"Princess, you're here. We've found so many so far." Hongfei said, immediately bringing up a large stack of books she was carrying. Ji Wushang quickly went over to help her carry them. Behind them, Cuiwu was also carrying a large pile of books.
"Princess, what do you need so many books for?" Cuiwu asked, puzzled.
"Of course it's something important." Ji Wushang smiled, then carefully wiped the dust off the books. "Where did you get these books?"
“We went to the palace library and told the princess that she was bored and wanted to read. The officials there allowed us to go and take as many old books as we wanted, so we did as you instructed and brought them over,” Hongfei said.
"Okay." Ji Wushang nodded. "You've all worked hard, go and rest!"
"Yes." Hongfei and Cuiwu immediately left. Since Ji Wushang wasn't saying anything, she must have her reasons. As maids, they should just do their duty!
Ji Wushang looked at the books in front of him and carefully categorized them: there were historical records of various states, medical books, social science books, and engineering books, all of which were rather disorganized.
Ji Wushang looked at the books with satisfaction. These were exactly the kinds of books he needed to quickly understand Qingzhao! The older the book, the more valuable it was! These old books would make it easy for him to understand many things.
You can also find some secrets about Miluoxiang and Yuehai Mingzhu in it, and also learn about this country.
Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle!
Ji Wushang sat at the table, patiently flipping through the pages.
They didn't notice the man wearing a golden mask hiding in the darkness outside the window.
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☆、301 Iron teeth and bronze teeth, initial establishment of authority!
Chapter Title: 301 Iron Teeth and Bronze Tongues: Initial Establishment of Authority!
Those dark eyes were deep and scrutinizing. Please remember this website's URL: . Generally, many women who came to Qing Zhao for political marriages were like this: First, they complained about whether the palace was big enough or close enough to him, the king; second, they went to great lengths to dress up and attract Tuoba Heyan's attention; third, they were jealous and used every means to win his favor.
Therefore, Tuoba Heyan had many women, but they were all concubines or beauties; he never established an empress.
Tuoba Heyan did not participate in any palace intrigues, nor did he favor any side. If any beauty or concubine sent by a country or through marriage alliance died, he would bury her without ever frowning.
He even relished seeing how the women in his harem fought for him, the king, and for their own positions; he, Tuoba Heyan, could practically apply those methods to governing the country!
Tuoba Heyan scoffed, but this Princess Wushang was rather different! Her face was indeed exceptionally beautiful; even without makeup, no words could adequately describe her beauty. But more importantly, the old books she was reading concerned Qingzhao's national history, medicine, and so on… It was hard not to associate this with the word "spy"!
"A beautiful woman is a venomous snake!" Tuoba Heyan understood this principle deeply.
Ji Wushang was unaware that someone was outside the window. She had considered the possibility of being watched, but then she reasoned that initially only a few officials had come to greet her in a perfunctory manner, which meant that Tuoba Heyan didn't take her seriously and wouldn't send anyone to monitor her. Moreover, she had simply sent Hongfei and Cuiwu; other concubines had the same authority. Therefore, she felt that her actions were justified and she wasn't afraid of being watched.
Ji Wushang opened a medical book and began to read it carefully.
But then, a series of coughs came from inside, the voices extremely childish.
Ji Wushang's expression immediately changed, and he quickly put down his book and ran into the inner room.
Tuoba Heyan heard the cough with his profound inner strength, and his eyes darkened. Was that the cough of the son she had brought? Was her son sick?
"Good boy, Nianlang, come here, let Mom feed you your medicine." I really deserve to die. I thought that his cough had stopped for three days and that he would not cough for the time being, so I did not give him the medicine for treating cold cough. After all, medicine is three parts poison. But I did not expect that Huangfu Junan's cough would still relapse.
"Mother, it hurts so much, Nianlang feels so bad!" Huangfu Jun'an pouted in her childish voice, looking at Ji Wushang with pitiful eyes. Ji Wushang lovingly hugged Huangfu Jun'an in her arms. "Hoo hoo, Mother hoo hoo, Nianlang doesn't hurt anymore. Come on, take the medicine and it won't hurt anymore." She quickly took the medicine from the side and fed it to Huangfu Jun'an little by little. "Good boy, Nianlang."
"Mother, this medicine is so bitter." Huangfu Jun'an felt that the medicine in her mouth was too bitter to swallow, but looking at Ji Wushang's eyes, she had no choice but to endure it and take the medicine.
Ji Wushang sighed inwardly. He had only a limited supply of medicinal herbs, while Huangfu Junan needed to take medicine three times a day and twice a night. He had already used up the licorice and dried tangerine peel to remove the bitterness, and now that they were gone, the medicine would naturally be even more bitter.
"Just bear with it, just bear with it, be good." Ji Wushang looked at Huangfu Jun'an and kissed his cheek. "Mother, don't worry about me, just bear with it." Huangfu Jun'an looked at the trace of sorrow in Ji Wushang's eyes and nodded. "Mm."
Ji Wushang forced a smile, then fed all the medicine to Huangfu Junan.
After finishing, Ji Wushang adjusted Huangfu Jun'an's position and held him in his arms. He sat on the edge of the bed and whispered, "Take your medicine and then take a nap. When you wake up, the pain will be gone. Be good, Nianlang."
"Hmm." Huangfu Jun'an listened to Ji Wushang's words, slowly closed his eyes, and then gradually fell asleep.
Ji Wushang looked at Huangfu Jun'an, then stroked his hair. He was looking more and more like Nan Xucong. Ji Wushang sighed, her brows furrowed with deep sorrow. She gently placed Huangfu Jun'an on the bed and then covered him with a brocade quilt.
She stared blankly at Huangfu Jun'an, lost in thought and dazed.
Tuoba Heyan's eyes darkened slightly. He had been watching Ji Wushang coax Huangfu Jun'an to take his medicine and fall asleep, and he had also overheard their conversation. Princess Wushang marrying him with her child was truly the most unusual thing in the world.
"Thinking of her beloved husband?" Heh, was she thinking of her deceased husband? Tuoba Heyan had investigated Ji Wushang and knew that she was originally the eldest daughter of General Ji's family. Due to an imperial decree, she married the young master of the Jin Nan Marquis's mansion, who was initially confined to a wheelchair. However, somehow, this young master turned out to be the fourth prince who had been exiled from the palace and had returned to the family, becoming the fourth prince, Huangfu Zong. Later, for some unknown reason, she was able to get out of her wheelchair and stand up. Later still, he had heard that Huangfu Zong and Crown Prince Huangfu Xuan jointly led troops to conquer the Western Regions. He himself had also taken the opportunity to send troops to the Western Regions to try and gain a share, but unfortunately, he met with an accident. During the war between the Western Regions and the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, the King of the Western Regions was stabbed by Huangfu Zong and fell off a cliff, presumably dead. Huangfu Zong also unfortunately died in battle. Later, Ji Wushang gave birth to a child, but due to the truce between the two countries, she became a princess sent for a political marriage and came here.
That's all Tuoba Heyan knew. Ji Wushang actually named her child Nianlang—wasn't that a clear indication she hadn't forgotten her deceased husband? It seemed Princess Wushang was being forced to marry him?
Tuoba Heyan's lips curled up. How ridiculous! If you don't like it, why not prove your point with death?
He had just turned around when he heard a bitter cry, "Cong."
His heart skipped a beat. He turned around and saw Ji Wushang lying by Huangfu Junan's bedside. He couldn't help but call out.
She's already here, and she's still calling out her deceased husband's name, really! Humph! Tuoba Heyan immediately turned around and disappeared into the night.
Ji Wushang sighed inwardly. Sometimes she really hoped that Nan Xuzong would not come back. If he knew that she had remarried, she wondered how heartbroken he would be!
Ji Wushang got up, tucked Huangfu Jun'an's brocade quilt in, and then went out to continue sitting at the table, intently looking at the books.
The so-called welcome-home banquet actually made Ji Wushang somewhat disgusted. To be precise, it shouldn't have been a welcome-home banquet, because Ji Wushang wasn't there as an envoy, but as Princess Wushang for a marriage alliance.
There was nothing inherently wrong with calling it a "welcome-off banquet," but what Ji Wushang found objectionable was that some of the officials present were behaving like patrons of a brothel. These so-called officials all had dancers in their arms, some even holding two.
Meanwhile, the Qingzhao monarch, Tuoba Heyan, wore his golden mask as always, with two beauties in his arms. The beauties were delicate and sweet, their voices soothing that they gave one goosebumps.
Ji Wushang was dressed in a light pink gauze robe, which draped her exquisite figure beneath. A gentle breeze would have made her even more breathtakingly beautiful. Her hair was styled in a high, elegant bun, and her face was veiled. She lowered her gaze; these things were none of her concern, she wouldn't interfere, she would simply endure it. She only felt a sense of irony!
Bei Gongminhao was sitting at the table next to her. He was extremely cautious, with a sinister look in his eyes. He exuded a terrifying aura, which made the dancers keep their distance and dare not approach.
Tuoba Heyan's gaze fell upon Ji Wushang. Seeing her with her stunning face veiled, he himself felt a hazy, alluring beauty. However, a beauty was merely something to be admired; whether she could be used to his advantage was what truly mattered. He gently adjusted his posture, while two beautiful women served him, feeding him peeled fruits. He swallowed a longan before saying, "Princess, you've traveled a long way; you must be tired."
"Your Majesty, compared to Your Majesty's busy schedule, Wu Shang merely traveled through mountains and rivers in a carriage, which is not difficult at all," Ji Wu Shang said coldly.
A glint of shrewdness flashed in Tuoba Heyan's eyes beneath his golden mask. This woman was criticizing him for using his busy schedule as an excuse not to greet her with proper etiquette! Since he was currently surrounded by beauties, he naturally knew that this was an act of indulgence, and how could it be associated with being busy with state affairs? He toned down his earlier teasing tone, "It seems Princess Wushang has quite the sweet tongue, you speak very well!"
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I was merely speaking the truth," Ji Wushang said calmly.
Bei Gongminhao glanced at the surrounding ministers. They had all stopped speaking as Tuoba Heyan spoke, adopting the demeanor of gentlemen. This inevitably made one suspect that it was all an act.
Ji Wushang lowered his eyes and said nothing more. It was enough to simply protect one's own territory, not let others bully one, and not bully others.
At this moment, a minister stepped forward, smiled, and said, "I've heard that Princess Wushang was married once before? And this time, she's brought a son as a burden to this marriage alliance?"
Ji Wushang was instantly enraged. Yes, she had indeed been married once, but was it acceptable to use that to ridicule her? And what did they mean by "son of burden"? He was the fruit of her and Nan Xuzong's love, someone she would protect until her death! These people were utterly despicable!
Bei Gongminhao frowned deeply as he listened, his hands clenched into fists beneath his sleeves! Damn it, these people just keep poking at Ji Wushang's sore spots!
However, Ji Wushang sensed Beigong Minhao's unusual behavior, so he went up and poured Beigong Minhao a glass of wine himself before pouring one for himself.
Bei Gongminhao looked puzzled and suspicious at Ji Wushang, while the ministers watched Ji Wushang with great interest, and the women all looked on with amusement.
“Indeed, this princess has been married once.” Ji Wushang’s clear and cold voice echoed throughout the hall.
Everyone was speechless with astonishment! They never expected Ji Wushang to admit it so readily!
Ji Wushang looked at them, her cold eyes beneath the veil sweeping over each of the ministers. She had made a lasting impression on them! If given the chance, she would rather be a venomous woman than let such people go!
Tuoba Heyan's lips curled into a slight smile beneath his golden mask, but he made no other comment.
"This princess married the fourth prince, the God of War of our Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, Prince Huangfu Zong!" Ji Wushang sneered from beneath her veil. "He is the most reputable man in our Great Xia Zhou Dynasty! Marrying him is the greatest blessing and happiness of my life!" She made no attempt to hide Nan Xuzong's kindness from everyone; she wanted them to know that she had married the best man in the world! The current Tuoba Heyan was merely a substitute, utterly unworthy of Ji Wushang's attention! He, Tuoba Heyan, had better not provoke her!
"Then, Your Highness, do you mean that your coming here for a marriage alliance is an injustice to the princess?" another minister immediately asked.
"Heh." Ji Wushang laughed, "This princess has come for a marriage alliance for the peace between our Great Xia Zhou Dynasty and Qing Zhao. It is serving the country, how can I speak of being wronged? But you, sir, deliberately said loudly in front of everyone that I, Ji Wushang, am wronged by coming for a marriage alliance. Are you standing up for this princess? May I ask, is your intention to provoke conflict between the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty and Qing Zhao? If a princess of a country is wronged, wouldn't her country protect her? Or is it that you, Qing Zhao, would wrong or bully this princess?"
"Your Majesty, that's not what I meant. Please don't misunderstand." The minister was immediately sweating bullets. This princess was quite eloquent; she had steered the conversation towards the peace and conflict between the two countries—a move that could cost him his head!
"Misunderstanding?" Ji Wushang glanced at the people around her. "Hehe, this princess never misunderstands; I just understand what adults mean!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." The minister was speechless after being spoken to by Ji Wushang!
“Your Highness, I have been to the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty. I have heard that they are very strict with women. As the saying goes, a virtuous woman does not marry twice. You have remarried. I wonder what you are thinking?” The minister who spoke first was very arrogant, thinking that Ji Wushang was avoiding his question.
Ji Wushang, facing the cold summer, slightly turned her head and looked at the minister through the veil. "Indeed, this princess once attempted suicide, for the sake of loyalty! For the sake of respect for my deceased husband! But in the end, this princess did not die because this princess obeyed the will of Heaven! Heaven allowed this princess to live, so this princess will live even more brilliantly!"
As for those worldly opinions, they are nothing but the gossip of outsiders! Tell me, what in the world isn't subject to public scrutiny? After today, perhaps everything about you, Your Excellency, will be subject to the judgment of the people of Qingzhao!
The minister turned pale upon hearing this. This Princess Wushang was truly formidable!
"But what do you mean by remarrying with your child in tow?" the minister asked again after wiping his brow. "How can a marriage alliance, which has been practiced since ancient times, be treated so lightly?"
Upon hearing this, Bei Gongminhao's lips trembled coldly. He couldn't help but stand up, but Ji Wushang looked at him, signaling him not to act rashly. "My son is only two years old, too young to take care of himself. As a mother, are you willing to abandon a two-year-old son? If so, can you give your child to someone else to raise? If you can, then congratulations, sir! Your heart is decisive and capable enough. You will surely rise to great heights in the future!"
"You!" The minister's face flushed red, then turned pale, then green after being spoken to by Ji Wushang! Ji Wushang's meaning was clear: as a mother, she couldn't bear to abandon her son. But if that official could abandon his son, he would be heartless. Any talk of rising through the ranks was nonsense; it was already a favor that Tuoba Heyan hadn't killed him! Could someone so ruthless and heartless abandoning his children be trusted? Could he be allowed to remain in the court?
Ji Wushang sneered as he watched the minister's ever-changing expressions. "My son is just a two-year-old toddler who doesn't understand anything. What are you afraid of, Your Excellency? Are you speculating that I, Ji Wushang, have ulterior motives? Do you think I brought my son here to cause chaos in the harem? But I know that my residence, the Miro Palace, is the most peaceful place in the royal palace!"
Ji Wushang turned her gaze to Tuoba Heyan, her expression cold and devoid of emotion. "Wushang is extremely grateful for the King's grace in choosing such a fine place for me and my son to stay. Wushang is truly thankful!" As she spoke, her sharp eyes swept over the assembled officials, who were now all silent and dared not utter a word. "I am a widow and orphan; what power do I have to influence the decisions of you officials? Moreover, I know that before my marriage, the King had already tacitly approved of my bringing my son here, hadn't he?"
"Since the King has already acquiesced, may I ask, sir, do you have any objections to the King's decision? Or do you intend to defy the King's will?" Ji Wushang glanced at Tuoba Heyan, his cold eyes fixed on him. If he didn't control his ministers and allowed them to provoke him again, he would definitely force him to kill his ministers with his own hands!
Tuoba Heyan sneered. This Princess Wushang was no ordinary beauty. He was sure it would add a lot of fun to his harem. It had been a long time since he had seen the women in his harem fighting like cats and dogs!
"Lord Chen must be drunk. Someone, help Lord Chen down!" Tuoba Heyan said in a nonchalant tone, as if Ji Wushang's verbal battle with the two ministers was nothing out of the ordinary, just like picking up food.
The official Chen, whose name was mentioned by Tuoba Heyan, immediately changed his expression, but quickly realized that Tuoba Heyan was giving him a chance to save face, so he immediately stepped forward and bowed, "Yes, yes, I did drink too much, too much." As he spoke, he was led away by the guards who came up to him.
Ji Wushang's eyes were cold as he took his seat.
Bei Gongminhao's dark eyes turned to Ji Wushang. Seeing her like a warrior in a battle of wits, engaging in a verbal duel with the ministers, he felt both worried and full of admiration. She was indeed a woman he admired. To have such courage to fight for herself, for Nan Xuzong and Huangfu Jun'an behind her, and even for the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty in front of everyone—not every woman possessed such ability!
"Duo'er, go and pour wine for Princess Wushang. I, the King, wish to offer her a toast." At this moment, Tuoba Heyan looked at Ji Wushang and gave her a wicked smile. Ji Wushang was momentarily stunned. That smile... looked just like Nan Xuzong's!
No, it's not him, it must be my imagination! Nan Xuzong, he, he's already dead...
But why is Tuoba Heyan wearing a golden mask? Is he someone who is not in the public eye? I must find out!
Ji Wushang let out a long breath, his gaze turning cold as he looked at Tuoba Heyan, who had already suppressed the smile on his lips.
Upon hearing Tuoba Heyan's words, Xue Ruduo rose from her seat, smiled sweetly, and said, "Yes." Another beauty beside her immediately stepped forward, "Your Majesty," her voice sweet and seductive, "Your Majesty!"
Ji Wushang's expression remained unchanged. How could the charming Tuoba Heyan possibly have even the slightest hint of Nan Xuzong's flavor?
Ji Wushang looked coldly at Xue Ruduo and said, "Then I'll trouble you." He didn't know if she was a concubine or some other beauty, so he could only address her simply.