The playboy county magistrate

The emperor slightly raised his hand, his tone rather indifferent.

"I have received your report. The various kingdoms of the Western Regions have been diligently observing the tributary system and have shown genuine sincerity, which I am already aware of."

The three kingdoms of the Western Regions banded together to offer treasures and women, but in reality, they were trying to make their presence felt and test the emperor's preferences.

Unfortunately, the emperor's tone was flat and emotionless, showing no favoritism whatsoever, which completely extinguished the Western Regions countries' hopes of currying favor through beauty.

Finally, the Japanese envoy stepped forward, the one who had always been taciturn but was the most cunning.

The Japanese envoy stepped forward slowly, his narrow eyes slightly narrowed. His face was expressionless, revealing neither joy nor anger, nor his thoughts.

Unlike the ostentatious gifts from other countries, the tributes from Japan were full of hidden meanings.

"Across the sea, the Eastern Sea pays homage to the Celestial Empire, offering a hundred cold iron blades to suppress the sea, ten deep-sea pearls, and a hundred bolts of brocade woven across the sea."

His voice was cold and rigid, without the slightest inflection.

A waiter stepped forward to present the gift, a sharp, cold iron blade, incredibly hard.

The deep-sea pearl is round and large, with a fine brocade pattern across the sea, and exquisite workmanship, showcasing the top craftsmanship of Japan.

Putting everything else aside, the cold iron blade alone points directly to the core of the military equipment. It conceals a sinister intention to spy on the weapon forging and military strength of the Great Yong Dynasty.

Among the officials, several Ministry of War officials' expressions tightened slightly, instantly sensing that something was amiss.

Japan's gift was unique, and the fact that it presented military equipment was by no means unintentional.

A cold glint flashed in Li Xuanzhi's eyes, and he instantly saw through Dongying's scheme.

When other countries offer beautiful women, it's to curry favor with their superiors. Japan, on the other hand, offers powerful weapons; it's to observe their military might, probe their defenses, and gather intelligence.

It's true... no matter which dynasty, era, or time period, they are always the same disgusting people.

The Japanese envoy raised his eyes, his expression still cold and indifferent, and slowly said:

"There aren't that many beauties in Japan, so we've chosen two noble ladies from aristocratic families. They are dignified and proper, and will be presented to His Majesty to serve in the palace."

Two Japanese women slowly entered the hall.

They wore simple, narrow-sleeved kimonos, their hair neatly styled. Their eyebrows and eyes were long and narrow, their expressions respectful and humble.

With lowered brows and downcast eyes, her figure was slender and serene. Every move she made was polite and measured, seemingly gentle and mild, giving people the feeling of being extremely easy to overlook, almost transparent.

However, upon closer observation, one would notice a fleeting glint of shrewdness in their eyes when they lowered their gazes. Seemingly gentle and harmless, they were in fact calm, composed, and extremely capable of forbearance.

Seeing that the beauties from the East were far less stunning than those from the Western Regions and the Southern Frontier, most of the people in the hall relaxed slightly. They simply assumed that the Japanese were well-behaved, polite, and unassuming.

I also secretly think that it's really difficult for such a small place to gather such good things and such beautiful women.

Only the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and Li Xuanzhi remained focused and unwavering throughout.

The greatest villains appear loyal, the greatest falsehoods appear true, and the greatest strife appears calm.

Japan's restraint and introspection are precisely what make it so unfathomable.

The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the cold iron blade from the Eastern Sea and the two women. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke.

"Japan, far away, submitted to us, observed proper etiquette, and accepted all our tribute."

His words were calm and seemingly accepting, but in reality, every word concealed his wariness.

The emperor had long understood that Japan was the most patient and ambitious of the several countries.

The envoys returned to their places, while the Crown Prince glanced lightly at Li Xuanzhi beside him, speaking in a very low voice that could only be heard by the two of them.

"Teacher, none of the gifts offered by the various countries were purely for personal gain; they all had ulterior motives."

Li Xuanzhi nodded slightly, his eyes cool and aloof, and answered in a low, slow voice.

"Your Highness has discerning eyes. Treasures can dazzle the eye, and beauties can bewitch the heart. While the nations outwardly submit, they secretly intend to slowly infiltrate the palace, the court, and the hearts of the people, waiting for their opportune moment."

The Crown Prince's gaze darkened slightly. "If Father were to accept all these beauties and treasures, wouldn't that be allowing other countries to plant spies within their ranks?"

A faint smile played on Li Xuanzhi's lips as he spoke in a steady tone.

"Accepting gifts demonstrates the magnanimity of a great nation and the inclusiveness of an emperor. Checks and balances reflect the shrewdness of a monarch and the methods employed in court. By accepting all gifts, Your Majesty shows that you are not refusing to join any of the nations, giving the impression that the Great Yong Dynasty is unafraid of any petty schemes. This will prevent other nations from guessing Your Majesty's intentions and from taking advantage of the situation to cause trouble."

"But these beauties who enter the game may not survive. These women are nothing more than pawns discarded by these small countries."

The crown prince suddenly understood, and his heart was filled with even greater awe for the way emperors weigh power and the game-playing techniques taught by his teacher.

On the dragon throne, the emperor surveyed the crowd, looking down upon the beauties from various nations standing in silent rows amidst a dazzling array of rare treasures. He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet it commanded respect throughout the hall.

"The return of treasures to the capital and the arrival of beauties are a testament to the grandeur of the Great Yong Dynasty and a sign of the allegiance of all nations. Now that the tribute has been presented, all nations must adhere to the tributary system and conduct trade in accordance with regulations. Considering your obedience, I will forgive past minor disputes and grant you peace and tranquility."

"But if there are states that still dare to act recklessly and harbor treacherous intentions—"

His voice abruptly stopped, and the gentleness in the emperor's eyes vanished, replaced by a deep, imposing majesty that awed all around.

"All the treasures on your territory will be taken away, and all feudal customs will be abolished. We will fight each other and show no mercy."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.

The envoys from several countries all felt a chill run down their spines, their expressions subtly changing. They all bowed their heads, not daring to make the slightest move.

They instantly understood the deeper meaning behind the emperor's words.

The Great Yong Dynasty can tolerate the selfish desires of various states and can grant benefits to its vassal states. However, it will never allow any state to use the guise of gentleness to carry out treacherous deeds, attempt to stir up the Great Yong Dynasty's political situation, or try to spy on the Celestial Empire's true strength.

The music and rituals in the Zichen Hall ceased completely, and the tribute ceremony came to a close.

The golden-armored imperial guards stood in two rows on either side, holding their spears and standing solemnly, their imposing and awe-inspiring presence still shrouding the entire palace.

The envoys and officials from various countries bowed and left in order, and no one dared to make a fuss or act recklessly.

The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, calmly watching the crowd leave, his expression utterly indifferent.

The warning and the presentation of gifts in the hall just now, one gentle and one firm, one restrained and one relaxed, have stabilized the situation.

He was shrewd enough to see through everything; his submission before the palace was merely a facade. Under the cover of night, undercurrents were sure to surge.

The Crown Prince, following the ranks of officials, slowly retreated from the court. As he reached the foot of the palace steps, he subconsciously stopped and turned his head to look at Li Xuanzhi beside him.

The Crown Prince's gentle and composed demeanor faded, replaced by a more cautious and solemn expression. He spoke in a low voice:

"Teacher, the nations that bowed before you today were ultimately forced by the Emperor's authority, not truly submitting. Tonight, envoys from all directions will gather at the post station; they will surely collude in secret and cause further trouble."

Li Xuanzhi did not stop walking, his court robes brushing against the white jade steps. Hearing this, he nodded slightly, his voice firm.

"Your Highness is absolutely right. Once they lose in the open game, they will turn to forming alliances in the shadows. The various states have different selfish motives and conflicting interests. They may seem like a disorganized mess, but they can temporarily put aside their differences only when it comes to checking and balancing the Great Yong and probing its strengths and weaknesses."

"Treasures have entered the national treasury, beauties have entered the palace. The chess pieces have already been placed on the ground, and they will not have lost them for nothing. Tonight, the inn is destined to be sleepless, and it will surely be very lively."

Meanwhile, in a side hall behind the Zichen Palace, a group of foreign beauties awaited their arrival.