In response to the archon's question, the new Imperial Prime Minister, Duke Luoyiya, replied with a smile:

"Your Excellency, of course we will remember the help given to us by the Huaxia Empire! And we are willing to give you enough rewards for this! Including Xiao Junling! ”

"What do you mean ......," Tang Xudong asked with a frown.

The Prime Minister of the Empire said in a deep voice: "Our Majesty's idea is that the Qingqiu Empire is willing to give Huaxia enough compensation as the price for Xiao Junling to stay in the Qingqiu Empire!" In addition, we would like to renew a more appropriate covenant with your country! As a guarantee of the strategic friendly relations between the two countries, I wonder what you think? ”

Tang Xudong said solemnly: "Madam Prime Minister, I think your proposal is a little inappropriate!" The signing of an alliance between the two countries is a matter of course, but this does not mean that our legitimate citizens can be used as a bargaining chip! In doing so, you not only violate the universal humanistic values of the two countries, but also extremely unfair to him. ”

"Therefore, you must immediately and unconditionally release Xiao Junling, this is a matter of principle, and there is no room for compromise!"

Empress Dai Liwei said calmly: "Your Excellency, Honorable Archon, no matter what you think, the prince of the Qingqiu Empire, the imperial husband of me, belongs to the core interests of the empire!" There is no room for concession! ”

The archon's pupils suddenly constricted, and he said in a cold voice: "Your Majesty, Xiao Junling is not an ordinary Chinese citizen, you insist on breaking diplomatic conventions, aren't you afraid of causing diplomatic disputes between the two countries?" ”

Xiao Junling's current identity is a full member of the Huaxia Imperial Council, the Lord of Venus, and the future successor of the Temple of the Silent Star. Plus it owns a large and wealthy overseas territory. Close cooperation with many wealthy clubs! No matter how you look at it, you already belong to the category of people who are important!

This move of the Qingqiu Empire. not only publicly swept the face of the Chinese Empire, but also directly offended many wealthy families! No matter how you look at it, it's not a wise thing to do!

Princess Yingshan smiled gently: "Your Excellency, regarding the matter of Xiao Junling, this palace thinks that the high-level officials of your country do not necessarily have the same attitude as you, right?" ”

"Your Royal Highness, I don't understand what you mean!" Tang Xudong said coldly.

Duke Luo Niya said: "Her Royal Highness the princess is saying that Xiao Junling's affairs have been irreversible, for the long-term friendship and strategic cooperation between the two countries. Perhaps your country's top brass will make a more pragmatic choice! ”

"You'd be wrong!" Fu Chanxin said coldly: "The Huaxia Empire will definitely not make any concessions on principled issues!" Whatever the reason! ”

Empress Deliwei nodded slightly: "That's good! Later, we will communicate directly with the Council of the Great Consuls of your country and try to come up with a mutually acceptable plan! ”

…………

In a palatial and extravagant dormitory.

The dormitory is just a general term, in fact, this is a very large area of independent palace rooms, divided into the inner hall and the outer hall area, the outside includes the reception area, leisure and entertainment area, dining room, study and other living facilities, the inner hall is where the empress sleeps.

The sumptuous feast has already been placed, and the Xiyun ice silk tablecloth with gold patterns on a white background. Exquisite antique azumarine tableware, a variety of well-known delicacies in the Xinghai world, are served in exquisite plates with different textures and shapes! Next to the ice pattern jade wine bottle with a strange style. It's a few bottles of wine with the royal emblem! And it's just taken out of the royal treasury, and each bottle is no less than a thousand years old!

In the golden dining car next to it, there are many sets of expensive tableware of different materials, and all kinds of fine wine are filled with several food trucks!

It's just that the main seat next to the dining table is empty, and a group of palace maids and attendants are standing next to it, their faces full of anxiety and helplessness.

A moment later, a dignified female official in a purple palace dress walked in, looked at the situation in the hall, her eyebrows suddenly twisted, and asked with some displeasure, "How are you waiting?" ”

A red-clothed female official hurriedly came over, lowered her eyebrows and said pleasantly: "Lord Steward, the slaves and maids have been persuaded several times, but His Royal Highness the Prince ...... him."

"Humph! It's all a bunch of useless rubbish! The manager's face turned cold, and he raised his hand and slapped her in the face, leaving clear finger marks on half of her white and tender cheeks.

The female official's grade is not low, but when she was slapped by the manager in front of everyone, she didn't dare to show the slightest dissatisfaction, but just made amends again and again.

"I can tell you, if the master inside doesn't eat, none of you want to eat anything today!" The chief steward scolded with a grim face:

"You are all carefully selected by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but now? What else would you do besides being in a daze here? All of them are like meteorites in the starry sky, lifeless! What's the use of asking you? ”

"Her Majesty the Empress is coming over later, seeing your virtue, what kind of punishment will be waiting for you, don't you need me to say more?"

The red-clothed female official was pale, tears were already flashing in her eyes, and the rules in the Qingqiu court were extremely strict, although the new empress was generous, she was not a mean and unkind lord! But everyone understands what kind of status the master in the inner hall of the dormitory has in his majesty's heart!

Once Her Majesty the Empress came back and found out about such a situation, she was furious, and these servants would definitely not be able to get rid of the heavy punishment, and it would be light to be demoted out of the palace to serve hard labor!

The manager reprimanded, and then said coldly: "There is still some time, I'll go and rearrange the manpower!" As for what will be the result, please be blessed. ”

He went out the door in a rage.

Several familiar palace maids leaned over and asked helplessly, "Sister Shulan, what should we do now?" ”

The red-clothed female officer named Shulan was not much older than them, she wiped her eyes when she heard this, and said in a low voice: "What else can be done now?" I can only ask for the one inside! ”

Everyone turned their heads to look at the closed door of the inner hall, on the thick and gorgeous door, the green luan color phoenix pattern cast in green gold shines under the illumination of the palace lamp, and the surrounding is decorated with countless exquisite bird flower patterns, which looks gorgeous and atmospheric, revealing the royal dignity and elegance!

Shulan walked to the door, gritted her teeth and put her hand on it, and pushed it with great luck.

The doors of the temple were not locked. It's just a cover-up. So she walked in easily.

The inner sanctum was filled with a faint fragrance. Several snow-white beaded curtains hung down from the dome, and the thick pale cyan carpet was soft and indescribably comfortable to step on!

Behind the bead curtain, on the wide throne, Xiao Junling leaned on the armrest, his eyes slightly closed, as if he was asleep.

Sensing the sound of flustered breathing approaching. He opened his eyes a little unhappily and said, "Why are you here again?" Didn't you say don't bother......"

Before the words fell, Shulan, whose face was full of tears, had already knelt in front of him, and said helplessly: "Your Royal Highness, please take pity on me and other palace people, so let's eat something!" Otherwise...... The slaves and maidservants have no way to live......"

Xiao Junling's face was stunned, she could already see the finger marks on her face, and asked in surprise, "What's going on?" ”

Listening to Shulan sobbing and telling what happened, he was silent for a long time, and said softly: "It's just because of this little thing." Are you going to be punished so severely? ”

"Your Highness, it may be a small matter to you. But for the palace people, this is a major event related to the future and fate! Shulan smiled bitterly.

Xiao Junling said: "In my impression of the Qingqiu Palace, the rules should not be so strict, why does the chief manager want to treat you like this?" ”

Shulan looked at him and said cautiously, "Your Majesty the Empress cares about your feelings very much, that's why she ...... us like this."

"She?" Xiao Junling shook her head, and with a wave of her hand, a magnificent silver mist of light landed on her face, erasing the injury in the blink of an eye.

Shulan was surprised and delighted, and hurriedly thanked her.

"Let's get out of the city!" He reached out and pulled the female officer up, raised his feet and walked out.

No matter what kind of dissatisfaction he had with the empress in his heart, he didn't want to cause these ordinary palace people to become the object of anger because of his mood!

"Your Royal Highness!" Outside, when the palace maids and attendants saw that he finally came out, they breathed a sigh of relief and bowed in unison.

Xiao Junling smiled and nodded at them, sat down at the table, and two fourteen or fifteen-year-old young male waiters immediately came over to pour wine for him.

Another young man came over with a jade basin and knelt down in front of him.

He cleaned his hands in the basin, and his own maid came with a white silk scarf for him to dry.

Shulan made a gesture, six beautiful and beautiful palace maids in white dresses gathered around the dining table, each holding a jade bowl and ivory chopsticks, as long as his eyes stayed on which dish for a moment, the palace maid closest to the dish took a chopstick and sent it to the bowl in front of him, and the service was extremely attentive and thoughtful!

"Looks pretty skilled!" Xiao Junling looked at the flowing movements of the palace maids, and smiled with a little surprise: "Have you also learned it before?" ”

For people who have never been exposed to Chinese food, chopsticks are not so easy to use! You have to train for a long time to become proficient. Of course, for the natives of China, this is not a problem at all.

Shulan replied respectfully: "Your Highness, Chinese cuisine and dining etiquette are also very popular in our Qingqiu Palace!" Among the empresses of the past dynasties, there are not a few people who love to eat Chinese food, and even those nobles have many people who like it! Therefore, after the slaves and maids enter the palace, they will specialize in practicing this knowledge and skills! ”

Xiao Junling nodded lightly: "Very good!" I am very satisfied! ”

The women couldn't help but be overjoyed, and they all opened their mouths to make fun, persuading him to eat more and be diligent!

A stone in Shulan's heart quietly fell to the ground, and she said in her heart that this master seems to have a good temperament, and it shouldn't be too difficult to wait for in the future!

After a while, the chief chamberlain walked in with a group of palace maids, and couldn't help but be stunned when he saw Xiao Junling feasting. It took a few seconds before he reacted, and he hurriedly saluted.

"What are you doing here?" He asked indifferently.

"Your Highness, the concubines are afraid that these slaves and maids will be clumsy and will not be able to wait for you, so they specially selected a new group of clever and reliable people...... "The chief manager said with a smile on his face.

"No need! They did a great job! He said flatly.

The chief steward was stunned for a moment and said, "Since this is the case, then let them wait for His Highness all the time in the future, do you think it's okay?" ”

Xiao Junling nodded, agreeing with her opinion. (To be continued......)

PS: (Ask for a monthly pass, recommend a ticket!) ）