The government was sending out wives, and I ended up with a princess from the previous dynasty!

"Nervous? Am I nervous? Which eye of yours saw that I was nervous? Ridiculous!" Shen Li snorted coldly.

Jia Daoshi rolled his eyes.

Shen Li said calmly, "Today at Mantuo Manor, the Empress has summoned many renowned scholars from the court. Many of them are rarely seen, and each one is famous throughout the land with numerous students. They have gathered here today to confront the delegation from the Longwu Dynasty."

“I know you said it was about the ownership of Sifang City and Yue City. No wonder His Majesty attaches so much importance to these two cities.” Jia Daoshi nodded.

All the scholars and literati of the court came, as well as many important officials, princes and dukes, including the fifth and ninth princes.

With the Holy Maiden of the Longwu Dynasty leading the team, it's practically an all-star lineup!

And then it happened to be the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. It is said that on that night, prayer lanterns will be released outside Mantuo Villa to pray for blessings. The scale of this event is unprecedented!

At least since the founding of the Great Jing Dynasty, such a large-scale gathering of literati has never been held!

Fortunately, although Mantuo Manor is located on a mountaintop, it is quite large and can easily accommodate thousands of visitors. Furthermore, five hundred maids were transferred from nearby cities, so there are enough people to handle the situation.

Last night, the delegation from the Longwu Dynasty had already moved into the Mantuo Villa and were staying in a separate courtyard.

This morning, Mantuo Villa began to bustle with activity.

For this grand event, the Great Jing Dynasty prepared 10,000 pots of blooming orchids, creating a spectacular sight.

These literati and scholars, upon arriving at the mountain today, were immediately captivated by the enchanting Mantuo Villa, a place that resembled a fairyland, and lingered there, reluctant to leave.

Although there were many people outside, no one dared to disturb the relatively quiet area of ​​Mantuo Villa!

A tall and voluptuous woman, dressed in a light blue dress and holding a scroll in her hand, walked with light steps to the front of a palace.

This woman was Princess Taiping of the Great Jing Dynasty, Ji Bingyan.

The reason it wasn't surnamed Wu, but Ji, is said to be because Ji Wuxin found an infant while hunting in the royal garden, felt a connection with it, and thus adopted the surname Ji.

Looking at her figure alone, she has absolutely nothing to do with the name Princess Taiping!

"Princess, your figure is getting better and better, even I'm envious!"

A palace maid standing guard at the palace gate stepped forward, bowed, and then chuckled.

"Cai Die, you're the only woman here. If you were a eunuch and dared to say such things, I would have you beheaded!"

Ji Bingyan said calmly.

"Princess, how dare a eunuch say such a thing? Even if he were to steal a glance, his eyes would be gouged out!"

Princess Ji Bingyan certainly has a stunning figure.

"Where is Mother? Has she not woken up yet?"

Ji Bingyan didn't seem to want to dwell on this issue any longer. In fact, she really disliked her figure. When she looked down, she couldn't even see the hem of her skirt, which bothered her greatly.

"Taiping, come in."

At this moment, a melodious voice rang out from inside the room. Although it was gentle, it carried a sense of authority.

"Yes!"

Inside the palace, a woman dressed in a black phoenix robe sat on a phoenix chair. The gold thread on the robe weighed a full nine pounds!

This is the current Empress, Ji Wuxin.

Ji Wuxin is almost forty years old this year, but she looks like she is just over thirty. Her skin is very fair and delicate. However, because she has been in a high position for a long time, her phoenix eyes are full of majesty and she exudes a domineering empress aura!

After the old emperor fell seriously ill and passed away.

All the major affairs of the court are now being managed by Ji Wuxin.

However, even though it was an empress ruling as the ruler, the social status quo of male superiority and female inferiority was still difficult to improve.

After all, it's a tradition that has lasted for thousands of years; it can't be completely changed in just ten years.

In addition, Ji Wuxin's position is not very stable either, and some of the elders in the court are not to be underestimated.

"Bingyan, has the Holy Maiden of the Longwu Dynasty arrived?" Ji Wuxin asked.

"Your Majesty, we are already waiting in the main hall."

"Okay, let's go then."

Ji Wuxin nodded.

……

The main hall of Mantuo Villa.

Ji Wuxin sat on the phoenix throne in the center, with a passageway in the middle and ministers from the Dajing and Longwu dynasties on both sides.

Seated on the east side were the host, the great scholar of the Great Jing Dynasty, the Fifth Prince Wu Quan, the Ninth Prince Wu Qingye, and Princess Taiping Ji Bingyan, all seated in order.

At this moment, Shen Li, along with Jia Daoshi and Yi Qianxiao, had already sat down near the entrance of the main hall.

According to Shen Li, if there are no problems on the Da Jing Dynasty's side, then they should just treat it as watching the show.

If things get too difficult, then Jia Daoshi will step in.

"So he's just a backup plan!" Jia Daoshi scoffed.

"What is a backup plan?" Shen Li was taken aback.

"It's nothing," Jia Daoshi chuckled.

It doesn't really matter. Coming here and being able to meet Her Majesty the Empress is enough to make the trip worthwhile.

Jia Daoshi's gaze fell on Ji Wuxin, and he felt that while the empress was indeed majestic, she lacked a bit of human warmth.

Seated to the west is the delegation from the Longwu Dynasty, led by none other than the Holy Maiden of the Longwu Dynasty—Murong Nishang!

Murong Nishang wore a black belted dress, and even sitting down, her slender figure was still visible, like a black rose on the battlefield. Her black hair cascaded down her back, gleaming with a dazzling luster.

Her apple-shaped face was framed by a pair of bright, piercing eyes.

With clear, bright eyes, crimson lips reflecting the sun, radiant beauty, and graceful figure, she truly deserves to be called a saintess of the nation!

Beside Murong Nishang was a plump woman wearing a yellow dress, but strangely enough, she was also wearing a mask, which looked rather incongruous.

Beside this obese woman were the three princes of the Longwu Dynasty: Zhan Beichen, Zhan Beiwang, and Zhan Beihan!

"Your Highness, may I ask who is sitting beside you?"

Ji Wuxin's voice rang out in the hall. Her voice was deep and mellow, revealing a faint sense of majesty, which made people feel her powerful aura immediately.

Murong Nishang nodded slightly: "Your Majesty, this is Shangguan Linglong, the head of the Zhaowen Pavilion in our dynasty!"

The Zhaowen Hall of the Longwu Dynasty was the place where the entire country's books were collected. It is said that the collection contained more than 80,000 volumes, bringing together the knowledge of all schools of thought in the country.

To be the head of the Zhaowen Hall is no ordinary position!

"This humble woman, Shangguan Linglong, greets Your Majesty the Empress!" The plump woman bowed slightly and smiled.

Her voice was clear and crisp, yet tinged with a hint of gentleness, making it hard to associate her with the identity of the head of the Zhaowen Hall!

However, the mention of this name caused a huge uproar in the lobby.

The great Confucian scholars of the Great Jing Dynasty immediately began to discuss the matter.

"I never imagined that Mr. Shangguan, the so-called genius of sophistry in the Longwu Dynasty, would actually be a woman!"

"Why isn't Shangguan Jin Hong, the head of the Shangguan family, here?"

"Is it a mistake?"

"Of course not, she brought it herself, how could it be a child's play!"

"..."

Ji Wuxin remained calm: "The Shangguan family is renowned throughout the land. Since Mr. Shangguan has come to visit, why not show your true face?"

Shangguan Linglong smiled and said, "Your Majesty, all men in the world are easily captivated by a beautiful woman. I am doing this for your sake. Wouldn't it be a pity if those of you who are to compete with me later were stunned by my beauty and fell at my feet?"

Ji Wuxin was taken aback, then shook his head and said, "Mr. Shangguan is joking. The beauty of Confucianism lies in its purity and refinement; how could it be indulged in women?"

Shangguan Linglong chuckled: "Since Your Majesty insists, then this humble woman will gladly accept!"

After speaking, Shangguan Linglong reached out and gently removed the mask from her face.