send someone to take him.
The arrogance in his tone had unknowingly caused everyone to be dumbfounded. That small country in the middle of the sea actually dared to speak in such a manner in the imperial court of the Great Xia Dynasty. It was clear that he had seen through the internal and external troubles of the Great Xia Dynasty. Could it be that what Xu Xian said just now was true?
The little Emperor did not seem to understand. The Empress was so angry that she laughed. She hated that person even more. You only cared about becoming a deity and living a carefree life, but you left us orphans and widows behind. We were bullied by so many barbarians, and they threatened us with violence.
She waved her hand, and the eunuch summoned Muto Seiji to the hall. As soon as Muto Seiji entered the hall, he kowtowed and said, "Muto Seiji pays his respects to the emperor.
"This is this person. Please King. Emperor, Your Empress...". he... Emperor... Emperor Wu Yu emperor..... and Yu King Yu Emperor.
Muto Makoto trembled as he took out a golden seal from his bosom. "Our Muto Family was conferred a title by the Da Xia Emperor. I … I hope that Your Majesty can send troops to help me take back the position of general."
It was obvious that he had prepared this line for a long time. He said it in one breath and was about to collapse after saying it.
He had no intention of returning to Dongying to be a general at all. He only said that because he wanted Xia Chao not to send him back.
The Empress said, "He will go back."
Muto Makoto was terrified; he called out, "Yamate!" and collapsed to the ground.
The Japanese envoys looked at each other and smiled. Before setting out to sea, the general had described the Middle Earth as a dangerous place. However, with the loyalty and bravery of the warriors, even the ruler of this place had to submit to them.
When he returned, he would be greatly rewarded, and he would definitely be able to leave a mark in the history books.
"Her Highness the Empress is very wise."
They thought that the Empress was a beautiful and mature woman from her voice. It was a pity that they couldn't see her face. However, if they could see through the bead curtain and see the murderous look in the Empress' eyes, perhaps they wouldn't be so proud.
"He will bring your heads back," the Empress continued.
"What!" The Japanese envoys turned pale with fright.
The Empress smiled sinisterly and said, "Beat these Japanese slaves to death, chop off their heads, and return them to their general."
The palace guards immediately went forward to hold down the envoys.
Only then did the Japanese envoys realize that a disaster was imminent. They immediately became no different from Muto Makoto and shouted, "Your Highness, please spare our lives. We didn't write the letter of credence. We were only following orders, just following orders!"
Originally, they had thought that even if this letter of credence would cause the Emperor of Xia Chao to be unhappy, considering the current situation and the magnanimity that this ancient country of the East had always shown, they would definitely not take their lives.
However, they had forgotten that they were facing a woman, and a very powerful woman at that. Emotions like anger would cause them to have no scruples.
Although the civil and military officials were also angry at the words and actions of the Japanese envoys, they felt that there was no need to kill them. After all, when two armies were at war, envoys would not be killed. However, looking at the Empress's expression, no one dared to come out and persuade her.
The Hu envoys were anxious and thankful that they did not put on a brave front.
Muto Makoto had a new lease on life. He wiped the sweat off his face and said, "Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Your Highness." He was already prepared to spend the rest of his life in Zhongtu. Although he had thought of taking revenge, it was obviously not something that he could do. Farewell to Mount Fuji.
The Empress said, "You're welcome. You can go back and pack your luggage. Prepare to follow our Emperor to Japan."
Muto Makoto was surprised. "Go back?"
The Empress said, "It's impolite not to reciprocate. Since we sent our Emperor, how can we not send envoys in return?"
"May I ask how many troops you can send if you really want to help me become a general?"
Muto Makoto was overjoyed. If he could really get the help of the Great Xia troops, he might really be able to regain his position as a general.
I'm back, Mount Fuji!
"No, there are no troops."
The Empress's words immediately pushed Muto Makoto back into the abyss. If there were no troops, wouldn't he be courting death?
"Your Highness, I have admired the culture of Zhongtu for a long time. After staying here for a while, I don't want to go back anymore."
"You don't have to be afraid. Although there are no troops, we have a pillar of the country here who can treat an army of 100,000 as nothing. He is an unparalleled genius.
With his help, regaining the throne will be a piece of cake. Don't you think so, Xu Xian? "
The Empress turned her head and looked at Xu Xian. At this stage, let's see if you still dare to be arrogant and act arrogantly in front of me.
The civil and military officials had just seen the Empress's murderous aura and thought, "Xu Xian is probably in trouble this time. Who asked him to blow his own trumpet? He is reaping what he sowed."
However, Xu Xian smiled and cupped his hands. "Yes!"
The Empress originally wanted to suppress Xu Xian's arrogance, but she didn't expect him to really agree.
Not only were Chang 'an and Dongying separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, but they were also deep in the enemy's territory. Moreover, she had just killed the other party, so this trip would be disastrous.
She also didn't want to send the poet of Great Xia to a barbarian land to be stabbed. "You really agree?"
Muto Makoto looked at him with a pleading gaze, but Xu Xian didn't even look at him. "Yes, I agree.
Now that the Dongying envoy has been killed, the Dongying people may invade. No, they will definitely invade. Instead of 'persuading' them to retreat at that time, it is better to nip the problem in the bud.
It is my duty to share the worries of the country. "
These words were spoken with righteousness and were not just for show.
Although the Lingnan rebellion was stopped by him as soon as it started, he still regretted that he didn't do it in time when he saw the massacre of the city.
According to the current situation, Dongying would definitely cause trouble again. Perhaps they would invade the coastal area, or directly land on the peninsula.
Yu Xuanji still needed some time to finish his divination. He had nothing to do in the capital city now, so he might as well settle this matter first and look for the power left by Donghuang Taiyi to see if it could help him break through the current bottleneck. After all, he couldn't pin all his hopes on others. It was fundamental for him to work hard to improve his strength.
Muto Makoto, who was originally scared to death, was stunned. He looked at Xu Xian who was full of confidence and exclaimed in his heart, "What kind of man is this? I've never heard of such a man. Does he really think that he can help me get the position of the general by himself?
Maybe he can really do it. Didn't he do the same thing when I first met him? "
The Empress looked into Xu Xian's eyes through the bead curtain. She was also shocked by the determination contained in his eyes and was speechless. "Since you are so confident, I will appoint you as the envoy to Dongying."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
King Liang didn't expect things to develop to this stage. He looked at Xu Xian with a malicious gaze and thought hatefully, "Good, Xu Xian. You could have taken the road to heaven, but you refused to take it. This time, you won't be able to return."
Xu Xian seemed to sense something and turned to look at King Liang.
King Liang's entire body trembled. He felt as if that gaze had already seen through all of his thoughts. However, there was no resentment or warning contained within that gaze. Instead, there was compassion. It was as if the gaze was looking down from a height he couldn't fathom. It could see his current struggles, and it could also see the end of his road.
At this moment, a eunuch reported, "Your Highness, the princess has arrived."
Yin Hongxiu attracted everyone's attention as soon as she walked into the imperial court.
Her hair was tall, and priceless pearls and jadeites were inserted into it. They swayed gently with her swaying waist.
She wore a dazzling silk dress that dragged on the ground. As she walked, embroidered shoes could be seen occasionally.
There was a natural charm in her peach blossom eyes. As she grew older, it became more soul-stirring. However, she was not an ordinary woman. She had a perseverance in her heart that she had not given up for decades. It could be said that she had the bones of a pine tree and the beauty of a peach.
The Hu envoy thought to himself, 'No wonder the Khan wanted to marry this woman.'
After Yin Hongxiu bowed to the young emperor, King Liang immediately went forward and praised Yin Hongxiu's ambition for the country and the people. It would definitely be passed down through the ages.
Yin Hongxiu looked around and paused for a moment on Xu Xian's face. Xu Xian smiled at her, and she immediately looked away.
The Empress said, "Hongxiu, tell us what you think in front of all the civil and military officials!"
Yin Hongxiu raised her head and said, "I don't agree."