Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Zhou Ying agreed with her, as the Emperorâs popularity was at an all-time high.
He had Sun Miaokeâs maiden familyâs support from the civil side and the old generalâs support from the military side.
There was no need for him to rely on a harem to stabilize the court, so women with high social backgrounds would instead become taboo for the Emperor.
After a while, Princess Zhi Shan arrived. Gu Wanning immediately stood up to welcome her.
After a few polite greetings, she added. âThe banquet will start soon, princess. You have to hurry over and change into our countryâs court clothes.â
âSure. I will listen to the Empressâs arrangements.â Zhi Shan nodded.
The Empress nodded and then asked Chun Xi and Eunuch Sun to bring her and her maids downstairs to change their clothes.
After Princess Zhi Shan left, Madam Chu asked, âYour Highness, I wonder what kind of consort title Princess Zhi Shan will be conferred?â
âI only know that it is a consort position. As for what it is, it depends on the Emperorâs opinion.â
âWhat about those from the consort selection?â
âI heard the Emperor is also helping the Imperial Familyâs descendants choose their concubines. As for who can stay and what position they will have, Iâm not too sure.â
âIsnât this usually decided by the Empress?â
âThat was in the past. Iâm pregnant and exhausted from handling the matters in the palace. So choosing the consort is mainly decided by the Grand Empress Dowager and the Emperor.â
When everyone heard this, they started to ask about who from the royal family would be getting engaged today.
However, the royal family members were all with the Grand Empress Dowager, so they did not get any useful information.
Zhou Ying shook her head and let Gu Wanning rest for a while.
Seeing the Empressâs tired appearance, all the courtiersâ wives quietly retreated.
Some went outside to watch the children play on the slide, and the hall quietened.
On the other end, the Grand Empress Dowager was being bombarded with questions. She only smiled meaningfully and did not have any intention of speaking.
At the courier station, Bai Yang was a little frustrated that he couldnât get a letter from the King of the Western Continent.
Seeing that the time for the banquet was almost here, he could only look at the other members of the diplomatic mission and say, âWhat are they thinking? We canât delay any longer. We have to come up with a conclusion quickly.â
âBut the Great Mingâs conditions are too harsh. If we exchange according to their requirements, we will be at a major loss.â
âIndeed. If we exchange those wood and medicinal herbs by free trade instead, we could get twice as much food.â
âThatâs easy for you to say. Which merchant can gather such a large amount of food? We can only trade through the various countriesâ governments.â Bai Yang said it with a sullen face.
Thinking of this, he cursed Princess Jiarou. If she hadnât caused such a ruckus, he wouldnât have been in such a passive position.
Or, at the very least, he wouldnât have to suffer such a huge loss.
âIf it doesnât work out, I will agree to their conditions by exchanging for half a yearâs worth of food first. After we get through this crisis, our fields may produce enough food for the following half of the year.
âThatâs the only way.
âThe only saving grace is that we can also bring back the high-yield seeds from Great Ming. Our country can turn the tables next year as long as there is sufficient rain.â Bai Yang nodded in agreement.â
As soon as he finished speaking, an officer immediately came in and said, âReport!â
âWhat is it?â Bai Yang asked.
âGeneral, a reply has arrived from the Western Continent.â After the soldier finished speaking, he handed him a letter.
Bai Yang was delighted as he opened it up.
âThatâs great!â He exclaimed with a smile. âIt rained in the Western Continent a few days ago. We will make it for the spring season farming..â