Becoming the Emperor’s Greatest Woe - Chapter 55

The day to leave the Zherou royal court drew closer, yet the people of Qiaoluo had still not approached the envoys of Great Zhou.

 

Unlike Jiang Yuxun, who remained calm and composed, Tang Yimeng was beginning to grow anxious.

 

Sitting across from Jiang Yuxun, he hesitated for a long time before lowering his voice and saying, “Lord Jiang, about the last time we…”

 

“Shh—”

 

Before Tang Yimeng could finish his sentence, Jiang Yuxun gently shook his head, interrupting him.

 

He glanced toward the door and lightly tapped a piece of paper on the table with his finger.

 

Tang Yimeng finally realized and looked at the spot Jiang Yuxun had indicated.

 

“The Zherou soldiers outside the door can understand the official language of Great Zhou.”

 

Jiang Yuxun didn’t write this sentence directly but instead marked it phonetically.

 

By now, “phonetic annotation” had already been widely promoted throughout Great Zhou.

 

For officials who knew the official language and were literate, using the phonetic system wasn’t difficult. Tang Yimeng had mastered it firmly months ago.

 

After discerning the meaning of this sentence, Tang Yimeng picked up a pen, found a blank piece of paper, and wrote: “Lord Jiang, Qiaoluo still hasn’t shown any sign of action. If we don’t go and request wheat seeds from them, it’ll be time for us to leave.”

 

Jiang Yuxun shook his head slightly and wrote:

 

“Qiaoluo wants the protection of Great Zhou. We must wait for them to take the initiative to surrender. If we appear too eager now, it will only make Qiaoluo hesitant or even retreat.”

 

The envoys from Qiaoluo were meticulous in their thinking, and Jiang Yuxun suspected… they might be deliberately holding back to observe Great Zhou’s response.

 

“Fine then…” Tang Yimeng sighed softly and nodded before finally leaving the tent.

 

The spring in Zherou was extremely dry, the season most prone to fires, so no candles were allowed to be lit inside the tent.

 

After Tang Yimeng left, Jiang Yuxun “accidentally” spilled water on the rice paper on the table.

 

Only after confirming that the words on the paper were completely blurred did he begin to tidy up the place.

 

His expression remained calm, but the hand wiping the table trembled slightly twice.

 

…Time was indeed running out.

 

Jiang Yuxun moved very slowly, finally putting down the silk cloth after some time.

 

The table had long been wiped clean. Just as he was about to stand up to stretch his legs, a familiar sound came from outside the tent: “Lord Jiang, Princess Lianyi requests your presence—”

 

Jiang Yuxun’s heart sank heavily at that moment.

 

Why would Princess Lianyi summon him now? Could it have something to do with the Qiaoluo envoy?

 

Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but bite his lip.

 

Just as he was about to step out, he hesitated and turned back to change into another set of clothes.

 

The Zherou royal court basked under the blazing sun.

 

Sunlight poured down from the cloudless sky, stinging one’s eyes.

 

Even through the thick felt, the inside of the tent was so bright that there was no need for lamps.

 

“Lord Jiang has arrived,” Princess Lianyi’s voice came from nearby. She smiled at Jiang Yuxun, saying, “The king went deer hunting this morning. With nothing else to do, I thought to invite Lord Jiang for a chat.”

 

As she brewed tea, she casually said, “Please, have a seat.”

 

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

 

The Zherou king wasn’t in the royal court this morning?

 

…Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuxun immediately had a hunch.

 

He stepped forward, saluted Princess Lianyi, and then sat down on the other side of the carpet.

 

A soft tinkling sound accompanied his movements.

 

Princess Lianyi looked up at Jiang Yuxun with some curiosity.

 

He was still wearing his azure official robes, but unlike usual… today, Jiang Yuxun was adorned with all kinds of jewelry, appearing extraordinarily opulent.

 

“Why is Lord Jiang…” dressed like this today?

 

Halfway through her sentence, Princess Lianyi, having guessed Jiang Yuxun’s intent, suddenly swallowed her words.

 

Unlike the people of Great Zhou, the Western tribes didn’t consider “wealth should not be flaunted” a virtue.

 

On the contrary, they often wore all their possessions to demonstrate their strength.

 

—Clearly, Jiang Yuxun was ready to meet with the Qiaoluo envoy.

 

She smiled and personally handed him a cup of tea: “There is a friend who wishes to meet Lord Jiang. Would you be interested?”

 

A lone white cloud drifted into the sky, briefly shielding the sun, and the tent dimmed abruptly.

 

The heart that Jiang Yuxun had been holding high finally settled.

 

Only the envoy of Qiaoluo would seek him out at this moment.

 

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Jiang Yuxun said quickly, taking the tea and expressing his gratitude. “Then I’ll trouble Your Highness to make the introduction.”

 

“A small favor.”

 

…

 

Though Princess Lianyi wasn’t the birth mother of the current Zherou king, having spent two decades in the royal court, she naturally had her own connections and influence.

 

Jiang Yuxun guessed that the Zherou king had most likely been deliberately sent away by her.

 

As soon as her words fell, the envoy of Qiaoluo appeared from behind the tent.

 

Princess Lianyi greeted him before leaving the tent, leaving only her attendant behind.

 

The envoy did not speak Zherou’s language but expressed his intent in his own tongue, with the princess’s attendant translating.

 

Somehow, the clouds in the sky dispersed again.

 

The inside of the tent brightened once more.

 

Jiang Yuxun took a sip of tea and said bluntly, “So, Qiaoluo this time seeks the protection of Great Zhou?”

 

Sunlight spilled onto his neck, where polished jade, crystals, agate, and turquoise shimmered brilliantly.

 

Jiang Yuxun’s words were translated by the attendant.

 

The Qiaoluo envoy hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded firmly, “Yes, that is correct.”

 

Finally, the envoy looked at Jiang Yuxun nervously.

 

Jiang Yuxun smiled, shook his head leisurely, and said, “Great Zhou and Qiaoluo are so far apart. Why would Qiaoluo seek protection from Great Zhou instead of continuing friendly relations with Zherou, which is much closer?”

 

Sunlight fell on his long hair, casting a soft glow.

 

Although Jiang Yuxun’s features still carried a hint of youth, his expression had grown mature and composed after a year of facing storms.

 

The attendant nodded at Jiang Yuxun and turned to translate his words to the Qiaoluo envoy.

 

The envoy froze for a moment, then hurriedly began speaking in a flurry.

 

After a while, the attendant turned back and said, “The Zherou people have been training their troops against Great Zhou for years. The envoy, having stayed here for over a decade, has long seen that a war between Zhou and Zherou is inevitable.”

 

Sunlight fell directly onto Jiang Yuxun’s face, his dark eyes hidden beneath the shadow of his eyelashes.

 

He nodded slightly, signaling for the envoy to continue.

 

The attendant, who had spent much of her life in Zherou, still spoke with a faint southern accent.

 

As she listened, she translated: “He said Zherou could annex Qiaoluo at any time. The only reason they haven’t acted is that they’ve been preoccupied with matters involving Great Zhou.”

 

“Mm.”

 

“If Zherou wins, Qiaoluo will be the next to suffer. If Zherou loses, they’ll flee west in panic, and Qiaoluo will still suffer,” the attendant said evenly. “Therefore, the envoy wishes to secure Great Zhou’s protection in advance.”

 

—They had no choice but to bet on Great Zhou’s victory in this war.

 

Jiang Yuxun’s purpose for this trip was to obtain wheat seeds from Qiaoluo.

 

Yet at this moment, he felt no urgency at all.

 

Rather than addressing the envoy’s words, Jiang Yuxun casually asked the attendant a few unrelated questions.

 

It appeared as if he didn’t place much importance on the matter.

 

However, Jiang Yuxun’s apparent indifference only convinced the envoy that Great Zhou was indeed powerful.

 

Unable to hold back, the envoy stood up, bowed, and spoke in heavily accented Great Zhou official language: “Though Qiaoluo lacks military strength and cannot defend itself, we are wealthy and not short on money. If Great Zhou is willing, we can send gold and silver directly to your emperor.”

 

Jiang Yuxun: ?!

 

He can speak Great Zhou official language?

 

…For an envoy to use the other nation’s language in diplomacy signified submission and humility.

 

Qiaoluo was lowering its stance and had become visibly anxious.

 

Calm down, calm down!

 

Project the majesty of a great power.

 

Jiang Yuxun silently encouraged himself, mimicking the composure of Ying Changchuan as he lightly set down his teacup and shook his head at the envoy.

 

With a strategy of retreating to advance, he said, “Great Zhou does not lack gold and silver, and His Majesty has no interest in such worldly items.”

 

The gold, silver, jade, and gemstones on Jiang Yuxun’s attire sparkled brilliantly with his movement, lending undeniable weight to his words.

 

The Qiaoluo envoy immediately nodded emphatically. “Yes, yes, my lord.”

 

As he finished, he nervously wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

 

The Zherou people had always been boastful, claiming that Ying Changchuan’s victories were merely due to luck.

 

Influenced by this, the envoy had doubted Great Zhou’s strength.

 

But now, seeing Jiang Yuxun’s cold and aloof demeanor, the envoy was finally reassured: Great Zhou’s strength must far exceed his imagination!

 

If they didn’t cling to this powerful nation now, when would they?

 

The Qiaoluo envoy cautiously asked, “What might Great Zhou be interested in?”

 

“Let me think…” Jiang Yuxun, inwardly laughing to himself, pretended to respond nonchalantly. “Yesterday, in a Zherou tent, I saw some exotic flowers and plants from the Western regions… things like spinach and wheat. Compared to gold and silver, such items are a bit more intriguing.”

 

The Qiaoluo envoy nodded eagerly and looked at Jiang Yuxun with great anticipation. “Of course, of course!”

 

Seeing his prompt agreement, Jiang Yuxun suddenly furrowed his brows as if he felt shortchanged. “But these things are far less valuable than gold and silver…”

 

“Lord Jiang, rest assured. Qiaoluo would never be stingy about quantity,” the envoy said hurriedly, fearing Jiang Yuxun might change his mind. He quickly outlined the route he had planned: “Although the eastern route is blocked by Zherou, we can bypass through Kehan and transport the goods to Great Zhou from there!”

 

What?!

 

Jiang Yuxun was stunned.

 

Great Zhou’s northwest bordered Zherou, and its southwest neighbored the Kehan Plateau.

 

Was Qiaoluo planning to take the long way around, crossing the entire plateau, to deliver goods to the capital?

 

This revelation left Jiang Yuxun utterly speechless.

 

When Jiang Yuxun didn’t respond immediately, the envoy assumed he was still hesitant.

 

The envoy quickly added, “Words alone may not suffice. When our prince came to Zherou as a hostage, he brought ten shi of wheat seeds and vegetable seeds. Zherou has no interest in such items, so most of them remain. If my lord does not mind, you may take them with you.”

 

“If Qiaoluo violates the alliance, you only need to hand over these seeds to Zherou, and we will be beyond saving!”

 

One shi during the Zhou era was roughly equivalent to 30 jin (about 15 kilograms).

 

While these wheat seeds might not be much for consumption, they were quite sufficient for planting.

 

Jiang Yuxun’s breath caught involuntarily.

 

The envoy cautiously asked, “Lord Jiang, what do you think?”

 

Seeing his expression, Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

 

…It seems I really have picked up bad habits from Ying Changchuan.

 

Degenerate, truly degenerate!

 

By now, it was already noon.

 

Not wanting to trouble the Qiaoluo envoy any further, Jiang Yuxun smiled at him and slowly stood up, saying, “It’s getting late; you should go back and rest now.”

 

The envoy widened his eyes and nodded at Jiang Yuxun with great unease.

 

The two walked side by side out of the tent, with the female official lifting the flap for them.

 

Just as they were about to step outside, Jiang Yuxun stopped and smiled at the envoy, saying, “Since Qiaoluo has shown such sincerity, Great Zhou will naturally not let you down.”

 

The sky was cloudless today, and the entire royal court was exposed under the blazing sun.

 

He squinted slightly, looking up at the sky, and said, “It’s getting late. Please prepare the wheat seeds quickly, without alerting Zherou or delaying our journey.”

 

The spring breeze lifted the hem of his green robe, making Jiang Yuxun’s upright posture even more striking.

 

In that instant, the envoy felt an illusion—that the radiance from this young man seemed to outshine the blazing sun.

 

“Yes, my lord—”

 

The Qiaoluo envoy immediately took a step back and bowed respectfully to Jiang Yuxun.

 

This time, instead of placing his hand on his chest as he had before, he raised his hand to his forehead in the manner of Zhou people, hinting at a gesture of submission.

 

※

 

In the afternoon, the Zherou King, who had gone hunting on the Yiyan Grassland, finally returned to the royal court.

 

Perhaps aware that his own envoy had embarrassed himself before the Zhou delegation, he couldn’t hold back and summoned Jiang Yuxun and his entourage to the outskirts of the royal court. It seemed he intended to use a “horse race” to regain face.

 

The still-young Zherou King led the group on horseback, riding at the forefront.

 

The envoy and the Zhou soldiers followed behind them, heading west of the royal court toward the sandy terrain.

 

The procession was grand and impressive.

 

It was around three or four in the afternoon, the hottest time of the day.

 

The scorching sun shone down relentlessly, making their scalps tingle with heat.

 

“Lord Jiang, would you like some water?” A soldier handed over a water flask.

 

Jiang Yuxun softly thanked him and drank the entire contents in one go, finally relieving the dryness in his throat.

 

Seeing the Zherou people continuing to advance into the desert, Tang Yimeng, who was walking beside Jiang Yuxun, frowned and cast him a glance.

 

—What on earth are these Zherou people up to?!

 

At some point, the Zherou royal court had disappeared beyond the horizon.

 

Worried that going further might lead to trouble, Jiang Yuxun finally stepped forward and asked, “May I ask where the Zherou King intends to take us?”

 

As soon as the interpreter translated this, the Zherou King at the front tightened his reins.

 

Seeing this, the Zherou official who spoke Zhou language immediately said, “Everyone, stop here!”

 

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned to Jiang Yuxun with a smile. “Lord Jiang, do you see that lake up ahead? Let your soldiers compete with our Zherou warriors in a horse race. The first to reach the lake, retrieve the token, and return will be the winner.”

 

As he spoke, he pointed forward with his riding whip.

 

The Zherou King at the front also turned back with a smile, glancing at the group behind him.

 

A sacred lake?

 

…Why haven’t I heard of this before?

 

Jiang Yuxun and the other Zhou people looked in the direction he indicated.

 

They were in the middle of the desert, surrounded by nothing but yellow sand and jagged rocks.

 

Everything here screamed “arid.”

 

Yet on the horizon, there was a lake glinting under the scorching sun.

 

Upon seeing the lake, the Zhou soldiers immediately straightened up, eager to compete with the Zherou warriors.

 

Additionally, several skilled riders among the Zhou officials seemed ready to join the race.

 

The Zherou official put down his whip, took a swig from his water flask, and sneered, “It’s not too late to concede now.”

 

“Why should we concede?” Tang Yimeng retorted. “You’re overly confident, sir.”

 

The soldiers grew increasingly excited.

 

“Exactly! Let’s race—”

 

“When do we start?”

 

The Zherou official set aside his water flask and cleared the path ahead. “Oh? If you’re not afraid, then let’s begin—”

 

“Wait!” Before he could finish, Jiang Yuxun interrupted.

 

Seated on a white horse, Jiang Yuxun raised his gaze toward the front.

 

After a few moments of silence, he suddenly frowned and smiled. “A lake? May I ask, sir, what is the name of that ‘lake’? How large is it, and how far is it from our current position?”

 

The surrounding area fell silent.

 

The Zherou official froze. “Uh… it’s called, it’s called…”

 

Jiang Yuxun tugged on his reins and gave him a cold look. “You don’t know either, do you?”

 

At that moment, an eagle soared overhead, crying sharply.

 

Jiang Yuxun’s voice was not loud, but it carried an imposing force.

 

Seeing that the Zherou official couldn’t answer, the Zhou officials and soldiers began whispering among themselves:

 

“What’s going on here…?”

 

“How could the Zherou people not know the name of their sacred lake?”

 

Jiang Yuxun glanced at the accompanying interpreter and then lowered his voice, saying, “With all due respect, there is no lake ahead. The shimmering surface in the distance is nothing but a mirage!”

 

At the same time, the interpreter translated this into the Zherou language, loudly announcing it.

 

The two voices, accompanied by the eagle’s cry overhead, echoed repeatedly across the desert.

 

Everyone present was stunned, rooted to the spot.

 

Though Jiang Yuxun was smiling, his heart was filled with anger.

 

The phenomenon of “mirages” can be classified into “superior mirages,” “inferior mirages,” and “complex mirages.”

 

The “lake” before them was one of the most common inferior mirages, often seen on sunny days in deserts or on asphalt roads.

 

…The Zherou people absolutely knew that the distant “lake” was unreachable.

 

They did this deliberately, intending to trap soldiers unfamiliar with mirages, leading them to chase after the illusion and perish in the desert.

 

Then they could turn around and mock the Zhou soldiers as foolish for failing to find a mere lake.

 

“What… what ‘mirage’? Lord Jiang, you must be joking!” The Zherou official tried to deny it.

 

Jiang Yuxun ignored him and rode straight toward the Zherou King.

 

As he advanced, he spoke, “Historical records already describe ‘sea vapor forming towers, and mirages creating palaces in vast wilderness.’ What? Do the Zherou people truly believe they are the only ones who have seen mirages?”

 

There was a hint of anger in Jiang Yuxun’s voice, and as he spoke faster, his words pressed down on everyone like a heavy weight.

 

Even under the noonday sun, a chill seemed to creep into their hearts.

 

Realizing the Zherou people’s intentions, Tang Yimeng and the others instantly turned pale.

 

Although they had read the historical accounts and remembered the descriptions, they had never seen a mirage themselves and failed to recognize that the “lake” in the distance was the very “mirage” from those texts.

 

The Zhou interpreter trembled as he translated Jiang Yuxun’s words.

 

The Zherou entourage instantly fell silent.

 

Jiang Yuxun stopped his horse in front of the Zherou King.

 

Looking directly into his eyes, he said almost word by word, “If the Zherou people insist that the sacred lake lies ahead, why not have the King personally lead us there to perform a ritual?”

 

At that moment, the black-maned warhorse beneath the Zherou King suddenly snorted uneasily.

 

Its muscles twitched as it abruptly stepped back and began pawing nervously at the ground.

 

Sensing his disadvantage, the Zherou King immediately began to speak: “You—”

 

But Jiang Yuxun gave him no chance to finish. “Even in war, emissaries are not to be harmed. We have traveled a great distance to Zherou, and this ‘sacred lake’ is what you present as your sincerity to Great Zhou? May I ask if your actions are known to the Three Kings of Zherou?”

 

Jiang Yuxun’s words were translated clearly into every ear by the interpreter.

 

The Zherou King commanded only a few thousand personal guards.

 

Here, the true authority lay with the “Three Kings” deep in the grasslands.

 

Now, the Three Kings dared not yet declare war on Great Zhou, but the Zherou King had acted recklessly, pulling this stunt.

 

If this reached the Three Kings, the royal court might see a change in leadership.

 

The once-arrogant Zherou King froze in place.

 

The nobles who accompanied him also kept their mouths tightly shut, not daring to make a sound.

 

“Let’s go!”

 

Jiang Yuxun turned his horse around and led the Zhou delegation in the opposite direction, leaving the Zherou people behind without a backward glance.

 

“Yes, Lord Jiang—”

 

The sound of hooves thundered through the desert.

 

Yellow sand billowed high, blowing toward the Zherou people.

 

The sunlight fell from the sky, piercing like daggers.

 

It was only after Jiang Yuxun and his group had gone far that the Zherou people awkwardly gripped their reins and moved forward.

 

After the “sacred lake” incident, the Zherou people finally quieted down.

 

Jiang Yuxun stayed within his tent and refrained from going out.

 

On the day he received word from Princess Lianyi that the wheat seeds were ready, it was also time to leave.

 

By then, another sandstorm had arisen, with sand and stones flying wildly, darkening the sky.

 

The delegation’s journey could not be delayed because of this.

 

Before dawn, Jiang Yuxun and his party left the royal court, heading south.

 

At first, they could still barely discern the path, but as they reached the narrow sandy region between Zhou and Zherou, trouble arose.

 

“Ah-hem… Lord Jiang, there seems to be a tornado ahead,” a soldier said, coughing as he spoke. “The wagon tracks on the ground have also been buried by the sandstorm!”

 

Jiang Yuxun’s heart immediately tightened.

 

Braving the fierce wind, he stepped out of the carriage and said, “Order everyone to halt and gather all the carts and horses together.”

 

“Understood!”

 

As he spoke, Tang Yimeng also exited his carriage. “Lord Jiang, please go back inside and wait!”

 

Jiang Yuxun shook his head and asked him, “Will anyone come to meet us today?”

 

Tang Yimeng’s expression turned grim, and he shouted over the sandstorm, “Ah-hem… We’ve never encountered this kind of situation before.”

 

“Alright, I understand.” Jiang Yuxun’s mood grew heavier.

 

In such weather, it was impossible to proceed.

 

Under normal circumstances, Princess Lianyi would have kept the group for a few more days and let them leave after the sandstorm subsided.

 

But this year was different…

 

Fearing further provocations from the Zherou people and worried that the wheat seeds might be discovered, they had to leave the royal court as soon as possible.

 

As Jiang Yuxun stepped out of the carriage, several other emissaries gathered around him.

 

The weather today was too unusual.

 

Their anxiety and frustration grew. “The tracks are gone, and who knows how many more days this sandstorm will last? If no one comes to meet us, what should we do?”

 

“I think the storm is only going to worsen. We should move on, no matter the direction. We can’t risk being completely stranded in the desert!”

 

“Yes, Lord Jiang, we should press on.”

 

Jiang Yuxun suddenly shook his head and turned to face them. “No, we won’t.”

 

Tang Yimeng was taken aback. “What do you mean, we won’t?”

 

Jiang Yuxun clenched his fists tightly. “His Majesty will not abandon us.”

 

“Lord Jiang, I know His Majesty wouldn’t do that,” one emissary couldn’t help but say, “but what if he assumes we’re still at the royal court and haven’t left yet?”

 

“There is no ‘what if,'” Jiang Yuxun gritted his teeth and said firmly. “Emissaries are like His Majesty’s personal guards. When has His Majesty ever abandoned his guards in times of war?”

 

Having read the histories, he had faith in Ying Changchuan on this point.

 

“But—”

 

The wind suddenly intensified, and Jiang Yuxun, relying on his memory, tried to locate the south.

 

Coughing, he shouted to everyone, “Stay put and don’t move! Get back in the carriages and stay inside. Wait for reinforcements!”

 

The people around him exchanged reluctant glances before finally responding, “Understood…”

 

They struggled against the whipping sand to return to the carriages.

 

The howling wind roared in Jiang Yuxun’s ears, and the world around him was a murky yellow.

 

“Ah-hem, ah-hem…” Standing alone in the desert, Jiang Yuxun slowly closed his eyes.

 

—Ying Changchuan, don’t let me down this time.