The Concubine's Daughter Travels Through Time and Space and Takes the Road of Confrontation

Lu Ling's eyes were as bright as water as she looked at Lu Yun tenderly. She opened her cherry lips and said, "I've seen her before."

Huh? Lu Yun paused, her eyes falling on Lord Zhao, who was looking at her eldest cousin. "Have you met him?"

Zhao Qingyu noticed the princess's gaze and slowly retracted his gaze, his voice hinting at a smile as he said, "My lord, I have indeed met Miss Lu. I was young and ignorant and almost bumped into her."

Before Lu Yun could ask more questions, Cai He came in with some people.

Lu Ling had few things, so she packed them in four boxes in total.

Lu Ling took one last look at the temple behind her, and then nodded to the man standing on the steps from a distance.

Zhao Qingyu stood there motionless until her figure disappeared on the mountain path.

In the Zen room, Zhao Qingyu took out the thing in his arms and handed it to the man opposite him, "Mr. Zhou, this is what you want."

Zhou Boli took it and put it aside. "I haven't congratulated Master Zhao yet. What are your plans for the next step?"

Plan? Zhao Qingyu's throat moved a few times. "Of course, I will wait until the incident is settled and choose an auspicious day to welcome her home."

Zhou Boli shook his head. "I know a thing or two about the rules of your Central Plains. With all the gossip, I'm afraid Lord Zhao's wish will be dashed."

Zhao Qingyu's face was calm. "I have been waiting for this day for a long time. I cannot describe the feeling to others."

Zhou Boli picked up the teacup and extended an olive branch. "Lord Zhao, we in Nanyue are a land of high mountains and long rivers. We are bold and unrestrained, but we don't have the rules of the Central Plains dynasties."

Zhao Qingyu raised his eyes and said, "Mr. Zhou, the transaction between you and me is complete."

Zhou Boli smiled and said, "I'm just offering advice as a friend, not plotting against Lord Zhao. Lord Zhao has already done me a great favor with this port construction plan from the Ministry of Works."

Zhao Qingyu asked with some caution, "I haven't asked Mr. Zhou what the use of this blueprint is?"

Zhou Boli raised an eyebrow and asked, "In your opinion, Lord Zhao, Huaizhou is suffering from a severe drought and needs money right now. Why is the emperor so stubborn as to order Dingyuan Bo to oversee the construction of the port? What is his purpose?"

Zhao Qingyu lowered his eyes. "I dare not speculate on your intentions."

Zhou Boli let out an ambiguous smile, his sleeves brushing across the table as he unfurled the blueprint. Pointing at the Grand Canal, he said meaningfully, "The Emperor is a man of great wisdom and strategy, and his ambitions are far-reaching."

Changing the grain transport from canal to sea would benefit both the country and the people, but unfortunately it would affect the interests of Lu Dan and others, so it could only be done secretly under the guise of opening sea transport.

Zhou Boli stood up, put his hands behind his back and looked at the mountains outside. "I don't want much, don't worry, Mr. Zhao."

On the third day of June, envoys from the State of Cao suddenly came to the capital and presented the Qin Dynasty with a treaty of eternal peace.

Emperor Longqing was so pleased that he specially hosted a dinner at Xuanhe Ruyi Garden to entertain the distinguished guests from the State of Cao, and several princes were among them.

The dinner was held in a pavilion on Mingyue Lake. Under a bright moon, above the vast blue waves, dozens of enchanting dancers in light and gorgeous colorful clothes spun around and danced in the wind to the sounds of sheng, xiao, silk and bamboo.

Dozens of multi-headed bronze gilded candlesticks as tall as men made the surroundings as bright as day. Palace maids walked on the scarlet carpet with fine wine and delicacies in their hands, moving among the guests.

After the dance, Emperor Longqing raised the glass cup in his hand and said, "Everyone, drink this cup to the full!"

The audience in the audience greeted each other from afar, and the envoy from Cao State drank the wine in one gulp. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Wang Quan quickly took the wine glass and filled it again.

Emperor Longqing asked, "Is Yongle doing well in Cao State?"

The messenger stood up from his seat and bowed. "Your Majesty, the princess is very kind and the people love her very much."

"Oh?" Emperor Longqing was very interested. "Why do the people of Cao State respect Yongle so much?"

The messenger said excitedly, "The princess first helped Cao State to wipe out the external bandits, dug wells to divert water to solve the people's water shortage, and also taught the people to make wine so that the people could have food to eat. She is the goddess given to us by Allah!" After saying this, he gestured in the air with his hands excitedly, as if

prayer.

The Crown Prince and the Third Prince looked at each other, and both saw the disapproval in each other's eyes.

The messenger walked to the center and stood still. "The King has sent me to meet Your Majesty. First, to thank Your Majesty for presenting you with the letter of eternal peace, and second, to ask Your Majesty for the handover of Prince Muha. Please grant Your Majesty's permission to marry the princess to the State of Cao. If this is accomplished, the State of Cao is willing to offer the princess five thousand of the grassland's finest horses as a betrothal gift."

The moment these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent. The largest cavalry battalion on the northeastern border of the Qin Dynasty only had a little over 40,000 men, and it would take the entire nation's resources to muster 60,000 horses. This move by the Cao State was a testament to its absolute sincerity.

Emperor Longqing's smile faded slightly. "The envoy may not know that all the adult princesses in the royal family are now married. I am afraid that we will disappoint the kindness of your king." After saying this, Emperor Longqing raised his hand slightly, and the sound of drums and music sounded again.

The prince stood up and raised his glass to the envoy who was still about to speak, "Your Majesty, the emperor is holding a banquet today to entertain distinguished guests, not to discuss politics. Let's talk about business tomorrow." The envoy of Cao State was surrounded by people and urged to drink. After drinking several pots of red and yellow wine, the envoy was so drunk that he fell back on his seat, and it took only half an incense stick of time.

After ordering people to carry him away and properly place him, Emperor Longqing stood up and left without even looking at the people sitting below him.

The Crown Prince, the Third Prince, and Prime Minister Lu accompanied them.

Prime Minister Lu tutted his words and said, "Cao is a small country. Do you think that all the princesses of our Qin Dynasty are as talented and knowledgeable as Princess Yongle? But then again, these are 5,000 fine horses. What do you think, Old Zhao?"

The Minister of Revenue, Dingyuan Bo, said calmly, "As Your Majesty said, all the princesses of our dynasty who have reached adulthood have already married."

"Old Zhao, it's the same if we choose someone from the royal family to be named a princess." Prime Minister Lu had an expression on his face that said, "You are too rigid."

Dingyuan Bo glanced at him and said, "Prime Minister Lu, Your Majesty has spoken."

Lu Xiang was speechless, then laughed and said, "Look at me, I'm confused because of drinking."

The Third Prince suddenly said, "The princess doesn't have one, but the princess still has one."

"Third brother, are you talking about Ning An?" The prince rubbed his knuckles and suddenly yawned. "If I can't exchange it for 5,000 horses, 3,000 horses would be good." After saying this, he cupped his hands and said, "Third brother, everyone, please take care. I feel a little tired, so I'll go first."

Dingyuan Bo followed closely behind and said goodbye to the two of them at the door.

The third prince looked at Lu Xiang and said, "Second brother, what you said makes a lot of sense." Exchanging a princess for three thousand horses is a profit no matter how you look at it.

The next day, someone suggested to His Majesty that Princess Ning'an should marry into the state of Cao. To everyone's surprise, His Majesty did not agree.

"We will discuss this later."

After dismissing the court, Emperor Longqing went to Ronghua Palace, and Concubine Li knelt to greet him.

"What's wrong with you today? Why are you dressed so formally?" Emperor Longqing sat at the top and smiled at her.

Concubine Li was very moved and said, "I am happy for Yongle. I was just thinking of asking His Majesty to invite the envoy to the palace for a visit."

Emperor Longqing laughed when he heard this. "Yongle is incredible! She is now regarded as a goddess by the people of Cao State. In terms of prestige, even the King of Cao State cannot compare with her."

Concubine Li sighed, "We as mothers don't have the ambitions of men to achieve great things. We just want her to be happy and safe." Her eyes reddened slightly as she spoke, "I don't know how much she has suffered in Cao State to reach her current position. In the early years, every time I wrote to her, I would ask about Roujia and Ning's well-being."