Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 537 Unopened Gift
Mu Wanqing looked at Zhao Mu and said, "You are good at putting the blame on others. It's our fault. You are the king of Qi. If you summon us, who among us dares not to listen? Besides, what Qinglu said is not wrong. You are in a different position now, so you should also set some rules. If you behave the same as in the Qi Palace, how can this be tolerated?"

Zhao Mu said, "What rules? I feel more free in the Qi Wang Mansion than here. Before I became the ruler, I also lived in this palace, and I felt free then. Now that I have really moved here, I am constrained by these messy rules, which is really boring. Well, we can talk about it later if there is anything. I haven't been in charge of government for three days, and I guess the memorials there are piled up like a mountain again."

Mu Wanqing rolled her eyes at Zhao Mu, then said, "It's piled up like a mountain, it's your own fault." Then Mu Wanqing took Zhao Ji's arm and said, "Mother-in-law, since my husband said he knows what's going on, then we don't have to worry about him, just let him be. Anyway, we are not the ones who will fall down if touched."

Zhao Ji glanced at Zhao Mu, sighed again, and then left with everyone, leaving only Mei, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum to serve her.

Zhao Mu was in charge of government affairs this afternoon, but nothing important happened. The important matters in the court were handled by the prime minister and the ministers of the six ministries, and not many could be reported to him.

Most of the memorials were from the censors, who were afraid that Zhao Mu would indulge in women and ignore state affairs, so they all complained a lot.

However, there was also a memorial sent by the Song Dynasty, which informed the Honglu Temple. It said that the Princess Shang and Princess Deng of the Song Dynasty had already set off and would arrive in Qi soon.

And along with them came the "annual tribute" sent by Emperor Zhezong to Qi. However, the annual tribute has now been renamed a more pleasant name, and has been changed to the "reward" given to the tributary states every year.

This reward is now also available to all the countries that are vassal states of the Song Dynasty, but the amount is different.

When various countries paid tribute to the Song Dynasty, the Song Dynasty, as the suzerain state, would give back something in order to demonstrate the dignity of the Celestial Empire in order to achieve a "reciprocity of courtesy."

The amount of this "reward" depends on the value of the tribute paid by the vassal state, the status of the vassal state, and the mood of the emperor. However, most of the rewards are profitable for the Song Dynasty. There will be no loss-making business.

Among the vassal states of the Song Dynasty, the one that received the most rewards was Zhao Mu's Qi State. The status of Qi State was the same as that of the Liao State before. It was equivalent to transferring the annual tribute to the Liao State to Qi State.

This was also a favor that Zhezong gave to Zhao Mu because he felt sorry for him. Because the income from the "annual tribute" was not included in the national treasury, but was the private property of the suzerain state rewarded to the king of the vassal state.

Now, the two marriages arranged by Concubine Chai for Zhao Mu, as well as the annual tribute reward from Emperor Zhezong, are on the way.

In the next few days, Zhao Mu had no interest and devoted himself to state affairs.

After discussing with his ministers, he began his westward expedition plan. Although the ministers felt that using war to solve the problem of excess manpower was a bit cruel, they had no better solution at the moment.

So Qi State started a new round of recruiting soldiers. Zhao Mu also sent his plan to the capital by express horse, asking Zhezong for his approval.

After all, if a vassal state suddenly carries out large-scale conscription without explaining it clearly to its neighboring countries, it can easily cause instability.

After finishing all this, Zhao Mu is now waiting for three things.

The first thing was to wait for Zhezong's reply. Although Zhao Mu knew that Zhezong would definitely agree, without this permission, if he went to war with Gaochang privately, it would be against the duty of a minister. The second thing was to recruit and train new soldiers. However, a few months was enough to train them into a fighting force.

The last thing is his three concubines. At present, Princess Chai and Princess Qian are about to arrive at Xiaoguan, and will arrive at Lingzhou City in a few days. Chairman Park has also returned to Goryeo, and I believe Princess Anping will arrive in the next few months. Zhao Mu is now waiting for his three concubines to arrive and marry them. When Princess Anping arrives, his troops will be trained, and after the marriage, Zhao Mu will start the expedition in person.

After a few days of recuperation, Zhao Mu slowly recovered from his weakness and became full of energy again.

By the evening, Zhao Mu stretched himself and said to Ju Jian, who was preparing to light the lamp, "Master, it's almost time for today, and we should prepare for rest."

Zhao Mu put down the imperial pen in his hand and said, "Yes, it's time to rest."

Zhu Jian asked at this time: "I just wonder which mistress's palace the master will rest in today? Or will the four of us sisters accompany you back to the palace?"

Zhao Mu looked at the four girls and then said, "Oh, right! I think I still have two gifts that I haven't opened yet."

Ju Jian guessed what Zhao Mu was thinking, and she said, "Master, you are not talking about Miss Wang and Miss A Bi, are you?"

Zhao Mu nodded and said, "Yes, Murong Fu sold them to me for 500,000 taels of silver. When they came to my Qi Palace, I was busy with the Western Expedition. When I returned victorious, I was busy with the rain and dew, and I didn't pay attention to them. When I came to Lingzhou City, I was first troubled by state affairs, and then I was lucky enough to be with Musa, the little devil. For a while, I even forgot about them. I can't waste my 500,000 taels of silver."

Lan Jian smiled and said, "It seems that Miss Wang is doomed tonight. But this woman is really fickle."

"Oh?" Zhao Mu asked, "Why is she so fickle?"

Mei Jian said at this time: "She has been promised to the master by her mother, but she always thinks of her cousin in her heart. Ah Zhu asked her before, and I overheard it. Miss Ah Bi is very submissive, and she doesn't care about serving the master. But Miss Wang is full of complaints, as if she has suffered a great injustice by being married to you, the master."

Zhao Mu laughed when he heard this and said, "Haha, she still can't forget her cousin? But it doesn't matter, even if she can't forget him, she will never see him again in this life. She can only stay here obediently, let me ravage her, and give birth to my children."

At this time, Ju Jian sighed and said, "Ah! Sometimes when I think about it, I feel that she is quite pitiful."

Lan Jian asked back, "Pitiable? How can she be pitiful? She has been living a life of luxury since she was young, and is a well-known and wealthy lady. The four of us sisters have been in Lingjiu Palace since we were young, and we have to get up before dawn to practice martial arts every day. Before we were fourteen, we didn't even have a full meal for the sake of practicing martial arts. How can I, a silly sister, pity others if I don't pity myself?"

Ju Jian replied, "It's not that I feel sorry for her in life. It's just that she was betrayed by the person she loved, and she still can't forget him. I feel a little sorry for her. I have met that Mr. Murong, he is a handsome man. But I didn't expect that he would betray the people around him, even the one who wanted to be his bedmate, for the sake of power and interests. Miss Wang can only be said to have trusted the wrong person."

(End of this chapter)