The Second World in Ancient Times

Since the hunting incident subsided, my reputation has skyrocketed both within and beyond the court. My image of bravery, fearlessness, and intelligence has become deeply engraved in everyone's hearts, like a brilliant star, shining with a unique brilliance in the palace sky. Soon, various factions heard of my achievements and sent envoys to congratulate me. I knew this was both an honor and a challenge, and I must navigate this skillfully to consolidate my position and that of the king, and lay a solid foundation for the country's stable development.

On this day, the palace was festooned with lights and colorful decorations, a scene of joy and peace. I sat in the main hall, dressed in the gorgeous attire of a royal concubine, my demeanor dignified and majestic. Emissaries arrived one after another, bearing rare treasures and exquisite gifts from all over the world, their faces filled with flattering smiles.

The first messenger stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Highness, I am sent by the Southern Governor. Your Highness saved the day during the hunting expedition and thwarted the rebellion, truly a heroine. My governor has specially ordered me to present this string of South Sea pearls as a token of respect and congratulations. These pearls are round, lustrous, and a rare treasure, worthy only of your noble character."

I smiled faintly and said softly, "Your Excellency is very polite. I am merely fulfilling my duty as a member of the imperial court. Protecting Your Majesty and the country is our shared responsibility. This pearl is indeed precious, but I am even more touched by the prefect's kindness. I hope your Excellency will convey my gratitude to the prefect. May the southern lands enjoy good weather and the people live and work in peace and contentment."

The messenger nodded repeatedly: "Your Majesty has the world in her heart and is compassionate. I will convey your message truthfully."

Then, an envoy from a northern tribe strode forward, his attire striking an exotic hue, exuding a heroic air. "Your Highness, our tribal leader has heard of your heroic deeds and deeply admires you. Though our northern lands are remote, we also respect heroes. This is a specially made mink coat from our tribe, exceptionally warm in winter. I present it to you, Your Highness, hoping you can find warmth like the sun even in these cold weather."

I stood up, took the fur coat myself, and after examining it carefully, I said, "This fur coat is finely crafted and made of high-quality materials. I can sense your tribe's sincerity. I've heard that the northern tribes are simple and honest, and their people are brave and skilled in fighting. I hope that in the future our dynasty and your tribe can strengthen exchanges, share resources, and promote mutual prosperity and peace."

The northern envoy grinned and said, "Your Majesty, you are well-informed! Our leader also has the same idea. If there is an opportunity, Your Majesty is welcome to visit our tribe. We will treat you with the highest courtesy!"

In my conversations with envoys from all parties, I fully utilized modern diplomatic strategies. I did not simply accept congratulations and gifts, but focused on establishing good relations with them, exploring potential cooperation opportunities, and planning for the long-term interests of the country.

Another envoy from the Business Alliance stepped forward. His eyes were shrewd, and his words were sharp. "Your Highness, our Business Alliance has business dealings in all corners of the country, and I've heard that Your Highness is exceptionally wise. The current imperial court's policies on commercial taxation and other matters are quite unfavorable to the development of commerce. Could Your Highness please speak to the King and ask the court to grant the Business Alliance some convenience? We would be deeply grateful, and we will fully support the court in all its affairs in the future."

I shook my head gently and said slowly, "The envoy is wrong. The court formulates policies based on the overall interests of the nation. Commercial prosperity is certainly important, but agriculture, livelihoods, and other aspects must also be considered. I can convey your alliance's ideas to Your Majesty, but it is unwise to pursue commercial profits at the expense of others. I believe that if the commercial alliance wants to develop long-term, it is better to work with the court to explore a path that balances the interests of all parties. For example, investing in projects that benefit the people will not only benefit the people, but also enhance the reputation and influence of the alliance. Your Majesty will see the contributions of your alliance, and then, without my further words, policy will be inclined to favor it."

The envoy from the Commercial Alliance listened to my words, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Your Majesty, I appreciate your insight. Upon my return, I will discuss this with everyone in the alliance and explore ways to cooperate with the imperial court."

In my dealings with the envoys, I always kept in mind my identity and mission. I had to show affinity and wisdom so that the envoys would respect me, and I had to maintain the authority of the court and the king and not easily make promises that exceeded my authority.

When meeting with an envoy from a neighboring country, the atmosphere was slightly tense. Although the neighboring country has exchanges with our country, there are also some hidden dangers of border disputes.

The envoy from the neighboring country said with a forced smile, "Your Majesty, your country's recent round of rebellion hunting has truly shocked the neighboring nations. However, this also shows us that the peace within your court seems to be unsettled. My king has specially ordered me to come here, firstly to congratulate you, and secondly to discuss border issues with you. My king believes that some of the land divisions along the border seem somewhat unfair to our dynasty. Your Majesty, please take a look..."

My eyes instantly grew sharp, but my tone remained calm. "Your Excellency, border issues are matters that have been negotiated between our two courts based on historical, geographical, and other factors. The internal affairs of our court were merely a minor disturbance, and now that they have been quelled, they demonstrate our nation's cohesion and ability to cope with crises. As for the border territories, they are the boundaries left by our ancestors and cannot be easily changed. Our dynasty has always upheld the principle of peaceful coexistence, but if anyone attempts to infringe upon our territory, we will not back down. I urge you to cherish the hard-earned peace between our two countries and not to undermine the overall situation due to momentary greed."

The envoy's expression changed slightly, but he still pretended to be calm: "Your Majesty, you have misunderstood. Our king only wants to negotiate in a friendly manner. He has no other intentions."

"That's very good. I believe that as long as both countries are sincere, they will be able to properly resolve border issues and continue to maintain friendly exchanges." I said with a smile, but there was unquestionable firmness in my words.

With the conclusion of my meeting with the envoys, I had successfully seized the initiative in this diplomatic game. Through my interactions and dealings with them, I not only solidified my position at home, earning the respect of the court officials, but also established a positive image for our country internationally, making all powers fear me. My name, like a spring breeze, spread across the nation, becoming a symbol of wisdom and courage. However, I also knew that the road ahead would be filled with challenges. I must remain vigilant, prepared for any crisis, and safeguard this hard-earned peace and prosperity.