The Fallen Nation System, Turning the Tide - Chapter 92: Internal Decision

Chapter 92: Internal Decision

“Yes, brush him off!”

Wang Qiu packed the artifacts from Zixu Kingdom into chests. Along the journey, countless treasures had been offered by various states. To facilitate travel, they had to gift away portions of pearls and gemstones in other countries. Even so, their caravan remained heavily laden.

After departing Zixu Kingdom, Wang Qiu and her entourage set off for Da Jin with a merchant convoy. Midway, a lone rider on a skinny horse suddenly caught up with them, calling out to halt Wang Qiu.

Startled, Wang Qiu turned, her heart skipping a beat. She thought, “Could the people of Zixu Kingdom have discovered something and regretted their decision?”

Clenching her fist discreetly, she grew wary.

The rider approached Wang Qiu, dismounted, and bowed respectfully. An interpreter conveyed his message: “Esteemed envoy, please do not rush your departure. This minister from Wu You Guo invites you to visit and admire our landscapes. Our king has prepared fine wine, slaughtered cattle and sheep, and arranged a grand feast in your honor.”

Wang Qiu was taken aback. Since she was traveling under the pretext of a diplomatic mission, she agreed and followed the minister to Wu You Guo.

Upon arrival, the king welcomed them with fiery enthusiasm. Platters overflowed with fruits, and exquisite wine shimmered in transparent cups—their dazzling colors and beauty alone left Wang Qiu astonished.

The people of Wu You Guo were known for their indulgence and laziness, yet this very trait had fostered numerous skilled artisans in their land.

Hearing that an envoy from the great eastern kingdom had visited Zixu Kingdom and strengthened ties, the Wu You Guo people felt a sudden sense of crisis. They hurried to intercept the envoy and host a banquet to forge goodwill.

After three rounds of drinks and pleasantries, the king said, “I hold the Emperor of Da Jin in high esteem. Would you permit our artisans to travel to Da Jin for study? In return, our kingdom offers all these artifacts.”

With a crisp clap of his hands, several maids approached bearing trays draped in red silk. Unveiling the covers, they revealed sets of cups—varying in size and shape, smooth in texture, and crystal clear. Even Wang Qiu, an amateur, could tell they were priceless.

Additionally, servants carried forth various objects. Wang Qiu even spotted a bed and stared in disbelief.

The king looked upon the bed with satisfaction. “Envoy, do not underestimate it. This bed can rock gently—lying on it sways one swiftly into slumber.”

Wang Qiu mused inwardly, “Isn’t this just a rocking bed?”

Nearby were roller skates: with a push forward, one could glide far in a single step, saving several paces.

Beyond these, an array of daily tools were presented—all designed to save effort and speed up tasks. However, Niu Pengnan showed little interest, deeming them impractical. Though they seemed labor-saving, he felt they merely shifted the required effort elsewhere.

Regardless of the envoy’s opinions, the king of Wu You Guo loaded their carts with every portable item, determined not to fall behind Zixu Kingdom.

As Wang Qiu’s group accumulated more goods, transportation grew cumbersome. Concerned, Wang Qiu remarked, “With so many artifacts and such a long journey, carrying them all may prove difficult. Let us select only a few superior pieces.”

The king waved a dismissive hand. “Worry not, esteemed envoy. You may take our sea vessel—the maritime route is swifter.”

Indeed, the growing cargo was slowing their progress. After some thought, Wang Qiu agreed, recognizing that returning to Da Jin was their priority. She thanked the king of Wu You Guo and accepted the offer.

Pirates roamed the seas, and loading all the treasures onto the ship would likely attract unwanted attention. Wang Qiu made a swift decision. While expressing gratitude to the king, his mind was already calculating. He smiled and said, “Your Majesty has treated us with sincerity, and our dynasty will not fail to reciprocate. It is discourteous to receive without giving in return. How about we present your kingdom with some jewels and trinkets, and in exchange, Your Majesty could dispatch a few skilled artisans to accompany us back to Da Jin? This would further strengthen our bond.”

The king, though fond of leisure and averse to labor, understood the value of those who could create time-saving and labor-efficient inventions. When Wang Qiu made the request, he visibly hesitated.

The minister, having heard of the Eastern envoy’s reputation, knew they carried vast amounts of gold and silver, possessed the power to command wind and rain, could travel freely through the skies, and were backed by a formidable army—not to be provoked lightly.

“Your Majesty, we have received Da Jin’s generous gifts of treasure, and our people will accompany the envoy to Da Jin. This is an honor that even Zi Xu Guo could never obtain. By forging ties with such a great nation, Zi Xu Guo will have to think twice before crossing us. If we seek aid from Da Jin and they refuse, it would damage their prestige—so they will surely help us repel Zi Xu Guo. From then on, we need never fear Zi Xu Guo again,” the minister advised.

The king lowered his head in thought, recognizing the logic. Wu You Guo had plenty of artisans; giving a few to Da Jin was a small price. Not only would they gain wealth, but they would also secure the protection of a major power (even if distant, it was better than nothing).

In the end, the king agreed to select outstanding artisans to join the envoy to Da Jin. A faint smile touched Wang Qiu’s lips as a quiet sense of joy welled up within him.

The people of Wu You Guo helped Wang Qiu load the goods onto the ship. On a day of calm winds and tranquil seas, they set sail. Wang Qiu was filled with anticipation, calculating that their return to Da Jin would be sooner than planned.

With the arrival of the new year in early spring, Xu Ying hosted a banquet to celebrate. Various families and clans came to offer New Year’s greetings. One person stepped forward and said, “Princess An Yang is widowed, and Princess Huaiyang has not remarried. I wonder if anyone intends to arrange marriages for the elder princesses?”

His words implied a desire for marriage alliances to mutually benefit all parties. The families and clans were willing to offer their support and interests to back Xu Ying’s governance, provided that she would not repeat the harsh treatment meted out to the Cui and Wang families.

Without a second thought, Xu Ying flatly refused: “Princess An Yang and Princess Huaiyang are both my elder sisters. As the younger sister, it is not my place to arrange marriages for them.”

The crowd fell silent.

After the banquet concluded, Xu Lang said, “If it can consolidate your power, I am willing to marry. Which family would be most advantageous?”

Xu Ying pressed her hand over Xu Lang’s, cutting off her train of thought, and said, “I do not need to trade my sisters for gain. Marry whomever you wish—one or even two partners, as long as it brings you happiness.”

“Besides, marriage alliances are not always lasting. If it leads to an unhappy union, it may only create further discord.”

Xu Lang stared at her in a daze, inwardly moved. She nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll listen to you…”

Once the New Year passed, work resumed. Xu Lang began preparing for the Winter Examination interviews. The most talked-about candidates were Li Dengyun and Wu Zhaoyan. Li Dengyun was particularly exceptional, prompting Xu Lang to consult Xu Ying: “Li Dengyun carries too much weight. Perhaps we should directly summon him to court.”

If Xu Lang hadn’t mentioned it, Xu Ying might not have noticed. But upon hearing Li Dengyun’s background, Xu Ying realized they had attracted a major figure. Her heart raced with excitement.

She could deceive others, using diligence in governance and love for the people to fool the civil and military officials, but Li Dengyun had taught emperors before and was even her Crown Prince brother’s tutor. Wouldn’t he see through her clumsy excuses at a glance?

Xu Ying panicked slightly, grabbing Xu Lang’s wrist as she said, “Absolutely not!”

“Why?” Xu Lang was startled by Xu Ying’s unusual reaction.

Regaining her composure, Xu Ying realized she had overreacted. She cleared her throat to cover it up and explained seriously, “Li Dengyun is a veteran official of two dynasties. He entered court service during Emperor Hui’s reign. Once he returns, the old faction’s influence will resurge, making it difficult to control.”

“Moreover, Li Dengyun is advanced in years and likely to suffer from dizziness and lack of energy like Cheng Guanzhi. Not only would his efficiency be questionable, but his outdated thinking is incompatible with reform. He would easily clash with the officials in the Hall of Gathered Talents. We must not summon him back to court.”

Xu Ying thought of another point and added, “The world is in constant development, where new things always replace the old. Some antiquated… outdated elements that refuse to adapt to the world’s progress and cling stubbornly to conventions will ultimately be eliminated and discarded. The court now needs fresh blood and flexible thinking. Someone like Li Dengyun no longer meets our current standards for selecting talent.”

Xu Lang tilted her head, recalling her knowledge of Li Dengyun. She didn’t know much about what kind of person he truly was—by the time she left the palace, Li Dengyun had already been absent from court for several years.

Xu Ying referred to Li Dengyun as a veteran of two dynasties, effectively drawing a clear line by excluding herself from that count and firmly opposing his recall to court.

Thinking of Liu Xu’s appearance, Xu Lang assumed Li Dengyun couldn’t be too different. Appointing him would bring numerous disadvantages—she had been too simplistic in her initial consideration.

“You make a valid point,” Xu Lang agreed, then asked uncertainly, “So for this Winter Examination interview…”

Xu Ying nodded, “Yes, eliminate him!”

Sorry, Li Dengyun, you’d better find another enlightened ruler to serve.

“Alright, I understand.”

Xu Lang took note and went back to put a checkmark next to Li Dengyun’s name. Xu Ying had said directly crossing it out would be too harsh and look bad if seen by others. A discreet checkmark would serve as a private marker, allowing for his subtle exclusion from the final list.

The Winter Examination had always drawn public attention. Xu Ying’s delay in issuing an imperial summons to Li Dengyun raised suspicions, making everyone anxious and restless.

Each faction had its own channels of information, especially since Xu Lang was the presiding official—her movements were closely watched. Many tried to get close to her to gather any tidbits of news.

Fortunately, someone succeeded. A palace maid on rotation accidentally glimpsed Xu Lang placing a checkmark next to Li Dengyun’s name, confirming that he wouldn’t be directly summoned but would instead enter court service through the Winter Examination.

Upon hearing this, people concluded that Li Dengyun had already been secretly chosen for the interview—likely as a move to win him over, strengthen the Hall of Gathered Talents, and cultivate more of the emperor’s confidants.

The more they thought about it, the more it made sense. They grumbled sourly about the unfairness of the Winter Examination, yet given Li Dengyun’s qualifications, he could have directly become a chancellor. Entering the Hall of Gathered Talents through the Winter Examination—where official ranks and positions were only granted to those who truly benefited the people, and even then after some time—was actually a disadvantage for Li Dengyun.

News of Li Dengyun’s pre-selection for the Winter Examination spread quickly. His friend Su Pang came to congratulate him, but Li Dengyun merely nodded calmly and said, “It’s acceptable, but judging candidates by their background and determining rankings before the exam is somewhat unjust.”

Su Pang snorted, “Quit pretending to be modest when you’ve already gained the advantage.”

The news of Li Dengyun’s pre-selection spread like wildfire, yet Xu Ying was the last to know. She was momentarily stunned and hurried to find Xu Lang, who was equally surprised. He speculated, “Perhaps someone saw my roster and leaked the information!”

Xu Ying immediately felt relieved.

Xu Lang worriedly said, “I’ll issue a statement right away denying any prior selection.”

“No need,” Xu Ying stopped him. “Silence is the best response.”

Let Li Dengyun rejoice first. Only when his expectations are dashed will his fury reach its peak.