Xiao Huaishi tilted his head slightly, continued to raise his eyebrows, and looked at the envoy from the Western Yue State. "Discuss other matters? I wonder what you want to discuss with me?"
The envoy from the Western Yue State bowed and said, "Naturally, it's about the friendship between our two countries. I've heard that General Shen of the Eastern Mausoleum State is over 20 years old but has never been married."
Hearing this, Xiao Huaishi roughly understood their intention. The Western Yue State probably wanted to form an alliance through marriage, sending a princess or a noblewoman above the rank of a county princess to marry into the Eastern Mausoleum State.
However, Xiao Huaishi felt a bit strange. Logically, a marriage alliance should be with the royal family. Why did the envoy from the Western Yue State mention Shen Yi this time?
But since the Western Yue State didn't have any intention of coveting the land of the Eastern Mausoleum State, there was still room for further negotiation.
Xiao Huaishi's slightly worried heart calmed down. He walked back to his chair and sat down, nodding leisurely. "Oh? So you've taken a fancy to our General Shen?"
The envoy from the Western Yue State took a step forward and bowed again. "Since Your Majesty has such an attitude, I'll be straightforward. Our Western Yue State hopes to form a marriage alliance with the Eastern Mausoleum State. In this way, our two countries can become in - laws, and there will be no more wars between us. This is also what the common people would like to see, isn't it? I've long heard that Your Majesty of the Eastern Mausoleum State is a wise king. I believe you understand the meaning behind this."
Xiao Huaishi smiled. "So the purpose of these gifts is... to curry favor with me?"
The envoy from the Western Yue State waved his hand. "Your Majesty is joking. We just want to leave a good impression on you so that you'll treat the person who marries into your country well in the future."
"But why do you think I'll allow my general from the Eastern Mausoleum State to marry a foreign woman? Isn't that like inviting a wolf into the house?" Xiao Huaishi sat on the dragon throne, looking at the envoy from the Western Yue State. He slightly curled his lips, as if mocking. It seemed that he thought the request put forward by the envoy from the Western Yue State was a big joke.
The envoy from the Western Yue State didn't think there was anything wrong with his country's approach. He bowed and continued, "I've long heard that the Night Shade Division of the Eastern Mausoleum State is an army belonging only to Your Majesty. General Shen is the one in charge of all the soldiers, and the soldiers only obey General Shen. Aren't you worried that General Shen might rebel, Your Majesty?"
Xiao Huaishi's fingers trembled slightly. The words of the envoy from the Western Yue State hit the nail on the head. Because of the power of the Shen family, he couldn't help but be wary. Although the two children of the main branch of the Shen family didn't show any signs of rebellion.
But being a subject beside the king is like being beside a tiger. The king's mind is always full of suspicion. Xiao Huaishi always had a bit of a gap in his heart towards them and couldn't fully trust them.
However, even so, Xiao Huaishi would never allow himself to show such an expression in front of the envoy from a foreign country. So he showed an angry expression on his face, suddenly slapped the table, pointed at the envoy from the Western Yue State, and shouted angrily, "I think you're really bold. How dare you come here to sow discord within our country? What's your intention?"
The envoy from the Western Yue State quickly knelt down and explained, "I wouldn't dare. I'm just thinking about Your Majesty. After all, as a king, it's lonely at the top. You need to be careful of villains. To show our sincerity, our country will send a princess and a county princess for the marriage alliance. But the real target of this marriage alliance is actually the princess. It will be more reassuring if the power is in Your Majesty's hands. If General Shen marries a foreign woman, won't it be easier for Your Majesty to take back his military power?"
This statement made some sense, so Xiao Huaishi nodded and raised his hand. "So according to the envoy, the person for the marriage alliance is..."
The envoy from the Western Yue State immediately nodded. "The person for the marriage alliance is the Seventh Princess of our Western Yue State. The reputation of the Seventh Princess of our Western Yue State is very high. She is well - known far and wide. Her beauty is widely admired, and her talents are unparalleled."
Xiao Huaishi naturally didn't care about the princess of the Western Yue State. After all, she was just a foreign woman. He was just afraid that the Western Yue State had some plot, so he asked, "Is this true?"
The envoy from the Western Yue State thought that Xiao Huaishi was convinced by his analysis just now. He immediately nodded. "This is the intention of the king of the Western Yue State when he sent me here. I wonder what Your Majesty's opinion is?"
Xiao Huaishi knew that he had to agree to this matter. Although he hated the Western Yue State, for the sake of the common people all over the world, he had no choice but to agree. After all, the emptiness of the national treasury really needed this large sum of silver. In this way, the taxes on the common people could be reduced, and temporary peace could be exchanged.
So he still pretended to think for a while and asked, "I think this is not a small matter. After all, it's a marriage alliance between two countries. I wonder which of my sons the Seventh Princess of your Western Yue State wants to marry?"
"Precisely the Fourth Prince. I've long heard that the Fourth Prince is valiant, elegant, and extremely intelligent. The Seventh Princess has always wanted to meet the Fourth Prince." The envoy from the Western Yue State said respectfully.
But Xiao Huaishi frowned slightly. He thought about his fourth son secretly and said hesitantly, "You mean the fourth son... A marriage alliance is a major event, especially when a prince marries a primary wife. It needs more consideration. Without saying anything about the Seventh Princess, how can a foreign woman casually take on the position of the primary wife of the royal family? But giving her the position of a secondary wife might wrong the Seventh Princess. This matter still needs to be considered..."
Hearing this, the envoy from the Western Yue State thought that Xiao Huaishi disagreed. He immediately said, "This... But for the sake of the common people all over the world, please think twice, Your Majesty of the Eastern Mausoleum State. I hope that Your Majesty will invite our Western Yue State soon. Our country's Seventh Princess will come to visit to show the friendship between our two countries."
Xiao Huaishi still didn't say a word, looking very hesitant.
The envoy from the Western Yue State could only sigh. "If Your Majesty doesn't agree, there's nothing we can do. Then this matter can only be dropped. Since our two countries can't form a marriage alliance, I don't know if the relationship between our two countries will still be as good as it is now in the years to come. It's a pity for... alas... the common people in the world."
Seeing the envoy from the Western Yue State looking so sad that he was almost about to cry, Xiao Huaishi slightly raised the corners of his mouth. "Did I say that I disagreed with this marriage alliance? I just need to think it over carefully. Since you want to invite the princess to show the good relationship between our two countries, I will surely hold a grand banquet. You just go back and inform the king of the Western Yue State that I will hold a banquet in a month. Please ask the princess to prepare and come to our country earlier. Since she wants to form a marriage alliance with the fourth son, the two young people should get to know each other and adapt to the local customs of our country to see if she likes it."