"Hah! Currying favor with the masses."
Consort Jin glared at Jiang Xinyue: "Don't think you're special just because the Xuanwu Emperor rewarded you with some clothes. Relying on beauty to serve others is not a long-term plan."
Jiang Xinyue smiled faintly, unfazed by her words. She simply wiped her mouth and said, "One's appearance is given by one's parents, dear sister. What can I do about it? Sister says I serve through beauty, but that's a groundless claim. Do you really think the Xuanwu Emperor is so shallow as to favor consorts solely based on appearance?"
The phrase "serving through beauty" could offend every favored consort in the palace if it spread.
"You..."
Consort Jin stared at her angrily, clearly not meaning it that way.
Jiang Xinyue raised an eyebrow: "Sister, that fried chicken in front of you is golden on both sides. It's best eaten while hot; it won't taste as good when it's cold."
Even with food to fill your mouth, you still come looking for trouble with me.
For some reason, both Consort Zhang and Consort Jin sensed another layer of meaning in her tone.
"Hahahahaha..."
A deep laugh came from the front, and a dark-skinned, curry-flavored middle-aged man stood up, bowed to the Xuanwu Emperor, and then spewed a torrent of not-so-authentic foreign language.
The gist was that he felt the fried chicken was the best dish at this banquet and asked Vice Minister Jiang how it was prepared, hoping to learn the recipe.
Shuang Jiang whispered in Jiang Xinyue's ear: "This is Sultan Han, the prince of the Shulibotu Country."
It sounded like a Buddhist country, undoubtedly the future India.
The Indians were speaking English this early?
Then again, considering that the Great Yan dynasty she found herself in did not exist in history, everything could be viewed from a fictional perspective. In that case, the appearance of an Englishman would not be surprising.
How could one trace the historical trajectory of a fictional setting?
The Vice Minister could not answer his question since he did not understand the foreign language, so he yielded the floor to Vice Minister Jiang.
Vice Minister Jiang then introduced his daughter: "This is what my daughter did..."
The Xuanwu Emperor smiled: "Beloved Consort, come to your Emperor."
There was an ominous feeling, as if he wanted to show her off as a palace talisman.
With every step she took, she could feel the malicious intent from the consorts around her. But encouraged by the Xuanwu Emperor's approving gaze, she walked with unwavering determination.
If the Emperor wanted to establish her authority against the Consort Ci's faction, why shouldn't she use the Emperor to gain influence and assert her power?
Only those who forge ahead with courage and resolve can stand firm in the palace.
She stood beside the Emperor, and the two exchanged smiles. The Xuanwu Emperor held her hand but did not have her sit on his lap, as he still wanted to save face at such an important occasion and avoid appearing like a ruler infatuated with beauty.
"Wang Dequan, arrange a table and chairs for me beside you, so I can drink and chat merrily with the envoys from various countries."
Sultan Han remained standing, awaiting Jiang Xinyue's response.
He did not believe the Great Yan palace had consorts who could speak foreign languages, as there were no women in his palace who spoke the Celestial tongue.
The foreign language of the Shulibotu Country was not their native tongue, just as the vassal states under Great Yan had their own languages but had to learn the imperial language.
The four envoy countries, including Shulibotu, as well as Persia, Gaul, and Ancient Rome, were supposedly early forms of those nations.
Jiang Xinyue called them early forms because in the history of Hua Country, there were no records of any dynasty that had all four of these countries sending envoys simultaneously to pay tribute.
Under the rule of Western powers, their official language was the foreign tongue.
As for India...
She could handle that curry-flavored foreign language with her eyes closed.
"This is fried chicken..."
Sultan Han's eyes grew wider as he listened, astonished that this woman spoke the foreign tongue so fluently. Moreover...
His gaze turned toward the fair-haired, blue-eyed envoy from Gaul, as if to say: How can she speak the foreign language as well as you?
Then, the envoy from Persia deliberately challenged the Xuanwu Emperor by using obscure and difficult words that even Vice Minister Jiang struggled to translate.
The clumsy translation made the Xuanwu Emperor frown, and the envoys from the four countries laughed arrogantly.
Jiang Xinyue did not wish to stand out again today, but recalling the future plundering behavior of the Western world, she coldly retorted in the foreign tongue: "We in the Celestial Empire hope that Persia will soon unite the West. We also hope that Persia will then invite envoys from our Celestial Empire to visit the West and behold your vast and fertile lands."
It should be noted that among the four envoy countries, Gaul was the dominant power. The other three had just been following Gaul's lead. Jiang Xinyue saw this clearly from her vantage point.
Persia had just mocked Great Yan's lack of authority over its vassal states, but now they fell silent in fear.
If the King of Gaul truly believed Persia was rebelling and sent troops to suppress them, they would become Persia's eternal villain.
The Xuanwu Emperor caressed Jiang Xinyue's hand under the table: "Beloved Consort, what did they say earlier?"
Jiang Xinyue's expression changed as she smilingly explained: "The envoy from Persia, representing the four envoy countries, wished Your Majesty eternal prosperity and longevity!"
Is that so?
The Xuanwu Emperor raised his cup: "And I wish you all success and a happy new year."
After Jiang Xinyue slapped them down, the Xuanwu Emperor offered them a sweet jujube, making it seem as if the imperial couple had rehearsed their act, so seamless was their coordination.
The envoy countries did not fare well and left to disparage the Celestial Empire, giving way to the vassal states' turn to pay respects.
Goryeo, Fusang, Jin Kingdom, and others presented tributes from their rulers to the Xuanwu Emperor, and officials from the Ministry of Rites recorded them, ensuring that gifts of comparable value would be sent to those countries when their envoys returned home.
As the banquet drew to a close, Empress Zhu showed signs of fatigue, and the Xuanwu Emperor expressed concern: "If the Empress is unwell, she may return to the Yikun Palace first and rest. I will join her later."
On New Year's Eve, the Emperor had to stay up to welcome the new year, so he gave Empress Zhu due respect.
She coughed a few times, her lips pale: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. I shall take my leave."
The Emperor is a man of his word. He said he would come, so he will definitely come. There is no need for you to keep fretting.
Concubine Li's handkerchief under the table was practically wrung to shreds, yet she still wore a gentle smile: "Now that the Empress has left, why doesn't Precious Consort Jiang take the Empress's seat? This would allow me to be closer to the Emperor as well!"
Tears immediately welled up in Jiang Xinyue's eyes. She fearfully knelt beside the chair: "This servant dares not! That is the Empress's seat. I have no such ambition."
Concubine Li was ambitious, always instigating others to vie and grab for power, benefiting from their efforts like a fisherman reaping the rewards without lifting a net.
Since she enjoyed inciting others so much, she should just shout out her thoughts and see how she could conceal her intentions?
