Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 613: The Fallen Emperor Visits (3)

"Hehe, not bad, this is just one of the matters, next is, I want to promote friendly relations between our two nations and facilitate mutual trade."

"Brother Lou, if we remember correctly, our two nations’ border checkpoints are already engaged in commerce."

"True, but those checkpoints lack what I need."

Dugu Chen furrowed his brows, "Oh? And what is it that Brother Lou requires?"

"It is said that the wine from Xueyan Country, even the finest Bamboo Leaf Green, cannot compare to it. Next is the cloth sculpture craftsmanship, which the noble women of my country adore; the thrill is also quite popular. The flower tea I tasted yesterday in the ’Summer Garden’ and the green tea I had today are also to my liking. After making inquiries, I discovered they are the industries of the empress. Hence, Qianyu sought guidance from the empress on this matter!"

Feng Xuxu couldn’t help but laugh, "Does a matter so trivial really require an Emperor to run back and forth like this? The royal merchants could have handled this completely. I fear, your visit is not just about these two matters."

"Indeed; it’s quite hard for Qianyu to speak about it."

Feng Xuxu looked at him, his face filled with difficulty, and she knew that he had thoroughly ’investigated’ her, mentioning several of her industries. It was clear that he had sought her out for other matters but found it difficult to broach the subject. Therefore, the remaining issue must be the food supply. As it happened, their land was barren, and every year they purchased food at high prices from Xueyan Country. Presumably, after their campaign against Mingyi Country, their coffers had run dry. Negotiating these partnerships was probably meant to quickly refill the treasury, and food was an additional matter. Bringing back the Fragrant Concubine would just be a convenience. Hehe, things were getting interesting.

"If my guess is correct, it’s related to food, isn’t it?"

Lou Qianyu greatly admired Feng Xuxu, while also enviably acknowledging Dugu Chen’s good fortune in marrying her, "Empress, it is indeed so. Our land is barren, which is hardly a secret. After the war, the citizens have been living in dire hardship. Food transported to the border is now prohibitively expensive, and some citizens can’t even afford to buy it. Unable to grow their own grain and with no other sources, they ultimately starve to death. As the sovereign of Sunset Kingdom, how could I simply watch my people die? Thus, I’ve mustered the courage to come and ask the empress if she might offer me a solution to save my people." He spoke with sincerity, candidly and earnestly.

Feng Xuxu found herself in a predicament, for this involved not just a matter of teaching between two nations but also a matter of life and death for countless citizens, and the future friction between the two countries, which could turn them into adversaries.

Silence, a deathly silence.

As time ticked by, Lou Qianyu’s heart also became increasingly tense, quietly awaiting the decision from the emperor and empress. After all, this concerned the survival of the entire Sunset Kingdom. Even if he had to lose a little face, if he could make even the slightest contribution to the welfare of his people, it would be worth it. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Dugu Chen could understand why he was being so humble and deferential, calling him brother. He, too, was a sovereign and if his people were living in hellish conditions, bereft of life’s necessities, and the emperor remained indifferent, then such an emperor was truly a cruel sinner. Yet here was Lou Qianyu, deeply concerned for the people of his nation, not hesitating to personally seek advice from another country’s queen, even facing the embarrassment of possible rejection. Despite this, he stated his purpose openly, without hesitation or deceit, after all, Feng Xi was still lingering outside the palace.

"Empress, I am willing to offer up the five cities near our border, hoping only that you might save the people of Sunset Kingdom."

Feng Xuxu saw a grown man so moved that he seemed on the verge of tears, and moreover, offering to cede five cities. It seemed Lou Qianyu was willing to make such a significant sacrifice for the sake of his people.