On the afternoon of June 26, the Dasheng envoy headed by Feng Yan finally arrived at Jinluo City, the capital of Puguo, after a long journey of more than 7,000 miles, traversing several prefectures of Dasheng and passing through the lonely smoke and yellow sand of the northwest desert.

Compared with the heat of Dasheng, the temperature here is just right, warm as spring, the blue sky is so clear and clean, the white clouds are as white as cotton wool, there is no flaw, the blue sky and white clouds are like being washed by water, just looking at it like this, it makes people feel relaxed and happy, quiet and serene.

Puguo is not more prosperous than Dasheng, and the convoy often has to walk for several days to reach another city, which is accompanied by blue sky, white clouds, green grass, cattle and sheep, vast and magnificent.

As the capital, Jinluo City is one of the most prosperous cities in Puguo, as far as the eye can see, you can see a number of buildings with exotic style, with the elevation of the terrain, those buildings are more and more magnificent and gorgeous, they surround the white palace group on the top of the hill with the posture of the stars and the moon, that is the royal palace of Puguo.

Feng Yan and his party just stood quietly at the gate of Jinluo City, attracting curious glances. Inside and outside the city, those Pu people wearing big lapels and slanted waist tunics all looked at these people from the Central Plains, one by one, talking to each other in their Pu language.

Ahead, there was a commotion, and the common people all avoided the two sides of the street, and seven or eight richly dressed Pu people rode in the direction of the city gate, led by a middle-aged man with a curly beard, who wore a lake-blue brocade robe with a lapel and a fur hat, and his skin was dark and shiny from the sun.

"Fu Qian Dai Pu Guo welcomes Dasheng guests from afar!" The middle-aged man spoke awkwardly and jerkily, and politely saluted Feng Yan and his party with the etiquette of Pu Guo.

While speaking, the man who called himself Fu Qian was also looking at Feng Yan's Dasheng envoys.

The people who came this time, including the entourage and the accompanying forbidden army, there were about 50 people and horses, and there were more than a dozen carriages, and it can be seen from the rut marks left by the carriages that each carriage was heavy.

At first glance, this is an ordinary envoy group, except that the young man at the head is really too young, at most sixteen or seventeen years old. How could Emperor Dasheng send such a young man to take charge of the envoys to Pu Kingdom?

Could it be that this young man is just a trick of Emperor Dasheng's envoy, and the real person in charge is someone else?

Thinking about it, Fu Qian looked at the few people behind him carefully, and secretly guessed in his heart.

"Your Excellency is gracious." Feng Yan straddled Benxiao's back, saluted with his fists at the visitor, and said generously, "We are specially coming to your country to mourn your lord on the order of my emperor. ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty Emperor Dasheng, for your kindness. He also invited a few envoys to take a rest at the post house with us first. Fu Qian smiled and welcomed Feng Yan and his party into the city.

Under the guidance of Fu Qian, the group rode slowly along the winding streets, and the places they passed attracted more scrutiny.

Pu Guo and Dasheng have been at war for many years, and the people of Pu Guo do not have much hostility towards these strange Dasheng visitors, and they mostly look at these Dasheng people who seem to be much more "refined" than them with curious and fresh eyes, and their eyes fall from Feng Yan and Mu Jinfan to other accompanying ministers and forbidden soldiers.

Feng Yan smiled and chatted with the man named Fu Qian, and his eyes were also looking around without a trace.

They had already entered the territory of Pu seven days ago, and these days, they were not in a hurry, but they had also inquired about the situation in Pu now.

Since the death of the first Pu King Lang Rima, the new Pu King has not succeeded to the throne, Lang Rima has a grandson and a concubine under his knees, two princes, according to the rules of Pu country, there is no distinction between concubines, who has the ability is the new king.

After the body of the former king is buried for 7749 days, the two princes will decide who will be the next heir by strength, witnessed by the spirit master and the ministers.

Feng Yan began to call Fu Qian a brother and sister in a few words, and Fu Qian also knew that Feng Yan was the nephew of Emperor Dasheng, and suddenly felt that the doubts in his heart had been explained. I see, it is no wonder that Emperor Dasheng would let this young man lead the envoy group.

Feng Yan saw the other party's relief, and then began to get to the point with a smile: "Brother Fu Qian, I wonder if we can meet the Xinle County Lord of our country today?" ”

Fu Qian's face was straight, he raised his hand and hugged his fist in the direction of the palace, and his eyes naturally showed respect, "The queen is praying for the first king in the palace." After a pause, a sincere and pleasant smile appeared on his face, "When the new king succeeds to the throne, he will marry the lord of Xinle as the new queen...... It is imperative that the envoys stay a few more days to attend the enthronement ceremony of the new king of our country. ”

Feng Yan responded with a smile that did not change, "Natural", and the faces of several people behind him had changed, their eyebrows were tightly locked, but they didn't press it.

"The post house has arrived." Fu Qian pointed to a glazed golden building in front of him and said, unconsciously, several of them had come to the halfway point of Jinluo Mountain.

The surrounding buildings were all resplendent and magnificent, very different from the areas where the civilians lived near the city gates, and many guards armed with long knives and spears guarded there at the gates of each building, which made the surrounding atmosphere awe-inspiring.

"A few envoys, please."

Fu Qian respectfully invited Feng Yan and them into the post house, and at the same time, Wen Wuchen, who was originally in the carriage, also got out of the carriage with the help of his entourage and sat in a wheelchair, which caused Fu Qian to take another look at Wen Wuchen, but he didn't expect that there was a person with inconvenient legs and feet in Dasheng's envoy group.

Although he felt strange in his heart, Fu Qian didn't ask much, and quickly arranged a few courtyards for Feng Yan and his party in the post house.

For Feng Yan and them, the environment of this post house is naturally not comparable to when they were in the capital, but it is much better than before entering the city. Most of the Pu people are nomadic herders, and outside the capital, many Pu people are still used to living in tents, sitting on the ground, and sleeping on the ground.

This was the first time they had a bed to sleep on since they entered the territory of Pukoku.

After Fu Qian settled them, he took a few accompanying Pu people to leave.

Feng Yan and the others stood under the eaves, watching Fu Qian and the others leave.

The courtyard was quiet, the atmosphere was slightly cold, and only the flowers and trees around were swaying in the wind.

A middle-aged civil official in his forties with a goatee looked in the direction of the gate and said in a deep voice unhappily: "Sure enough, it's a Fanbang barbarian!" ”

He frowned tightly, his face was full of disdain, and he kept saying that he didn't play it:

"This Xinle county lord marries his father first and then his son, which is simply against women's morals!"

"Although she is close to Fanbang, she is always a great person, and she is so shameless!"

"It is said that the Xu family is rigorous, and it seems that it is nothing more than that."

"But such a woman will ruin our great reputation!"

The more he spoke, the more indignant he became, although some words were not explicitly said, but the implication was clearly that he felt that the lord of Xinle County should be martyred, so that he could be chaste and martyr, and only then could he maintain Dasheng's dignity and reputation, and he could be a model.

Everyone else around looked at the middle-aged civil official with strange expressions, and Feng Yan suddenly interrupted him and said, "Since this is the case, then according to what Lord He said, bring the Xinle County Lord back to Dasheng." Feng Yan's tone was cold, deliberately misinterpreting the other party's meaning.

That's not what he meant?! That Lord He's face changed drastically, and his pupils shrank sharply.

He finally knew that this time he had come all the way to Pu to mourn, it was actually a peace talk, and now the war in the south is in turmoil, the situation in Beiyan is unknown, Dasheng and Pu must not have any disputes, at this time, if they bring the lord of Xinle back to Dasheng, wouldn't it mean that Dasheng wants to break the contract, so how can Pu not go to war?

The air around them froze slightly, and there was silence.

Mu Jinfan looked at Lord He and didn't think so, he also knew that this Lord He was forced into the envoy group by the emperor, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but hook a sneering arc.

The others were also silent, with different expressions, and the air became heavy in the silence.

A thin layer of sweat oozed from Lord He's back, his heartbeat was pounding faster, and his heart was like numbness, and he couldn't directly put the words "martyrdom" and "martyrdom" on his lips, after all, the Dasheng Dynasty began with Emperor Taizu, and denounced the martyrdom of the previous dynasty.

Lord He swallowed his saliva, and said with some hesitation: "Harmony is for the country and the people, how can the county lord return to China at will......"

A sneer appeared on Feng Yan's handsome face, "Yes, harmony is for the country and the people, and it is related to the peace of the two countries. ”

The implication is that if you don't have any "high opinions", then shut up and say less.

Lord He was said that his face was blue and purple, which was extremely ugly, but he didn't dare to turn his face, and he was secretly annoyed, telling himself: The overall situation is important. They have just arrived in Puguo, and they can't afford civil strife at this time, but let the Fanbang barbarians see the joke!

Lord He reluctantly smiled, arched his hand and said with a smile: "This time to envoy Puguo, the emperor decreed that the prince should be the main matter, and the lower officials will respect the prince. ”

Feng Yan smiled indifferently and sent away Lord He and the others, leaving only Wen Wuchen.

The next day, Feng Yan officially submitted his credentials to Fu Qian and asked to see Xu Jingsi, the lord of Xinle County, but two days passed, and they were still not summoned.

After they entered the post house, they were not restrained, and Pu Guo also specially arranged a few officials and slaves who could speak big and sheng to take care of their daily life in the post house, and took them to play around the capital, so to speak, very thoughtful and careful.

Two days was enough for them to visit the capital, but on the third day, they still didn't get any response from Pu Guo, and Feng Yan began to feel a little anxious.

Even if Feng Yan covered it up properly, knowing that he was like Wen Wuchen, he still saw it.

"Ah Yan, don't be in a hurry."

Wen Wuchen slowly drank Puguo's unique milk tea, after the warm milk tea entered his throat, he only felt that a salty and fragrant taste remained between his lips and teeth, this taste was not very accustomed to when he first tasted it, and after drinking more, it seemed to have an endless aftertaste.

Wen Wuchen put down the tea bowl in his hand and looked up from the window in the direction of the palace.

The sun of Pu seems to be brighter and brighter than Dasheng, and the palace fort with white walls and red roofs on the top of the mountain is built on the mountain, towering and towering, looking from afar, like a giant dragon, entrenched on the ridge, with the winding and undulating mountain, scattered and distributed.

"Judging from Fu Qian's attitude towards us, the respect in his tone when he spoke of the 'queen,' and the hospitality we received here, I think that the lord of Xinle should not be in a state of confinement, and that she should be as prestigious in Pu as we have heard before......"

Wen Wuchen speculated unhurriedly, his eyes were as warm and calm and bright as usual, just like the brightest morning star in the dawn of the world, whether it was dark clouds or haze, it could not block its light.

Feng Yan just looked at Wen Wuchen, and felt that his chaotic mood gradually calmed down.

"Lord Xinle didn't summon you and me now......" Wen Wuchen retracted his gaze and looked at the tea bowl, the pale yellow tea liquid in the tea bowl had a slight ripple on the surface, "It should just be that she thinks it's not the right time." ”

Feng Yan also drank a few sips of milk tea, his eyebrows moved, and he seemed to sigh to himself: "It's been ten years......"

It seems that in the blink of an eye, ten years have passed......

Outside the window, a breeze blew, and there was a loud singing voice in the distance, which seemed to be near and far away.

There was a slight sound of footsteps outside, Feng Yan subconsciously turned his head to look out of the door, his little servant Luofeng walked in quickly, and said to the two: "Childe, Wuchen Gongzi, Fu Qian is here, saying that there is a happy event." ”

Could it be the lord of Xinle County...... Feng Yan's eyes flashed a light brighter than a meteor, and he stood up to greet him.

"Brother Fu Qian!"

"Brother Feng!"

When the two saw each other, they were like brothers, and they were very affectionate.

Luofeng on the side looked at the two of them, one rough and one handsome, as if half of the painting was freehand, and the other half was a fine brushwork, awkwardly tight, Luofeng's expression was subtle, and he bowed his head silently.

After greeting each other politely, Fu Qian said happily: "Brother, tomorrow morning our country will hold a ceremony to choose a king, and I am here this time to invite you and other Dasheng envoys to participate in tomorrow's ceremony, which can be regarded as a witness for our country." I don't know what my brother thinks? ”

Feng Yan and Wen Wuchen quickly exchanged a look, Feng Yan smiled and clenched his fists in response: "Then we might as well obey our fate as respectful." Be sure to be there on time tomorrow. ”

After Fu Qian came to pass the news, he didn't stay long, so he took the initiative to leave.

The inn also returned to calm with his departure, only the singing of Pu Ren in the distance was still coming continuously, although he couldn't understand the content, but with an inexplicable sadness and expectation......

The night of Pu came much later than Dasheng, and it was not until the second watch that it was completely dark.

It was destined to be a sleepless night for the people of the Dasheng Envoys......

The next day, the tranquility of the morning was broken by a long whimpering trumpet, which seemed to travel through time, from the distant past, with an ethereal sense of antiquity.

The sky outside was already completely bright, and Fu Qian took twenty or thirty Pu soldiers to personally pick up Feng Yan, Wen Wuchen and his party into the palace.

Walking out of the post station, you can see that the people of the capital have also awakened, and they are standing in the streets, looking in the direction of the palace with burning eyes, as if looking at their faith.

Obviously, these people also know that today they will have their new king!

Along the way, only the sound of their horses' hooves and the sound of the ancient trumpets echoed around, making the whole capital more and more quiet and solemn, and the people were silent.

The group rode their horses and winded up in the direction of the palace, and after a stick of incense, they arrived in front of the heavily guarded palace fort.

They dismounted, and as soon as the guards saw Fu Qian, they immediately let them go.

The interior of the palace is as majestic as it looks from the outside, with snow-white walls that sparkle in the sunlight as if they were embedded with countless broken gems.

Feng Yan, Wen Wuchen, Mu Jinfan and the others all followed Fu Qian forward, all the way around the main hall, along the winding stone steps on the mountain, to the back mountain.

There is a huge stone platform in the back mountain, and the three sides of the platform are neatly carpeted and tables.

At this moment, there were already twenty or thirty richly dressed people sitting on the platform, and the tables were full of gold and silver utensils.

Although Fu Qian did not introduce the identities of these people, Feng Yan also roughly guessed it.

More than 60 years ago, the ancestor of the first Pu king Langrima was the patriarch of the Fu tribe, he was not willing to be in this small territory, led the army to defeat the other nine tribes around him, and finally, the other nine tribes all submitted to him, with the Fu tribe as the respect, which established the current Pu country.

Today's monarch selection ceremony is very important for Puguo, not only those royal relatives and ministers of the central government will be present, but also the patriarchs of the other nine clans of Puguo will also arrive, and they also specially came to the capital from various places in Puguo, in order to witness the birth of the new king!

The arrival of Feng Yan and his party naturally attracted a series of glances of curiosity or curiosity or disdain, and everyone turned their heads for a while, and they did not shy away from it, and directly talked in front of Feng Yan and them in Pu language.

"Brother Feng, and come with me to salute the two princes."

Fu Qian stretched out his hand to make an invitation, and in the eyes of everyone, he led Feng Yan and his party to the two brocade-clothed men sitting at the bottom.

The two men were both dark-skinned and resembling three or four of them, one in his thirties, with a beard and a rough and sturdy beard; A man in his twenties, with short beards on his upper and lower chins, and capable in hardcover, are obviously brothers.

"I've seen the eldest prince and the second prince."

Feng Yan and his entourage saluted the two princes with great courtesy.

"The Dasheng envoy is very polite."

To Feng Yan's surprise, the eldest prince spoke a fluent Dasheng speech, and the second prince beside him did not show weakness, and immediately said: "Have the envoys taken a good walk around this capital in the past few days and enjoyed the scenery of my Pu country?" ”

Feng Yan's surprise was only a flash, I heard that King Pu Lang Rima liked the Central Plains culture, and he took the initiative to ask the emperor for peace, it seems that there is a chance that even the two princes have specially studied the Central Plains culture in order to please their father.

Feng Yan casually exchanged a few words with the two princes, and was taken to their seats by Fu Qian to sit down, their seats were only subordinated to the two princes and the nine patriarchs, which could be regarded as the importance that Pu Guo attached to the envoys of Dasheng.

Whether it was Feng Yan, Wen Wuchen and Mu Jinfan knew this, and secretly exchanged glances.

Everyone sat down on the soft woolen carpet, and Feng Yan also sat on the ground, and couldn't help but raise his eyes and glance at the two empty main seats in front of him, those two seats should be for the king and queen.

On the platform, there are still some guests arriving one after another, including ministers, princes, and other patriarchs...... The air was filled with the heroic voices of those Pu people, and the surroundings were getting more and more lively, and the rising sun was rising higher and higher, sprinkling a golden-red light on the platform.

Slave girls dressed in gold-trimmed white robes respectfully and humbly served drinks, snacks, melons and fruits to the VIPs.

A tall and plump female slave girl came over with a golden wine jug to pour wine for Feng Yan, and the sound of "bang-la-la" wine echoed in Feng Yan's ears, and his eyes looked at the two princes for a while, and then looked at the main seat again......

Suddenly, a woman's exclamation sounded in his ears, and from the corner of Feng Yan's eyes, he saw that the female slave accidentally crooked her hand, and the reddish-brown wine in the wine jug happened to be sprinkled on Feng Yanhu's blue robe, leaving a large wine stain on the corner of the robe, and the reddish-brown wine was as shocking as blood at first glance......

The slave girl, who seemed to be at most eighteen or nineteen years old, quickly knelt on the ground, her forehead rested on the cold ground, and begged for mercy in a blunt Dasheng language in fear: "Your honor...... Spare your life! Slaves are not...... Deliberately! ”

Her words were staccato and unmistakable, as if she hadn't learned a few big words.

Feng Yan's eyes were half-drooping, looking at the wine stains on the corner of the robe, his eyelashes, which were as long as combs, trembled twice, and said lightly: "It's okay." ”

The kneeling slave girl raised her head slightly, with a little dust on her forehead, and said respectfully, "Slave belt...... Childe went to change clothes. ”

"I'm tired." The corners of Feng Yan's lips curled slightly, and he seemed to be generous and polite, got up and left with the slave girl.

People came and went on this platform, and those Pu people didn't care at all, that is, Master He glanced at Feng Yan more, and then turned his gaze to the two princes, secretly speculating in his heart who would be the new King Pu.

Feng Yan followed the female slave all the way to the northeast of the palace, gradually leaving behind the bustle and hustle and bustle on the platform, and the surroundings became more and more secluded.

At first, you could occasionally see the soldiers patrolling, but slowly, there was no one else around.

"Childe, right here." The slave girl took Feng Yan to a house with a steeple and white wall, and gracefully stretched out her hand to a black door in front of her to make a petition.

She seemed to have calmed down, and even Dasheng was much more fluent in listening, "Please go in and change your clothes." ”

Feng Yan smiled slightly, pushed the door directly and entered.

The "creaking" sound of the door opening was almost piercing in the silence.

A fragrant incense greeted the face.

It is a small room, with a gorgeous soft wool carpet that is silently stepped on, and the surrounding walls are painted with colorful murals, with a square table in the center and a beauty couch leaning against the wall on the left.

On the couch, a young woman in her twenties was lying lazily.

The woman was wearing a loose red brocade robe, without shoes, revealing a pair of naked and smooth jade feet, her toenails were dyed bright red by the juice of impatiens, red and white formed an extreme contrast, and the black and dense green silk pulled a charming fallen horse bun, and the hairpin was full of gorgeous golden silk beads, which made the woman's already delicate and dazzling face even more gorgeous, and the country and the city were captivated.

Her eyes with dark eyeliner sparkled as if one more look would seduce people's hearts.

This is a woman who is stunningly described, like a bewitching queen of the country.

Of course, the woman also saw Feng Yan and smiled at him, her red lips were only slightly upturned, which was enough to charm all beings.

She raised her right hand and beckoned Feng Yan to pass, the slightly exaggerated cuffs slid slightly with her movements, revealing a fair and delicate wrist, and the sunlight spilled in through the window, reflecting her jade-like skin as if it was glowing, exuding a strange charm.

Feng Yan stood motionless, looking at the woman with a stunned expression for a moment, and then walked straight towards her.

His black phoenix eyes looked at the woman on the beautiful couch without blinking, and his eyes were a little trance-like, as if he was enchanted.

When the wind blows, the flowers and trees outside the window sway, sending bursts of floral fragrance, and the jasmine-scented incense in the room seems to be stronger.

Feng Yan walked until he was only two steps away from the beauty couch before stopping.

The woman maintained a reclining position, raised her eyes to look at him, her red and full lips curled higher, and her seductive eyes narrowed slightly, and there seemed to be vast stars in them.

The two looked at each other silently for a few breaths.

Suddenly, Feng Yan knelt down in his robe, knelt on the soft carpet below, and knelt in front of the woman.

"Auntie."

He pursed his thin lips lightly and called out in a low voice, with an extremely complex emotion in his mouth.

------Off topic------

Went on foot yesterday and walked for 7 hours, 17. 6 km. I really don't want to go to work today!