The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 313: The Queen's Friend

Wang Libin had just signed the contract with Moore and Friedrich, and before he could send them off, one of Sushun's attendants found them and said anxiously, "You two gentlemen, please go to Sushun's place and gather together. The Queen of Great Britain has sent someone to announce her decree!"

Long live the Queen? Is that Queen Victoria? This title sounds very "feminine"!

Li Hongzhang and Wang Libin quickly said goodbye to Moore and Friedrich, and then followed Sushun's attendant upstairs. When they arrived at the suite where Sushun lived, several British Foreign Office officials in suits were waiting in the living room. One of them was Humphrey. When he saw Li Hongzhang and Wang Libin come in, he was about to speak, but Bai Siwen spoke first: "You are here. The Queen of England has summoned us to the Windsor Palace for an audience. We must hurry over and don't let the Queen wait anxiously."

Sushun had already changed into the robes of the first-class imperial envoy, and asked his subordinates Bai Siwen and Yuanbao to bring two attendants to hold the national letter and national gifts, waiting for Li Hongzhang and Wang Libin. He frowned slightly and said, "Windsor Palace is not in London House. We have to get on the road quickly, otherwise we won't get there before dark!"

Wang Libin bowed to Su Shun and said, "Master Su, Master Luo has prepared a gift for the Queen of England and has also written a personal letter, asking Master Li and I to bring it to England. Wait a moment, I will go get it and take it to Windsor Palace."

After saying this, without waiting for Sushun's agreement, he turned around, left the suite and ran to his room.

Although Sushun was a little annoyed, Wang Libin was a member of Luo Xueshuai, the Minister of Trade of the Five Ports, and he was the most fluent in English in the delegation. If he was not brought along, they would have to rely on the interpreters provided by the English to conduct the talks at Windsor Palace. What if they had to sign a traitorous treaty after the talks? They couldn't understand the foreign language on the treaty, so how could they sign it?
Fortunately, Wang Libin did not keep Sushun and the others waiting too long, and came back with an extremely exquisite carved wooden box and an envelope.

Seeing that Wang Libin did not delay for too long, Sushun straightened his clothes, waved to several British Foreign Office officials in the room, said "I'm done" in the English he had just learned, and strode out.

A large group of people rushed out of Brown's Hotel. Four four-wheeled carriages sent by the British Foreign Office were already waiting outside the hotel. Sushun, Yuanbao and Bai Siwen were in one carriage, Li Hongzhang, Wang Libin and two other attendants were in another carriage, and the accompanying British officials got on the other two carriages and went to the outskirts of London together.

Although the environment in London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is not very good, the surrounding scenery is quite good after leaving the crowded and noisy city. There are woods and meadows everywhere, and the towns along the way look very good, with beautiful houses and wealthy residents. There are really some scenes of peace and prosperity.

When Sushun's delegation arrived at Windsor Palace, it was already afternoon. On the way to Windsor Palace, they had an English lunch in a scenic town. The lunch looked sumptuous but tasted really bad.

At first glance, Windsor Palace looks like an ancient castle, with a stone exterior that looks easy to defend but difficult to attack. But once you enter, you'll see a lot of luxury, a nouveau riche style. The palace is decorated with gold, oil paintings, sculptures, and other works of art. There are so many of them that it's enough to make people develop intensive phobia.

Sushun and his companions followed an old man in a tweed tuxedo embroidered with patterns, walked through the palace that exuded an aura of sudden wealth, passed through the corridors with paintings and golden sculptures on the walls, and finally arrived at two doors that were two people tall. When the Wang family guards pushed open the door, Sushun and his companions saw an extremely grand hall.

The space inside the hall is very large, with a ceiling height of two meters. The walls are covered with oil paintings, the ceiling is covered with murals, and there are huge sparkling crystal chandeliers hanging. There are also various carvings between the murals and oil paintings, and the walls are almost invisible.

A noble lady wearing a white off-shoulder dress, a diamond crown on her head and a ruby ​​necklace around her snow-white neck was facing the door of the hall, sitting upright on a blue chair with a velvet back and seat. Next to her was a thin middle-aged man in a tweed military uniform.

Suddenly someone shouted in English: "Qing Dynasty Prince Aixinjueluo Sushun, Qing Dynasty Emperor Secretary Li Hongzhang."

Wade, now wearing a tuxedo, stood beside Sushun and whispered, "Sir Su, you may go in and see Her Majesty the Queen!"

"Oh"

Su Shun responded, straightened his robe, and then walked into the Queen's Audience Room in Windsor Castle.

Officials from the British Foreign Office had already told Sushun and his men about the etiquette for meeting the Queen. No need to kowtow three times and nine times, just bow. If Her Majesty the Queen extends her hand to someone, that person must go up and hold Her Majesty's hand and kiss it. It seems like taking advantage of Her Majesty the Queen!
But when in Rome, do as the Romans do; this is the rule here in England!

Officials from the British Foreign Office also told Sushun and others that the "kissing ceremony" was still popular in France and Russia - but the emperors of France and Russia were not women, but bearded old men!
In comparison, kissing the back of the Queen's hand is still a good thing!

Sushun looked at Victoria from a distance. She was a little chubby, but had a pretty good look.

Seeing the Queen's appearance, he was not so opposed to the hand-kissing ceremony, so he followed the royal butler who led the way into the hall, stopped about five steps away from the Queen, clasped his fists, bowed, and said in Chinese: "Foreign minister, the first-class imperial envoy of the Qing Dynasty, Aixinjueluo Sushun, respectfully greets Her Majesty the Queen of England." The Queen of England glanced at him, but did not extend her hand, but nodded and said: "Welcome, Prince Sushun."

Sushun is the son of Prince Zheng, so of course he is a "prince"!

The person who bowed behind Sushun was Li Hongzhang. He was the secretary of the Qing emperor. In the eyes of the British, his position was much higher than that of a guard, so he was the second most important person in the delegation.

When the Queen saw the young, tall and handsome Li Hongzhang, her eyes lit up and a smile appeared on her stern face. After Li Hongzhang finished bowing, she smiled and stretched out her chubby jade hand.

Li Hongzhang also knew the rules. If the "Emperor" asked him to kiss his back, he had to kiss his back! When he went to France later, he might even have to kiss Napoleon III!

So he didn't hesitate, just glanced at Prince Albert, and after making sure that the latter would not rush up to beat him up, he took a few steps forward, took the Queen's hand and kissed it gently.
After Victoria withdrew her fat hand, she asked with a smile, "Your name is Li Hongzhang?" before Li Hongzhang left.

"Yes," Li Hongzhang replied in English: "My name is Li Hongzhang."

"Do you speak English?" The Queen of England looked at Li Hongzhang and asked with a smile.

"I know a little bit," Li Hongzhang said. "On the way to England, I learned a little English from Mr. Wang Libin, secretary of the Minister of Commerce Luo Xueyan."

"Oh?" the Queen laughed, "You learn very quickly!"

"Thank you."

The Queen asked again, "Has Mr. Wang Libin arrived?"

"Here he is." Li Hongzhang pointed at Wang Libin who was holding a tray with gifts on it.

"Come here." The queen waved at Wang Libin, who was neither tall nor handsome, and asked him to step past Bai Siwen and Yuan Bao and come forward to salute.

After Wang Libin finished his greetings, he said to the Queen, "Your Majesty, this is a gift and a handwritten letter from His Excellency Luo Xueyan, the Minister of Trade of the Five Ports of the Qing Dynasty."

"Oh," Queen Victoria nodded slightly, and she was a little curious. "Bring it here and let me see."

Victoria remembered that a Chinese minister named Lin Zexu had written her a letter with very impolite words. She wondered if Luo Xueyan would be able to improve on this.

Soon, a piece of letter paper was handed to the queen. After taking a look at it, the queen exclaimed, "What beautiful cursive handwriting. Is this written by Mr. Luo Xueyan?"

"Yes, Mr. Luo grew up in the Straits Settlements and his English is very good," said Wang Libin.

Victoria smiled and said, "He also addressed me as Her Majesty Queen Victoria and at the end of the letter he called himself 'your friend Luo Xueyan'. It seems that the Qing Dynasty has made great progress in the past few years!"

(End of this chapter)