Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

By the time the funeral arrangements for Ban Zhao's mother were completed, it was already evening.

Due to the urgency of the situation, Ban Dingyuan had no choice but to spend thirty taels of silver out of his own pocket to commission a funeral service company that seemed trustworthy to make a coffin and arrange the burial. After that, he hurriedly carried Ban Zhao to the inner city.

As soon as they arrived at the inner city gate, they saw Xue Dutu leading a group of soldiers, pacing back and forth anxiously.

Upon seeing Ban Dingyuan and his group, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but at the same time adopted a distant and unapproachable attitude as he approached them.

"Foreign envoys, where have you been all day? I've been looking for you everywhere. If you don't come back soon, I'm going to send out patrols throughout the city and search every house."

Ban Dingyuan: "I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble. I just encountered some issues along the way that delayed me."

"Ah."

Xue Dutu snorted coldly, only then noticing that Ban Dingyuan was holding a dirty little girl in his arms, and frowned.

"Foreign envoy, I recall that when you entered the city yesterday, you didn't seem to have brought any children. Who is this one in your arms...?"

Looking at Ban Zhao, who was already fast asleep in his arms, Ban Dingyuan handed her over to Pei Ju for the time being, then cupped his hands to Xue Duotu and said, "I happen to have something I would like to ask Lord Xue for help with."

"What's the matter?"

"This is my younger sister, Ban Zhao. I would like to ask you, sir, to remove her from the household register."

"Ban Zhao?"

Xue Dutu glanced at the girl, then took the household registration book handed to him by Ban Dingyuan and opened it to take a look.

"hehe."

He couldn't help but laugh out loud at just one glance, and clapped the household registration book in his palm.

"Foreign Envoy, how dare you abduct my people, Wu Zhao? Do you know how severe the punishment for child abduction is under Wu Zhao's laws?"

Ban Dingyuan: "Then please help me process the adoption certificate, Lord Xue. Her mother just passed away, and she won't survive if I don't take care of her."

Xue Dutu's eyes turned cold: "Foreign envoy, are you ordering me around? She lost both parents and the government will provide for her and raise her to adulthood. Does she need your interference, a foreign power?"

Ban Dingyuan: "Then may I ask, how will the government provide for and resettle her? Do they intend to sell her to brothels or make her a slave?"

Xue Dutu: "What does this have to do with you? In short, the inner city prohibits commoners from the outer city from entering. Foreign envoys should hand over their children to me."

I will handle this matter properly. Consider it as if I never saw it. You may proceed to the capital to meet the Emperor without incident.

Ban Dingyuan: "Since I have already promised her mother that I would take good care of her, I must keep my word. Lord Xue, it's just adopting a child, why are you making things so difficult for me?"

"The laws of Wuzhao cannot be abolished; there is no room for negotiation on this matter."

Xue Dutu raised his hand and waved it, and a group of warriors in fine armor immediately stepped forward to snatch Ban Zhao from Pei Ju's arms.

Pei Ju's eyes turned cold, and he subconsciously reached for the pistol at his waist.

Just as a conflict was about to break out, Ban Dingyuan suddenly spoke up: "Five hundred taels!"

"slow!"

Upon hearing this, Xue Dutu immediately raised his hand to stop the warriors and soldiers behind him.

"What five hundred taels?"

“As long as Lord Xue is willing to help her remove her household registration and complete the adoption procedures, I am willing to contribute five hundred taels as a reward for your hard work.”

Xue Dutu sneered: "Foreign envoy, do you know what the consequences are under the laws of Wuzhao for bribing an official of the imperial court?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Ju felt nauseous and wanted to vomit.

What are you pretending for? You act like you're so incorruptible, but you didn't hold back at all when you accepted that South Sea black pearl bracelet worth a thousand taels.

Ban Dingyuan laughed: "The laws of Wuzhao Kingdom seem to be of little use to me, an envoy, after all, Chu Kingdom and your esteemed country have not yet established formal diplomatic relations."

Even if I were to bribe the lord, it would only be a perfectly ordinary gift, not violating any of the laws of Wuzhao.

Xue Dutu laughed, a laugh that seemed harmless.

“What the foreign envoy said makes a lot of sense, but five hundred taels seems a bit too little for a foreign envoy to adopt a child from our country.”

The adoption procedures for Wu Zhao only cost a dozen or so coins, and Ban Dingyuan didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble by setting the figure of five hundred taels.

But you actually think it's not enough; you're really insatiable.

Ban Dingyuan suppressed his nausea and continued, "Then please name your price, Lord Xue."

"Three thousand taels."

Xue Dutu simply held up three fingers and uttered an unbelievable number.

But Ban Dingyuan agreed without hesitation: "Alright, as long as Lord Xue can get this done before going to the capital, three thousand taels it is."

"Since the envoy is so agreeable, I will certainly do my best."

As he spoke, he glanced at Ban Zhao again and shook his head: "Your sister is indeed very pleasing to the eye, but her clothes seem to be a bit torn. We should take her to change them to avoid arousing suspicion."

After saying this, Xue Dutu waved his hand and turned to leave with his subordinates.

Once everyone had left, Pei Ju couldn't help but ask, "Chief of Staff, how should we pay for these three thousand taels of silver? Should it be deducted from the budget?"

Ban Dingyuan shook his head: "This is my private matter, so naturally I will pay for it myself. I will make up for the money when I return to Chu."

“Three thousand taels! Your annual income is only twelve hundred silver dollars. This is two and a half years’ salary.”

"Don't say anything more. I have my own plans. Go and buy her some decent clothes to change into. From now on, Ban Zhao is my family."

After saying that, he carried Ban Zhao towards the courtyard.

Pei Ju shook his head and had no choice but to turn around and go find a tailor shop.

……

Time flies, and another three days pass.

On the morning of the fourth day, Xue Dutu came to the courtyard and delivered the adoption documents.

Ban Dingyuan paid him three thousand taels of silver as agreed.

Looking at the glittering silver treasures inside the box, Xue Dutu couldn't help but say, "I'm a third-rank local official, and my annual salary is only one hundred and eighty taels."

"I never expected the foreign envoy to be so generous, willing to spend three thousand taels of silver to adopt a little girl. Please forgive me, but I truly cannot understand."

Ban Dingyuan checked the official seal in the documents and, after confirming that it was correct, immediately put it away carefully.

He merely smiled at Xue Dutu's sarcastic tone: "My lord, when can I enter the capital?"

"correct."

Upon hearing this, Xue Dutu immediately spoke.

"I'm not only here to deliver this adoption certificate, but also to bring news from the capital."

The Emperor has granted you permission to enter the capital to discuss trade matters in detail; the eunuch delivering the decree is already on his way.

"I estimate they will arrive tomorrow, so I wish the envoy a safe and successful journey in advance."

After saying this, he smiled and ordered someone to lift the box containing the silver ingots, then strolled out of the courtyard.

"Finally, we can go to the capital."

Upon hearing the news, Ban Dingyuan felt no joy whatsoever; instead, he felt an indescribable sense of exhaustion.

What he had seen and heard during this period made him feel extremely disappointed with Wuzhao.

I just want to finish the task I was entrusted with as soon as possible and embark on my journey back home.

Meanwhile, inside the Qianqing Palace, Li Hong looked at a disaster report sent from the south, his face turning unusually gloomy.

"Floods and droughts, what on earth is Wang Zhaoqi doing?"

"Anyone who doesn't know better might think that the prosperous era I created is just an empty shell!"

"Go, find out for me why my empire is plagued by so many disasters!"

The officials in the court were all obsequious and dared not even breathe loudly.

Li Hong rarely gets angry, but once he does, the consequences are unimaginable.