Chapter 1169: Chapter 1169: Pushing Their Luck

The king of Portland is named Adris.

This person is around fifty years old, tall, and dressed in strange clothes.

High nose bridge, deep eye sockets, white skin; the lower half of his face is completely covered by a thick beard.

At first glance, he looks quite similar to modern Europeans.

After offering Zhao Junyao a cup of drink, he straightforwardly expressed his demands.

He muttered a lot, but in summary:

Our country is too small and needs a protector.

You, the Great Chu Dynasty, are the Celestial Empire, and we think highly of you. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

You need our mortar, and I need your support and protection.

How about we forge an alliance through marriage, mutually benefit, and collaborate for a win-win outcome?

Zhao Junyao listened to his demands with a blank expression and deep eyes, pondering something.

Xia Ruqing remained calm as water, unsurprised.

Zhao Junyao had received the information in advance.

While Xia Ruqing had guessed it.

Visiting other countries with seven daughters, you can deduce their intentions with a little thought, right?

She secretly glared at Zhao Junyao.

’This guy, he wouldn’t sacrifice for the country, would he?’

’Seriously speaking, isn’t this also a way of sacrificing for the country?’

’Moreover, he can win the beauty! A foreign beauty! This deal is absolutely profitable!’

While she was lost in her wild thoughts, Zhao Junyao suddenly spoke.

"This is no rush!!"

"You’ve come from afar, and as hosts, we should treat you well!"

"Let’s enjoy a hearty drink first, and discuss other matters later, shall we?"

King Adris felt a bit unwilling.

But since Zhao Junyao had said this, he couldn’t press further.

He downed his drink in one gulp, patted his backside, and walked away.

The female singers sang melodious tunes several times, and the female dancers gracefully danced a few rounds.

When the banquet should have been ending.

King Adris suddenly stood up.

"Emperor of Great Chu, my seven daughters have prepared a grand gift for you, please have a look!"

Zhao Junyao, despite his impatience, had to put on a smile.

"Please!"

The ministers looked at each other, big eyes glaring at small ones.

Although they knew their Emperor was in a terrible mood.

But they were still curious about whether the foreign princesses were truly beautiful.

Even Xia Ruqing was curious.

What did ancient Europeans look like? Same as modern ones?!

She surprisingly held a bit of anticipation in her dark heart?!!

Emperor husband, I’m sorry!

Amid everyone’s breathless anticipation.

The seven princesses wearing classic ancient European puffy dresses, with slender waists, lined up and walked forward.

They wore enormous sapphire blue velvet puffy skirts, adorned with various dazzling pearls and gems on their necks, earrings, and wrists.

The collar and cuffs of the puff sleeves, and the hem of the puffy skirts, were all lined with lustrous lace, making each of them look radiant and glittering.

Then look at their features.

Like their father, they also had white skin, deep eye sockets, big eyes, blond hair, and blue eyes.

Their hair, like golden seaweed, gently curled, thick and soft, draped over their shoulders, appearing like waves of golden curls.

Unlike the women of Great Chu Dynasty.

They don’t consider slenderness as beauty, rather, each of them is voluptuous.

The waists of these seven princesses are quite ample; of course, to put it bluntly, they are broad and bulky.

Xia Ruqing sneakily glanced at her Emperor husband, giving him a reassuring look.

’It’s alright, Your Majesty!’

’At least they have good features!’

’At the very least, those sea-deep blue eyes are worth seeing!’

Zhao Junyao: "..."

He looked at the princesses, each almost twice his size.

His expression couldn’t hold anymore, showing a bit of fear and embarrassment.

That...

If all were included in the harem, the Ministry of Internal Affairs might go broke!

Zhao Junyao was a person who disliked trouble.

If it were one princess, he might consider adding her to the harem.

But before him are seven, seven! How terrifying is that?

"Hahaha!"

King Adris suddenly laughed heartily.

"How is it? Aren’t the princesses of Portland beautiful?"

Zhao Junyao: "..."

No way to praise them sincerely.

He frowned for a long time before he finally squeezed out a line.

"The princesses indeed are... each..."

"Each extraordinarily beautiful!"

Xia Ruqing smiled, swiftly completing the latter part on his behalf.

Zhao Junyao instantly threw a grateful look, Qingqing understood him the best.

At this point, King Adris pushed further.

"Then how do they compare to the Empress?"

Empress?

Zhao Junyao’s face suddenly changed; he narrowed his eyes.

Gradually, a stormy coldness gathered in his eyes, and his fists clenched tightly.

’These burly ugly women, what qualifications do they have to be compared to his Empress?’

’How disregardful is the other side towards Great Chu Dynasty to ask such a question?’

’Do they think just because we need them, we have to be at their mercy?’

’Ridiculous!’

He kept a cold smile, and said in an indifferent tone.

"My Empress is my most beloved!"

"As good as the princesses are, they can’t even compare to one-tenth of her!"

After speaking, he rose and looked at the ministers, ordering coldly.

"I have other matters to attend, so I’ll leave first. Accompany the Portland envoys well! Drink to your heart’s content!"

Then he generously bid goodbye to King Adris.

Took Xia Ruqing with him and left gracefully.

Leaving behind the dumbfounded king, the confused princesses, and the bewildered ministers.

...

With the Emperor’s departure, the banquet had little reason to continue.

But the ministers couldn’t outright offend these people and dismiss them.

One by one, they coaxed and flattered, talked and laughed vibrantly.

Keeping the Portland envoys amused.

Then directly sent them to their accommodations, awaiting further imperial directives.

Upon leaving the accommodation.

The Assistant Minister of Rites wiped his sweat:

"Really bold, daring to involve the Empress! It’s fortunate we need them, otherwise wouldn’t the Emperor have cut them down?!"

The Grand Scholar of Honglu Temple wore a bitter face.

"Isn’t it?"

"Luckily I said a few more good words earlier to ease the atmosphere, otherwise it might have become more tense!"

The Minister of Public Works was even wearier.

"Why mention the Empress needlessly?"

"The Emperor is unhappy, so the marriage engagement definitely won’t succeed!"

"Without the marriage, they won’t cooperate with us, when will the Jiangnan riverbank ever be repaired?"

The three beleaguered brothers patted each other’s shoulders for comfort.

Each went away dejectedly.

...

In the palace.

In the Imperial Study Room.

When Zhao Junyao returned, his face was black with anger.

Xia Ruqing used gentle words, coaxing for a good while, before his expression slowly improved.

"Your Majesty, such a small country speaks in a petty manner, let’s not stoop to their level!"

Zhao Junyao nodded.

"Hmm!"

"Your Majesty! Can we try to make an effort to develop a mortar more effective than theirs?"

Zhao Junyao remained silent.

’He wants it too!’

’But... he truly hasn’t seen such a thing!’

’To develop it, how difficult could it be?!’