211 A Country Girl Indeed! (1/2)
Chapter 211: A Country Girl Indeed!
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Comparing Northern Qi and Southern Qing?
The topic had to be treated with care, as he could not downplay his own country's strength, and as an envoy, he could not criticize Northern Qi too harshly. But Fan Xian answered freely, as if he had known the answer to this question since birth. He spoke with courage in his convictions, his words resounding and powerful, and delivered rapidly. He made Haitang's seemingly always-calm face change, and left the Emperor jaw-dropped, showing his well-kept white teeth.
Fan Xian smiled gently and cupped his hands in salute.
”But as a foreign official, I do not know for sure.”
Such modesty. The Emperor was stunned, then burst into laughter. He couldn't punish this rascal: after all, he was a ”foreign official”, even if he did know plenty about the Kingdom of Qing, he knew little of Qi, so how he could he compare them?
The Emperor looked at Fan Xian, laughed, and shook his head. ”Today I have discovered that the immortal poet I have thought about for so long has a glib tongue indeed. No wonder the Emperor of Qing sent you as his envoy.” Fan Xian laughed. ”I am merely an official. The reason His Majesty sent me here is mainly my interest in the culture of Northern Qi, and as I have some regard in that aspect, he sent me to learn more of it.”
The Emperor laughed. ”With the famed immortal poet here, I should have some of the students of the Imperial College come in and listen to Minister Fan's teachings.”
Fan Xian felt some uneasiness at the fact that he was a fake professor at the Imperial College of Qing without having attended a single lecture - how could he come to the north and become a visiting lecturer?
”If I were to head south, Minister Fan, have preparations been made?”
The young Emperor looked placid, but the sense of prestige that came from having grown up in the palace suddenly began to appear on his face. It was a sensitive and arrogant question, there were only two people who could ask it and in the whole world. But the one he asked was the envoy of an enemy nation. The meaning behind it was rather fascinatng, like a spring thunderclap. Fan Xian's face did not change. ”No preparations have been made.”
”Why not?” The Emperor looked at him coldly, leaning on a railing.
”The people of Qi do not concern themselves with war, so it will be dangerous.” Fan Xian smiled. ”The people of Qing are a warlike people, and so there will be great peril. Luckily, Your Majesty is determined to better yourself, and His Majesty is an experienced ruler. There is a fortunate balance between these two ends.”
”What kind of man is the Emperor of Qing?” asked the Emperor suddenly. ”I have corresponded with him in two personal letters, but I cannot figure him out.”
Fan Xian muttered curses under his breath. He was an official of the Kingdom of Qing, after all - what kind of game was the Emperor playing? So he said nothing. The Emperor of Northern Qi looked at him and laughed. ”Your Emperor is ageing,” he said gently, ”and I am yet young. Should I ride south, I hope that you may speak on my behalf in the palace, Minister Fan.”
Fan Xian raised his eyebrows. ”Should Your Majesty be a guest in the south, I shall write a poem of praise,” he said in a manner that was neither servile nor overbearing.
”Heading south” had two different meanings to the two men. For the Emperor, it meant leading his armies southward to capture territory from Qing. To Fan Xian, it meant going to the Kingdom of Qing to be held as prisoner after his defeat.
Choosing not to waste words, Fan Xian's face remained calm. He himself was not anxious. The young Emperor was indeed a man with high aspirations, but in speaking with him he seemed overly talkative. He could not be sure whether it was youthful indiscretion, or whether he really wanted this foreign official to report his intentions to the royal court of the south.
A slight look of concern suddenly appeared on the Emperor's brow. It was not clear what he was thinking. He waved his hand. ”Shangjing has known only peace, but there have been many misunderstandings between our two nations. I fear that there are those who plan to do you harm, Minister Fan. Although they may not dare to make their move against you, I'm afraid that provocation may be inevitable. For my sake, Minister Fan, be forgiving.”
Fan Xian was taken aback, not by the content of the young Emperor's words, but by their tone. Be forgiving for the Emperor's sake? Fan Xian wondered what entitlement he had to be considered so important by the ruler of a nation, and could not understand why the young Emperor was so concerned for him.
”I am rather tired, Minister Fan. Perhaps you had best leave.” The Emperor lightly tapped the railing, and turned back to look silently at Haitang. ”My lady, see Master Fan out of the palace. Make sure he doesn't get lost. If anyone behaves inappropriately toward the Qing diplomatic mission over the next few days, please have a word with them.”
After having a word with Haitang, it was likely that any over-zealous patriots would exercise restraint.
Haitang smiled. ”As you command, Your Majesty.”
Fan Xian raised his eyebrows slightly. Was he to be seeing more of this upper ninth-level woman? He couldn't be sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.