“When the ruler meets with his subject, the subject waits outside. Young Master Xie, you must be mindful of the proper order of things,” Wu Qiu said.
Xie Meixiang thought to herself, "There are so many rules!"
The interior is decorated like a palace in the northern region, with a wild and unrestrained style, featuring white-faced tiger sculptures.
Upon seeing this, Yelü Lili laughed and said, "This must have been arranged by you. I even want to stay a few more days."
Si Xitong said, "Your Highness can stay for a long time. I will reserve a place for you in Tianjing."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yelü Lili's smile vanished instantly.
The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
He spoke again, sounding worried, "Can you really make that decision?"
"Could it be that I cannot?" Si Xitong noticed him staring intently into her eyes as if to confirm something, and she readily replied, "Why not?"
Yelü Lili said solemnly, "I am not joking."
“Princess Fengning, I took a great risk to form an alliance with you. Otherwise, I would not have given most of the sheep in the grassland to the Southern Region to please Lord Xie, all for the sake of forming an alliance with you.”
"It's also to protect you and let Xie Zhu know your value."
Yelü Lili had already heard that Xie Zhu's behavior had changed drastically after entering Tianjing.
Local governments were stirring with ambition, and even his second brother was saying that Xie Zhu was cowardly and lacked martial prowess, making Huang Mang unafraid of him. So he dared to adopt Huang Mang as his son, testing Xie Zhu's resolve.
As a result, Huang Mang died, Tianjing fell, and the northern grain supply route was cut off by Xie Zhu. The Shi Kingdom government reverted to its cowardly ways. Internal strife erupted within the Xie clan; Xie Zhu, with five thousand men, wiped out an entire branch of the Xie clan, yet without inflicting serious damage.
Then a new decree was introduced, and in just six months, the Xie family underwent a complete transformation. From a once powerful clan, they began to emulate the style of scholars and literati.
The Xie family was watched closely by the powerful and influential families of the late Jin dynasty, but none of these prominent families sought refuge with them.
He said, "To be honest, it's because of your relationship with Xie Ying that I...I'm here to confirm."
Si Xitong's eyes darkened. Everyone knew Xie Ying's tyrannical reputation and feared him, but not Lan Zhi.
Lan Zhi is by no means a domineering person.
She said, "There's no need to confirm. Just as the rumors say, I am his wife, the matriarch of the Xie family, but that doesn't prevent you from forming an alliance with me."
Seeing her displeasure, Yelü Lili tried to gauge her limits.
"This world is truly chaotic... everything is in turmoil."
"Since we are here to establish an alliance, Your Highness, let's get down to business first." Si Xitong immediately beckoned someone to brew fresh tea. A soldier obediently went to brew the tea, and after a short while carefully brought it up before leaving.
Upon seeing this, Yelü Lili asked in confusion, "Is he a soldier of the Xie family?"
Si Xitong nodded: "Mm."
"So, they have formal attire and are disciplined like this?" Yelü Lili was skeptical. Could the rumors be exaggerated? He had heard that the Xie family was notoriously protective of their own, that even a lowly soldier could acquire enormous wealth and enjoy a life of luxury in the capital, more comfortable than the nobility. They were also known for their poor manners, bullying men and women, and taking advantage of officials' wives.
It seems that this is not entirely true now.
Si Xitong said, "I know you have deep prejudices against the Southern Region, but the current Princess Xie has been working hard to improve her family's character. Please give her some time and you will be able to see her kindness and fairness towards others."
Yelü Lili immediately changed his tune, saying, "There is no possibility of the Southern Region and the Northern Region renewing their alliance, and the various generals will certainly not agree to it. The fact that the Northern Region and the Southern Region have not yet gone to war is already the best outcome."
Si Xitong reminded him: "If war breaks out, the Northern Region will be severely weakened. At that time, the Hu and Xiongnu will invade the Northern Region first. The current situation is very unstable. Your side should procrastinate and delay the matter while weighing the options."
“You see things more clearly than I do, but unfortunately, the princess is not my wife,” Yelü Lili suddenly sighed.
He ordered someone to bring over an old red box, the old red base of which was engraved with a seven-seat lion-like creature resembling a lotus. He said regretfully, "This item was entrusted to me by the late Emperor of the Western City. Seeing that we are not destined to be together, I am returning this relic of the late Emperor to you."
Si Xitong's eyes finally trembled. She stood up and held the seven-seat Buddha Lotus Box in her palm, seemingly incredulous.
"My father entrusted this item to you for protection because he wanted to..."
Yelü Lili nodded: "I want you to establish a friendly relationship with me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Qiu heard him deliberately let Xie Meixiang step forward, then take the opportunity to trip him, causing Xie Meixiang to tumble into the doorway. He then took the opportunity to jump in and help Xie Meixiang up: "Young Master, are you alright?"
Xie Meixiang was full of doubt. He had clearly been tripped up by someone, and it was this Lord Wu.
Just as he was about to speak, Wu Qiu winked at him as she helped him up. Xie Meixiang immediately stood up, patted his trouser leg, and said, "Your Highness, Your Highness, I have been impolite."
Yelü Lili's face immediately turned cold upon seeing Xie Meixiang, and he turned his head away.
The Xie family really has no manners!
When Si Xitong saw it was him, she put the box away and said, "If Meixiang is tired, go back and rest first."
"Yes!" Xie Meixiang replied as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly bowed and left.
Wu Qiu also seized the opportunity to say, "Now that His Highness the Crown Prince has come to Tianjing, the Xie family, as a local family, should naturally do their best to be hospitable."
Having said that, he presented it with both hands: "This is a letter of thanks for the banquet. Your Highness, please attend the banquet tomorrow evening."
The Xie family's banquet? Yelü Lili did not want to accept it. Although they were not at war, they were still enemy countries. A banquet hosted by an enemy could easily be a trap.
Wu Qiu held up the letter, but no one accepted it for a long time, which made him feel embarrassed.
Si Xitong came over, took the letter, and personally handed it to Yelü Lili, saying, "The banquet was at my behest. Since you're here, I'll be here too."
“In that case, I accept.” Yelü Lili took down the letter.
Wu Qiu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. This person really didn't give him any face at all.
However, it's only human nature; the marshal showed no mercy in killing the three generals. It's understandable that they harbored resentment.
Wu Qiu is now reflecting on how much opportunity the Marshal lost by killing the three divisions. She must be regretting it now, right?
After sending the letter, Wu Qiu asked to leave.
Si Xitong sat for a while, then looked at the sun and realized it was almost lunchtime, so she had to rush back to have lunch with her.
Yelü Lili, however, wanted to invite her: "How about we try some Northern-style food together at noon?"
Si Xitong looked somewhat hesitant.
Just as they were hesitating, a familiar flute melody came from outside the mansion.
Yelü Lili immediately stood up and said, "He is a good friend!"
Si Xinian stopped playing his flute and walked in, holding the jade flute. He greeted him with a smile, "Brother Li, it's been a long time."
"A-Nian!" Yelü Lili walked over and gave him a big hug, then spun him around twice.
Si Xinian patted his shoulder: "Alright, you're choking me so much I can hardly breathe. But it's been three years, so you can treat me to lunch."
Yelü Lili finally smiled: "Let's all go together, it's been a long time since we've all gotten together."
“That won’t do, Your Highness has to go back to the palace to handle important matters.” Si Xinian stood on tiptoe and hooked her arm around his shoulder, saying, “Come on, let’s get together at noon today. I have a lot to say to you.”
“Alright, I’ll have the chef prepare it right away. Today we’ll feast on mutton and drink to our hearts’ content.” Yelü Lili agreed without hesitation.
Si Qitong nodded to Si Qinian, who turned and silently said, "Go back quickly."
"Then I won't disturb your gathering any longer. I'll come again when I have time." She greeted them, and remembering that Yelü Lili had brought his younger sister, she added, "It's perfect that the little princess is here too. Let's bring her to the banquet tomorrow night."
Yelü Lili nodded and said, "My little sister is a bit unruly. I will consider it."
Si Xitong nodded and then turned to leave the mansion.
The next scene shows Si Xinian and Yelü Lili chatting and laughing.
Lanzhang Palace.
Xie Lanzhi looked at the nine dishes in the main hall, occasionally lifting the lid to check if there was any steam rising from them. If not, she would ask the kitchen staff to heat them up.
In this day and age, not having a microwave is a real hassle. Food that's been cooked over time just doesn't taste right.
"The princess hasn't returned yet?"
Xiao Xiu said, "His Highness said he will definitely come back today to dine with you."
Xie Lanzhi gazed at the palace gate, her expression helpless. "Today is my first meal of meat since my recovery. Actually, Little Phoenix doesn't have to accompany me every time. If she's busy..."
"Even important matters are divided into major and minor."
The person arrived before the voice.
Si Xitong returned with Xi Xian by her side, and Xie Lanzhi got up and walked to her side, only to see that her sleeve pocket was bulging with a bag.
Si Xitong didn't try to hide it; she simply took out the red box containing the seven lotus thrones.
"What's this?"
"It is a memento from my father."
Xie Lanzhi was taken aback; these were her father-in-law's belongings.
Chapter 46 My father-in-law has terrible taste.
She proactively put the red box back into her hand, reminding her, "Put it away carefully."
Seeing that she obediently withdrew her hand and pushed the red box back, Si Xitong's eyes flashed, and she suddenly said, "Aren't you going to open it and take a look?"
"No, everyone has their own little secrets. Especially me," Xie Lanzhi said magnanimously.
She really had nothing to worry about. After all, it was her father-in-law's keepsake.
Suddenly, a voice came from beside him: "Li Li entrusted his father's belongings to me. He had always wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Northern Regions. It is only natural that he would entrust something valuable to Li Li."
Therefore, the common name for the box should be "dowry".
Upon hearing this, Si Xitong was about to reply.
Xie Lanzhi unconsciously opened the red box with her fingers; her body was clearly more honest than she thought.
Upon opening, three rectangular pieces of translucent bluish-white jade lay inside the red box, with a small piece wrapped in a red cloth hidden inside.
Xie Lanzhi picked up the jade and discovered that there were mortise and tenon joints between the three pieces of jade, which were inserted into each other.
Xie Lanzhi pressed it in, then opened the red cloth, revealing another dragon head inside.
"Imperial Seal?"
Si Xitong's eyes sharpened, and she quickly covered the red box, telling her to stop piecing it together.
"Shall we eat first? This isn't a jade seal; it's probably a key."
She thought for a moment, seemingly still uneasy, and added, "As for where? We'll look for it after we've finished entertaining Li Li."